bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glycerol Trinitrate Acts Downstream of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in Trigeminal Nociception—Evidence from Rodent Experiments with Anti-CGRP Antibody Fremanezumab
Authors: Benedicter Nicola , Vogler Birgit , Kuhn Annette , Schramm Jana , Mackenzie Kimberly D. , Stratton Jennifer , Dux Mária , Messlinger Karl
Published: March 2024

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nitric oxide (NO) have been recognized as important mediators in migraine but their mechanisms of action and interaction have not been fully elucidated. Monoclonal anti-CGRP antibodies like fremanezumab are successful preventives of frequent migraine and can be used to study CGRP actions in preclinical experiments. Fremanezumab (30 mg/kg) or an isotype control monoclonal antibody was subcutaneously injected to Wistar rats of both sexes. One to several days later, glyceroltrinitrate (GTN, 5 mg/kg) mimicking nitric oxide (NO) was intraperitoneally injected, either once or for three consecutive days. The trigeminal ganglia were removed to determine the concentration of CGRP using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In one series of experiments, the animals were trained to reach an attractive sugar solution, the access to which could be limited by mechanical or thermal barriers. Using a semi-automated registration system, the frequency of approaches to the source, the residence time at the source, and the consumed solution were registered. The results were compared with previous data of rats not treated with GTN. The CGRP concentration in the trigeminal ganglia was generally higher in male rats and tended to be increased in animals treated once with GTN, whereas the CGRP concentration decreased after repetitive GTN treatment. No significant difference in CGRP concentration was observed between animals having received fremanezumab or the control antibody. Animals treated with GTN generally spent less time at the source and consumed less sugar solution. Without barriers, there was no significant difference between animals having received fremanezumab or the control antibody. Under mechanical barrier conditions, all behavioral parameters tended to be reduced but animals that had received fremanezumab tended to be more active, partly compensating for the depressive effect of GTN. In conclusion, GTN treatment seems to increase the production of CGRP in the trigeminal ganglion independently of the antibodies applied, but repetitive GTN administration may deplete CGRP stores. GTN treatment generally tends to suppress the animals’ activity and increase facial sensitivity, which is partly compensated by fremanezumab through reduced CGRP signaling. If CGRP and NO signaling share the same pathway in sensitizing trigeminal afferents, GTN and NO may act downstream of CGRP to increase facial sensitivity.
Temporal-Logic-Based Testing Tool Architecture for Dual-Programming Model Systems
Authors: Saad Salwa , Fadel Etimad , Alzamzami Ohoud , Eassa Fathy , Alghamdi Ahmed M.
Published: March 2024

Today, various applications in different domains increasingly rely on high-performance computing (HPC) to accomplish computations swiftly. Integrating one or more programming models alongside the used programming language enhances system parallelism, thereby improving its performance. However, this integration can introduce runtime errors such as race conditions, deadlocks, or livelocks. Some of these errors may go undetected using conventional testing techniques, necessitating the exploration of additional methods for enhanced reliability. Formal methods, such as temporal logic, can be useful for detecting runtime errors since they have been widely used in real-time systems. Additionally, many software systems must adhere to temporal properties to ensure correct functionality. Temporal logics indeed serve as a formal frame that takes into account the temporal aspect when describing changes in elements or states over time. This paper proposes a temporal-logic-based testing tool utilizing instrumentation techniques designed for a dual-level programming model, namely, Message Passing Interface (MPI) and Open Multi-Processing (OpenMP), integrated with the C++ programming language. After a comprehensive study of temporal logic types, we found and proved that linear temporal logic is well suited as the foundation for our tool. Notably, while the tool is currently in development, our approach is poised to effectively address the highlighted examples of runtime errors by the proposed solution. This paper thoroughly explores various types and operators of temporal logic to inform the design of the testing tool based on temporal properties, aiming for a robust and reliable system.
Uncommon Presentation of Gastric Duplication Cyst with Left-Sided Portal Hypertension: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Boicean Adrian , Prisca Diana , Bratu Dan Georgian , Bacila Ciprian Ionut , Tanasescu Ciprian , Chicea Radu , Fleaca Sorin Radu , Birsan Sabrina Andreea , Ichim Cristian , Mohor Calin Ilie , Roman Mihai Dan , Cristian Adrian Nicolae , Todor Samuel Bogdan , Mohor Cosmin Ioan , Moisin Andrei , Hasegan Adrian
Published: March 2024

Gastric duplication cysts (GDCs) in adults are exceedingly rare, with only a few documented cases in medical literature. The spectrum of clinical presentations varies widely, ranging from asymptomatic to severe symptoms such as hematemesis, vomiting or abdominal pain. Among the less common complications associated with GDCs, segmental portal hypertension is a notable rarity. We present a compelling case report of a patient exhibiting signs of segmental portal hypertension, where ultrasound and echo-endoscopy revealed a sizable gastric duplication cyst as the underlying etiology. Recognizing the scarcity of literature on GDCs in adult patients, we conducted a thorough review to underscore the diagnostic significance of ultrasonography and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in accurately identifying these congenital anomalies. This case report and comprehensive literature review emphasize the pivotal role of EUS and abdominal ultrasound in achieving an accurate diagnosis of GDCs. By shedding light on the diagnostic and therapeutic intricacies, we aim to raise awareness among clinicians regarding this rare pathology and the importance of multimodal imaging approaches for optimal patient management.
Metabolic Fingerprint in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Papadopoulou Maria T. , Panagopoulou Paraskevi , Paramera Efstathia , Pechlivanis Alexandros , Virgiliou Christina , Papakonstantinou Eugenia , Palabougiouki Maria , Ioannidou Maria , Vasileiou Eleni , Tragiannidis Athanasios , Papakonstantinou Evangelos , Theodoridis Georgios , Hatzipantelis Emmanuel , Evangeliou Athanasios
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent childhood malignancy. Despite high cure rates, several questions remain regarding predisposition, response to treatment, and prognosis of the disease. The role of intermediary metabolism in the individualized mechanistic pathways of the disease is unclear. We have hypothesized that children with any (sub)type of ALL have a distinct metabolomic fingerprint at diagnosis when compared: (i) to a control group; (ii) to children with a different (sub)type of ALL; (iii) to the end of the induction treatment. Materials and Methods: In this prospective case–control study (NCT03035344), plasma and urinary metabolites were analyzed in 34 children with ALL before the beginning (D0) and at the end of the induction treatment (D33). Their metabolic fingerprint was defined by targeted analysis of 106 metabolites and compared to that of an equal number of matched controls. Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were performed using SIMCAP and scripts under the R programming language. Results: Metabolomic analysis showed distinct changes in patients with ALL compared to controls on both D0 and D33. The metabolomic fingerprint within the patient group differed significantly between common B-ALL and pre-B ALL and between D0 and D33, reflecting the effect of treatment. We have further identified the major components of this metabolic dysregulation, indicating shifts in fatty acid synthesis, transfer and oxidation, in amino acid and glycerophospholipid metabolism, and in the glutaminolysis/TCA cycle. Conclusions: The disease type and time point-specific metabolic alterations observed in pediatric ALL are of particular interest as they may offer potential for the discovery of new prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Acoustic Radiation Forced Impulse of the Liver and the Spleen, Combined with Spleen Dimension and Platelet Count in New Ratio Scores, Identifies High-Risk Esophageal Varices in Well-Compensated Cirrhotic Patients
Authors: Vainieri Antonio F. M. , Brando Elisa , De Vincentis Antonio , Di Pasquale Giulia , Flagiello Valentina , Gallo Paolo , Barone Francesca , Massaro Cenere Teresa , Di Matteo Evelyn , Picardi Antonio , Galati Giovanni
Published: March 2024

Acoustic radiation forced impulse (ARFI) is an integrated ultrasound method, measuring stiffness by point shear wave elastography. To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the ARFI of the liver and the spleen, combined with spleen dimension and platelet count, in predicting high-risk esophageal varices (HRVs) in cirrhotic patients, a prospective and cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2017 and February 2021. The following ratio scores were calculated based on ARFI measurements: ALSDP (ARFI Liver–Spleen Diameter-to-Platelet Ratio Score), ASSDP (ARFI Spleen–Spleen Diameter-to-Platelet Ratio Score), ASSAP (ARFI Spleen–Spleen Area-to-Platelet Ratio Score), and ALSAP (ARFI Liver–Spleen Area-to-Platelet Ratio Score). In 100 enrolled subjects, spleen ARFI, ASSDP, and ASSAP were significantly associated with HRVs in the prospective short- and long-term follow-ups and in the cross-sectional study (p < 0.05), while ALSDP and ALSAP were associated with HRVs only in the prospective long-term follow-up and cross-sectional study (p< 0.05). ASSAP was the best ARFI ratio score for HRVs at the long-term follow-up [value of area under curve (AUC) = 0.88], although all the ARFI ratio scores performed better than individual liver and spleen ARFI (AUC > 0.7). In our study, ARFI ratio scores can predict, in well-compensated cirrhotic patients, the risk of developing HVRs in short- and long-term periods.
Supporting Malaria Diagnosis Using Deep Learning and Data Augmentation
Authors: Hoyos Kenia , Hoyos William
Published: March 2024

Malaria is an infection caused by the Plasmodium parasite that has a major epidemiological, social, and economic impact worldwide. Conventional diagnosis of the disease is based on microscopic examination of thick blood smears. This analysis can be time-consuming, which is key to generate prevention strategies and adequate treatment to avoid the complications associated with the disease. To address this problem, we propose a deep learning-based approach to detect not only malaria parasites but also leukocytes to perform parasite/μL blood count. We used positive and negative images with parasites and leukocytes. We performed data augmentation to increase the size of the dataset. The YOLOv8 algorithm was used for model training and using the counting formula the parasites were counted. The results showed the ability of the model to detect parasites and leukocytes with 95% and 98% accuracy, respectively. The time spent by the model to report parasitemia is significantly less than the time spent by malaria experts. This type of system would be supportive for areas with poor access to health care. We recommend validation of such approaches on a large scale in health institutions.
Dental Developmental Defects: A Pilot Study to Examine the Prevalence and Etiology in a Population of Children between 2 and 15 Years of Age
Authors: Alvarado-Gaytán Jorge , Saavedra-Marbán Gloria , Velayos-Galán Laura , Gallardo-López Nuria E. , de Nova-García Manuel J. , Caleya Antonia M.
Published: March 2024

Dental development defects (DDDs) are quantitative and/or qualitative alterations produced during odontogenesis that affect both primary and permanent dentition. The etiology remains unknown, being associated with prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors. The aims were to identify the possible etiological factors, as well as the prevalence of DDDs in the primary and permanent dentition in a pediatric population. Two hundred twenty-one children between 2 and 15 years of age, patients of the master’s degree in Pediatric Dentistry of the Complutense University of Madrid, were reviewed. DDDs were observed in 60 children. Next, a cross-sectional, case-control study was carried out (60 children in the control group and 60 children in the case group). The parents or guardians completed a questionnaire aimed at identifying associated etiological factors. The prevalence of DDDs in patients attending our master’s program in both dentitions was 27.15%. Otitis, tonsillitis, high fevers, and medication intake stood out as the most relevant postnatal factors among cases and controls. The permanent maxillary right permanent central incisor and the primary mandibular right second molar were the most affected; there were no differences in relation to gender. One out of three children who presented DDDs in the primary dentition also presented DDDs in the permanent dentition. Prenatal and postnatal etiological factors showed a significant relationship with DDD alterations, considered risk factors for DDDs in both dentitions.
Advancing Cough Classification: Swin Transformer vs. 2D CNN with STFT and Augmentation Techniques
Authors: Ghourabi Malak , Mourad-Chehade Farah , Chkeir Aly
Published: March 2024

Coughing, a common symptom associated with various respiratory problems, is a crucial indicator for diagnosing and tracking respiratory diseases. Accurate identification and categorization of cough sounds, specially distinguishing between wet and dry coughs, are essential for understanding underlying health conditions. This research focuses on applying the Swin Transformer for classifying wet and dry coughs using short-time Fourier transform (STFT) representations. We conduct a comprehensive evaluation, including a performance comparison with a 2D convolutional neural network (2D CNN) model, and exploration of two distinct image augmentation methods: time mask augmentation and classical image augmentation techniques. Extensive hyperparameter tuning is performed to optimize the Swin Transformer’s performance, considering input size, patch size, embedding size, number of epochs, optimizer type, and regularization technique. Our results demonstrate the Swin Transformer’s superior accuracy, particularly when trained on classically augmented STFT images with optimized settings (320 × 320 input size, RMS optimizer, 8 × 8 patch size, and an embedding size of 128). The approach achieves remarkable testing accuracy (88.37%) and ROC AUC values (94.88%) on the challenging crowdsourced COUGHVID dataset, marking improvements of approximately 2.5% and 11% increases in testing accuracy and ROC AUC values, respectively, compared to previous studies. These findings underscore the efficacy of Swin Transformer architectures in disease detection and healthcare classification problems.
An Open-Source Face-Aware Capture System
Authors: Sarker Md Abdul Baset , Hossain S. M. Safayet , Venkataswamy Naveenkumar G. , Schuckers Stephanie , Imtiaz Masudul H.
Published: March 2024

Poor-quality facial images pose challenges in biometric authentication, especially in passport photo acquisition and recognition. This study proposes a novel and open-source solution to address these issues by introducing a real-time facial image quality analysis utilizing computer vision technology on a low-power single-board computer. We present an open-source complete hardware solution that consists of a Jetson processor, a 16 MP autofocus RGB camera, a custom enclosure, and a touch sensor LCD for user interaction. To ensure the integrity and confidentiality of captured facial data, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is used for secure image storage. Using the pilot data collection, the system demonstrated its ability to capture high-quality images, achieving 98.98% accuracy in storing images of acceptable quality. This open-source, readily deployable, secure system offers promising potential for diverse real-time applications such as passport verification, security systems, etc.
A High-Efficiency, Ultrawide-Dynamic-Range Radio Frequency Energy Harvester Using Adaptive Reconfigurable Technique
Authors: Lian Qian , Mei Niansong
Published: March 2024

This paper presents a novel adaptive reconfigurable rectifier architecture for radio frequency energy harvesting (RFEH); in addition, a new metric for high-efficiency dynamic range (DR) is proposed. The presented rectifier architecture is based on a double-sided diode-feedback cross-coupled differential-drive rectifier (CCDR) structure incorporating self-body bias for reconfigurable operation. An adaptive structure based on a Schmitt trigger is proposed to adaptively switch the rectifier connection without auxiliary voltage (Vaux), with two rectifier stages in parallel at low power and in series at high power. The system is simulated at a 180 nm CMOS process and the results show more than 17 dB DR at 900 MHz, with efficiency higher than 50% at a 100 kΩ load.
Color Face Image Generation with Improved Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Chang Yeong-Hwa , Chung Pei-Hua , Chai Yu-Hsiang , Lin Hung-Wei
Published: March 2024

This paper focuses on the development of an improved Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) specifically designed for generating color portraits from sketches. The construction of the system involves using a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) computing host as the primary unit for model training. The tasks that require high-performance calculations are handed over to the GPU host, while the user host only needs to perform simple image processing and use the model trained by the GPU host to generate images. This arrangement reduces the computer specification requirements for the user. This paper will conduct a comparative analysis of various types of generative networks which will serve as a reference point for the development of the proposed Generative Adversarial Network. The application part of the paper focuses on the practical implementation and utilization of the developed Generative Adversarial Network for the generation of multi-skin tone portraits. By constructing a face dataset specifically designed to incorporate information about ethnicity and skin color, this approach can overcome a limitation associated with traditional generation networks, which typically generate only a single skin color.
A Unified Design Method for Multi-Source Complementary Heating Systems Based on a Transient Simulation
Authors: Zhang Linyang , Guo Jianxiang , Li Jianan , Yu Xinran , Hui Gang , Zhong Jinqin , Liu Na , Ren Dongdong , Wang Jijin
Published: March 2024

Combining various sources to create a complementary system plays a key role in utilizing clean energy sources economically and mitigating air pollution during the heating season in Northern China. However, there is a lack of unified and reasonable design methods for such systems, resulting in the excessive capacity of equipment and the waste of energy. In this work, a unified design method is proposed to solve this problem. A generalized structure and its mathematical model are firstly established, enabling transient simulations on the TRNSYS platform. Then, a preliminary screening criterion for the system composition a general operation strategy is proposed. Finally, the system configuration is optimized by using the genetic algorithm. The method is successfully applied in a demonstration project in China. The results show that the coupling system consisting of a biomass boiler (384 kW), an air-source heat pump (430 kW) and a ground-source heat pump (369 kW) is the most economical, and the annual cost is 26.7% lower than that of a single-equipment system. Additionally, the sensitive factors that strongly affect the optimization results are explored. The establishment of the generalized structure and its mathematical model enables the quick calculation and convenient comparison of various schemes, and simplifies the complicated optimization problem of the capacity optimization of each piece of equipment. The proposed design method can reduce the annual cost to a minimum value, and thus it provides a theoretical basis for the large-scale application of clean energy sources for heating.
Global Maximum Power Point Tracking of Photovoltaic Module Arrays Based on an Improved Intelligent Bat Algorithm
Authors: Chao Kuei-Hsiang , Bau Thi Thanh Truc
Published: March 2024

In this paper, a method based on an improved intelligent bat algorithm (IIBA) in cooperation with a voltage and current sensor was applied in maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for a photovoltaic module array (PVMA), where the power generation performance of a PVMA was enhanced. Due to the partial shading of the PVMA from climate changes or the surrounding environment, multiple peak values were generated on the power–voltage (P-V) curve, where the conventional MPPT technology could only track the local maximum power point (LMPP), hence the reduction in output power of PVMAs. Therefore, the IIBA-based MPPT was proposed in this paper to solve such issues and to ensure the capability of a PVMA in tracking the global maximum power point (GMPP) and utilization for enhancing the output power of a PVMA. Firstly, the Matlab/Simulink software was used to establish a boost converter model that simulated the actual 4-series–3-parallel PVMA under different shaded conditions, where the P-V curve with 1-peak, 2-peak, 3-peak and 4-peak values were generated. Subsequently, the tracking paces of the conventional bat algorithm (BA) were adjusted according to the gradient of the P-V curve for a PVMA. At the same time, 0.8 times the maximum power point (MPP) voltage Vmp under standard test conditions (STCs) for a PVMA was set as the initial tracking voltage. Lastly, the simulation results proved that under different environmental impacts, the proposed IIBA led to better performances in tracking both dynamic and steady responses.
A Systematic Analysis of Security Metrics for Industrial Cyber–Physical Systems
Authors: Gori Giacomo , Rinieri Lorenzo , Melis Andrea , Al Sadi Amir , Callegati Franco , Prandini Marco
Published: March 2024

Nowadays, as the cyber-threat landscape is evolving and digital assets are proliferating and becoming more and more interconnected with the internet and heterogeneous devices, it is fundamental to be able to obtain a sensible measure of the security of devices, networks, and systems. Industrial cyber–physical systems (ICPSs), in particular, can be exposed to high operational risks that entail damage to revenues, assets, and even people. A way to overcome the open question of measuring security is with the use of security metrics. With metrics it is possible to rely on proven indicators that benchmark systems, identify vulnerabilities, and show practical data to assess the risk. However, security metrics are often proposed with specific contexts in mind, and a set of them specifically crafted for ICPSs is not explicitly available in the literature. For this reason, in this work, we analyze the current state of the art in the selection of security metrics and we propose a systematic methodology to gather, filter, and validate security metrics. Then, we apply the procedure to the ICPS domain, gathering almost 300 metrics from the literature, analyzing the domain to identify the properties useful to filter the metrics, and applying a validation framework to assess the validity of the filtered metrics, obtaining a final set capable of measuring the security of ICPSs from different perspectives.
Ground Fault in Medium-Voltage Power Networks with an Isolated Neutral Point: Spectral and Wavelet Analysis of Selected Cases in an Example Industrial Network Modeled in the ATP-EMTP Package
Authors: Kuliński Krzysztof , Heyduk Adam
Published: March 2024

The paper presents some case spectral analysis of zero-sequence voltages and currents in an example industrial power distribution network. The network layout is based on typical power delivery networks in underground coal mines. Ground fault simulations have been made using an ATP/EMTP program. Due to the high environmental risks, the reliability of the protection relay operation related to their selectivity plays an important role. This paper tries to find the reasons for nonselective operation and unnecessary tripping in extensive mine cable networks, particularly with large power sources of higher-order harmonics. It was found that in transient states—due to the decaying oscillations occurring in complex RLC circuits—the results of short time measurements of the criterion values for ground fault protective relays can be overestimated (particularly for small values of ground resistance) and lead to nonselective tripping of a healthy cable line. Therefore, it might be advisable to increase the integration time used for measuring rms values. Also, if there is a significant level of higher harmonics in the industrial network generated by high-power converters, it should be noted that the higher harmonics of the ground fault current and currents measured by ground fault protection relays assume much higher values, which may also cause nonselective tripping. In this case, it may be advisable to use higher harmonic filters in the measuring circuits and to select a sufficiently high sampling frequency in the digital protective relays.
Electrolyte Leakage in Cylindrical Lithium-Ion Batteries Subjected to Temperature Cycling
Authors: Maddipatla Sahithi , Kong Lingxi , Pecht Michael
Published: March 2024

In transportation and operation, lithium-ion batteries can be exposed to environments where the temperature exceeds 75 °C, compromising seal integrity and leading to electrolyte leakage and safety issues. Standards introduced by regulatory bodies require temperature testing, including temperature cycling tests. This study examines cylindrical battery electrolyte leakage due to temperature cycling between 25 °C and 80 °C through capacity tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, computed tomography scans, and thermal analysis. Different thermal expansions among battery cap elements were identified as the cause of leakage. The thermal test parameters and requirements in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria Section 38.3 were reviewed, revealing the 72 °C upper-temperature limit and the 24 h storage period after temperature cycling fail to effectively qualify lithium-ion batteries for real-world applications.
Comparative Analysis Using Multiple Regression Models for Forecasting Photovoltaic Power Generation
Authors: Abdullah Burhan U Din , Khanday Shahbaz Ahmad , Islam Nair Ul , Lata Suman , Fatima Hoor , Nengroo Sarvar Hussain
Published: March 2024

Effective machine learning regression models are useful toolsets for managing and planning energy in PV grid-connected systems. Machine learning regression models, however, have been crucial in the analysis, forecasting, and prediction of numerous parameters that support the efficient management of the production and distribution of green energy. This article proposes multiple regression models for power prediction using the Sharda University PV dataset (2022 Edition). The proposed regression model is inspired by a unique data pre-processing technique for forecasting PV power generation. Performance metrics, namely mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), R2-score, and predicted vs. actual value plots, have been used to compare the performance of the different regression. Simulation results show that the multilayer perceptron regressor outperforms the other algorithms, with an RMSE of 17.870 and an R2 score of 0.9377. Feature importance analysis has been performed to determine the most significant features that influence PV power generation.
Potential Health Benefits of Fermented Vegetables with Additions of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG and Polyphenol Vitexin Based on Their Antioxidant Properties and Prohealth Profiles
Authors: Ngamsamer Chanya , Muangnoi Chawanphat , Tongkhao Kullanart , Sae-Tan Sudathip , Treesuwan Khemmapas , Sirivarasai Jintana
Published: March 2024

Fermented vegetables are increasingly being recognized as an important dietary component, particularly of plant-based diets, to achieve a sustainable healthy gut because of their microbial diversity and antioxidant properties. However, the functional relevance of fermented vegetables varies based on the raw ingredients used and nutrient supplementation. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the microbial diversity and antioxidant activity of three formulas of fermented vegetables (standard, supplemented with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, and supplemented with polyphenol vitexin) at days 0 and 15. The bacterial community profiles were determined through 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, and antioxidant activity was analyzed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and by measuring the oxygen radical absorbance capacity, the ferric reducing ability of plasma, and the total phenolic content. The results confirm microbial diversity in the taxonomic composition of the different formulas of fermented vegetables, with different bacteria predominating, particularly lactic acid bacteria including the genera Weissella, Pedicocccus, Leuconostoc, and Lactobacillus. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed significant differences in the specific bacteria present in the different formulas of fermented vegetables that conferred antioxidant capacity. Our findings show that supplementation with L. rhamnosus GG and polyphenol vitexin may effectively enhance the functional relevance of foods by promoting cellular protection against oxidative stress.
Comparison of Physical and Compositional Attributes between Commercial Plant-Based and Dairy Yogurts
Authors: Marlapati Likhitha , Basha Rabia F. S. , Navarre Amelia , Kinchla Amanda J. , Nolden Alissa A.
Published: March 2024

A primary strategy led by the food industry to improve the sustainability of the agricultural food supply is the development of modern plant-based alternatives. The information provided via marketing and product packaging provides consumers with the expectation that these products provide a similar product experience to conventional products, yet it is not well understood whether these commercial alternative products are comparable to traditional animal-based products. To aid in developing improved plant-based products, this study aimed to compare the quality and physical attributes of commercially available plant-based and dairy yogurts. Using instrumental methods, commercially available yogurt products were analyzed for their pH, titratable acidity, color, water activity, moisture content, and rheology, which included 13 plant-based (almond, cashew, coconut, oat, soy) and 8 whole-milk dairy yogurts. The present study reveals that the plant-based and dairy yogurts had no significant differences in pH, lactic acid, water activity, or moisture content. However, there were significant differences in the color and texture properties between the plant-based and dairy yogurts. Additionally, significant differences were observed across the plant-based yogurt products in terms of their color and texture properties. This highlights the need for additional studies to determine how individual ingredients influence the physical characteristics and textural properties to direct the development of plant-based yogurts. Improving upon the physicochemical properties of plant-based yogurt may encourage more consumers to adopt a more sustainable diet.
An Innovative High-Strength Double-Network Hydrogel for Use as a Drilling Fluid Plugging Agent
Authors: He Yanfeng , Guo Jing , Bai Jinmei , Hua Le , Zhang Yisong , Huang Zhiqiang , Pan Letian , Hong Zhan
Published: March 2024

The problem of wellbore leakage is a key challenge in the petroleum industry, limiting drilling progress and increasing drilling costs. Plugging agents play a role in repairing leaks and fractures; however, traditional plugging materials generally have low mechanical strength, poor adaptability to permeable strata, limited water absorption and expansion capabilities, and poor temperature and salt resistance. To address these limitations, a pioneering polyacrylic acid-polyacrylamide (PAA/PAM) double-network hydrogel was synthesized through aqueous solution polymerization in this study. Its strength, water absorption, expansion, temperature resistance, salt resistance, and plugging effectiveness were comprehensively evaluated. The results demonstrate that good mechanical performance is exhibited by the synthesized hydrogel, capable of withstanding a maximum stress of approximately 3.5 MPa at a 90% strain. Excellent water absorption and expansion are observed in the synthesized double-network hydrogel, with a maximum expansion of 6 times within 30 min and 8 times after 2 h. Test results show that the hydrogel had good temperature resistance and salt resistance, maintaining a strength grade E within the experimental range. The simulated evaluation of the plugging experiment indicates that, under conditions of 130 °C and 6 MPa, the leakage rate of the drilling fluid is maintained below 5 mL/min when the double-network hydrogel is utilized. From the above experimental results, it can be illustrated that excellent mechanical properties, impressive water absorption, and expansion capabilities are exhibited by the synthesized double-network hydrogel. Furthermore, the high-temperature resistance and salt resistance of the double-network hydrogel were also demonstrated. Therefore, In comparison to traditional plugging materials, significant promise is held by this newly synthesized double-network hydrogel material as a plugging agent in drilling fluids.
Adding Gusts to a Mobile Wind Tunnel: Experimental Setup and Effect of Simulated Gusts on Horizontal Transport
Authors: Marzen Miriam
Published: March 2024

Wind erosivity has an intermittent character due to complicated interactions between air streams, surface characteristics, and sediment particles. To experimentally investigate the effect of a sudden and local gust on sediment entrainment, a simple setup was installed in a mobile wind tunnel. One, three, and five consecutive gusts were applied and compared with standard test conditions with steady wind. The applied wind was characterized by total test duration (s), duration of gust (s), mean velocity, peak velocity (m s−1), gust factor, and transport capacity based on sediment-specific threshold velocity. The eroded material was collected by sediment containers. The results suggest that 1. the application of gusts inside the mobile wind tunnel setup is feasible but related to uncertainty concerning the applied wind conditions, and 2. the horizontal transport rate increased with the number of applied gusts. While the highest rates were measured during five gusts on sand, the relative effect of gusts was most accentuated in the comparison of one gust to no gust on loam. The findings highlight how temporally and spatially limited gust impact causes extreme particle entrainment. These particles may subsequently either start erosion or enter vertical dust transport.
Exploring Travel Mobility in Integrated Usage of Dockless Bike-Sharing and the Metro Based on Multisource Data
Authors: Zhang Hui , Cui Yu , Liu Yanjun , Jia Jianmin , Shi Baiying , Yu Xiaohua
Published: March 2024

Dockless bike-sharing (DBS) is a green and flexible travel mode, which has been considered as an effective way to address the first-and-last mile problem. A two-level process is developed to identify the integrated DBS–metro trips. Then, DBS trip data, metro passenger data, socioeconomic data, and built environment data in Shanghai are used to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of integrated trips and the correlations between the integrated trips and the explanatory variables. Next, multicollinearity tests and autocorrelation tests are conducted to select the best explanatory variables. Finally, a geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model is adopted to examine the determinants of integrated trips over space and time. The results show that the integrated trips account for 16.8% of total DBS trips and that departure-transfer trips are greater than arrival-transfer trips. Moreover, the integrated trips are concentrated in the central area of the city. In terms of impact factors, it is found that GDP, government count, and restaurant count are negatively correlated with the number of integrated trips, while house price, entropy of land use, transfer accessibility index, and metro passenger flow show positive relationships. In addition, the results show that the GTWR model outperforms the OLS model and the GWR model.
The Role of Risk Factor Modification in Atrial Fibrillation: Outcomes in Catheter Ablation
Authors: Hussain Shahana , Srinivasan Neil , Ahsan Syed , Papageorgiou Nikolaos
Published: March 2024

The management of atrial fibrillation has evolved significantly over the last ten years with advancements in medical and catheter ablation approaches, but these have limited success when used in isolation. Trends in the management of lifestyle modifications have surfaced, as it is now better understood that modifiable risk factors contribute significantly to the development and propagation of atrial fibrillation, as well as failure of treatment. International guidelines have integrated the role of lifestyle modification in the management of atrial fibrillation and specifically in the persistent form of atrial fibrillation; these guidelines must be addressed prior to considering catheter ablation. Effective risk factor modification is critical in increasing the likelihood of an arrhythmia-free survival following catheter ablation.
FLAG/FLAG-Ida Regimen in Secondary and Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia—Even in the Era of New Treatment Modalities Still a Significant Player
Authors: Anžej Doma Saša , Sever Matjaž , Jakoš Gorazd , Podgornik Helena
Published: March 2024

(1) Background: Relapsed/refractory (r/r) and secondary acute myeloid leukemia are highlighted by chemoresistance and poor outcomes. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of fludarabine, cytarabine, and granulocyte-colony stimulation factor (FLAG) with or without idarubicin (-Ida) and to discuss novel therapies in this setting. (2) Methods: Clinical and cytogenetic data on 130 consecutive patients with r/r and secondary AML treated at our center were retrospectively analyzed. (3) Results: There were 48, 56, and 26 patients with relapsed, refractory, and secondary AML, respectively. The median age was 60 years. The overall response was achieved in 70% of patients. The median overall survival (OS) time for the whole group was 9.4 months. In total, 47% of patients proceeded to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) and these patients had significantly prolonged OS compared to the others (63 months vs. 4.2 months; p < 0.001). Among the variables, including age, FLT3 mutation status, European LeukemiaNet (ELN) 2022 classification risk, FLAG vs. FLAG-Ida, and aHSCT, a multivariate analysis revealed that only aHSCT significantly influenced overall survival. (4) Conclusions: FLAG(-Ida) chemotherapy remains an effective salvage chemotherapy for patients with r/r and secondary AML with a plan of proceeding to aHSCT.
Different Therapeutic Response to Anti-TNF Drugs in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis Depending on Their Clinical Profile: An Unsupervised Cluster Analysis
Authors: Priego-Pérez Carmen , Puche-Larrubia María Ángeles , Ladehesa-Pineda Lourdes , Calvo-Guitérrez Jerusalem , Ortega-Castro Rafaela , Escudero-Contreras Alejandro , Barbarroja Nuria , Collantes-Estévez Eduardo , López-Medina Clementina
Published: March 2024

Background: The objectives were as follows: (a) to identify, among patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), “clusters” of patients based on the presence of peripheral and extra-musculoskeletal manifestations (EMMs) and (b) to compare the effectiveness of the first anti-TNF drugs across the different clusters after 6 months of follow-up. Methods: An observational and retrospective study of 90 axSpA patients naïve to bDMARDs was conducted. An unsupervised cluster analysis using the “k-means” technique was performed using variables of peripheral and EMMs. Baseline clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated, and the response to anti-TNF treatment (considering responders as those with an improvement ≥1.1 for the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) or ≥2.0 for the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI)) was compared across the clusters after 6 months of follow-up. Results: Two clusters were identified: cluster 1 (n = 14), with a higher prevalence of peripheral manifestations, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and HLA-B27-positive status, and a lower prevalence of uveitis in comparison with cluster 2 (n = 76). Patients from cluster 1 experienced a more pronounced absolute improvement in ASDAS and BASDAI indices after 6 months. The percentage of responders after 6 months of follow-up was superior in cluster 1 compared to cluster 2 (85.7% vs. 48.7%, p = 0.011). Conclusion: This study suggests the existence of two clinical profiles in axSpA patients according to the peripheral and EMMs, with higher rates of anti-TNF effectiveness after 6 months in those with a greater presence of peripheral features.
Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases Awareness and Management among Physicians Treating Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An IG-IBD Survey
Authors: Vernero Marta , Bezzio Cristina , Ribaldone Davide G. , Caprioli Flavio A. , Fantini Massimo C. , Festa Stefano , Macaluso Fabio S. , Orlando Ambrogio , Pugliese Daniela , Renna Sara , Rispo Antonio , Savarino Edoardo V. , Variola Angela , Saibeni Simone
Published: March 2024

(1) Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequently associated to other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). This study aims at assessing physicians’ awareness of the issue and the current status of IMID management. (2) Methods: A web-based survey was distributed to all 567 physicians affiliated to IG-IBD. (3) Results: A total of 249 (43.9%) physicians completed the survey. Over 90% of the responding physicians were gastroenterology specialists, primarily working in public hospitals. About 51.0% of the physicians had access to an integrated outpatient clinic, where gastroenterologists collaborated with rheumatologists and 28.5% with dermatologists. However, for 36.5% of physicians, integrated ambulatory care was not feasible. Designated appointment slots for rheumatologists and dermatologists were accessible to 72.2% and 58.2% of physicians, respectively, while 20.1% had no access to designated slots. About 5.2% of physicians report investigating signs or symptoms of IMIDs only during the initial patient assessment. However, 87.9% inquired about the presence of concomitant IMIDs at the initial assessment and actively investigated any signs or symptoms during subsequent clinical examination. (4) Conclusions: While Italian physicians recognize the importance of IMIDs associated with IBD, organizational challenges impede the attainment of optimal multidisciplinary collaboration. Efforts should be directed toward enhancing practical frameworks to improve the overall management of these complex conditions.
Effect of Nasal High Flow (NHF) on Right Heart Function in Stable Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension of Different WHO Classes
Authors: Bräunlich Jens , Seyfarth Hans-Jürgen , Wirtz Hubert
Published: March 2024

Background: Nasal high flow (NHF) has various effects on the respiratory system in acute and chronic conditions. There are initial reports that NHF is also able to influence cardiac function in acute decompensation. This study was designed to clarify whether NHF has an influence on the right heart in stable patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension. Methods: Forty-one stable patients from different pulmonary hypertension (PH) WHO classes were recruited. Most patients were assigned to WHO classes 1 and 3. All received a right heart catheterization and blood gas analysis. Oxygenation was kept constant. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), wedge pressure (PC), cardiac output (CO), diastolic pulmonary gradient (DPG), pulmonary arterial resistance (PVR) and other parameters were determined. The patients then used NHF at 35 L/min for 20 min, after which the right heart catheter measurements were repeated with ongoing NHF therapy. Results: In the entire cohort and in the subgroups, there were no changes in right heart function or cardiac ejection fraction. The blood gases did not change either. Conclusions: Thus, there is no effect of NHF on right heart function in stable patients with PH.
Comparison of Executive Function Skills between Patients with Cerebral Palsy and Typically Developing Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zimonyi Nóra , Kói Tamás , Dombrádi Viktor , Imrei Marcell , Nagy Rita , Pulay Márk Ágoston , Lang Zsolt , Hegyi Péter , Takacs Zsofia K. , Túri Ibolya
Published: March 2024

Background: Children with CP show deficits in executive function compared to their typically developing peers, based on the majority of the available evidence. However, the magnitude of these deficits, as well as the proportions of the shortfalls in the three main components, have not yet been examined. This is the first meta-analysis to synthesize evidence on the magnitude of differences between patients with cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing populations in different components of executive function skills (working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility), and thus makes recommendations on which areas of executive functioning are in greatest need of intervention. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search of four databases for studies that measured executive functions in these two groups until 31 August 2023. We calculated the standardized mean difference (Hedges’ g), an average effect size overall, and for the three components of executive function skills separately, we used several moderator analyses, including methodological differences between the primary studies. Results: Fifteen articles were included in the meta-analysis. The average mean difference in executive functioning overall was large (g+ = −0.82). Furthermore, large significant differences were found in working memory (g+ = −0.92) and inhibitory control (g+ = −0.82) and a moderate difference was identified in cognitive flexibility (g+ = −0.57). In addition, results of moderator analyses reveal the importance of a rigorous matching of control group participants and CP patients. Conclusions: The results demonstrate a severe impairment in all executive functions among CP patients compared to typically developing peers, which do not decrease over time.
Hormone Receptor-Positive/HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Hormone Therapy and Anti-HER2 Treatment: An Update on Treatment Strategies
Authors: Tommasi Chiara , Airò Giulia , Pratticò Fabiana , Testi Irene , Corianò Matilde , Pellegrino Benedetta , Denaro Nerina , Demurtas Laura , Dessì Mariele , Murgia Sara , Mura Giovanni , Wekking Demi , Scartozzi Mario , Musolino Antonino , Solinas Cinzia
Published: March 2024

Hormone receptor (HR)-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer represents a distinct subtype expressing estrogen and progesterone receptors with an overexpression of HER2. Approximately 14% of female breast cancer cases are HER2-positive, with the majority being HR-positive. These tumors show a cross-talk between the hormonal and HER2 pathways; the interaction has implications for the treatment options for the disease. In this review, we analyze the biology of HR-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer and summarize the evidence concerning the standard of care options both in neoadjuvant/adjuvant settings and in advanced disease. Additionally, we focus on new trials and drugs for HR-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer and the new entity: HER2-low breast cancer.