bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum and Urinary Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Concentrations in Dehydrated Horses
Authors: van Spijk Julia N. , Lo Hsiao-Chien , Merle Roswitha , Richter Ina-Gabriele , Diemar Anne , Stoeckle Sabita D. , Gehlen Heidrun
Published: December 2023

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is increased in renal tissue in human kidney disease, but its role as a biomarker for kidney disease has not been fully evaluated yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum MMP-9 (sMMP-9) and urinary MMP-9 (uMMP-9) concentrations in dehydrated horses. Dehydrated horses were prospectively included. Blood and urinary samples were taken at admission, and after 12, 24, and 48 h (t0, t12, t24, t48), an anti-equine MMP-9 sandwich ELISA was used. Four healthy horses served as the controls. Serum creatinine, urea, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), urine-specific gravity, urinary protein concentration, fractional sodium excretion, and urinary gamma–glutamyl transferase/creatinine ratio (uGGT/Cr) were measured. Statistical analysis included a repeated measures ANOVA and mixed linear regression model. Overall, 40 dehydrated horses were included (mild dehydration 13/40, moderate 16/40, severe 11/40). Acute kidney injury was found in 1/40 horses; 7/40 horses showed elevated serum creatinine, 11/40 horses elevated serum SDMA, and 5/28 elevated uGGT/Cr at presentation. In dehydrated horses, sMMP-9 concentrations were significantly higher on t0 (median: 589 ng/mL, range: 172–3597 ng/mL) compared to t12 (340 ng/mL, 132–1213 ng/mL), t24 (308 ng/mL, 162–1048 ng/mL), and t48 (258 ng/mL, 130–744 ng/mL). In healthy horses, sMMP-9 (239 ng/mL, 142–508 ng/mL) showed no differences over time or compared to patients. uMMP-9 and uMMP-9/creatinine did not differ over time or to the controls. No differences were found between dehydration groups. Urinary casts (p = 0.001; estimate = 135) and uGGT/Cr (p = 0.03; estimate = 6.5) correlated with sMMP-9. Serum urea was associated with uMMP-9/Cr (p = 0.01, estimate 0.9). In conclusion, sMMP-9 was elevated at arrival in dehydrated patients compared to later measurements. Correlations to uGGT/Cr and urinary casts need further evaluation.
Neutralization of Different Variants of SARS-CoV-2 by a F(ab′)2 Preparation from Sera of Horses Immunized with the Viral Receptor Binding Domain
Authors: Rodriguez-Nuñez Mariajosé , Cepeda Mariana del Valle , Bello Carlos , Lopez Miguel Angel , Sulbaran Yoneira , Loureiro Carmen Luisa , Liprandi Ferdinando , Jaspe Rossana Celeste , Pujol Flor Helene , Rangel Héctor Rafael
Published: December 2023

The Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is the functional region of the viral Spike protein (S), which is involved in cell attachment to target cells. The virus has accumulated progressively mutations in its genome, particularly in the RBD region, many of them associated with immune evasion of the host neutralizing antibodies. Some of the viral lineages derived from this evolution have been classified as Variant of Interest (VOI) or Concern (VOC). The neutralizing capacity of a F(ab′)2 preparation from sera of horses immunized with viral RBD was evaluated by lytic plaque reduction assay against different SARS-CoV-2 variants. A F(ab′)2 preparation of a hyperimmune serum after nine immunizations with RBD exhibited a high titer of neutralizing antibodies against the ancestral-like strain (1/18,528). A reduction in the titer of the F(ab’)2 preparation was observed against the different variants tested compared to the neutralizing activity against the ancestral-like strain. The highest reduction in the neutralization titer was observed for the Omicron VOC (4.7-fold), followed by the Mu VOI (2.6), Delta VOC (1.8-fold), and Gamma VOC (1.5). Even if a progressive reduction in the neutralizing antibodies titer against the different variants evaluated was observed, the serum still exhibited a neutralizing titer against the Mu VOI and the Omicron VOC (1/7113 and 1/3918, respectively), the evaluated strains most resistant to neutralization. Therefore, the preparation retained neutralizing activity against all the strains tested.
Managing Antibiotic Shortages in Inpatient Care—A Review of Recent Years in Comparison with the Hungarian Status
Authors: Lőrinczy Lilla , Turbucz Béla , Hankó Balázs , Zelkó Romána
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to summarize the screened articles on antibiotic shortages, compare them with the Hungarian Health Authority database, and identify the overlapping substances in shortages and handling practices. A systematic analysis was conducted using the provided keywords to filter out appropriate studies and incorporate them into this review. The studies were searched in the following databases: Reaxys, PubMed, Ovid, ScienceDirect, and Embase. The search time interval was 2000–2023, with the following keywords used: “antibiotic”, “shortage”, and “in clinic”. The shortage data for Hungary were collected and integrated within the specified timeframe. This was achieved through a comprehensive screening method to ensure comparability between the data from the literature review and the database. Based on the comparison, we have identified two groups of ingredients, the overlapping and not-overlapping ingredients. The mitigation practices were also categorized and evaluated to recommend good shortage management practices for Hungarian decision-makers and healthcare professionals. Our key conclusion was to enhance a shortage risk-based approach, including the legislative, health authority, and healthcare professionals responsible for therapeutic protocol and procuring or producing the necessary product. A widely approved shortage risk-based framework should be created to mitigate the impacts, including communication protocols, individual therapy planning, compounding of magistral products, and antimicrobial stewardship programs. The most common mitigation strategy is the substitution with available alternatives, but besides, a good understanding and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs is also crucial.
In Vitro Activities of Oxazolidinone Antibiotics Alone and in Combination with C-TEMPO against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms
Authors: Ndukwe Audrey R. N. , Qin Jilong , Wiedbrauk Sandra , Boase Nathan R. B. , Fairfull-Smith Kathryn E. , Totsika Makrina
Published: December 2023

Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a global health concern. The propensity of MRSA to form biofilms is a significant contributor to its pathogenicity. Strategies to treat biofilms often involve small molecules that disperse the biofilm into planktonic cells. Linezolid and, by extension, theoxazolidinones have been developed to treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria such as MRSA. However, the clinical development of these antibiotics has mainly assessed the susceptibility of planktonic cells to the drug. Previous studies evaluating the anti-biofilm activity of theoxazolidinones have mainly focused on the biofilm inhibition of Enterococcus faecalis and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, with only a few studies investigating the activity of oxazolidinones for eradicating established biofilms for these species. Very little is known about the ability of oxazolidinones to eradicate MRSA biofilms. In this work, five oxazolidinones were assessed against MRSA biofilms using a minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) assay. All oxazolidinones had inherent antibiofilm activity. However, only ranbezolid could completely eradicate MRSA biofilms at clinically relevant concentrations. The susceptibility of the MRSA biofilms to ranbezolid was synergistically enhanced by coadministration with the nitroxide biofilm dispersal agent C-TEMPO. We presume that ranbezolid acts as a dual warhead drug, which combines the mechanism of action of the oxazolidinones with a nitric oxide donor or cytotoxic drug.
In Vitro Evaluation of Increasing Avibactam Concentrations on Ceftazidime Activity against Ceftazidime/Avibactam-Susceptible and Resistant KPC-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates
Authors: Palombo Marta , Secci Benedetta , Bovo Federica , Gatti Milo , Ambretti Simone , Gaibani Paolo
Published: December 2023

The novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations (βL-βLICs) are one of the last-line resources available against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. Among βL-βLICs, ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ-AVI) demonstrated strong activity against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). Avibactam was proven to restore bactericidal activity of ceftazidime, inhibiting both KPC and OXA-48-like β-lactamases. Despite this, emergence of CAZ-AVI-resistant strains in Enterobacterales has been reported. Herein, we evaluated the in vitro ceftazidime activity in the presence of increasing concentrations of avibactam by the broth microdilution method against CAZ-AVI-susceptible and resistant genome-characterized KPC-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) clinical isolates. Strains expressing KPC and co-expressing KPC/OXA-181 carbapenemase were selected on the basis of the different phenotypic traits for novel βL-βLICs and cefiderocol. Notably, avibactam at 8 mg/L maintained the MIC of ceftazidime above the clinical breakpoint in 14 out of 15 (93%) KPC-Kp resistant to CAZ-AVI. A high concentration of avibactam (i.e., 64 mg/L) is required to observe a bactericidal activity of ceftazidime against 9 out of 15 (60%) CAZ-AVI-resistant isolates. In vitro evaluation showed that with the increase in the concentration of avibactam, ceftazidime showed high activity against CAZ-AVI-susceptible strains. High concentrations of avibactam in vivo are required for ceftazidime to be active against CAZ-AVI-resistant KPC-Kp.
The Effects of Radix isatidis Raw Material on Egg Quality, Serum Biochemistry, Gut Morphology and Gut Flora
Authors: Li Pingping , Yan Zenghao , Shi Panpan , Wang Deqin , Liu Zhenhui , Lu Mengting , Li Chuyuan , Yin Yulong , Huang Peng
Published: December 2023

China produces more than 30 million tons of drug residues every year. Therefore, innovative solutions are needed to mitigate environmental damage. Certain plant compounds boost hens’ health and performance. Radix isatidis is promising for layer production. This study elucidates the multidimensional impact of Radix isatidis residual material (RIHR) on laying hens, focusing on the egg quality, intestinal health and the microbial landscape. A total of 288 55-week-old Peking powder laying hens with similar laying rates and body weights were randomly divided into four groups, with eight replicates per group and nine hens per replicate. The groups were divided into a control group, an RIHR low-dose group, a medium-dose group and a high-dose group according to a single-factor, completely randomized design. For the three RIHR treatment groups, the added amounts were 5 kg/t, 10 kg/t and 15 kg/t, respectively. Liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry (LC-MS), molecular docking, fluorescence quantitative PCR and other methods were used. The results showed that three main anti-inflammatory and antiviral compounds were identified in RIHR-indirubin (0.21 μg/g), deoxyvasicinone (0.18 μg/g) and epigoitrin (0.39 μg/g). RIHR significantly increased the eggshell thickness, Haugh unit and protein height (p < 0.05). It also had significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on ilea and ceca (p < 0.05). The microbial analysis demonstrated that RIHR supplementation led to a significant reduction in foregut Lactobacillus levels (p < 0.05). In the hindgut, a significant increase in pathogenic bacteria was observed (p < 0.05). The study concludes that RIHR’s anti-inflammatory compounds may directly act on the intestinal tract to modulate inflammation, highlighting its potential for targeted interventions in poultry health and nutrition.
Using the Weibull Accelerated Failure Time Regression Model to Predict Time to Health Events
Authors: Liu Enwu , Liu Ryan Yan , Lim Karen
Published: December 2023

Clinical prediction models are commonly utilized in clinical practice to screen high-risk patients. This enables healthcare professionals to initiate interventions aimed at delaying or preventing adverse medical events. Nevertheless, the majority of these models focus on calculating probabilities or risk scores for medical events. This information can pose challenges for patients to comprehend, potentially causing delays in their treatment decision-making process. Our paper presents a statistical methodology and protocol for the utilization of a Weibull accelerated failure time (AFT) model in predicting the time until a health-related event occurs. While this prediction technique is widely employed in engineering reliability studies, it is rarely applied to medical predictions, particularly in the context of predicting survival time. Furthermore, we offer a practical demonstration of the implementation of this prediction method using a publicly available dataset.
Application of Artificial Neural Networks to Islanding Detection in Distribution Grids: A Literature Review
Authors: Kaluđer Slaven , Fekete Krešimir , Čvek Kristijan , Klaić Zvonimir
Published: December 2023

Active distribution grids that contain energy sources (so-called distributed generation or DG) are nowadays a reality. Besides the many benefits DGs bring to the distribution grid, some challenges are associated with their integration. Since there are DGs now in the distribution grid, the occurrence of islanding operation is possible. Since an islanding operation can be dangerous, it is necessary to have an effective method to detect it. In the last decade, scientists have made a great effort to develop and test various islanding detection methods (IDMs). Many approaches have been tested, and the methods based on computational intelligence (CI) have shown great potential. Among them, artificial neural networks (ANNs) gained most of the research attention. This paper focuses on ANN application for islanding detection. It gives an exhaustive review of the ANN types used for islanding detection, the types of input data, and their transformation to fit the ANNs. Furthermore, various applications based on specific input data, preprocessing types, different learning algorithms, real-time implementation, and various distribution models used for ANN are reviewed. This paper investigates the potential of ANNs to enhance islanding detection accuracy, reduce non-detection zone (NDZ), and contribute to an overall efficient detection method.
Effect of the Addition of Brewers’ Spent Grain (BSG) on the Physicochemical and Consumer Liking Attributes of Croatian Indigenous Cooked Sausage “Bijela Krvavica”
Authors: Mastanjević Krešimir , Perković Irena , Škrivanko Mario , Kovačević Dragan , Biondić Helena , Habschied Kristina
Published: December 2023

This research aimed to investigate the effect of the addition of wet brewers’ spent grains (BSG) on the microbiological safety, and physicochemical and sensory attributes of “bijela krvavica” during seven-day storage at 4 °C. The addition of BSG to the samples of “bijela krvavica” statistically significantly (p < 0.05) affected the mass share of proteins and fat and increased the mass share of water. Increasing the mass share of BSG in “bijela krvavica” did not have a statistically significant (p < 0.05) effect on the mass share of collagen, or on the pH value and aw. Instrumentally determined lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) showed a decrease with the increase in mass share of wet BSG. Texture profile analysis (TPA) parameters hardness and chewiness also showed a decrease with the increase in BSG share (w = 0–9%) with statistical significance (p < 0.05). The overall liking of “bijela krvavica” samples showed the highest scores for the control sample, while 3% added BSG was rated as second best with no significant difference (p < 0.05). According to the consumer-generated sensory attributes (CATA) scoring, samples with 6 and 9% addition of BSG were described with attributes considered undesirable for meat products, such as “wheaty”, “pale color”, and “poor mouthfeel”. Also, the LogCFUg−1 of enterobacteria, sulfite-reducing clostridia, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes were not affected. The data obtained in this research indicate the possibility of producing safe “bijela krvavica” sausages with wet brewers’ spent grains without major changes in the physicochemical and sensory properties.
Novel Deep-Learning Approach for Automatic Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease from MRI
Authors: Altwijri Omar , Alanazi Reem , Aleid Adham , Alhussaini Khalid , Aloqalaa Ziyad , Almijalli Mohammed , Saad Ali
Published: December 2023

This study introduces a novel deep-learning methodology that is customized to automatically diagnose Alzheimer’s disease (AD) through the analysis of MRI datasets. The process of diagnosing AD via the visual examination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) presents considerable challenges. The visual diagnosis of mild to very mild stages of AD is challenging due to the MRI similarities observed between a brain that is aging normally and one that has AD. The detection of AD with extreme precision is critical during its early stages. Deep-learning techniques have recently been shown to be significantly more effective than human detection in identifying various stages of AD, enabling early-stage diagnosis. The aim of this research is to develop a deep-learning approach that utilizes pre-trained convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to accurately detect the severity levels of AD, particularly in situations where the quantity and quality of available datasets are limited. In this approach, the AD dataset is preprocessed via a refined image processing module prior to the training phase. The proposed method was compared to two well-known deep-learning algorithms (VGG16 and ResNet50) using four Kaggle AD datasets: one for the normal stage of the disease and three for the mild, very mild, and moderate stages, respectively. This allowed us to evaluate the effectiveness of the classification results. The three models were compared using six performance metrics. The results achieved with our approach indicate an overall detection accuracy of 99.3%, which is superior to the other existing models.
SE-Lightweight YOLO: Higher Accuracy in YOLO Detection for Vehicle Inspection
Authors: Niu Chengwen , Song Yunsheng , Zhao Xinyue
Published: December 2023

Against the backdrop of ongoing urbanization, issues such as traffic congestion and accidents are assuming heightened prominence, necessitating urgent and practical interventions to enhance the efficiency and safety of transportation systems. A paramount challenge lies in realizing real-time vehicle monitoring, flow management, and traffic safety control within the transportation infrastructure to mitigate congestion, optimize road utilization, and curb traffic accidents. In response to this challenge, the present study leverages advanced computer vision technology for vehicle detection and tracking, employing deep learning algorithms. The resultant recognition outcomes provide the traffic management domain with actionable insights for optimizing traffic flow management and signal light control through real-time data analysis. The study demonstrates the applicability of the SE-Lightweight YOLO algorithm, as presented herein, showcasing a noteworthy 95.7% accuracy in vehicle recognition. As a prospective trajectory, this research stands poised to serve as a pivotal reference for urban traffic management, laying the groundwork for a more efficient, secure, and streamlined transportation system in the future. To solve the existing vehicle detection problems in vehicle type recognition, recognition and detection accuracy need to be improved, alongside resolving the issues of slow detection speed, and others. In this paper, we made innovative changes based on the YOLOv7 framework: we added the SE attention transfer mechanism in the backbone module, and the model achieved better results, with a 1.2% improvement compared with the original YOLOv7. Meanwhile, we replaced the SPPCSPC module with the SPPFCSPC module, which enhanced the trait extraction of the model. After that, we applied the SE-Lightweight YOLO to the field of traffic monitoring. This can assist transportation-related personnel in traffic monitoring and aid in creating big data on transportation. Therefore, this research has a good application prospect.
Possible Approaches to Studying the Influence of Magnetic Fields and Mechanical Effects on the Physicochemical Properties of Aqueous IgG Colloids
Authors: Nagaev Egor I. , Molkova Elena A. , Pustovoy Vladimir I. , Matveeva Tatyana A. , Zakharov Dmitry A. , Simakin Alexander V. , Stepanova Evgenia V. , Semenova Natalia A. , Reut Veronika E. , Kalinitchenko Valery P. , Kozlov Valery A. , Bunkin Nikolai F.
Published: December 2023

The influence of various mechanical influences (transfusion, stirring, vibration, shaking, etc.) and magnetic installations (used in the application of spin chemistry methods) on colloidal solutions of protein and water, which are often used in pharmaceutical production, was studied. It has been shown that when mechanical influences are applied, physical and chemical properties of water and aqueous colloids of the IgG protein are changed. Magnetic fields do not have a significant effect on water; however, variation in a number of physical and chemical characteristics is observed in protein colloids. Moreover, the effect after exposure to magnetic fields with a frequency of 8 Hz is higher compared to the effect after exposure to magnetic fields with a frequency of 50 Hz. This effect persists even at extremely low concentrations of IgG protein molecules. The measurement system proposed in this work makes it possible to monitor the state of protein molecules in a non-invasive mode. In the future, optical and potentiometric methods built into flow systems can be used at all stages of the production of protein pharmaceuticals.
Comparison of Different Omnidirectional Sound Sources with the Validation of Coupled Speakers as a Measurement Source for Room Acoustics
Authors: Chojnacki Bartlomiej , Brzóska Maria , Fijałkowska Joanna A.
Published: December 2023

Omnidirectional sources used in room acoustics usually take the form of multi-speaker sources. Few alternatives for the most commonly used dodecahedral sound source have been derived recently. The project aimed to measure room acoustic parameters using three different sound sources: a dodecahedron, a cube, and a new source of two coupled loudspeakers. The measurements were made by rotating the sources every 15 degrees. The differences in the EDT, T30, D50, and C80 parameters in the function of the rotation angle of the sources were analyzed. Statistical analysis was carried out to examine the sensitivity of the measured parameters’ JND (just a noticeable difference) on the source’s rotation angle. This presentation will show the results and analysis of measurements showing the influence of the used source on obtained parameters and the validation of coupled speakers’ use. A comprehensive discussion of the results obtained with different sources (coupled, dodecahedral, cubic) will be provided. The results confirmed using the coupled speakers as an alternative for omnidirectional sound source in the range of 250–2000 Hz.
Comparative Study Assessing the Relative Contributions of Ship Resistance Factors Based on Data Analysis
Authors: Zhao Xinying , Li Na , Zhang Bin , Liu Xiaolei
Published: December 2023

Ship resistance has a very important value in the determination of ship power and the design of emission standards. In this paper, a ship resistance model with different displacement, speed, and attachment under the condition of a fixed scale ratio is tested by means of experimental research, which is used to analyze the change law of ship resistance under the condition of a single factor. The coupling effects of multiple factors on the actual ship power are studied after the establishment of a mathematical relationship between the actual ship power and resistance on the basis of the response surface method. The research results show that: (1) there is an obvious positive correlation between ship resistance and speed, which matches the change law of the exponential equation. Compared with ship appendages, displacement and speed have the greatest influence on resistance. (2) According to the correlation analysis, the maximum correlation coefficient between ship speed/resistance and power is 0.99, and the correlation coefficients between displacement/resistance and power are 0.93 and 0.88, respectively. However, the correlation coefficients between ship appendages and resistance and power are only 0.23 and 0.14, respectively. (3) The actual ship power and speed, displacement, and appendages form a quadratic polynomial relationship. The multi-factor interaction analysis results show that speed and displacement have the greatest influence on the actual ship power. The research results have a certain guiding significance for ship design.
Weed Detection Method Based on Lightweight and Contextual Information Fusion
Authors: Zhang Chi , Liu Jincan , Li Hongjun , Chen Haodong , Xu Zhangxun , Ou Zhen
Published: December 2023

Weed detection technology is of paramount significance in achieving automation and intelligence in weed control. Nevertheless, it grapples with several formidable challenges, including imprecise small target detection, high computational demands, inadequate real-time performance, and susceptibility to environmental background interference. In response to these practical issues, we introduce CCCS-YOLO, a lightweight weed detection algorithm, built upon enhancements to the Yolov5s framework. In this study, the Faster_Block is integrated into the C3 module of the YOLOv5s neck network, creating the C3_Faster module. This modification not only streamlines the network but also significantly amplifies its detection capabilities. Subsequently, the context aggregation module is enhanced in the head by improving the convolution blocks, strengthening the network’s ability to distinguish between background and targets. Furthermore, the lightweight Content-Aware ReAssembly of Feature (CARAFE) module is employed to replace the upsampling module in the neck network, enhancing the performance of small target detection and promoting the fusion of contextual information. Finally, Soft-NMS-EIoU is utilized to replace the NMS and CIoU modules in YOLOv5s, enhancing the accuracy of target detection under dense conditions. Through detection on a publicly available sugar beet weed dataset and sesame weed datasets, the improved algorithm exhibits significant improvement in detection performance compared to YOLOv5s and demonstrates certain advancements over classical networks such as YOLOv7 and YOLOv8.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Bioaugmentation-Assisted Phytoremediation of Soils Contaminated with Petroleum Hydrocarbons Using Echinacea purpurea
Authors: Wojtowicz Katarzyna , Steliga Teresa , Kapusta Piotr
Published: December 2023

Phytoremediation supported by bioaugmentation is a promising method considered for cleaning up areas polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons. In this study, phytoremediation was carried out using Echinacea purpurea as a phytoremediant on two types of soil: Soil DW—aged soil taken from an excavation pit, Soil OS—soil taken from an oil spill area. The tests for each soil were carried out in six test systems (non-inoculation, inoculation with the B1 microbial consortium, inoculation with the B2 microbial consortium, inoculation with the B1 microbial consortium with the addition of γ-PGA (γ-poly glutamic acid), inoculation with the B2 microbial consortium with the addition of γ-PGA and inoculation with the γ-PGA solution) for 6 months. The effectiveness of the remediation treatments used was assessed based on chromatographic analyses of soil and plant material (roots, shoots) and toxicological analyses using four types of toxicological tests (PhytotoxkitTM (MicroBioTests Inc., Gent, Belgium), OstracodtoxkitTM (MicroBioTests Inc., Gent, Belgium), Microtox® Solid Phase Test (Modern Water Inc., New Castle, DE, USA), MARA (NCIMB Ltd., Aberdeen, UK)). The research conducted showed that the most effective method of bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons was phytoremediation supported by bioaugmentation with the microbial consortium B2 with γ-PGA, which allowed for reducing the concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the tested soils by 53.98% and 49.54% (Soil DW-5) and 60.47% and 37.55% (Soil OS-5), respectively. In turn, the lowest bioremediation efficiency was recorded in non-inoculated systems, for which the concentration of TPHs and PAHs at the end of the study decreased by 18.40% and 16.14% (Soil DW-1) and 21.87% and 18.20% (Soil OS-1), respectively. The results of toxicological analyses confirmed the relationship between the concentration of TPHs and PAHs in the soil and its toxicity level.
Labeled Hedonic Scale for the Evaluation of Sensory Perception and Acceptance of an Aromatic Myrtle Bitter Liqueur in Consumers with Chemosensory Deficits
Authors: Rosa Antonella , Masala Carla
Published: December 2023

Spices and herbs improve sensory perception and acceptance of foods in subjects with chemosensory deficits. Our study demonstrated that aromatic spices/herbs greatly influenced the sensory perception of an aromatic myrtle bitter liqueur (Mirtamaro) in consumers with olfactory and gustatory deficits. Mirtamaro was obtained by infusion of myrtle leaves/berries and a blend of Mediterranean herbs/plants. We initially evaluated differences in gustatory and olfactory perception of pure stimuli in controls (n = 158), subjects with hyposmia (n = 111 participants), and hypogeusia (n = 34). Subjects with hyposmia and hypogeusia showed a marked reduction in odor threshold, discrimination, and identification, while a noticeable compromise in the perception of basic taste modalities (bitter, salty, sour, and sweet) was detected in participants with hypogeusia. Then, in a subpopulation (n = 111) we evaluated differences in the perception of odor and taste pleasantness, intensity, and familiarity of Mirtoamaro. No significant differences emerged, by a labeled hedonic Likert-type scale, in the perception of Mirtamaro odor and taste in subjects with hyposmia and hypogeusia compared to controls. All groups described similar bitter liqueur sensory attributes, qualifying the use of aromatic herbs/plants as a strategy to enhance sensory perception and acceptance of foods in subjects with chemosensory deficits.
Enriching Cured Meat Products with Bioactive Compounds Recovered from Rosa damascena and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Distillation By-Products: The Pursuit of Natural Antimicrobials to Reduce the Use of Nitrites
Authors: Konteles Spyridon J. , Stavropoulou Natalia A. , Thanou Ioanna V. , Mouka Elizabeth , Kousiaris Vasileios , Stoforos George N. , Gogou Eleni , Giannakourou Maria C.
Published: December 2023

Endogenously formed N-nitroso compounds (NOCs) from nitrite use in red meat have been recently linked to the risk of colorectal cancer. Therefore, replacing sodium nitrite (E250) with natural antimicrobials, such as bioactive compounds, is an issue of great industrial and scientific interest. In this research, such compounds were extracted from rose petal (Rosa damascena) and rosemary leaf (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) by-products of the essential oil industry and appropriately introduced in commercial cured meat products, as partial nitrite replacers. Shelf-life tests demonstrated an inhibitory effect of the rose extracts on microbial growth, obtaining similar or reduced growth rates and a prolonged lag phase, when compared to conventionally produced samples (CNT): μmax,ref = 0.128 vs. 0.166 d−1 and λref = 15.9 vs. 12.4 d at 4 °C, respectively. None of the bacon samples suffered from lipid oxidation in the examined period. The RSE samples (containing the rose extract and half of the nitrites) exhibited a good retention of their red color, receiving an acceptable sensory score throughout storage. Since the proposed partial nitrite replacement leads to an important shelf-life extension, namely 78 d (RSE) vs. 60 d (CNT), our results provide preliminary proof of the potential use and valorization of such side streams as effective natural antimicrobial agents for cured meat products, in order to reduce the use of nitrites.
DFT Investigation on the Complexation of β-Cyclodextrin and Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin as Recognition Hosts with Trichloroethylene
Authors: Benmerabet Ahlem , Bouhadiba Abdelaziz , Belhocine Youghourta , Rahali Seyfeddine , Sbei Najoua , Seydou Mahamadou , Boucheriha Ihsene , Omeiri Imane , Assaba Ibtissem Meriem
Published: December 2023

In this investigation, the potential use of native β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) as encapsulating agents for trichloroethylene (TCE) was assessed. Various quantum chemical parameters, including HOMO, LUMO, and HOMO–LUMO gap, were calculated. The docking process was examined by considering different initial configurations. The complexation energies were calculated at the molecular level using DFT/BLYP-D4 and PBEh-3c calculations to gain insight into TCE encapsulation within the β-CD and HP-β-CD cavities. We used the independent gradient model (IGM) and extended charge decomposition analysis (ECDA) approaches to examine non-covalent interactions and charge transfer within TCE@β-CD and TCE@HP-β-CD complexes. The calculated thermodynamic data and complexation energies exhibited negative values for both considered complexes, indicating a favorable complexation process. Weak Van der Waals intermolecular interactions were the main driving forces in stabilizing the formed complex. Additionally, Monte Carlo simulations were conducted for a better understanding of the inclusion process. Our results provide evidence for the use of β-CD and HP-β-CD as suitable macrocyclic hosts for complexing trichloroethylene.
Modeling Femtosecond Reduction of Atomic Scattering Factors in X-ray-Excited Silicon with Boltzmann Kinetic Equations
Authors: Ziaja Beata , Stransky Michal , Kapcia Konrad J. , Inoue Ichiro
Published: December 2023

In this communication, we describe the application of Boltzmann kinetic equations for modeling massive electronic excitation in a silicon nanocrystal film after its irradiation with intense femtosecond hard X-ray pulses. This analysis was inspired by an experiment recently performed at the X-ray free-electron laser facility SACLA, which measured a significant reduction in atomic scattering factors triggered by an X-ray pulse of the intensity ∼1019 W/cm2, occurring on a timescale comparable with the X-ray pulse duration (6 fs full width at half maximum). We show that a Boltzmann kinetic equation solver can accurately follow the details of the electronic excitation in silicon atoms caused by such a hard X-ray pulse, yielding predictions in very good agreement with the experimental data.
A Simplified Approach to the Pricing of Vulnerable Options with Two Underlying Assets in an Intensity-Based Model
Authors: Kim Geonwoo
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we study a simplified approach to determine the pricing formula for vulnerable options involving two correlated underlying assets. We utilize an intensity-based model to describe the credit risk associated with these vulnerable options. Without the change of measure technique, we derive pricing formulas for vulnerable options involving two underlying assets based on the probabilistic approach. We provide closed-form pricing formulas for two specific types of options: the vulnerable exchange option and the vulnerable foreign equity option. Finally, we present numerical results to demonstrate the accuracy of our formulas using the Monte-Carlo method and the effect of various parameters on the price of options.
Tissue Bioprinting: Promise and Challenges
Authors: Liang Kun
Published: December 2023

In recent years, we have witnessed remarkable progress in the field of regenerative medicine, in large part fuelled by developments in advanced biofabrication technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting [...]
High-Accuracy Neuro-Navigation with Computer Vision for Frameless Registration and Real-Time Tracking
Authors: Chiurillo Isabella , Sha Raahil M. , Robertson Faith C. , Liu Jian , Li Jacqueline , Le Mau Hieu , Amich Jose M. , Gormley William B. , Stolyarov Roman
Published: December 2023

For the past three decades, neurosurgeons have utilized cranial neuro-navigation systems, bringing millimetric accuracy to operating rooms worldwide. These systems require an operating room team, anesthesia, and, most critically, cranial fixation. As a result, treatments for acute neurosurgical conditions, performed urgently in emergency rooms or intensive care units on awake and non-immobilized patients, have not benefited from traditional neuro-navigation. These emergent procedures are performed freehand, guided only by anatomical landmarks with no navigation, resulting in inaccurate catheter placement and neurological deficits. A rapidly deployable image-guidance technology that offers highly accurate, real-time registration and is capable of tracking awake, moving patients is needed to improve patient safety. The Zeta Cranial Navigation System is currently the only non-fiducial-based, FDA-approved neuro-navigation device that performs real-time registration and continuous patient tracking. To assess this system’s performance, we performed registration and tracking of phantoms and human cadaver heads during controlled motions and various adverse surgical test conditions. As a result, we obtained millimetric or sub-millimetric target and surface registration accuracy. This rapid and accurate frameless neuro-navigation system for mobile subjects can enhance bedside procedure safety and expand the range of interventions performed with high levels of accuracy outside of an operating room.
Screw Stress Distribution in a Clavicle Fracture with Plate Fixation: A Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Alito Angelo , Fenga Domenico , Tropeano Giada , Milardi Demetrio , Leonetti Danilo , Migliorato Alba , Tisano Adriana , D’Andrea Danilo , Filardi Vincenzo
Published: December 2023

Clavicle midshaft fractures are mostly treated surgically by open internal reduction with a superior or anteroinferior plate and screws or by intramedullary nailing. Screw positioning plays a critical role in determining the stress distribution. There is a lack of data on the screw position and the appropriate number of cortices required for plate fixation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the mechanical behavior of an anterior plate implanted in a fractured bone subjected to 120° of lateral elevation compared to a healthy clavicle using numerical simulations. Contact forces and moments used were obtained from literature data and applied to the healthy and fractured finite element models. Stresses of about 9 MPa were found on the healthy clavicle, while values of about 15 MPa were calculated on the plate of the fractured one; these stress peaks were reached at about 30° and 70° of elevation when the stress shielding on the clavicle sums all the three components of the solicitation: compression, flexion, and torsion. The stress distribution in a clavicle fracture stabilized with plates and screws is influenced by several factors, including the plate’s position and design, the type of screw, and the biomechanical forces applied during movements.
Dynamic Response of the cbbL Carbon Sequestration Microbial Community to Wetland Type in Qinghai Lake
Authors: Zhang Ni , Chen Kelong , Wang Siyu , Qi Desheng , Zhou Zhiyun , Xie Chuanyou , Liu Xunjie
Published: December 2023

The soil carbon storage in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau wetlands is affected by microbiota and wetland types, but the response mechanisms of carbon sequestration microorganisms on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau to different wetland types are still poorly described. To explore the differences in carbon sequestration microbial communities in different wetlands and the main influencing factors, this study took a marsh wetland, river source wetland and lakeside wetland of Qinghai Lake as the research objects and used high-throughput sequencing to study the functional gene, cbbL, of carbon sequestration microorganisms. The results showed that the dominant bacterial group of carbon sequestration microorganisms in marsh and river source wetlands was Proteobacteria, and the dominant bacterial group in the lakeside wetland was Cyanobacteria. The alpha diversity, relative abundance of Proteobacteria and total carbon content were the highest in the marsh wetland, followed by the river source wetland, and they were the lowest in the lakeside wetland. In addition, the physical and chemical characteristics of the three wetland types were significantly different, and the soil temperature and moisture and total carbon content were the most important factors affecting the community structures of carbon-sequestering microorganisms. There was little difference in the total nitrogen contents between the marsh wetland and river source wetland. However, the total nitrogen content was also an important factor affecting the diversity of the carbon sequestration microbial community. In summary, the wetland type significantly affects the process of soil carbon sequestration. Compared with the riverhead and lakeside wetlands, the marsh wetland has the highest carbon storage.
Essential Oil Molecules Can Break the Loop of Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Spisni Enzo , Valerii Maria Chiara , Massimino Maria Lina
Published: December 2023

Essential oils (EOs) are mixtures of volatile compounds, extracted from aromatic plants, with multiple activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ones. EOs are complex mixtures easy to find on the market and with low costs. In this mini narrative review, we have collected the results of in vitro and in vivo studies, which tested these EOs on validated models of neurodegeneration and in particular of the two main neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) that afflict humans: Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Since EO compositions can vary greatly, depending on the environmental conditions, plant cultivar, and extraction methods, we focused our attention to studies involving single EO molecules, and in particular those that have demonstrated the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier. These single EO molecules, alone or in defined mixtures, could be interesting new therapies to prevent or slow down oxidative and inflammatory processes which are common mechanisms that contribute to neuronal death in all NDs.
Modelling and Molecular Dynamics Predict the Structure and Interactions of the Glycine Receptor Intracellular Domain
Authors: Thompson James R. E. , Beaudoin Christopher A. , Lummis Sarah C. R.
Published: December 2023

Glycine receptors (GlyRs) are glycine-gated inhibitory pentameric ligand-gated ion channels composed of α or α + β subunits. A number of structures of these proteins have been reported, but to date, these have only revealed details of the extracellular and transmembrane domains, with the intracellular domain (ICD) remaining uncharacterised due to its high flexibility. The ICD is a region that can modulate function in addition to being critical for receptor localisation and clustering via proteins such as gephyrin. Here, we use modelling and molecular dynamics (MD) to reveal details of the ICDs of both homomeric and heteromeric GlyR. At their N and C ends, both the α and β subunit ICDs have short helices, which are major sites of stabilising interactions; there is a large flexible loop between them capable of forming transient secondary structures. The α subunit can affect the β subunit ICD structure, which is more flexible in a 4α2:1β than in a 4α1:1β GlyR. We also explore the effects of gephyrin binding by creating GlyR models bound to the gephyrin E domain; MD simulations suggest these are more stable than the unbound forms, and again there are α subunit-dependent differences, despite the fact the gephyrin binds to the β subunit. The bound models also suggest that gephyrin causes compaction of the ICD. Overall, the data expand our knowledge of this important receptor protein and in particular clarify features of the underexplored ICD.
Butyrylcarnitine Elevation in Newborn Screening: Reducing False Positives and Distinguishing between Two Rare Diseases through the Evaluation of New Ratios
Authors: Messina MariaAnna , Arena Alessia , Iacobacci Riccardo , La Spina Luisa , Meli Concetta , Raudino Federica , Ruggieri Martino
Published: December 2023

One of the main challenges of newborn screening programs, which screen for inherited metabolic disorders, is cutting down on false positives (FPs) in order to avoid family stresses, additional analyses, and unnecessary costs. False positives are partly caused by an insubstantial number of robust biomarkers in evaluations. Another challenge is how to distinguish between diseases which share the same primary marker and for which secondary biomarkers are just as highly desirable. Focusing on pathologies that involve butyrylcarnitine (C4) elevation, such as short-chain acylCoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD) and isobutyrylCoA dehydrogenase deficiency (IBDD), we investigated the acylcarnitine profile of 121 newborns with a C4 increase to discover secondary markers to achieve two goals: reduce the FP rate and discriminate between the two rare diseases. Analyses were carried out using tandem mass spectrometry with whole blood samples spotted on filter paper. Seven new biomarkers (C4/C0, C4/C5, C4/C5DC\C6OH, C4/C6, C4/C8, C4/C14:1, C4/C16:1) were identified using a non-parametric ANOVA analysis. Then, the corresponding cut-off values were found and applied to the screening program. The seven new ratios were shown to be robust (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, 0.0937 < ε2 < 0.231) in discriminating between FP and IBDD patients, FP and SCADD patients, or SCADD and IBDD patients. Our results suggest that the new ratios are optimal indicators for identifying true positives, distinguishing between two rare diseases that share the same primary biomarker, improving the predictive positive value (PPV) and reducing the false positive rate (FPR).
Biomimetic Random Pulse Computation or Why Do Humans Play Basketball Better than Robots?
Authors: Stipčević Mario
Published: December 2023

In this work, we compare the basketball scoring performance of two imaginary (simulated) mechanical robots in conditions of erroneous information-processing circuits: Machine, whose moves are controlled by a conventional digital computer and Man, controlled by a random pulse computer composed of biologically-inspired circuits which execute basic arithmetic operations. This is the first comparative study of robustness of the digital and the random pulse computing paradigms, with respect to the error rate of the information-processing circuits (perr), for a mechanical robot. In spite of the fact that Man’s computer consists of only about 100 logic gates while Machine’s requires about 3500 gates, Man achieves a significantly higher scoring probability for perr in the range from 0.01% all the way to 10%, while at lower perr, both converge to the perfect score. Furthermore, Man’s hits make up a smooth Gaussian distribution with a vanishing probability of making large misses even at the highest perr, while Machine is prone to spectacular misses already at perr as low as 1 part-per-million. These findings indicate that the biologically inspired computation requires less hardware for the same task, and ensures higher robustness and better behaving operation than digital computation, which are characteristics of importance for the survivability of living beings.
Progress in the Puzzle Resolution: The Molecular Genetics Underpinning Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Mezzelani Alessandra , Cupaioli Francesca Anna
Published: December 2023

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication, and the presence of restricted, repetitive behaviors [...]