bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined semiquantitative nail-enthesis complex ultrasonography and capillaroscopy in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Cafaro Giacomo , Bursi Roberto , Valentini Valentina , Hansel Katharina , Perricone Carlo , Venerito Vincenzo , Bistoni Onelia , Sebastiano Manuela , Topini Fabiana , Stingeni Luca , Gerli Roberto , Bartoloni Elena
Published: January 2025

This pilot study investigates distinctive features within the nail-enthesis complex among Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), Psoriasis (PSO), Rheumatoid Arthrit is (RA), and Healthy Control (HC) groups, utilizing a combined approach of ultrasound (US) and nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC). Clinical assessments and comprehensive US and NVC evaluations of the nail-enthesis complex were conducted on 72 subjects (18 PsA, 16 PSO, 19 RA, 19 HC). Unsupervised clustering models and factor analysis were employed to identify patterns and interrelationships between US and NVC parameters. Significant structural differences were detected, emphasizing the discriminatory power of semiquantitative US scores (GS BUNES, Wortsman type). Trends in vascularization aligned with literature, showcasing dysregulated angiogenesis in PsA and PSO. The clustering model effectively distinguished HC from PsA subjects, revealing a potential continuum between PSO and PsA. RA subjects exhibited subsets with features akin to both HC and PsA/PSO, underscoring the complexity of its manifestations. This study provides insights into nail-enthesis complex alterations, highlighting distinctions among PsA, PSO, RA, and HC subjects. The clustering model emphasizes potential overlap between PSO and PsA. Factor analysis elucidates collinearity in US-detected characteristics, while suggesting limited discriminative power of some quantitative parameters. These findings advocate for further exploration in prospective trials, potentially predicting the evolution of undifferentiated early arthritis and arthritis onset in PSO patients.
Bryostatin-1 enhances the proliferation and functionality of exhausted CD8+ T cells by upregulating MAP Kinase 11
Authors: Li Ling , Zhao Manzhi , van Meurs Marjan , Brouwers-Haspels Inge , den Dekker Renske J. H. , Wilmsen Merel E. P. , Grashof Dwin G. B. , van de Werken Harmen J. G. , Rao Shringar , Rokx Casper , Mueller Yvonne M. , Katsikis Peter D.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Bryostatin-1, a potent agonist of the protein kinase C, has been studied for HIV and cancer therapies. In HIV research, it has shown anti-HIV effects during acute infection and reactivation of latent HIV in chronic infection. As effective CD8+ T cell responses are essential for eliminating reactivated virus and achieving a cure, it is important to investigate how bryostatin-1 affects HIV-specific CD8+ T cells. HIV-specific CD8+ T cells often become exhausted, showing reduced proliferative potential and impaired cytokine production, a dysfunction also observed in cancer. Therefore, we further investigated how bryostatin-1 directly impacts exhausted CD8+ T cells.

Methods

PBMCs from people with HIV (PWH) were treated with bryostatin-1 and tracked with proliferation dye for cell expansion. One day 6, HIV-specific CD8+ T cells were detected by tetramers staining and examined by flow cytometry. By utilizing an established in vitro murine T cell exhaustion system, changes in inhibitory receptors, transcription factors, cytokine production and killing capacity of bryostatin-1 treated exhausted CD8+ T cells were determined by flow cytometry. RNA-seq analysis was performed to study transcriptional changes in these cells.

Results

We found that bryostatin-1 improved the expansion and decreased PD-1 expression of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells. Bryostatin-1 enhanced the functionality and proliferation while decreasing inhibitory receptor expression of in vitro generated exhausted CD8+ T cells. Bryostatin-1 upregulated TCF-1 and decreased TOX expression. These changes were confirmed through RNA-seq analysis. RNA-seq revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) 11 was significantly downregulated in exhausted CD8+ T cells, however, it greatly upregulated after bryostatin-1 treatment. Inhibition of MAPK11 in bryostatin-1-treated cells blocked the increased proliferation and IFN-γ production induced by bryostatin-1, but did not affect other bryostatin-1 induced effects, such as the reduction of inhibitory receptors.

Discussion

Our data demonstrate that bryostatin-1 induces a MAPK 11-dependent improvement in the proliferative and functional capacity of exhausted T cells. This study provides a rationale for bryostatin-1's potential to help eradicate the HIV reservoir during treatment, and it may also contribute to cancer immunotherapy by functionally improving exhausted CD8+ T cells.
Maternal seafood intake, dietary contaminant exposure, and risk of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: exploring gene-environment interactions
Authors: Dåstøl Vilde Øverlien , Haftorn Kristine Løkås , Rudsari Hamid Khoshfekr , Jaholkowski Piotr Pawel , Størdal Ketil , Håberg Siri Eldevik , Weinberg Clarice R. , Rider Lisa G. , Andreassen Ole A. , Brantsæter Anne Lise , Caspersen Ida Henriette , Sanner Helga
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) originates from a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. We investigated the association between seafood intake and dietary contaminant exposure during pregnancy and JIA risk, to identify sex differences and gene-environment interactions.

Methods

We used the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), a population-based prospective pregnancy cohort (1999–2008). JIA patients were identified through the Norwegian Patient Registry, with remaining mother-child pairs serving as controls. We assessed maternal seafood intake and dietary contaminants typically found in seafood using a food frequency questionnaire completed during pregnancy, mainly comparing high (≥90th percentile, P90) vs low (<P90) intake. Multivariable logistic regression calculated adjusted odds ratios (aOR), including sex-stratification analyses. A polygenic risk score (PRS) for JIA was used in a subsample to assess gene-environment interactions.

Results

We identified 217 JIA patients and 71,884 controls. High vs low maternal intake of lean/semi-oily fish was associated with JIA (aOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.02-2.22), especially among boys (aOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.21-3.75). A significant gene-environment interaction was observed between total fish intake and PRS, with high fish intake associated with JIA primarily in those with low PRS (p<0.03). We found no associations between high vs low exposure to other types of seafood or environmental contaminants and JIA.

Conclusions

We found a modestly increased risk of JIA associated with high intake of lean/semi-oily fish during pregnancy, not explained by estimated exposure to dietary contaminants. Our data suggest a more pronounced association in children with a lower genetic predisposition for JIA.
Physalis Calyx seu Fructus relieves chicken intestinal damage to heat via improving the antioxidant ability
Authors: Yin Bin , Juan Changning , Zhang Rongling , Yang Shifa , Wang Haiting , Liu Yueyue , Song Shikai , Yan Zunxiang , Yi Yunpeng , Zhao Zengcheng , Huang Zhongli , Lin Shuqian
Published: January 2025

Heat-stress-induced oxidative and inflammatory responses were important factors contributing to chicken intestinal damage. The purpose of this study was based on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Physalis Calyx seu Fructus (Jin Deng Long, JDL) to investigate its efficacy and mechanism in relieving chicken heat stress damage. Primary chicken embryo duodenum cells and 90 30-day-old specific-pathogen-free chicken were randomly divided into control and JDL groups to establish heat stress models in vitro and in vivo. The mitigating effect was assessed through the oxidation-related enzymes and key genes, histopathology, and inflammatory factors. The results demonstrated that 100 µg/mL JDL extract could effectively alleviate heat stress damage to chicken embryo duodenum cells at 42°C. A strong antioxidant capacity of 100 µg/mL JDL extract was shown in the downregulation of LDH (at 5 h, P < 0.01) and MDA (at 5 h, P < 0.05), in the upregulation of SOD (at 5 and 10 h, P < 0.01), CAT (at 5 h, P < 0.01), and GSH-PX and T-AOC (at 0 h, P < 0.01) as well as in the high transcription level of NQO1 (at 5 and 10 h, P < 0.05) and HO-1 (at 5 and 10 h, P < 0.01). Supplements with 1 and 3 g/kg b.wt, respectively, in the drinking water both suppressed the rise of body temperature and had light pathological lesions of chicken duodenal tissues caused by heat stress at 40 ± 1°C. Accordingly, the chicken of JDL extract groups showed a lower inflammatory response as manifested by a lower level of IL-10 and higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-α and a strong antioxidant capacity characterized by lower level of MDA and higher levels of SOD and GSH-PX in the serum as well as also showed a higher transcription level of Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1 in the duodenal tissues. In conclusion, JDL extract relieved chicken intestinal damage to heat via improving the antioxidant ability and reducing the inflammatory response.
Insights into the salt levels in bread offers in Slovenia: trends and differences
Authors: Kugler Saša , Hristov Hristo , Blaznik Urška , Hribar Maša , Hafner Edvina , Kušar Anita , Pravst Igor
Published: January 2025

Objective

Bakery products are considered as one of main dietary sources of sodium/salt in Slovenia. Our main objective was to assess the salt content in bread in Slovenia, focusing into different bread categories and sales channels. The data collected in 2022 was compared with year 2012.

Methods

A follow-up study on salt content of bread sold in Slovenia was conducted. Bread samples were purchased in large retail shops and smaller bakeries across 11 statistical regions of Slovenia. Sodium content was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; salt content was calculated by multiplying sodium content with 2.54, assuming all sodium corresponds to sodium chloride.

Results

In 2022, 178 bread samples were purchased and analyzed. Weighted mean salt content in bread was 1.35 (95% CI 1.28–1.42) g/100 g in 2012, and 1.26 (95% CI 1.22–1.29) g/100 g in 2022, showing a 7% decrease. Notable differences in the salt content were observed between various bread subcategories and retail environments. In addition, a significant difference was observed between white wheat bread sold in large retail shops and smaller bakeries, where a higher salt content was observed.

Conclusion

While study results show small decrease in the salt content in bread in Slovenia in last decade, the salt reduction targets set by the WHO have not been met. Additional efforts are needed to stimulate bread reformulation with reducing salt content.
Mediation of endothelial activation and stress index in the association between vitamin B6 turnover rate and diabetic retinopathy: an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Yin Jie , Chen Juan , Chen Yuanyuan
Published: January 2025

Aim

This study aimed to explore the association between the ratio of 4-pyridoxine (4-PA) to pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) (4-PA/PLP) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) and further assess the mediating effect of Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) on the association between 4-PA/PLP and DR.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 1,698 patients with diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. According to the median, 4-PA/PLP was categorized into a high-level group (≥0.89) and a low-level group (<0.89). As the EASIX had a skewed distribution, it was log-transformed before analysis. Weighted logistic regression models were used to investigate the association of 4-PA/PLP with EASIX and DR and the mediating effect of EASIX on the association between 4-PA/PLP and DR. The distribution-of-product method was adopted to assess the mediating effect. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the age and duration of diabetes.

Results

A total of 362 diabetic patients were classified as having DR. After adjusting for all covariates, a higher level of 4-PA/PLP was associated with an increased level of log EASIX [odds ratio (OR) = 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–2.30]. A higher ratio of 4-PA/PLP was associated with increased odds of DR compared to the reference group with lower levels of 4-PA/PLP (OR = 1.94, 95%CI: 1.40–2.67). In addition, we found that log EASIX may play a mediating role in the 4-PA/PLP and DR, with a 95% CI of distribution of product of 0.31 (95% CI: 0.02–0.67). The proportion of mediation was 69.06%. The mediating effect of log EASIX was also observed in individuals with diabetes who were aged≥60 years (proportion of mediation: 50.63%) or had a duration of diabetes ≥10 years (proportion of mediation: 71.83%).

Conclusion

This study found a positive association between high levels of 4-PA/PLP and an increased risk of DR, with the relationship being partially mediated by log EASIX.
Discussion on the optimization of personalized medication using information systems based on pharmacogenomics: an example using colorectal cancer
Authors: Yuan Mengying , Zheng Yuankun , Wang Fei , Bai Niuniu , Zhang Haoling , Bian Yuan , Liu Hao , He Xia
Published: January 2025

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is a powerful tool for clinical optimization of drug efficacy and safety. However, due to many factors affecting drugs in the real world, PGx still accounts for a small proportion of actual clinical application scenarios. Therefore, based on the information software, pharmacists use their professional advantages to integrate PGx into all aspects of pharmaceutical care, which is conducive to promoting the development of personalized medicine. In this paper, the establishment of an information software platform is summarized for the optimization of a personalized medication program based on PGx. Taking colorectal cancers (CRC) as an example, this paper also discusses the role of PGx in different working modes and participation in drug management of CRC patients by pharmacists with the help of information systems. Finally, we summarized the recommendations of different PGx guidelines to provide reference for the follow-up personalized pharmaceutical care.
Revisiting the female germline cell development
Authors: Huang Youmei , Zhang Yunlong , Yang Jiahong , Xi Xinpeng , Liu Yanfen , Cai Hanyang , Qin Yuan
Published: January 2025

The formation of the female germline is the fundamental process in most flowering plants’ sexual reproduction. In Arabidopsis, only one somatic cell obtains the female germline fate, and this process is regulated by different pathways. Megaspore mother cell (MMC) is the first female germline, and understanding MMC development is essential for comprehending the complex mechanisms of plant reproduction processes. Recently, more advanced technologies such as whole-mount single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH), laser-assisted microdissection (LCM), chromatin immunoprecipitation/sequencing, and CRISPR gene editing have provided opportunities to reveal the mechanism of female germline development at different stages. Single-cell transcriptome/spatial transcriptomics analysis helps to investigate complex cellular systems at the single-cell level, reflecting the biological complexity of different cell types. In this review, we highlight recent progress that facilitates the development of the female germline to explore the roles of crucial gene regulatory networks, epigenetic pathways, cell-cycle regulators, and phytohormones in this process. This review discusses three key phases in female germline development and provides the possibility of distinct pathways restricting germline development in the future.
Anxiety, depression, and their association with unintentional injury risk among older adult populations in Guangxi, China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Niu Li , Zhang Jie , Lu Chun-liu , Zhang Yong , Mo Xin-xin , Xu Rong , Luo Hong-ye
Published: January 2025

Background

The aging population presents a significant public health challenge, particularly concerning mental health and injury prevention. Anxiety and depression are common among the older adult, affecting their quality of life and increasing the risk of unintentional injuries (UI). This study aims to explore the association between anxiety and depression and UI risk among the older adult in Guangxi, China, using data from the 2023 National Health Service Survey.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was employed, analyzing data from 2,894 participants aged 60 and above in Guangxi. The primary variables were anxiety and depression, assessed via validated scales, with UI as the dependent variable. Logistic regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for potential confounders such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors.

Results

Significant findings indicate that individuals with anxiety and depression had nearly double the risk of UI compared to those without these conditions (adj. OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.42–2.6, p < 0.001). Alcohol consumption was also associated with higher UI risk (adj. OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.05–2.03, p = 0.023). Females had a significantly higher adjusted odds of UI compared to males (adj. OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.03–1.84, p = 0.029), and rural residents were more likely to experience UI than urban dwellers (adj. OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05–1.82, p = 0.02). Exercise frequency was inversely related to UI risk, with those exercising 1–2 times per week having reduced odds (adj. OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.22–0.98, p = 0.044). Other factors such as age, marital status, hypertension, diabetes, and main caregiver showed no significant associations with UI.

Conclusion

Addressing mental health issues and promoting moderate exercise may help reduce UI risk in the older adult. Policies should focus on enhancing mental health services and injury prevention programs, particularly in rural settings, to improve the overall health and safety of the aging population in Guangxi.
Symbioza czy dysonans? – o dylematach łączenia wyborów z referendum
Authors: Rakowska Anna
Published: January 2025

Article 90 of the Act on the Nationwide Referendum, last amended on July 7, 2023, allows for nationwide elections and a referendum to be held on one day. However, the regulation contained in Art. 90 of the mentioned Referendum Act is incomplete, constitutionally questionable, and therefore highly imperfect. As practice has shown, the situation of simultaneous holding of elections and a referendum not only poses significant organizational challenges for the electoral administration, but above all does not guarantee compliance with the basic constitutional principles and standards of electoral law, for example it reduces the level of guarantee of the implementation of the electoral right (which includes the element of the need to take into account the vote of every voter), the principle of secrecy of voting, or transparency of financing of the election campaign and the separation of the election campaign from the referendum campaign. In this article the author tries to answer the question of what changes to Art. 90 of the Referendum Act should be introduced to ensure compliance of simultaneous votes ordered on its basis with the standards of free and fair elections.
A Novel Approach to Optimize Key Limitations of Azure Kinect DK for Efficient and Precise Leaf Area Measurement
Authors: Niu Ziang , Huang Ting , Xu Chengjia , Sun Xinyue , Taha Mohamed Farag , He Yong , Qiu Zhengjun
Published: January 2025

Maize leaf area offers valuable insights into physiological processes, playing a critical role in breeding and guiding agricultural practices. The Azure Kinect DK possesses the real-time capability to capture and analyze the spatial structural features of crops. However, its further application in maize leaf area measurement is constrained by RGB–depth misalignment and limited sensitivity to detailed organ-level features. This study proposed a novel approach to address and optimize the limitations of the Azure Kinect DK through the multimodal coupling of RGB-D data for enhanced organ-level crop phenotyping. To correct RGB–depth misalignment, a unified recalibration method was developed to ensure accurate alignment between RGB and depth data. Furthermore, a semantic information-guided depth inpainting method was proposed, designed to repair void and flying pixels commonly observed in Azure Kinect DK outputs. The semantic information was extracted using a joint YOLOv11-SAM2 model, which utilizes supervised object recognition prompts and advanced visual large models to achieve precise RGB image semantic parsing with minimal manual input. An efficient pixel filter-based depth inpainting algorithm was then designed to inpaint void and flying pixels and restore consistent, high-confidence depth values within semantic regions. A validation of this approach through leaf area measurements in practical maize field applications—challenged by a limited workspace, constrained viewpoints, and environmental variability—demonstrated near-laboratory precision, achieving an MAPE of 6.549%, RMSE of 4.114 cm2, MAE of 2.980 cm2, and R2 of 0.976 across 60 maize leaf samples. By focusing processing efforts on the image level rather than directly on 3D point clouds, this approach markedly enhanced both efficiency and accuracy with the sufficient utilization of the Azure Kinect DK, making it a promising solution for high-throughput 3D crop phenotyping.
Cultivation of Siberian Motherwort Plants (Leonurus sibiricus L.) in In Vitro Culture
Authors: Figas Anna , Tomaszewska-Sowa Magdalena , Gruszka Zofia
Published: January 2025

In this study, an attempt was made to micropropagate the Siberian motherwort (Leonurus sibiricus L.) in in vitro cultures. The aim of this study was to compare methods of sterilization of seeds, which served as a source of initial explants to induce in vitro culture and to multiply shoots from explants isolated from them. The primary explants in the experiment were seeds. The seeds were placed on ½ MS medium without PGR and enriched with GA3 at a concentration of 1 mg∙dm−3. The addition of GA3 to the medium stimulated their germination. Sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and 70% ethanol (C2H5OH) were used to sterilize the seeds. NaClO was used for proper sterilization in concentrations: 0.0% (1), 1.5% (2), 2% (3), and 2.5% (4) for 11 min. As secondary explants in the experiment, single-node fragments of sterile seedlings derived from sterile seeds were used, which were placed on MS medium, with the addition of plant growth regulators (PGR) from the group of auxins and cytokinins. The largest number of sterile and live Siberian motherwort seedlings was obtained in the variant in which 2.5% NaClO was used for proper sterilization of the seeds. To optimize the procedure of in vitro micropropagation, the axillary shoots of Leonurus sibiricus L. were transferred during the third passage onto nine different combinations of MS medium: PGR-free medium, with different concentrations of BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) (0.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 mg∙dm−3) and BAP (0.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 mg∙dm−3) with NAA (1-naphthaleneacetic acid) (1.0 mg∙dm−3). The largest number of shoots (9.62) forming was obtained on the medium supplemented with 4 mg∙dm−3 BAP and 1 mg∙dm−3 NAA, while the longest shoots were on the medium without PGR. Induction of rhizogenesis of Siberian motherwort plants in in vitro cultures was achieved on MS medium with the addition of 0.5 mg∙dm−3 IAA (indole-3-acetic acid). At the stage of adaptation to ex vitro conditions, high plant survival of 90% was achieved by using a solution with MS salts (25%) for irrigation.
YOLOv8n-CA: Improved YOLOv8n Model for Tomato Fruit Recognition at Different Stages of Ripeness
Authors: Gao Xin , Ding Jieyuan , Zhang Ruihong , Xi Xiaobo
Published: January 2025

This study addresses the challenges of tomato maturity recognition in natural environments, such as occlusion caused by branches and leaves, and the difficulty in detecting stacked fruits. To overcome these issues, we propose a novel YOLOv8n-CA method for tomato maturity recognition, which defines four maturity stages: unripe, turning color, turning ripe, and fully ripe. The model is based on the YOLOv8n architecture, incorporating the coordinate attention (CA) mechanism into the backbone network to enhance the model’s ability to capture and express features of the tomato fruits. Additionally, the C2f-FN structure was utilized in both the backbone and neck networks to strengthen the model’s capacity to extract maturity-related features. The CARAFE up-sampling operator was integrated to expand the receptive field for improved feature fusion. Finally, the SIoU loss function was used to solve the problem of insufficient CIoU of the original loss function. Experimental results showed that the YOLOv8n-CA model had a parameter count of only 2.45 × 106, computational complexity of 6.9 GFLOPs, and a weight file size of just 4.90 MB. The model achieved a mean average precision (mAP) of 97.3%. Compared to the YOLOv8n model, it reduced the model size slightly while improving accuracy by 1.3 percentage points. When compared to seven other models—Faster R-CNN, YOLOv3s, YOLOv5s, YOLOv5m, YOLOv7, YOLOv8n, YOLOv10s, and YOLOv11n—the YOLOv8n-CA model was the smallest in size and demonstrated superior detection performance.
A Fuzzy Analytical Network Process Framework for Prioritizing Competitive Intelligence in Startups
Authors: Golshan Arman , Sardar Soheila , Mahdavi Ardestani Seyed Faraz , Sadeghian Paria
Published: January 2025

Competitive intelligence (CI) is a critical tool for startups, enabling informed decision making through the systematic gathering and analysis of relevant information. This study aims to identify and prioritize the key factors influencing CI in startups, providing actionable insights for entrepreneurs, educators, and support organizations. Through a systematic literature review, key variables and components impacting competitive intelligence were identified. Two surveys were conducted to refine these components. The first employed a five-point Likert scale to evaluate the significance of each component, while the second used a pairwise comparison approach involving ten experts in CI and startup mentorship. Utilizing the fuzzy Analytical Network Process (ANP), this study ranked Technology Intelligence as the most critical factor, followed by market and Strategic Intelligence. Competitor Intelligence and Internet intelligence were deemed moderately important, while Organizational Intelligence ranked lowest. These findings emphasize the importance of technology-driven insights and market awareness in fostering startups’ competitive advantage and informed decision making. This study provides a structured framework to guide startups in prioritizing CI efforts, offering practical strategies for navigating dynamic market conditions and achieving long-term success.
Costs and Time Loss from Pre-Anesthesia Consultations for Canceled Surgeries: A Retrospective Study at Aachen University Hospital in Germany
Authors: Simons Julia Alexandra , Wiegand Steffen B. , Thiehoff Lisa , Winnersbach Patrick , Schälte Gereon , Fischbach Anna
Published: January 2025

Background: In Germany, over 16 million pre-anesthesia consultations (PAC) are conducted annually, which is associated with a significant investment of time and high costs. However, some PACs do not lead to surgery, which is inefficient and results in wasted resources. This study evaluates the costs and time loss associated with PACs that did not result in anesthesia-required surgery or diagnostic procedures and identifies the predictors of these cancellations. Methods: A total of 1357 PACs conducted in September 2023 at the University Hospital Aachen were retrospectively analyzed. The study groups included patients whose PACs resulted in anesthesia-required surgery or diagnostic procedures (SURG group) and those whose PACs did not (NoSURG group). The primary outcomes were costs in EUR and the hours lost due to PACs not resulting in anesthesia for patients in the NoSURG group, and the secondary outcomes included the predictors of surgery cancellations, the frequency of missing test results, necessary pre-anesthesia re-consultations due to missing tests, and hospital length of stay for NoSURG patients. Results: In September 2023, 7.3% (99/1357) of PACs did not result in anesthesia-required procedures. ASA scores were higher in the NoSURG group, with almost two-thirds classified as ASA III or higher (p = 0.001). The NoSURG group had more planned postoperative IMC stays (16.2% vs. 9.3%; p = 0.027) and fewer medical report letters available (50.5% vs. 97.1%; p < 0.001). The reasons for surgery cancellation were often undetermined (47.5%). Other reasons included surgeons opting for a conservative approach (19.2%), patient decisions (9.1%), surgery no longer indicated (8.1%), hospital capacity constraints (5.1%), patient transfers (3.0%), and high surgical risk (8.1%). The annual projected cost for the NoSURG group was EUR 29,182, with 888 h of time loss. The median hospital length of stay for the NoSURG group was 5 (2; 15) days. Conclusions: PACs that were carried out but were not followed by anesthesiology services led to substantial costs and time loss. Improving medical report availability and assessing procedure necessity beforehand might help to reduce these expenses and time losses.
Do Activity Sensors Identify Physiological, Clinical and Behavioural Changes in Laying Hens Exposed to a Vaccine Challenge?
Authors: Kang Hyungwook , Brocklehurst Sarah , Haskell Marie , Jarvis Susan , Sandilands Victoria
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to identify if sensor technology could be used to detect sickness-type signs (caused by a live vaccine) in laying hens compared to physiological and clinical sign scoring and behaviour observation. The experiment comprised 5 replicate batches (4 hens and 12 days per batch) using previously non-vaccinated hens (n = 20). Hens were moved on day 1 to a large experimental room with various designated zones (e.g., litter, perches, nest box), where they wore two sensors (FitBark, TrackLab). Saline was applied using ocular and nasal drops on day 3 as a control. A live vaccine (Infectious Laryngotracheitis, ILT, vaccine), applied using the same method on day 6, was used to induce mild respiratory and other responses. Physiological and clinical signs, and behaviour from videos were also recorded by a single observer. There were significant changes in body weight (p < 0.001), feed intake (p = 0.031), cloacal temperature (p < 0.001) and three out of five clinical signs (ocular discharge (p < 0.001), conjunctivitis (p < 0.001) and depression (p = 0.009)) over days. A significant decrease (p < 0.001) in activity level (FitBark) and distance travelled (both sensors) were identified over the study days, and activity and distance travelled were highly significantly associated (p < 0.001) with total clinical scores, with hens showing reduced activity and distance travelled with worsening total clinical scores. With behaviour observations from videos, the proportions of sitting, foraging and feeding behaviours (p = 0.044, 0.036 and 0.004, respectively), the proportion of total visit duration to the litter zone (p < 0.001) and perch (p = 0.037) with TrackLab and the proportions of visit counts of hens in the litter zone (p = 0.012) from video scanning changed significantly with days. This study suggests that the vaccine challenge caused associated changes in clinical/physiological signs and activity/distance travelled data from the sensors. Sensors may have a role in detecting changes in activity and movement in individual hens indicative of health or welfare problems.
Antimicrobial Potential of Secalonic Acids from Arctic-Derived Penicillium chrysogenum INA 01369
Authors: Roshka Yulia A. , Markelova Natalia N. , Mashkova Sofia D. , Malysheva Kseniya V. , Georgieva Marina L. , Levshin Igor B. , Polshakov Vladimir I. , Arutyunian Alexander M. , Vasilchenko Alexey S. , Sadykova Vera S.
Published: January 2025

In this study, two compounds have been isolated from the Arctic-derived fungus Penicillium chrysogenum INA 13460. Structural elucidation, performed using 2D NMR and HR-ESIMS data, has identified the compounds as stereoisomers of secalonic acids, dimeric tetrahydroxanthones. The absolute configurations of these stereoisomers have been determined through conformational NMR analysis and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of secalonic acids D and F has been evaluated against a diverse range of microorganisms, including Gram-positive multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, the phytopathogen Pectobacterium carotovorum VKM-B1247, and the fungi Fusarium oxysporum VKPM F 890, Aspergillus fumigatus VKM F-37, and A. niger ATCC 16404. Genomic and chemical analyses further support P. chrysogenum INA 13460 as a promising natural source for antimicrobial drug discovery and biological control applications.
Chemical Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils and Nanoemulsions of Eugenia uniflora and Psidium guajava
Authors: dos Santos Rebeca Dias , Matos Breno Noronha , Freire Daniel Oliveira , da Silva Franklyn Santos , do Prado Bruno Alcântara , Gomes Karolina Oliveira , de Araújo Marta Oliveira , Bilac Carla Azevedo , Rodrigues Letícia Fernandes Silva , da Silva Izabel Cristina Rodrigues , de Sá Barreto Lívia Cristina Lira , Gomes da Camara Claudio Augusto , de Moraes Marcilio Martins , Gelfuso Guilherme Martins , Orsi Daniela Castilho
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to develop gel nanoemulsions (NEs) of Brazilian essential oils (EOs) from Eugenia uniflora and Psidium guajava, as well as to perform chemical characterization and investigate the antimicrobial activity of the EOs and NEs. Results/Conclusions: The main chemical compounds of E. uniflora EO were curzerene (34.80%) and germacrene B (11.92%), while those of P. guajava EO were β-caryophyllene (25.92%), β-selinene (22.64%), and γ-selinene (19.13%). The NEs of E. uniflora and P. guajava had droplet sizes of 105.30 and 99.50 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) values of 0.32 and 0.43, respectively. The NEs remained stable for 30 days of storage at 25 °C, with droplet sizes of 104.7 and 103.8 nm, PDI values below 0.50, and no phase separation. The NE of E. uniflora exhibited inhibition zones ranging from 8.41 to 15.13 mm against the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Additionally, the NE of E. uniflora showed the largest inhibition zones against Candida albicans (20.97 mm) and Candida krusei (15.20 mm), along with low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values (0.54–1.22 mg/mL) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values (4.84–11.02 mg/mL) against these pathogenic yeasts. The NE of P. guajava demonstrated low MIC (1.26 mg/mL) and MBC (11.35 mg/mL) values for C. krusei. The time–growth inhibition assay also suggests the effectiveness of the NE against the tested pathogens S. aureus and E. coli, highlighting its potential as a novel alternative therapeutic agent.
Human Trajectory Imputation Model: A Hybrid Deep Learning Approach for Pedestrian Trajectory Imputation
Authors: Barua Deb Kanti , Halder Mithun , Shopnil Shayanta , Islam Md. Motaharul
Published: January 2025

Pedestrian trajectories are crucial for self-driving cars to plan their paths effectively. The sensors implanted in these self-driving vehicles, despite being state-of-the-art ones, often face inaccuracies in the perception of surrounding environments due to technical challenges in adverse weather conditions, interference from other vehicles’ sensors and electronic devices, and signal reception failure, leading to incompleteness in the trajectory data. But for real-time decision making for autonomous driving, trajectory imputation is no less crucial. Previous attempts to address this issue, such as statistical inference and machine learning approaches, have shown promise. Yet, the landscape of deep learning is rapidly evolving, with new and more robust models emerging. In this research, we have proposed an encoder–decoder architecture, the Human Trajectory Imputation Model, coined HTIM, to tackle these challenges. This architecture aims to fill in the missing parts of pedestrian trajectories. The model is evaluated using the Intersection drone the inD dataset, containing trajectory data at suitable altitudes, preserving naturalistic pedestrian behavior with varied dataset sizes. To assess the effectiveness of our model, we utilize L1, MSE, and quantile and ADE loss. Our experiments demonstrate that HTIM outperforms the majority of the state-of-the-art methods in this field, thus indicating its superior performance in imputing pedestrian trajectories.
Performance of Granulated Ti-Dopped Manganese Oxide Oxygen Carriers in Chemical Looping Processes
Authors: Mendiara Teresa , Filsouf Amirhossein , Adánez-Rubio Iñaki , Izquierdo María Teresa , Abad Alberto
Published: January 2025

The cornerstone in the development of different applications of the Chemical Looping (CL) technology is the oxygen carrier material that transfers the oxygen. We evaluate the performance of manganese oxide doped with TiO2 to reinforce the release of molecular oxygen and regeneration at high temperatures (850–950 °C). Different manganese-titanium mixed oxides with mass fractions of titanium oxide from 0 to 50 wt.% were considered and prepared by granulation. The sample with 20 wt.%. TiO2 (MnTi_20) showed better oxygen release/regeneration capabilities than pure manganese oxide under similar conditions and was selected for further development. To evaluate the performance of MnTi_20, long tests (200 cycles) were carried out in a TGA to evaluate the chemical and mechanical stability of the sample. Additionally, MnTi_20 was tested in a batch fluidized bed reactor to evaluate its oxygen uncoupling capability and its reactivity with the main combustion gases (H2, CO, and CH4) as well as its fluidization properties. MnTi_20 is capable of regenerating Mn3O4 to Mn2O3 at 950 °C and maintains its reactivity with the redox cycles. No fluidization problems were encountered during almost 60 h of continuous fluidization, and a lifetime of 2500 h was estimated for this oxygen carrier.
A Data-Driven Deep Learning Framework for Prediction of Traffic Crashes at Road Intersections
Authors: Wang Mengxiang , Lee Wang-Chien , Liu Na , Fu Qiang , Wan Fujun , Yu Ge
Published: January 2025

Traffic crash prediction (TCP) is a fundamental problem for intelligent transportation systems in smart cities. Improving the accuracy of traffic crash prediction is important for road safety and effective traffic management. Owing to recent advances in artificial neural networks, several new deep-learning models have been proposed for TCP. However, these works mainly focus on accidents in regions, which are typically pre-determined using a grid map. We argue that TCP for roads, especially for crashes at or near road intersections which account for more than 50% of the fatal or injury crashes based on the Federal Highway Administration, has a significant practical and research value and thus deserves more research. In this paper, we formulate TCP at Road Intersections as a classification problem and propose a three-phase data-driven deep learning model, called Road Intersection Traffic Crash Prediction (RoadInTCP), to predict traffic crashes at intersections by exploiting publicly available heterogeneous big data. In Phase I we extract discriminative latent features called topological-relational features (tr-features), of intersections using a neural network model by exploiting topological information of the road network and various relationships amongst nearby intersections. In Phase II, in addition to tr-features which capture some inherent properties of the road network, we also explore additional thematic information in terms of environmental, traffic, weather, risk, and calendar features associated with intersections. In order to incorporate the potential correlation in nearby intersections, we utilize a Graph Convolution Network (GCN) to aggregate features from neighboring intersections based on a message-passing paradigm for TCP. While Phase II serves well as a TCP model, we further explore the signals embedded in the sequential feature changes over time for TCP in Phase III, by exploring RNN or 1DCNN which have known success on sequential data. Additionally, to address the serious issues of imbalanced classes in TCP and large-scale heterogeneous big data, we propose an effective data sampling approach in data preparation to facilitate model training. We evaluate the proposed RoadInTCP model via extensive experiments on a real-world New York City traffic dataset. The experimental results show that the proposed RoadInTCP robustly outperforms existing methods.
Color Quality Versus Energy Efficiency: A Dual Perspective on LED Retrofits in Healthcare Examination Rooms
Authors: Fryc Irena , Listowski Maciej , Martinsons Christophe
Published: January 2025

Selecting LED retrofits for examination rooms in healthcare buildings involves setting the right balance between lighting quality and energy efficiency. In the case of LEDs incorporated in luminaires used in medical examination rooms, it is essential to consider not only the correlated color temperature (CCT) and color rendering index (CRI Ra) in compliance with the lighting standards, but also the cyanosis observation index (COI) that meets the more demanding regulations of certain countries. In this work, the Color Preference Criteria (CPC) method is used to select LED retrofits for this application. The LEDs classified as P1 according to the CPC method were found to meet the required COI level.
CAPDepth: 360 Monocular Depth Estimation by Content-Aware Projection
Authors: Gao Xu , Shi Yongqiang , Zhao Yaqian , Wang Yanan , Wang Jin , Wu Gang
Published: January 2025

Solving the depth estimation problem in a 360° image space, which has holistic scene perception, has become a trend in recent years. However, depth estimation in common 360° images is prone to geometric distortion. Therefore, this study proposes a new method, CAPDepth, to address the geometric-distortion problem of 360° monocular depth estimation. We reduce the tangential projections by an optimized content-aware projection (CAP) and a geometric embedding module to capture more features for global depth consistency. Additionally, we adopt an index map and a de-blocking scheme to improve the inference efficiency and quality of our CAPDepth model. Our experiments show that CAPDepth greatly alleviates the distortion problem, producing smoother, more accurate predicted depth results, and improves performance in panoramic depth estimation.
Sustainable Cold Chain Management: An Evaluation of Predictive Waste Management Models
Authors: Fatorachian Hajar , Pawar Kulwant
Published: January 2025

The integration of advanced predictive models is pivotal for optimizing demand forecasting and inventory management in cold chain logistics. This study evaluates the application of machine learning techniques—ARIMA (Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR)—to forecast demand trends and analyze key drivers in a mid-sized cold chain operation. Trained on a multi-year sales dataset, the ARIMA model excelled in capturing seasonal patterns, while the MLR model effectively incorporated multivariable factors such as temperature, product type, and promotional activity. Both models demonstrated strong predictive accuracy, with low Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), offering reliable and computationally efficient solutions for mid-sized operations. The findings underscore the novelty of combining ARIMA’s time-series capabilities with MLR’s multivariable analysis to address complex demand drivers. By aligning with Resource-Based View (RBV) and Supply Chain Resilience Theory, this research advances the understanding of AI-driven predictive models as strategic tools for enhancing operational efficiency, reducing waste, and promoting sustainability in cold chain logistics. This work sets the stage for future innovations in AI-driven supply chain optimization.
A Seismic Landslide Hazard Assessment in Small Areas Based on Multilevel Physical and Mechanical Parameters: A Case Study of the Upper Yangzi River
Authors: Zhan Yunxin , Song Zhi , Li Dan , Xue Lian , Huang Tianju
Published: January 2025

Many landslides triggered by earthquakes have caused a countless loss of life and property, therefore, it is very important to predict landslide hazards accurately. In this work, regional seismic landslide data were obtained via a field survey, remote sensing interpretation, and data collection, and a multilevel physical and mechanical parameter system for seismic landslide hazard assessment was established; this system included a landslide inventory, loose accumulation layers, and geological units, enabling higher accuracy in the data. The Newmark displacement model with a modified correlation coefficient was used to assess the regional seismic landslide hazard in four scenarios (a = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) to study the influence of the landslide hazard at different peak ground accelerations. Moreover, the information value model was used to modify the calculated results to improve their accuracy in the assessment. By assessing the potential seismic landslide hazard in Shimian County in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the regional landslide distribution and pattern at different peak ground accelerations were obtained. The results show that with decreasing parameter accuracy in the system, the importance of the landslide inventory increases. When the peak ground acceleration is a = 0.3, which can be defined as a high hazard grade, in which the landslide area demonstrates a large-scale sharp increase, a devastating hazard threshold is reached. As the peak ground acceleration increases, the factor controlling landslides transforms from the landslide inventory to the slope, which reflects the reasonableness of the parameters in the system. The input parameters were regarded as important factors for efficiently increasing the accuracy of the results of the Newmark displacement model in the discussion.
Synergistic Chemical Modification and Physical Adsorption for the Efficient Curing of Soluble Phosphorus/Fluorine in Phosphogypsum
Authors: Zhou Junsheng , Yang Yue , Li Huiquan , Zhu Ganyu , Yang Haoqi
Published: January 2025

Phosphogypsum (PG), a by-product of phosphoric acid production, contains high levels of fluorine and phosphorus impurities, which negatively impact the strength and setting time of PG-based cement materials and pose environmental risks. This study explores a dual approach combining physical adsorption using zeolite powder and chemical modification with quicklime (CaO) to immobilize these impurities. The composition of 90 wt.% PG, 5 wt.% zeolite powder, and 5 wt.% quicklime reduces the soluble phosphorus to below the detection limits and significantly lowers the free water content in the PG. Through SEM, XRD, and FT-IR analyses, it was found that zeolite powder adsorbs fluorine and phosphorus through encapsulation, while quicklime chemically reacts to form insoluble calcium phosphate and calcium fluoride. This transformation decreases the solubility, mitigating potential environmental contamination. The combination of physical adsorption and chemical conversion provides a sustainable strategy to reduce environmental hazards and enhance PG’s suitability for cement-based materials. The findings from this research offer a promising pathway for the sustainable utilization of PG, providing a mechanism for its safe incorporation into building materials, while addressing both environmental and material performance concerns.