bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer Disease Classification through Transfer Learning Approach
Authors: Raza Noman , Naseer Asma , Tamoor Maria , Zafar Kashif
Published: February 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a slow neurological disorder that destroys the thought process, and consciousness, of a human. It directly affects the development of mental ability and neurocognitive functionality. The number of patients with Alzheimer’s disease is increasing day by day, especially in old aged people, who are above 60 years of age, and, gradually, it becomes cause of their death. In this research, we discuss the segmentation and classification of the Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of Alzheimer’s disease, through the concept of transfer learning and customizing of the convolutional neural network (CNN) by specifically using images that are segmented by the Gray Matter (GM) of the brain. Instead of training and computing the proposed model accuracy from the start, we used a pre-trained deep learning model as our base model, and, after that, transfer learning was applied. The accuracy of the proposed model was tested over a different number of epochs, 10, 25, and 50. The overall accuracy of the proposed model was 97.84%.
Diagnostic Performance Evaluation of Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Detection of Prostate Cancer with Supervised Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Nematollahi Hamide , Moslehi Masoud , Aminolroayaei Fahimeh , Maleki Maryam , Shahbazi-Gahrouei Daryoush
Published: February 2023

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Its early and correct diagnosis is of particular importance to controlling and preventing the disease from spreading to other tissues. Artificial intelligence and machine learning have effectively detected and graded several cancers, in particular prostate cancer. The purpose of this review is to show the diagnostic performance (accuracy and area under the curve) of supervised machine learning algorithms in detecting prostate cancer using multiparametric MRI. A comparison was made between the performances of different supervised machine-learning methods. This review study was performed on the recent literature sourced from scientific citation websites such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to the end of January 2023. The findings of this review reveal that supervised machine learning techniques have good performance with high accuracy and area under the curve for prostate cancer diagnosis and prediction using multiparametric MR imaging. Among supervised machine learning methods, deep learning, random forest, and logistic regression algorithms appear to have the best performance.
Advances in the Microbiological Diagnosis of Prosthetic Joint Infections
Authors: Portillo Maria Eugenia , Sancho Ignacio
Published: February 2023

A significant number of prosthetic joint infections (PJI) are culture-negative and/or misinterpreted as aseptic failures in spite of the correct implementation of diagnostic culture techniques, such as tissue sample processing in a bead mill, prolonged incubation time, or sonication of removed implants. Misinterpretation may lead to unnecessary surgery and needless antimicrobial treatment. The diagnostic value of non-culture techniques has been investigated in synovial fluid, periprosthetic tissues, and sonication fluid. Different feasible improvements, such as real-time technology, automated systems and commercial kits are now available to support microbiologists. In this review, we describe non-culture techniques based on nucleic acid amplification and sequencing methods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a frequently used technique in most microbiology laboratories which allows the detection of a nucleic acid fragment by sequence amplification. Different PCR types can be used to diagnose PJI, each one requiring the selection of appropriate primers. Henceforward, thanks to the reduced cost of sequencing and the availability of next-generation sequencing (NGS), it will be possible to identify the whole pathogen genome sequence and, additionally, to detect all the pathogen sequences present in the joint. Although these new techniques have proved helpful, strict conditions need to be observed in order to detect fastidious microorganisms and rule out contaminants. Specialized microbiologists should assist clinicians in interpreting the result of the analyses at interdisciplinary meetings. New technologies will gradually be made available to improve the etiologic diagnoses of PJI, which will remain an important cornerstone of treatment. Strong collaboration among all specialists involved is essential for the correct diagnosis of PJI.
How “Berry Phase” Analysis of Non-Adiabatic Non-Hermitian Systems Reflects Their Geometry
Authors: Jeynes Chris
Published: February 2023

There is currently great interest in systems represented by non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, including a wide variety of real systems that may be dissipative and whose behaviour can be represented by a “phase” parameter that characterises the way “exceptional points” (singularities of various sorts) determine the system. These systems are briefly reviewed here with an emphasis on their geometrical thermodynamics properties.
A Reconfigurable Setup for the On-Wafer Characterization of the Dynamic RON of 600 V GaN Switches at Variable Operating Regimes
Authors: Alemanno Alessio , Angelotti Alberto Maria , Gibiino Gian Piero , Santarelli Alberto , Sangiorgi Enrico , Florian Corrado
Published: February 2023

Charge-trapping mechanisms observed in high-voltage GaN switches are responsible for the degradation of power converter efficiency due to modulation of the effective dynamic ON-resistance (RON) with respect to its static value. Dynamic RON degradation is typically dependent on the blocking voltage and the commutation frequency and is particularly significant in new technologies under development. The possibility to characterize this phenomenon on GaN switch samples directly on-wafer, under controlled operating conditions that resemble real operations of the DUT in a switching mode power converter is extremely valuable in the development phase of new technologies or for quality verification of production wafers. In this paper, we describe a setup that allows this characterization: dynamic RON degradation of on-wafer 600 V GaN switches is characterized as a function of the VDS blocking voltage, the VGS driving voltage, and at different temperatures. The dependency on the switching frequency is identified by measuring the current recovery of the switch after the application of blocking voltages of different durations.
A Universal Hardware Platform for an LTE-Advanced Base Station Prototyping
Authors: Korpas Przemysław , Rosołowski Dawid W. , Kajczuk Michał , Gryglewski Daniel , Wojtasiak Wojciech
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a universal hardware platform (UHP) based on software defined radio (SDR) technology and developed to accelerate the prototyping and testing new hardware and algorithmic solutions for modern radio systems. There are two integrated transceivers and a baseband processor on the board. Thus, four complete RF transmitting and receiving channels, with observation paths for transmitted signals monitoring could be supported. Our platform can be operated in both time-division (TDD) and frequency-division (FDD) duplex schemes over a 300 MHz to 6 GHz frequency range with simultaneous synthesis and analysis in the bandwidth of up to 100 MHz. The radio system is formed by attaching an appropriate RF front-end to the UHP and uploading standard-specific software. As examples of possible UHP applications, two LTE-Advanced micro base stations for private networks with standard-defined RF front-ends operating in the LTE band B43 (3.6 GHz) with time duplex and the band B31 (450 MHz) in FDD mode are presented.
Conserving Potential and Endangered Species of Pericopsis mooniana Thwaites in Indonesia
Authors: Kinho Julianus , Suhartati Suhartati , Husna Husna , Tuheteru Faisal Danu , Arini Diah Irawati Dwi , Lawasi Moh. Andika , Ura’ Resti , Prayudyaningsih Retno , Yulianti Yulianti , Subarudi Subarudi , Abdulah Lutfy , Susanti Ruliyana , Waluyo Totok Kartono , Suhartana Sona , Andianto Andianto , Wardani Marfuah , Kalima Titi , Tambaru Elis , Isnan Wahyudi , Susilo Adi , Ngatiman Ngatiman , Alhamd Laode , Dulsalam Dulsalam , Soenarno Soenarno
Published: February 2023

Indonesia has around 4000 wood species, and 10% (400) of species are categorized as commercial wood. One species is kayu kuku (Pericopsis mooniana Thwaites), native to Southeast Sulawesi. This species is considered a fancy wood used for sawn timber, veneer, plywood, carving, and furniture. The high demand for wood caused excessive logging and threatened its sustainability. In addition, planting P. mooniana has presented several challenges, including seedling production, viability and germination rate, nursery technology, and silviculture techniques. As a result, the genera of Pericopsis, including P. elata (Europe), P. mooniana (Sri Lanka), and P. angolenses (Africa), have been listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix. Based on The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, P. mooniana is categorized as Vulnerable (A1cd). This conservation status has raised issues regarding its biodiversity, conservation, and sustainability in the near future. This paper aims to review the conservation of potential and endangered species of P. mooniana and highlight some efforts for its species conservation and sustainable use in Indonesia. The method used is a systematic literature review based on P. mooniana’s publication derived from various reputable journal sources and additional literature sources. The results revealed that the future demand for P. mooniana still increases significantly due to its excellent wood characteristics. This high demand should be balanced with both silviculture techniques and conservation efforts. The silviculture of P. mooniana has been improved through seed storage technology, improved viability and germination rates, proper micro and macro propagation, applying hormones, in vitro seed storage, improved nursery technology, and harvesting techniques. P. mooniana conservation can be conducted with both in situ and ex situ conservation efforts. In situ conservation is carried out by protecting its mother trees in natural conditions (i.e., Lamedae Nature Reserve) for producing good quality seeds and seedlings. Ex situ conservation is realized by planting seeds and seedlings to produce more wood through rehabilitating and restoring critical forests and lands due to its ability to adapt to marginal land and mitigate climate change. Other actions required for supporting ex situ conservation are preventing illegal logging, regeneration, conservation education, reforestation, agroforestry system applied in private and community lands, and industrial forest plantations.
Combustion and Stubble Burning: A Major Concern for the Environment and Human Health
Authors: Chanana Ishita , Sharma Aparajita , Kumar Pradeep , Kumar Lokender , Kulshreshtha Sourabh , Kumar Sanjay , Patel Sanjay Kumar Singh
Published: February 2023

Combustion is an essential process for humanity, but it has created turbulence in society due to the pollutant emissions from the partial completion of its process and its byproducts. The regular population is unaware of the repercussions being faced in terms of health deterioration, product quality degradation, biodiversity loss, and environmental harm. Although strategic planning against the effects is being applied sideways by the authorities to the local population and industrial facilities, the awareness in the local population is still minimal. The indicators for bioremediation being required, observed through increased sales of pharmaceutical medicines and supplements, air filters, and new techniques, include smog, elevation in respiratory disease, health immune system deterioration, decreasing life span, increasing mortality rate, and degradation in the food and water quality. This article gives a brief overview of the problems being faced due to uncontrolled combustion activities, the sources of pollutants, their creation, emission, and dispersal process, along with the mitigation techniques developed to overcome the after-effects on human health and environment.
Identification of Novel Mutations in the Tyrosinase Gene (TYR) Associated with Pigmentation in Chinese Giant Salamanders (Andrias davidianus)
Authors: Deng Jie , Han Mengdi , Ma Hongying , Zhang Han , Zhang Hongxing , Zhao Hu , Li Jia , Jiang Wei
Published: February 2023

The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus), an endangered amphibian species endemic to China, has been previously evaluated with regards to its phyletic evolution, zooecology, and ethology, but molecular mechanisms underlying its skin pigmentation remain unknown. Herein, a skin transcriptome database of different colored salamanders was established using RNA-seq, and a total of 47,911 unigenes were functionally annotated. Among these unigenes, a total of 1252 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were annotated in the seven public databases, and six DEGs were validated by qPCR between five different skin colors and eight tissues. The results showed that TYR, TYRP1, and ASIP were significantly differentially expressed between different body colors, while TYR, TYRP1, and DCT were highly expressed in skin tissue. The full-length complementary DNA of TYR was cloned and analyzed between normal and yellow phenotypes. Three nucleotide sequence deletion sites were identified in the coding region of TYR, leading to premature termination of transcription and translation in yellow individuals. Our study provides useful data for the further study of the molecular mechanisms of melanin formation, and a valuable reference for the breeding of specific skin colors in other salamanders.
Frail Multiple Myeloma Patients Deserve More Than Just a Score
Authors: Miller Hannah Louise , Sharpley Faye Amelia
Published: February 2023

Frailty is a hot topic in the field of multiple myeloma (MM). Clinicians have realised that frail myeloma patients can struggle with treatment, resulting in dose reductions and treatment discontinuation, which risk shorter progression-free and overall survival. Efforts have focused on the validity of existing frailty scores and on the development of new indices to identify frail patients more accurately. This review article explores the challenges of the existing frailty scores, including the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) frailty score, the revised Myeloma Co-morbidity Index (R-MCI), and the Myeloma Risk Profile (MRP). We conclude that the missing link is for frailty scoring to translate into a tool useful in real-world clinical practice. The future of frailty scores lies in their ability to be woven into clinical trials, to create a robust clinical evidence base for treatment selection and dose modification, and also to identify a cohort of patients who merit additional support from the wider MM multidisciplinary team.
Computed Tomography Analysis of the Manufacture of Cast Head-Bust Figurines by Patricia ‘Pat’ Elvins (1922–2011)
Authors: Spennemann Dirk H. R. , Singh Clare L.
Published: February 2023

The Alice Springs sculptor Patricia Elvins created a number of busts of Indigenous Australian men, women, and children, which were distributed as casts for the gift and souvenir market. Produced between the early-1960s and the early-1990s, these varnished casts exist with four different artists’ signatures, representing collaboration with different production potters who produced the casts. Macroscopic analysis shows significant differences in weight between casts of the same bust. CT scanning was carried out to understand the make-up of these casts and to illuminate differences in production techniques. The scanning revealed that all figurines were cast, but that casting techniques varied not only between production potters but also among figurines of the same potter. It revealed differences in the densities of the casting material, both between and within specimens, suggesting that production was not standardized but occurred in smaller batches, possibly on demand of low-volume sales stock. The study has shown the potential of non-destructive CT scanning to go beyond this and serve as a tool to examine the casting process itself as well as to contribute to an understanding of the nature of the plasters used.
Pedestrians’ Perceptions of Motorized Traffic Variables in Relation to Appraisals of Urban Route Environments
Authors: Andersson Dan , Wahlgren Lina , Olsson Karin , Schantz Peter
Published: February 2023

It is important to examine how motorized traffic variables affect pedestrians along a gradient from rural to inner urban settings. Relations between pedestrians’ perceptions of four traffic variables and appraisals of route environments as hindering–stimulating for walking as well as unsafe–safe for reasons of traffic, were therefore studied in the inner urban area of Stockholm, Sweden (n = 294). The pedestrians rated their perceptions and appraisals with the Active Commuting Route Environment Scale (ACRES). Correlation, multiple regression, and mediation analyses were used to study the relationships between the traffic variables and the outcome variables. Noise related negatively to both hindering–stimulating for walking, and to unsafety–safety for traffic reasons. Vehicle speed related negatively to unsafety–safety for traffic reasons. Furthermore, vehicle speed protruded as an important origin of the deterring effects of traffic among those who commute by foot. The study shows the value of both partial and simultaneous analyses of the effect of all four traffic variables in relation to outcome variables relevant for walking.
Design and Implementation of a Chain-Type Direct Push Drilling Rig for Contaminated Sites
Authors: Sun Pinghe , Zhou Shengwei , Cao Han , Cai Guojun , Zhang Shaohe , Gao Qiang , Cheng Gongbi , Liu Biao , Liu Gongping , Zhang Xinxin , Liu Yun , Wu Dongyu , Ding Zhenyu , Zeng Lan , Liao Guangdong , Liu Leilei , Wang Xiaokang , Xiao Ting , Jin Jing , Yang Hanhan
Published: February 2023

For sites where volatile organic compounds are present, the direct push method, in combination with other sensors for investigation, is a powerful method. The investigation process is an integrated drilling and sensing process, but the trajectory of the probe carrying the sensor is ambiguous. This paper explores and introduces the application of a chain-type direct push drilling rig by designing and building a chain-type direct push miniature drilling rig. This rig allows for indoor experimental studies of direct push trajectories. The chain-type direct push drilling model is proposed based on the mechanism of chain transmission. The drilling rig provides a steady direct thrust through the chain, which is driven by a hydraulic motor. In addition, the drilling tests and results described prove that the chain could be applied to direct push drilling. The chain-type direct push drilling rig can drill to a depth of 1940 mm in single-pass and up to 20,000 mm in multiple passes. The test results also indicate that it drills a total length of 462.461 mm and stops after 87.545 s of operation. The machine can provide a drilling angle of 0–90° and keep the borehole angle fluctuating within 0.6° with the characteristics of strong adjustability, flexibility, continuity, stability, and low disturbance, which is of great value and significance for studying the drilling trajectory of direct push tools and obtaining more accurate investigation data.
The Synergistic Effect of Topographic Factors and Vegetation Indices on the Underground Coal Mine Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Remote Sensing
Authors: Li Quansheng , Li Feiyue , Guo Junting , Guo Li , Wang Shanshan , Zhang Yaping , Li Mengyuan , Zhang Chengye
Published: February 2023

Understanding the synergistic effect between topography and vegetation in the underground coal mine is of great significance for the ecological restoration and sustainable development of mining areas. This paper took advantage of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing to obtain high-precision topographic factors (i.e., digital elevation model (DEM), slope, and aspect) in the Shangwan Coal Mine. Then, a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was calculated utilizing Landsat images from 2017 to 2021, and the NDVI with the same spatial resolution as the slope and aspect was acquired by down-sampling. Finally, the synergistic effect of topography and vegetation in the underground mining area was revealed by dividing the topography obtained using high-precision data into 21 types. The results show that: (1) the vegetation cover was dominated by “slightly low-VC”, “medium-VC”, and “slightly high-VC” in the study area, and there was a positive correlation between the slope and NDVI when the slope was more than 5°. (2) When the slope was slight, the aspect had less influence on the vegetation growth. When the slope was larger, the influence of the aspect increased in the study area. (3) “Rapidly steep–semi-sunny slope” was the most suitable combination for the vegetation growth in the study area. This paper revealed the relationship between the topography and vegetation. In addition, it provided a scientific and effective foundation for decision-making of ecological restoration in the underground coal mine.
Unveiling the Role of Dissolved Organic Matter on the Hg Phytoavailability in Biochar-Amended Soils
Authors: Chen Wenhao , Yu Zhigang , Yang Xu , Wang Tantan , Li Zihao , Wen Xin , He Yubo , Zhang Chang
Published: February 2023

Biochar can effectively reduce the phytoavailability of mercury (Hg) in soil, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, the dynamic changes in Hg content adsorbed by the biochar (BC-Hg), Hg phytoavailability in the soil (P-Hg), and soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics were determined over a 60-day treatment period. Biochar obtained at 300 °C, 500 °C and 700 °C reduced the P-Hg concentration assessed by MgCl2 extraction by 9.4%, 23.5% and 32.7%, respectively. However, biochar showed a very limited adsorption on Hg, with the maximum BC-Hg content only accounting for 1.1% of the total amount. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) results showed that the proportion of Hg atoms in biochar after 60 d was barely detectable. Biochar treatment can shift soil DOM toward higher aromatic content and molecular weight. Additionally, the addition of high-temperature biochar increased more humus-like components, but low-temperature biochar increased more protein-like components. Correlation analysis and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) showed that biochar promoted humus-like fractions formation to reduce the Hg phytoavailability. This research has deepened the understanding of the mechanisms by which biochar stabilizes Hg in agricultural soils.
Peer Intervention following Suicide-Related Emergency Department Presentation: Evaluation of the PAUSE Pilot Program
Authors: Gibson Mandy , Moreau Nick , Balzamo Eschleigh , Crompton David
Published: February 2023

The risk for future suicidal behaviours is elevated following suicide attempts, particularly for those with complex needs or those who are disconnected from healthcare systems. The PAUSE program was designed to address this gap using peer workers to provide continuity and coordination of care following suicide-related emergency presentations. This study aimed to evaluate the pilot program’s effect on suicidal ideation and hope, and to explore the acceptability and participants’ experiences. A mixed-methods design was employed with pre- and post-evaluation questionnaires, including the GHQ-28-SS (general health questionnaire suicide scale), AHS (adult hope scale), and K10 (Kessler psychological distress scale). Participant engagement rates and semi-structured interviews were used to explore program acceptability. In total, 142 people were engaged with the PAUSE pilot between 24 August 2017 and 11 January 2020. There were no significant gender differences in engagement. The suicidal ideation scores decreased, and the hope scores increased after participation in PAUSE. A thematic analysis revealed that participants identified that the key program mechanisms were holistic and responsive support, ongoing social connectedness, and having peer workers who understood their experiences and treated them like people rather than clients. The small number of participants and lack of a control group limited the result generalizability. The findings suggest that PAUSE was an effective and acceptable model for supporting people following suicide-related hospitalisations in this pilot sample.
Health Service Management and Patient Safety in Primary Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kosovo
Authors: Bojaj Gazmend , Tahirbegolli Bernard , Beqiri Petrit , Alloqi Tahirbegolli Iliriana , Van Poel Esther , Willems Sara , Rizanaj Nderim , Hoxha Ilir
Published: February 2023

Background: Several changes must be made to the services to ensure patient safety and enable delivering services in environments where the danger of infection of healthcare personnel and patients in primary care (PC) institutions is elevated, i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to examine patient safety and healthcare service management in PHC practices in Kosovo during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire among 77 PHC practices. Results: Our main finding reveals a safer organization of PC practices and services since the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous period before the pandemic. The study also shows a collaboration between PC practices in the close neighborhood and more proper human resource management due to COVID-19 suspicion or infection. Over 80% of the participating PC practices felt the need to introduce changes to the structure of their practice. Regarding infection protection measures (IPC), our study found that health professionals’ practices of wearing a ring or bracelet and wearing nail polish improved during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. During the COVID-19 pandemic, PC practice health professionals had less time to routinely review guidelines or medical literature. Despite this, implementing triage protocols over the phone has yet to be applied at the intended level by PC practices in Kosovo. Conclusions: Primary care practices in Kosovo responded to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis by modifying how they organize their work, implementing procedures for infection control, and enhancing patient safety.
Longitudinal Effects of Screen Time on Depressive Symptoms among Swedish Adolescents: The Moderating and Mediating Role of Coping Engagement Behavior
Authors: Hökby Sebastian , Westerlund Joakim , Alvarsson Jesper , Carli Vladimir , Hadlaczky Gergö
Published: February 2023

Studies suggest that hourly digital screen time increases adolescents’ depressive symptoms and emotional regulation difficulties. However, causal mechanisms behind such associations remain unclear. We hypothesized that problem-focused and/or emotion-focused engagement coping moderates and possibly mediates this association over time. Questionnaire data were collected in three waves from a representative sample of Swedish adolescents (0, 3 and 12 months; n = 4793; 51% boys; 99% aged 13–15). Generalized Estimating Equations estimated the main effects and moderation effects, and structural regression estimated the mediation pathways. The results showed that problem-focused coping had a main effect on future depression (b = 0.030; p < 0.001) and moderated the effect of screen time (b = 0.009; p < 0.01). The effect size of this moderation was maximum 3.4 BDI-II scores. The mediation results corroborated the finding that future depression was only indirectly correlated with baseline screen time, conditional upon intermittent problem-coping interference (C’-path: Std. beta = 0.001; p = 0.018). The data did not support direct effects, emotion-focused coping effects, or reversed causality. We conclude that hourly screen time can increase depressive symptoms in adolescent populations through interferences with problem-focused coping and other emotional regulation behaviors. Preventive programs could target coping interferences to improve public health. We discuss psychological models of why screen time may interfere with coping, including displacement effects and echo chamber phenomena.
Optimizing the Agricultural Supply Chain through E-Commerce: A Case Study of Tudouec in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Li Jian , Yan Xin , Li Yongwu , Dong Xuefan
Published: February 2023

E-commerce has the potential to address problems in the agricultural supply chain and support the implementation of rural revitalization strategies. Previous research has largely focused on the business models of rural e-commerce platforms, but has not examined the mechanisms by which they can optimize and reconfigure the agricultural supply chain. This study aims to fill this gap through a case study of Tudouec, a potato e-commerce platform in Inner Mongolia, China. The study employs a single-case study method and utilizes data from interviews, fieldwork, and secondary sources. The findings show that Tudouec is a multi-functional platform offering technical support, warehousing, logistics, supply chain finance, and insurance, among other services. It not only serves as a multi-channel information management platform, but also enhances supply chain capabilities through the interaction of information flow with capital and material flows. This rural e-commerce model addresses the limitations of traditional agricultural models and promotes poverty reduction and rural revitalization. The study’s main contribution is in demonstrating the potential for the Tudouec model to be applied to other agricultural products and in other developing countries.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Letter and Telephone Reminders in Promoting the Use of Specific Health Guidance in an At-Risk Population for Metabolic Syndrome in Japan: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Murayama Hiroshi , Shimada Setaro , Morito Kosuke , Maeda Haruna , Takahashi Yuta
Published: February 2023

Japan has introduced a nationwide lifestyle intervention program (specific health guidance) for people aged 40–74 years. Medical insurers apply a reminder system to improve their utilization rates. This study examined the effectiveness of two methods of reminders (mailed letters and telephone calls) in a randomized controlled trial. Subscribers to National Health Insurance in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, who were eligible for specific health guidance in 2021, were recruited. A total of 1377 people who met the criteria of having or being at risk of developing metabolic syndrome (male: 77.9%, mean age: 63.1 ± 10.0 years) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a “no reminder” group, a “letter reminder” group, or a “telephone reminder” group. The utilization rates of specific health guidance were not significantly different between the three groups (10.5%, 15.3%, and 13.7%, respectively). However, in the case of the telephone reminder group, a subgroup analysis showed that the utilization rate was significantly higher among participants who received the reminder than those who did not answer the calls. Although the effectiveness of a telephone reminder might be underestimated, this study suggests that neither method impacted the utilization rates of specific health guidance among the population at risk of metabolic syndrome.
Financial Market Participation and Retirement Age of the UK Population
Authors: Boado-Penas M. Carmen , Nave Juan M. , Toscano David
Published: February 2023

Recently, many papers have shown evidence of a positive association between financial market participation and wealth holdings. It is often claimed that individuals with a higher level of financial market participation exhibit a higher propensity for planning retirement. In their planning process, individuals seek to achieve an optimal wealth level before their retirement by considering both their average saving rate and their retirement age. In this paper, we tested whether UK individuals with a higher level of financial market participation and, therefore, with a higher propensity for planning retirement were more likely to delay their retirement age than individuals with lower financial participation. On the basis of regression analyses using the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) database for waves 1–6, our results support the hypothesis of a positive relationship between financial market participation and retirement age, reinforcing previous results.
Confinement Effects in Well-Defined Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Selective CO2 Hydrogenation: A Review
Authors: Lu Xiaofei , Song Chuqiao , Qi Xingyu , Li Duanxing , Lin Lili
Published: February 2023

Decarbonization has become an urgent affair to restrain global warming. CO2 hydrogenation coupled with H2 derived from water electrolysis is considered a promising route to mitigate the negative impact of carbon emission and also promote the application of hydrogen. It is of great significance to develop catalysts with excellent performance and large-scale implementation. In the past decades, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely involved in the rational design of catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation due to their high surface areas, tunable porosities, well-ordered pore structures, and diversities in metals and functional groups. Confinement effects in MOFs or MOF-derived materials have been reported to promote the stability of CO2 hydrogenation catalysts, such as molecular complexes of immobilization effect, active sites in size effect, stabilization in the encapsulation effect, and electron transfer and interfacial catalysis in the synergistic effect. This review attempts to summarize the progress of MOF-based CO2 hydrogenation catalysts up to now, and demonstrate the synthetic strategies, unique features, and enhancement mechanisms compared with traditionally supported catalysts. Great emphasis will be placed on various confinement effects in CO2 hydrogenation. The challenges and opportunities in precise design, synthesis, and applications of MOF-confined catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation are also summarized.
Transcriptomic Analysis Revealed Key Defense Genes and Signaling Pathways Mediated by the Arabidopsis thaliana Gene SAD2 in Response to Infection with Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tomato DC3000
Authors: Li Sha , Shi Tiantian , Lyu Mingjie , Wang Rui , Xu Andi , Chen Luoying , Luo Rong , Sun Yinglu , Guo Xiaoying , Liu Jun , Wang Huan , Gao Ying
Published: February 2023

Nucleocytoplasmic transport receptors play key roles in the nuclear translocation of disease resistance proteins, but the associated mechanisms remain unclear. The Arabidopsis thaliana gene SAD2 encodes an importin β-like protein. A transgenic Arabidopsis line overexpressing SAD2 (OESAD2/Col-0) showed obvious resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000) compared to the wild type (Col-0), but the knockout mutant sad2-5 was susceptible. Transcriptomic analysis was then performed on Col-0, OESAD2/Col-0, and sad2-5 leaves at 0, 1, 2, and 3 days post-inoculation with Pst DC3000. A total of 1825 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified as putative biotic stress defense genes regulated by SAD2, 45 of which overlapped between the SAD2 knockout and overexpression datasets. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis indicated that the DEGs were broadly involved in single-organism cellular metabolic processes and in response to stimulatory stress. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) biochemical pathway analysis revealed that many of the DEGs were associated with the biosynthesis of flavonoids and other specialized metabolites. Transcription factor analysis showed that a large number of ERF/AP2, MYB, and bHLH transcription factors were involved in SAD2-mediated plant disease resistance. These results provide a basis for future exploration of the molecular mechanisms associated with SAD2-mediated disease resistance and establish a set of key candidate disease resistance genes.
Hydrogel-Based Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Repurposed FDA-Approved Drugs for AML
Authors: James Jenna R. , Curd Johnathan , Ashworth Jennifer C. , Abuhantash Mays , Grundy Martin , Seedhouse Claire H. , Arkill Kenton P. , Wright Amanda J. , Merry Catherine L. R. , Thompson Alexander
Published: February 2023

In vivo models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are low throughput, and standard liquid culture models fail to recapitulate the mechanical and biochemical properties of the extracellular matrix-rich protective bone marrow niche that contributes to drug resistance. Candidate drug discovery in AML requires advanced synthetic platforms to improve our understanding of the impact of mechanical cues on drug sensitivity in AML. By use of a synthetic, self-assembling peptide hydrogel (SAPH) of modifiable stiffness and composition, a 3D model of the bone marrow niche to screen repurposed FDA-approved drugs has been developed and utilized. AML cell proliferation was dependent on SAPH stiffness, which was optimized to facilitate colony growth. Three candidate FDA-approved drugs were initially screened against the THP-1 cell line and mAF9 primary cells in liquid culture, and EC50 values were used to inform drug sensitivity assays in the peptide hydrogel models. Salinomycin demonstrated efficacy in both an ‘early-stage’ model in which treatment was added shortly after initiation of AML cell encapsulation, and an ‘established’ model in which time-encapsulated cells had started to form colonies. Sensitivity to Vidofludimus treatment was not observed in the hydrogel models, and Atorvastatin demonstrated increased sensitivity in the ‘established’ compared to the ‘early-stage’ model. AML patient samples were equally sensitive to Salinomycin in the 3D hydrogels and partially sensitive to Atorvastatin. Together, this confirms that AML cell sensitivity is drug- and context-specific and that advanced synthetic platforms for higher throughput are valuable tools for pre-clinical evaluation of candidate anti-AML drugs.
Advances in Liquid Biopsy Technology and Implications for Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Raufi Alexander G. , May Michael S. , Hadfield Matthew J. , Seyhan Attila A. , El-Deiry Wafik S.
Published: February 2023

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy with a climbing incidence. The majority of cases are detected late, with incurable locally advanced or metastatic disease. Even in individuals who undergo resection, recurrence is unfortunately very common. There is no universally accepted screening modality for the general population and diagnosis, evaluation of treatment response, and detection of recurrence relies primarily on the use of imaging. Identification of minimally invasive techniques to help diagnose, prognosticate, predict response or resistance to therapy, and detect recurrence are desperately needed. Liquid biopsies represent an emerging group of technologies which allow for non-invasive serial sampling of tumor material. Although not yet approved for routine use in pancreatic cancer, the increasing sensitivity and specificity of contemporary liquid biopsy platforms will likely change clinical practice in the near future. In this review, we discuss the recent technological advances in liquid biopsy, focusing on circulating tumor DNA, exosomes, microRNAs, and circulating tumor cells.
Comparative Analysis of miRNA-mRNA Regulation in the Testes of Gobiocypris rarus following 17α-Methyltestosterone Exposure
Authors: Liu Shaozhen , Zhou Junliang , Yang Qiong , Chen Yue , Liu Qing , Wang Weiwei , Song Jing , Wang Xianzong , Liu Yu
Published: February 2023

17α-Methyltestosterone (17MT), a synthetic organic compound commonly found in sewage waters, can affect reproduction in aquatic animals, such as tilapia and yellow catfish. In the present study, male Gobiocypris rarus were exposed to 25, 50, and 100 ng/L of 17α-methyltestosterone (17MT) for 7 days. We first analyzed miRNA- and RNA-seq results to determine miRNA-target gene pairs and then developed miRNA-mRNA interactive networks after 17MT administration. Total weights, total lengths, and body lengths were not significantly different between the test groups and control groups. The paraffin slice method was applied to testes of G. rarus in the MT exposure and control groups. We found that there were more mature sperm (S) and fewer secondary spermatocytes (SSs) and spermatogonia (SGs) in the testes of control groups. As 17MT concentration increased, fewer and fewer mature sperm (S) were observed in the testes of male G. rarus. The results showed that FSH, 11-KT, and E2 were significantly higher in individuals exposed to 25 ng/L 17MT compared with the control groups. VTG, FSH, LH, 11-KT, and E2 were significantly lower in the 50 ng/L 17MT exposure groups compared to the control groups. VTG, FSH, LH, 11-KT, E2, and T were significantly lower in the groups exposed to 100 ng/L 17MT. High-throughput sequencing revealed 73,449 unigenes, 1205 known mature miRNAs, and 939 novel miRNAs in the gonads of G. rarus. With miRNA-seq, 49 (MT25-M vs. Con-M), 66 (MT50-M vs. Con-M), and 49 (MT100-M vs. Con-M) DEMs were identified in the treatment groups. Five mature miRNAs (miR-122-x, miR-574-x, miR-430-y, lin-4-x, and miR-7-y), as well as seven differentially expressed genes (soat2, inhbb, ihhb, gatm, faxdc2, ebp, and cyp1a1), which may be associated with testicular development, metabolism, apoptosis, and disease response, were assayed using qRT-PCR. Furthermore, miR-122-x (related to lipid metabolism), miR-430-y (embryonic development), lin-4-x (apoptosis), and miR-7-y (disease) were differentially expressed in the testes of 17MT-exposed G. rarus. This study highlights the role of miRNA-mRNA pairs in the regulation of testicular development and immune response to disease and will facilitate future studies on the miRNA-RNA-associated regulation of teleost reproduction.
Peptide Designs for Use in Caries Management: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Olivia Lili , Niu John Yun , Yu Ollie Yiru , Mei May Lei , Jakubovics Nicholas Stephen , Chu Chun Hung
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study was to review the design methods that have been used to create peptides for use in caries management. Two independent researchers systematically reviewed many in vitro studies in which peptides were designed for use in caries management. They assessed the risk of bias in the included studies. This review identified 3592 publications, of which 62 were selected. Forty-seven studies reported 57 antimicrobial peptides. Among them, 31 studies (66%, 31/47) used the template-based design method; 9 studies (19%, 9/47) used the conjugation method; and 7 studies (15%, 7/47) used other methods, such as the synthetic combinatorial technology method, the de novo design method and cyclisation. Ten studies reported mineralising peptides. Seven of these (70%, 7/10) used the template-based design method, two (20%, 2/10) used the de novo design method, and one study (10%, 1/10) used the conjugation method. In addition, five studies developed their own peptides with antimicrobial and mineralising properties. These studies used the conjugation method. Our assessment for the risk of bias in the 62 reviewed studies showed that 44 publications (71%, 44/62) had a medium risk and that 3 publications had a low risk (5%, 3/62). The two most common methods for developing peptides for use in caries management that were used in these studies were the template-based design method and the conjugation method.
Metabolomic Insights of Biosurfactant Activity from Bacillus niabensis against Planktonic Cells and Biofilm of Pseudomonas stutzeri Involved in Marine Biofouling
Authors: Sánchez-Lozano Ilse , Muñoz-Cruz Luz Clarita , Hellio Claire , Band-Schmidt Christine J. , Cruz-Narváez Yair , Becerra-Martínez Elvia , Hernández-Guerrero Claudia J.
Published: February 2023

In marine environments, biofilm can cause negative impacts, including the biofouling process. In the search for new non-toxic formulations that inhibit biofilm, biosurfactants (BS) produced by the genus Bacillus have demonstrated considerable potential. To elucidate the changes that BS from B. niabensis promote in growth inhibition and biofilm formation, this research performed a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomic profile analysis to compare the metabolic differences between planktonic cells and biofilms of Pseudomonas stutzeri, a pioneer fouling bacteria. The multivariate analysis showed a clear separation between groups with a higher concentration of metabolites in the biofilm than in planktonic cells of P. stutzeri. When planktonic and biofilm stages were treated with BS, some differences were found among them. In planktonic cells, the addition of BS had a minor effect on growth inhibition, but at a metabolic level, NADP+, trehalose, acetone, glucose, and betaine were up-regulated in response to osmotic stress. When the biofilm was treated with the BS, a clear inhibition was observed and metabolites such as glucose, acetic acid, histidine, lactic acid, phenylalanine, uracil, and NADP+ were also up-regulated, while trehalose and histamine were down-regulated in response to the antibacterial effect of the BS.
The Main Theories on the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis
Authors: Lamceva Jelizaveta , Uljanovs Romans , Strumfa Ilze
Published: February 2023

Endometriosis is a complex disease, which is defined by abnormal growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. It affects about 10% of women of reproductive age all over the world. Endometriosis causes symptoms that notably worsen patient’s well-being—such as severe pelvic pain, dysfunction of the organs of pelvic cavity, infertility and secondary mental issues. The diagnosis of endometriosis is quite often delayed because of nonspecific manifestations. Since the disease was defined, several different pathogenetic pathways have been considered, including retrograde menstruation, benign metastasis, immune dysregulation, coelomic metaplasia, hormonal disbalance, involvement of stem cells and alterations in epigenetic regulation, but the true pathogenesis of endometriosis remains poorly understood. The knowledge of the exact mechanism of the origin and progression of this disease is significant for the appropriate treatment. Therefore, this review reports the main pathogenetic theories of endometriosis based on current studies.
Hyperbaric Oxygenation Prevents Loss of Immature Neurons in the Adult Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus Following Brain Injury
Authors: Jeremic Rada , Pekovic Sanja , Lavrnja Irena , Bjelobaba Ivana , Djelic Marina , Dacic Sanja , Brkic Predrag
Published: February 2023

A growing body of evidence suggests that hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) may affect the activity of adult neural stem cells (NSCs). Since the role of NSCs in recovery from brain injury is still unclear, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sensorimotor cortex ablation (SCA) and HBO treatment (HBOT) on the processes of neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus (DG), a region of the hippocampus that is the site of adult neurogenesis. Ten-week-old Wistar rats were divided into groups: Control (C, intact animals), Sham control (S, animals that underwent the surgical procedure without opening the skull), SCA (animals in whom the right sensorimotor cortex was removed via suction ablation), and SCA + HBO (operated animals that passed HBOT). HBOT protocol: pressure applied at 2.5 absolute atmospheres for 60 min, once daily for 10 days. Using immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence labeling, we show that SCA causes significant loss of neurons in the DG. Newborn neurons in the subgranular zone (SGZ), inner-third, and partially mid-third of the granule cell layer are predominantly affected by SCA. HBOT decreases the SCA-caused loss of immature neurons, prevents reduction of dendritic arborization, and increases proliferation of progenitor cells. Our results suggest a protective effect of HBO by reducing the vulnerability of immature neurons in the adult DG to SCA injury.