bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Welfare in Groups of Horses with Different Management, Environments and Activities by Measuring Cortisol in Horsehair, Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Hybrid Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Cerasoli Francesco , Podaliri Vulpiani Michele , Saluti Giorgio , Conte Annamaria , Ricci Matteo , Savini Giovanni , D’Alterio Nicola
Published: July 2022

Horses have always been animals used for companionship, work, transportation, and performance purposes over the history of humanity; there are different ways of managing horses, but studies on how horse welfare is influenced by different activities and managements are scanty. Understanding how the management, the environment, and the different uses of horses can affect the level of stress and well-being is important not only for people associated with horses. Three groups of horses with different management, environments, and activities were selected: (1) stabled horses ridden frequently, (2) horses that perform public order service under the Italian state police, and (3) free-ranging horses. Cortisol analysis was carried out on horsehair samples using liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS), a laboratory technique used for the first time to quantify horsehair cortisol. The selection of horses to be included in the three groups was carried out by including only subjects with positive welfare assessment in accordance with the horse welfare assessment protocol (AWIN). These analyses demonstrated that the cortisol levels detected in the horsehair of free-ranging animals were significantly higher compared to those detected in stabled and working horses. These results may have been a consequence of complex environmental, managerial, and behavioral factors, which should be worth further investigation
Antibacterial Screening, Biochemometric and Bioautographic Evaluation of the Non-Volatile Bioactive Components of Three Indigenous South African Salvia Species
Authors: Lim Ah Tock Margaux , Combrinck Sandra , Kamatou Guy , Chen Weiyang , Van Vuuren Sandy , Viljoen Alvaro
Published: July 2022

Salvia africana-lutea L., S. lanceolata L., and S. chamelaeagnea L. are used in South Africa as traditional medicines to treat infections. This paper describes an in-depth investigation into their antibacterial activities to identify bioactive compounds. Methanol extracts from 81 samples were screened against seven bacterial pathogens, using the microdilution assay. Biochemometric models were constructed using data derived from minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry data. Active molecules in selected extracts were tentatively identified using high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), combined with bioautography, and finally, by analysis of active zone eluates by mass spectrometry (MS) via a dedicated interface. Salvia chamelaeagnea displayed notable activity towards all seven pathogens, and the activity, reflected by MICs, was superior to that of the other two species, as confirmed through ANOVA. Biochemometric models highlighted potentially bioactive compounds, including rosmanol methyl ether, epiisorosmanol methyl ether and carnosic acid. Bioautography assays revealed inhibition zones against A. baumannii, an increasingly multidrug-resistant pathogen. Mass spectral data of the eluted zones correlated to those revealed through biochemometric analysis. The study demonstrates the application of a biochemometric approach, bioautography, and direct MS analysis as useful tools for the rapid identification of bioactive constituents in plant extracts.
Antibacterial Activity against Clinical Isolates and In Vivo Efficacy of Coralmycins
Authors: Choi Ha-Young , Kim Bo-Min , Kim Young-Rok , Yang Taehui , Ahn Sunjoo , Yong Dongeun , Kwak Jin-Hwan , Kim Won-Gon
Published: July 2022

Coralmycins, such as coralmycin A and DH-coralmycin A, have novel molecular skeletons and have been reported to exhibit potent antibacterial activity against standard Gram-positive bacterial strains. Here, the in vitro antibacterial activity against an extensive clinical isolate collection, time-kill kinetics, pharmacokinetics (PK), and in vivo efficacy of coralmycins were studied. Coralmycin A showed potent antibacterial activity with an MIC90 of 1 mg/L against 73 clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci isolates, which was 2–8 times higher than the corresponding activities of DH-coralmycin A, vancomycin, daptomycin, and linezolid, and against 73 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates, which was 4–16 times higher than the corresponding activities of DH-coralmycin A, daptomycin, and linezolid. Pharmacokinetic analysis after i.v. injection showed that coralmycins have a moderate volume of distribution and moderate-to-high clearance in mice. The coralmycin A and DH-coralmycin A bioavailability values were 61.3% and 11.7%, respectively, after s.c. administration. In a mouse respiratory tract infection model, coralmycin A showed bacteriostatic and bactericidal in vivo efficacies at an s.c. administration of 4 and 100 mg/kg bid, respectively; these efficacies were similar to those of vancomycin at 4 and 20 mg/kg bid, respectively. The present findings indicate that coralmycin A has great potential as a new class of antibiotic for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria.
Implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Empirical Antibiotic Therapy of Bacteremia, Urinary Tract Infection, and Pneumonia: A Multi-Center Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Koomanachai Pornpan , Srisompong Jintana , Chayangsu Sunee , Ruangkriengsin Darat , Thamlikitkul Visanu , Wangchinda Walaiporn , Sirijatuphat Rujipas , Rattanaumpawan Pinyo
Published: July 2022

A quasi-experimental study was conducted on the implementation of locally developed clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for empirical antibiotic (ATB) therapy of common infections (bacteremia, urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia) in the hospitals from January 2019 to December 2020. The CPGs were developed using data from patients with these infections at individual hospitals. Relevant CPG data pre- and post-implementation were collected and compared. Of the 1644 patients enrolled in the study, 808 and 836 were in the pre- and post-implementation periods, respectively, and patient outcomes were compared. Significant reductions in the mean durations of intensive care unit stay (3.44 ± 9.08 vs. 2.55 ± 7.89 days; p = 0.035), ventilator use (5.73 ± 12.14 vs. 4.22 ± 10.23 days; p = 0.007), piperacillin/tazobactam administration (0.954 ± 3.159 vs. 0.660 ± 2.217 days, p = 0.029), and cefoperazone/sulbactam administration (0.058 ± 0.737 vs. 0.331 ± 1.803 days, p = 0.0001) occurred. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CPG-implementation was associated with favorable clinical outcomes (adjusted odds ratio 1.286, 95% confidence interval: 1.004–1.647, p = 0.046). Among patients who provided follow-up cultures (n = 284), favorable microbiological responses were significantly less frequent during the pre-implementation period than the post-implementation period (80.35% vs. 91.89%; p = 0.01). In conclusion, the locally developed CPG implementation is feasible and effective in improving patient outcomes and reducing ATB consumption. Hospital antimicrobial stewardship teams should be able to facilitate CPG development and implementation for antimicrobial therapy for common infections.
Cefiderocol for Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteria: Handle with Care! A Review of the Real-World Evidence
Authors: Sansone Pasquale , Giaccari Luca Gregorio , Coppolino Francesco , Aurilio Caterina , Barbarisi Alfonso , Passavanti Maria Beatrice , Pota Vincenzo , Pace Maria Caterina
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: healthcare-associated infections are one of the most frequent adverse events in healthcare delivery worldwide. Several antibiotic resistance mechanisms have been developed, including those to carbapenemase. Cefiderocol (CFD) is a novel siderophore cephalosporin designed to treat carbapenem-resistant bacteria. (2) Methods: we performed a systematic review of all cases reported in the literature to outline the existing evidence. We evaluated real-world evidence studies of CFD in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant (CR) bacteria. (3) Results: a total of 19 publications treating cases of infection by CR bacteria were included. The three most frequent CR pathogens were Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. A regimen of 2 g every 8 h was most frequently adopted for CFD with a mean treatment duration of 25.6 days. CFD was generally well tolerated, with fewer side effects. The success rate of CFD therapy was satisfactory and almost 70% of patients showed clinical recovery; of these, nearly half showed negative blood cultures and infection-free status. (4) Conclusions: This review indicates that CFD is active against important GN organisms including Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa, and A. baumannii. CFD seems to have a safe profile.
HBOC-301 in Porcine Kidney Normothermic Machine Perfusion and the Effect of Vitamin C on Methemoglobin Formation
Authors: Edgworth Eileen , Ernst Lisa , Czigany Zoltan , Saritas Turgay , Zarnitz Laura Sophie , Wiartalla Marc , Boor Peter , Buhl Eva Miriam , Rossaint Rolf , Tolba René H. , Doorschodt Benedict , Fabry Gregor , Bleilevens Christian
Published: July 2022

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) of kidneys in combination with an optimized perfusate composition may increase donor organ preservation quality, especially in the case of marginal donor grafts. Optimization of currently employed perfusates is still a subject of present research. Due to the advantages of being cell-free, easy to store, and having minimal antigenicity, hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, such as HBOC-301 (Oxyglobin®, Hemoglobin Oxygen Therapeutics LLC, Souderton, PA, USA), offer an alternative to the commonly used perfusates based on packed red blood cells (pRBC). As previously described, using HBOC results in formation of methemoglobin (metHb) as an adverse effect, inducing hypoxic conditions during the perfusion. As a potential counterpart to metHb formation, the application of the antioxidant ascorbic acid (VitC) is of high interest. Therefore, this study was conducted in four experimental groups, to compare the effect of NMP with (1) HBOC or (3) pRBC, and additionally examine a beneficial effect of VitC in both groups (2) HBOC + VitC and (4) pRBC + VitC. All groups were subjected to NMP for 6 h at a pressure of 75 mmHg. Kidneys in the HBOC groups had a significantly lower renal blood flow and increasing intrarenal resistance, with reduced renal function in comparison to the pRBC groups, as demonstrated by significantly lower creatinine clearance and higher fractional sodium excretion rates. Clinical chemistry markers for tissue damage (LDH, lactate) were higher in the HBOC groups, whereas no significant histological differences were observed. Although the application of VitC decreased oxidative stress levels, it was not able to significantly increase the outcome parameters mentioned above in either group. This study demonstrated that HBOC-301 is inferior to pRBCs in our porcine kidney NMP model, independent of additional VitC administration. Oxidative stress and fragmentation of the hemoglobin polymers could be detected as a possible reason for these results, hence further research, focusing on the use of cell-free oxygen carriers that do not exhibit this complex of issues, is required.
Preparation of Mangosteen Peel Extract Microcapsules by Fluidized Bed Spray-Drying for Tableting: Improving the Solubility and Antioxidant Stability
Authors: Sriwidodo Sriwidodo , Pratama Reza , Umar Abd. Kakhar , Chaerunisa Anis Yohana , Ambarwati Afifah Tri , Wathoni Nasrul
Published: July 2022

Mangosteen fruit has been widely consumed and used as a source of antioxidants, either in the form of fresh fruit or processed products. However, mangosteen peel only becomes industrial waste due to its bitter taste, low content solubility, and poor stability. Therefore, this study aimed to design mangosteen peel extract microcapsules (MPEMs) and tablets to overcome the challenges. The fluidized bed spray-drying method was used to develop MPEM, with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as the core mixture and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the coating agent. The obtained MPEM was spherical with a hollow surface and had a size of 411.2 µm. The flow rate and compressibility of MPEM increased significantly after granulation. A formula containing 5% w/w polyvinyl pyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30) as a binder had the best tablet characteristics, with a hardness of 87.8 ± 1.398 N, friability of 0.94%, and disintegration time of 25.75 ± 0.676 min. Microencapsulation of mangosteen peel extract maintains the stability of its compound (total phenolic and α-mangosteen) and its antioxidant activity (IC50) during the manufacturing process and a month of storage at IVB zone conditions. According to the findings, the microencapsulation is an effective technique for improving the solubility and antioxidant stability of mangosteen peel extract during manufacture and storage.
Zeolites and Biochar Modulate Olive Fruit and Oil Polyphenolic Profile
Authors: Martins Sandra , Silva Ermelinda , Brito Cátia , Martins-Gomes Carlos , Gonçalves Alexandre , Arrobas Margarida , Rodrigues Manuel Ângelo , Correia Carlos M. , Nunes Fernando M.
Published: July 2022

Soil degradation processes and climate change threaten the sustainability of Mediterranean rainfed olive orchards, with repercussions on crop yield and quality of olives, olive oil and olive by-products. Using soil amendments can enhance soil fertility for sustained environmental quality and plant performance. For two years, we evaluated, under rainfed conditions, the effects of a fertilizer compound (FC) and its combination with zeolites (ZL) and biochar (BC) amendments on soil moisture, yield, fruit and oil polyphenols and quality indices. The polyphenolic composition was strongly influenced by treatments, although no effects were observed on crop yield. ZL improved soil moisture (average increase of 26.3% compared to FC), fruit fatty acid composition (increase of 12.4% in oleic/linoleic ratio in 2018) and oil quality, BC enhanced the concentrations of polyphenols with high nutritional value (average annual increase of 25.6, 84.8 and 11.6% for 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, oleuropein and rutin, respectively). In contrast, olive oil from FC fruits showed the poorest quality, with oxidation and hydrolytic breakdown signals. The applied soil amendments appear to be a promising sustainable strategy to implement in olive rainfed orchards.
Development and Testing of Copper Filters for Efficient Application in Half-Face Masks
Authors: Ballóková Beáta , Lázár Marián , Jasminská Natália , Molčanová Zuzana , Michalik Štefan , Brestovič Tomáš , Živčák Jozef , Saksl Karol
Published: July 2022

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of severe acute respiratory diseases. Its main transmission pathway is through large and small respiratory droplets, as well as a direct and indirect contact. In this paper, we present the results of the development and research of copper filters produced by powder technology. Four types of copper powders were tested. Technological parameters, a microstructure, an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and fractography of copper (Cu) filters are reported. The pressure losses in the P-Cu-AW315 filter showed a very favorable value for using the filter in half-face masks that meet the requirements of European norms (EN). An X-ray tomography measurement was carried out at the I12-JEEP beamline. A relative volume of grains and pores was estimated (on the basis of the segmentation results) to be approximately 50% to 50% of the investigated filter volume.
Vision-Based Autonomous Vehicle Systems Based on Deep Learning: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Pavel Monirul Islam , Tan Siok Yee , Abdullah Azizi
Published: July 2022

In the past decade, autonomous vehicle systems (AVS) have advanced at an exponential rate, particularly due to improvements in artificial intelligence, which have had a significant impact on social as well as road safety and the future of transportation systems. However, the AVS is still far away from mass production because of the high cost of sensor fusion and a lack of combination of top-tier solutions to tackle uncertainty on roads. To reduce sensor dependency and to increase manufacturing along with enhancing research, deep learning-based approaches could be the best alternative for developing practical AVS. With this vision, in this systematic review paper, we broadly discussed the literature of deep learning for AVS from the past decade for real-life implementation in core fields. The systematic review on AVS implementing deep learning is categorized into several modules that cover activities including perception analysis (vehicle detection, traffic signs and light identification, pedestrian detection, lane and curve detection, road object localization, traffic scene analysis), decision making, end-to-end controlling and prediction, path and motion planning and augmented reality-based HUD, analyzing research works from 2011 to 2021 that focus on RGB camera vision. The literature is also analyzed for final representative outcomes as visualization in augmented reality-based head-up display (AR-HUD) with categories such as early warning, road markings for improved navigation and enhanced safety with overlapping on vehicles and pedestrians in extreme visual conditions to reduce collisions. The contribution of the literature review includes detailed analysis of current state-of-the-art deep learning methods that only rely on RGB camera vision rather than complex sensor fusion. It is expected to offer a pathway for the rapid development of cost-efficient and more secure practical autonomous vehicle systems.
Construction and Evaluation of a Control Mechanism for Fuzzy Fractional-Order PID
Authors: Al-Dhaifallah Mujahed
Published: July 2022

In this research, a control mechanism for fuzzy fractional-order proportional integral derivatives was suggested (FFOPID). The fractional calculus application has been used in different fields of engineering and science and showed to be improved in the past few years. However, there are few studies on the implementation of the fuzzy fractional-order controller for control in real time. Therefore, for an experimental pressure control model, a fractional order PID controller with intelligent fuzzy tuning was constructed and its results were calculated through simulation. To highlight proposed control scheme advantages, the performances of the controller were inspected under load disturbances and variations in set-point conditions. Furthermore, with classical PID control schemes and fractional order proportional integral derivative (FOPID), a comparative study was made. It is revealed from the results that the suggested control scheme outclasses other categories of the control schemes.
Identifying the Fingerprint of a Volcano in the Background Seismic Noise from Machine Learning-Based Approach
Authors: Rincon-Yanez Diego , De Lauro Enza , Petrosino Simona , Senatore Sabrina , Falanga Mariarosaria
Published: July 2022

This work is devoted to the analysis of the background seismic noise acquired at the volcanoes (Campi Flegrei caldera, Ischia island, and Vesuvius) belonging to the Neapolitan volcanic district (Italy), and at the Colima volcano (Mexico). Continuous seismic acquisition is a complex mixture of volcanic transients and persistent volcanic and/or hydrothermal tremor, anthropogenic/ambient noise, oceanic loading, and meteo-marine contributions. The analysis of the background noise in a stationary volcanic phase could facilitate the identification of relevant waveforms often masked by microseisms and ambient noise. To address this issue, our approach proposes a machine learning (ML) modeling to recognize the “fingerprint” of a specific volcano by analyzing the background seismic noise from the continuous seismic acquisition. Specifically, two ML models, namely multi-layer perceptrons and convolutional neural network were trained to recognize one volcano from another based on the acquisition noise. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the two models in recognizing the noisy background signal, with promising performance in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. These results suggest that persistent volcanic signals share the same source information, as well as transient events, revealing a common generation mechanism but in different regimes. Moreover, assessing the dynamic state of a volcano through its background noise and promptly identifying any anomalies, which may indicate a change in its dynamics, can be a practical tool for real-time monitoring.
Design of Advanced Human–Robot Collaborative Cells for Personalized Human–Robot Collaborations
Authors: Umbrico Alessandro , Orlandini Andrea , Cesta Amedeo , Faroni Marco , Beschi Manuel , Pedrocchi Nicola , Scala Andrea , Tavormina Piervincenzo , Koukas Spyros , Zalonis Andreas , Fourtakas Nikos , Kotsaris Panagiotis Stylianos , Andronas Dionisis , Makris Sotiris
Published: July 2022

Industry 4.0 is pushing forward the need for symbiotic interactions between physical and virtual entities of production environments to realize increasingly flexible and customizable production processes. This holds especially for human–robot collaboration in manufacturing, which needs continuous interaction between humans and robots. The coexistence of human and autonomous robotic agents raises several methodological and technological challenges for the design of effective, safe, and reliable control paradigms. This work proposes the integration of novel technologies from Artificial Intelligence, Control and Augmented Reality to enhance the flexibility and adaptability of collaborative systems. We present the basis to advance the classical human-aware control paradigm in favor of a user-aware control paradigm and thus personalize and adapt the synthesis and execution of collaborative processes following a user-centric approach. We leverage a manufacturing case study to show a possible deployment of the proposed framework in a real-world industrial scenario.
Exploring CO2 Bio-Mitigation via a Biophotocatalytic/Biomagnetic System for Wastewater Treatment and Biogas Production
Authors: Tetteh Emmanuel Kweinor , Amo-Duodu Gloria , Rathilal Sudesh
Published: July 2022

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels have led industries to seek cheaper carbon abatement technologies to mitigate environmental pollution. Herein, the effect of a magnetic photocatalyst (Fe-TiO2) on biogas production in anaerobic digestion (AD) of wastewater was investigated with three bioreactors coupled with UV-light (18 W). Three experimental setups defined as the control (AD system with no Fe-TiO2), biophotoreactor (BP), and biophotomagnetic (BPM) systems were operated at a mesophilic temperature (35 ± 5 °C) for a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 30 days. The control system (ADs) had no Fe-TiO2 additives. The BPMs with 2 g Fe-TiO2 were exposed to a magnetic field, whereas the BPs were not. The removal rate of the chemical oxygen demand (COD), volatile solids (VS), and total solids (TS), together with biogas production and composition were monitored for each reactor. The degree of degradation of 75% COD was observed for the BPMs at a pH of 6.5 followed by the BPs (65% COD) and the ADs (45% COD). The results showed that the rate of degradation of COD had a direct correlation with the cumulative biogas production of the BPMs (1330 mL/d) > BPs (1125 mL/d) > AD (625 mL/d). This finding supports the use of biophotomagnetic systems (BPMs) in wastewater treatment for resource recovery and CO2 reduction (0.64 kg CO2/L) as an eco-friendly technology.
Quantum Water Strider Algorithm with Hybrid-Deep-Learning-Based Activity Recognition for Human–Computer Interaction
Authors: Malibari Areej A. , Alzahrani Jaber S. , Qahmash Ayman , Maray Mohammed , Alghamdi Mohammed , Alshahrani Reem , Mohamed Abdullah , Hilal Anwer Mustafa
Published: July 2022

Human action and activity recognition are clues that alleviate human behavior analysis. Human action recognition (HAR) becomes a significant challenge in various applications involving human computer interaction (HCI) and intellectual video surveillance for enhancing security in distinct fields. Precise action recognition is highly challenging because of the variations in clutter, backgrounds, and viewpoint. The evaluation method depends on the proper extraction and learning of data. The achievement of deep learning (DL) models results in effectual performance in several image-related tasks. In this view, this paper presents a new quantum water strider algorithm with hybrid-deep-learning-based activity recognition (QWSA-HDLAR) model for HCI. The proposed QWSA-HDLAR technique mainly aims to recognize the different types of activities. To recognize activities, the QWSA-HDLAR model employs a deep-transfer-learning-based, neural-architectural-search-network (NASNet)-based feature extractor to generate feature vectors. In addition, the presented QWSA-HDLAR model exploits a QWSA-based hyperparameter tuning process to choose the hyperparameter values of the NASNet model optimally. Finally, the classification of human activities is carried out by the use of a hybrid convolutional neural network with a bidirectional recurrent neural network (HCNN-BiRNN) model. The experimental validation of the QWSA-HDLAR model is tested using two datasets, namely KTH and UCF Sports datasets. The experimental values reported the supremacy of the QWSA-HDLAR model over recent DL approaches.
Eocene Sedimentary–Diagenetic Environment Analysis of the Pingtai Area of the Qaidam Basin
Authors: Sun Guoqiang , Zhang Shuncun , Wang Yetong , Li Yaoliang , Guo Hui , Bo Shangshang
Published: July 2022

Based on the petrological characteristics and elemental geochemical analysis of core samples from the Pingtai area in the northern structural belt of the Qaidam Basin, this study shows that the clay mineral assemblage of Lulehe Formation sandstone is dominated by high contents of smectite, chlorite and illite, and does not contain illite–smectite mixed layers or kaolinite. The chlorite and illite in the Xiaganchaigou Formation decreased gradually and the smectite disappeared. In addition, illite–smectite mixed layers began to appear and kaolinite was not present. These results indicate that the diagenetic environment of the Pingtai area in the early Eocene was dominated by alkaline media poor in K+ and rich in Mg2+, Na+ and Ca2+. In the late Eocene, K+ content in the diagenetic medium increased significantly, and smectite began to transform into illite. From the early Eocene to the late Eocene, the overall climate and environmental characteristics showed a transition from cold and dry to a cold climate that alternated between dry and wet. The content changes of common oxides, such as CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and TiO2, showed obvious correlation. Based on the content and ratio change tendencies of Sr, Ba, Cu, Zn, U, Th, Ce and other trace elements, combined with the variation characteristics of rare earth element contents, it is suggested that the Lulehe Formation was dominated by a dry and cold freshwater sedimentary environment, and that paleoclimatic conditions were relatively cold and arid during this sedimentary period. However, the climate in the sedimentary period of the Xiaganchaigou Formation was dominated by a cold environment alternating between dry and wet, which also reflected the finding that the global climate was mainly cold and dry in the early Eocene and gradually became warm and humid in the late Eocene.
Forecasting the Future Excellence: 30 Years of Evaluating Service Organizations in Slovakia
Authors: Zgodavova Kristina , Bober Peter , Urbančíková Nataša , Santos Gilberto , Sütőová Andrea
Published: July 2022

The aim of this paper is to model and interpret the results obtained from the assessment of the Level of Excellence of Slovak service organizations using the criteria of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) excellence model. The Gompertz logistic function is effectively employed to fit the incremental improvement and predict the values of future Levels of Excellence. The EFQM model is usually used to improve organizational development and performance. The study focuses on the problem of the slow growth or even stagnation of Slovak service organizations towards Excellence. The questionnaire method was used to assess the Level of Excellence of the selected organizations, and the approach of measuring efficiency as a ratio of results and enablers was used to evaluate the organization’s ability to transform inputs into outputs. Data were collected from 30 service organizations over a period of 20 years. The first finding of the study is the demonstration of the applicability of the Gompertz function to model the evolution of the Level of Excellence. The accuracy of the model is very high, and this predisposes this function to be used to forecast the scores of organizations over time. Examining efficiency yielded a second finding, that organizations were failing to capitalize on the effort put into translating it into results. After the first few years of growth, efficiency stagnates and then even declines. This suggests that the application of the original EFQM excellence model has reached the end of its ability to improve the effectiveness of organizations as a whole. Individual firms may have been growing or declining, but the average service score across the country had no longer the capacity to improve anymore.
A New BAT and PageRank Algorithm for Propagation Probability in Social Networks
Authors: Yeh Wei-Chang , Zhu Wenbo , Huang Chia-Ling , Hsu Tzu-Yun , Liu Zhenyao , Tan Shi-Yi
Published: July 2022

Social networks have increasingly become important and popular in modern times. Moreover, the influence of social networks plays a vital role in various organizations, including government organizations, academic research organizations and corporate organizations. Therefore, strategizing the optimal propagation strategy in social networks has also become more important. Increasing the precision of evaluating the propagation probability of social networks can indirectly influence the investment of cost, manpower and time for information propagation to achieve the best return. This study proposes a new algorithm, which includes a scale-free network, Barabási–Albert model, binary-addition tree (BAT) algorithm, PageRank algorithm, Personalized PageRank algorithm and a new BAT algorithm to calculate the propagation probability of social networks. The results obtained after implementing the simulation experiment of social network models show that the studied model and the proposed algorithm provide an effective method to increase the efficiency of information propagation in social networks. In this way, the maximum propagation efficiency is achieved with the minimum investment.
Nonlinear Lie Triple Higher Derivations on Triangular Algebras by Local Actions: A New Perspective
Authors: Liang Xinfeng , Ren Dandan , Li Qingliu
Published: July 2022

Let R be a commutative ring with unity and T be a triangular algebra over R. Let a sequence Δ={δn}n∈N of nonlinear mappings δn:T→T is a Lie triple higher derivation by local actions satisfying the equation. Under some mild conditions on T, we prove in this paper that every Lie triple higher derivation by local actions on the triangular algebras is proper. As an application, we shall give a characterization of Lie triple higher derivations by local actions on upper triangular matrix algebras and nest algebras, respectively.
Optimizing Operation Room Utilization—A Prediction Model
Authors: Abbou Benyamine , Tal Orna , Frenkel Gil , Rubin Robyn , Rappoport Nadav
Published: July 2022

Background: Operating rooms are the core of hospitals. They are a primary source of revenue and are often seen as one of the bottlenecks in the medical system. Many efforts are made to increase throughput, reduce costs, and maximize incomes, as well as optimize clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. We trained a predictive model on the length of surgeries to improve the productivity and utility of operative rooms in general hospitals. Methods: We collected clinical and administrative data for the last 10 years from two large general public hospitals in Israel. We trained a machine learning model to give the expected length of surgery using pre-operative data. These data included diagnoses, laboratory tests, risk factors, demographics, procedures, anesthesia type, and the main surgeon’s level of experience. We compared our model to a naïve model that represented current practice. Findings: Our prediction model achieved better performance than the naïve model and explained almost 70% of the variance in surgery durations. Interpretation: A machine learning-based model can be a useful approach for increasing operating room utilization. Among the most important factors were the type of procedures and the main surgeon’s level of experience. The model enables the harmonizing of hospital productivity through wise scheduling and matching suitable teams for a variety of clinical procedures for the benefit of the individual patient and the system as a whole.
Potential Effect of Enzymatic Porcine Placental Hydrolysate (EPPH) to Improve Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) by Promoting Lipolysis in the Liver
Authors: Lee Hak Yong , Park Young Mi , Shin Dong Yeop , Park Kwang Hyun , Kim Min Ju , Yoon Sun Myung , Kim Keun Nam , Yang Hye Jeong , Kim Min Jung , Choi Soo-Cheol , Lee In-Ah
Published: July 2022

Alcoholic liver disease is associated with the production of highly reactive free radicals by ethanol and its metabolites. Free radicals not only induce liver oxidation and damage tissues, but also stimulate an inflammatory response in hepatocytes, leading to severe liver disease. In order to improve alcoholic liver disease, enzymatic porcine placenta hydrolysate was studied by exploring various materials. Enzymatic porcine placenta hydrolysate (EPPH) contains various amino acids, peptides, and proteins, and is used as a useful substance in the body. In this study, changes were confirmed in indicators related to the antioxidant efficacy of EPPH in vitro and in vivo. EPPH inhibits an EtOH-induced decrease in superoxide dismutase and catalase activity through inhibition of free radicals without endogenous cytotoxicity. EPPH has been observed to have a partial effect on common liver function factors such as liver weight, ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT. In addition, EPPH affected changes in fat regulators and inflammatory cytokines in blood biochemical assays. It was confirmed that EPPH was involved in fat metabolism in hepatocytes by regulating PPARα in an alcoholic liver disease animal model. Therefore, EPPH strongly modulates Bcl-2 and BAX involved in apoptosis, thereby exhibiting cytochrome P450 (CYP)-inhibitory effects in alcoholic liver disease cells. As a result, this study confirmed that EPPH is a substance that can help liver health by improving liver disease in an alcoholic liver disease animal model.
Nidus vespae Built by an Invasive Alien Hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, Inhibits Adipose Tissue Expansion in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice
Authors: Lee Seul Gi , Kim Dong Se , Chae Jongbeom , Lee Eunbi , Hahn Dongyup , Kim Il-Kwon , Kim Chang-Jun , Choi Moon Bo , Nam Ju-Ock
Published: July 2022

Nidus vespae, commonly known as the wasp nest, has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumor properties. However, the anti-obesity effects of Nidus vespae extract (NV) have not yet been reported. This study aimed to elucidate the potential anti-obesity effects of NV in vivo and in vitro, using a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model and 3T3-L1 adipocytes, respectively. NV administration to HFD-induced obese mice significantly decreased the mass and plasma lipid content of adipose tissues. Uncoupling protein-1 expression was significantly higher in the inguinal white adipose tissues of NV-treated mice than in those of HFD-fed mice. Furthermore, we found that NV inhibited the differentiation and intracellular lipid accumulation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes by regulating the insulin signaling cascade, including protein kinase B, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha, and adiponectin. These findings suggest that NV may exhibit therapeutic effects against obesity by suppressing adipose tissue expansion and preadipocyte differentiation, thereby providing critical information for the development of new drugs for disease prevention and treatment. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence of the anti-obesity effects of NV.
Development of a Rapid Reverse Transcription-Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Couple Nucleic Acid Lateral Flow Method for Detecting Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea Virus
Authors: Pewlaoo Seatthanan , Phanthong Siratcha , Kong-Ngoen Thida , Santajit Sirijan , Tunyong Witawat , Buranasinsup Shutipen , Kaeoket Kampon , Thavorasak Techit , Pumirat Pornpan , Sookrung Nitat , Chaicumpa Wanpen , Indrawattana Nitaya
Published: July 2022

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infection is an important acute diarrheal disease of swine that results in economic and industrial losses worldwide. The clinical manifestations in infected piglets are severe diarrhea, dehydration with milk curd indigestion, leading to death. The diagnosis of PEDV is essential for monitoring and managing the disease. PEDV can be detected and identified by serology and the nucleic acid of the virus in clinical samples. Therefore, a novel isothermal amplification and detection technique, reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification couple nucleic acid lateral flow (RT-RPA-NALF) was developed for the rapid detection of PEDV. Qualitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was established as the gold standard assay to compare results. Specific primer pairs and probes were designed, and RT-RPA conditions were optimized to amplify the M gene of PEDV. The established RT-RPA-NALF assay could finish in 25 min at a temperature of 42 °C and the amplicon interpreted by visual detection. The developed RT-RPA-NALF assay was specific to the M gene of PEDV, did not detect other common swine diarrhea pathogens, and showed minimal detection at 102 TCID50/mL PEDV. The RT-RPA-NALF assay can detect PEDV in 5 simulated fecal samples. Furthermore, in 60 clinical fecal samples, the results of RT-RPA-NALF correlated with RT-qPCR assay, which provides sensitivity of 95.65% and specificity of 100%, with a coincident rate of 98.33%. The rapid RT-RPA-NALF is simple and rapid, increases high sensitivity, and can be used in the field.
Exploration of Risk Factors for Poor Prognosis of Non-Traumatic Non-Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Chen Jingjiong , Zhang Yaxuan , Zhao Fei , Zhai Yanyu , Xu Xiaofeng , Xue Lixia , Zhao Yuwu , Wang Hongmei
Published: July 2022

Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating neurological disease associated with high rates of mortality and disability. Aneurysms are the main cause of non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhages. However, non-traumatic non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (naSAH), another clinical type of SAH, has been poorly studied for its prognosis and risk factors. Method and result: We collected demographic and clinical variables for 126 naSAH and 89 aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients, including age and gender; hospitalization days; hematological indicators; clinical score scales; past medical history; and personal history. We found that the monocytes in naSAH (0.50 ± 0.26) patients were lower than in aSAH patients (0.60 ± 0.27). The prevalence of diabetes in naSAH (30.2%) patients was higher than in aSAH (14.5%) patients. The naSAH patients were divided into good and poor outcome groups based on the modified Rankin Scale at the 90th day (90-day mRS) after discharge. A univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in age, white blood cell count (WBC), monocyte count, D-dipolymer, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), random blood glucose (RBG), aspartate transaminase (AST), urea and free triiodothyronine (FT3) between the two groups. A logistic regression showed that aging and high level NSE were independent risk factors for a poor outcome. The predictive ability of age (area under curve (AUC) = 0.71) and NSE (AUC = 0.68) were analyzed by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The results of the logistic regression suggested that age, D-dipolymer, NSE, RBG, urea and FT3 distinguished and predicted the prognosis of naSAH. The discriminant analysis of the above variables revealed that the discriminant accuracy was 80.20%. Conclusions: Compared with aSAHs, naSAHs are more likely to occur in patients with diabetes, and the level of monocytes is lower. Moreover, the prognosis of elderly patients with an naSAH is relatively poor, and the level of NSE in the course of the disease also reflects the prognosis. Multivariate comprehensive analysis is helpful to judge the prognosis of patients at a small cost.
Sex Differences in Comorbidity Combinations in the Swedish Population
Authors: Basso Laura , Boecking Benjamin , Neff Patrick , Brueggemann Petra , Cederroth Christopher R. , Rose Matthias , Mazurek Birgit
Published: July 2022

High comorbidity rates, especially mental–physical comorbidity, constitute an increasing health care burden, with women and men being differentially affected. To gain an overview of comorbidity rates stratified by sex across a range of different conditions, this study examines comorbidity patterns within and between cardiovascular, pulmonary, skin, endocrine, digestive, urogenital, musculoskeletal, neurological diseases, and psychiatric conditions. Self-report data from the LifeGene cohort of 31,825 participants from the general Swedish population (62.5% female, 18–84 years) were analyzed. Pairwise comorbidity rates of 54 self-reported conditions in women and men and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for their comparison were calculated. Overall, the rate of pairwise disease combinations with significant comorbidity was higher in women than men (14.36% vs. 9.40%). Among psychiatric conditions, this rate was considerably high, with 41.76% in women and 39.01% in men. The highest percentages of elevated mental–physical comorbidity in women were found for musculoskeletal diseases (21.43%), digestive diseases (20.71%), and skin diseases (13.39%); in men, for musculoskeletal diseases (14.29%), neurological diseases (11.22%), and digestive diseases (10%). Implications include the need for integrating mental and physical health care services and a shift from a disease-centered to an individualized, patient-centered focus in clinical care.
Protein Fibrillation under Crowded Conditions
Authors: Gorensek-Benitez Annelise H. , Kirk Bryan , Myers Jeffrey K.
Published: July 2022

Protein amyloid fibrils have widespread implications for human health. Over the last twenty years, fibrillation has been studied using a variety of crowding agents to mimic the packed interior of cells or to probe the mechanisms and pathways of the process. We tabulate and review these results by considering three classes of crowding agent: synthetic polymers, osmolytes and other small molecules, and globular proteins. While some patterns are observable for certain crowding agents, the results are highly variable and often depend on the specific pairing of crowder and fibrillating protein.
Non-Invasive Imaging and Scoring of Peritoneal Metastases in Small Preclinical Animal Models Using Ultrasound: A Preliminary Trial
Authors: Helderman Roxan F. C. P. A. , Restrepo Mauricio Tobón , Rodermond Hans M. , Bochove Gregor G. W. van , Löke Daan R. , Franken Nicolaas A. P. , Kok H. Petra , Tanis Pieter J. , Crezee Johannes , Oei Arlene L.
Published: July 2022

Background: The peritoneum is a common site for the formation of metastases originating from several gastrointestinal and gynecological malignancies. A representative preclinical model to thoroughly explore the pathophysiological mechanisms and to study new treatment strategies is important. A major challenge for such models is defining and quantifying the (total) tumor burden in the peritoneal cavity prior to treatment, since it is preferable to use non-invasive methods. We evaluated ultrasound as a simple and easy-to-handle imaging method for this purpose. Methods: Peritoneal metastases were established in six WAG/Rij rats through i.p. injections of the colon carcinoma cell line CC-531. Using ultrasound, the location, number and size of intraperitoneal tumor nodules were determined by two independent observers. Tumor outgrowth was followed using ultrasound until the peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was ≥8. Interobserver variability and ex vivo correlation were assessed. Results: Visible peritoneal tumor nodules were formed in six WAG/Rij rats within 2–4 weeks after cell injection. In most animals, tumor nodules reached a size of 4–6 mm within 3–4 weeks, with total PCI scores ranging from 10–20. The predicted PCI scores using ultrasound ranged from 11–19 and from 8–18, for observer 1 and 2, respectively, which was quite similar to the ex vivo scores. Conclusions: Ultrasound is a reliable non-invasive method to detect intraperitoneal tumor nodules and quantify tumor outgrowth in a rat model.
Activation of the Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response: A New Therapeutic Target?
Authors: Suárez-Rivero Juan M. , Pastor-Maldonado Carmen J. , Povea-Cabello Suleva , Álvarez-Córdoba Mónica , Villalón-García Irene , Talaverón-Rey Marta , Suárez-Carrillo Alejandra , Munuera-Cabeza Manuel , Reche-López Diana , Cilleros-Holgado Paula , Piñero-Pérez Rocío , Sánchez-Alcázar José A.
Published: July 2022

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key hub that is common to many diseases. Mitochondria’s role in energy production, calcium homeostasis, and ROS balance makes them essential for cell survival and fitness. However, there are no effective treatments for most mitochondrial and related diseases to this day. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches, such as activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), are being examined. UPRmt englobes several compensation processes related to proteostasis and antioxidant mechanisms. UPRmt activation, through an hormetic response, promotes cell homeostasis and improves lifespan and disease conditions in biological models of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiopathies, and mitochondrial diseases. Although UPRmt activation is a promising therapeutic option for many conditions, its overactivation could lead to non-desired side effects, such as increased heteroplasmy of mitochondrial DNA mutations or cancer progression in oncologic patients. In this review, we present the most recent UPRmt activation therapeutic strategies, UPRmt’s role in diseases, and its possible negative consequences in particular pathological conditions.