bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life-Cycle-Dependent Toxicities of Mono- and Bifunctional Alkylating Agents in the 3R-Compliant Model Organism C. elegans
Authors: Ruszkiewicz Joanna , Endig Lisa , Güver Ebru , Bürkle Alexander , Mangerich Aswin
Published: November 2023

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is gaining recognition and importance as an organismic model for toxicity testing in line with the 3Rs principle (replace, reduce, refine). In this study, we explored the use of C. elegans to examine the toxicities of alkylating sulphur mustard analogues, specifically the monofunctional agent 2-chloroethyl-ethyl sulphide (CEES) and the bifunctional, crosslinking agent mechlorethamine (HN2). We exposed wild-type worms at different life cycle stages (from larvae L1 to adulthood day 10) to CEES or HN2 and scored their viability 24 h later. The susceptibility of C. elegans to CEES and HN2 paralleled that of human cells, with HN2 exhibiting higher toxicity than CEES, reflected in LC50 values in the high µM to low mM range. Importantly, the effects were dependent on the worms’ developmental stage as well as organismic age: the highest susceptibility was observed in L1, whereas the lowest was observed in L4 worms. In adult worms, susceptibility to alkylating agents increased with advanced age, especially to HN2. To examine reproductive effects, L4 worms were exposed to CEES and HN2, and both the offspring and the percentage of unhatched eggs were assessed. Moreover, germline apoptosis was assessed by using ced-1p::GFP (MD701) worms. In contrast to concentrations that elicited low toxicities to L4 worms, CEES and HN2 were highly toxic to germline cells, manifesting as increased germline apoptosis as well as reduced offspring number and percentage of eggs hatched. Again, HN2 exhibited stronger effects than CEES. Compound specificity was also evident in toxicities to dopaminergic neurons–HN2 exposure affected expression of dopamine transporter DAT-1 (strain BY200) at lower concentrations than CEES, suggesting a higher neurotoxic effect. Mechanistically, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) has been linked to mustard agent toxicities. Therefore, the NAD+-dependent system was investigated in the response to CEES and HN2 treatment. Overall NAD+ levels in worm extracts were revealed to be largely resistant to mustard exposure except for high concentrations, which lowered the NAD+ levels in L4 worms 24 h post-treatment. Interestingly, however, mutant worms lacking components of NAD+-dependent pathways involved in genome maintenance, namely pme-2, parg-2, and sirt-2.1 showed a higher and compound-specific susceptibility, indicating an active role of NAD+ in genotoxic stress response. In conclusion, the present results demonstrate that C. elegans represents an attractive model to study the toxicology of alkylating agents, which supports its use in mechanistic as well as intervention studies with major strength in the possibility to analyze toxicities at different life cycle stages.
In Doxorubicin-Adapted Hodgkin Lymphoma Cells, Acquiring Multidrug Resistance and Improved Immunosuppressive Abilities, Doxorubicin Activity Was Enhanced by Chloroquine and GW4869
Authors: Casagrande Naike , Borghese Cinzia , Avanzo Michele , Aldinucci Donatella
Published: November 2023

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a highly curable disease (70–80%), even though long-term toxicities, drug resistance, and predicting clinical responses to therapy are major challenges in cHL treatment. To solve these problems, we characterized two cHL cell lines with acquired resistance to doxorubicin, KM-H2dx and HDLM-2dx (HRSdx), generated from KM-H2 and HDLM-2 cells, respectively. HRSdx cells developed cross-resistance to vinblastine, bendamustin, cisplatin, dacarbazine, gemcitabine, brentuximab vedotin (BV), and γ-radiation. Both HDLM-2 and HDLM-2dx cells had intrinsic resistance to BV but not to the drug MMAE. HDLM-2dx acquired cross-resistance to caelyx. HRSdx cells had in common decreased CD71, CD80, CD54, cyt-ROS, HLA-DR, DDR1, and CD44; increased Bcl-2, CD58, COX2, CD26, CCR5, and invasive capability; increased CCL5, TARC, PGE2, and TGF-β; and the capability of hijacking monocytes. In HRSdx cells less sensitive to DNA damage and oxidative stress, the efflux drug transporters MDR1 and MRP1 were not up-regulated, and doxorubicin accumulated in the cytoplasm rather than in the nucleus. Both the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine and extracellular vesicle (EV) release inhibitor GW4869 enhanced doxorubicin activity and counteracted doxorubicin resistance. In conclusion, this study identifies common modulated antigens in HRSdx cells, the associated cross-resistance patterns, and new potential therapeutic options to enhance doxorubicin activity and overcome resistance.
Cytotoxic Effect Induced by Sicilian Oregano Essential Oil in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Di Liberto Diana , Iacuzzi Nicolò , Pratelli Giovanni , Porrello Antonella , Maggio Antonella , La Bella Salvatore , De Blasio Anna , Notaro Antonietta , D’Anneo Antonella , Emanuele Sonia , Affranchi Federica , Giuliano Michela , Lauricella Marianna , Carlisi Daniela
Published: November 2023

Origanum vulgare L. is an aromatic plant that exerts antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities, mainly due to its essential oil (EO) content. In this study, we investigated the possible mechanism underlying the in vitro antitumor activity of EO extracted by hydrodistillation of dried flowers and leaves of Origanum vulgare L. grown in Sicily (Italy) in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of Oregano essential oil (OEO) composition highlighted the presence of twenty-six major phytocompounds, such as p-cymene, γ-terpinene, and thymoquinone p-acetanisole. OEO possesses strong antioxidant capacity, as demonstrated by the DPPH test. Our studies provided evidence that OEO reduces the viability of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The cytotoxic effect of OEO on breast cancer cells was partially counteracted by the addition of z-VAD-fmk, a general caspase inhibitor. Caspases and mitochondrial dysfunction appeared to be involved in the OEO-induced death mechanism. Western blotting analysis showed that OEO-induced activation of pro-caspases-9 and -3 and fragmentation of PARP decreased the levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL while increasing those of Bax and VDAC. In addition, fluorescence microscopy and cytofluorimetric analysis showed that OEO induces a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in both cell lines. Furthermore, we tested the effects of p-cymene, γ-terpinene, thymoquinone, and p-acetanisole, which are the main components of OEO. Our findings highlighted that the effect of OEO on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells appears to be mainly due to the combination of different constituents of OEO, providing evidence of the potential use of OEO for breast cancer treatment.
Features of Structures and Ionic Conductivity of Na3Fe2(PO4)3 Polycrystals Obtained by Solid Phase and Melt Methods
Authors: Nogai A. S. , Nogai A. A. , Uskenbaev D. E. , Utegulov A. B. , Nogai E. A. , Toleugulov D. D.
Published: November 2023

This article investigates the structures and conductive properties of polycrystals of Na3Fe2(PO4)3 obtained by solid-state and melt synthesis methods using concentrated optical radiation. It has been established that in the melt synthesis method, the material is synthesized under significantly non-equilibrium thermodynamic conditions, leading to the creation of deformations in the sample, which contribute to the enhancement of ionic conductivity. Additionally, the synthesis duration is reduced by half. Through a comparative assessment of the structural parameters and conductive properties of these materials, it is demonstrated that polycrystals obtained by the melt method exhibit better texture and higher ionic conductivity. The occurrence of deformations during the synthesis of α-Na3Fe2(PO4)3 under high temperature-gradient conditions indicates the elasticity of the crystalline framework {[Fe2(PO4)]3−}3∞. It is concluded that the non-equilibrium thermodynamic conditions of α-Na3Fe2(PO4)3 synthesis promote the formation of deformations in the crystalline structure of polycrystals, leading to a partial increase in symmetry and ionic conductivity.
Tools for Urban Climate Adaptation Plans: A Case Study on Bologna and Outcomes for Heat Wave Impact Reduction
Authors: Cremonini Letizia , Georgiadis Teodoro , Nardino Marianna , Rossi Federica , Rossi Alessandro , Pinca Giovanna , Fazzini Massimiliano
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of building a coherent frame for the identification of local environmental urban vulnerabilities, coping with heat waves’ increasing threats, and adopting specific adaptation policies in the Emilia-Romagna region. A microclimate model (ENVI-met) was used to simulate temperature regimes in five areas of Bologna, providing ex ante maps enabling us to locate the most vulnerable areas. Adaptation measures were suggested with the support of WMO Guidance 1234 and included recommendations about the introduction of high-albedo building materials and nature-based solutions. The step-by-step methodology developed, coupling local vulnerabilities with adaptation recommendation, integrates a scientific methodology into a political decision. The results, allowing us to widely represent this city’s vulnerability, are considered outstanding with respect to supporting the city’s adaptation ambitions and are now part of the running Bologna General Urban Plan (PUG), which regulates building interventions, introducing the obligation for enterprises to respect or ameliorate the microclimate in all the areas in which they intervene. This tool can be replicated and adapted to any municipal area, as it integrates authoritative WMO solutions with accurate microclimate assessment, thus providing locally tailored adaptation interventions. This paper aims to support the vision, shared by both science and policy makers, of transforming cities into widely resilient systems.
Practice Variation among Pediatric Endocrinologists in the Dosing of Glucocorticoids in Young Children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Authors: Al-Rayess Heba , Lahoti Amit , Simpson Leslie Long , Palzer Elise , Thornton Paul , Heksch Ryan , Kamboj Manmohan , Stanley Takara , Regelmann Molly O. , Gupta Anshu , Raman Vandana , Mehta Shilpa , Geffner Mitchell E. , Sarafoglou Kyriakie
Published: November 2023

A Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES) Drugs and Therapeutics Committee workgroup sought to determine the prescribing practices of pediatric endocrinologists when treating children <10 years of age with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Our workgroup administered a 32-question online survey to PES members. There were 187 respondents (88.9% attending physicians), mostly from university-affiliated clinics (~80%). Ninety-eight percent of respondents prescribed the short-acting glucocorticoid hydrocortisone to treat young children, as per the Endocrine Society CAH Guidelines, although respondents also prescribed long-acting glucocorticoids such as prednisolone suspension (12%), prednisone tablets (9%), and prednisone suspension (6%). Ninety-seven percent of respondents indicated that they were likely/very likely to prescribe hydrocortisone in a thrice-daily regimen, as per CAH Guidelines, although 19% were also likely to follow a twice-daily regimen. To achieve smaller doses, using a pill-cutter was the most frequent method recommended by providers to manipulate tablets (87.2%), followed by dissolving tablets in water (25.7%) to create a daily batch (43.7%) and/or dissolving a tablet for each dose (64.6%). Thirty-one percent of providers use pharmacy-compounded hydrocortisone suspension to achieve doses of <2.5 mg. Our survey shows that practices among providers in the dosing of young children with CAH vary greatly and sometimes fall outside of the CAH Guidelines—specifically when attempting to deliver lower, age-appropriate hydrocortisone doses.
PRI-724 and IWP-O1 Wnt Signaling Pathway Inhibitors Modulate the Expression of Glycolytic Enzymes in Tongue Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Kleszcz Robert , Paluszczak Jarosław , Belka Marta , Krajka-Kuźniak Violetta
Published: November 2023

The dysregulation of energetic metabolism is one of the hallmarks of cancer cells. Indeed, the growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells depends heavily on glycolytic activity, which can be considered a potential therapeutic target. Wnt signaling is one of the pathways that undergoes upregulation in HNSCC. Our previous studies have shown that Wnt signaling inhibitors—PRI-724 and IWP-O1—attenuate tongue SCC survival and reduce glucose uptake and lactate release. The aim of this research was to further evaluate the possible mechanisms of the previously observed effects. We assessed the effect of PRI-724 and IWP-O1 on the expression of selected glycolytic enzymes: phosphofructokinase M, pyruvate kinase M2, and lactate dehydrogenase. Relative transcript expression was assessed by real-time PCR, and protein levels by Western blot. Moreover, clinical data concerning mRNA and protein expression, gene promoter methylation, and HNSCC patients’ survival time were analyzed by the UALCAN tool, and protein–protein interaction was assessed using the STRING database. Experimental and bioinformatic data confirmed the relation between Wnt signaling and glycolytic enzymes in tongue cancer cells and HNSCC clinical samples. Overall, the inhibition of glucose metabolism by Wnt signaling inhibitors is a promising mode of action against tongue cancer cells.
Effects of Doping Ratio and Thickness of Indium Tin Oxide Thin Films Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering at Room Temperature
Authors: Zhang Xiaofeng , Zhang Guanli , Yan Yue
Published: November 2023

Transparent conducting films on polymeric substrates are increasingly applied in diverse novel displays and flexible electronics. In this paper, indium tin oxide films on polymeric substrates were deposited by magnetron sputtering using ceramic targets with different doping ratios. These films were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, atomic force microscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, spectrophotometer, sheet resistance meter, and the Hall effect measurement. In terms of transparency and conductivity, the results have shown that the doping ratio played a less important role in determining the optical properties, while the electrical properties were significantly influenced. It was found that, when the thickness was less than 130 nm, these films with the nominal doping ratio of 95:5 (wt. %) demonstrated higher electrical conductivity compared to those with 90:10 (wt. %), which were widely used in industry. Therefore, for the flexible polymeric substrate, the target with a doping ratio of 95:5 (wt. %) could be suitable to achieve high electrical conductivity.
Preparation and Properties of Silane Coupling Agent Modified Basalt Flake Polyurethane Anti-Corrosion Coatings
Authors: Sun Kuoteng , Cai Weichen , He Xuemin , Chen Hao , Chen Kun , Jiang Tao , Li Wenge , Zhao Yuantao
Published: November 2023

Strong corrosive atmospheric environments of level C4–C5 have a serious safety impact on steel structures and industrial production. The use of anti-corrosion coatings is the most economical and efficient way of all means of anti-corrosion. To further improve the anticorrosion performance of polyurethane anticorrosion coatings, this paper adopts KH-560 silane coupling agent to modify basalt flake and add it as filler into one-component polyurethane resin with wet curing characteristics. Anti-corrosion coatings were prepared by combining pre-dispersion and high-speed dispersion. The prepared coating specimens were sprayed onto Q235 plates and tinplate plates by simple spraying. Test results show that the addition of modified basalt flakes (MBFs) helps to improve the mechanical and corrosion resistance of the coating. When 30% MBFs were added, the mechanical properties, acid and alkali resistance, and corrosion resistance of the coating reached the best, and the aging resistance was good. Among them, the adhesion of the coating could reach 15.36 MPa, and the coating surface did not show obvious flaring and peeling phenomenon after 1000 h of neutral salt spray test. The water contact angle of the coating increased from 77.77° to 81.31°. Meanwhile, the anti-corrosion performance of the base coating in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The corrosion current density of the added modified basalt scale coating was in the order of 10−6, which was enhanced by one order of magnitude compared to that of the unmodified basalt scale. The annual corrosion rate of the MBFs coating was only 0.076588 mm·a−1. The superior anticorrosive properties of silane coupling agent-modified basalt flake composite coatings provide a new meaning for the development of anti-corrosive coatings.
B-PSA: A Binary Pendulum Search Algorithm for the Feature Selection Problem
Authors: Crawford Broderick , Cisternas-Caneo Felipe , Sepúlveda Katherine , Soto Ricardo , Paz Álex , Peña Alvaro , León de la Barra Claudio , Rodriguez-Tello Eduardo , Astorga Gino , Castro Carlos , Johnson Franklin , Giachetti Giovanni
Published: November 2023

The digitization of information and technological advancements have enabled us to gather vast amounts of data from various domains, including but not limited to medicine, commerce, and mining. Machine learning techniques use this information to improve decision-making, but they have a big problem: they are very sensitive to data variation, so it is necessary to clean them to remove irrelevant and redundant information. This removal of information is known as the Feature Selection Problem. This work presents the Pendulum Search Algorithm applied to solve the Feature Selection Problem. As the Pendulum Search Algorithm is a metaheuristic designed for continuous optimization problems, a binarization process is performed using the Two-Step Technique. Preliminary results indicate that our proposal obtains competitive results when compared to other metaheuristics extracted from the literature, solving well-known benchmarks.
The Ever Elusive, Yet-to-Be-Discovered Twist-Bend Nematic Phase
Authors: Samulski Edward T.
Published: November 2023

The second, lower-temperature nematic phase observed in nonlinear dimer liquid crystals has properties originating from nanoscale, polar, intermolecular packing preferences. It fits the description of a new liquid crystal phase discovered by Vanakaras and Photinos, called the polar-twisted nematic. It is unrelated to Meyer’s twist-bend nematic, a meta-structure having a macroscale director topology consistent with Frank–Oseen elastic theory.
Pharmacological Treatments of Sleep–Wake Disorders: Update 2023
Authors: Kallweit Marcel S. , Kallweit Nayeli P. , Kallweit Ulf
Published: November 2023

Biological, environmental, behavioral, and social factors can influence sleep and lead to sleep disorders or diseases. Sleep disorders are common, numerous, and heterogeneous in terms of their etiology, pathogenesis, and symptomatology. The management of sleep–wake circadian disorders (SWCDs) includes education on sleep hygiene, behavioral strategies, psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), particularly), instrument-based treatments (i.e., positive airway pressure therapy, hypoglossal nerve stimulation), and pharmacotherapy. Depending on the disease, therapy varies and is executed sequentially or can be a combination of several forms of therapy. Drugs used for SWCDs include traditional sleep- or wake-promoting agents and chronotherapeutic agents. Recently, novel medications, which more precisely act on specific neurochemical systems (i.e., the orexin system) important for sleep and waking, are also increasingly being used. In this review, the pharmacotherapy of common sleep disorders (insomnia, sleep-related breathing disorder, central disorders of hypersomnolence, circadian rhythm sleep–wake disorders, parasomnias, and sleep-related movement disorders) embedded in the overall therapeutic concept of each disorder is presented. There is also an outlook on possible future pharmacotherapies.
Amphipods in Mediterranean Marine and Anchialine Caves: New Data and Overview of Existing Knowledge
Authors: Navarro-Barranco Carlos , Martínez Alejandro , Sempere-Valverde Juan , Chebaane Sahar , Digenis Markos , Plaitis Wanda , Voultsiadou Eleni , Gerovasileiou Vasilis
Published: November 2023

Marine and anchialine caves host specialized faunal communities with a variable degree of endemism and functional specialization. However, biodiversity assessments on this habitat are scarce, particularly in relation to small-sized cryptic fauna (such as amphipods), which often play a key role in benthic ecosystems. The present article compiles all records of marine and brackish-water amphipods inhabiting marine and anchialine caves along the Mediterranean basin, combining information extracted from a literature review with newly acquired records. A total of 106 amphipod species has been reported (representing approximately 20% of the Mediterranean amphipod species), mostly from the North-Western Mediterranean. Examination of new material from marine caves in Greece has yielded 14 new records from the East Ionian and Aegean Sea. Most of the reported species display wide ecological amplitude in terms of habitat and substrate preferences, feeding habits as well as bathymetric and geographical distribution. In contrast, only 17 amphipod species have been reported from marine-brackish waters in anchialine caves, predominantly represented by cave specialists with a narrow spatial distribution and distinct morphological traits. Our overall knowledge on amphipods inhabiting Mediterranean caves is far from complete so that new and valuable findings are expected to occur as new caves are explored.
New Data on Exotic Muricid Species (Neogastropoda: Muricidae) from Spain Based on Integrative Taxonomy
Authors: Bañón Rafael , Fariña Juan , de Carlos Alejandro
Published: November 2023

The occurrence of Ocinebrellus inornatus and Rapana venosa, two exotic marine gastropods of the family Muricidae originating from the northwest Pacific, is reported in Spanish waters, specifically in the Galician waters (NW Spain) in 2023. Live specimens of O. inornatus were found on Illa de Arousa, in the Ría de Arousa, southern Galicia, where they are already established. Two new specimens of R. venosa are recorded in Galicia, one of them for the first time out of the Ría de Arousa, representing a range expansion for the species. The DNA barcoding analysis confirms the previous morphological identifications. It is suspected that both species may have been introduced through importation of clam spat and middle-sized oysters from countries such as France, the United Kingdom or Italy for subsequent culture, as has been the case with other exotic species that can currently be found in Galician waters. The continuous arrival of marine exotic species strongly supports the need to establish a monitoring program in Galician waters.
Ecosystem Resilience of a South African Mesic Grassland with Change from Rotational to Continuous Grazing
Authors: Chonco Nomusa , Slotow Rob , Tsvuura Zivanai , Nkuna Sindiso
Published: November 2023

Grazing practices affect the soil and vegetation of grasslands, which further influence the provision of ecosystem services and the productivity of grasslands. We determined the ecosystem resilience of a mesic grassland under three grazing management systems in the Pakkies area, (30°33′08″ S, 29°25′22″ E), South Africa: cooperative (continuously grazed since 2017), commercial (rotationally grazed for >20 years), and communal (continuously grazed for >20 years) farms. This was carried out by measuring the penetration resistance and infiltration, soil nutrients, forage quality contents for livestock, veld condition, plant species composition and richness, and functional diversity. The soils had a higher penetration resistance in the continuously grazed communal farm, while water infiltration was highest in the continuously grazed cooperative farm. The plant species and functional diversity were greater in the rotationally grazed commercial farm than in the continuously grazed communal and cooperative farms. The continuously grazed cooperative farm had the highest veld condition score (97%), while the rotationally grazed commercial and the continuously grazed communal farms had 82% and 56% veld condition scores, respectively. The forage quality and soil nutrients were generally similar among all farms. The lower plant diversity observed with continuous grazing may indicate that the ecological system was not as resilient concerning this type of grazing. However, for forage quality, soil nutrients and veld condition, continuous grazing was resilient, which indicates that rotational grazing may not be better than continuous grazing for livestock production in this specific region. As long as a minimum level of ecological resilience can be retained, continuous grazing can sustain effective animal production, particularly for small-holder farmers.
Cerebellar Abscess Secondary to Cholesteatomatous Otomastoiditis—An Old Enemy in New Times
Authors: Cucu Andrei Ionut , Patrascu Raluca Elena , Cosman Mihaela , Costea Claudia Florida , Vonica Patricia , Blaj Laurentiu Andrei , Hartie Vlad , Istrate Ana Cristina , Prutianu Iulian , Boisteanu Otilia , Patrascanu Emilia , Hristea Adriana
Published: November 2023

Chronic otitis with cholesteatoma is a potentially dangerous disease that can lead to the development of intracranial abscesses. Although cerebellar abscess is half as common as cerebral abscess, it is known for its particularly difficult diagnosis, which requires the visualization of the pathological process continuity from the mastoid to the posterior fossa. In this article, we present an extremely rare case from the literature of cholesteatomatous otomastoiditis complicated with meningitis and cerebellar abscess, along with the description of technical surgical details for the plugging of the bony defect between the mastoid and posterior fossa with muscle and surgical glue. The particularity of this case lies in the late presentation to the doctor of an immunocompetent patient, through a dramatic symptomatology of life-threatening complications. We emphasize the importance of responsibly treating any episode of middle ear infection and considering the existence of underlying pathologies. In such cases, we recommend additional neuroimaging explorations, which can prevent potentially lethal complications. The treatment of such intracranial complications must be carried out promptly and requires collaboration between a neurosurgeon and an ENT surgeon.
Diagnostic Utility of pH-MII Monitoring in Preschool Children with Recurrent Wheeze and Suspected Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Prospective Study
Authors: Pavić Ivan , Šarkanji-Golub Roberta , Hojsak Iva
Published: November 2023

Background: Recurrent wheezing and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common in young children, with a suggested but challenging link between them. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of pH-MII monitoring in preschool children with recurrent wheezing and evaluate GERD-related therapy effects. Methods: Children under 6 years with recurrent wheeze were eligible. The pH-MII monitoring was conducted in those clinically suspected of GERD’s involvement. Flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in severe cases. The primary outcome was the difference in wheezing episodes between proven GERD and non-GERD groups. Secondary outcomes included GERD therapy impact and predictive factors for wheezing reduction. Results: Of 66 children (mean age 3.9 years), 71% had proven GERD on pH-MII. Compared to the non-GERD group, the GERD group had higher total, liquid, mixed, and gas reflux episodes, as well as more acidic and weakly acidic episodes. GERD treatment significantly reduced wheezing episodes. PPI (proton pump inhibitor) introduction was associated with ≥50% wheezing reduction. Children with GERD showed ≥50% wheezing reduction more frequently than those without GERD. PPI usage, higher total GER episodes, acidic episodes, and liquid and proximal episodes on MII predicted ≥50% wheezing reduction. No significant BAL differences were observed between GERD and non-GERD groups. Conclusions: The pH-MII monitoring is valuable in diagnosing GERD-related wheezing in preschool children. GERD therapy, particularly PPI usage, was associated with reduced wheezing episodes. The pH-MII parameters correlated with wheezing reduction, suggesting their potential predictive role. BAL did not differentiate between GERD and non-GERD cases.
Predictive Significance of the ABC Score for Early Re-Hemorrhage and In-Hospital Mortality in High-Risk Variceal Bleeding among Cirrhotic Patients
Authors: Ky Thai Doan , Trang Nguyen Thi Huyen , Binh Mai Thanh
Published: November 2023

(1) Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to ruptured varices is a severe complication in patients with cirrhosis, with high rates of recurrent hemorrhage and in-hospital mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the value of the ABC score in predicting two events among 201 cirrhotic patients with high-risk variceal hemorrhage. (2) Methods: The ABC score was calculated and categorized into risk groups of patients, and the association between the ABC score and the rates of early hemorrhagic recurrence and clinic mortality were analyzed. (3) Results: Among 201 patients, 8.0% experienced early rebleeding within five days of admission, and 10.4% died in the hospital. Patients who experienced events had higher average ABC scores compared to those who did not experience these events (p < 0.001), especially in the high-risk group (with ABC score ≥ 8). The ABC score showed an excellent predictive value for in-hospital mortality with an AUROC of 0.804, with the optimal cutoff point being 8 points. Additionally, the ABC score demonstrated an acceptable predictive value for early rebleeding with an AUROC of 0.744, and the best cutoff point was 9 points. (4) Conclusions: The ABC score is closely associated with the rates of early re-hemorrhage and in-hospital mortality in cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding. This scoring system has the potential for clinical application, aiding in early risk stratification for recurrent bleeding and mortality and allowing for more aggressive interventions in high-risk cases.
Primary Chronic Sclerosing Osteomyelitis: A New Diagnostic Tool
Authors: Lacagne Anne-Sophie , May Laurence , Lalonde Marie Nicod , Prior John O. , Broome Martin
Published: November 2023

Aims: Primary chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis is a rare and complex pathology and remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Our aim is to show our experience with a new diagnostic tool. Material and Methods: Four patients aged from 26 to 67 were referred to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery of University Hospital CHUV in Lausanne between January 2010 and December 2018 for chronic mandibular pain without infectious signs nor symptoms. All patients underwent three-phase bone scintigraphy and anti-granulocyte antibody scintigraphy. Results: Three-phase bone scintigraphy demonstrated radiotracer uptake at the zone of pain, whereas anti-granulocyte antibody scintigraphy showed no uptake, thus rendering an infectious origin unlikely. Conclusion: A combination of the two different scintigraphies should be considered in order to guide the clinician in the diagnosis of primary chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis, thus preventing patients from undergoing unnecessary imagery and useless treatment, and also allowing an early diagnosis.
Advances in Preventive and Therapeutic Approaches for Dental Erosion: A Systematic Review
Authors: Inchingolo Francesco , Dipalma Gianna , Azzollini Daniela , Trilli Irma , Carpentiere Vincenzo , Hazballa Denisa , Bordea Ioana Roxana , Palermo Andrea , Inchingolo Alessio Danilo , Inchingolo Angelo Michele
Published: November 2023

This review discusses both preventive measures and clinically implemented therapy procedures that have been developed recently for the prevention and treatment of tooth erosion. Methods: The databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were used for a thorough search. Studies on the prevention and treatment of dental erosion that were conducted in English and used in vitro were among the inclusion criteria. Results: The search turned up 391 papers in total, with 34 of those publications matching the requirements for inclusion. Varnishes, toothpastes, and solutions containing fluoride and other substances were used as preventive measures. Conclusions: Dental erosion is a significant issue, and taking preventative steps is crucial to lessening the disease’s spread and its effects. Interventions based on fluoride seem to be successful at halting erosion and encouraging remineralization. To effectively address severe tooth erosion, therapeutic methods, including composite restorations, prosthetic crowns, and veneers, are available. Dental erosion causes aesthetic and functional issues that are best addressed with less invasive treatments like direct composite restorations. To improve and broaden the range of available treatments for this common dental issue, additional research and development are required.
A Multi-Regional Path-Planning Method for Rescue UAVs with Priority Constraints
Authors: Du Lexu , Fan Yankai , Gui Mingzhen , Zhao Dangjun
Published: November 2023

This study focuses on the path-planning problem of rescue UAVs with regional detection priority. Initially, we propose a mixed-integer programming model that integrates coverage path planning (CPP) and the hierarchical traveling salesman problem (HTSP) to address multi-regional path planning under priority constraints. For intra-regional path planning, we present an enhanced method for acquiring reciprocating flight paths to ensure complete coverage of convex polygonal regions with shorter flight paths when a UAV is equipped with sensors featuring circular sampling ranges. An additional comparison was made for spiral flight paths, and second-order Bezier curves were employed to optimize both sets of paths. This optimization not only reduced the path length but also enhanced the ability to counteract inherent drone jitter. Additionally, we propose a variable neighborhood descent algorithm based on K-nearest neighbors to solve the inter-regional access order path-planning problem with priority. We establish parameters for measuring distance and evaluating the priority order of UAV flight paths. Simulation and experiment results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can effectively assist UAVs in performing path-planning tasks with priority constraints, enabling faster information collection in important areas and facilitating quick exploration of three-dimensional characteristics in unknown disaster areas by rescue workers. This algorithm significantly enhances the safety of rescue workers and optimizes crucial rescue times in key areas.
Self-Organisation of Prediction Models
Authors: Feistel Rainer
Published: November 2023

Living organisms are active open systems far from thermodynamic equilibrium. The ability to behave actively corresponds to dynamical metastability: minor but supercritical internal or external effects may trigger major substantial actions such as gross mechanical motion, dissipating internally accumulated energy reserves. Gaining a selective advantage from the beneficial use of activity requires a consistent combination of sensual perception, memorised experience, statistical or causal prediction models, and the resulting favourable decisions on actions. This information processing chain originated from mere physical interaction processes prior to life, here denoted as structural information exchange. From there, the self-organised transition to symbolic information processing marks the beginning of life, evolving through the novel purposivity of trial-and-error feedback and the accumulation of symbolic information. The emergence of symbols and prediction models can be described as a ritualisation transition, a symmetry-breaking kinetic phase transition of the second kind previously known from behavioural biology. The related new symmetry is the neutrally stable arbitrariness, conventionality, or code invariance of symbols with respect to their meaning. The meaning of such symbols is given by the structural effect they ultimately unleash, directly or indirectly, by deciding on which actions to take. The early genetic code represents the first symbols. The genetically inherited symbolic information is the first prediction model for activities sufficient for survival under the condition of environmental continuity, sometimes understood as the “final causality” property of the model.
Kernel-Based Independence Tests for Causal Structure Learning on Functional Data
Authors: Laumann Felix , von Kügelgen Julius , Park Junhyung , Schölkopf Bernhard , Barahona Mauricio
Published: November 2023

Measurements of systems taken along a continuous functional dimension, such as time or space, are ubiquitous in many fields, from the physical and biological sciences to economics and engineering. Such measurements can be viewed as realisations of an underlying smooth process sampled over the continuum. However, traditional methods for independence testing and causal learning are not directly applicable to such data, as they do not take into account the dependence along the functional dimension. By using specifically designed kernels, we introduce statistical tests for bivariate, joint, and conditional independence for functional variables. Our method not only extends the applicability to functional data of the Hilbert–Schmidt independence criterion (hsic) and its d-variate version (d-hsic), but also allows us to introduce a test for conditional independence by defining a novel statistic for the conditional permutation test (cpt) based on the Hilbert–Schmidt conditional independence criterion (hscic), with optimised regularisation strength estimated through an evaluation rejection rate. Our empirical results of the size and power of these tests on synthetic functional data show good performance, and we then exemplify their application to several constraint- and regression-based causal structure learning problems, including both synthetic examples and real socioeconomic data.
Innovative Strategies for Fostering Student Engagement and Collaborative Learning among Extended Curriculum Programme Students
Authors: Zitha Innocent , Mokganya Georgina , Sinthumule Orifha
Published: November 2023

Massification in higher education has made the satisfaction of students’ needs unattainable among university lecturers. In contrast, the use of innovative strategies for collaborative learning enhances student engagement in the heterogeneous student context. Moreover, this paper aims to explore strategies for fostering student engagement through collaborative learning among first-year students at the University of Venda. To answer the research question of whether innovative learning designs in teaching and learning can foster students’ engagement and collaborative learning, subsequently, this paper employed a mixed-methods approach to gauge the effectiveness of different teaching strategies on student outcomes. Significantly, the purposive sampling approach was used to sample a group of 200 students in the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP). The researchers used participant observation and narrative inquiry as data collection instruments in this paper. Furthermore, the students in their respective groups were assigned topics from the English and Biology modules to use their talents to demonstrate their understanding of certain complex concepts in these modules. The non-surprising findings of this paper elucidated that collaborative learning expedites students’ mastery of key concepts and subject content through the integration of talents. The module lecturers introduced students to these innovative designs to ensure collaborative learning and effective student engagement. The key findings articulated that these aspects, namely role-playing exercises, group projects, peer-to-peer learning, use of talents, peer feedback, and so forth, have the potential to improve student performance and academic success. The implication of this study is that students learn to work together, delegate responsibilities, improve participation, and communicate effectively to attain a common goal. Using these strategies, lecturers promote collaboration among students and foster a more engaging and interactive learning experience. This paper further recommends the integration of students’ talents as an effective strategy to foster student engagement and collaborative learning to track and monitor at-risk students at an early stage.
The Construction of Precursor Models in the Thinking of Young Children: The Case of Expansion and Contraction of Metals
Authors: Charalampopoulou Paraskevi , Kaliampos George , Lavidas Konstantinos , Ravanis Konstantinos
Published: November 2023

The aim of the current study is to examine how preschool children overcome their difficulties regarding thermal expansion and contraction and construct in their minds a precursor model; that is, an entity compatible with school knowledge. Having investigated these difficulties through a pretest, a teaching intervention was implemented based on both the telling of a fairy tale and the carrying out of experimental activities. Finally, the changes in children’s thinking were studied with a posttest. The study involved 36 children aged 4–6 years who voluntarily participated in individual semistructured interviews conducted by three researchers in a special kindergarten setting. The results of the study revealed statistically significant progress in children’s responses between pre- and posttests. Furthermore, the finding of almost 1/3 of children’s responses being compatible with school knowledge indicates that (a) it is possible for children of that age to construct a precursor model for thermal expansion and contraction and (b) the combination of storytelling along with experimental activities is probably an appropriate teaching strategy.
A Black Box Comparison of Machine Learning Reverse Image Search for Cybersecurity OSINT Applications
Authors: Wekesa Esther Nanjala , DeCusatis Casimer , Zhu Andy
Published: November 2023

Machine learning algorithms for reverse image search (a subset of open source intelligence or OSINT) provide a free, useful tool for determining the content of an image, where and when it was captured, and, in some cases, whether it has been digitally modified. Using a test data set of 24 images, we compared the performance of reverse image search for Google, Bing, and Yandex. Our black box experimental results are presented for three different categories of images (uncluttered images, images with significant background clutter, and facial recognition). The total number of correct images was highest for Google (65%), while Bing (55%) and Yandex (50%) yielded different results. Google was also the best at identifying cluttered, uncluttered, and facial images. We compare these results with previous studies and review how relative performance has changed over time. Accurate recognition rates for all reverse search platforms tested were higher for original images not previously uploaded, as opposed to images used in earlier studies. We validate our results using exchangeable image file format (EXIF) data and error level analysis (ELA) of selected images. Based on these results, best practices for OSINT image investigation are proposed.
Fusion-Former: Fusion Features across Transformer and Convolution for Building Change Detection
Authors: Fan Zipeng , Wang Sanqian , Pu Xueting , Wei Hongguang , Liu Yuan , Sui Xiubao , Chen Qian
Published: November 2023

Change detection (CD) in remote sensing images is a technique for analyzing and characterizing surface changes from remotely sensed data from different time periods. However, due to the diverse nature of targets in complex remote sensing scenarios, the current deep-learning-based methods still sometimes suffer from the problem of the extracted features not being discriminative enough, resulting in false detections and detail loss. To solve these challenges, we propose a method called Fusion-Former for building change detection. Our approach fuses window-based self-attention with depth-wise convolution, which is named Fusion-Block and which combines convolutional neural networks (CNN) and a transformer to integrate information at different scales effectively. Moreover, in order to significantly enhance the performance of the transformer and the effect of Fusion-Block, an innovative attention module called Vision-Module is introduced. On the LEVIR-CD dataset and WHU-CD dataset, our model achieved F1-scores of 89.53% and 86.00%, respectively, showcasing its superior performance over state-of-the-art methods.
Real-Time Telemetry-Based Recognition and Prediction of Satellite State Using TS-GCN Network
Authors: Liu Shuo , Qiu Shi , Li Huayi , Liu Ming
Published: November 2023

With the continuous proliferation of satellites, accurately determining their operational status is crucial for satellite design and on-orbit anomaly detection. However, existing research overlooks this crucial aspect, falling short in its analysis. Through an analysis of real-time satellite telemetry data, this paper pioneers the introduction of four distinct operational states within satellite attitude control systems and explores the challenges associated with their classification and prediction. Considering skewed data and dimensionality, we propose the Two-Step Graph Convolutional Neural Network (TS-GCN) framework, integrating resampling and a streamlined architecture as the benchmark of the proposed problem. Applying TS-GCN to a specific satellite model yields 98.93% state recognition and 99.13% prediction accuracy. Compared to the Standard GCN, Standard CNN, and ResNet-18, the state recognition accuracy increased by 37.36–75.65%. With fewer parameters, TS-GCN suits on-orbit deployment, enhancing assessment and anomaly detection.
Attribute and User Trust Score-Based Zero Trust Access Control Model in IoV
Authors: Wang Jiuru , Wang Zhiyuan , Song Jingcheng , Cheng Hongyuan
Published: November 2023

The Internet of Vehicles (IoV) is an innovative area of interest in modern mobility that is rapidly evolving while facing complex challenges. Traditional IoV networks are susceptible to intrusion threats, which can lead to data leakage and seizure of vehicle control by attackers, thereby endangering vehicle users’ privacy and personal safety. An Attribute and User Trust Score-based Zero Trust Access Control Model (AU-ZTAC) is proposed, combining the zero-trust and attribute-based access control models to meet network protection requirements while achieving fine-grained dynamic access control and incorporating trust evaluation in the access control process to better reflect users’ intent. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of trust assessment through the proposed model. A comparison with the classical schemes illustrates that AU-ZTAC allows for more flexible and fine-grained access control in complex access control environments while improving IoV security.