bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anxiety and Depression in British Horseracing Stud and Stable Staff Following Occupational Injury
Authors: Davies Emma , Liddiard Sophie , McConn-Palfreyman Will J. , Parker John K. , Cameron Lorna J. , Williams Jane M.
Published: October 2023

Horseracing has identified several factors influencing staff wellbeing; however, the relationship between injury, anxiety, and depression is yet to be established. This study investigated anxiety and depression scores and their association to pain management, coping, and help-seeking behaviour in injured British horseracing staff. An online retrospective survey was completed by 175 participants, identifying injury prevalence, coping strategies, occupational risk factors, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores. Analysis identified 65.14% (n = 114) of staff reported anxiety scores above the threshold (≥8) and 59.52% (n = 104) of staff reported depression scores ≥8. Median anxiety and depression scores were higher for staff who viewed their employer as unhelpful (anxiety p = 0.001; depression p = 0.020). Heightened anxiety and depression were associated with an increased likelihood to use pain medication to manage at work, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s), alcohol, nicotine, and prescription drugs (p < 0.05). Implications for staff wellbeing is evident; anxiety and depression risks are high following injury, which may influence help-seeking behaviour, perceived job security, and coping mechanisms. This paper suggests it is vital to continue to investigate poor mental health and injury in racing staff and the implications for equine welfare.
Antimicrobial and Mycotoxin Reducing Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Influence on Blood and Feces Parameters of Newborn Calves
Authors: Zavistanaviciute Paulina , Ruzauskas Modestas , Antanaitis Ramunas , Televicius Mindaugas , Lele Vita , Santini Antonello , Bartkiene Elena
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of in acid whey (AW) multiplied Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LUHS135 (L.pl135), Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LUHS244 (L.pc244), and their biomass combination on newborn calves’ feces and blood parameters. Additionally, the antimicrobial and mycotoxin-reducing properties and the resistance to antibiotics of the tested lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were analyzed. In order to ensure effective biomass growth in AW, technological parameters for the supplement preparation were selected. Control calves were fed with a standard milk replacer (SMR) and treated groups (from the 2nd day of life until the 14th day) were supplemented with 50 mL of AWL.pl135, AWL.pc244, and AWL.pl135×L.pc244 (25 mL AWL.pl135 + 25 mL AWL.pc244) in addition to SMR. It was established that L.pl135 and L.pc244 possess broad antimicrobial activities, are non-resistant to the tested antibiotics, and reduce mycotoxin concentrations in vitro. The optimal duration established for biomass growth was 48 h (LAB count higher than 7.00 log10 CFU mL−1 was found after 48 h of AW fermentation). It was established that additional feeding of newborn calves with AWL.pl135, AWL.pc244, and AWL.pl135×L.pc244 increased lactobacilli (on average by 7.4%), and AWL.pl135 and AWL.pc244 reduced the numbers of Enterobacteriaceae in calves’ feces. The tested supplements also reduced the lactate concentration (on average, by 42.5%) in calves’ blood. Finally, the tested supplements had a positive influence on certain health parameters of newborn calves; however, further research is needed to validate the mechanisms of the beneficial effects.
Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Differences in Hypoxia Response between Far Eastern and Siberian Frogs
Authors: Shekhovtsov Sergei V. , Bulakhova Nina A. , Tsentalovich Yuri P. , Zelentsova Ekaterina A. , Osik Nataliya A. , Meshcheryakova Ekaterina N. , Poluboyarova Tatiana V. , Berman Daniil I.
Published: October 2023

Anoxia is a significant challenge for most animals, as it can lead to tissue damage and death. Among amphibians, the Siberian frog Rana amurensis is the only known species capable of surviving near-zero levels of oxygen in water for a prolonged period. In this study, we aimed to compare metabolomic profiles of the liver, brain, and heart of the Siberian frog exposed to long-term oxygen deprivation (approximately 0.2 mg/L water) with those of the susceptible Far Eastern frog (Rana dybowskii) subjected to short-term hypoxia to the limits of its tolerance. One of the most pronounced features was that the organs of the Far Eastern frog contained more lactate than those of the Siberian frog despite a much shorter exposure time. The amounts of succinate were similar between the two species. Interestingly, glycerol and 2,3-butanediol were found to be significantly accumulated under hypoxia in the Siberian frog, but not in the Far Eastern frog. The role and biosynthesis of these substances are still unclear, but they are most likely formed in certain side pathways of glycolysis. Based on the obtained data, we suggest a pathway for metabolic changes in the Siberian frog under anoxia.
Exploring the Role of Mediterranean and Westernized Diets and Their Main Nutrients in the Modulation of Oxidative Stress in the Placenta: A Narrative Review
Authors: García-Montero Cielo , Fraile-Martinez Oscar , De Leon-Oliva Diego , Boaru Diego Liviu , Garcia-Puente Luis M. , De León-Luis Juan A. , Bravo Coral , Diaz-Pedrero Raul , Lopez-Gonzalez Laura , Álvarez-Mon Melchor , García-Honduvilla Natalio , Saez Miguel A. , Ortega Miguel A.
Published: October 2023

Oxidative stress is a major cellular event that occurs in the placenta, fulfilling critical physiological roles in non-pathological pregnancies. However, exacerbated oxidative stress is a pivotal feature of different obstetric complications, like pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and other diseases. Compelling evidence supports the relevant role of diet during pregnancy, with pleiotropic consequences for maternal well-being. The present review aims to examine the complex background between oxidative stress and placental development and function in physiological conditions, also intending to understand the relationship between different dietary patterns and the human placenta, particularly how this could influence oxidative stress processes. The effects of Westernized diets (WDs) and high-fat diets (HFDs) rich in ultra-processed foods and different additives are compared with healthy patterns such as a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) abundant in omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, dietary fiber, and vitamins. Although multiple studies have focused on the role of specific nutrients, mostly in animal models and in vitro, further observational and intervention studies focusing on the placental structure and function in women with different dietary patterns should be conducted to understand the precise influence of diet on this organ.
Vasodilator Responses of Perivascular Adipose Tissue-Derived Hydrogen Sulfide Stimulated with L-Cysteine in Pregnancy Hypertension-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction in Rats
Authors: Oliveira Priscilla Bianca de , Zochio Gabriela Palma , Caetano Edileia Souza Paula , da Silva Maria Luiza Santos , Dias-Junior Carlos Alan
Published: October 2023

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO)-induced vasodilation is impaired in pregnancy hypertension. However, the role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT)-derived hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as an alternative for counteracting vascular dysfunction, is incompletely clear in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Therefore, PVAT-derived H2S-induced vasodilation was investigated in pregnancy hypertension-induced endothelial dysfunction. Non-pregnant (Non-Preg) and pregnant (Preg) rats were submitted (or not) to the deoxycorticosterone (DOCA)-salt protocol and assigned as follows (n = 10/group): Non-Preg, Non-Preg+DOCA, Preg, and Preg+DOCA groups. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), angiogenesis-related factors, determinant levels of H2S (PbS), NO (NOx), and oxidative stress (MDA) were assessed. Vascular changes were recorded in thoracic aortas with PVAT and endothelium (intact and removed layers). Vasorelaxation responses to the substrate (L-cysteine) for the H2S-producing enzyme cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) were examined in the absence and presence of CSE-inhibitor DL-propargylglycine (PAG) in thoracic aorta rings pre-incubated with cofactor for CSE (pyridoxal-5 phosphate: PLP) and pre-contracted with phenylephrine. Hypertension was only found in the Preg+DOCA group. Preg+DOCA rats showed angiogenic imbalances and increased levels of MDA. PbS, but not NOx, showed increased levels in the Preg+DOCA group. Pre-incubation with PLP and L-cysteine elevated determinants of H2S in PVAT and placentas of Preg-DOCA rats, whereas no changes were found in the aortas without PVAT. Aortas of Preg-DOCA rats showed that PVAT-derived H2S-dependent vasodilation was greater compared to endothelium-derived H2S, whereas PAG blocked these responses. PVAT-derived H2S endogenously stimulated with the amino acid L-cysteine may be an alternative to induce vasorelaxation in endothelial dysfunction related to pregnancy hypertension.
Differential Neuroprotective Effects of N-Acetylcysteine against Dithianon Toxicity in Glutamatergic, Dopaminergic, and GABAergic Neurons: Assessment Using Zebrafish
Authors: Banik Amit , Eum Juneyong , Hwang Byung Joon , Kee Yun
Published: October 2023

Despite the widespread agricultural use of dithianon as an antifungal agent, its neurotoxic implications for humans and wildlife have not been comprehensively explored. Using zebrafish embryonic development as our model, we found that dithianon treatment induced behavioral alterations in zebrafish larvae that appeared normal. Detailed quantitative analyses showed that dithianon at ≥0.0001 µgmL−1 induced cytoplasmic and mitochondrial antioxidant responses sequentially, followed by the disruption of mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis. Additionally, dithianon at 0.01 and 0.1 µgmL−1 downregulated the expressions of glutamatergic (slc17a6b), GABAergic (gad1b), and dopaminergic (th) neuronal markers. Contrarily, dithianon upregulated the expression of the oligodendrocyte marker (olig2) at concentrations of 0.001 and 0.01 µgmL−1, concurrently suppressing the gene expression of the glucose transporter slc2a1a/glut1. Particularly, dithianon-induced increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was reduced by both N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and betaine; however, only NAC prevented dithianon-induced mortality of zebrafish embryos. Moreover, NAC specifically prevented dithianon-induced alterations in glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurons while leaving GABAergic neurons unaffected, demonstrating that the major neurotransmission systems in the central nervous system differentially respond to the protective effects. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the neurotoxic potential of dithianon and to developing preventive strategies.
The Coumarin-Derivative Esculetin Protects against Lipotoxicity in Primary Rat Hepatocytes via Attenuating JNK-Mediated Oxidative Stress and Attenuates Free Fatty Acid-Induced Lipid Accumulation
Authors: Xia Mengmeng , Wu Zongmei , Wang Junyu , Buist-Homan Manon , Moshage Han
Published: October 2023

Coumarin derivates have been proposed as a potential treatment for metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, the mechanisms underlying their beneficial effects remain unclear. In the present study, we explored the potential of the coumarin derivate esculetin in MAFLD, focusing on hepatocyte lipotoxicity and lipid accumulation. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were exposed to palmitic acid (PA) and palmitic acid plus oleic acid (OA/PA) as models of lipotoxicity and lipid accumulation, respectively. Esculetin significantly reduced oxidative stress in PA-treated hepatocytes, as shown by decreased total reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial superoxide production and elevated expression of antioxidant genes, including Nrf2 and Gpx1. In addition, esculetin protects against PA-induced necrosis. Esculetin also improved lipid metabolism in primary hepatocytes exposed to nonlipotoxic OA/PA by decreasing the expression of the lipogenesis-related gene Srebp1c and increasing the expression of the fatty acid β-oxidation-related gene Ppar-α. Moreover, esculetin attenuated lipid accumulation in OA/PA-treated hepatocytes. The protective effects of esculetin against lipotoxicity and lipid accumulation were shown to be dependent on the inhibition of JNK and the activation of AMPK, respectively. We conclude that esculetin is a promising compound to target lipotoxicity and lipid accumulation in the treatment of MAFLD.
Chemical Mechanisms Involved in the Coupled Attack of Sulfate and Chloride Ions on Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials: An In-Depth Study
Authors: El Inaty François , Marchetti Mario , Quiertant Marc , Omikrine Metalssi Othman
Published: October 2023

This study aims to analyze the individual and combined chemical attacks of sulfate and chloride ions on cementitious materials and assess the efficiency of some selected additives (fly ash, blast furnace slag, and metakaolin) in countering this combined attack. This research is conducted in the context of construction in marine environments, where reinforced concrete structures are often subject to significant challenges due to early exposure to sulfate and chloride ions. This early exposure results in concrete expansion, cracking, and, ultimately, the corrosion of steel reinforcements. Nevertheless, the interaction between sulfate ions, chloride ions, and the cementitious matrix remains poorly understood. Previous research has drawn conflicting conclusions, with some suggesting that sulfate ions mitigate chloride attacks, while others have come to the opposite conclusion. During this study, experimental investigations were conducted by immersing powders obtained from crushed ordinary Portland cement (CEM I) paste specimens, as well as binary, ternary, and quaternary blends, in sulfate, chloride, and sulfate–chloride solutions over the course of 25 days at an early age. Results from different characterization techniques (thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, etc.) indicate that chloride ions delay the formation of ettringite, while the presence of sulfate ions accelerates the chloride attack by limiting the formation of Friedel’s salt. The Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry test confirmed these results by showing a pronounced increase in specimens’ porosity after exposure to solely sulfate after 25 days, compared to the ones exposed to both sulfate and chloride ions. Furthermore, the incorporation of multiple additives, particularly in ternary and quaternary blends, demonstrates the enhanced durability of the studied samples. This was confirmed by a Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy analysis, which indicated a delayed ettringite formation in these mixtures. This delay was further affirmed by the complete depletion of sulfate ions in the sulfate solutions upon contact with powders derived from the 100% CEM I paste.
Microbial-Based Biotechnology: Production and Evaluation of Selenium-Tellurium Nanoalloys
Authors: Muthu Arjun , Sári Daniella , Ferroudj Aya , El-Ramady Hassan , Béni Áron , Badgar Khandsuren , Prokisch József
Published: October 2023

Using seleno-compounds and telluric compounds is a practical approach for developing solutions against drug-resistant bacterial infections and malignancies. It will accelerate the search for novel treatments or adjuvants for existing therapies. Selenium and tellurium nanospheres can be produced by lactic acid bacteria. The bacteria can differentiate the selenium and tellurium when the medium contains both selenite and tellurite. Therefore, our question in this study was the following: are they making alloys from the selenium and tellurium and what will be the composition, color, and shape of the nanoparticles? We used a simple microbial synthesis to produce nanoselenium, nanotellurium, and their alloys from sodium selenite and sodium tellurite using Lactobacillus casei. This bacterium produced red spherical amorphous elemental selenium nanospheres with a diameter of 206 ± 33 nm from selenite and amorphous black nanorods with a length of 176 ± 32 nm and a cross-section of 62 ± 13 nm from tellurite. If the initial medium contains a mixture of selenite and tellurite, the resulting nanoparticles will contain selenium and tellurium in the same ratios in the alloy as in the medium. This proves that Lactobacillus casei cannot distinguish between selenite and tellurite. The shape of the nanoparticles varies from spherical to rod-shaped, depending on the ratio of selenium and tellurium. The color of nanomaterials ranges from red to black, depending on the percentage of selenium and tellurium. These nanomaterials could be good candidates in the pharmaceutical industry due to their antipathogenic and anticarcinogenic properties.
Experimental Study about the Influence of Storage Conditions of Bulk Cement on the Early-Age Stiffness Evolution of Cementitious Pastes
Authors: Cieri Luigi , Cassese Paolino , Fabbrocino Giovanni , Occhiuzzi Antonio , Rainieri Carlo
Published: October 2023

The effects of uncontrolled storage and curing temperature on the early-age mechanical behavior of cement are under-investigated issues, and the few available studies in the literature analyze their influence mainly from a chemical-physical point of view. The present study, on the contrary, aims at studying the effects of temperature and, above all, cement prehydration due to uncontrolled storage from a phenomenological perspective through the application of the EMM-ARM method. In particular, the influence of those factors on the early-age evolution of the Young’s modulus of cement pastes produced from Portland as well as pozzolanic cement is experimentally assessed. The obtained results confirm the possibility of exploiting the EMM-ARM method to characterize those effects on a phenomenological basis, sorting back to the comparison of the curves of prehydrated cement with reference ones in controlled storage conditions. As a result, the methodology shows promising applicative perspectives for acceptance checks of the materials before use.
Application of the Compound-Specific Stable Isotopes (CSSI) Technique to Evaluate the Contributions of Sediment Sources in the Panama Canal Watershed
Authors: Vital José Luis Peralta , Calvo Lucas , Gil Reinaldo , Padrón Yanna Llerena , Broce Kathia , Franco-Ábrego Ana Karen
Published: October 2023

Sedimentation processes have negative socioeconomic and environmental consequences. The Compound-Specific Stable Isotopes (CSSI) technique allows for the evaluation of sediment inputs associated with different land use changes in a study region. In the present work, this technique was used in the Alhajuela Lake sub-basin, within the Panama Canal Watershed. The role of the main soil contributors to the landscape (land uses, river, runoff, slope) relevant to the sediment load within the sub-basin of Alhajuela Lake was evaluated, and the relevant indicators in the landscape were selected in order to obtain the best representative sample. The contribution levels of three (3) representative land uses (Forest, Pasture and Sediment) in the study area were evaluated for the sediments present in sixteen (16) selected mixing points. The samples collected were subjected to the standard laboratory process to obtain the carbon chain isotopic values present in the fatty acids. The results of the determinations of the carbon chain fatty acid isotope ratios were evaluated using a Bayesian mixing model that takes into account the uncertainty present in the identified source values. According to the results obtained, the source identified as Sediment has a prominent contribution in most of the mixing points. The contributions of Forest land use are important in the mixing points located north of the study area. The contributions associated with Pasture land use are relevant in the points located in the proximity of this land use. The results suggest that landslides caused by high rainfalls events (Forest and Pasture sources) cause strong sedimentation to the north of Alhajuela Lake. At the same time, a high distribution of soils deposition is observed in the area surrounding Alhajuela Lake due to the strong presence of soils with Sediment source in these places. The results obtained are consistent with observations and measurements of the sediments accumulated in Alhajuela Lake between the years 2008 and 2012.
Clover Dry Matter Predictor Based on Semantic Segmentation Network and Random Forest
Authors: Ji Yin , Fang Jiandong , Zhao Yudong
Published: October 2023

As a key animal feed source, the dry matter content of clover is widely regarded as an important indicator of its nutritional value and quality. The primary aim of this study is to introduce a methodology for forecasting clover dry matter content utilizing a semantic segmentation network. This approach involves constructing a predictive model based on visual image information to analyze the dry matter content within clover. Given the complex features embedded in clover images and the difficulty of obtaining labeled data, it becomes challenging to analyze the dry matter content directly from the images. In order to address this issue, a method for predicting dry matter in clover based on semantic segmentation network is proposed. The method uses the improved DeepLabv3+ network as the backbone of feature extraction, and integrates the SE (Squeeze-and-Excitation) attention mechanism into the ASPP (Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling) module to enhance the semantic segmentation performance, in order to realize the efficient extraction of the features of clover images; on this basis, a regression model based on the Random Forest (RF) method is constructed to realize the prediction of dry matter in clover. Extensive experiments conducted by applying the trained model to the dry matter prediction dataset evaluated the good predictor performance and showed that the number of each pixel level after semantic segmentation improved the performance of semantic segmentation by 18.5% compared to the baseline, and there was a great improvement in the collinearity of dry matter prediction.
The Influence of Storage Conditions of Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Oil on Its Quality Parameters
Authors: Marcinkowski Damian , Bochniak Marta , Wereńska Monika , Czwartkowski Kamil
Published: October 2023

Stored vegetable oil undergoes numerous processes, i.e., oxidation, hydrolysis, and thermal polymerization. As a result, its quality and organoleptic parameters deteriorate. The content of natural chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments determines the color of rapeseed oil. Almost imperceptible changes in the color of the oil may indicate the deterioration of its quality. Therefore, vegetable oils must be stored in the appropriate conditions to protect them against unfavorable factors leading to deterioration. This publication examines and describes the influence of storage temperature, type of packaging (clear glass, colored glass, PET), and presence of an oxygen-free atmosphere on the quality of stored cold-pressed rapeseed oil for three and six months. Changes in the following parameters were verified: the content of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments, oil color (measured by the CIE Lab method), acid value, and radical scavenging activity (%RSA) by the ABTS (diammonium 2,2′-azinobis[3-ethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzothiazole-6-sulphonate) method. The decrease in the content of natural dyes was 7 to 87% after three months, depending on storage conditions, and after six months, from 12 to 97%. To determine which factors were responsible for the change in the physicochemical properties of the oil during storage, a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed.
Unlocking the Power of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces: From Wireless Communication to Energy Efficiency and Beyond
Authors: P. de Figueiredo Felipe A.
Published: October 2023

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) are a class of metamaterials that have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential to revolutionize wireless communication, sensing, and imaging technologies. RISs consist of a planar array of closely spaced, subwavelengthsized elements that can manipulate electromagnetic waves in a controllable manner. By reconfiguring the geometry, material properties, or phases of the individual elements on the RIS, the surface can be customized to meet specific application requirements. RISs can improve wireless communication by creating virtual channels, reducing interference, and improving overall quality. They can also enhance the efficiency of energy harvesting systems and improve sensing and imaging technologies by manipulating the propagation and scattering of electromagnetic waves. Additionally, RISs could be used to increase privacy and security by selectively blocking or allowing specific frequencies of electromagnetic waves. In this editorial, we provide a brief history of the development of RISs and discuss the design and fabrication of RIS structures. We also discuss RIS technology’s potential applications and benefits, including improved wireless communication, enhanced energy efficiency, advanced sensing and imaging, and increased privacy and security. Finally, we highlight some current research challenges and future directions for RIS technology. Overall, RISs hold great promise for advancing a wide range of technologies and applications, and we expect to see many exciting developments in this area.
Design and Implementation of a Semantic Information Expression Device Based on Vibrotactile Coding
Authors: Shao Zhiyu , Mei Xin , Wu Yanjv , Bao Jiatong , Tang Hongru
Published: October 2023

In recent years, research on new technologies for expressing and exchanging information through tactile vibration has been the focus of researches. In this paper, by choosing a suitable coding scheme and a vibrating motor arrangement, we designed a device to express semantic information through vibrotactile. Three types of experiments were designed to test the usability of the encoding scheme and the device. Firstly, the vibration intensity was experimented when designing the encoding scheme, and the results showed that the encoding scheme was better with Braille units of 0.2 and 0.3 vibration intensities. In addition, the learning experiment and sentence recognition accuracy experiment were carried out to verify the usability of the device. The learning experiment results show that subjects were able to memorize Braille characters with an accuracy more than 90%, and to recognize a Chinese character (consisting of two Braille cells) with an average of 90.8% accuracy. The sentence recognition accuracy test experiment results show that the average recognition rate of the three poems used for the test was 93.33%. The device can be used for semantic information expression and touch-reading of Braille, and it can realize the reading experience of paper Braille.
A Static Detection Method for SQL Injection Vulnerability Based on Program Transformation
Authors: Yuan Ye , Lu Yuliang , Zhu Kailong , Huang Hui , Yu Lu , Zhao Jiazhen
Published: October 2023

Static analysis is popular for detecting SQL injection vulnerabilities. However, due to the lack of accurate modeling of object-oriented database extensions, current methods fail to accurately detect SQL injection vulnerabilities in applications that use object-oriented database extensions. We propose a program transformation-based SQL injection vulnerability detection method to address this issue. This method consists of two stages: program transformation and vulnerability detection. In the first stage, object-oriented database extensions are automatically transformed into semantically equivalent procedural database extensions through the identification of key statements, call relation verification, and program transformation. In the second stage, application programs are automatically scanned using a combination of control flow graph construction and taint analysis techniques to detect SQL injection vulnerabilities. Based on the proposed method, we have implemented the OODBE-SCAN prototype system and performed experimental analysis on eight modern PHP applications. We compare OODBE-SCAN with two related static analysis tools, RIPS and Seay. The results show that OODBE-SCAN can detect more real-world vulnerabilities and has higher accuracy than existing methods.
MSRL-Net: An Automatic Segmentation of Intracranial Hemorrhage for CT Images Based on the U-Net Framework
Authors: Wang Hua , Wang Xiangbei
Published: October 2023

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a hemorrhagic disease occurring in the ventricle or brain, but we found that the U-Net network has poor segmentation performance for small lesion areas. In order to improve the segmentation accuracy, a new convolutional neural network called MSRL-Net is proposed in this paper to accurately segment the lesion regions in the CT images of intracranial hemorrhage. Specifically, to avoid the problem of missing information in the downsampling process, we propose a strategy combining MaxPool and SoftPool. In addition, the mixed loss function is used to optimize the unbalance of medical images. Finally, at the bottleneck layer, an MRHDC module is designed to represent the rich spatial information in the underlying features, in order to obtain multi-scale features with different receptive fields. Our model achieves 0.712 average Dice on a dataset. The experimental results show that this model has a good segmentation effect and potential clinical prospects.
Leaving the Business Security Burden to LiSEA: A Low-Intervention Security Embedding Architecture for Business APIs
Authors: Li Hang , Li Junhao , Wang Yulong , Zhou Chunru , Yin Mingyong
Published: October 2023

In the evolving landscape of complex business ecosystems and their digital platforms, an increasing number of business Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are encountering challenges in ensuring optimal authorization control. This challenge arises due to factors such as programming errors, improper configurations, and sub-optimal business processes. While security departments have exhibited proficiency in identifying vulnerabilities and mitigating certain viral or adversarial incursions, the safeguarding of comprehensive business processes remains an intricate task. This paper introduces a novel paradigm, denoted as the Low-Intervention Security Embedding Architecture (LiSEA), which empowers business applications to enhance the security of their processes through judicious intervention within business APIs. By strategically incorporating pre- and post-intervention checkpoints, we devise a finely grained access control model that meticulously assesses both the intent of incoming business requests and the outcomes of corresponding responses. Importantly, these advancements are seamlessly integrated into the existing business codebase. Our implementation demonstrates the effectiveness of LiSEA, as it adeptly addresses eight out of the ten critical vulnerabilities enumerated in the OWASP API Security Top 10. Notably, when the number of threads is less than 200, LiSEA brings less than 20 msec of latency to the business process, which is significantly less than the microservice security agent based on the API gateway.
Field and Numerical Study of the Bearing Capacity of Pre-Stressed High-Strength Concrete (PHC)-Pipe-Pile-Reinforced Soft Soil Foundations with Tie Beams
Authors: Yao Yunlong , Hong Baoning , Liu Xin , Wang Guisen , Shao Zhiwei , Sun Dongning
Published: October 2023

Pre-stressed high-strength concrete pipe piles (PHC pipe piles) have been widely used in actual soft foundation treatment projects due to their reliable quality, fast construction, assembly line production, and environmental friendliness. However, large-scale slip damage still occurs in construction projects. In order to reduce and avoid such accidents, a highway in Guangdong (section K31+100~K31+388) was taken as an example for this study. Plaxis 2D software (V22.01.00) was used to establish a PHC pipe pile composite roadbed model and investigate the effects of tie beam form, pile lengths, pile spacings, pile verticality, and embankment filling loading modes on the settlement and stability of the composite roadbed. The results show that the original treatment plan, which had the form of a PHC pipe pile with caps, had a low horizontal bearing capacity and a poor anti-disturbance ability, leading to the occurrence of a landslide accident. A comparison of different structural forms revealed that the longitudinal and transverse tie beam form was the most stable, followed by the transverse tie beam form, longitudinal tie beam form, PHC pipe pile form with caps, and PHC pipe pile form without caps. Compared to the structural form of PHC pipe piles with pile caps, the stabilities of the transverse tie beam form and the longitudinal tie beam form were improved by 42.47% and 38.61%, respectively, while that of the longitudinal and transverse tie beam form was improved by 50.87%. The application of longitudinal and transverse tie beams effectively reduced the settlement of the composite roadbed, as confirmed by both measured data and finite element analysis. This structure achieved the desired vertical settlement control and lateral anti-slip effects.
Comparison of NO2 and BC Predictions Estimated Using Google Street View-Based and Conventional European-Wide LUR Models in Copenhagen, Denmark
Authors: Tayebi Shali , Kerckhoffs Jules , Khan Jibran , de Hoogh Kees , Chen Jie , Taghavi-Shahri Seyed Mahmood , Bergmann Marie L. , Cole-Hunter Thomas , Lim Youn-Hee , Mortensen Laust H. , Hertel Ole , Reeh Rasmus , Schwartz Joel , Hoek Gerard , Vermeulen Roel , Jovanovic Andersen Zorana , Loft Steffen , Amini Heresh
Published: October 2023

A widely used method for estimating fine scale long-term spatial variation in air pollution, especially for epidemiology studies, is land use regression (LUR) modeling using fixed off-road monitors. More recently, LUR models have been developed using data from mobile monitors that repeatedly measure road pollutants and mixed-effects modeling. Here, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and black carbon (BC) predictions from two independent models were compared across streets (defined as 30–60 m road segments) (N = 30,312) and residences (N = 76,752) in Copenhagen, Denmark. The first model was Google Street View (GSV)-based mixed-effects LUR models (Google-MM) that predicted 2019 mean NO2 and BC levels, and the second was European-wide (EUW) LUR models that predicted annual mean 2010 levels at 100 m spatial resolution. Across street segments, the Spearman correlation coefficient between the 2019 NO2 from Google-MM-LUR and 2010 NO2 from EUW-LUR was 0.66, while at residences, this was 0.60. For BC, these were 0.51 across street segments and 0.40 at the residential level. The ratio of percentile 97.5 to 2.5 for NO2 across the study area streets using Google-MM NO2 was 4.5, while using EUW-LUR, this was 2.1. These NO2 ratios at residences were 3.1 using Google-MM LUR, and 1.7 using EUW-LUR. Such ratios for BC across street segments were 3.4 using Google-MM LUR and 2.3 using EUW-LUR, while at the residential level, they were 2.4 and 1.9, respectively. In conclusion, Google-MM-LUR NO2 for 2019 was moderately correlated with EUW-LUR NO2 developed in 2010 across Copenhagen street segments and residences. For BC, while Google-MM-LUR was moderately correlated with EUW-LUR across Copenhagen streets, the correlation was lower at the residential level. Overall, Google-MM-LUR revealed larger spatial contrasts than EUW-LUR.
Response of Grassland Vegetation Growth to Drought in Inner Mongolia of China from 2002 to 2020
Authors: Zhao Anzhou , Xu Ruihao , Zou Lidong , Zhu Xiufang
Published: October 2023

Drought poses a significant environmental risk and can deeply affect the growth of grasslands. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the precise impact of varying levels of drought on grassland growth. To address this gap, we utilized several key indicators, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Global Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2-based Solar-induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (GOSIF), and Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), in conjunction with drought indices (the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and soil moisture (SM). Our study aimed to comprehensively assess the consistency of spatiotemporal patterns in grassland vegetation and its responsiveness to different drought levels in the Inner Mongolia region from 2002 to 2020. The results indicated that NDVI, EVI, GOSIF, and GPP in grassland vegetation across Inner Mongolia exhibited significant increasing trends from 2002 to 2020. Specifically, NDVI, EVI, GOSIF, and GPP all displayed consistent spatial patterns, with 25.83%, 21.18%, 22.65%, and 48.13% of the grassland area showing significant increases, respectively. Drought events, as described through SPEI and SM, from June 2007 to September 2007 and June 2017 to July 2017 were selected to evaluate the response of grassland vegetation to drought. The drought events of 2007 and 2017 resulted in reductions in NDVI, EVI, GOSIF, and GPP relative to the multi-year average (2002–2020). GOSIF exhibited a more intense response to drought, suggesting that GOSIF may reflect the inhibition of water stress on grassland photosynthesis better than NDVI and EVI for the drought in 2007 and 2017. The reductions in NDVI, EVI, GOSIF, and GPP in grassland increased significantly across different drought levels, with the sharpest reductions observed during extreme drought. Under the severe and extreme drought events, the most substantial reductions in NDVI, EVI, GOSIF, and GPP were observed in the temperate steppe (TS). Moreover, the effects of different drought severity levels within the same grassland type varied, with the most significant reductions in NDVI, EVI, GOSIF, and GPP observed during extreme drought. Our results provide new perspectives for developing and implementing effective strategies to address grassland carbon cycling management and climate change in Inner Mongolia.
Drought Monitoring of Spring Maize in the Songnen Plain Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Pei Zhifang , Fan Yulong , Wu Bin
Published: October 2023

Agricultural production is highly susceptible to the impact of drought. How to improve agricultural drought-monitoring capability has always been a research hotspot. Based on multi-source remote-sensing data, a novel comprehensive drought index (CDI) for spring maize was developed using the random forest model, and its feasibility was tested by using agricultural drought indices and agricultural statistics in this study. Then, the spatiotemporal characteristics of spring maize drought in the Songnen Plain from 2001 to 2018 were evaluated using the CDI. The results showed that: (1) the CDI effectively monitored spring maize drought in the Songnen Plain, outperforming other drought indices. (2) The monitoring results indicated that spring maize in the Songnen Plain was affected by large-scale droughts in 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2017, which was consistent with national drought disaster statistics. (3) By changing the drought barycenter, the drought barycenter of spring maize generally tended to the south and west of the Songnen Plain, so drought-prevention measures should be strengthened in these areas in the future. While factors affecting crop yield extended beyond drought, the variations in spring maize yield indirectly reflected the effectiveness of drought monitoring in this study.
Partial Singular Value Assignment for Large-Scale Systems
Authors: Huang Yiting , Tang Qiong , Yu Bo
Published: October 2023

The partial singular value assignment problem stems from the development of observers for discrete-time descriptor systems and the resolution of ordinary differential equations. Conventional techniques mostly utilize singular value decomposition, which is unfeasible for large-scale systems owing to their relatively high complexity. By calculating the sparse basis of the null space associated with some orthogonal projections, the existence of the matrix in partial singular value assignment is proven and an algorithm is subsequently proposed for implementation, effectively avoiding the full singular value decomposition of the existing methods. Numerical examples exhibit the efficiency of the presented method.
The Upper Limb Orthosis in the Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients: The Role of 3D Printing
Authors: Demeco Andrea , Foresti Ruben , Frizziero Antonio , Daracchi Nicola , Renzi Francesco , Rovellini Margherita , Salerno Antonello , Martini Chiara , Pelizzari Laura , Costantino Cosimo
Published: October 2023

Stroke represents the third cause of long-term disability in the world. About 80% of stroke patients have an impairment of bio-motor functions and over half fail to regain arm functionality, resulting in motor movement control disorder with serious loss in terms of social independence. Therefore, rehabilitation plays a key role in the reduction of patient disabilities, and 3D printing (3DP) has showed interesting improvements in related fields, thanks to the possibility to produce customized, eco-sustainable and cost-effective orthoses. This study investigated the clinical use of 3DP orthosis in rehabilitation compared to the traditional ones, focusing on the correlation between 3DP technology, therapy and outcomes. We screened 138 articles from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, selecting the 10 articles fulfilling the inclusion criteria, which were subsequently examined for the systematic review. The results showed that 3DP provides substantial advantages in terms of upper limb orthosis designed on the patient’s needs. Moreover, seven research activities used biodegradable/recyclable materials, underlining the great potential of validated 3DP solutions in a clinical rehabilitation setting. The aim of this study was to highlight how 3DP could overcome the limitations of standard medical devices in order to support clinicians, bioengineers and innovation managers during the implementation of Healthcare 4.0.
Are Plant–Soil Feedbacks Caused by Many Weak Microbial Interactions?
Authors: Aaronson Julia K. , Kulmatiski Andrew , Forero Leslie E. , Grenzer Josephine , Norton Jeanette M.
Published: October 2023

We used high-throughput sequencing and multivariate analyses to describe soil microbial community composition in two four-year field plant–soil feedback (PSF) experiments in Minnesota, USA and Jena, Germany. In descending order of variation explained, microbial community composition differed between the two study sites, among years, between bulk and rhizosphere soils, and among rhizosphere soils cultivated by different plant species. To try to identify soil organisms or communities that may cause PSF, we correlated plant growth responses with the microbial community composition associated with different plants. We found that plant biomass was correlated with values on two multivariate axes. These multivariate axes weighted dozens of soil organisms, suggesting that PSF was not caused by individual pathogens or symbionts but instead was caused by ‘many weak’ plant–microbe interactions. Taken together, the results suggest that PSFs result from complex interactions that occur within the context of a much larger soil microbial community whose composition is determined by factors associated with ‘site’ or year, such as soil pH, soil type, and weather. The results suggest that PSFs may be highly variable and difficult to reproduce because they result from complex interactions that occur in the context of a larger soil microbial community.
Differential Cold Tolerance on Immature Stages of Geographically Divergent Ceratitis capitata Populations
Authors: Papadopoulos Antonis G. , Koskinioti Panagiota , Zarpas Kostas D. , Papadopoulos Nikos T.
Published: October 2023

Cold tolerance of adult medflies has been extensively studied but the effect of subfreezing temperatures on the immature stages remains poorly investigated, especially as far as different populations are regarded. In this study, we estimated the acute cold stress response of three geographically divergent Mediterranean fruit fly populations originating from Greece (Crete, Volos) and Croatia (Dubrovnik) by exposing immature stages (eggs, larvae, pupae) to subfreezing temperatures. We first determined the LT50 for each immature stage following one hour of exposure to different temperatures. Then eggs, larvae and pupae of the different populations were exposed to their respective LT50 for one hour (LT50 = −11 °C, LT50 = −4.4 °C, LT50 = −5 °C for eggs, larvae and pupae, respectively). Our results demonstrate that populations responded differently depending on their developmental stage. The population of Dubrovnik was the most cold-susceptible at the egg stage, whereas in that of Crete it was at the larval and pupal stage. The population of Volos was the most cold-tolerant at all developmental stages. The egg stage was the most cold-tolerant, followed by pupae and finally the 3rd instar wandering larvae. This study contributes towards understanding the cold stress response of this serious pest and provides data for important parameters that determine its successful establishment to unfavorable environments with an emphasis on range expansion to the northern, more temperate regions of Europe.
Neuroprotective Agents with Therapeutic Potential for COVID-19
Authors: Zaa César A. , Espitia Clara , Reyes-Barrera Karen L. , An Zhiqiang , Velasco-Velázquez Marco A.
Published: October 2023

COVID-19 patients can exhibit a wide range of clinical manifestations affecting various organs and systems. Neurological symptoms have been reported in COVID-19 patients, both during the acute phase of the illness and in cases of long-term COVID. Moderate symptoms include ageusia, anosmia, altered mental status, and cognitive impairment, and in more severe cases can manifest as ischemic cerebrovascular disease and encephalitis. In this narrative review, we delve into the reported neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19, as well as the underlying mechanisms contributing to them. These mechanisms include direct damage to neurons, inflammation, oxidative stress, and protein misfolding. We further investigate the potential of small molecules from natural products to offer neuroprotection in models of neurodegenerative diseases. Through our analysis, we discovered that flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and other natural compounds exhibit neuroprotective effects by modulating signaling pathways known to be impacted by COVID-19. Some of these compounds also directly target SARS-CoV-2 viral replication. Therefore, molecules of natural origin show promise as potential agents to prevent or mitigate nervous system damage in COVID-19 patients. Further research and the evaluation of different stages of the disease are warranted to explore their potential benefits.
State-of-the-Art Cancer Biology, Biodiagnostics and Therapeutics in Japan
Authors: Yamaguchi Junichi , di Luccio Eric , Hirotsu Takaaki
Published: October 2023

Early cancer detection is key to improving patient survival and quality of life and reducing cancer treatments’ financial burden [...]