bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elevated Soluble TNF-Receptor 1 in the Serum of Predementia Subjects with Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Authors: Salai Kaung H. T. , Wu Liu-Yun , Chong Joyce R. , Chai Yuek Ling , Gyanwali Bibek , Robert Caroline , Hilal Saima , Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy , Dawe Gavin S. , Chen Christopher P. , Lai Mitchell K. P.
Published: March 2023

Tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1 (TNF-R1)-mediated signaling is critical to the regulation of inflammatory responses. TNF-R1 can be proteolytically released into systemic blood circulation in a soluble form (sTNF-R1), where it binds to circulating TNF and functions to attenuate TNF-mediated inflammation. Increases of peripheral sTNF-R1 have been reported in both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and vascular dementia (VaD). However, the status of sTNF-R1 in predementia subjects (cognitive impairment, no dementia, CIND) is unknown, and putative associations with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), as well as with longitudinal changes in cognitive functions are unclear. We measured baseline serum sTNF-R1 in a longitudinally assessed cohort of 93 controls and 103 CIND, along with neuropsychological evaluations and neuroimaging assessments. Serum sTNF-R1 levels were increased in CIND compared with controls (p < 0.001). Higher baseline sTNF-R1 levels were specifically associated with lacunar infarcts (rate ratio = 6.91, 95% CI 3.19–14.96, p < 0.001), as well as lower rates of cognitive decline in the CIND subgroup. Our data suggest that sTNF-R1 interacts with vascular cognitive impairment in a complex manner at predementia stages, with elevated levels associated with more severe CSVD at baseline, but which may subsequently be protective against cognitive decline.
Gene Self-Expressive Networks as a Generalization-Aware Tool to Model Gene Regulatory Networks
Authors: Peignier Sergio , Calevro Federica
Published: March 2023

Self-expressiveness is a mathematical property that aims at characterizing the relationship between instances in a dataset. This property has been applied widely and successfully in computer-vision tasks, time-series analysis, and to infer underlying network structures in domains including protein signaling interactions and social-networks activity. Nevertheless, despite its potential, self-expressiveness has not been explicitly used to infer gene networks. In this article, we present Generalizable Gene Self-Expressive Networks, a new, interpretable, and generalization-aware formalism to model gene networks, and we propose two methods: GXN•EN and GXN•OMP, based respectively on ElasticNet and OMP (Orthogonal Matching Pursuit), to infer and assess Generalizable Gene Self-Expressive Networks. We evaluate these methods on four Microarray datasets from the DREAM5 benchmark, using both internal and external metrics. The results obtained by both methods are comparable to those obtained by state-of-the-art tools, but are fast to train and exhibit high levels of sparsity, which make them easier to interpret. Moreover we applied these methods to three complex datasets containing RNA-seq informations from different mammalian tissues/cell-types. Lastly, we applied our methodology to compare a normal vs. a disease condition (Alzheimer), which allowed us to detect differential expression of genes’ sub-networks between these two biological conditions. Globally, the gene networks obtained exhibit a sparse and modular structure, with inner communities of genes presenting statistically significant over/under-expression on specific cell types, as well as significant enrichment for some anatomical GO terms, suggesting that such communities may also drive important functional roles.
Biophysical and Integrative Characterization of Protein Intrinsic Disorder as a Prime Target for Drug Discovery
Authors: Luo Shuqi , Wohl Samuel , Zheng Wenwei , Yang Sichun
Published: March 2023

Protein intrinsic disorder is increasingly recognized for its biological and disease-driven functions. However, it represents significant challenges for biophysical studies due to its high conformational flexibility. In addressing these challenges, we highlight the complementary and distinct capabilities of a range of experimental and computational methods and further describe integrative strategies available for combining these techniques. Integrative biophysics methods provide valuable insights into the sequence–structure–function relationship of disordered proteins, setting the stage for protein intrinsic disorder to become a promising target for drug discovery. Finally, we briefly summarize recent advances in the development of new small molecule inhibitors targeting the disordered N-terminal domains of three vital transcription factors.
Prevalence of mecA- and mecC-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Clinical Specimens, Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Idrees Muhammad Mubashar , Saeed Khadija , Shahid Muhammad Akbar , Akhtar Muhammad , Qammar Khadija , Hassan Javariya , Khaliq Tayyaba , Saeed Ali
Published: March 2023

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a clinically prevalent bacterium and is resistant to many drugs. Genetic factors such as mec genes are considered to be responsible for this resistance. Recently, Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) element mutations produced mecC, a new genetic variant that encodes a transpeptidase enzyme (63% similarity with mecA-encoded PBP2a). This cross-sectional study was conducted to establish the prevalence of the mecA and mecC genes among phenotypically identified MRSA and their effectiveness against different antibiotics in clinical specimens. The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus was 10.2% (n = 102) in the total number of clinical specimens collected (n = 1000). However, the prevalence of MRSA was 6.3% (n = 63) of the total samples collected, while it was 61.8% among total Staphylococcus aureus isolates. mec genes were confirmed in 96.8% (n = 61) isolates of MRSA, while 3.2% (n = 2) were found to be negative for mec genes. The combination of mecA and mecC was detected in 57.1% (n = 36) of the MRSA isolates. The prevalence of lone mecA was 31.8% (n = 20) and that of lone mecC was 7.9% (n = 5) among all the MRSA samples. Penicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were the most resistant antibiotics followed by norfloxacin (91.2%), levofloxacin (87.1%), ciprofloxacin (83.9%), azithromycin (78.6%), erythromycin (77.4%), moxifloxacin (69.8%), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (54.9%). On the other hand, vancomycin and teicoplanin (98.4%) were more effective drugs against MRSA followed by linezolid (96.7%), clindamycin (84.6%), chloramphenicol (83.7%), fusidic acid (70.6%), gentamicin (67.7%), and tetracycline (56.8%). In conclusion, a significant prevalence of mecA and mecC has been found among MRSA isolated from clinical specimens, which is likely responsible for antibiotic resistance in MRSA in our clinical settings. However, vancomycin, teicoplanin, and linezolid were found the top three most effective drugs against MRSA in our clinical settings. Thus, MRSA endemics in local areas require routine molecular and epidemiological investigation.
Neck Pain in Fibromyalgia: Treatment with Exercise and Mesotherapy
Authors: Scaturro Dalila , Vitagliani Fabio , Signa Gabriele , Tomasello Sofia , Tumminelli Luigi Giuseppe , Picelli Alessandro , Smania Nicola , Letizia Mauro Giulia
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives: Fibromyalgia is a very common musculoskeletal disease. The purpose of this study is to assess, on a population of fibromyalgic patients, the clinical efficacy of antalgic mesotherapy with diclofenac and thiocolchicoside in the treatment of cervical pain reduction for improvement of the functional capacity and quality of life of these patients. Materials and Methods: We conducted an observational study of 78 fibromyalgia patients recruited using our hospital database. Based on the different types of treatment received, the patients were divided into two groups: the treatment group (TG), who received antalgic mesotherapy with diclofenac, thiococolchicoside, and mepivacaina; and the placebo group (PG), who received mesotherapy with sodium chloride solution. Patients in both groups also received the same rehabilitation protocol of 20 sessions. The primary outcome evaluated was the extent of pain. The secondary outcomes were the functional capacity and quality of life. Results: Pain improved both in the treatment group (7.4 ± 1.2 vs. 5.1 ± 1.1; p < 0.05) and placebo group (7.5 ± 1.4 vs. 6.1 ± 1.6; p < 0.05). The treatment group, compared to the placebo group, also showed significant statistical improvements in functional capacity (NDI: 35.6 ± 5.23 vs. 19.3 ± 3.41; p < 0.05) and quality of life (SF-12: 18.3 ± 4.11 vs. 33.1 ± 2.41; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Mesotherapy treatment with diclofenac and thiocolchicoside is a safe and effective procedure in the management of neck pain in fibromyalgia patients in the short term in terms of pain reduction, functional recovery and quality of life.
Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Pneumoconiosis: Results from a Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chang Ju-Hsin , Shen Te-Chun , Chen Ke-Wei , Lin Cheng-Li , Hsu Chung Y. , Wen Yeong-Ray , Chang Kuan-Cheng
Published: March 2023

Background: Pneumoconiosis (PCN) has several comorbidities, most notably pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. However, much is still unknown about the relationship between PCN and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The present study aimed to clarify the association between PCN and subsequent AMI risk using a retrospective cohort study design. Methods: This was a population-based, retrospective cohort study that used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Database. A total of 7556 newly diagnosed patients with PCN and 7556 individuals without PCN were included in the PCN and comparison cohort (PC and CC), respectively, between 2008 and 2018, with propensity score matching for age, gender, comorbidity, medication, and date of PCN diagnosis. The occurrence of AMI was monitored until the end of 2019, and AMI risk was assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results: The overall incidence of AMI was 1.34-fold higher in the PC than in the CC (4.33 vs. 3.23 per 1000 person-years, respectively, p < 0.05), with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 1.36 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08–1.72) after controlling for age, gender, comorbidity, and medication. Further analyses showed a higher risk of AMI with increased annual number of emergency department visits among patients with PCN (aHR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01–1.66 (<1) and aHR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.13–2.50 (≥1)). Conclusion: Patients with PCN had a significantly higher risk of developing AMI than those without PCN. Clinicians should pay more attention to prevent AMI episodes in patients with PCN.
The Influence of Ultra-Low Tidal Volume Ventilation during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on Renal and Hepatic End-Organ Damage in a Porcine Model
Authors: Mohnke Katja , Buschmann Victoria , Baller Thomas , Riedel Julian , Renz Miriam , Rissel René , Ziebart Alexander , Hartmann Erik K. , Ruemmler Robert
Published: March 2023

The optimal ventilation strategy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has eluded scientists for years. This porcine study aims to validate the hypothesis that ultra-low tidal volume ventilation (tidal volume 2–3 mL kg−1; ULTVV) minimizes renal and hepatic end-organ damage when compared to standard intermittent positive pressure ventilation (tidal volume 8–10 mL kg−1; IPPV) during CPR. After induced ventricular fibrillation, the animals were ventilated using an established CPR protocol. Upon return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), the follow-up was 20 h. After sacrifice, kidney and liver samples were harvested and analyzed histopathologically using an Endothelial, Glomerular, Tubular, and Interstitial (EGTI) scoring system for the kidney and a newly developed scoring system for the liver. Of 69 animals, 5 in the IPPV group and 6 in the ULTVV group achieved sustained ROSC and were enlisted, while 4 served as the sham group. Creatinine clearance was significantly lower in the IPPV-group than in the sham group (p < 0.001). The total EGTI score was significantly higher for ULTVV than for the sham group (p = 0.038). Aminotransferase levels and liver score showed no significant difference between the intervention groups. ULTVV may be advantageous when compared to standard ventilation during CPR in the short-term ROSC follow-up period.
Comparative Analysis of Clinical and CT Findings in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Original Strain, Delta and Omicron Variants
Authors: Han Xiaoyu , Chen Jingze , Chen Lu , Jia Xi , Fan Yanqing , Zheng Yuting , Alwalid Osamah , Liu Jie , Li Yumin , Li Na , Gu Jin , Wang Jiangtao , Shi Heshui
Published: March 2023

Objectives: To compare the clinical characteristics and chest CT findings of patients infected with Omicron and Delta variants and the original strain of COVID-19. Methods: A total of 503 patients infected with the original strain (245 cases), Delta variant (90 cases), and Omicron variant (168 cases) were retrospectively analyzed. The differences in clinical severity and chest CT findings were analyzed. We also compared the infection severity of patients with different vaccination statuses and quantified pneumonia by a deep-learning approach. Results: The rate of severe disease decreased significantly from the original strain to the Delta variant and Omicron variant (27% vs. 10% vs. 4.8%, p < 0.001). In the Omicron group, 44% (73/168) of CT scans were categorized as abnormal compared with 81% (73/90) in the Delta group and 96% (235/245, p < 0.05) in the original group. Trends of a gradual decrease in total CT score, lesion volume, and lesion CT value of AI evaluation were observed across the groups (p < 0.001 for all). Omicron patients who received the booster vaccine had less clinical severity (p = 0.015) and lower lung involvement rate than those without the booster vaccine (36% vs. 57%, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Compared with the original strain and Delta variant, the Omicron variant had less clinical severity and less lung injury on CT scans.
PDE3A and GSK3B as Atrial Fibrillation Susceptibility Genes in the Chinese Population via Bioinformatics and Genome-Wide Association Analysis
Authors: Zhou Zechen , Wang Yu , Li Xiaoyi , Zhang Yinan , Yuan Lichuang , Chen Dafang , Wang Xuedong
Published: March 2023

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with uncovered genetic etiology and pathogenesis. We aimed to screen out AF susceptibility genes with potential pathogenesis significance in the Chinese population. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by the Limma package in three GEO data sets of atrial tissue. AF-related genes were identified by combination of DEGs and public GWAS susceptibility genes. Potential drug target genes were selected using the DrugBank, STITCH and TCMSP databases. Pathway enrichment analyses of AF-related genes were performed using the databases GO and KEGG databases. The pathway gene network was visualized by Cytoscape software to identify gene–gene interactions and hub genes. GWAS analysis of 110 cases of AF and 1201 controls was carried out through a genome-wide efficient mixed model in the Fangshan population to verify the results of bioinformatic analysis. Results: A total of 3173 DEGs were identified, 57 of which were found to be significantly associated with of AF in public GWAS results. A total of 75 AF-related genes were found to be potential therapeutic targets. Pathway enrichment analysis selected 79 significant pathways and classified them into 7 major pathway networks. A total of 35 hub genes were selected from the pathway networks. GWAS analysis identified 126 AF-associated loci. PDE3A and GSK3B were found to be overlapping genes between bioinformatic analysis and GWAS analysis. Conclusions: We screened out several pivotal genes and pathways involved in AF pathogenesis. Among them, PDE3A and GSK3B were significantly associated with the risk of AF in the Chinese population. Our study provided new insights into the mechanisms of action of AF.
Characterization of T Helper 1 and 2 Cytokine Profiles in Newborns of Mothers with COVID-19
Authors: Moreira André Luís Elias , Silva Paulo Alex Neves da , Gomes Rodrigo Saar , Santos Mônica de Oliveira , Ito Célia Regina Malveste , Barbosa Lucas Candido Gonçalves , Souza Paula Pires de , Peixoto Fernanda Aparecida de Oliveira , Wastowski Isabela Jubé , Carneiro Lilian Carla , Avelino Melissa Ameloti Gomes
Published: March 2023

An infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 greatly affects the pediatric population and is 3 times more prevalent in newborns than in the general population. In newborns, the overexpression of immunological molecules may also induce a so-called cytokine storm. In our study, we evaluated the expression of cytokines in newborns admitted to a neonatal ICU whose mothers had SARS-CoV-2 and symptoms of SARS. The blood of newborns of infected and healthy mothers was collected to identify their Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles, and via flow cytometry, the cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 were identified. Overexpression was observed in the Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles of newborns from infected mothers compared with the control group. Statistical analysis also revealed significant differences between the cellular and humoral responses of the infected group versus the control group. The cellular versus humoral responses of the newborns of infected mothers were also compared, which revealed the prevalence of the cellular immune response. These data demonstrate that some cytokines identified relate to more severe symptoms and even some comorbidities. IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 may especially be related to cytokine storms in neonates of mothers with COVID-19.
Effects of Monoamino-Oxidase-A (MAO-A) Inhibition on Skeletal Muscle Inflammation and Wasting through Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma in Triple Transgenic Mice
Authors: Schmich Simon K. P. , Keck Jan , Bonaterra Gabriel A. , Bertoune Mirjam , Adam Anna , Wilhelm Beate , Slater Emily P. , Schwarzbach Hans , Fendrich Volker , Kinscherf Ralf , Hildebrandt Wulf
Published: March 2023

Cancer cachexia describes a syndrome of muscle wasting and lipolysis that is still largely untreatable and negatively impacts prognosis, mobility, and healthcare costs. Since upregulation of skeletal muscle monoamine-oxidase-A (MAO-A), a source of reactive oxygen species, may contribute to cachexia, we investigated the effects of the MAO-inhibitor harmine-hydrochloride (HH, intraperitoneal, 8 weeks) on muscle wasting in a triple-transgenic mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and wild type (WT) mice. Gastrocnemius and soleus muscle cryo-cross-sections were analyzed for fiber type-specific cross-sectional area (CSA), fraction and capillarization using ATPase- and lectin-stainings. Transcripts of pro-apoptotic, -atrophic, and -inflammatory signals were determined by RT-qPCR. Furthermore, we evaluated the integrity of neuromuscular junction (NMJ, pre-/post-synaptic co-staining) and mitochondrial ultrastructure (transmission electron microscopy). MAO-A expression in gastrocnemius muscle was increased with PDAC vs. WT (immunohistochemistry: p < 0.05; Western blot: by trend). PDAC expectedly reduced fiber CSA and upregulated IL-1β in both calf muscles, while MuRF1 expression increased in soleus muscle only. Although IL-1β decreased, HH caused an additional 38.65% (p < 0.001) decrease in gastrocnemius muscle (IIBX) fiber CSA. Moreover, soleus muscle CSA remained unchanged despite the downregulation of E3-ligases FBXO32 (p < 0.05) and MuRF1 (p < 0.01) through HH. Notably, HH significantly decreased the post-synaptic NMJ area (quadriceps muscle) and glutathione levels (gastrocnemius muscle), thereby increasing mitochondrial damage and centronucleation in soleus and gastrocnemius type IIBX fibers. Moreover, although pro-atrophic/-inflammatory signals are reversed, HH unfortunately fails to stop and rather promotes PDAC-related muscle wasting, possibly via denervation or mitochondrial damage. These differential adverse vs. therapeutic effects warrant studies regarding dose-dependent benefits and risks with consideration of other targets of HH, such as the dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinases 1A and B (DYRK1A/B).
Green Anaconda Optimization: A New Bio-Inspired Metaheuristic Algorithm for Solving Optimization Problems
Authors: Dehghani Mohammad , Trojovský Pavel , Malik Om Parkash
Published: March 2023

A new metaheuristic algorithm called green anaconda optimization (GAO) which imitates the natural behavior of green anacondas has been designed. The fundamental inspiration for GAO is the mechanism of recognizing the position of the female species by the male species during the mating season and the hunting strategy of green anacondas. GAO’s mathematical modeling is presented based on the simulation of these two strategies of green anacondas in two phases of exploration and exploitation. The effectiveness of the proposed GAO approach in solving optimization problems is evaluated on twenty-nine objective functions from the CEC 2017 test suite and the CEC 2019 test suite. The efficiency of GAO in providing solutions for optimization problems is compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The simulation results show that the proposed GAO approach has a high capability in exploration, exploitation, and creating a balance between them and performs better compared to competitor algorithms. In addition, the implementation of GAO on twenty-one optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite indicates the effective capability of the proposed approach in handling real-world applications.
Photoelectrochemical Determination of Cardiac Troponin I as a Biomarker of Myocardial Infarction Using a Bi2S3 Film Electrodeposited on a BiVO4-Coated Fluorine-Doped Tin Oxide Electrode
Authors: Monteiro Thatyara Oliveira , Neto Antônio Gomes dos Santos , de Menezes Alan Silva , Damos Flávio Santos , Luz Rita de Cássia Silva , Fatibello-Filho Orlando
Published: March 2023

A sensitive and selective label-free photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor was designed for the detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The platform was based on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass photoelectrode modified with bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) and sensitized by an electrodeposited bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) film. The PEC response of the Bi2S3/BiVO4/FTO platform for the ascorbic acid (AA) donor molecule was approximately 1.6-fold higher than the response observed in the absence of Bi2S3. The cTnI antibodies (anti-cTnI) were immobilized on the Bi2S3/BiVO4/FTO platform surface to produce the anti-cTnI/Bi2S3/BiVO4/FTO immunosensor, which was incubated in cTnI solution to inhibit the AA photocurrent. The photocurrent obtained by the proposed immunosensor presented a linear relationship with the logarithm of the cTnI concentration, ranging from 1 pg mL−1 to 1000 ng mL−1. The immunosensor was successfully employed in artificial blood plasma samples for the detection of cTnI, with recovery values ranging from 98.0% to 98.5%.
Cell-Based Sensors for the Detection of EGF and EGF-Stimulated Ca2+ Signaling
Authors: Lee Euiyeon , Shrestha Keshab Lal , Kang Seonhye , Ramakrishnan Neethu , Kwon Youngeun
Published: March 2023

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated activation of EGF receptors (EGFRs) has become an important target in drug development due to the implication of EGFR-mediated cellular signaling in cancer development. While various in vitro approaches are developed for monitoring EGF-EGFR interactions, they have several limitations. Herein, we describe a live cell-based sensor system that can be used to monitor the interaction of EGF and EGFR as well as the subsequent signaling events. The design of the EGF-detecting sensor cells is based on the split-intein-mediated conditional protein trans-cleavage reaction (CPC). CPC is triggered by the presence of the target (EGF) to activate a signal peptide that translocates the fluorescent cargo to the target cellular location (mitochondria). The developed sensor cell demonstrated excellent sensitivity with a fast response time. It was also successfully used to detect an agonist and antagonist of EGFR (transforming growth factor-α and Cetuximab, respectively), demonstrating excellent specificity and capability of screening the analytes based on their function. The usage of sensor cells was then expanded from merely detecting the presence of target to monitoring the target-mediated signaling cascade, by exploiting previously developed Ca2+-detecting sensor cells. These sensor cells provide a useful platform for monitoring EGF-EGFR interaction, for screening EGFR effectors, and for studying downstream cellular signaling cascades.
Detecting Cortical Thickness Changes in Epileptogenic Lesions Using Machine Learning
Authors: Azzony Sumayya , Moria Kawthar , Alghamdi Jamaan
Published: March 2023

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal brain activity. Epileptic patients suffer from unpredictable seizures, which may cause a loss of awareness. Seizures are considered drug resistant if treatment does not affect success. This leads practitioners to calculate the cortical thickness to measure the distance between the brain’s white and grey matter surfaces at various locations to perform a surgical intervention. In this study, we introduce using machine learning as an approach to classify extracted measurements from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Data were collected from the epilepsy unit at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. We applied two trials to classify the extracted measurements from T1-weighted MRI for drug-resistant epilepsy and healthy control subjects. The preprocessing sequence on T1-weighted MRI images was performed using C++ through BrainSuite’s pipeline. The first trial was performed on seven different combinations of four commonly selected measurements. The best performance was achieved in Exp6 and Exp7, with 80.00% accuracy, 83.00% recall score, and 83.88% precision. It is noticeable that grey matter volume and white matter volume measurements are more significant than the cortical thickness measurement. The second trial applied four different machine learning classifiers after applying 10-fold cross-validation and principal component analysis on all extracted measurements as in the first trial based on the mentioned previous works. The K-nearest neighbours model outperformed the other machine learning classifiers with 97.11% accuracy, 75.00% recall score, and 75.00% precision.
Treatment of Vascular Parkinsonism: A Systematic Review
Authors: del Toro-Pérez Cristina , Guevara-Sánchez Eva , Martínez-Sánchez Patricia
Published: March 2023

Background and aims: Although the distinction between vascular parkinsonism (VP) and idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD) is widely described, it is not uncommon to find parkinsonisms with overlapping clinical and neuroimaging features even in response to levodopa treatment. In addition, several treatments have been described as possible adjuvants in VP. This study aims to update and analyze the different treatments and their efficacy in VP. Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for studies published in the last 15 years until April 2022. A systematic review was performed. No meta-analysis was performed as no new studies on response to levodopa in VP were found since the last systematic review and meta-analysis in 2017, and insufficient studies on other treatments were located to conduct it in another treatment subgroup. Results: Databases and other sources yielded 59 publications after eliminating duplicates, and a total of 12 original studies were finally included in the systematic review. The treatments evaluated included levodopa, vitamin D, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intracerebral transcatheter laser photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT). The response to levodopa was lower in patients with VP with respect to IPD. Despite this, there has been described a subgroup of patients with good response, it being possible to identify them by means of neuroimaging techniques and the olfactory identification test. Other therapies showed encouraging results in studies with some risk of bias. Conclusions: The response of VP to different therapeutic strategies is modest. However, there is evidence that a subgroup of patients can be identified as more responsive to L-dopa based on clinical and neuroimaging criteria. This subgroup should be treated with L-dopa at appropriate doses. New therapies such as vitamin D, rTMS and PBMT warrant further studies to demonstrate their efficacy.
Mind over Matter: Examining the Role of Cognitive Dissonance and Self-Efficacy in Discontinuous Usage Intentions on Pan-Entertainment Mobile Live Broadcast Platforms
Authors: Zhang Shu , Pan Younghwan
Published: March 2023

The current body of literature indicates a growing trend of discontinuous usage intentions among users of social media platforms. While several factors affecting discontinuous usage intentions have been explored in previous research, the specific factors and mechanisms impacting discontinuous usage intentions among users of pan-entertainment mobile live broadcast platforms remain undefined. This study aims to clarify these factors and mechanisms and to provide both theoretical and practical guidance to users to encourage rational usage of the platform, as well as support the optimization of innovative services offered by the platform’s operator. This study, which is grounded in the theoretical framework of “Cognition-Emotion-Behavior intention,” develops an influencing mechanism model based on cognitive dissonance and self-efficacy. A total of 340 valid samples were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using a structural equation model, which revealed that information overload, service overload, and user addiction had a positive impact on cognitive dissonance, which was moderated by self-efficacy. Cognitive dissonance also had a positive impact on discontinuous usage intentions, again moderated by self-efficacy. These findings expand upon previous research on discontinuous usage intentions among social media users and offer insights into the underlying psychological mechanisms among users of pan-entertainment mobile live broadcast platforms. Additionally, the study provides valuable information for practitioners to consider in the design of the platform, with the ultimate goal of improving user experience and promoting retention.
Design and Construction of High-Performance Long-Span Steel Transfer Twin Trusses Applied in One Hospital Building in Hong Kong
Authors: Zou Xiao-Kang , Zhang Yi , Liu Yao-Peng , Shi Liang-Cheng , Kan Daniel
Published: March 2023

Long-span steel trusses are increasingly used in high-rise buildings to replace reinforced concrete thick transfer plates due to their light weight but high load-bearing capacity. To support multiple stories above the steel transfer trusses, a comprehensive method based on second-order direct analysis has been applied for design optimization of long-span steel transfer trusses in one hospital redevelopment project in Hong Kong. In the project, several 35 m long-span steel transfer trusses are adopted at the 3rd to 5th floors to support the upper 15-story reinforced concrete structure. Innovative technologies such as integrated global and local optimization and integrated design and construction have been explored and made to achieve better uniformity and compatibility in structure. In particular, twin trusses with better structural performance, less fabrication cost and ease of constructability are studied and finally adopted in primary trusses to replace the original scheme of single trusses. The optimal scheme has brought both cost and time saving in fabrication, construction, operation and maintenance stages.
Numerical Analysis on the Impact Effect of Cable Breaking for a New Type Arch Bridge
Authors: Huo Jianhong , Huang Yonghui , Wang Jialin , Zhuo Qiye
Published: March 2023

Taking Haixin Bridge as an example, the structural response of a new type arch bridge composed of an inclined arch and a curved beam under cable breaking is analyzed numerically. The cable breaking at different positions, different numbers of broken cables and different ways of breaking are modeled and calculated, and the remaining cables’ internal force and main girder’s deflection are selected as research indexes to evaluate the degree of impact effect of broken cables on the bridge. The numerical results show that (1) duration time of cable breaking is an important factor affecting the impact effect of the bridge, when the cable breaking time is less than 1% of the first order natural vibration period of the structure, the dynamic response caused by cable breaking no longer variates with time; (2) for the cables adjacent to the breaking cable at equal distances, the cable with a shorter length will carry more released force of breaking cable than the longer, and the impact effect is more significant; (3) the dynamic response of displacement and cable force caused by cables at different locations are different, a cable located in the L/4 arch rib area suddenly breaking shows the largest dynamic response; (4) it is feasible to take the dynamic amplification factor (DAF) of cable force and the main girder’s deflection as 2, but it is unsafe to take the DAF of the arch rib’s deflection as 2; (5) the dynamic response of multiple cables breaking at the same time cannot be simplified as a linear superposition of single cable breaks one by one, and the amplification effect becomes more significant with the increase of the number of broken cables. These conclusions can provide guidance for structural safety assessment of similar arch bridges after cable breakage.
Role of In-Field Experimental Diagnostic Analysis for the Derivation of Residual Capacity Indexes in Existing Pedestrian Glass Systems
Authors: Bedon Chiara , Noè Salvatore , Fasan Marco , Amadio Claudio
Published: March 2023

The use of simplified tools in support of the mechanical performance assessment of pedestrian structures is strongly attractive for designers due to practical efficiency, as well as for researchers in terms of innovation and the assessment of new proposals. On the side of design, the vibration serviceability requires that specific comfort levels for pedestrians are satisfied by taking into account conventional performance indicators and the class of use, or the structural typology for pedestrian systems’ object of analysis. A major issue, in this context, is represented by long-term performance of systems (especially pedestrian) that are based on innovative or sensitive materials and possibly affected by degradation or even damage, and thus potentially unsafe. Consequently, it is clear that, especially for in-service structures, the availability of standardized non-destructive protocols for a reliable (and possibly rapid) structural assessment can represent an efficient support for diagnostics. This perspective paper poses the attention on the residual capacity quantification of laminated glass (LG) pedestrian structures, and on the assessment of experimental and/or numerical tools for their analysis. To this aim, three modular units belonging to two different indoor, in-service pedestrian systems are taken into account like pilot studies. On the practical side, as shown, a primary role is assigned to Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) procedures, which are used on-site, to quantify their structural performance based on vibration response, including damage detection and inverse characterization of materials degradation. As shown, based on earlier detailed validation, it is proven that a rapid structural assessment can be based on a single triaxial Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) accelerometer, which can be used to derive relevant capacity measures and indicators. To develop possible general recommendations of technical interest for in-service LG pedestrian systems, the so-calculated experimental performance indicators are assessed towards various traditional design procedures and literature approaches of classical use for structural diagnostic purposes, which are presently extended to the structural typology of LG systems.
Test on Shear Behavior of Double-Sided Thin Steel Plate Shear Wall Filled with Rigid Polyurethane Foam
Authors: Liu Renjie , Guo Leilei , Li Muqiao , Wang Guangyong , Zhao Hang
Published: March 2023

A double-sided thin steel plate shear wall filled with rigid polyurethane foam (SWR) is proposed. A quasi-static monotonic loading test and quasi-static cycling loading test on shear behavior and the energy dissipation capacity of the SWR were carried out. Four kinds of test specimens, including the pure steel frames, the steel frame with double-sided thin steel plates, the SWR, and the SWR with an open hole, were tested. The results showed that compared with the pure steel frame, the erection of thin steel plates on both sides enhances the shear bearing capacity, initial shear stiffness, and energy consumption capacity. It turns out that the rigid foam polyurethane (RPUF) significantly increases the shear performance of the thin steel plate shear wall. The main reason for this is that the bond effect and support effect of the RPUF delay the out-of-plane buckling of thin steel plates and improve shear performance and energy dissipation capacity.
High-Cycle Fatigue Properties of Titanium-Clad Bimetallic Steel with Different Interfacial Conditions
Authors: Jiang Jianbo , Huang Chenyang , Ban Huiyong , Hai Letian
Published: March 2023

Titanium-clad (TC) bimetallic steel is an advanced composite steel consisting of metallurgically bonded titanium alloy and structural steel. This paper compared the high-cycle fatigue properties of three types of TC bimetallic steels, including two hot-rolled bonding types with different bonding strengths and an explosion-bonded type. The three types of TC bimetallic steels were all manufactured from TA2 titanium alloy as the cladding metal and Q355B structural steel as the substrate metal, of which the thicknesses are 2 mm and 8 mm, respectively. Based on the comparison results, the qualitative relationship between the bonding interface strength and the manufacturing methods with the basic mechanical and high-cycle fatigue properties was obtained. It was found that the different manufacturing methods and the bonding degree of the two component metals resulted in the different nonlinear yield plateau in the TC bimetallic steel. The high bonding strength seems to affect the failure mode of the tensile coupons. The bonding interface shear strength only slightly affects the tensile performance, which exhibits visible effects only when the test strain reaches the fractured state. In addition, three failure modes in total were found in the high-cycle fatigue tests for the three types of TC bimetallic steel. The manufacturing methods and the bonding interface strength significantly affect the fatigue phenomena of the TC bimetallic steel. The hot-rolled bonding TC bimetallic steel with high bonding strength has a 10% improvement in fatigue performance than the one with low bonding strength. Despite this, the manufacturing methods significantly affect the fatigue ratio, while the influence of the bonding strength on the high cycle fatigue performance is limited. The research outcomes can provide reference for the selection of different manufacturing methods and interfacial conditions for the use of TC bimetallic steel in structural engineering.
Effect of Cementitious Material Composition on the Performance of Low-Carbon Foamed Lightweight Soil
Authors: Shen Cong , Liu Hao , Wan Huiwen , Li Jixin , Liu Peng , He Qiqing , Xuan Jiaqi
Published: March 2023

This study simulated the production process of low-carbon foamed lightweight soil (LCFLS) prepared using prefabricated foam technology in real engineering conditions. The preparation and properties of LCFLS with a wet density of 600 kg/m3 were systematically investigated. The effects of different mix designs of large dosing granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash on the properties of LCFLS were investigated. The workability, rheological properties, and mechanical properties of LCFLS were studied. XRD, TG–DTG, and SEM were used to analyze the hydration mechanism of LCFLS. The results showed that fly ash could improve the flowability of LCFLS, while excessive fly ash could lead to foam and slurry delamination. Granulated blast furnace slag improved the mechanical properties of LCFLS, while excess granulated blast furnace slag caused the foam to break and merge, affecting the soil’s homogeneity. The higher the dynamic yield stress of the freshly mixed slurry, the better the homogeneity, and the smaller and more evenly distributed pore sizes formed after hardening. The main hydration products of LCFLS were C-S-H gel and CH, with small amounts of the carbonation products CaCO3, Hc, and Mc. The LCFLS prepared with 30% cement, 30% fly ash, and 40% granulated blast furnace slag had a flowability of 170–180 mm, with slight differences between wet and quasi-dry densities. The rheological properties of the slurry following the Bingham model showed a dynamic yield stress of 9.41 Pa, an average pore size after hardening of around 300 μm, and compressive strengths at 7 d and 28 d reaching 0.92 MPa and 2.04 MPa, respectively.
Numerical Simulation of the Seismic Damage of Daikai Station Based on Pushover Analyses
Authors: Yang Yuefeng , Cao Juanjuan , Qu Renquan , Xu Zigang
Published: March 2023

Numerical analysis is an important method for the study of seismic performance of underground structures. Current research on the seismic damage of Daikai station and the subway tunnel during the Great Hanshin earthquake mainly focuses on the dynamic time-history analysis. However, the modeling process of the dynamic time-history analysis is complicated and shows the characteristics of the enormous calculation amount, long running time and low computation efficiency. This paper briefly introduces the seismic phenomena of Daikai station and the subway tunnel during the Great Hanshin earthquake. The internal forces of Daikai station and the subway tunnel under horizontal and vertical bi-directional seismic effects are obtained by simplified seismic analysis. The pushover analyses of the columns are carried out to obtain the seismic performance curves of the columns under different vertical pressures by considering various loading and restraint conditions. Finally, the pushover analyses of the soil-structure system are carried out to reproduce the seismic damage of Daikai station and subway tunnel under horizontal and vertical bi-directional seismic effects. The results show that the computed damage is similar to the actual damage. The pushover analysis method, which considers both horizontal and vertical inertia forces of the soil, can be used to simulate the damage and study the collapse mechanism at Daikai station. Compared with the dynamic analysis, the calculation efficiency of the pushover analysis method is significantly higher; it is therefore suggested to use pushover analysis in seismic analysis of underground stations.
From a Techno-Economic towards a Socio-Technical Approach—A Review of the Influences and Policies on Home Energy Renovations’ Decisions
Authors: Abreu Maria Isabel , Pereira Andreia , Gervásio Helena
Published: March 2023

Over the past decades, the debate on how to encourage energy efficiency in existing homes has been guided by a technic-economic model that has a strong focus on technologies and cost savings, in which human behavior has been devalued to a narrow behavioral economics overview. While this specific area of behavioral science enabled to capture of the dimension of energy renovations as a problem of homeowners’ individual choice, the collective and social aspects of energy efficiency are still largely overlooked on the energy policy agenda. With its emphasis on how social structures interpenetrate individual actions, social sciences offer additional insights that go beyond the identification of barrier-drivers underlying investment choices and also help to identify positive opportunities for renovation within the conditions of domestic and social life. Until recently, comprehensive behavioral aspects and the social dimension of home energy renovation have been ignored in policy initiatives, and the integration of complementary disciplines is only in its early stages. Based on a broad literature review, this paper aims to provide an up-to-date interdisciplinary perspective of the theoretical evolutionary background, which has been the support to gradually redefine and address the problems associated with energy improvements in homes.
Rocking Analysis of Towers Subjected to Horizontal Forces
Authors: Di Gennaro Luciana , Guadagnuolo Mariateresa , Monaco Michela
Published: March 2023

In seismic-prone areas, ecclesiastical masonry complexes have shown very high vulnerability, as detected after the last Italian earthquakes, such as those that occurred in L’Aquila (2009), Emilia-Romagna (2012), Central Italy (2016), and Ischia (2017). Partial collapses often affect these types of aggregate buildings due to the presence of highly vulnerable elements, such as bell towers. Preliminary analyses, including straightforward and quick methods, are necessary to assess their vulnerability. This paper proposes a simplified method to analyse bell tower dynamic behaviour and the results obtained are compared with several different approaches. The first is based on the dynamics of two rigid blocks (bell tower and lower building), and the second concerns a single block (bell tower only). The proposed method can be considered as a quick procedure involving few parameters to provide a preliminary analysis before use of more complex models such as finite element models. It aims to provide a valuable tool for the initial evaluation of the stability and risk index of the structure. The double-block model considers the associations between the rocking of the bell tower and the sliding motion of the underlying building. A parametric evaluation for different friction coefficients is proposed. The results are represented as rotation time histories and compared with analysis of the single vulnerable element, i.e., the bell tower subjected to the floor spectrum. The results show that high excitation frequency and friction coefficient values make the bell tower stable, and that the simplified model provides a clear safety advantage.
Non-Surgical Locoregional Therapies Alone or in Combination with Systemic Therapy in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chami Perla , Jarnagin William , Abou-Alfa Ghassan K. , Harding James , Kim Neal , Lin Haibo , El Homsi Maria , Crane Christopher , Hajj Carla
Published: March 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, representing the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Curative intent treatment options for patients with HCC include liver transplantation, resection and ablation of small lesions. Other potentially curative therapies include cryoablation, microwave ablation and percutaneous alcohol injection. For locally advanced disease, different arterially directed therapies including transarterial chemoembolization and selective internal radiation therapy, plus external beam radiation including three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy and proton beam therapy, are available or studied. Systemic therapies based on checkpoint inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are available for the management of metastatic HCC and sometimes for locally advanced disease. Combinations of locoregional therapies with systemic drugs are currently the subject of several clinical trials.