bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the relationship between social support, resilience, and subjective well-being in athletes of adapted sport
Authors: Mira Tânia , Jacinto Miguel , Costa Aldo M. , Monteiro Diogo , Diz Susana , Matos Rui , Antunes Raúl
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Sports participation of people with disabilities provide an improvement in their skills, especially on access to social support, which could improve resilience and well-being. This study aims to analyze the association between types of social support (parents, coach, friend, and best friend), resilience and positive and negative affect, in 105 Portuguese athletes with disabilities aged between 13 and 61 years (32 ± 12.35 years).

Methods

Participants answered a short sociodemographic questionnaire, the Portuguese version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Brief Resilience Scale, and a scale for assessing social support from parents, coach, friend, and best friend.

Results

Social support provided by the best friend, coach, friends, and parents had a direct effect on resilience and positive and negative affect. Results showed a positive and significant association between resilience and positive affect (r = 0.28; p = 0.004) and a negative association between resilience and negative affect (r = −0.37; p ≤ 0.001). A strong relationship was found between resilience and affect, with no relationship being verified between the sources of social support and resilience or affect, as hypothesized.

Discussion

For this group of athletes with disability, more than the social support they may have or may feel, resilience proved to be very important for the consequence of sports practice in terms of subjective well-being.
Relationship between self-disclosure and anticipatory grief in patients with advanced lung cancer: the mediation role of illness uncertainty
Authors: Zhang Nan , Li Han , Kang Huaxin , Wang Yinglan , Zuo Zhitong
Published: December 2023

Objective

To study the relationship between self-disclosure, illness uncertainty (IU) and anticipatory grief (AG) in patients with advanced lung cancer.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study using convenience sampling method, in which 316 patients with advanced lung cancer who were hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Wuxi City, China, from November 2022 to April 2023 were sampled. The Preparatory Grief in Advanced Cancer Patients, Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, and the Distress Disclosure Index Scale (DDI) were selected to analyse the status quo, correlations, and the mediating effect of illness uncertainty on the relationship between self-disclosure and anticipatory grief in advanced lung cancer patients.

Results

The total self-disclosure score of advanced lung cancer patients was (36.35 ± 9.25), the total score of IU was (56.92 ± 15.65), and the score of AG was (52.29 ± 9.08); the results of correlation analyses showed that IU was negatively correlated with self-disclosure in advanced lung cancer patients (p < 0.05) and positively correlated with AG (p < 0.05), and self-disclosure was negatively correlated with AG (p < 0.05);the mediating effect rate of IU between self-disclosure and AG in advanced lung cancer patients was 49%.

Conclusion

The AG of advanced lung cancer patients was at a medium-high level, and IU had a significant mediating effect between self-disclosure and AG of advanced lung cancer patients; by increasing the level of patients’ self-disclosure, IU could be effectively alleviated, and ultimately the AG of the patients could be reduced.
Parasocial interactions with media characters: the role of perceived and actual sociodemographic and psychological similarity
Authors: Möri Michelle , Fahr Andreas
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Similarity between media character and viewer is an important predictor of parasocial interactions. Thereby, similarities are often limited to single characteristics or to the similarities viewers perceive between themselves and characters. This article expands the existing literature in two ways. First, the effects of actual and perceived similarity on parasocial interactions are compared. Second, similarity is understood in a broad way. With age, gender, job, relationship, and living situation are assessed for sociodemographic similarities. Psychological similarities are considered with the Big Five personality traits, loneliness, and self-esteem.

Methods

The study employs a multimethod design with a field study using tracking data, experience sampling surveys, and content analysis. With the content analysis, characters’ characteristics can be indicated independent from the viewers to assess actual similarity in a more objective way.

Results

In these everyday viewing settings, parasocial interactions increased with similarities in extraversion and perceived Big Five traits and decreased with similarities in age and consciousness. The other assessed similarity types did not influence parasocial interactions.

Discussion

Taken together, the study underlines the importance of differentiating between actual and perceived similarity when analyzing viewer PSI with media characters, and to specify the particular type of similarity.
Clinical impact of a multifaceted intervention aimed at decreasing distress in people living with dementia: evaluating the Reconnect program
Authors: Baird Cheryl , Miller Hannah , Hoti Kreshnik , Hughes Jeffery
Published: December 2023

Background

To better meet the needs of people living with advanced dementia, Orchard Care Homes, United Kingdom have established an enhanced person focused program, namely the Reconnect program, which provides an enriched psycho-social care to enhance peoples’ quality of life and well-being. Here we aimed to review the impact of this program on people living with dementia.

Methods

In this study the implementation of the Reconnect program was evaluated for two six-month periods (April–September 2020 and April–September 2021). The focus of this evaluation was on three key interventions: increasing meaningful occupation and engagement; improving pain identification and management, and reducing constipation. The Reconnect program was conducted in a single for-profit care home. It involved residents with complex dementia needs who previously not responded to support in alternative settings or found previous care ineffective in relieving their distress and reducing risks they pose to themselves or others.

Results

A total of 24 people participated in the program during this evaluation. We observed a substantial increase in engagement in meaningful activity per person, including an increase of outdoor access to fresh air. Pain management improved as evidenced by more standardized pain assessments using the PainChek system and coverage of people with either regular and/or “when required” pain management. Constipation relief also improved. For the two comparison periods, distress responses per resident reduced from 14.5 to 10.6 events and use of regular pain relief increased from 21.7 to 48.1%. Use of “when required” benzodiazepine halved from 6 months average of 46 to 23.2 doses given. Benzodiazepine dose reductions increased from 13.3 to 31.8%, while cessations increased from 20 to 50%. We also observed a reduction from 76.3 to 56.3% in antipsychotic use. Their dose reductions increased from 8.3 to 40% and drug cessation was made in 30% of people using antipsychotics (compared to the first period in which no medication cessation was observed). A 91.7% reduction (i.e., from 36 to 3 events) in safeguarding events related to behaviors was also observed.

Conclusion

Introduction of the Reconnect program, through its interventions focused on meaningful activity engagement, pain management and constipation relief resulted in substantial improvements related to people’s distress, safeguarding and psychotropic use.
Selectively predicting the onset of ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder in early adolescence with high accuracy
Authors: de Lacy Nina , Ramshaw Michael J.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The externalizing disorders of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD) are common in adolescence and are strong predictors of adult psychopathology. While treatable, substantial diagnostic overlap complicates intervention planning. Understanding which factors predict the onset of each disorder and disambiguating their different predictors is of substantial translational interest.

Materials and methods

We analyzed 5,777 multimodal candidate predictors from children aged 9–10 years and their parents in the ABCD cohort to predict the future onset of ADHD, ODD, and CD at 2-year follow-up. We used deep learning optimized with an innovative AI algorithm to jointly optimize model training, perform automated feature selection, and construct individual-level predictions of illness onset and all prevailing cases at 11–12 years and examined relative predictive performance when candidate predictors were restricted to only neural metrics.

Results

Multimodal models achieved ~86–97% accuracy, 0.919–0.996 AUROC, and ~82–97% precision and recall in testing in held-out, unseen data. In neural-only models, predictive performance dropped substantially but nonetheless achieved accuracy and AUROC of ~80%. Parent aggressive and externalizing traits uniquely differentiated the onset of ODD, while structural MRI metrics in the limbic system were specific to CD. Psychosocial measures of sleep disorders, parent mental health and behavioral traits, and school performance proved valuable across all disorders. In neural-only models, structural and functional MRI metrics in subcortical regions and cortical-subcortical connectivity were emphasized. Overall, we identified a strong correlation between accuracy and final predictor importance.

Conclusion

Deep learning optimized with AI can generate highly accurate individual-level predictions of the onset of early adolescent externalizing disorders using multimodal features. While externalizing disorders are frequently co-morbid in adolescents, certain predictors were specific to the onset of ODD or CD vs. ADHD. To our knowledge, this is the first machine learning study to predict the onset of all three major adolescent externalizing disorders with the same design and participant cohort to enable direct comparisons, analyze >200 multimodal features, and include many types of neuroimaging metrics. Future study to test our observations in external validation data will help further test the generalizability of these findings.
Health and social care professionals' views and experiences of supporting parents with serious mental illness
Authors: Oakes Lucy , Wolfenden Lauren , Drake Richard J. , Calam Rachel , Gregg Lynsey
Published: December 2023

Introduction

A significant number of individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are also parents of dependent children. Despite the risk of adverse psychological, behavioral, and social outcomes their needs often go unmet. To better understand the needs of parents with SMI and their children it is necessary to gain insight into the perspectives and experiences of the professionals in adult mental health and children's services who work with them, and who, ultimately, are best placed to meet those needs.

Aims

To explore the views and experiences of health and social care professionals working with parents with SMI to understand the needs of, and their role supporting, parents with SMI and their children.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventeen professionals from six NHS and Local Authority settings in England, UK. Participants were included if they were employed in adult mental health or local authority children's services and had experience of working with parents with SMI. Sampling was purposive, including a wide range of professions in these settings. Interview data were analyzed using template analysis taking a critical realist perspective.

Results

Three top-level themes were generated: (1) Impact of parental SMI on the child, (2) Accessing support from services, (3) Role of professionals working with parents with SMI. Themes highlight diverse, wide-ranging effects of SMI on the child and a reluctance from parents to seek help due to stigma and fear. Available services are reported to be inaccessible and unacceptable to parents with SMI and practitioners experience conflict when balancing the needs of the parent and child. A whole-family approach facilitated by improved communication between services is advocated.

Conclusion

Participants believed that parents with SMI experience complex parenting challenges over and above other parents, describing a largely detrimental impact on the child. Support services were deemed inadequate, and participants stressed the need to develop specialist services tailored toward the needs of parents with SMI and their children. Although participants endorsed joined up working across health and social care settings to facilitate a whole family approach, they required greater service knowledge and training in parental SMI.
The Brazilian primary health care response to the COVID-19 pandemic: individual and collective approaches
Authors: Bousquat Aylene , Giovanella Ligia , Facchini Luiz , Mendonça Maria Helena Magalhaes , Nedel Fulvio Borges , Cury Geraldo , dos Santos Mota Paulo Henrique , Schenkman Simone , Chueiri Patricia Sampaio , Alves Maria Cecilia Goi Porto
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Brazil’s PHC wide coverage has a potential role in the fight against COVID, especially in less developed regions. PHC should deal with COVID-19 treatment; health surveillance; continuity of care; and social support. This article aims to analyze PHC performance profiles during the pandemic, in these axes, comparing the five Brazilian macro-regions.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey study was carried out, using stratified probability sampling of PHC facilities (PHCF). A Composite Index was created, the Covid PHC Index (CPI). Factor analysis revealed that collective actions contrastingly behaved to individual actions. We verified differences in the distributions of CPI components between macro-regions and their associations with structural indicators.

Results

Nine hundred and seven PHCF participated in the survey. The CPI and its axes did not exceed 70, with the highest value in surveillance (70) and the lowest in social support (59). The Individual dimension scored higher in the South, whereas the Collective dimension scored higher in the Northeast region. PHCF with the highest CPI belong to municipalities with lower HDI, GDP per capita, population, number of hospitals, and ICU beds.

Conclusion

The observed profiles, individually and collectively-oriented, convey disputes on Brazilian health policies since 2016, and regional structural inequalities.
Greenness and chronic respiratory health issues: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tang Mingcheng , Liu Wei , Li Haifang , Li Fengyi
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The number of chronic respiratory disease (CRD) individuals worldwide has been continuously increasing. Numerous studies have shown that greenness can improve chronic respiratory health issues through different mechanisms, with inconsistent evidence. By quantitatively summarizing existing studies, our purpose is to determine the connection between greenness exposure and various chronic respiratory health.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science core databases to identify relevant studies on the correlation between greenness exposure and chronic respiratory health issues. Studies published up to January 2023 were included in the search. The study used the most frequent indicator (normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI]) as the definition of greenness exposure.

Results

We finally identified 35 studies for meta-analysis. We calculated pooled effects across studies using a random-effects model and conducted a subgroup analysis by age and buffer zones to discuss the effects on chronic respiratory health issues. This study showed that 0.1 increments in NDVI were significantly related to lower rates of asthma incidence, lung cancer incidence, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality risk; the pooled RRs were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85–0.98), 0.62 (95% CI: 0.40–0.95), and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92– 0.99), respectively. For the age subgroup, the higher greenness exposure level was related to the incidence rate of asthma among teenagers aged 13–18years (RR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.83–0.99). For the buffer subgroup, a positive relationship with greenness exposure and asthma incidence/prevalence at 200–300m and 800– 1000m buffers, as well as the COPD mortality at 800–1000m buffer, the pooled RRs were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86–0.98), 0.87 (95% CI: 0.81–0.93), and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88– 0.98), respectively. Evidence of publication bias was not detected in this study.

Discussion

Our study is the first global meta-analysis between greenness and various CRDs to report an inverse association. Further research is needed in order to determine the effect of greenness exposure on different CRDs. Therefore, when planning for green development, more consideration must be given to public health and green management as intervention measures.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPEROFILES/384029_STRATEGY_20230116.pdf
Transforming healthcare delivery: a descriptive study of a novel provider-to-provider virtual care platform
Authors: Tennankore Karthik , Jones Jennifer , Miller Ashley , Adib Ashfaq , Mathew Shan , Rasic Daniel , Cookey Jacob
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Addressing challenges in access to specialty care, particularly long wait times and geographic disparities, is a pressing issue in the Canadian healthcare system. This study aimed to evaluate the impact and feasibility of provider-to-provider phone consultations between primary care providers (PCPs) and specialists using a novel virtual care platform in Nova Scotia (Virtual Hallway).

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey over 5 months, involving 211 PCPs and 34 specialists across Nova Scotia. The survey assessed the need for formal in-person referrals as well as clinician satisfaction. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics and the one-sample t-test.

Results

We found that 84% of provider-to-provider phone consultations negated the need for an in-person specialist referral. It was also reported that 90% of patients that did require in-person consultation had enhanced care while they awaited an in-person appointment with a specialist. Very high levels of satisfaction were reported among both PCPs and specialists, and there was a noticeable increase in billing volumes related to these consultations as measured by provincial billing codes.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that provider-to-provider phone consultations are feasible, well-accepted and also effective in reducing the need for in-person specialist visits. This approach offers a promising avenue for alleviating waitlist burdens, enhancing the quality of care, and improving the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery.
One step beyond the lab and clinic: “walking the dementia conversation”
Authors: Zegarra-Valdivia Jonathan Adrián , Aguzzoli-Peres Fernando , Kornhuber Alex , Arshad Faheem , Paredes-Manrique Carmen Noelia
Published: December 2023

Millions of dollars have been lost in dementia research over the last 30 years owing to unsuccessful clinical trials aimed at finding an effective treatment for the condition. Although two promising drugs have been identified, the research effort is insufficient. The dehumanization of patients and the pressure to publish have led to a decline in the quality and usefulness of scientific research. One way to tackle these problems is establishing close contact with those who put their faith in researchers. Fine-tuning the participation of patients with dementia and caregivers in research design and improving their connection and communication with researchers could positively contribute to enhancing the perspectives and designing strategies for scientists in order to generate a new and enriching vision. The Walking the Talk for Dementia event showed that people can still live with dementia despite their condition. Approximately 300 people participated in the all-week “Santiago's Camino” symposium. People living with dementia, caregivers, healthcare professionals, activists, clinicians, and researchers participated in this event. The “Walking the Talk for Dementia” (WTD) event vividly demonstrated a strong commitment to upholding Global Brain Health Institute's (GBHI) core values of Authenticity, Fairness, Openness, Respect, Courage, and Empathy (A FORCE) to advance equity in brain health. These values provide clear guidance for their advocacy initiatives aimed at mitigating the global impact of dementia. Research and development are essential across scientific fields, especially in clinical contexts where involving patients and caregivers is critical. The WTD initiative exemplifies this aspect by bringing together researchers, caregivers, and dementia patients on the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Emergency pharmacy workforce views and experience related to the provision of pharmaceutical care during mass gathering events: the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ experience
Authors: Naseralallah Lina , Isleem Nour , Aboelbaha Shimaa , Pallivalapila Abdulrouf , Alnaimi Shaikha , Al Hail Moza
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to explore emergency pharmacy workforce perspectives and experiences in providing pharmaceutical care during mass gathering events (i.e., FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™).

Methods

A qualitative methodology was employed using focus groups discussions. Emergency pharmacists across Hamad Medical Corporation were invited to participate using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling. Focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and validated. Inductive thematic analysis was undertaken to generate key themes and subthemes.

Results

Four focus groups were conducted which included 21 participants and generated five major themes. Whilst participants had mixed opinions in relation to their preparedness to practice during the World Cup, they perceived their experience as successful and smooth. The primary perceived facilitators were management support, mobile medical units, and high public health awareness. The main highlighted barriers were related to staff insufficiency, medications availability, and cultural and language challenges. Participants recommended pharmacist’s role identification in mass gatherings, development of pharmacy action plan, and offering simulation training and pharmacy-specific training.

Conclusion

Despite the perceived barriers, pharmacists reported positive views in relation to their experience in providing pharmaceutical care during mass gatherings. Future research should focus on the development of theory-driven action framework for pharmacy departments to adopt during mass gatherings.
The TiHoCL panel for canine lymphoma: a feasibility study integrating functional genomics and network biology approaches for comparative oncology targeted NGS panel design
Authors: Fibi-Smetana Silvia , Inglis Camila , Schuster Daniela , Eberle Nina , Granados-Soler José Luis , Liu Wen , Krohn Saskia , Junghanss Christian , Nolte Ingo , Taher Leila , Murua Escobar Hugo
Published: December 2023

Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) enables the identification of genomic variants in cancer patients with high sensitivity at relatively low costs, and has thus opened the era to personalized human oncology. Veterinary medicine tends to adopt new technologies at a slower pace compared to human medicine due to lower funding, nonetheless it embraces technological advancements over time. Hence, it is reasonable to assume that targeted NGS will be incorporated into routine veterinary practice in the foreseeable future. Many animal diseases have well-researched human counterparts and hence, insights gained from the latter might, in principle, be harnessed to elucidate the former. Here, we present the TiHoCL targeted NGS panel as a proof of concept, exemplifying how functional genomics and network approaches can be effectively used to leverage the wealth of information available for human diseases in the development of targeted sequencing panels for veterinary medicine. Specifically, the TiHoCL targeted NGS panel is a molecular tool for characterizing and stratifying canine lymphoma (CL) patients designed based on human non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) research outputs. While various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with high risk of developing NHL, poor prognosis and resistance to treatment in NHL patients, little is known about the genetics of CL. Thus, the ~100 SNPs featured in the TiHoCL targeted NGS panel were selected using functional genomics and network approaches following a literature and database search that shielded ~500 SNPs associated with, in nearly all cases, human hematologic malignancies. The TiHoCL targeted NGS panel underwent technical validation and preliminary functional assessment by sequencing DNA samples isolated from blood of 29 lymphoma dogs using an Ion Torrent™ PGM System achieving good sequencing run metrics. Our design framework holds new possibilities for the design of similar molecular tools applied to other diseases for which limited knowledge is available and will improve drug target discovery and patient care.
A Review of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting: Materials, Design, and Readout Circuits
Authors: Brusa Eugenio , Carrera Anna , Delprete Cristiana
Published: December 2023

Mechanical vibrational energy, which is provided by continuous or discontinuous motion, is an infinite source of energy that may be found anywhere. This source may be utilized to generate electricity to replenish batteries or directly power electrical equipment thanks to energy harvesters. The new gadgets are based on the utilization of piezoelectric materials, which can transform vibrating mechanical energy into useable electrical energy owing to their intrinsic qualities. The purpose of this article is to highlight developments in three independent but closely connected multidisciplinary domains, starting with the piezoelectric materials and related manufacturing technologies related to the structure and specific application; the paper presents the state of the art of materials that possess the piezoelectric property, from classic inorganics such as PZT to lead-free materials, including biodegradable and biocompatible materials. The second domain is the choice of harvester structure, which allows the piezoelectric material to flex or deform while retaining mechanical dependability. Finally, developments in the design of electrical interface circuits for readout and storage of electrical energy given by piezoelectric to improve charge management efficiency are discussed.
Comparative Study of Traditional and Environmentally Friendly Zinc Sources Applied in Alkaline Fluvisol Soil: Lettuce Biofortification and Soil Zinc Status
Authors: Ortiz Raquel , Gascó Gabriel , Méndez Ana , Sanchez-Martín Laura , Obrador Ana , Almendros Patricia
Published: December 2023

The use of highly effective sources of zinc (Zn) in alkaline agricultural soils is essential to achieve crop biofortification, maintain crop quality, and avoid potential environmental risks. This research examines the efficacy of environmentally friendly Zn complexes (citric acid, CIT and glycine, GLY) compared to a traditional source (ZnSO4) for the lettuce cultivation in alkaline soil. The effectiveness of Zn sources was assessed based on the concentration of total and soluble Zn, plant biomass, and contents of photosynthetic pigments. The soil Zn status was also evaluated. While all Zn sources (Zn-GLY, Zn-CIT, and ZnSO4) showed positive effects on lettuce growth, Zn-GLY exhibited the highest efficacy. This source exhibited increases of 230%, 502%, 296%, and 409% over the control in Zn concentration in young and mature leaves, soluble Zn, and Zn uptake, respectively. Zn-GLY also resulted in a 371% increase in soil exchangeable Zn concentration, compared to the control treatment. Our findings indicate that Zn-GLY could replace the traditional ZnSO4 treatment, as it achieved high Zn biofortification of lettuce and a high concentration of Zn available in the medium-long term in the soil. The beneficial effect of the chelating agent GLY on plant chlorophyll and carotenoid contents is also remarkable.
Utilizing the Genetic Potentials of Traditional Rice Varieties and Conserving Rice Biodiversity with System of Rice Intensification Management
Authors: Dwiningsih Yheni
Published: December 2023

The genetic potentials of rice cultivars will need to be expressed to their fullest if global rice production is to be expanded enough by 2050 to meet the increased demand of the expanding population while the availability of land and water per capita dwindles. New and ‘improved’ rice varieties have contributed greatly to increased production over the past 50 years, but the rate of rice yield increase based on genetic changes has declined in recent decades compared with the early years of the Green Revolution. In fact, many rice consumers continue to prefer to consume ‘traditional’ rice varieties (referred to also as local, native, unimproved, or indigenous varieties) because of their taste, aroma, texture, and other qualities. Furthermore, many farmers prefer to cultivate these varieties because of their better adaptation to local climatic and soil conditions and their evolved resistance to endemic stresses. The practices that comprise the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), including transplanting rice seedlings at a young age, wide spacing between plants, keeping the soil well aerated rather than inundated, and enhancing soil organic matter, provide traditional rice varieties with micro-environments that are more favorable for the expression of their genetic and agronomic potentials. Interactions among rice plants, soil characteristics, water, energy, and other inputs improve the phenotypic and physiological performance of rice plants. This paper considers how the cultivation of traditional rice varieties with SRI methods can raise yields, reduce farmers’ costs of production, and generate higher incomes while contributing to the conservation of rice biodiversity.
Effect of Selected Entomopathogenic Fungal Species on Embryonic Development of Ascaris suum (Nematoda)
Authors: Mazurkiewicz-Zapałowicz Kinga , Pilarczyk Bogumiła , Kołodziejczyk Lidia , Tkaczuk Cezary , Twarużek Magdalena , Łopusiewicz Łukasz , Grajewski Jan , Dzika Ewa , Kalisińska Elżbieta
Published: December 2023

The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential of using five selected species of entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana, B. brongniartii, Conidiobolus coronatus, Isaria fumosorosea, and Metarhizium robertsii) in the bioregulation of the dispersive stages of the parasitic nematode—Ascaris suum. Experimental cultures of each of the selected entomopathogenic fungi, as well as a control culture without fungi, were incubated with A. suum eggs at 26 °C for 28 days. Development of the A. suum eggs was observed using a light microscope on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days of incubation. The API-ZYM® test was used to determine, semiquantitatively, the activity of 19 hydrolytic enzymes from the entomopathogenic fungi. The cytotoxicity of the fungi was determined using tetrazole salt MTT. It was found that none of the five tested strains of entomopathogenic fungi showed an ovicidal effect, and none of them colonized the A. suum egg shells. However, ovistatic activity was observed mainly until the 14th day of incubation by I. fumosorosea, M. robertsii, and B. bassiana. In the MTT test, M. robertsii showed moderate cytotoxicity, while the other species showed low cytotoxicity. Among the strains tested, I. fumosorosea showed the highest spectrum of hydrolase production (13 out of 19 enzymes gave a positive reaction from 3 to 5; 20–40 nM or more). The absence of morphological changes in the A. suum egg shells suggests that the antagonistic effect of the studied entomopathogenic fungi may be due to their cytotoxicity, associated with the production of secondary metabolites—toxins (M. robertsii) and enzymatic activity (I. fumosorosea).
Saphenous and Sciatic Nerve Blockade with and without Obturator Nerve Block for Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy Surgery in Dogs: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Di Franco Chiara , Cipollini Chiara , Figà Talamanca Giacomo , Tazioli Giulio , Patroncini Stefano , Calistri Maurizio , Briganti Angela
Published: December 2023

The objective of our study was to compare the efficacy of sciatic and saphenous ultrasound nerve blocks with and without US-guided obturator nerve block in dogs undergoing tibial-plateau-levelling-osteotomy (TPLO) surgery. This study was developed in two phases: identification of an ultrasound window in the inguinal region for obturator nerve block and utilization of it in dogs undergoing TPLO. Dogs were assigned randomly to one of two groups: one received the three blocks with 0.5% ropivacaine (ON group) and the second one (NoON group) with NaCl instead of ropivacaine for the obturator block. In phase 1, the obturator nerve was visible between the pectineus and the abductor muscles and was approached using an in-plane technique. It was possible to use the ultrasound window for phase two. The number of dogs that received at least one bolus of intraoperative rescue analgesia in the NoON group (12/15 dogs) was significantly higher (p = 0.003) in comparison with the ON group (4/15). An ultrasound window to block the obturator nerve in the inguinal compartment with an in-plane technique was found. The use of this approach could produce adequate analgesia with less motor function impairment in dogs for TPLO surgery.
Security Protection of 3D Models of Oblique Photography by Digital Watermarking and Data Encryption
Authors: Jiao Yaqin , Ma Cong , Luo Juhua , Qiu Yinguo
Published: December 2023

To clarify the copyrights of 3D models of oblique photography (3DMOP) and guarantee their security, a novel security protection scheme of 3DMOP was proposed in this study by synergistically applying digital watermarking and data encryption. In the proposed scheme, point clouds were clustered first, and then the centroid and feature points of each cluster were calculated and extracted, respectively. Afterward, the watermarks were embedded into the point clouds cluster-by-cluster, taking distances between feature points and centroids as the embedding positions. In addition, the watermarks were also embedded using texture coordinates of 3DMOP to further enhance the robustness of the watermarking algorithm. Furthermore, Arnold transformation was performed on texture images of 3DMOP for security protection of classified or sensitive information. Experimental results have verified the strong imperceptibility and robustness of the proposed watermarking algorithm, as well as the high security of the designed data encryption algorithm. The outcomes of this work can refine the current security protection methods of 3DMOP and thus further expand their application scope.
A New Disruptive Technology for Zero-Brine Discharge: Towards a Paradigm Shift
Authors: Bonnail Estefanía , Vera Sebastián , DelValls T. Ángel
Published: December 2023

The desalination of aquifers and seawaters is a viable choice to meet primarily domestic and industrial global water requirements. It removes salts from seawater to obtain freshwater with sufficient quality for different purposes, as well as a highly salt-concentrated waste stream known as brine. This residue is usually returned to the ocean, provoking, among other impacts, changes in temperature, salinity and oxygen and overall local aquatic ecosystem stress, as well as social rejection. Desalination in inland aquifers is more complicated because brine disposal is complicated or impossible. The current study presents a new zero-brine discharge technology able to achieve ecological liquid purification through distillation for the separation of the dissolved solids as crystallized salts (Adiabatic Sonic Evaporation and Crystallization, ASE&C). This new technology was used with seawater and three types of brine to test how it would work when coupled with reverse osmosis desalination plants. Analysis of the byproducts after treatment of the seawater and the different brines are presented here. A basic economic approach to calculating potential revenues is also presented. The results of the analyses revealed a complete depuration of water as distilled water, and crystallized solids with highly concentrated commercial salts (with different composition depending on their origin). The estimated economic value of annual revenue (taking into account only seven element recoveries and treatment of a volume of 1000 m3/d) for three types of brines ranged between 1 and 11 million euros, compared to between 3.6 and 9.3 million euros when ASE&C is employed with seawater. The treatment of greater volumes for seawater desalination would increase these numbers significantly. ASE&C supposes a solution coupled (or not) to desalination plants to reduce the ecological impacts associated with brine discharges to zero, obtaining two significant commercial byproducts: (seawater: freshwater and commercial elements Br, Ca, Cs, Cl, NaOH, Mg, N, K, Rb, Na, Sr, Li, U, B, Sr, Ga, etc.; aquifers: a larger list than for saltwater, depending on the nature of the water body). It can solve environmental issues associated with brine discharge, with null CO2 emissions (renewable energy) and profitable (i.e., with no costly pretreatment) technology.
Negative Poisson’s Ratio Lattice Structure with Chiral and Re-Entrant Properties
Authors: Luo Yifei , Dai Fulun , Shen Jing , Wang Aiqiu , Jiang Xiongzhi , Li Yangbo
Published: December 2023

Materials exhibiting negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) effects possess several advantageous properties, including high specific strength, specific stiffness, and impact resistance. As a result, they hold significant importance in various industries such as aerospace, medicine, transportation, sports, and other related fields. In the realm of natural materials, the NPR effect is infrequent. Consequently, the creation of an NPR structure necessitates a manual design. In this paper, we present an architected lattice system inspired by ancient Chinese window grills. The proposed system exhibits a unique combination of chiral and re-entrant properties. Experiments and numerical simulations were conducted in order to quantify the variation in NPR and elucidate the deformation mechanism of window grill structures. We observed a significant NPR effect in our designed structure, which was found to be dependent on the geometric parameters of the structure. The present study provides a foundation for the development of a new category of partially auxetic lattice metamaterials and the expansion of their design possibilities.
Aroma Compounds of Carrier Oils
Authors: Marshall Tyler , Dosoky Noura S. , Satyal Prabodh , Setzer William N.
Published: December 2023

Carrier oils are used with essential oils to dilute and enhance skin penetration. They are composed of fatty acids, triglycerides, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes and are added to reduce potency and odor. Carrier oils have pharmaceutical applications and reduce cytotoxicity. Solvent extraction is a common practice in the production of industrial-scale carrier oils, but harmful to the environment, so new eco-friendly methods are being researched. This review documents the available characteristics of various carrier oils and identifies knowledge gaps for future studies.
A Novel Fractional Multi-Order High-Gain Observer Design to Estimate Temperature in a Heat Exchange Process
Authors: Borja-Jaimes Vicente , Adam-Medina Manuel , García-Morales Jarniel , Cruz-Rojas Alan , Gil-Velasco Alfredo , Coronel-Escamilla Antonio
Published: December 2023

In the present manuscript, we design a fractional multi-order high-gain observer to estimate temperature in a double pipe heat exchange process. For comparison purposes and since we want to prove that when using our novel technique, the estimation is more robust than the classical approach, we design a non-fractional high-gain observer, and then we compare the performance of both observers. We consider three scenarios: The first one considers the estimation of the system states by measuring only one output with no noise added on it and under ideal conditions. Second, we add noise to the measured output and then reconstruct the system states, and, third, in addition to the noise, we increase the gain parameter in both observers (non-fractional and fractional) due to the fact that we want to prove that the robustness changes in this parameter. The results showed that, using our approach, the estimated states can be recovered under noise circumstances in the measured output and under parameter change in the observer, contrary to using classical (non-fractional) observers where the states cannot be recovered. In all our tests, we used the normalized root-mean-square, integral square error, and integral absolute error indices, resulting in a better performance for our approach than that obtained using the classical approach. We concluded that our fractional multi-order high-gain observer is more robust to input noise than the classical high-gain observer.
A Note on Finite Dimensional Odd Contact Lie Superalgebra in Prime Characteristic
Authors: Xu Xiaoning , Wang Qiyuan
Published: December 2023

Over a field of characteristic p>3, let KO(n,n+1;t̲) denote the odd contact Lie superalgebra. In this paper, the super-biderivations of odd Contact Lie superalgebra KO(n,n+1;t̲) are studied. Let TKO be a torus of KO(n,n+1;t̲), which is an abelian subalgebra of KO(n,n+1;t̲). By applying the weight space decomposition approach of KO(n,n+1;t̲) with respect to TKO, we show that all skew-symmetric super-biderivations of KO(n,n+1;t̲) are inner super-biderivations.
The Impact of Maternal Obesity on Adipose Progenitor Cells
Authors: Lecoutre Simon , Maqdasy Salwan , Lambert Mélanie , Breton Christophe
Published: December 2023

The concept of Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) postulates that adult-onset metabolic disorders may originate from suboptimal conditions during critical embryonic and fetal programming windows. In particular, nutritional disturbance during key developmental stages may program the set point of adiposity and its associated metabolic diseases later in life. Numerous studies in mammals have reported that maternal obesity and the resulting accelerated growth in neonates may affect adipocyte development, resulting in persistent alterations in adipose tissue plasticity (i.e., adipocyte proliferation and storage) and adipocyte function (i.e., insulin resistance, impaired adipokine secretion, reduced thermogenesis, and higher inflammation) in a sex- and depot-specific manner. Over recent years, adipose progenitor cells (APCs) have been shown to play a crucial role in adipose tissue plasticity, essential for its development, maintenance, and expansion. In this review, we aim to provide insights into the developmental timeline of lineage commitment and differentiation of APCs and their role in predisposing individuals to obesity and metabolic diseases. We present data supporting the possible implication of dysregulated APCs and aberrant perinatal adipogenesis through epigenetic mechanisms as a primary mechanism responsible for long-lasting adipose tissue dysfunction in offspring born to obese mothers.
Statistical Study of Low-Intensity Single-Molecule Recognition Events Using DeepTipTM Probes: Application to the Pru p 3-Phytosphingosine System
Authors: Daza Rafael , Garrido-Arandia María , Corregidor-Ortiz Daniel , Pérez Carla Isabel , Colchero Luis , Tabraue-Rubio Raquel , Elices Manuel , Guinea Gustavo V. , Diaz-Perales Araceli , Pérez-Rigueiro José
Published: December 2023

The interaction between the plant lipid transfer protein Pru p 3 and phytosphingosine was assessed using an atomic force microscope. Phytosphingosine was covalently immobilized on DeepTipTM probes and Pru p 3 on MicroDeckTM functionalized substrates. Single-molecular interaction events between both molecules were retrieved and classified and the distribution for each one of the identified types was calculated. A success rate of over 70% was found by comparing the number of specific Pru p 3-phytosphingosine interaction events with the total number of recorded curves. The analysis of the distribution established among the various types of curves was further pursued to distinguish between those curves that can mainly be used for assessing the recognition between phytosphingosine (sensor molecule) and Pru p 3 (target molecule) in the context of affinity atomic force microscopy, and those that entail details of the interaction and might be employed in the context of force spectroscopy. The successful application of these functionalized probes and substrates to the characterization of the low-intensity hydrophobic interaction characteristic of this system is a clear indication of the potential of exploiting this approach with an extremely wide range of different biological molecules of interest. The possibility of characterizing molecular assembly events with single-molecule resolution offers an advantageous procedure to plough into the field of molecular biomimetics.
Dynamic Assessment of the Structural Behavior of a Pedestrian Bridge Aiming to Characterize and Evaluate Its Comfort Level
Authors: El Dahr Reina , Lignos Xenofon , Papavieros Spyridon , Vayas Ioannis
Published: December 2023

The assessment of infrastructure integrity is considered paramount to verify its structural health and to build its resilience. In this study, a monitoring strategy, consisting of a pre-developed microcontroller-based data acquisition system (DAQ) hardware and a software program for post processing built on LabVIEW platform, was conducted to assess the structural behavior of an arch-and-tie pedestrian bridge located in Haidari, Greece, following its construction phase. This endeavor aimed to delineate its systemic state and to verify the fulfillment of comfort criteria stated by EN1990, HIVOSS and SETRA guidelines. To this end, four trademark Bridge Diagnostic Inc. (BDI) triaxial accelerometers were meticulously deployed along the bridge expanse to scrutinize the structure’s response toward a spectrum of induced perturbations. The established framework effectively compiled the acquired acceleration time domain then employed a Butterworth bandpass filter to derive the bridge eigenfrequencies, eigenmodes, and damping ratios. The resultant findings conclusively indicate that the bridge response towards pedestrian crossing conforms to the established specifications and thus does not necessitate the installation of dampers. The bridge maintains comfortable structural integrity for pedestrian traversal up to an upper frequency limit of 3.67 Hz, substantiating its ability to absorb the dissipated energy generated by pedestrian movement.