bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expanding the Natural History of SNORD118-Related Ribosomopathy: Hints from an Early-Diagnosed Patient with Leukoencephalopathy with Calcifications and Cysts and Overview of the Literature
Authors: Politano Davide , Catalano Guido , Pezzotti Elena , Varesio Costanza , Sirchia Fabio , Casella Antonella , Rognone Elisa , Pichiecchio Anna , Borgatti Renato , Orcesi Simona
Published: September 2023

Leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts (LCC) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder showing a pediatric or adult onset. First described in 1996 by Labrune and colleagues, it was only in 2016 that bi-allelic variants in a non-protein coding gene, SNORD118, were found as the cause for LCC, differentiating this syndrome from coats plus (CP). SNORD118 transcribes for a small nucleolar RNA, which is necessary for correct ribosome biogenesis, hence the classification of LCC among ribosomopathies. The syndrome is characterized by a combination of white matter hyperintensities, calcifications, and cysts on brain MRI with varying neurological signs. Corticosteroids, surgery, and recently bevacizumab, have been tried with unclear results since the natural history of the disease remains elusive. To date, 67 patients with a pediatric onset of disease have been described in the literature, with a clinical-radiological follow-up carried out in only eleven of them. We described the clinical-radiological follow-up from birth to almost five years of age of a late-preterm patient diagnosed with LCC and carried out a thorough overview of pediatric patients described in the literature. It is important to gather serial clinical–radiological data from other patients to depict the natural history of this disease, aiming to deeply depict genotype-phenotype correlations and make the role of new therapeutics clearer.
Alpha-Ketoglutarate Regulates Tnfrsf12a/Fn14 Expression via Histone Modification and Prevents Cancer-Induced Cachexia
Authors: Ruiz Bryan I. , Lowman Xazmin H. , Yang Ying , Fan Qi , Wang Tianhong , Wu Hongmei , Hanse Eric A. , Kong Mei
Published: September 2023

Previous studies have shown that inhibition of TNF family member FN14 (gene: TNFRSF12A) in colon tumors decreases inflammatory cytokine expression and mitigates cancer-induced cachexia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of FN14 expression remain unclear. Tumor microenvironments are often devoid of nutrients and oxygen, yet how the cachexic response relates to the tumor microenvironment and, importantly, nutrient stress is unknown. Here, we looked at the connections between metabolic stress and FN14 expression. We found that TNFRSF12A expression was transcriptionally induced during glutamine deprivation in cancer cell lines. We also show that the downstream glutaminolysis metabolite, alpha-ketoglutarate (aKG), is sufficient to rescue glutamine-deprivation-promoted TNFRSF12A induction. As aKG is a co-factor for histone de-methylase, we looked at histone methylation and found that histone H3K4me3 at the Tnfrsf12a promoter is increased under glutamine-deprived conditions and rescued via DM-aKG supplementation. Finally, expression of Tnfrsf12a and cachexia-induced weight loss can be inhibited in vivo by DM-aKG in a mouse cancer cachexia model. These findings highlight a connection between metabolic stress and cancer cachexia development.
The Use of 3D Printing and Nanotechnologies to Prevent and Inhibit Biofilms on Medical Devices
Authors: Esposito Michelle Marie , Glazer Jonathan Robert , Turku Sara
Published: September 2023

Biofilms remain one of the most pervasive complications of the medical field, representing 50–70% of all nosocomial infections and up to 80% of total microbial infections. Since biofilms contain intricately small matrices, different microenvironments, and accumulations of biodiverse microorganisms of different resistances, these structures end up being difficult to target. As we review in this paper, 3D printing and nanotechnology help overcome these unique challenges of targeting biofilms, especially within the medical field. These technologies bring versatility and more precise control to personalized reusable medical device development and implants, with enhanced antimicrobial characteristics. They allow for decreased surface roughness of the implants, smaller pores, more targeted topography, and even added antibiotic or drug-releasing abilities for the medical devices. Furthermore, combining 3D with nanoparticles allows for the creation of anodized nanosurfaces of medical implants with increased osseointegration and reduced polymerization while promoting cost efficiency, durability, and biocompatibility. In this review, we explore the potentially valuable antimicrobial consequences of applying 3D technology and nanoengineering to dental and orthodontic implants, oral prostheses, hearing aids, joint replacements, catheters, stents, endotracheal tubes, prosthetics, and bone scaffolds.
Influence of the Built Environment on Pedestrians’ Route Choice in Leisure Walking
Authors: Ge Yifu , He Zhongyu , Shang Kai
Published: September 2023

Exploring the relationship between leisure walking and the built environment will provide an improvement in human health and well-being. It is, therefore, necessary to explore the most relevant scale for leisure walking and how the association between the built environment and leisure walking varies across scales. Three hundred volunteers were recruited to wear GPS loggers, and a total dataset of 268 tracks from 105 individuals was collected. The shortest possible routes between starting and ending points were generated and compared to the actual routes using the paired T-test. An improved grid-based buffer approach was proposed, and statistics for the grid cells intersecting the paths were calculated. Grid cells were calculated for six scales: 50 m, 100 m, 200 m, 500 m, 800 m, and 1600 m. The results showed that the actual paths were on average 24.97% longer than the shortest path. The mean, standard deviation, and minimum and maximum values of the built environment variables were all significantly associated with leisure walking. The most relevant spatial scale was found to be the 100 m scale. Overall, the smaller the scale, the more significant the association. Participants showed a preference for moderately compact urban forms, diverse options for destinations, and greener landscapes in leisure walking route choice.
Amygdalin as a Promising Anticancer Agent: Molecular Mechanisms and Future Perspectives for the Development of New Nanoformulations for Its Delivery
Authors: Spanoudaki Maria , Stoumpou Sofia , Papadopoulou Sousana K. , Karafyllaki Dimitra , Solovos Evangelos , Papadopoulos Konstantinos , Giannakoula Anastasia , Giaginis Constantinos
Published: September 2023

Cancer rates are increasing, and cancer is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Amygdalin, also known as vitamin B17 (and laetrile, a synthetic compound), is a cyanogenic glycoside compound that is mainly found in the kernels and pulps of fruits. This compound has been proposed for decades as a promising naturally occurring substance which may provide anticancer effects. This is a comprehensive review which critically summarizes and scrutinizes the available studies exploring the anticancer effect of amygdalin, highlighting its potential anticancer molecular mechanisms as well as the need for a nontoxic formulation of this substance. In-depth research was performed using the most accurate scientific databases, e.g., PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, applying effective, characteristic, and relevant keywords. There are several pieces of evidence to support the idea that amygdalin can exert anticancer effects against lung, breast, prostate, colorectal, cervical, and gastrointestinal cancers. Amygdalin has been reported to induce apoptosis of cancer cells, inhibiting cancer cells’ proliferation and slowing down tumor metastatic spread. However, only a few studies have been performed in in vivo animal models, while clinical studies remain even more scarce. The current evidence cannot support a recommendation of the use of nutritional supplements with amygdalin due to its cyano-moiety which exerts adverse side effects. Preliminary data have shown that the use of nanoparticles may be a promising alternative to enhance the anticancer effects of amygdalin while simultaneously reducing its adverse side effects. Amygdalin seems to be a promising naturally occurring agent against cancer disease development and progression. However, there is a strong demand for in vivo animal studies as well as human clinical studies to explore the potential prevention and/or treatment efficiency of amygdalin against cancer. Moreover, amygdalin could be used as a lead compound by effectively applying recent developments in drug discovery processes.
Propolis as a Potential Therapeutic Agent to Counteract Age-Related Changes in Cartilage: An In Vivo Study
Authors: Arias Consuelo , Vásquez Bélgica , Salazar Luis A.
Published: September 2023

Aging is intricately linked to chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, which plays a significant role in various age-related conditions, including osteoarthritis (OA). The aging process significantly influences the development of OA due to alterations in cartilage composition, reduced proteoglycan content, dysregulation of growth factor signaling, and heightened oxidative stress. Propolis, a natural product renowned for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has the potential to mitigate age-induced changes in cartilage. The primary objective of this study was to rigorously assess the impact of in vivo propolis treatment on the histopathological characteristics of knee articular cartilage in senescent rats. This study involved a cohort of twenty male Sprague–Dawley rats, randomly allocated into four distinct groups for comparative analysis: YR (control group consisting of young rats), SR (senescent rats), SR-EEP (senescent rats treated with an ethanolic extract of propolis, EEP), and SR-V (senescent rats administered with a control vehicle). This study employed comprehensive histological and stereological analyses of knee articular cartilage. Propolis treatment exhibited a significant capacity to alleviate the severity of osteoarthritis, enhance the structural integrity of cartilage, and augment chondrocyte density. These promising findings underscore the potential of propolis as a compelling therapeutic agent to counteract age-related alterations in cartilage and, importantly, to potentially forestall the onset of osteoarthritis.
Matricellular Proteins in the Homeostasis, Regeneration, and Aging of Skin
Authors: Raja Erna , Clarin Maria Thea Rane Dela Cruz , Yanagisawa Hiromi
Published: September 2023

Matricellular proteins are secreted extracellular proteins that bear no primary structural functions but play crucial roles in tissue remodeling during development, homeostasis, and aging. Despite their low expression after birth, matricellular proteins within skin compartments support the structural function of many extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagens. In this review, we summarize the function of matricellular proteins in skin stem cell niches that influence stem cells’ fate and self-renewal ability. In the epidermal stem cell niche, fibulin 7 promotes epidermal stem cells’ heterogeneity and fitness into old age, and the transforming growth factor-β—induced protein ig-h3 (TGFBI)—enhances epidermal stem cell growth and wound healing. In the hair follicle stem cell niche, matricellular proteins such as periostin, tenascin C, SPARC, fibulin 1, CCN2, and R-Spondin 2 and 3 modulate stem cell activity during the hair cycle and may stabilize arrector pili muscle attachment to the hair follicle during piloerections (goosebumps). In skin wound healing, matricellular proteins are upregulated, and their functions have been examined in various gain-and-loss-of-function studies. However, much remains unknown concerning whether these proteins modulate skin stem cell behavior, plasticity, or cell–cell communications during wound healing and aging, leaving a new avenue for future studies.
The Roles of microRNAs in the Cardiovascular System
Authors: Nappi Francesco , Avtaar Singh Sanjeet Singh , Jitendra Vikram , Alzamil Almothana , Schoell Thibaut
Published: September 2023

The discovery of miRNAs and their role in disease represent a significant breakthrough that has stimulated and propelled research on miRNAs as targets for diagnosis and therapy. Cardiovascular disease is an area where the restrictions of early diagnosis and conventional pharmacotherapy are evident and deserve attention. Therefore, miRNA-based drugs have significant potential for development. Research and its application can make considerable progress, as seen in preclinical and clinical trials. The use of miRNAs is still experimental but has a promising role in diagnosing and predicting a variety of acute coronary syndrome presentations. Its use, either alone or in combination with currently available biomarkers, might be adopted soon, particularly if there is diagnostic ambiguity. In this review, we examine the current understanding of miRNAs as possible targets for diagnosis and treatment in the cardiovascular system. We report on recent advances in recognising and characterising miRNAs with a focus on clinical translation. The latest challenges and perspectives towards clinical application are discussed.
Melatonin Treatment Maintains the Quality of Fresh-Cut Gastrodia elata under Low-Temperature Conditions by Regulating Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism and Phenylpropanoid Pathway
Authors: Dong Boyu , Da Fangfang , Chen Yulong , Ding Xiaochun
Published: September 2023

The application of melatonin (MT) has been shown to improve the quality during the storage of fruits and vegetables. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effects of MT on the quality of fresh-cut Gastrodia elata during low-temperature (4 °C) storage. The results indicated that MT treatment not only suppressed the respiratory rate and malondialdehyde content but also slowed down the decline in total acidity and total soluble solids, effectively inhibiting microbial growth and enhancing the product safety of fresh-cut G. elata. The treatment with MT reduced the superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide production, as well as inhibiting the activity and expression of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. Additionally, it led to increased activity and the expression of antioxidant-related enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase, while also resulting in elevated levels of ascorbic acid and glutathione. Furthermore, the treatment with MT induced an increase in the total phenolic and flavonoid content of fresh-cut G. elata and enhanced the activity and expression of key enzymes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, 4-coumarate: CoA ligase). In summary, MT enhances the antioxidant capacity by activating both the ROS metabolism and phenylpropanoid pathway, thus maintaining the quality of fresh-cut G. elata.
Redox Status and Telomere–Telomerase System Biomarkers in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Using a Principal Component Analysis: Is There a Link?
Authors: Vukašinović Aleksandra , Klisic Aleksandra , Ostanek Barbara , Kafedžić Srdjan , Zdravković Marija , Ilić Ivan , Sopić Miron , Hinić Saša , Stefanović Milica , Bogavac-Stanojević Nataša , Marc Janja , Nešković Aleksandar N. , Kotur-Stevuljević Jelena
Published: September 2023

In the present study, we examined redox status parameters in arterial and venous blood samples, its potential to predict the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients assessed through its impact on the comprehensive grading SYNTAX score, and its clinical accuracy. Potential connections between common blood biomarkers, biomarkers of redox status, leukocyte telomere length, and telomerase enzyme activity in the acute myocardial infarction burden were assessed using principal component analysis (PCA). This study included 92 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Significantly higher levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), superoxide anion (O2•−), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), and significantly lower levels of total oxidant status (TOS) and total protein sulfhydryl (SH-) groups were found in arterial blood than in the peripheral venous blood samples, while biomarkers of the telomere–telomerase system did not show statistical significance in the two compared sample types (p = 0.834 and p = 0.419). To better understand the effect of the examined biomarkers in the AMI patients on SYNTAX score, those biomarkers were grouped using PCA, which merged them into the four the most contributing factors. The “cholesterol–protein factor” and “oxidative–telomere factor” were independent predictors of higher SYNTAX score (OR = 0.338, p = 0.008 and OR = 0.427, p = 0.035, respectively), while the ability to discriminate STEMI from non-STEMI patients had only the “oxidative–telomere factor” (AUC = 0.860, p = 0.008). The results show that traditional cardiovascular risk factors, i.e., high total cholesterol together with high total serum proteins and haemoglobin, are associated with severe disease progression in much the same way as a combination of redox biomarkers (pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance, total antioxidant status, IMA) and telomere length.
Degradation of Diclofenac by Loaded Solid Superbase-Activated Persulfate
Authors: Shi Jiaqi , Wang Lei , Gao Shang , Huang Jianbo , Yang Hao , Lu Hao , Cao Shaohua
Published: September 2023

Alkali-activated persulfate (PS) is widely used in situ in chemical oxidation processes; however, studies on the innovation of the alkali activation process are very limited. Two supported solid superbases, namely KNO3/γ-Al2O3 (KAl) and KNO3/SBA-15/MgO (KSM), respectively, were prepared and used to activate persulfate to degrade DCF in this work. The results showed that the superbases elevated the solution pH once added and thus could catalyze persulfate to degrade diclofenac efficiently above pH 10.5. The catalytic efficiency of KAl was close to that of sodium hydroxide, and that of KSM was the highest. The mechanism might be that, in addition to raising the solution pH, some potassium existed as K2O2, which had a strong oxidizing effect and was conducive to DCF removal. Hydroxyl, sulfate and superoxide radicals were all found in the reaction system, among which hydroxyl might play the most important role. The material composition ratio, common anion and humic acid all had some influences on the catalytic efficiency. A total of five intermediates were found in the KSM/PS oxidation system, and six oxidation pathways, which were hydroxylation, dehydrogen, dechlorination, dehydration, decarboxylation, and C-N bond breakage, might be involved in the reaction process. Several highly toxic oxidation products that should be paid attention to were also proposed.
The Effect of Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin on Central and Peripheral Nervous System Neurons—Implications for Biomaterial Applicability
Authors: Lambrichts Ivo , Wolfs Esther , Bronckaers Annelies , Gervois Pascal , Vangansewinkel Tim
Published: September 2023

Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) is a second-generation platelet concentrate that is prepared directly from the patient’s own blood. It is widely used in the field of regenerative medicine, and to better understand its clinical applicability we aimed to further explore the biological properties and effects of L-PRF on cells from the central and peripheral nervous system. To this end, L-PRF was prepared from healthy human donors, and confocal, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy as well as secretome analysis were performed on these clots. In addition, functional assays were completed to determine the effect of L-PRF on neural stem cells (NSCs), primary cortical neurons (pCNs), and peripheral dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. We observed that L-PRF consists of a dense but porous fibrin network, containing leukocytes and aggregates of activated platelets that are distributed throughout the clot. Antibody array and ELISA confirmed that it is a reservoir for a plethora of growth factors. Key molecules that are known to have an effect on neuronal cell functions such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were slowly released over time from the clots. Next, we found that the L-PRF secretome had no significant effect on the proliferative and metabolic activity of NSCs, but it did act as a chemoattractant and improved the migration of these CNS-derived stem cells. More importantly, L-PRF growth factors had a detrimental effect on the survival of pCNs, and consequently, also interfered with their neurite outgrowth. In contrast, we found a positive effect on peripheral DRG neurons, and L-PRF growth factors improved their survival and significantly stimulated the outgrowth and branching of their neurites. Taken together, our study demonstrates the positive effects of the L-PRF secretome on peripheral neurons and supports its use in regenerative medicine but care should be taken when using it for CNS applications.
A Conceptual Consent Request Framework for Mobile Devices
Authors: Drozd Olha , Kirrane Sabrina
Published: September 2023

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) identifies consent as one of the legal bases for personal data processing and requires that it should be freely given, specific, informed, unambiguous, understandable, and easily revocable. Unfortunately, current technical mechanisms for obtaining consent often do not comply with these requirements. The conceptual consent request framework for mobile devices that is presented in this paper, addresses this issue by following the GDPR requirements on consent and offering a unified user interface for mobile apps. The proposed conceptual framework is evaluated via the development of a City Explorer app with four consent request approaches (custom, functionality-based, app-based, and usage-based) integrated into it. The evaluation shows that the functionality-based consent, which was integrated into the City Explorer app, achieved the best evaluation results and the highest average system usability scale (SUS) score. The functionality-based consent also scored the highest number of SUS points among the four consent templates when evaluated separately from the app. Additionally, we discuss the framework’s reusability and its integration into other mobile apps of different contexts.
Attacking Deep Learning AI Hardware with Universal Adversarial Perturbation
Authors: Sadi Mehdi , Talukder Bashir Mohammad Sabquat Bahar , Mishty Kaniz , Rahman Md Tauhidur
Published: September 2023

Universal adversarial perturbations are image-agnostic and model-independent noise that, when added to any image, can mislead the trained deep convolutional neural networks into the wrong prediction. Since these universal adversarial perturbations can seriously jeopardize the security and integrity of practical deep learning applications, the existing techniques use additional neural networks to detect the existence of these noises at the input image source. In this paper, we demonstrate an attack strategy that, when activated by rogue means (e.g., malware, trojan), can bypass these existing countermeasures by augmenting the adversarial noise at the AI hardware accelerator stage. We demonstrate the accelerator-level universal adversarial noise attack on several deep learning models using co-simulation of the software kernel of the Conv2D function and the Verilog RTL model of the hardware under the FuseSoC environment.
Synergistic Repellent and Irritant Effects of a Mixture of β-Caryophyllene Oxide and Vetiver Oil against Mosquito Vectors
Authors: Nararak Jirod , Sanguanpong Unchalee , Sukkanon Chutipong , Manguin Sylvie , Chareonviriyaphap Theeraphap
Published: September 2023

Repellents play a major role in reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases by preventing mosquito bites. The present study evaluated the mosquito-repellent activity of β-caryophyllene oxide 1% (BCO), vetiver oil 2.5% (VO), and their binary mixtures (BCO + VO (1:1), BCO + VO (2:1), BCO + VO (1:2)) against four laboratory-colonized mosquito species, Aedes aegypti (L.), Aedes albopictus (Skuse), Anopheles minimus Theobald, and Culex quinquefasciatus Say, using an excito-repellency assay system. In general, the compound mixtures produced a much stronger response in the mosquitoes than single compounds, regardless of the test conditions or species. The greatest synergetic effect was achieved with the combination of BCO + VO (1:2) in both contact and noncontact trials with An. minimus (74.07–78.18%) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (55.36–83.64%). Knockdown responses to the binary mixture of BCO + VO were observed for Ae. albopictus, An. minimus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus, in the range of 18.18–33.33%. The synergistic repellent activity of BCO and VO used in this study may support increased opportunities to develop safer alternatives to synthetic repellents for personal protection against mosquitoes.
Heart Failure after Aortic Valve Replacement: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Implications
Authors: Jakulla Roopesh Sai , Gunta Satya Preetham , Huded Chetan P.
Published: September 2023

Severe aortic stenosis (AS) carries a poor prognosis with the onset of heart failure (HF) symptoms, and surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (AVR) is its only definitive treatment. The management of AS has seen a paradigm shift with the adoption of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), allowing for the treatment of AS in patients who would not otherwise be candidates for surgical AVR. Despite improving long-term survival after TAVR in recent years, residual HF symptoms and HF hospitalization are common and are associated with an increased mortality and a poor health status. This review article summarizes the incidence and risk factors for HF after AVR. Strategies for preventing and better managing HF after AVR are necessary to improve outcomes in this patient population. Extensive research is underway to assess whether earlier timing for AVR, prior to the development of severe symptomatic AS and associated extra-valvular cardiac damage, can improve post-AVR patient outcomes.
Accuracy-Based Glomerular Filtration Rate Assessment by Plasma Iohexol Clearance in Kidney Transplant Donors
Authors: Jin Zhicheng , Huang Rongrong , Christensen Paul , Bertholf Roger L. , Yi Xin
Published: September 2023

Background: An accurate measurement of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is essential for detecting renal insufficiency in living kidney donors. Iohexol is a “near-ideal” exogenous filtration marker for GFR measurements that has attracted increasing interest in clinical practice because it is non-toxic, non-radioactive, readily available, and easy to measure. In this study, we aimed to set up a laboratory test to conveniently assess the plasma clearance of iohexol in living kidney donors. Methods: A workflow was established in the institution’s infusion clinic to administer iohexol and to collect three timed blood samples from renal transplant donors. Iohexol was thereafter measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The serum proteins were precipitated and the supernatant containing iohexol was diluted prior to the LC-MS/MS analysis. The LC-MS/MS method was developed on a Thermo Vanquish UHPLC coupled with a TSQ Endura triple quadruple mass spectrometer with a total run time of 2.5 min. The analytical performance of the method was assessed. Results: The LC-MS/MS method demonstrated a good analytical performance. To calculate the iohexol clearance rate and the GFR, automated data integration and a result calculation were accomplished by using a custom Python script. Automated result reporting was achieved using a laboratory informatics system (LIS) vendor’s direct media interface. Conclusions: We developed and implemented a laboratory test to assess the plasma clearance of iohexol. A workflow was established in the hospital to reliably measure the GFR in living kidney donors, with a potential to be further expanded into other areas where an accurate GFR measurement is needed.
Risk Factors for Myopia: A Review
Authors: Martínez-Albert Noelia , Bueno-Gimeno Inmaculada , Gené-Sampedro Andrés
Published: September 2023

Due to the myopia prevalence increase worldwide, this study aims to establish the most relevant risk factors associated with its development and progression. A review search was carried out using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases to identify the main myopia risk factors. The inclusion criteria for the articles were those related to the topic, carried out in subjects from 5 to 30 years, published between January 2000 and May 2023, in English, and with the full text available. Myopia etiology has proven to be associated with both genetic and environmental factors as well as with gene–environment interaction. The risk of developing myopia increases in children with myopic parents (one parent ×2 times, two parents ×5 times). Regarding environmental factors, education is the main risk factor correlated with myopia prevalence increase. Further, several studies found that shorter distance (<30 cm) and longer time spent (>30 min) for near work increase the risk of myopia. Meanwhile, increased outdoor activity (>40 min/day) has been shown to be a key factor in reducing myopia incidence. In conclusion, the interventional strategy suggested so far to reduce myopia incidence is an increase in time outdoors and a reduction in the time spent performing near-work tasks.
Growing Evidence for LV Unloading in VA ECMO
Authors: Soltes Jan , Rob Daniel , Kavalkova Petra , Bruthans Jan , Belohlavek Jan
Published: September 2023

Impressively increasing availability of mechanical circulatory/cardiac support systems (MCSs) worldwide, together with the deepening of the knowledge of critical care medical practitioners, has inevitably led to the discussion about further improvements of intensive care associated to MCS. An appealing topic of the left ventricle (LV) overload related to VA ECMO support endangering myocardial recovery is being widely discussed within the scientific community. Unloading of LV leads to the reduction in LV end-diastolic pressure, reduction in pressure in the left atrium, and decrease in the LV thrombus formation risk. Consequently, better conditions for myocardial recovery, with comfortable filling pressures and a better oxygen delivery/demand ratio, are achieved. The combination of VA ECMO and Impella device, also called ECPELLA, seems to be a promising strategy that may bring the improvement of CS mortality rates. The series of presented trials and meta-analyses clearly showed the potential benefits of this strategy. However, the ongoing research has brought a series of new questions, such as whether Impella itself is the only appropriate unloading modality, or any other approach to unload LV would be beneficial in the same way. Benefits and potential risks of LV unloading and its timing are being discussed in this current review.
Electrospun Scaffolds as Antimicrobial Herbal Extract Delivery Vehicles for Wound Healing
Authors: Ersanli Caglar , Voidarou Chrysoula (Chrysa) , Tzora Athina , Fotou Konstantina , Zeugolis Dimitrios I. , Skoufos Ioannis
Published: September 2023

Herbal extracts have been used in traditional remedies since the earliest myths. They have excellent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities owing to various bioactive components in their structure. However, due to their inability to reach a target and low biostability, their use with a delivery vehicle has come into prominence. For this purpose, electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds have been widely preferred for the delivery and release of antimicrobial herbal extracts due to the flexibility and operational versatility of the electrospinning technique. Herein, we briefly reviewed the electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds as delivery systems for herbal extracts with a particular focus on the preclinical studies for wound-healing applications that have been published in the last five years. We also discussed the indirect effects of herbal extracts on wound healing by altering the characteristics of electrospun mats.
SPACNet: A Simulation Platform of an Acoustic Cognitive Network
Authors: Yang Xiaoyu , Zheng Siyuan , Zhao Yanfeng , Chen Dongsheng , Tong Feng , Hao Shuaifeng
Published: September 2023

Originating from the concept of cognitive networks (CNs), which are becoming popular in wireless terrestrial communication scenarios, underwater acoustic cognitive networks (UACNs) are drawing more and more attention in the field of the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT). However, as the implementation of cognitive mechanisms in underwater acoustic networks is different from that of wireless scenarios, it is impossible or difficult for traditional simulation platforms to carry out simulations of UACNs. There is a lack of specialized simulation tools in terms of UACNs. To enable the quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness and performance enhancement of a UACNs in an adverse underwater environment, a simulation platform of acoustic cognitive networks (SPACNet) was designed and investigated in this article. First, based on a state machine-based protocol programming framework, the SPACNet is capable of supporting the implementation of different state-transform types associated with cognitive networking protocols. Moreover, to facilitate the realization of cognitive function at comprehensive levels of signal, information, and link, an underwater acoustic channel model with an environmental parameter input is integrated in SPACNet to generate underwater environment-driven multiple-aspect behaviors. Moreover, a simplified collision model consisting of an environment factor, channel response, and node location is used to reduce the complexity of the simulation of UACNs signal reception. A simulation was carried out to verify the effectiveness of SPACNet in evaluating the cognitive capabilities of UACNs. Finally, a field UACNs experiment was performed to validate the general consistency between the conclusion obtained with the SPACNet-based simulation and that from the field test.
Hydrodynamic Analysis of a Multi-Pile-Supported Offshore Wind Turbine Integrated with an Aquaculture Cage
Authors: Tu Zhisheng , Zhang Cailiang , Liu Hanqiu , Zhu Ronghua
Published: September 2023

The integrated development of offshore wind power and marine aquaculture is becoming increasingly important. However, the impact mechanism of integrating a net cage on the dynamic characteristics of offshore wind turbines remains unclear. This paper presents a design scheme for a multi-pile-supported offshore wind turbine integrated with an aquaculture net cage and conducts a preliminary theoretical analysis of the influence of an additional net cage on the wind turbine. The analysis reveals that the primary effect is an increase in hydrodynamic loads on the wind turbine foundation, while the structural frequency of the wind turbine remains largely unaffected. Furthermore, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical models, whose accuracy is verified by physical experiments, are utilized to compare the hydrodynamic characteristics of the offshore wind turbine foundation with and without the net cage, considering different net solidities. The simulations identify significant changes in the flow field surrounding the foundation due to the presence of the net cage, resulting in a considerable increase in the overall hydrodynamic load on the foundation. Moreover, the mutual interference between the netting and the foundation amplifies their respective hydrodynamic loads and concentrates these loads at the upstream section of the structure. The maximum increase in hydrodynamic load for a single pile reaches 6.32 times its original value, posing significant risks to the structure. Finally, a preliminary feasibility analysis of the scheme was conducted. The results presented in this article can serve as a theoretical basis for the design of such innovative structures.
Unmanned Vessel Collision Avoidance Algorithm by Dynamic Window Approach Based on COLREGs Considering the Effects of the Wind and Wave
Authors: Yuan Xiaoyu , Tong Chengchang , He Guoxiang , Wang Hongbo
Published: September 2023

In recent years, the rapid development of artificial intelligence algorithms has promoted the intelligent transformation of the ship industry; unmanned surface vessels (USVs) have become a widely used representative product. The dynamic window approach (DWA) is an effective robotic collision avoidance algorithm; however, there are deficiencies in its application to the ship field. First, the DWA algorithm does not consider International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), which must be met for ship collision avoidance to ensure the navigational safety of the USV and other ships. Second, the DWA algorithm does not consider the influence of wind and waves on the collision avoidance of USVs in actual navigational environments. Reasonable use of windy and wavy environments not only improves navigational safety but also saves navigational time and fuel consumption, thereby improving the economy. Therefore, this paper proposes an improvement algorithm by DWA referred to as utility DWA (UDWA) based on COLREGs considering the sailing environment. The velocity sampling area was improved by dividing the priority, and the velocity function in the objective function was enhanced to convert the effect of wind and waves on the USVs into a change in velocity. The simulation results showed that the UDWA algorithm optimized the distance to the obstacle ship by 43.25%, 31.36%, and 67.81% in a head-on situation, crossing situation, and overtaking situation, respectively, compared to the COLREGs-compliant DWA algorithm, which considers the COLREGs. The improved algorithm not only follows the COLREGs but also has better flexibility in emergency collision avoidance and can safely and economically navigate and complete collision avoidance in windy and wavy environments.
Trends in the Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Paracoccidioidomycosis in the Endemic Area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Falcão Eduardo Mastrangelo Marinho , Freitas Dayvison Francis Saraiva , Coutinho Ziadir Francisco , Quintella Leonardo Pereira , Muniz Mauro de Medeiros , Almeida-Paes Rodrigo , Zancopé-Oliveira Rosely Maria , de Macedo Priscila Marques , do Valle Antonio Carlos Francesconi
Published: September 2023

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a neglected endemic mycosis in Latin America. Most cases occur in Brazil. It is classified as PCM infection and PCM disease and is subdivided into chronic (adult type) or acute (juvenile type) disease, with the latter being less frequent and more severe. In 2016, we reported an increase in the numbers of patients diagnosed with acute PCM after a highway’s construction. We conducted a study at INI-Fiocruz, a reference center for infectious diseases, including endemic mycoses, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, aiming to deepen the analysis of this new clinical and epidemiological profile of PCM. The authors developed a retrospective study including 170 patients diagnosed with PCM between 2010 and 2019. There was an increase in the number of atypical and severe forms, starting in 2014. In subsequent years, we detected a higher incidence of adverse outcomes with patients requiring more hospitalizations and an increased mortality rate. We estimate that PCM has become more severe throughout the Rio de Janeiro state, affecting a greater number of young individuals and leading to a greater number of and longer hospitalizations. Surveillance measures and close monitoring of future notification data in the state, with emphasis on children, adolescents, and young adults are necessary for a better understanding of the perpetuation of this public health challenge.
Complement System Proteins in the Human Aqueous Humor and Their Association with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Authors: Vashishtha Ayushi , Maina Sharon W. , Altman Jeremy , Jones Garrett , Lee Tae Jin , Bollinger Kathryn E. , Ulrich Lane , Töteberg-Harms Marc , Estes Amy J. , Zhi Wenbo , Sharma Shruti , Sharma Ashok
Published: September 2023

This study discovers the complement protein profile in the aqueous humor (AH) of human subjects and investigates its association with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) pathogenesis. Among the 32 complement proteins identified, 22 were highly abundant and detected in more than 50% of AH samples. The most predominant active complement proteins in the AH are C3, C4B, C4A, CFB, CFD, and C9. Additionally, the most prevalent complement regulators and receptors include CLU, SERPING1, F2, CFH, CFI, and VTN. Significant alterations in complement proteins were observed in individuals with POAG compared to those with cataracts. Specifically, complement protein F2 was upregulated, while C8G, C6, and CFH were downregulated in POAG samples. Stratification of the samples by race and sex revealed distinct alterations of complement proteins in patients with POAG. In the African American cohort, five complement proteins (C4A, C4B, F2, C7, and C3) were upregulated in POAG compared to cataract patients. In the Caucasian cohort, eight complement proteins (C3, SERPING1, CFI, CLU, CFHR1, C8G, C6, and CFH) were downregulated in the POAG samples compared to the cataract samples. Within the male cohort, three complement proteins (CLU, C6, and CFH) were downregulated in POAG patients compared to those with cataracts. Whereas, within the female cohort, two complement proteins (C4B and F2) were upregulated and one (C8G) downregulated in the POAG samples when compared to cataracts. Discerning these changes in the AH complement protein profile will assist in the development of tailored therapies to modulate the complement system for managing ocular disorders. These insights may also lead to novel biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring disease progression.
How Does Market Cap Play Its Role in Returns during COVID-19? The Case of Norway
Authors: Dinh Minh Thi Hong
Published: September 2023

This research investigates the role of the large, medium, and small market cap portfolios in returns during the COVID-19 pandemic, around the ‘lockdown’ policy in March 2020 based on the Norwegian market. The main results suggest that during the event window, the medium and small portfolios are impacted more negatively than the large. During the before-event days, the large portfolio is slightly negatively affected, but it tends to be better after the event. The medium and small portfolios are not adversely affected during before the event, but they are considerably negatively affected after the event. The small portfolio is affected more severely negatively than the medium. The small portfolio is the most volatile of the three during the event window. In addition, there are opportunities to earn extremely positive abnormal returns (from 2.5%) after the event by holding the small and medium portfolios, but not for the large. It seems that more opportunities to earn extremely positive abnormal returns for the small portfolio than the medium.
Research on Price Discovery in Financial Securities: Trends and Directions for Future Research
Authors: Sharma Prashant , Agrawal Gaurav , Arora Geetika , Sharma Dinesh Kumar , Chotia Varun
Published: September 2023

The futures contracts were introduced to act as hedging instruments and ensure the price discovery (referred to as PD hereafter) mechanism for the underlying securities. If the price movement of a futures contract leads the price movement of the underlying securities in the spot market, this confirms the existence of price discovery in the market. This study undertakes an in-depth analysis of past research in order to find research trends and directions for the future in the field of price discovery. The bibliometric analysis technique is used to analyse the existing literature. The study considers the 1431 documents collected from the Scopus database for the period of 1982–2021 to conduct the descriptive and network analysis of search results. The study identifies three key clusters, i.e., the foundation of the price discovery process (Cluster 1), the econometric tools and techniques to assess the price discovery process (Cluster 2), and price discovery under different market conditions and constraints (Cluster 3). After an in-depth content analysis of these clusters, the study provides suggestions for future research in the field of price discovery. The study is the first of its type to conduct an in-depth analysis of the literature of price discovery since inception, and provides directions for future research in the field.
Allostatic Load Index Effectively Measures Chronic Stress Status in Zoo-Housed Giraffes
Authors: Beer Haley N. , Karr Lisa K. , Shrader Trenton C. , Yates Dustin T.
Published: September 2023

For giraffes, few standardized methods exist for quantifying chronic stress. Allostatic load index is quantified from a panel of multi-system stress biomarkers to estimate cumulative stress. Our objective was to determine whether a panel of biomarkers selected for their role in allostatic load would reflect the number of documented stress events experienced by giraffes. Cortisol, DHEA-S, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and fructosamine were determined in serum samples from zoo-housed giraffes (n = 18). These were correlated with the overall number and frequency of ZIMS-documented stress events experienced prior to blood collection. We also compared giraffes grouped by high vs. low total stress events and event frequencies. Giraffes experiencing higher total stress events tended to have 1.65-fold greater (p < 0.10) serum cortisol, had 1.49-fold greater (p < 0.05) serum fructosamine, and had 3.9-fold greater (p < 0.05) allostatic load. Giraffes experiencing higher stress-event frequency had 2.4-fold greater (p < 0.05) serum NEFA. Correlations for individual biomarkers with individual stress event categories were inconsistent, but DHEA-S (r = −0.44), cortisol/DHEA-S (r = 0.49), fructosamine (r = 0.54), and allostatic load (r = 0.49) correlated (p < 0.10) with total stress events. These findings indicate that the allostatic load index robustly reflected total cumulative stress events for these giraffes and was more consistent than the individual biomarkers used for its calculation. We conclude that allostatic load index is a promising tool for assessing stress in captive giraffes, although revision of the biomarker panel is warranted.
First Grade GPA as a Predictor of Later Academic Performance in High School
Authors: Papadogiannis Ilias , Poulopoulos Vassilis , Platis Nikos , Vassilakis Costas , Lepouras Georgios , Wallace Manolis
Published: September 2023

The GPA is a universally recognised and utilised metric of academic performance that is considered to also measure a student’s potential for academic performance in the future. In this short communication we examine to what extent the GPA of the first grade of high school predicts performance in the later grades of high school, either generally (as classified in an excellent student, strong student, weak student, or very weak student) or more accurately (as indicated by the exact GPA in the next grade). We also put to the test the widely held notion that it might be best if core courses such as language and mathematics contributed more to the calculation of the GPA compared to secondary courses such as physical education or music. Our findings confirm the predictive properties of the GPA but strongly rebut the notion that a weighted GPA might achieve a better reflection of students’ potential. The study is based on the academic records of every student in Greece that progressed from the first to third grade of high school in the 2016–2019 period. This dataset contains records of more than 85,000 students, making it one of the most extensive studies ever conducted on the topic of the properties of the GPA.