bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of mild to moderate COVID-19 infection on the cardiorespiratory fitness of firefighters
Authors: D'Isabel Susanne , Berny Lauren M. , Frost Alex , Thongphok Chanhtel , Jack Kepra , Chaudhry Sundeep , Arena Ross , Smith Denise L.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

An adequate level of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is critical for firefighters to perform the strenuous and physiologically demanding work of firefighting safely and effectively. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been shown to negatively impact CRF in both the acute phase and longer-term following infection. This study aimed to determine changes to the CRF of firefighters pre- to post-mild to moderate COVID-19 infection and to investigate the impact of days past COVID-19 infection on change in CRF.

Methods

CRF measures from cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) at annual occupational health exams that occurred pre-COVID-19 infection in 2019 were obtained for firefighters from seven Arizona fire departments. Measures were compared to CPET evaluations from annual health exams the following year in a cohort of firefighters who self-reported mild to moderate illness following COVID-19 infection between exams.

Results

Among a cohort of 103 firefighters, mean age 40 ± 9 years, CRF [as measured by peak oxygen consumption (VO2)] declined by an average of 2.55 ml·kg−1·min−1 or 7.3% (d = −0.38, p < 0.001) following COVID-19 infection (mean time from COVID-19 infection to CPET was 110 ± 78 days). The number of days past COVID-19 infection showed a small, yet significant, relationship to peak VO2 (r = 0.250, p = 0.011). Estimated marginal effects indicated that when biological sex, age, and BMI are controlled for, predicted peak VO2 returned to pre-COVID-19 values ~300 days after COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion

Peak VO2 (ml·kg−1·min−1) declined 7.3% among firefighters an average of 110 days past reporting mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. This decrease has implications for the operational readiness and safety of firefighters.
Bridging the Implementation Gap between Pomace Waste and Large-Scale Baker’s Yeast Production
Authors: Lisičar Vukušić Josipa , Millenautzki Thomas , Barbe Stéphan
Published: December 2023

The objectives set in the European Green Deal constitute the starting point of this review, which then focuses on the current implementation gap between agro-industrial wastes as resources for large-scale bioprocesses (e.g., baker’s yeast, bioethanol, citric acid, and amino acids). This review highlights the current lack of sustainability of the post-harvest processing of grapes and apples. In light of the European Green Deal, industrial biotechnology often lacks sustainability as well. We reviewed the recent progress reported in the literature to enhance the valorization of grape and apple pomace and the current failure to implement this research in technical processes. Nevertheless, selected recent papers show new perspectives to bridge this gap by establishing close collaborations between academic teams and industrial partners. As a final outcome, for the first time, we drew a circular flow diagram that connects agriculture post-harvest transformation with the industrial biotechnology and other industries through the substantial valorization of apple and grape pomace into renewable energy (solid biofuels) and sugar extracts as feedstock for large-scale bioprocesses (production of baker’s yeast industry, citric acid, bioethanol and amino acids). Finally, we discussed the requirements needed to achieve the successful bridging of the implementation gap between academic research and industrial innovation.
Calibration and Implementation of a Dynamic Energy Balance Model to Estimate the Temperature in a Plastic-Covered Colombian Greenhouse
Authors: Ortiz Gloria Alexandra , Chamorro Adrian Nicolas , Acuña-Caita John Fabio , López-Cruz Irineo L. , Villagran Edwin
Published: December 2023

Modeling and simulation have become fundamental tools for the microclimatic analysis of greenhouses under various climatic conditions. These models allow precise control of the climate inside the structures and the optimization of their performance under any situation. In Colombia, the availability of energy balance models adapted to local greenhouses and their climate is limited, which affects the decision-making of both technical advisors and growers. This study focused on calibrating and evaluating a dynamic energy balance model to predict the thermal behavior of an innovative type of plastic-covered greenhouse designed for the Bogotá savanna. The selected model considers fundamental heat and mass transfer processes, incorporating parameters that depend on the architecture of the structure and local climatic conditions, making it suitable for protected agriculture in Colombia. The results of the post-calibration evaluation showed that the model is highly accurate, with a temperature prediction efficiency close to 86%. This ensures that the model can accurately predict the thermal behavior of the greenhouse being evaluated. It is important to note that the model can also anticipate phenomena characteristics of Colombian greenhouses, such as thermal inversion. This advance has become a valuable tool for decision-making in protected agriculture in the region.
A Stochastic Bayesian Artificial Intelligence Framework to Assess Climatological Water Balance under Missing Variables for Evapotranspiration Estimates
Authors: Ribeiro Vitor P. , Desuó Neto Luiz , Marques Patricia A. A. , Achcar Jorge A. , Junqueira Adriano M. , Chinatto Adilson W. , Junqueira Cynthia C. M. , Maciel Carlos D. , Balestieri José Antônio P.
Published: December 2023

The sustainable use of water resources is of utmost importance given climatological changes and water scarcity, alongside the many socioeconomic factors that rely on clean water availability, such as food security. In this context, developing tools to minimize water waste in irrigation is paramount for sustainable food production. The evapotranspiration estimate is a tool to evaluate the water volume required to achieve optimal crop yield with the least amount of water waste. The Penman-Monteith equation is the gold standard for this task, despite it becoming inapplicable if any of its required climatological variables are missing. In this paper, we present a stochastic Bayesian framework to model the non-linear and non-stationary time series for the evapotranspiration estimate via Bayesian regression. We also leverage Bayesian networks and Bayesian inference to provide estimates for missing climatological data. Our obtained Bayesian regression equation achieves 0.087 mm · day−1 for the RMSE metric, compared to the expected time series, with wind speed and net incident solar radiation as the main components. Lastly, we show that the evapotranspiration time series, with missing climatological data inferred by the Bayesian network, achieves an RMSE metric ranging from 0.074 to 0.286 mm · day−1.
Effects of LED Light Colors on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Cecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Concentrations and Microbiota in Broilers
Authors: Liu Yihui , He Youkuan , Fan Siqin , Gong Xinyu , Zhou Yuqiao , Jian Yaowei , Ouyang Jiuyi , Jiang Qianming , Zhang Peihua
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to explore the effects of light-emitting diode (LED) light colors on growth, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbiota in broilers. A total of 360 healthy male Arbor Acres (AA) broilers with similar weights were selected and divided into four groups with six replicates in each group and 15 broilers in each replicate: LED white light (W), LED green light (G), LED blue light (B), and LED blue–green composite light (BG). The experimental period was 42 d, the light cycle of each treatment group was 23L:1D (23 h of light, one hour of darkness) from 1 to 3 d, and the light cycle from 4 to 42 d was 16L:8D; light intensity was 20 Lux. The results showed that the average daily feed intake and final weight of broilers receiving the B group were the highest in 21 d and 42 d compared with other groups. The average daily feed intake of the BG group was lower than that of the B group. In the same light color, small intestine villus height grows with age. On days 21 and 42, compared with other groups, the ileal villus height was higher, the crypt depth was lower, and the V/C ratio (villus to crypt ratio) was higher in the BG group. The combination of blue–green composite light was beneficial to increase the content of propionate, isobutyrate, butyrate, isovalerate, and valerate in the cecum of 21-day-old broilers and the content of isobutyrate in the cecum of 42-day-old broilers, and a decrease in cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations with age. The B group and the BG group had higher abundances of Bacteroidetes at day 21 of age and lower abundances of Phascolarctobacterium at day 42. However, no cecal microbiota differences were detected by the Bonferroni-corrected test. In general, our research results showed that light color could promote the growth of broilers by affecting intestinal morphology, microbiota abundance (needs to be validated by further experiments), and cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations. And blue and blue–green composite lights are more suitable for broiler growth.
Evaluation of the Diagnosis and Antibiotic Prescription Pattern in Patients Hospitalized with Urinary Tract Infections: Single-Center Study from a University-Affiliated Hospital
Authors: Fésüs Adina , Matuz Mária , Papfalvi Erika , Hambalek Helga , Ruzsa Roxána , Tánczos Bence , Bácskay Ildikó , Lekli István , Illés Árpád , Benkő Ria
Published: December 2023

UTIs (urinary tract infections) are common bacterial infections with a non-negligible hospitalization rate. The diagnosis of UTIs remains a challenge for prescribers and a common source of misdiagnosis. This retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate whether recorded diagnosis by clinicians and empirical antibiotic therapy met the EAU (European Association of Urology) guideline in patients hospitalized with UTI. The study was conducted at an internal medicine unit of a tertiary care medical center in Hungary. The diagnosis was assessed based on clinical presentation, physical examination, and laboratory (including microbiological) results, considering all the potential risk factors. Diagnosis was considered misdiagnosis when not confirmed by clinical presentation or clinical signs and symptoms. Evaluation of empirical antibiotic therapy was performed only for confirmed UTIs. Empirical treatment was considered guideline-adherent when complying with the relevant recommendations. Out of 185 patients, 41.6% failed to meet EAU-based UTI diagnosis criteria, of which 27.6% were misdiagnosed and 14.1% were ABU (asymptomatic bacteriuria). The diagnosis of urosepsis recorded at admission (9.7%, 18/185) was not confirmed either by clinical or microbiological tests in five (5/18) cases. The initial empirical therapies for UTI showed a relatively low rate (45.4%) of guideline adherence regarding agent selection. The most common guideline-non-adherent therapies were combinations with metronidazole (16.7%). Dosage appropriateness assessments showed a guideline adherence rate of 36.1%, and underdosing due to high body weight was common (9.3%). Overall (agent, route of administration, dose, duration) guideline adherence was found to be substantially low (10.2%). We found a relatively high rate of misdiagnosed UTIs. Written protocols on the ward may be crucial in reducing misdiagnosis and in optimizing antibiotic use.
Anti-Cancer Properties of Resveratrol: A Focus on Its Impact on Mitochondrial Functions
Authors: Kursvietiene Lolita , Kopustinskiene Dalia M. , Staneviciene Inga , Mongirdiene Ausra , Kubová Kateřina , Masteikova Ruta , Bernatoniene Jurga
Published: November 2023

Cancer is one of the most serious public health issues worldwide, demanding ongoing efforts to find novel therapeutic agents and approaches. Amid growing interest in the oncological applications of phytochemicals, particularly polyphenols, resveratrol—a naturally occurring polyphenolic stilbene derivative—has emerged as a candidate of interest. This review analyzes the pleiotropic anti-cancer effects of resveratrol, including its modulation of apoptotic pathways, cell cycle regulation, inflammation, angiogenesis, and metastasis, its interaction with cancer stem cells and the tumor microenvironment. The effects of resveratrol on mitochondrial functions, which are crucial to cancer development, are also discussed. Future research directions are identified, including the elucidation of specific molecular targets, to facilitate the clinical translation of resveratrol in cancer prevention and therapy.
A Family Affair: Diagnosing and Delimiting Prostygnidae (Opiliones: Gonyleptoidea)
Authors: Villarreal Osvaldo , Kury Adriano B.
Published: December 2023

The former subfamily Prostygninae was recently elevated to family rank, and its phylogenetic relationships were investigated based on molecular data. In this study, we provide a revised morphological diagnosis for the family, focusing on characters from the exomorphology and male genital morphology. Morphological data supporting their inclusion in the MECO clade are provided. Additionally, a key to the genera is presented, and Prostygnus stellatussp. nov., a new Ecuadorian species, is described. The geographic distribution of prostygnid species is mapped. An overview of the inclusion and exclusion of genera formerly within Prostygninae, but currently in Gonyleptoidea incertae sedis, is presented, and the following new familial assignments are proposed: Binamballeus Roewer, 1952 and Puna metatarsalis (Kury, 1994) comb. nov. (transferred to Cranaidae), Sclerostygnellus Roewer, 1943 (transferred to Manaosbiidae) and Globitarsus Roewer, 1913, Lisarea Roewer, 1943, Meridanatus Roewer, 1943, Micropachylus Roewer, 1913, Prostygnidius Roewer, 1915, and Troya Roewer, 1914 (all transferred to Nomoclastidae). Three subjective synonyms of Troya are proposed: Peladoius Roewer, 1914 syn. nov., Prostygnellus Roewer, 1914 syn. nov., and Minyssus Roewer, 1943 syn. nov., combining their species with Troya and, finally, Prostygnellus riveti Roewer, 1914 is considered as a junior secondary homonym of Troya riveti Roewer, 1914 syn. nov.
A Simplified One-Parallel-Element Automatic Impedance-Matching Network Applied to Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers Driving
Authors: Andrade João Pedro T. , Bazan Pedro Leon F. C. , Medeiros Vivian S. , Kubrusly Alan C.
Published: December 2023

Ultrasonic waves generated and received by electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) are advantageous in non-destructive testing, mainly due to the ability to operate without physical contact with the medium under test. Nevertheless, they present a main drawback of less efficiency, which leads to a lower signal-to-noise ratio. To overcome this, the L-network impedance-matching network is often used in order to ensure maximum power transfer to the EMAT from the excitation electronics. There is a wide range of factors that affect an EMAT’s impedance, apart from the transducer itself; namely, the properties of the specimen material, temperature, and frequency. Therefore, to ensure optimal power transfer, the matching network’s configuration needs to be fine-tuned often. Therefore, the automation of the laborious process of manually adjusting the network is of great benefit to the use of EMAT transducers. In this work, a simplified one-parallel-element automatic matching network is proposed and its theoretical optimal value is derived. Next, an automatic matching network was designed and fabricated. Experiments were performed with two different EMATs at several frequencies obtaining good agreement with theoretical predictions. The automatic system was able to determine the best configuration for the one-element matching network and provided up to 5.6 dB gain, similar to a standard manual solution and considerably faster.
An Efficient Method for Solving Two-Dimensional Partial Differential Equations with the Deep Operator Network
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Wang Yichao , Peng Xiting , Zhang Chaofeng
Published: November 2023

Partial differential equations (PDEs) usually apply for modeling complex physical phenomena in the real world, and the corresponding solution is the key to interpreting these problems. Generally, traditional solving methods suffer from inefficiency and time consumption. At the same time, the current rise in machine learning algorithms, represented by the Deep Operator Network (DeepONet), could compensate for these shortcomings and effectively predict the solutions of PDEs by learning the operators from the data. The current deep learning-based methods focus on solving one-dimensional PDEs, but the research on higher-dimensional problems is still in development. Therefore, this paper proposes an efficient scheme to predict the solution of two-dimensional PDEs with improved DeepONet. In order to construct the data needed for training, the functions are sampled from a classical function space and produce the corresponding two-dimensional data. The difference method is used to obtain the numerical solutions of the PDEs and form a point-value data set. For training the network, the matrix representing two-dimensional functions is processed to form vectors and adapt the DeepONet model perfectly. In addition, we theoretically prove that the discrete point division of the data ensures that the model loss is guaranteed to be in a small range. This method is verified for predicting the two-dimensional Poisson equation and heat conduction equation solutions through experiments. Compared with other methods, the proposed scheme is simple and effective.
The Effect of Cell-Free Nontuberculous Mycobacterium Supernatants on Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Formation of Opportunistic Pathogens
Authors: Shchuplova Elena A. , Gogoleva Olga A.
Published: December 2023

The presence of nontuberculous mycobacteria in biofilms on the surface of medical devices may affect the opportunistic pathogens that are common inhabitants of such biofilms. This study assessed the effect of Mycolicibacterium iranicum cell-free supernatants on biofilm formation and antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis differing in the anti-hemoglobin activity level. The cell-free supernatants have been shown to stimulate biofilm formation and also help reduce susceptibility of opportunistic pathogens to a number of antibiotics.
SSR Genotyping and Marker–Trait Association with Yield Components in a Kazakh Germplasm Collection of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
Authors: Mazkirat Shynar , Baitarakova Kuralay , Kudaybergenov Mukhtar , Babissekova Dilyara , Bastaubayeva Sholpan , Bulatova Kulpash , Shavrukov Yuri
Published: November 2023

Genetic diversity and marker–trait association with yield-related components were assessed in 39 chickpea accessions from a germplasm collection with either spring or autumn-sown seeds in South-Eastern Kazakhstan. Chickpea accessions originated from Azerbaijan, Germany, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Syria, and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). Eleven SSR markers were used for molecular genotyping. Yield and yield components were evaluated in nine traits in experiments with spring and autumn seed sowing. The number of alleles of polymorphic markers varied from 2 to 11. The greatest polymorphism was found in the studied chickpea genotypes using SSR marker TA22 (11 alleles), while NCPGR6 and NCPGR12 markers were monomorphic. In the studied chickpea accessions, unique alleles of the SSR loci TA14, TA46, TA76s, and TA142 were found that were not previously described by other authors. An analysis of correlation relationships between yield-related traits in chickpea revealed the dependence of yield on plant height, branching, and the setting of a large number of beans. These traits showed maximal values in experiments with chickpea plants from autumn seed sowing. An analysis of the relationship between the SSR markers applied and morphological yield-related traits revealed several informative markers associated with important traits, such as plant height, height to first pod, number of branches, number of productive nodes, number of pods per plant, hundred seed weight, seed weight per plant, and seed yield.
The Relationship between Balance Confidence and Center of Pressure in Lower-Limb Prosthesis Users
Authors: Guerra Gary , Smith John D. , Yoon Eun-Jung
Published: December 2023

Background: Agreement between the activities-specific balance confidence scale (ABC) and center of pressure (CoP) in prosthesis users is still very much unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the agreement between ABC and CoP in lower-limb prosthesis users. Methods: Twenty-one individuals with lower-limb prostheses were recruited. Participants were provided with the ABC scale and performed static balance tasks during eyes opened (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions whilst standing on a force platform. Pearson product moment coefficients between CoP displacements and ABC scores were performed. Participants were also stratified by those who had better (≥80 on ABC scale) and less (<80 on ABC scale) perceived balance confidence. Displacement was compared using an independent t-test with Cohen’s d to estimate effect size with alpha set at 0.05 for these tests. Results: There was a significant inverse moderate relationship between eyes opened displacement (EOD) (18.3 ± 12.5 cm) and ABC (75.1 ± 18.3%), r = (19)−0.58, p = 0.006, as well as eyes closed displacement (ECD) (37.7 ± 22.1 cm) and ABC, r = (19)−0.56, p = 0.008. No significant difference in EOD (t(19) = 1.36, p = 0.189, d = 0.61) and ECD (t(19) = 1.47, p = 0.156, d = 0.66) was seen between those with greater and less balance confidence. Conclusions: Self-report and performance-based balance outcome measures are recommended when assessing lower-limb prostheses users.
Application of a Receptor-Binding-Domain-Based Simple Immunoassay for Assessing Humoral Immunity against Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Virus Variants
Authors: Mózner Orsolya , Moldvay Judit , Szabó Kata Sára , Vaskó Dorottya , Domján Júlia , Ács Dorottya , Ligeti Zoltán , Fehér Csaba , Hirsch Edit , Puskás László , Stahl Cordula , Frey Manfred , Sarkadi Balázs
Published: December 2023

We have developed a simple, rapid, high-throughput RBD-based ELISA to assess the humoral immunity against emerging SARS-CoV-2 virus variants. The cDNAs of the His-tagged RBD proteins of the virus variants were stably engineered into HEK cells secreting the protein into the supernatant, and RBD purification was performed by Ni-chromatography and buffer exchange by membrane filtration. The simplified assay uses single dilutions of sera from finger-pricked native blood samples, purified RBD in 96-well plates, and a chromogenic dye for development. The results of this RBD-ELISA were confirmed to correlate with those of a commercial immunoassay measuring antibodies against the Wuhan strain, as well as direct virus neutralization assays assessing the cellular effects of the Wuhan and the Omicron (BA.5) variants. Here, we document the applicability of this ELISA to assess the variant-specific humoral immunity in vaccinated and convalescent patients, as well as to follow the time course of selective vaccination response. This simple and rapid assay, easily modified to detect humoral immunity against emerging SARS-CoV-2 virus variants, may help to assess the level of antiviral protection after vaccination or infection.
Interaction between Gut Microbiota and Dendritic Cells in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Zaher Kawther , Basingab Fatemah
Published: December 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy that manifests in serial stages and has been observed to have an escalating incidence in modern societies, causing a significant global health problem. The development of CRC is influenced by various exogenous factors, including lifestyle, diet, nutrition, environment, and microbiota, that can affect host cells, including immune cells. Various immune dysfunctions have been recognized in patients with CRC at different stages of this disease. The signature of microbiota in the development of CRC—inflammation related to obesity, diet, and reactive host cells, such as dendritic cells (DCs)—has been highlighted by many studies. This study focuses on DCs, the primary cellular mediators linking innate and adaptive immune responses against cancer. In addition, this review focuses on the role of microbiota in dysbiosis and how it affects DCs and, in turn, the immune response and progression of CRC by stimulating different sets of T cells. Additionally, DCs’ role in protecting this delicate balance is examined. This is to determine how gene yields of commensal microbiota may be critical in restoring this balance when disrupted. The stages of the disease and major checkpoints are discussed, as well as the role of the C-type lectin receptor of immature DCs pattern recognition receptor in CRC. Finally, based on a thorough examination of worldwide clinical studies and recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy, it is recommended that innovative approaches that integrate DC vaccination strategies with checkpoint inhibitors be considered. This approach holds great promise for improving CRC management.
Efficient Treatment of Pulpitis via Transplantation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Pericytes Partially through LTBP1-Mediated T Cell Suppression
Authors: Li Anqi , Li Zhuoran , Chiu Weicheng , Xiong Chuanfeng , Chen Qian , Chen Junhua , Lai Xingqiang , Li Weiqiang , Ke Qiong , Liu Jia , Zhang Xinchun
Published: December 2023

Dental pulp pericytes are reported to have the capacity to generate odontoblasts and express multiple cytokines and chemokines that regulate the local immune microenvironment, thus participating in the repair of dental pulp injury in vivo. However, it has not yet been reported whether the transplantation of exogenous pericytes can effectively treat pulpitis, and the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. In this study, using a lineage-tracing mouse model, we showed that most dental pulp pericytes are derived from cranial neural crest. Then, we demonstrated that the ablation of pericytes could induce a pulpitis-like phenotype in uninfected dental pulp in mice, and we showed that the significant loss of pericytes occurs during pupal inflammation, implying that the transplantation of pericytes may help to restore dental pulp homeostasis during pulpitis. Subsequently, we successfully generated pericytes with immunomodulatory activity from human pluripotent stem cells through the intermediate stage of the cranial neural crest with a high level of efficiency. Most strikingly, for the first time we showed that, compared with the untreated pulpitis group, the transplantation of hPSC-derived pericytes could substantially inhibit vascular permeability (the extravascular deposition of fibrinogen, ** p < 0.01), alleviate pulpal inflammation (TCR+ cell infiltration, * p < 0.05), and promote the regeneration of dentin (** p < 0.01) in the mouse model of pulpitis. In addition, we discovered that the knockdown of latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 1 (LTBP1) remarkably suppressed the immunoregulation ability of pericytes in vitro and compromised their in vivo regenerative potential in pulpitis. These results indicate that the transplantation of pericytes could efficiently rescue the aberrant phenotype of pulpal inflammation, which may be partially due to LTBP1-mediated T cell suppression.
Gelatin–Chitosan Hydrogel Biological, Antimicrobial and Mechanical Properties for Dental Applications
Authors: Flores-Espinoza Andrea Itzamantul , Garcia-Contreras Rene , Guzman-Rocha Dulce Araceli , Aranda-Herrera Benjamin , Chavez-Granados Patricia Alejandra , Jurado Carlos A. , Alfawaz Yasser F. , Alshabib Abdulrahman
Published: December 2023

Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide sourced from crustaceans and insects, is often used with hydrogels in wound care. Evaluating its cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties is crucial for its potential use in dentistry. Objective: To investigate the mechanical properties of gelatin hydrogels based on decaethylated chitosan and antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans and their biological effects with stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs). Material and methods: Gelatin–chitosan hydrogels were synthesized at concentrations of 0%, 0.2% and 0.5%. Enzymatic and hydrolytic degradation, along with swelling capacity, was assessed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was employed to characterize the hydrogels. The interaction between hydrogels and SCAPs was examined through initial adhesion and cell proliferation at 24 and 48 h, using the Thiazolyl Blue Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT assay). The antimicrobial effect was evaluated using agar diffusion and a microdilution test against S. mutans. Uniaxial tensile strength (UTS) was also measured to assess the mechanical properties of the hydrogels. Results: The hydrogels underwent hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation at 30, 220, 300 min and 15, 25, 30 min, respectively. Significantly, (p < 0.01) swelling capacity occurred at 20, 40, 30 min, respectively. Gelatin–chitosan hydrogels’ functional groups were confirmed using vibrational pattern analysis. SCAPs proliferation corresponded to 24 h = 73 ± 2%, 82 ± 2%, 61 ± 6% and 48 h = 83 ± 11%, 86 ± 2%, 44 ± 2%, respectively. The bacterial survival of hydrogel interaction was found to be 96 ± 1%, 17 ± 1.5% (p < 0.01) and 1 ± 0.5% (p < 0.01), respectively. UTS showed enhanced (p < 0.05) mechanical properties with chitosan presence. Conclusion: Gelatin–chitosan hydrogels displayed favorable degradation, swelling capacity, mild dose-dependent cytotoxicity, significant proliferation with stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs), substantial antimicrobial effects against S. mutans and enhanced mechanical properties. These findings highlight their potential applications as postoperative care dressings.
Effect of Hindwings on the Aerodynamics and Passive Dynamic Stability of a Hovering Hawkmoth
Authors: Noda Ryusuke , Nakata Toshiyuki , Liu Hao
Published: December 2023

Insects are able to fly stably in the complex environment of the various gusts that occur in nature. In addition, many insects suffer wing damage in their lives, but many species of insects are capable of flying without their hindwings. Here, we evaluated the effect of hindwings on aerodynamics using a Navier–Stokes-based numerical model, and then the passive dynamic stability was evaluated by coupling the equation of motion in three degrees of freedom with the aerodynamic forces estimated by the CFD solver under large and small perturbation conditions. In terms of aerodynamic effects, the presence of the hindwings slightly reduces the efficiency for lift generation but enhances the partial LEV circulation and increases the downwash around the wing root. In terms of thrust, increasing the wing area around the hindwing region increases the thrust, and the relationship is almost proportional at the cycle-averaged value. The passive dynamic stability was not clearly affected by the presence of the hindwings, but the stability was slightly improved depending on the perturbation direction. These results may be useful for the integrated design of wing geometry and flight control systems in the development of flapping-winged micro air vehicles.
Translating Virtual Prey-Predator Interaction to Real-World Robotic Environments: Enabling Multimodal Sensing and Evolutionary Dynamics
Authors: Sun Xuelong , Hu Cheng , Liu Tian , Yue Shigang , Peng Jigen , Fu Qinbing
Published: December 2023

Prey-predator interactions play a pivotal role in elucidating the evolution and adaptation of various organism’s traits. Numerous approaches have been employed to study the dynamics of prey-predator interaction systems, with agent-based methodologies gaining popularity. However, existing agent-based models are limited in their ability to handle multi-modal interactions, which are believed to be crucial for understanding living organisms. Conversely, prevailing prey-predator integration studies often rely on mathematical models and computer simulations, neglecting real-world constraints and noise. These elusive attributes, challenging to model, can lead to emergent behaviors and embodied intelligence. To bridge these gaps, our study designs and implements a prey-predator interaction scenario that incorporates visual and olfactory sensory cues not only in computer simulations but also in a real multi-robot system. Observed emergent spatial-temporal dynamics demonstrate successful transitioning of investigating prey-predator interactions from virtual simulations to the tangible world. It highlights the potential of multi-robotics approaches for studying prey-predator interactions and lays the groundwork for future investigations involving multi-modal sensory processing while considering real-world constraints.
Preparation of Silicon Oxide-Carbon Composite with Tailored Electrochemical Properties for Anode in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Kim Sang Jin , Ha Seung-Jae , Lee Jea Uk , Jeon Young-Pyo , Hong Jin-Yong
Published: December 2023

For high-efficiency and high-stability lithium ion batteries, a silicon oxide-based carbon composite has been developed as an anode material. To minimize structural defects (cracking and pulverization) due to volumetric contraction/expansion during charge/discharge, silicon oxide (SiOx) is adopted. A pitch—a carbon precursor—is introduced to the surface of SiOx using the mechanofusion method. The introduced pitch precursor can be readily transformed into a carbon layer through stabilization and carbonization processes, resulting in SiOx@C. This carbon layer plays a crucial role in buffering the volume expansion of SiOx during lithiation/delithiation processes, enhancing electrical conductivity, and preventing direct contact with the electrolyte. In order to improve the capacity and cycle stability of SiOx, the electrochemical performances of SiOx@C composites are comparatively analyzed according to the mixing ratio of SiOx and pitch, as well as the loading amount in the anode material. Compared to pristine SiOx, the SiOx@C composite prepared through the optimization of the experimental conditions exhibits approximately 1.6 and 1.8 times higher discharge capacity and initial coulombic efficiency, respectively. In addition, it shows excellent capacity retention and cycle stability, even after more than 300 charge and discharge tests.
Analysis of DNA Methylation Differences during the JIII Formation of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
Authors: Wang Peng , Li Yongxia , Liu Zhenkai , Zhang Wei , Li Dongzhen , Wang Xuan , Wen Xiaojian , Feng Yuqian , Zhang Xingyao
Published: December 2023

DNA methylation is a pivotal process that regulates gene expression and facilitates rapid adaptation to challenging environments. The pinewood nematode (PWN; Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), the causative agent of pine wilt disease, survives at low temperatures through third-stage dispersal juvenile, making it a major pathogen for pines in Asia. To comprehend the impact of DNA methylation on the formation and environmental adaptation of third-stage dispersal juvenile, we conducted whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and transcriptional sequencing on both the third-stage dispersal juvenile and three other propagative juvenile stages of PWN. Our findings revealed that the average methylation rate of cytosine in the samples ranged from 0.89% to 0.99%. Moreover, we observed significant DNA methylation changes in the third-stage dispersal juvenile and the second-stage propagative juvenile of PWN, including differentially methylated cytosine (DMCs, n = 435) and regions (DMRs, n = 72). In the joint analysis of methylation-associated transcription, we observed that 23 genes exhibited overlap between differentially methylated regions and differential gene expression during the formation of the third-stage dispersal juvenile of PWN. Further functional analysis of these genes revealed enrichment in processes related to lipid metabolism and fatty acid synthesis. These findings emphasize the significance of DNA methylation in the development of third-stage dispersal juvenile of PWN, as it regulates transcription to enhance the probability of rapid expansion in PWN.
Ginkgo biloba: Antioxidant Activity and In Silico Central Nervous System Potential
Authors: Suárez-González Eduardo , Sandoval-Ramírez Jesús , Flores-Hernández Jorge , Carrasco-Carballo Alan
Published: December 2023

Ginkgo biloba (GB) extracts have been used in clinical studies as an alternative therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the exact bioaction mechanism has not yet been elucidated. In this work, an in silico study on GB metabolites was carried out using SwissTargetPrediction to determine the proteins associated with AD. The resulting proteins, AChE, MAO-A, MAO-B, β-secretase and γ-secretase, were studied by molecular docking, resulting in the finding that kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin have multitarget potential against AD. These compounds also exhibit antioxidant activity towards reactive oxygen species (ROS), so antioxidant tests were performed on the extracts using the DPPH and ABTS techniques. The ethanol and ethyl acetate GB extracts showed an important inhibition percentage, higher than 80%, at a dose of 0.01 mg/mL. The effect of GB extracts on AD resulted in multitarget action through two pathways: firstly, inhibiting enzymes responsible for degrading neurotransmitters and forming amyloid plaques; secondly, decreasing ROS in the central nervous system (CNS), reducing its deterioration, and promoting the formation of amyloid plaques. The results of this work demonstrate the great potential of GB as a medicinal plant.
Preparation and Characterization of High-Performance Composite Coatings Compatible with Near-Infrared Low Reflectivity and Low Infrared Emissivity
Authors: Zhuang Yueting , Zhang Weigang , Zhang Qianfeng
Published: December 2023

Polyurethane (PU)/Al-graphene composite coating with low infrared emissivity, a low near-infrared reflectivity of 1.06 μm, and satisfactory mechanical properties was prepared by using Al powder and graphene as composite pigments and PU as a binder, respectively. The study investigated the impact of the mass ratio of graphene to Al powder, as well as the total addition of functional fillers (Al powder and graphene), on infrared emissivity and near-infrared reflectivity, and the mechanical properties of the coating were studied. The results show that a large number of conjugated systems in the molecular structure of graphene can produce strong absorption of near-infrared radiation, allowing for the coating to exhibit low reflectivity at 1.06 μm in near-infrared radiation. The flake Al powder, with good electrical conductivity, can create a strong reflection in the 8–14 μm far-infrared radiation range, resulting in low emissivity and providing the coating with good infrared and laser-compatible stealth performance. By adjusting the mass ratio of graphene to Al powder, the infrared emissivity at 8–14 μm can be tuned from 0.371 to 0.644, and the reflectivity at 1.06 μm can be adjusted from 22.9% to 61.6%. Additionally, the coatings demonstrate satisfactory mechanical properties, with adhesion strength, flexibility, and impact strength reaching grade 1, 2 mm, and 50 kg · cm, respectively, for coatings with different mass ratios of graphene to Al powder. The PU/Al-graphene composite coating can be regarded as a new type of infrared and laser compatible stealth coating with good functional and mechanical properties.
Advances in P(VDF-TrFE) Composites: A Methodical Review on Enhanced Properties and Emerging Electronics Applications
Authors: P S Lekshmi Priya , Swain Biswaranjan , Rajput Shailendra , Behera Saubhagyalaxmi , Parida Sabyasachi
Published: December 2023

Piezoelectric polymers are a class of material that belong to carbon–hydrogen-based organic materials with a long polymer chain. They fill the void where single crystals and ceramics fail to perform. This characteristic of piezoelectric polymers made them unique. Their piezoelectric stress constant is higher than ceramics and the piezoelectric strain is lower compared to ceramics. This study’s goal is to present the most recent information on poly(vinylidene fluoride) with trifluoroethylene P(VDF-TrFE), a major copolymer of poly(vinylidene fluoride) PVDF with piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric characteristics. The fabrication of P(VDF-TrFE) composites and their usage in a variety of applications, including in actuators, transducers, generators, and energy harvesting, are the primary topics of this work. The report provides an analysis of how the addition of fillers improves some of the features of P(VDF-TrFE). Commonly utilized polymer composite preparation techniques, including spinning, Langmuir–Blodgett (LB), solution casting, melt extrusion, and electrospinning are described, along with their effects on the pertinent characteristics of the polymer composite. A brief discussion on the literature related to different applications (such as bio-electronic devices, sensors and high energy-density piezoelectric generators, low mechanical damping, and easy voltage rectifiers of the polymer composite is also presented.
An Urban Image Stimulus Set Generated from Social Media
Authors: Kaur Ardaman , Rodrigues André Leite , Hoogstraten Sarah , Blanco-Mora Diego Andrés , Miranda Bruno , Morgado Paulo , Meshi Dar
Published: December 2023

Social media data, such as photos and status posts, can be tagged with location information (geotagging). This geotagged information can be used for urban spatial analysis to explore neighborhood characteristics or mobility patterns. With increasing rural-to-urban migration, there is a need for comprehensive data capturing the complexity of urban settings and their influence on human experiences. Here, we share an urban image stimulus set from the city of Lisbon that researchers can use in their experiments. The stimulus set consists of 160 geotagged urban space photographs extracted from the Flickr social media platform. We divided the city into 100 × 100 m cells to calculate the cell image density (number of images in each cell) and the cell green index (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index of each cell) and assigned these values to each geotagged image. In addition, we also computed the popularity of each image (normalized views on the social network). We also categorized these images into two putative groups by photographer status (residents and tourists), with 80 images belonging to each group. With the rise in data-driven decisions in urban planning, this stimulus set helps explore human–urban environment interaction patterns, especially if complemented with survey/neuroimaging measures or machine-learning analyses.
A New Shapley-Based Feature Selection Method in a Clinical Decision Support System for the Identification of Lung Diseases
Authors: Kababulut Fevzi Yasin , Gürkan Kuntalp Damla , Düzyel Okan , Özcan Nermin , Kuntalp Mehmet
Published: November 2023

The aim of this study is to propose a new feature selection method based on the class-based contribution of Shapley values. For this purpose, a clinical decision support system was developed to assist doctors in their diagnosis of lung diseases from lung sounds. The developed systems, which are based on the Decision Tree Algorithm (DTA), create a classification for five different cases: healthy and disease (URTI, COPD, Pneumonia, and Bronchiolitis) states. The most important reason for using a Decision Tree Classifier instead of other high-performance classifiers such as CNN and RNN is that the class contributions of Shapley values can be seen with this classifier. The systems developed consist of either a single DTA classifier or five parallel DTA classifiers each of which is optimized to make a binary classification such as healthy vs. others, COPD vs. Others, etc. Feature sets based on Power Spectral Density (PSD), Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC), and statistical characteristics extracted from lung sound recordings were used in these classifications. The results indicate that employing features selected based on the class-based contribution of Shapley values, along with utilizing an ensemble (parallel) system, leads to improved classification performance compared to performances using either raw features alone or traditional use of Shapley values.
Assessing Cross-Sectional Association of Uremic Pruritus with Serum Heavy Metal Levels: A Single-Center Study
Authors: Weng Cheng-Hao , Hu Ching-Chih , Yen Tzung-Hai , Hsu Ching-Wei , Huang Wen-Hung
Published: November 2023

(1) Background: Uremic pruritus (UP) is a common and taxing symptom in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). We have previously shown that blood lead levels (BLLs) and blood aluminum levels (BALs) were separately positively associated with UP in MHD patients. We also found that blood cadmium levels (BCLs) were positively associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related mortality in MHD patients. We wondered whether there is any correlation between BCLs and UP after adjusting for BLLs and BALs. (2) Methods: Patients enrolled in this study were all from three hemodialysis (HD) centers at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Lin-Kou Medical Center, including both the Taipei and Taoyuan branches. Correlations between UP and BLLs, BALs, BCLs, and other clinical data were analyzed. (3) Results: Eight hundred and fifty-three patients were recruited. Univariate logistic regressions showed that diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, HD duration, hemodiafiltration, dialysis clearance of urea, normalized protein catabolic rate, non-anuria, serum albumin levels, log (intact-parathyroid hormone levels), total serum cholesterol levels, serum low-density lipoprotein levels, log (blood aluminum levels), and log (blood lead levels) were associated with UP. Although log BCLs were not significantly associated with UP (p = 0.136) in univariate analysis, we still included log BCLs in multivariate logistic regression to verify their effect on UP given that our aim in this study was to verify associations between serum heavy metals and UP. Multivariate logistic regressions showed that log BLLs (OR: 27.556, 95% CI: 10.912–69.587, p < 0.001) and log BALs (OR: 5.485, 95% CI: 2.985–10.079, p < 0.001) were positively associated with UP. The other logistic regression, which stratified BLLs and BALs into high and low BLLs and BALs, respectively, showed that high BLLs or high BALs (low BLLs and low BALs as reference) (OR: 3.760, 95% CI: 2.554–5.535, p < 0.001) and high BLLs and high BALs combined (low BLLs and low BALs as reference) (OR: 10.838, 95% CI: 5.381–21.828, p < 0.001) were positively correlated with UP. (4) Conclusions: BLLs and BALs were positively correlated with UP. BCLs were not correlated with UP. Clinicians should pay more attention to the environmental sources of lead and aluminum to prevent UP.