bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Antioxidant Stability of Meat Pâté with Allium cepa Husk Extract
Authors: Chernukha Irina , Kupaeva Nadezhda , Khvostov Daniil , Bogdanova Yuliya , Smirnova Jutta , Kotenkova Elena
Published: May 2023

Antioxidants play a very important role in the food industry. Recently, both science and industry have shown substantial preference for natural antioxidants, including searching for antioxidant substances from natural sources without undesirable side effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding Allium cepa husk extract at a volume of 68 or 34 μL/g of unsalted blanched materials to replace 34% and 17% of the beef broth, respectively, which corresponded to a total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of 44.4 or 22.2 μmol-equiv. Q/100 g meat pté (i.e., 13.42 or 6.71 mg of quercetin/100 g meat pté), on the quality and safety indicators of the developed meat pté. The TAC according to a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and physicochemical and microbiological characteristics were determined during the storage of the meat pté. Proximal and UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS analyses were also performed. The addition of yellow onion husk ethanolic extract to the meat pté at both volumes allowed the maintenance of an increased content of antioxidants, which contributed to a decrease in the generation of secondary products of lipid peroxidation for 14 days of storage at 4 ∘C. The results of the microbiological analyses showed that the developed meat ptés were safe according to all indicators of microbial spoilage within 10 days of production. The results supported the use of yellow onion husk extract in the food industry to contribute to improving the functionality of meat products, developing products for a healthy lifestyle, and providing clean-label foods without or with a minimal content of synthetic additives.
Antioxidant and Immune-Related Implications of Minerals in COVID-19: A Possibility for Disease Prevention and Management
Authors: Toledano Juan M. , Puche-Juarez María , Moreno-Fernandez Jorge , Ochoa Julio J. , Diaz-Castro Javier
Published: May 2023

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic appeared, both governments and the scientific community have focused their efforts on the search for prophylactic and therapeutic alternatives in order to reduce its effects. Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been approved and administered, playing a key role in the overcoming of this situation. However, they have not reached the whole world population, and several doses will be needed in the future in order to successfully protect individuals. The disease is still here, so other strategies should be explored with the aim of supporting the immune system before and during the infection. An adequate diet is certainly associated with an optimal inflammatory and oxidative stress status, as poor levels of different nutrients could be related to altered immune responses and, consequently, an augmented susceptibility to infections and severe outcomes derived from them. Minerals exert a wide range of immune-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, which may be useful for fighting this illness. Although they cannot be considered as a definitive therapeutic solution, the available evidence to date, obtained from studies on similar respiratory diseases, might reflect the rationality of deeper investigations of the use of minerals during this pandemic.
Application of the WKB Theory to Investigate Electron Tunneling in Kek-Y Graphene
Authors: Iurov Andrii , Zhemchuzhna Liubov , Gumbs Godfrey , Huang Danhong
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we have constructed a WKB approximation for graphene having a Y-shaped Kekulé lattice distortion and a special folding of the K and K′ valleys, which leads to very specific linear energy dispersions with two non-equivalent pairs of subbands. These obtained semi-classical results, which include the action, electron momentum and wave functions, are utilized to analyze the dynamics of electron tunneling through non-square potential barriers. In particular, we explore resonant scattering of an electron by a potential barrier built on Kekulé-distorted graphene. Mathematically, a group of consecutive equations for a semi-classical action have been solved by following a perturbation approach under the condition of small strain-induced coupling parameter Δ0≪1 (a good fit to its actual value Δ0∽ 0.1). Specifically, we consider a generalized model for Kek-Y graphene with two arbitrary Fermi velocities. The dependence of the electron transmission amplitude on the potential profile V(x) and band parameters of Kekulé-patterned graphene has been explored and analyzed in detail.
REGNet: Ray-Based Enhancement Grouping for 3D Object Detection Based on Point Cloud
Authors: Zhou Feng , Rao Junkai , Shen Pei , Zhang Qi , Qi Qianfang , Li Yao
Published: May 2023

Currently, 3D objects are usually represented by 3D bounding boxes. Much research work has focused on detecting 3D objects directly from point clouds, and significant progress has been made in this field. However, we find there are there is still room for improvement in three aspects. First is point cloud feature extraction. Many successful methods are based on PointNet/PointNet++, which uses multi-layer perceptrons (MLP) to extract features to generate seed points, without considering foreground and background clues. The second aspect is grouping. The “vote-based cluster” grouping method defined by the pioneering VoteNet ignores shape information that is very important in the object detection field. The final aspect is the modeling ability of grouped clusters. Most successful methods treat grouped clusters separately, regardless of their different contributions to the final detection. To address these challenges, we propose three modules to address them: the foreground-aware module, the voting-aware module, and the cluster-aware module. Extensive experiments on two large datasets of real 3D scans, ScanNet and SUN RGB-D, demonstrate the effectiveness of our method for 3D object detection on point clouds.
Robust Image Watermarking in Spatial Domain Utilizing Features Equivalent to SVD Transform
Authors: Ali Musrrat
Published: May 2023

In recent years, digital image watermarking has gained a significant amount of popularity and developed into a crucial and essential tool for copyright protection, security, and the identification of multimedia content. Despite its high computational complexity, singular value decomposition (SVD) is an extensively utilized transformation in digital image watermarking. This research presents a robust and blind image watermarking scheme that directly alters the image pixels in the spatial domain to incorporate the watermark by quantizing the block-wise invariant maximum singular value. Using a distribution rule, pixels from the cover image are redistributed to obtain a new image that is divided into square and non-overlapping blocks to obtain invariant maximum singular values by using the matrix 2-norm in the spatial domain without performing an SVD transform. This modifies the pixels of the cover image such that the outcome is equivalent to the difference between the maximum singular values of the corresponding blocks in covers and watermarked images. The strengths of the proposed approach are highlighted by a comparison of experimental results with the most recent and comparable watermarking approaches.
Secure Convolution Neural Network Inference Based on Homomorphic Encryption
Authors: Song Chen , Huang Ruwei
Published: May 2023

Today, the rapid development of deep learning has spread across all walks of life, and it can be seen in various fields such as image classification, automatic driving, and medical imaging diagnosis. Convolution Neural Networks (CNNs) are also widely used by the public as tools for deep learning. In real life, if local customers implement large-scale model inference first, they need to upload local data to the cloud, which will cause problems such as data leakage and privacy disclosure. To solve this problem, we propose a framework using homomorphic encryption technology. Our framework has made improvements to the batch operation and reduced the complexity of layer connection. In addition, we provide a new perspective to deal with the impact of the noise caused by the homomorphic encryption scheme on the accuracy during the inference. In our scheme, users preprocess the images locally and then send them to the cloud for encrypted inference without worrying about privacy leakage during the inference process. Experiments show that our proposed scheme is safe and efficient, which provides a safe solution for users who cannot process data locally.
Arts, Artworks and Manuscripts in Sicily between the 12th and 13th Centuries: Interactions and Interchanges at the Mediterranean Crossroads
Authors: Arcidiacono Giulia
Published: May 2023

This research explores the figurative culture that flourished in Sicily during the 12th and 13th centuries, focusing on the interplay between artifacts of different types, materials, techniques and uses. Paintings, sculptures and objects that share a common visual language are analyzed with the aim of highlighting recurring motifs, mutual influences and related sources. The main focus is on the decorative apparatus of the Sacramentary Ms. 52 (Madrid, Biblioteca Nacional de España), one of the most famous illuminated manuscripts from Sicily. The date, origin and patronage of this luxurious liturgical book have been the subject of intense scholarly debate. In order to shed light on these controversial issues, this study re-examines the various hypotheses considered by scholars, taking into account the historical events that affected Sicily from the end of the Norman to the beginning of the Swabian era. This analysis also shows how the decoration of the manuscript fits into the wider dynamics of cultural exchange that characterized Sicily and the Mediterranean during this transitional period.
Comparison of the Impact between Classical and Novel Strains of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease on Wild Rabbit Populations in Spain
Authors: Santoro Simone , Aguayo-Adán Juan Antonio , Rouco Carlos
Published: May 2023

The outbreaks of two strains of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) (GI.1 and GI.2) in the Iberian Peninsula have caused substantial economic losses in commercial rabbitries and have affected the conservation of rabbit-sensitive predators due to the dramatic decline of their natural populations. However, the assessment of the impact of both RHD strains on wild rabbit populations has been limited to a few small-scale studies. Little is known about the overall impact within its native range. In this study, we described and compared the effects of GI.1 and GI.2 countrywide by using time series of hunting bag data widely available across the country and compared their trend during the first eight years after the first outbreak of GI.1 (i.e., 1998) and GI.2 (i.e., 2011), respectively. We used Gaussian generalised additive models (GAM) with the number of hunted rabbits as the response variable and year as the predictor to evaluate the non-linear temporal dynamics of the population at the national and regional community levels. The first GI.1 caused a population decline of around 53%, affecting most Spanish regional communities where the disease occurred. The positive trend observed after GI.1 in Spain ended with the initial outbreak of GI.2, which did not appear to cause a national population decline. In contrast, we found significant variability in the rabbit population trend among regional communities, where some increased, and others decreased. Such a disparity is unlikely to be explained by a single factor; rather, it appears to result from several factors, such as climatic conditions, host resistance improvement, virulence attenuation, or population density. Our study suggests that a national comprehensive hunting bag series could aid in elucidating the differences in the impact of emerging diseases on a large scale. Future research should focus on national longitudinal serological studies to shed light on the immunological status of rabbit populations in different regions to better understand the evolution of RHD strains and the resistance gained by the wild populations.
The Impact of Maternal Probiotics on Intestinal Vitamin D Receptor Expression in Early Life
Authors: Sharma Anita , Yu Yueyue , Lu Jing , Lu Lei , Zhang Yong-Guo , Xia Yinglin , Sun Jun , Claud Erika C.
Published: May 2023

Vitamin D signaling via the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) has been shown to protect against intestinal inflammation. Previous studies have also reported the mutual interactions of intestinal VDR and the microbiome, indicating a potential role of probiotics in modulating VDR expression. In preterm infants, although probiotics have been shown to reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), they are not currently recommended by the FDA due to potential risks in this population. No previous studies have delved into the effect of maternally administered probiotics on intestinal VDR expression in early life. Using an infancy mouse model, we found that young mice exposed to maternally administered probiotics (SPF/LB) maintained higher colonic VDR expression than our unexposed mice (SPF) in the face of a systemic inflammatory stimulus. These findings indicate a potential role for microbiome-modulating therapies in preventing diseases such as NEC through the enhancement of VDR signaling.
Glial Glutamate Transporter Modulation Prevents Development of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant-Induced Hyperalgesia and Allodynia in Mice
Authors: Alotaibi Ghallab , Khan Amna , Ronan Patrick J. , Lutfy Kabirullah , Rahman Shafiqur
Published: May 2023

Glial glutamate transporter (GLT-1) modulation in the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is critically involved in nociceptive pain. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of 3-[[(2-methylphenyl) methyl] thio]-6-(2-pyridinyl)-pyridazine (LDN-212320), a GLT-1 activator, against microglial activation induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in a mouse model of inflammatory pain. Furthermore, the effects of LDN-212320 on the protein expression of glial markers, such as ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), cluster of differentiation molecule 11b (CD11b), mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38), astroglial GLT-1, and connexin 43 (CX43), were measured in the hippocampus and ACC following CFA injection using the Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence assay. The effects of LDN-212320 on the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the hippocampus and ACC were also assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pretreatment with LDN-212320 (20 mg/kg) significantly reduced the CFA-induced tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. The anti-hyperalgesic and anti-allodynic effects of LDN-212320 were reversed by the GLT-1 antagonist DHK (10 mg/kg). Pretreatment with LDN-212320 significantly reduced CFA-induced microglial Iba1, CD11b, and p38 expression in the hippocampus and ACC. LDN-212320 markedly modulated astroglial GLT-1, CX43, and, IL-1β expression in the hippocampus and ACC. Overall, these results suggest that LDN-212320 prevents CFA-induced allodynia and hyperalgesia by upregulating astroglial GLT-1 and CX43 expression and decreasing microglial activation in the hippocampus and ACC. Therefore, LDN-212320 could be developed as a novel therapeutic drug candidate for chronic inflammatory pain.
Exploring the Influential Factors of Personal Media Bloggers on Followers’ Continuous Following Intention Based on Relationship Marketing Theory
Authors: Qian Wenjie , Mao Jianhua
Published: May 2023

The use of personal media has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, gaining and retaining followers has become increasingly challenging, given the fierce competition among bloggers and the constant changes in personal media. In this context, this study aims to explore the factors that influence followers’ continued usage intentions toward personal media bloggers and strategies to improve their loyalty. Drawing upon the theory of relationship marketing, a structural model is constructed to examine the impacts and mechanisms of personal media bloggers’ attributes and communication on social presence, fanship, intention to use, and word of mouth. This research focuses on two dimensions of personal media bloggers’ attributes: expertise and attractiveness. A sample of 155 highly active personal media users in China was collected through a questionnaire for analysis and validation. The findings reveal that expertise and communication have positive impacts on followers’ intentions to continue following a blogger, while attractiveness has a significant, positive, and direct impact on word of mouth. Furthermore, this study shows that social presence and fanship play mediating roles in the effects of expertise and communication on followers’ usage intentions and word of mouth. The research results provide valuable insights for personal media operators and marketers seeking to improve followers’ loyalty and encourage potential users to become more loyal fans.
Polyolefin Elastomer Modified Asphalt: Performance Characterization and Modification Mechanism
Authors: Ye Zhen , Zhao Yuechao
Published: May 2023

The rapid growth of traffic load and volume has put forward higher requirements for road durability. To extend the service life of roads, this work investigated the feasibility of using polyolefin elastomers with a two-phase molecular structure to simultaneously improve the high and low-temperature performance of asphalt. The characteristics of the polyolefin modifier were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry first. Following evaluation, the storage stability, workability, and rheological properties of modified polyolefin-modified asphalt were measured through softening point difference, rotary viscosity, dynamic shear rheometer, and bending beam rheometer. Additionally, the engineering performance of modified asphalt mixtures was also investigated through Marshall stability, wheel-tracking, and three points bending experiments. The results show that polyolefin has two glass transition points which facilitate the simultaneous improvement of the high and low-temperature properties of asphalt. Meanwhile, no concerns are found about the storage stability and workability of polyolefin-modified asphalt. Furthermore, the results of rheological properties indicate that polyolefin can significantly enhance the deformation resistance at high-temperature and cracking resistance at low-temperature of asphalt binders. While the fatigue performance of the polyolefin-modified asphalt is slightly reduced, the residual Marshall stability, dynamic stability, and ultimate tensile strain of the asphalt mixture containing 8% polyolefin are 1.05 times, 1.31 times, and 1.17 times those of the control sample, respectively. The results of infrared spectroscopy demonstrate that there is no chemical reaction between the polyolefin-modified and the virgin asphalt. The improvement of polyolefin on asphalt performance can be explained by the existence of both “rigid” and “flexible” structures in polyolefin.
A New Correlation for Single-Sided Natural Ventilation Rate Based on Full-Scale Experimental Study in Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, China
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Yan Zengfeng , Zhang Zhengmo , Bi Wenbei , Yao Shanshan
Published: May 2023

Although research on the natural ventilation of single-sided buildings is progressing, research on the natural ventilation of the Mogao Grottoes, which have special shapes and structures, is relatively limited. The purpose of this paper is to develop a correlation for calculating the natural ventilation rates of such grottoes. Field experiments were carried out on two typical caves to measure their meteorological parameters and natural ventilation rates to verify the validity of the proposed correlation. The results show that our correlation has good reliability and stability when predicting the natural ventilation rates of the caves. First, the new correlation has a small average deviation of 16.35%. The average deviations in the natural ventilation rates predicted by seven established correlations are as low as 17.85% and as high as 59.39%, revealing a large gap compared with the correlation proposed herein. Second, the maximum deviation in the outputs of the proposed correlation is only 7.70% between each case. Finally, a comparison between the calculated results and the values measured in Cave 328 shows that the correlation is also suitable for large-volume caves. The developed correlation provides theoretical support and a scientific method for preventive protection and a quantitative analysis method for the study of natural ventilation in caves.
Compliance with Specialist Referral for Increased Cancer Risk in Low-Resource Settings: In-Person vs. Telehealth Options
Authors: Nguyen James , Takesh Thair , Parsangi Negah , Song Bofan , Liang Rongguang , Wilder-Smith Petra
Published: May 2023

Efforts are underway to improve the accuracy of non-specialist screening for oral cancer (OC) risk, yet better screening will only translate into improved outcomes if at-risk individuals comply with specialist referral. Most individuals from low-resource, minority, and underserved (LRMU) populations fail to complete a specialist referral for OC risk. The goal was to evaluate the impact of a novel approach on specialist referral compliance in individuals with a positive OC risk screening outcome. A total of 60 LRMU subjects who had screened positive for increased OC risk were recruited and given the choice of referral for an in-person (20 subjects) or a telehealth (40 subjects) specialist visit. Referral compliance was tracked weekly over 6 months. Compliance was 30% in the in-person group, and 83% in the telehealth group. Approximately 83–85% of subjects from both groups who had complied with the first specialist referral complied with a second follow-up in-person specialist visit. Overall, 72.5% of subjects who had chosen a remote first specialist visit had entered into the continuum of care by the study end, vs. 25% of individuals in the in-person specialist group. A two-step approach that uses telehealth to overcome barriers may improve specialist referral compliance in LRMU individuals with increased OC risk.
Delayed Reconstruction after Major Head and Neck Cancer Resection: An Interdisciplinary Feasibility Study
Authors: Steinbichler Teresa B. , Rauchenwald Tina , Rajsic Sasa , Fischer Hannes T. , Wolfram Dolores , Runge Annette , Dejaco Daniel , Prossliner Harald , Pierer Gerhard , Riechelmann Herbert
Published: May 2023

A single immediate reconstruction with free tissue transfer is the method of choice after major head and neck cancer (HNC) resection, but this is frequently associated with long operating hours. Considering regulatory working hour constraints, we investigated whether a two-staged reconstructive approach with temporary defect coverage by an artificial tissue substitute would be feasible. HNC patients underwent either immediate or delayed reconstruction after tumor resection. Patients with delayed reconstruction received preliminary reconstruction with an artificial tissue substitute followed by definitive microvascular reconstruction in a separate, second procedure. Of the 33 HNC patients, 13 received delayed reconstruction and 20 received immediate reconstruction. Total anesthesia time (714 vs. 1011 min; p < 0.002) and the total duration of hospital stay (34 ± 13 vs. 25 ± 6 days; p = 0.03) were longer in the delayed reconstruction group. Perioperative morbidity (p = 0.58), functional outcome (p > 0.1) and 5-year postoperative survival rank (p = 0.28) were comparable in both groups. Delayed reconstruction after HNC resection was feasible. Perioperative morbidity, functional outcome and overall survival were comparable to immediate reconstruction.
p53/TP53 Status Assessment in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Boldrin Elisa , Piano Maria Assunta , Bernaudo Francesco , Alfieri Rita , Biasin Maria Raffaella , Montagner Isabella Monia , Volpato Alice , Mattara Genny , Lamacchia Francesco , Magni Giovanna , Rosato Antonio , Scapinello Antonio , Pilati Pierluigi , Curtarello Matteo
Published: May 2023

Chromosomal instability (CIN) is very frequent in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) and it is characterized by TP53 deletions/mutations resulting in p53 nuclear accumulation, as revealed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), which considers the cases with “high” staining levels to be positive. Aiming to improve aberrant TP53 detection, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used to evaluate TP53 deletion in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded DNA (FFPE-DNA) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA). To further investigate the mutational TP53 profile, next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed in a subset of FFPE samples. After combining “low” and “high” IHC staining level groups, the proportion of deletion events was significantly higher compared to the “intermediate” group (72.9% vs. 47.5%, p-value = 0.002). The ddPCR TP53 deletion assay was feasible for cfDNA but only had good agreement (72.7%, Cohen’s kappa = 0.48) with the assay performed with FFPE-DNA of the “low-level” group. NGS analysis confirmed that, in the “low-level” group, a high percentage (66.7%) of cases were aberrant, with disruptive mutations that probably led to p53 loss. Data suggested that p53 IHC alone underestimates the CIN phenotype in GEA and that molecular analysis in both solid and liquid biopsies could be integrated with it; in particular, in cases of completely negative staining.
Support Effect of Ga-Based Catalysts in the CO2-Assisted Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane
Authors: Zhou Wei , Jiang Yulin , Sun Zhiguo , Zhou Shiqi , Xing Erpai , Hai Yang , Chen Guanghao , Zhao Yuetong
Published: May 2023

Carbon dioxide (CO2) assisted oxidative dehydrogenation of propane over Ga-modified catalysts is highly sensitive to the identity of support, but the underlying cause of support effects has not been well established. In this article, SSZ-13, SSZ-39, ZSM-5, silica and γ-Al2O3 were used to load Ga species by incipient wet impregnation. The structure, textural properties, acidity of the Ga-based catalysts and the process of CO2-assisted oxidative dehydrogenation of propane were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physisorption (N2 physisorption), ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), pyridine chemisorbed Fourier transform infrared spectra (Py-FTIR), OH-FTIR and in situ FTIR. Evaluation of the catalytic performance combined with detailed catalyst characterization suggests that their dehydrogenation activity is positively associated with the number of acid sites in middle strength, confirming that the Lewis acid sites generated by Ga cations are the active species in the reaction. Ga/Na-SSZ-39(9) also has feasible acidic strength and a unique channel structure, which is conducive to the dissociative adsorption of propane and desorption of olefins. The Ga/Na-SSZ-39(9) catalysts showed superior olefins selectivity and catalytic stability at 600 ℃ compared to any other catalysts. This approach to quantifying support acid strength, and channel structure and applying it as a key catalytic descriptor of support effects is a useful tool to enable the rational design of next-generation CO2-assisted oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts.
Anion Coordination into Ligand Clefts
Authors: Savastano Matteo , Cappanni Carlotta , Bazzicalupi Carla , Lofrumento Cristiana , Bianchi Antonio
Published: May 2023

A tripodal anion receptor has been obtained by an easy and fast single-reaction synthesis from commercial reagents. The three ligand arms-bearing aromatic groups able to form anion–π interactions define ligand clefts where large anions, such as perchlorate and perrhenate, are included. We report here the synthesis of the ligand, its acid/base properties in an aqueous solution which has been used to direct the synthesis of anion complexes, and the crystal structure of the free ligand and its anion complexes H3L(ClO4)2·H2O and H3L(ReO4)2.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Dual-Energy CT Material Decomposition Technique for Assessing Bone Status Compared with Quantitative Computed Tomography
Authors: Wang Xu , Li Beibei , Tong Xiaoyu , Fan Yong , Wang Shigeng , Liu Yijun , Fang Xin , Liu Lei
Published: May 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy when using various base material pairs (BMPs) in dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), and to establish corresponding diagnostic standards for assessing bone status through comparison with quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Methods: This prospective study enrolled a total of 469 patients who underwent both non-enhanced chest CT scans under conventional kVp and abdominal DECT. The bone densities of hydroxyapatite (water), hydroxyapatite (fat), hydroxyapatite (blood), calcium (water), and calcium (fat) (DHAP (water), DHAP (fat), DHAP (blood), DCa (water), and DCa (fat)) in the trabecular bone of vertebral bodies (T11–L1) were measured, along with bone mineral density (BMD) via QCT. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis was used to assess the agreement of the measurements. Spearman’s correlation test was performed to analyze the relationship between the DECT- and QCT-derived BMD. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to determine the optimal diagnostic thresholds of various BMPs for diagnosing osteopenia and osteoporosis. Results: A total of 1371 vertebral bodies were measured, and QCT identified 393 with osteoporosis and 442 with osteopenia. Strong correlations were observed between DHAP (water), DHAP (fat), DHAP (blood), DCa (water), and DCa (fat) and the QCT-derived BMD. DHAP (water) showed the best predictive capability for osteopenia and osteoporosis. The area under the ROC curve, sensitivity, and specificity for identifying osteopenia were 0.956, 86.88%, and 88.91% with DHAP (water) ≤ 107.4 mg/cm3, respectively. The corresponding values for identifying osteoporosis were 0.999, 99.24%, and 99.53% with DHAP (water) ≤ 89.62 mg/cm3, respectively. Conclusions: Bone density measurement using various BMPs in DECT enables the quantification of vertebral BMD and the diagnosis of osteoporosis, with DHAP (water) having the highest diagnostic accuracy.
Shifting from Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction to Strain Imaging in Aortic Stenosis
Authors: Anastasiou Vasileios , Daios Stylianos , Bazmpani Maria-Anna , Moysidis Dimitrios , Zegkos Thomas , Karamitsos Theodoros , Ziakas Antonios , Kamperidis Vasileios
Published: May 2023

Adverse ventricular remodeling is an inflexion point of disease progression in aortic stenosis (AS) and a major determinant of prognosis. Intervention before irreversible myocardial damage is of paramount importance to sustain favorable post-operative outcomes. Current guidelines recommend a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)-based strategy to determine the threshold for intervention in AS. However, LVEF has several pitfalls: it denotes the left ventricular cavity volumetric changes and it is not suited to detecting subtle signs of myocardial damage. Strain has emerged as a contemporary imaging biomarker that describes intramyocardial contractile force, providing information on subclinical myocardial dysfunction due to fibrosis. A large body of evidence advocates its use to determine the switch from adaptive to maladaptive myocardial changes in AS, and to refine thresholds for intervention. Although mainly studied in echocardiography, studies exploring the role of strain in multi-detector row computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance are emerging. This review, therefore, summarizes contemporary evidence on the role of LVEF and strain imaging in AS prognosis, aiming to move from an LVEF-based to a strain-based approach for risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making in AS.
Hybrid Models for Endoscopy Image Analysis for Early Detection of Gastrointestinal Diseases Based on Fused Features
Authors: Ahmed Ibrahim Abdulrab , Senan Ebrahim Mohammed , Shatnawi Hamzeh Salameh Ahmad
Published: May 2023

The gastrointestinal system contains the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts. The main tasks of the gastrointestinal system are to break down food and convert it into essential elements that the body can benefit from and expel waste in the form of feces. If any organ is affected, it does not work well, which affects the body. Many gastrointestinal diseases, such as infections, ulcers, and benign and malignant tumors, threaten human life. Endoscopy techniques are the gold standard for detecting infected parts within the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Endoscopy techniques produce videos that are converted into thousands of frames that show the disease’s characteristics in only some frames. Therefore, this represents a challenge for doctors because it is a tedious task that requires time, effort, and experience. Computer-assisted automated diagnostic techniques help achieve effective diagnosis to help doctors identify the disease and give the patient the appropriate treatment. In this study, many efficient methodologies for analyzing endoscopy images for diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases were developed for the Kvasir dataset. The Kvasir dataset was classified by three pre-trained models: GoogLeNet, MobileNet, and DenseNet121. The images were optimized, and the gradient vector flow (GVF) algorithm was applied to segment the regions of interest (ROIs), isolating them from healthy regions and saving the endoscopy images as Kvasir-ROI. The Kvasir-ROI dataset was classified by the three pre-trained GoogLeNet, MobileNet, and DenseNet121 models. Hybrid methodologies (CNN–FFNN and CNN–XGBoost) were developed based on the GVF algorithm and achieved promising results for diagnosing disease based on endoscopy images of gastroenterology. The last methodology is based on fused CNN models and their classification by FFNN and XGBoost networks. The hybrid methodology based on the fused CNN features, called GoogLeNet–MobileNet–DenseNet121–XGBoost, achieved an AUC of 97.54%, accuracy of 97.25%, sensitivity of 96.86%, precision of 97.25%, and specificity of 99.48%.
Resistance of PETG Materials on Thermocycling and Brushing
Authors: Šimunović Luka , Blagec Tadeja , Meštrović Senka
Published: May 2023

The aim was to assess the impact of thermocycling and brushing on the surface roughness and mass of PETG material—the most commonly used for orthodontic retainers. A total of 96 specimens were exposed to thermocycling and brushing with three different kinds of toothbrushes depending on the number and thickness of the bristles. Surface roughness and mass were evaluated three times: initially, after thermocycling, and after brushing. In all four brands, both thermocycling and brushing increased surface roughness significantly (p < 0.001), with Biolon having the lowest and Track A having the highest. In terms of brushing, only Biolon samples showed statistically significant increased roughness after brushing with all three types of brushes, in comparison to Erkodur A1, where differences were not statistically significant. Thermocycling increased the mass of all samples, but a statistically significant difference was found only in Biolon (p = 0.0203), while after brushing, decreased mass was found in all specimens, statistically significant only in Essix C+ (CS 1560: p = 0.016). PETG material showed instability when exposed to external influences- thermocycling produced an increase in roughness and mass, and brushing mostly caused an increase in roughness and decrease in mass. Erkodur A1 demonstrated the greatest stability, whereas Biolon demonstrated the lowest.
Research on the Construction of High-Trust Root Zone File Based on Multi-Source Data Verification
Authors: Li Chao , Xie Jiagui , Cheng Yanan , Zhang Zhaoxin , Chen Jian , Wang Haochuan , Tao Hanyu
Published: May 2023

The root zone is located at the top level of the DNS system’s hierarchical structure and serves as the entry point for all domain name resolutions. The accuracy of the root zone file determines whether domain names can be resolved correctly. To solve the problems of single-source distrust and inaccurate data in the use of root zone files, this paper utilizes multi-source root zone files to build an accurate, real-time, and highly trustworthy root zone file through the validation of data accuracy and integrity. First, we propose a weighted voting statistical verification method. We select top-level domain name records with the highest confidence from the multi-source root zone data, thereby improving data accuracy. Second, through a dynamic cyclic construction process, we achieve dynamic monitoring of root zone file version changes, effectively ensuring the real-time nature of root zone data. Finally, we adopt a DNSSEC verification mechanism to address the issue of unreliable transmission paths for actively probed root zone data, ensuring data integrity by verifying the signed top-level domain name records and their ZSK, KSK keys. In addition, through the analysis of experimental data, we find that the main reason for the inaccuracy and unreliability of the root zone file is the delay in updating and synchronizing the file. We also discover the presence of redundant KSK keys in some of the source root zone data, which led to failure in the DNSSEC validation chain. The high-trust root zone file constructed in this paper provides data support for research on the root-side resolution anomaly detection and localization application of root zone files and has wide-ranging practical value.
Accuracy of Double Bark Thickness Estimation Methods Used in Spruce—(Picea abies L. Karst) Timber Production in Czechia
Authors: Jankovský Martin , Dudáková Zuzana , Allman Michal , Dvořák Jiří , Peseu Prince Opoku , Jácome Sandra Paola García
Published: May 2023

The accurate estimation of bark thickness is important for foresters for several reasons. It is crucial for timber volume estimation and can help improve the quality of forestry records, and bark has a growing commercial importance as a high-value bioresource. The problem is that models such as the Czech Cubic Tables (CCT) polynomial model are frequently unique. Furthermore, the official method requires rounding down the midspan over-bark diameter (DOB) to the nearest centimetre to estimate the double bark thickness (DBT) and merchantable timber volume. Therefore, we verified the significance of the effects of rounding down the midspan DOB on DBT using a dataset of 438 recently harvested Norway spruce (Picea Abies L. Karst.) logs from the Central Bohemian region. The correlation analysis showed that for measured data without rounding down the diameters, the variability of the DBT was able to explain only 8% of the DOB variability. As for the rounded-down data, the coefficient of determination was slightly higher, reaching 9%. The paired-samples T-tests showed a significant difference between the DBT as calculated directly from measured data and that from the rounded-down over-bark diameters (p < 0.05). The polynomial and linear models underestimated the DBT (2.24 and 1.75 mm on average, respectively) on measured data. In contrast, for data from the rounded-down DOB, the models overestimated the DBT (2.70 or 3.18 mm on average, respectively).
Integration of Non-Coding RNA and mRNA Profiles Reveals the Mechanisms of Rumen Development Induced by Different Types of Diet in Calves
Authors: Wang Jie , Fan Huimei , Li Mianying , Zhao Kaisen , Xia Siqi , Chen Yang , Shao Jiahao , Tang Tao , Bai Xue , Liu Zheliang , Lu Yusheng , Chen Xiangrui , Sun Wenqiang , Jia Xianbo , Lai Songjia
Published: May 2023

Selecting suitable feed types and understanding the gastrointestinal digestive mechanism are helpful for the growth and health of calves in intensive dairy farming. However, the effects on rumen development of changing the molecular genetic basis and the regulatory mechanism by using different feed types are still unclear. Nine 7-day-old Holstein bull calves were randomly divided into GF (concentrate), GFF (alfalfa: oat grass = 3:2) and TMR (concentrate: alfalfa grass: oat grass: water = 0.30:0.12:0.08:0.50) diet experiment groups. Rumen tissue and serum samples were collected for physiological and transcriptomic analysis after 80 days. The results showed that serum α-amylase content and ceruloplasmin activity were significantly higher in the TMR group, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis ncRNAs and mRNAs were significantly enriched in the pathways of rumen epithelial development and stimulated rumen cell growth, including the Hippo signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, thyroid hormone signaling pathway, ECM–receptor interaction and the absorption of protein and fat. The circRNAs/lncRNA-miRNAs-mRNA networks constructed, including novel_circ_0002471, novel_circ_0012104, TCONS_00946152, TCONS_00960915, bta-miR-11975, bta-miR-2890, PADI3 and CLEC6A, participated in metabolic pathways of lipid, immune system, oxidative stress and muscle development. In conclusion, the TMR diet could improve rumen digestive enzyme activities, stimulate rumen nutrient absorption and stimulate the DEGs related to energy homeostasis and microenvironment balance, and is thus better than the GF and GFF diets for promoting rumen growth and development.
The Role of Pharmacogenetics in Personalizing the Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Therapy
Authors: Radosavljevic Milica , Svob Strac Dubravka , Jancic Jasna , Samardzic Janko
Published: May 2023

Pharmacotherapy for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, has been characterized by significant inter-individual variability in drug response and the development of side effects. Pharmacogenetics, as a key part of personalized medicine, aims to optimize therapy according to a patient’s individual genetic signature by targeting genetic variations involved in pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic processes. Pharmacokinetic variability refers to variations in a drug’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination, whereas pharmacodynamic variability results from variable interactions of an active drug with its target molecules. Pharmacogenetic research on depression and anxiety has focused on genetic polymorphisms affecting metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) and uridine 5’-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes, P-glycoprotein ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and monoamine and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolic enzymes, transporters, and receptors. Recent pharmacogenetic studies have revealed that more efficient and safer treatments with antidepressants and anxiolytics could be achieved through genotype-guided decisions. However, because pharmacogenetics cannot explain all observed heritable variations in drug response, an emerging field of pharmacoepigenetics investigates how epigenetic mechanisms, which modify gene expression without altering the genetic code, might influence individual responses to drugs. By understanding the epi(genetic) variability of a patient’s response to pharmacotherapy, clinicians could select more effective drugs while minimizing the likelihood of adverse reactions and therefore improve the quality of treatment.
Appressoria Formation in Phytopathogenic Fungi Suppressed by Antimicrobial Peptides and Hybrid Peptides from Black Soldier Flies
Authors: Sun Qianlong , Zhang Xin , Ouyang Ying , Yu Pingzhong , Man Yilong , Guo Sheng , Liu Sizhen , Chen Yue , Wang Yunsheng , Tan Xinqiu
Published: May 2023

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from black solider flies (Hermetia illucens, BSF) exhibiting broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity are the most promising green substitutes for preventing the infection of phytopathogenic fungi; therefore, AMPs have been a focal topic of research. Recently, many studies have focused on the antibacterial activities of BSF AMPs against animal pathogens; however, currently, their antifungal activities against phytopathogenic fungi remain unclear. In this study, 7 AMPs selected from 34 predicted AMPs based on BSF metagenomics were artificially synthesized. When conidia from the hemibiotrophic phytopathogenic fungi Magnaporthe oryzae and Colletotrichum acutatum were treated with the selected AMPs, three selected AMPs—CAD1, CAD5, and CAD7—showed high appressorium formation inhibited by lengthened germ tubes. Additionally, the MIC50 concentrations of the inhibited appressorium formations were 40 μM, 43 μM, and 43 μM for M. oryzae, while 51 μM, 49 μM, and 44 μM were observed for C. acutatum, respectively. A tandem hybrid AMP named CAD-Con comprising CAD1, CAD5, and CAD7 significantly enhanced antifungal activities, and the MIC50 concentrations against M. oryzae and C. acutatum were 15 μM and 22 μM, respectively. In comparison with the wild type, they were both significantly reduced in terms of virulence when infection assays were performed using the treated conidia of M. oryzae or C. acutatum by CAD1, CAD5, CAD7, or CAD-Con. Meanwhile, their expression levels of CAD1, CAD5, and CAD7 could also be activated and significantly increased after the BSF larvae were treated with the conidia of M. oryzae or C. acutatum, respectively. To our knowledge, the antifungal activities of BSF AMPs against plant pathogenic fungi, which help us to seek potential AMPs with antifungal activities, provide proof of the effectiveness of green control strategies for crop production.
Intestinal Enteroendocrine Cells: Present and Future Druggable Targets
Authors: Atanga Roger , Singh Varsha , In Julie G.
Published: May 2023

Enteroendocrine cells are specialized secretory lineage cells in the small and large intestines that secrete hormones and peptides in response to luminal contents. The various hormones and peptides can act upon neighboring cells and as part of the endocrine system, circulate systemically via immune cells and the enteric nervous system. Locally, enteroendocrine cells have a major role in gastrointestinal motility, nutrient sensing, and glucose metabolism. Targeting the intestinal enteroendocrine cells or mimicking hormone secretion has been an important field of study in obesity and other metabolic diseases. Studies on the importance of these cells in inflammatory and auto-immune diseases have only recently been reported. The rapid global increase in metabolic and inflammatory diseases suggests that increased understanding and novel therapies are needed. This review will focus on the association between enteroendocrine changes and metabolic and inflammatory disease progression and conclude with the future of enteroendocrine cells as potential druggable targets.
Novel Insights into the Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin and Derivatives
Authors: Bachmeier Beatrice E.
Published: May 2023

The polyphenol curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is extracted from the plant turmeric (Curcuma longa), and it is widely used as a spice component or coloring agent [...]