bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of the Radon Progeny Activity Size Distribution in Laboratory Conditions
Authors: Fialova Eliska , Otahal Petr P. S.
Published: October 2024

Knowledge of the active size distribution of radon daughters is one of the main parameters for determining the effective dose from inhalation of short-term radon decay products. However, this parameter is crucial for accurately determining an effective dose; there are currently very limited possibilities for determining it. This paper describes the laboratory validation of a method for determining the activity size distribution of radon decay products using the Dekati ELPI+ cascade impactor and the Graded Screen Array Diffusion Battery (GSA DB). Using nuclear track detectors placed on individual impaction plates of the cascade impactor, the equivalent equilibrium activity concentration of individual size classes can be determined in the range from 17 nm to 10 μm. A diffusion battery was used to detect smaller particles in the unattached fraction area. The presented method can further refine the knowledge of the activity size distribution of radon decay products in different types of workplace atmospheres. Workplaces with higher radon concentrations differ significantly in the size distribution of aerosol particles, radon activity concentration, and equilibrium equivalent activity concentration.
An Iterative Approach to Common Fixed Points of G-Nonexpansive Mappings with Applications in Solving the Heat Equation
Authors: Suparatulatorn Raweerote , Saksuriya Payakorn , Suebcharoen Teeranush , Chaichana Khuanchanok
Published: October 2024

This study presents an iterative method for approximating common fixed points of a finite set of G-nonexpansive mappings within a real Hilbert space with a directed graph. We establish definitions for left and right coordinate convexity and demonstrate both weak and strong convergence results based on reasonable assumptions. Furthermore, our algorithm’s effectiveness in solving the heat equation is highlighted, contributing to energy optimization and sustainable development.
Review of Cell Level Battery (Calendar and Cycling) Aging Models: Electric Vehicles
Authors: Yarimca Gulsah , Cetkin Erdal
Published: October 2024

Electrochemical battery cells have been a focus of attention due to their numerous advantages in distinct applications recently, such as electric vehicles. A limiting factor for adaptation by the industry is related to the aging of batteries over time. Characteristics of battery aging vary depending on many factors such as battery type, electrochemical reactions, and operation conditions. Aging could be considered in two sections according to its type: calendar and cycling. We examine the stress factors affecting these two types of aging in detail under subheadings and review the battery aging literature with a comprehensive approach. This article presents a review of empirical and semi-empirical modeling techniques and aging studies, focusing on the trends observed between different studies and highlighting the limitations and challenges of the various models.
European Transition to Electric Vehicles: Italy as a Case of Study
Authors: Bartoli Mattia , Rosso Carlo , Tagliaferro Alberto
Published: October 2024

The European ban on internal combustion engines has raised several questions from both the automotive players and society. The proliferation of electric vehicles is struggling as it is facing issues related to energy supply and distribution and to infrastructure availability. These problems are considerably different across the various countries. It is consequently a tough challenge to provide a worldwide comprehensive evaluation. In this paper we first outline the common problems to later move to provide a clear picture of the Italian scenario, starting from the available data related to mobility for the period 2018–2022. We outline the main problems to be tackled and the related costs. Italy is an interesting and representative case as it is bound to the timeline set by the European green transition.
Robust Real-Time Cancer Tracking via Dual-Panel X-Ray Images for Precision Radiotherapy
Authors: Wang Jing , Dai Jingjing , Li Na , Zhang Chulong , Zhang Jiankai , Silayi Zuledesi , Wu Haodi , Xie Yaoqing , Liang Xiaokun , Zhang Huailing
Published: October 2024

Respiratory-induced tumor motion presents a critical challenge in lung cancer radiotherapy, potentially impacting treatment precision and efficacy. This study introduces an innovative, deep learning-based approach for real-time, markerless lung tumor tracking utilizing orthogonal X-ray projection images. It incorporates three key components: (1) a sophisticated data augmentation technique combining a hybrid deformable model with 3D thin-plate spline transformation, (2) a state-of-the-art Transformer-based segmentation network for precise tumor boundary delineation, and (3) a CNN regression network for accurate 3D tumor position estimation. We rigorously evaluated this approach using both patient data from The Cancer Imaging Archive and dynamic thorax phantom data, assessing performance across various noise levels and comparing it with current leading algorithms. For TCIA patient data, the average DSC and HD95 values were 0.9789 and 1.8423 mm, respectively, with an average centroid localization deviation of 0.5441 mm. On CIRS phantoms, DSCs were 0.9671 (large tumor) and 0.9438 (small tumor) with corresponding HD95 values of 1.8178 mm and 1.9679 mm. The 3D centroid localization accuracy was consistently below 0.33 mm. The processing time averaged 90 ms/frame. Even under high noise conditions (S2 = 25), errors for all data remained within 1 mm with tracking success rates mostly at 100%. In conclusion, the proposed markerless tracking method demonstrates superior accuracy, noise robustness, and real-time performance for lung tumor localization during radiotherapy. Its potential to enhance treatment precision, especially for small tumors, represents a significant step toward improving radiotherapy efficacy and personalizing cancer treatment.
Correction: Balkrishna et al. Application of Zebrafish Model in the Suppression of Drug-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy by Traditional Indian Medicine Yogendra Ras. Biomolecules 2020, 10, 600
Authors: Balkrishna Acharya , Rustagi Yashika , Bhattacharya Kunal , Varshney Anurag
Published: October 2024

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A Computationally Efficient Neuronal Model for Collision Detection with Contrast Polarity-Specific Feed-Forward Inhibition
Authors: Gao Guangxuan , Liu Renyuan , Wang Mengying , Fu Qinbing
Published: October 2024

Animals utilize their well-evolved dynamic vision systems to perceive and evade collision threats. Driven by biological research, bio-inspired models based on lobula giant movement detectors (LGMDs) address certain gaps in constructing artificial collision-detecting vision systems with robust selectivity, offering reliable, low-cost, and miniaturized collision sensors across various scenes. Recent progress in neuroscience has revealed the energetic advantages of dendritic arrangements presynaptic to the LGMDs, which receive contrast polarity-specific signals on separate dendritic fields. Specifically, feed-forward inhibitory inputs arise from parallel ON/OFF pathways interacting with excitation. However, none of the previous research has investigated the evolution of a computational LGMD model with feed-forward inhibition (FFI) separated by opposite polarity. This study fills this vacancy by presenting an optimized neuronal model where FFI is divided into ON/OFF channels, each with distinct synaptic connections. To align with the energy efficiency of biological systems, we introduce an activation function associated with neural computation of FFI and interactions between local excitation and lateral inhibition within ON/OFF channels, ignoring non-active signal processing. This approach significantly improves the time efficiency of the LGMD model, focusing only on substantial luminance changes in image streams. The proposed neuronal model not only accelerates visual processing in relatively stationary scenes but also maintains robust selectivity to ON/OFF-contrast looming stimuli. Additionally, it can suppress translational motion to a moderate extent. Comparative testing with state-of-the-art based on ON/OFF channels was conducted systematically using a range of visual stimuli, including indoor structured and complex outdoor scenes. The results demonstrated significant time savings in silico while retaining original collision selectivity. Furthermore, the optimized model was implemented in the embedded vision system of a micro-mobile robot, achieving the highest success ratio of collision avoidance at 97.51% while nearly halving the processing time compared with previous models. This highlights a robust and parsimonious collision-sensing mode that effectively addresses real-world challenges.
Perceived Stress and Outness: Examining the Coping Mediation Framework Among Chinese LGBTQ+ Community
Authors: Ma Chenwei , Li Jiangyu
Published: October 2024

Despite global progress in LGBTQ+ rights, sexual minorities in China face significant societal pressures and legal ambiguities, which remain poorly understood. This study explores the potential mediating role of proactive and preventive coping strategies in the relationship between perceived stress and outness levels among Chinese LGBTQ+ individuals. Survey data from 267 Chinese LGBTQ+ individuals aged 16–42 revealed high levels of perceived stress within this community. Both proactive and preventive coping strategies significantly mediated the negative impact of perceived stress on outness levels. These findings contribute to the understanding of LGBTQ+ community’s perceived stress and outness status in China, highlighting the need for inclusive policies and support systems to improve their mental health and social well-being.
The Mediating Role of Hesitancy in the Associations Between Mental Disorders and Social Support Seeking During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Yang Qinghua , Saleem Muniba , Dobson Elizabeth , Grimmesey Suzanne
Published: October 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has consequential impacts on not only physical but also mental health. However, the types of social support that individuals with mental health needs sought during the pandemic and their underlying reasons for it are not well known. Drawing on a community needs survey with 4282 participants, we found a positive association between self-reported anxiety and seeking social support from health professionals, family and friends, and mediated sources. There was also a positive association between self-reported depression and seeking support from medical professionals and mediated sources but a negative association with seeking support from family and friends. Importantly, a positive indirect effect was observed between mental health and seeking support from family and friends through hesitancy, whereas negative indirect effects were documented between mental health and seeking support from health professionals and mediated sources through hesitancy. Theoretical, practical, and methodological implications were discussed.
Enhancing Subjective Well-Being in Taiwanese University Students Through an Eight-Week Mindfulness-Based Program: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lin Li-Jen , Yu Su-Ping , Lin Yu-Hsun , Chen Yi-Lang
Published: October 2024

While mindfulness has demonstrated extensive benefits across diverse populations, research on its integration as a formal course and its effects on subjective well-being (SWB), particularly among Taiwanese university students, remains limited. This pilot study examined changes in SWB among 85 Taiwanese university students (61 males, 24 females) following an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) course. Participants included 38 lower-grade (pre-internship) and 47 senior (post-internship) students. SWB was measured using the 29-item Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), rated on a 6-point Likert scale, and administered before and after the intervention. Results revealed a significant increase in students’ overall SWB scores from 3.69 to 3.92 post-intervention. Although females initially exhibited higher baseline SWB compared to males, no significant sex differences were observed after the course. Score discrepancies between pre- and post-test stages varied across sex and internship status, indicating differential impacts of the MBCT-L course on distinct demographic groups. Additionally, this study validated the reliability of the short version of the OHQ (8 items) for use in similar research contexts. By conducting a formal MBCT-L course for Taiwanese university students, this study provides valuable empirical evidence, contributing to the cross-cultural understanding of mindfulness-based interventions and their effects on SWB.
Construction and Validation of Academic Support Scale in Middle School (ASSMS)
Authors: Zheng Zeqing , Sun Wujun , Fang Ping , Chen Lina
Published: October 2024

Research on social support in China has been relatively comprehensive as psychological development cannot be separated from the social environment. Family, teachers, and friends are the main sources of social support for middle school students. If we can fully utilize the academic support provided by families, teachers, and classmates in daily life, improve students’ personal efficacy, stimulate their learning motivation and desire, and provide corresponding emotional, resource, behavioral, and willingness support for middle school students, it will help them better enhance their learning adaptability, increase their investment in learning, and then improve their learning consciousness, ultimately promoting the enhancement of academic achievement and the development of their abilities. Therefore, based on the existing scales of social support and academic support, this study determined the academic support scale for middle school students, exploring the source of academic support from four dimensions: willingness support, resource support, emotional support, and behavioral support. Based on a literature review and questionnaire, a formal scale was formed to measure the academic support of middle school students. In total, 762 students from two middle schools in Shijiazhuang and Hengshui were selected as subjects for data analysis. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the scale was composed of four factors: willingness support, resource support, emotional support, and behavioral support, with a cumulative contribution rate of 54.15%. The factor loadings of the items ranged from 0.423 to 0.783. The indicators obtained by confirmatory factor analysis were χ2/df of 2.98, RMSEA of 0.072, GFI of 0.841, IFI of 0.902, TLI of 0.891, and CFI of 0.901. The Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.955, the Spearman–Brown coefficient was 0.939, and the correlation coefficients between each dimension and the total scale were 0.892–0.945. The results show that the reliability and validity of the scale are within the acceptable range, in line with the standards of measurement, and can be used as a tool to measure the academic support of middle school students. This measurement can be used to evaluate the multidimensional academic support systems in middle schools and inform the development of targeted interventions to promote student success and well-being.
Longitudinal Effects of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Physical Education Classes on Attention and Academic Achievement
Authors: Shin Kyulee , You Sukkyung , Kim Mihye
Published: October 2024

Previous studies showed moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and aerobic fitness in adolescents are significant factors for cognitive and academic performance. Most previous studies have employed a cross-sectional design; consequently, the evidence on the longitudinal effect of physical education classes (PECs) on cognitive performance and academic achievement is limited. Therefore, the current study utilized a longitudinal design to examine the longstanding effect of MVPA during PECs on cognitive and academic performance across gender groups. Structural equation modeling analyses were employed to understand how MVPA influences youth academic achievement in a nationally representative sample (n = 2092). Study findings indicated that (a) MVPA exerted a direct effect on initial academic achievement as well as an indirect effect, which is mediated by middle school students’ attention in both gender groups; (b) MVPA had both long-term direct effects on academic achievement as well as indirect effects on attention, which ultimately affected the subsequent academic achievements of female middle school students.
A Study on the Influence of Hydraulic Compactor Reinforcement on the Force Law of an Independent Foundation Under a Column and Its Safety Standard
Authors: Bu Su , Chen Lishan , Zhang Hailin , Qin Zhe
Published: October 2024

Due to the complexity of the actual geotechnical environment, the backfill compaction design theory and calculation method are not reflected in the current specification. Therefore, in order to investigate the effect of the hydraulic compactor on the foundation structure during the treatment of the backfill of an independent foundation under a column, the Menard formula was modified. At the same time, relying on an independent foundation project under a column in Jinan, the dynamic model of compactor tamping backfilling soil was established. The applicability of the calculation formula is verified by simulating the single-point multiple tamping on the backfill directly above the foundation tie beam, and the influence law of two factors, the thickness of the backfill and the tamping energy, on the force of the foundation tie beam is elucidated. The results show that after reaching the optimum number of tamping, the cumulative soil settlement and the effective reinforcement depth of tamping show a stable trend, and their simulation results are in good agreement with the analytical solution, which provides a supplement to the relevant safety standards. At this critical point, the force on the tie beams peaked and showed up and down fluctuations under the subsequent ramming action. The tamping action of the compactor has a significant effect on the structural forces within the effective reinforcement range, and there is a negative correlation between the magnitude of the structural forces and the thickness of the backfill. According to the numerical calculation results to choose the best construction programme, the on-site monitoring shows that under 42 KJ tamping energy and 1.5 m single backfilling thickness, the tie beam reinforcement stress reaches 18.5~55.5% of the specification warning value, which meets the safety standard. The research results of this paper can provide important guidance for the hydraulic tamping treatment of an independent foundation backfill project.
Exploring Built Environment Visual Interactions: A SoftBIM Data-Driven Approach for a Database About the Outdoor View
Authors: Cavaglià Matteo , Speroni Alberto , Blanco Cadena Juan Diego , Mainini Andrea Giovanni , Poli Tiziana
Published: October 2024

Windows and glazed facades provide outdoor views, serving as vital sources of visual information that aid navigation and interaction within buildings. These views can trigger psychological and physiological responses, affecting individual well-being. However, optimizing outdoor view quality is challenging due to the complex interplay of factors influencing the building’s experience of vision. Managing the complexity of optimizing outdoor view quality within current digital frameworks for building design presents significant challenges. A key issue lies in the ambiguity of certain visual metrics, which are often difficult to translate into explicit descriptors of spatial configurations. Even when such metrics are available, their practical use as guiding tools in the design process is frequently obstructed by complex data interoperability procedures. These procedures are necessary to enable seamless data transfer across the multiple software environments involved in the design process. This study advocates for the softBIM paradigm, which optimizes workflows by embedding visual analysis results into target geometries. Supported by this process, the calculation of a metric to measure the impact of existing and planned visual obstructions on the vision of the targeted landmarks is proposed and analysed. This metric is specifically applied to assess the visual information incoming to the vertical facades of building envelopes, a context of application that denotes criteria of assessment different from the ones usually applied in the most established frameworks for visual analysis (e.g., isovist analysis). SoftBIM enables effective automation strategies to aid the metric computation and the processing of the results to implement seamless export and data implementation. The visual metric is built upon implementing the Ladybug suite and addresses the different limitations in the target-based visibility calculation supported by the tool.
Experimental Study on Direct Shear Behavior of New-to-Old Interface for Recycled Aggregate Concrete with Different Replacement Ratios
Authors: Lei Hua , Nie Chunlong , Xu Deyi , Zeng Mengri , Chen Yuliang
Published: October 2024

The large amount of construction waste produced by the construction industry brings severe natural resource consumption and environmental pollution, elevating the awareness of sustainable development. Recycled aggregate concrete, crushed from construction waste, is recognized as an eco-friendly material and the current optimal solution for the environmental problem. The interface shear failure between substrate recycled coarse aggregate concrete (RAC) and overlay natural aggregate concrete becomes vital for structural safety. In order to study the direct shear performance, a total of 19 specimens were designed to carry out the direct shear test with different replacement ratios, interface types and curing ages. The whole process and failure mode were recorded. The relationships between the shear capacity and deformation, ductility, damage evolution, and energy dissipation were evaluated and discussed. The results demonstrate that the RAC component in the interface was the weak line in the shear plane, accelerating the damage evolution. In the early curing stage, the replacement ratio had a slight influence on the shear properties. Increasing the recycled aggregate replacement ratio from 0 to 100% improved the normalized strength ratio by 8.94% and 14.62%, respectively, for curing ages of 3 days and 7 days. A regression equation was proposed to predict the shear strength, accounting for the curing ages. With the increase in the replacement ratio, the ductility and energy dissipation gradually enhanced.
Ketone Esters Partially and Selectively Rescue Mitochondrial Bioenergetics After Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Rats: A Time-Course
Authors: Seira Oscar , Park HyoJoon (David) , Liu Jie , Poovathukaran Michelle , Clarke Kieran , Boushel Robert , Tetzlaff Wolfram
Published: October 2024

Spinal cord injury (SCI) pathology and pathophysiology can be attributed to both primary physical injury and secondary injury cascades. Secondary injury cascades involve dysregulated metabolism and energetic deficits directly linked to compromised mitochondrial bioenergetics. Rescuing mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress are associated with neuroprotection. In this regard, ketosis after traumatic brain injury (TBI), or after SCI, improves secondary neuropathology by decreasing oxidative stress, increasing antioxidants, reducing inflammation, and improving mitochondrial bioenergetics. Here, we follow up on our previous study and have used an exogenous ketone monoester, (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (KE), as an alternative to a ketogenic diet, focusing on mitochondrial function between 1 and 14 days after injury. Starting 3 h following a cervical level 5 (C5) hemi-contusion injury, animals were fed either a standard control diet (SD) or a ketone ester diet (KED) combined with KE administered orally (OKE). We found that mitochondrial function was reduced after SCI at all times post-SCI, accompanied by reduced expression of most of the components of the electron transport chain (ETC). The KE rescued some of the bioenergetic parameters 1 day after SCI when D-β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations were ~2 mM. Still, most of the beneficial effects were observed 14 days after injury, with BHB concentrations reaching values of 4–6 mM. To our knowledge, this is the first report to show the beneficial effects of KE in rescuing mitochondrial function after SCI and demonstrates the suitability of KE in ameliorating the metabolic dysregulation that occurs after traumatic SCI without requiring a restrictive dietary regime.
Wound Healing, Metabolite Profiling, and In Silico Studies of Aspergillus terreus
Authors: Al Mousa Amal A. , Abouelela Mohamed E. , Mansour Ahmed , Nasr Mohamed , Ali Yasser H. , Al Ghamidi Nadaa S. , Abo-Dahab Youssef , Mohamed Hassan , Abo-Dahab Nageh F. , Hassane Abdallah M. A.
Published: October 2024

Burn injuries, which significantly affect global public health, require effective treatment strategies tailored to varying severity. Fungi are considered a sustainable, easily propagated source for lead therapeutic discovery. In this study, we explored the burn wound healing potential of Aspergillus terreus through a combination of in vitro, in vivo, metabolite profiling, and in silico analysis. The in vitro scratch assays performed with human skin fibroblast cells showed promising wound healing activity. Furthermore, the burn-induced rats model showed a marked improvement in cutaneous wound healing, evidenced by an accelerated rate of wound closure and better skin regeneration after A. terreus extract treatment at 14 days. The results of this study demonstrated significant enhancements in wound closure and tissue regeneration in the treated rat model, surpassing the outcomes of standard treatments. This controlled healing process, evidenced by superior collagen synthesis and angiogenesis and confirmed by histopathological studies, suggests that A. terreus has potential beyond the traditionally studied fungal metabolites. The metabolite profiling of 27 bioactive compounds was further investigated by docking analysis for the potential inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, which has an important function in inflammation and wound repair. The compounds eurobenzophenone A (7), aspernolide D (16), asperphenalenone A (23), aspergilate D (15), kodaistatin A (18), and versicolactone A (14) showed the highest binding affinity to the target protein with a pose score of −16.86, −14.65, −12.65, −12.45, −12.19, and −12.08 kcal/mol, respectively. Drug-likeness properties were also conducted. The findings suggest the potential wound healing properties of A. terreus as a source for lead therapeutic candidate discovery.
Bacterial Cellulose Membrane Experimentally Implanted in the Peritoneum of Wistar Rats—Inflammatory Immunoreactivity and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Santos Karina Oliveira , Bertolo Rebecca , de Almeida Ibanez Natasha Lien , Alves Mônica Rodrigues , Onuma Tatiana Pessoa , Ribeiro Gabriella Costa , de Souza Porto Anna Julia , Barbeito Cláudio Gustavo , Pinato Luciana , Jozala Angela Faustino , Grotto Denise , Hataka Alessandre
Published: October 2024

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been used for various applications; however, studies investigating the immunohistochemical characteristics of the inflammatory and scarring component in BC implanted in the peritoneum in vivo have not yet been fully described. This study aimed to evaluate the systemic and organic safety of BC through oxidative stress, blood, and serum biochemical markers, as well as the late inflammatory response in rats, using histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Forty-three rats (26 males; 17 females) received BC in the peritoneal cavity (implanted group—IG), while twenty-seven rats (12 males; 15 females) served as the control (sham group—SG). Sixty days after surgery, oxidative stress in tissues, blood biochemical markers, and histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses for lymphocytes, macrophages, collagen, and vascular response around the BC were assessed. Only one oxidative stress marker, glutathione peroxidase, was elevated in the liver of IG rats. Creatine kinase MB and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly lower in IG animals. Histopathological analysis showed granulomatous inflammation in 93% of IG rats, with 74% of mild intensity. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant macrophage presence (F4/80), with CD3, CD20, and F4/80 markers indicating differences favoring macrophages. In conclusion, BC implantation in the peritoneum induces a foreign body granulomatous response with prominent macrophage presence (F4/80). Type I and III collagen were observed around the membrane, and vascularization was intense 60 days post-implantation. From a biochemical and oxidative stress perspective, BC seems to be a safe material to be used in the peritoneal cavity.
Neuroprotective Effect of Ixeris dentata Extract on Trimethyltin-Induced Memory Impairment in Rats
Authors: Ye Minsook , Jang Daehyuk , Lee Sun-young , Kim Kyu-Ri , Rhie Sung Ja , Oh Jin Kyung , Shim Insop
Published: October 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a representative neurodegenerative disease characterized by the structural and functional degeneration of neurons. The present study investigated the neuroprotective effect of Ixeris dentata (ID) extract on trimethyltin (TMT)-induced memory deficit in the rat. Cognitive improving effect and neuronal activity of ID were assessed by using Morris water maze (MWM) test and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) immunohistochemistry. Seven days after TMT injection (8.0 mg/kg, i.p.), each group of rats was administered saline, water extract of ID (WID, 400 or 800 mg/kg, p.o.), ethanol extract of ID (EID, 400 or 800 mg/kg, p.o.), or caffeic acid (CAF, 30 mg/kg, i.p.) daily for fourteen days. Results: Treatment with EID and CAF produced a significant improvement in escape latency time of the acquisition, and retention time in the target area of the MWM task. Additionally, administration of EID or CAF markedly alleviated TMT-induced loss of ChAT- and CREB-immunoreactive cells in the hippocampus. The results demonstrated that EID has a protective effect against TMT-induced memory deficit, partly through increasing the CREB and cholinergic signaling pathway in the hippocampus. These results suggest that ethanol extracts of ID might be useful for improving cognitive functions in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The Effect of Isometric Exercise Position on the Effectiveness of Isolated Work of the Thigh Flexor Muscles Based on the Results of the sEMG Study
Authors: Zyznawska Joanna , Frankowski Grzegorz , Wodka-Natkaniec Ewa , Skoczek Joanna
Published: October 2024

Backgroud: The main function of the hamstring muscles is to bend the knee joint and support the function of the hip extensors. Their frequent injuries are the result of overload related to, among others, dynamic running or jumping, and inadequate preparation for athletics activities. The asymmetry of the work of individual flexor muscle groups is clearly marked in the case of valgus or varus of the knee joint, i.e., in different positions of the lower limb. The aim of the study was to determine the position and form of a rehabilitation exercise in which an isolated group of muscles flexing the knee joint will show the greatest bioelectrical activity. Methods: The study involved 25 students of the Jagiellonian University Medical College. The students were aged 20–26. The average age was 22.9 (±1.4). The study participants included 17 women with an average age of 23.0 (±1.1) and 8 men with an average age of 22.6 (±1.9). Women constituted 68% and men 32% of all respondents. All participants agreed to participate in the study. Surface electromyography measurements in both lower limbs provided an initial number of 50 cases. The activity of the knee flexor muscles during isometric contraction with resistance was measured in correlation with three foot and lower leg settings: internal rotation, neutral position, and external rotation. The bioelectrical activity of the semitendinosus muscle is significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the internal rotation position than in the neutral position of the lower leg, while the bioelectrical activity of the biceps femoris muscle is inversely higher (p < 0.01) in the external rotation position than in the neutral position. Results: The results are significant for both average and maximum values of muscle stimulation. During isometric contraction with resistance, the semitendinosus muscle shows the greatest bioelectrical activity in the internal rotation position of the lower leg and foot, and the biceps femoris muscle in the external rotation position of the lower leg and foot. Conclusions: The above information has important implicational applications when improving isolated groups of hamstrings. In the future, this may contribute to more effective rehabilitation of patients with injuries of the muscles described in the article.
Sleep Fragmentation Modulates the Neurophysiological Correlates of Cognitive Fatigue
Authors: Benkirane Oumaïma , Simor Peter , Mairesse Olivier , Peigneux Philippe
Published: October 2024

Cognitive fatigue (CF) is a critical factor affecting performance and well-being. It can be altered in suboptimal sleep quality conditions, e.g., in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea who experience both intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation (SF). Understanding the neurophysiological basis of SF in healthy individuals can provide insights to improve cognitive functioning in disrupted sleep conditions. In this electroencephalographical (EEG) study, we investigated in 16 healthy young participants the impact of experimentally induced SF on the neurophysiological correlates of CF measured before, during, and after practice on the TloadDback, a working memory task tailored to each individual’s maximal cognitive resources. The participants spent three consecutive nights in the laboratory two times, once in an undisrupted sleep (UdS) condition and once in an SF condition induced by non-awakening auditory stimulations, counterbalanced and performed the TloadDback task both in a high (HCL) and a low (LCL) cognitive load condition. EEG activity was recorded during wakefulness in the 5 min resting state immediately before and after, as well as during the 16 min of the TloadDback task practice. In the high cognitive load under a sleep-fragmentation (HCL/SF) condition, high beta power increased during the TloadDback, indicating heightened cognitive effort, and the beta and alpha power increased in the post- vs. pre-task resting state, suggesting a relaxation rebound. In the low cognitive load/undisturbed sleep (LCL/UdS) condition, low beta activity increased, suggesting a relaxed focus, as well as mid beta activity associated with active thinking. These findings highlight the dynamic impact of SF on the neurophysiological correlates of CF and underscore the importance of sleep quality and continuity to maintain optimal cognitive functioning.
A Perspective on the Photofading of Organic Colorants
Authors: Harriman Anthony
Published: October 2024

This perspective presents an account of the underlying features associated with the photofading of organic colorants. Photofading is commonly known to the scientific community as photodegradation or photooxidation, while in earlier times the more grandiose term “light fastness” was commonplace. This is a subject of immense diversity and significance, but there are many challenges to be faced when attempting mechanistic reasoning. The text is illustrated by descriptions of several systems taken from the scientific literature, together with anecdotes related to the principal researchers. The chemical challenges to be overcome in order to design photostable materials are outlined and reference is made to the natural world. It is stressed that the journal Colorants would welcome submissions in this field.
Optical Characterization of Fluorescent Chitosan-Based Carbon Dots Embedded in Aqueous Natural Dye
Authors: De Lima Sthanley R. , Costa Thiago V. , Santos Tácio T. S. , Felipe Dora G. , Serna Teófanes B. , Andrade Acácio A. , Pilla Viviane
Published: October 2024

(1) Background: This work evaluated the optical characterization of aqueous fluorescent chitosan-based carbon dots (or carbon nanoparticles CNPs) embedded in natural dye for potential functional packaging applications. Chitosan-based materials are nontoxic, biodegradable, biocompatible, bactericidal, and produced from renewable polymer sources. Anthocyanins are pigments of different colors with a large range of potential applications, such as in bioindicators and biomonitoring; (2) Methods: The CNPs were synthetized in aqueous solutions using chitosan as a carbon source. The natural dye was extracted from the leaves of Tradescantia pallida Purpurea in aqueous solutions. The fluorescence quantum efficiency (η) and fluorescence lifetime (τ) were determined using the mode-mismatched pump–probe thermal lens (TL) technique and time-resolved fluorescence lifetimes (TRFL) measurements, respectively; (3) Results: The η and τ were measured for CNPs embedded in natural dye solution at different concentrations (5.2, 12.09, and 21.57 mass percentage composition). The η and τ photophysical parameters obtained for CNPs embedded in natural dye were compared with those of other CNPs synthesized using different carbon sources, such as leaves, seeds, and protein; (4) Conclusions: Fluorescence spectra and time-resolved fluorescence measurements corroborate the TL results, and relatively high values of η were obtained for the CNP synthesized and embedded in natural dye.
Optimizing GNN Architectures Through Nonlinear Activation Functions for Potent Molecular Property Prediction
Authors: Rasool Areen , Rahman Jamshaid Ul , Iqbal Quaid
Published: October 2024

Accurate predictions of molecular properties are crucial for advancements in drug discovery and materials science. However, this task is complex and requires effective representations of molecular structures. Recently, Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have emerged as powerful tools for this purpose, demonstrating significant potential in modeling molecular data. Despite advancements in GNN predictive performance, existing methods lack clarity on how architectural choices, particularly activation functions, affect training dynamics and inference stages in interpreting the predicted results. To address this gap, this paper introduces a novel activation function called the Sine Linear Unit (SLU), aimed at enhancing the predictive capabilities of GNNs in the context of molecular property prediction. To demonstrate the effectiveness of SLU within GNN architecture, we conduct experiments on diverse molecular datasets encompassing various regression and classification tasks. Our findings indicate that SLU consistently outperforms traditional activation functions on hydration free energy (FreeSolv), inhibitory binding of human β secretase (BACE), and blood brain barrier penetration (BBBP), achieving the superior performance in each task, with one exception on the GCN model using the QM9 data set. These results underscore SLU’s potential to significantly improve prediction accuracy, making it a valuable addition to the field of molecular modeling.
The Effects of SSRIs and Antipsychotics on Long COVID Development in a Large Veteran Population
Authors: Bradley Jerry , Tang Fei , Tosi Dominique , Resendes Natasha , Hammel Iriana S.
Published: October 2024

The development of Long COVID is a complex disease process that may be partially driven by neuroinflammation. Antipsychotics have been shown to exert neuroprotective effects under certain conditions. Our study aimed to determine if veterans treated with antipsychotics and/or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for a psychiatric condition had a reduced risk of developing long-term COVID. We conducted a retrospective cohort study with two cohorts of patients based on the COVID-19 wave in which the patient’s initial infection occurred (Cohort 1: alpha/beta waves, and Cohort 2: delta/omicron waves) with stratification by age. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between the use of antipsychotics and Long COVID diagnosis. In Cohort 1, antipsychotic use was associated with 43% and 34% reductions in the odds of developing Long COVID in patients aged <65 and >65 years, respectively. This association was reduced in the second cohort to 11% in patients aged <65 years and without an association over 65 years of age. SSRIs showed no benefit in either age group or cohort. Our results show that antipsychotic use for the treatment of a mental health condition was associated with a reduction in the risk of developing Long COVID, and the magnitude of this reduction varied between COVID-19 cohorts.
Treatment Modalities for Genital Lichen Sclerosus: A Systematic Review
Authors: Conte Santina , Daraj Mohamed Sarah , Shergill Mahek , Yacovelli Alexandra , Johnston Leah , Starkey Samantha , Cohen Yossi , Law Angela , Litvinov Ivan V. , Mukovozov Ilya
Published: October 2024

Background: Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic, inflammatory dermatosis that affects both genital and extragenital sites. It is often difficult to treat and may lead to a variety of complications if not adequately treated. The mainstay of therapy involves topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and systemic immunomodulators. Although a variety of topical, oral, and procedural therapies are available, a review comparing relative efficacy is lacking. To this end, this systematic review aimed to summarize the literature regarding treatment modalities and their respective response rates in patients with genital LS. Methods: A literature search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results: This review qualitatively summarizes information from 31 randomized controlled trials, encapsulating a total of 1507 patients with LS, the majority of which were female (n = 1374, 91%). Topical corticosteroids, the mainstay of therapy for LS, were discussed throughout the literature, and proved to be more efficient than topical calcineurin inhibitors, topical hormonal therapy, topical vitamin E oil and cold cream. However, other treatment modalities proved to be more efficient than topical corticosteroids, including CO2 and Nd:YAG laser therapies, and the addition of polydeoxyribonucleotide intradermal injections, to steroid therapy. Finally, other modalities that proved to be efficient in the treatment of LS included silk undergarments, human fibroblast lysate cream, platelet-rich plasma, acitretin, and surgical intervention. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Limitations included the inclusion of only randomized controlled trials, moderate or high risk of bias, and heterogeneity in treatment regimens, among others. Conclusion: Although high-potency topical corticosteroids have validated efficacy in the management of LS, other treatment modalities, including steroid-sparing agents and/or procedural adjuncts, have been demonstrated to have a beneficial role in the treatment of LS.
Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma with Reactive Eccrine Syringofibroadenoma: A Case Report
Authors: Donsakul Navinda , Jerasutus Suthep , Tubtieng Ittipon , Assavanatenapa Ravion , Vejjabhinanta Voraphol
Published: October 2024

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma with a poor prognosis. The patients are usually found to have metastasis when the primary tumor is diagnosed. Eccrine syringofibroadenoma (ESFA) is a rare cutaneous adnexal lesion of eccrine duct origin. There are five subtypes, one of which is reactive ESFA, known to occur in reaction to an inflammatory or neoplastic process. In this article, we report a case of the co-existence of both UPS and ESFA in a 70-year-old male patient, presenting with a painless, erythematous, irregular surface nodule with a peripherally extended brownish hyperkeratotic plaque on the right palm. The histologic findings revealed an ill-defined dermal tumor of atypical epithelioid and spindle-shaped cells with large pleomorphic hyperchromatic nuclei and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Some of those cells were multinucleated giant cells in the stroma with vascular proliferation and mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate. The tumor cells, which were only positive for vimentin, supported the diagnosis of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS). Meanwhile, the overlying epidermis demonstrated hyperkeratosis, papillated epidermal hyperplasia, and proliferation of anastomosing slender cords and strands of cuboid cells within loose fibrovascular stroma. These findings are the characteristics of eccrine syringofibroadenoma (ESFA). We describe here a patient in whom reactive ESFA occurred on and surrounded the UPS tumor.
MaskAppendix: Backbone-Enriched Mask R-CNN Based on Grad-CAM for Automatic Appendix Segmentation
Authors: Dandıl Emre , Baştuğ Betül Tiryaki , Yıldırım Mehmet Süleyman , Çorbacı Kadir , Güneri Gürkan
Published: October 2024

Background: A leading cause of emergency abdominal surgery, appendicitis is a common condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Automatic and accurate segmentation of the appendix from medical imaging is a challenging task, due to its small size, variability in shape, and proximity to other anatomical structures. Methods: In this study, we propose a backbone-enriched Mask R-CNN architecture (MaskAppendix) on the Detectron platform, enhanced with Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM), for precise appendix segmentation on computed tomography (CT) scans. In the proposed MaskAppendix deep learning model, ResNet101 network is used as the backbone. By integrating Grad-CAM into the MaskAppendix network, our model improves feature localization, allowing it to better capture subtle variations in appendix morphology. Results: We conduct extensive experiments on a dataset of abdominal CT scans, demonstrating that our method achieves state-of-the-art performance in appendix segmentation, outperforming traditional segmentation techniques in terms of both accuracy and robustness. In the automatic segmentation of the appendix region in CT slices, a DSC score of 87.17% was achieved with the proposed approach, and the results obtained have the potential to improve clinical diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions: This framework provides an effective tool for aiding clinicians in the diagnosis of appendicitis and other related conditions, reducing the potential for diagnostic errors and enhancing clinical workflow efficiency.