bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceived Value of Information Attributes: Accounting for Consumer Heterogeneous Preference and Valuation for Traceable Agri-Food
Authors: Liu Ruifeng , Wang Jian , Liang Jiahao , Ma Hengyun , Liang Fei
Published: February 2023

Information attributes characterize traceable agri-food. The perceived value of information attributes influences consumers’ preferences for traceable agri-food, consisting of two dimensions, predictive value and confidence value. We examine heterogeneous preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) in China’s traceable agri-food market. Using the choice experiments, we explore how the traceability information, certification type, region of origin, and price influence Chinese consumers’ Fuji apple choices. We identify three consumer classes by a latent class model: certification-oriented class (65.8%), price-sensitive and origin-oriented class (15.0%), and no-buy class (19.2%). The results show that consumer sociodemographic characteristics, predictive value, and confidence value are the heterogeneous sources that determine their preferences for Fuji apple information attributes. Specifically, consumers’ age, family income per month, and whether the family has children under 18 significantly impact the membership probability of consumers in both certification-oriented and price-sensitive and origin-oriented classes. Consumers’ predicted value and confidence value significantly impact the membership probability of consumers in the certification-oriented class. In contrast, consumers’ predicted value and confidence value have no significant impact on the membership probability of consumers in price-sensitive and origin-oriented class.
Nanoscale 3D Spatial Analysis of Zirconia Disc Surfaces Subjected to Different Laser Treatments
Authors: Pinto Erveton Pinheiro , Matos Robert S. , Pires Marcelo A. , Lima Lucas dos Santos , Ţălu Ştefan , da Fonseca Filho Henrique Duarte , Ramazanov Shikhgasan , Solaymani Shahram , Larosa Claudio
Published: February 2023

We propose the application of morphological, fractal and multifractal analysis to differentiate surface patterns on zirconia-based ceramics after laser treatments. Furthermore, we introduce two new approaches for ceramic surfaces: the Moran correlogram, which complements the spatial autocorrelation analyses, and the Otsu binarization algorithm, which was used to identify the lacunar points in the lacunarity analysis. First, the AFM (Atomic Force Microscope) topographies revealed that samples have significant differences in terms of spatial features. Quantitatively, spatial surface texture parameters indicated that all laser treatments reduced the superficial isotropy of the Zirconia disc. Moran’s correlograms revealed a decrease in the short-range correlation in all treated samples. The Minkowski functionals (MFs) indicated a reduction in the amount of matter in the peaks, especially for the sample with Nd-YAG laser treatment. The estimated fractal dimension (FD) pointed out that all laser treatments weakened the surface complexity of the Zirconia disc. On the other hand, clear fingerprints of multifractal behavior in all the samples were detected, where the highest degree of multifractality was computed for the samples with CO2 laser treatment. Finally, our findings suggested that the morphological changes caused by laser treatments on the surfaces of zirconia discs can be monitored and differentiated through the parameters proposed here.
Order of Convergence, Extensions of Newton–Simpson Method for Solving Nonlinear Equations and Their Dynamics
Authors: George Santhosh , Kunnarath Ajil , Sadananda Ramya , Padikkal Jidesh , Argyros Ioannis K.
Published: February 2023

Local convergence of order three has been established for the Newton–Simpson method (NS), provided that derivatives up to order four exist. However, these derivatives may not exist and the NS can converge. For this reason, we recover the convergence order based only on the first two derivatives. Moreover, the semilocal convergence of NS and some of its extensions not given before is developed. Furthermore, the dynamics are explored for these methods with many illustrations. The study contains examples verifying the theoretical conditions.
An Efficient Feature Selection Algorithm for Gene Families Using NMF and ReliefF
Authors: Liu Kai , Chen Qi , Huang Guo-Hua
Published: February 2023

Gene families, which are parts of a genome’s information storage hierarchy, play a significant role in the development and diversity of multicellular organisms. Several studies have focused on the characteristics of gene families, such as function, homology, or phenotype. However, statistical and correlation analyses on the distribution of gene family members in the genome have yet to be conducted. Here, a novel framework incorporating gene family analysis and genome selection based on NMF-ReliefF is reported. Specifically, the proposed method starts by obtaining gene families from the TreeFam database and determining the number of gene families within the feature matrix. Then, NMF-ReliefF is used to select features from the gene feature matrix, which is a new feature selection algorithm that overcomes the inefficiencies of traditional methods. Finally, a support vector machine is utilized to classify the acquired features. The results show that the framework achieved an accuracy of 89.1% and an AUC of 0.919 on the insect genome test set. We also employed four microarray gene data sets to evaluate the performance of the NMF-ReliefF algorithm. The outcomes show that the proposed method may strike a delicate balance between robustness and discrimination. Additionally, the proposed method’s categorization is superior to state-of-the-art feature selection approaches.
‘Copper and Bronze in Art’ and the Search for Rare Corrosion Products
Authors: Eggert Gerhard
Published: February 2023

The information taken from David A. Scott’s book “Copper and Bronze in Art” was crucial for this research on copper corrosion products in Stuttgart. The examples discussed are: (1) the nature and variability of ‘Black Spots’ (or ‘Brown Fuzzies’), mainly copper sulfides, resulting from the action of sulfurous gases on copper containing materials at different relative humidities; (2) cupric hydroxide occurring during maritime corrosion or by cleaning, patination, and pigment synthesis (Bremen blue) when alkaline solutions are used; (3) the wondrous phenomenon of curly malachite, which does not imply any human involvement; (4) chalconatronite formed by the contact of metal to alkaline surface films on soda glass, providing sodium and carbonate ions; (5) the formation of copper formates in contact with glass by the action of electrolytes from the glass hydrolysis and the pollutant formaldehyde reacting to the formate; (6) syntheses and crystal structure determination by powder X-ray diffraction (no single crystals needed) of various basic copper acetates (‘verdigris’) with the aim to better differentiate between historic production methods.
Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Genes Associated with Chlorogenic Acid Biosynthesis during Apple Fruit Development
Authors: Wang Hao , Zheng Xianbo , Wu Yao , Zhan Wenduo , Guo Yanfei , Chen Ming , Bai Tuanhui , Jiao Jian , Song Chunhui , Song Shangwei , Wang Miaomiao
Published: February 2023

As a predominant phenolic compound in apple fruits, chlorogenic acid (CGA) benefits human health due to its various antioxidant properties. However, little has been known regarding the molecular mechanism underlying the CGA accumulation in apple fruits. In this study, we measured the CGA content and relative enzymes’ activities during fruit development in two different flesh-colored cultivars ‘Huashuo’ and ‘Red Love’. The CGA content in both cultivars decreased sharply from 30 days after full bloom (DAFB) to 60 DAFB. Notably, the CGA content in fruit flesh was relatively higher than that in the peel. Further, the activities of C3H and HCT enzymes downstream of the CGA biosynthesis showed the similar changing trend as CGA content. Based on the transcriptome data of ‘Huashuo’ fruit at 30 DAFB and 60 DAFB, 23 differentially expressed CGA synthesis-related genes were screened. Gene expression analyses further showed that MdHCT1/2/4/5/6 and MdC3H1/2/3 were positively correlated to the variation of CGA content in two cultivars. These findings establish a theoretical foundation for further mechanism study on CGA biosynthesis and provide guidance for nutrient improvement in apple breeding programs.
Current Acquaintance on Agronomic Biofortification to Modulate the Yield and Functional Value of Vegetable Crops: A Review
Authors: Consentino Beppe Benedetto , Ciriello Michele , Sabatino Leo , Vultaggio Lorena , Baldassano Sara , Vasto Sonya , Rouphael Youssef , La Bella Salvatore , De Pascale Stefania
Published: February 2023

Fresh vegetables and fruits have always been the mainstays of good nutrition as providers of fiber, beneficial phytochemicals (such as vitamins and phenolic compounds), and minerals. Today and in the future, biofortification is a promising strategy to increase the concentration of these compounds. Considering the importance of minerals in human health, the enrichment of fresh produce for consumption has been considered through specific agronomic approaches. This review discusses, in detail, the latest findings on vegetable agronomic biofortification, aimed at increasing the concentration of crucial minerals, such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), iodine (I), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), and silicon (Si), in edible portions, focusing on the direct and indirect effects of this strategy. Although agronomic biofortification is considered a feasible technique, the approach is complex due to the many interactions between the microelement bioavailability for both plants and consumers. Therefore, the effects of biofortification on human health and the influence of beneficial and antinutritional compounds were discussed in detail to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of this practice.
Comparison of Spatio-Temporal Variability of Daily Maximum Flows in Cold-Season (Winter and Spring) in Southern Quebec (Canada)
Authors: Assani Ali Arkamose
Published: February 2023

Quebec has experienced a significant decrease in the amount of snow and an increase in temperature during the cold season. The objective of this study is to analyze the impacts of these climate changes on the spatio-temporal variability of the daily maximum flows generated by snowmelt in winter and spring using several statistical tests of correlation (spatial variability) and long-term trend (temporal variability). The study is based on the analysis of flows measured in 17 watersheds (1930–2019) grouped into three hydroclimatic regions. Regarding the spatial variability, the correlation analysis revealed that in winter, the flows are positively correlated with the agricultural area and the daily maximum winter temperature. In the spring, the flows are positively correlated with the drainage density and the snowfall but negatively correlated with the area of wetlands and the daily maximum spring temperature. As for temporal variability (long-term trend), the application of eight statistical tests revealed a generalized increase in flows in winter due to early snowmelt. In the spring, despite the decreased snow cover, no negative trend was observed due to the increase in the spring rainfall, which compensates for the decrease in the snowfall. This temporal evolution of flows in the spring does not correspond to the predictions of climate models. These predict a decrease in the magnitude of spring floods due to the decrease in the snowfall in southern Quebec.
Acute Mountain Sickness and the Risk of Subsequent Psychiatric Disorders—A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Ya-Hsuan , Chien Wu-Chien , Chung Chi-Hsiang , Her Yu-Ning , Yao Chia-Yi , Lee Biing-Luen , Li Fang-Ling , Wan Fang-Jung , Tzeng Nian-Sheng
Published: February 2023

We aim to explore if there is a relationship between acute mountain sickness (AMS) and the risk of psychiatric disorders in Taiwan by using the National Health Insurance Research Database for to the rare studies on this topic. We enrolled 127 patients with AMS, and 1270 controls matched for sex, age, monthly insured premiums, comorbidities, seasons for medical help, residences, urbanization level, levels of care, and index dates were chosen from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2015. There were 49 patients with AMS and 140 controls developed psychiatric disorders within the 16-year follow-up. The Fine–Gray model analyzed that the patients with AMS were prone to have a greater risk for the development of psychiatric disorders with an adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio (sHRs) of 10.384 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.267–14.838, p < 0.001) for psychiatric disorders. The AMS group was associated with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder/acute stress disorder, psychotic disorder, and substance-related disorder (SRD). The relationship between anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, SRD, and AMS still persisted even after we excluded the psychiatric disorders within the first five years after AMS. There was an association between AMS and the rising risk of psychiatric disorders in the 16 years of long-term follow-up research.
Discovery of New Quinoline-Based Diarylamides as Potent B-RAFV600E/C-RAF Kinase Inhibitors Endowed with Promising In Vitro Anticancer Activity
Authors: Kim Hyun , Park Jung , Seo Sangjae , Cho Kwang-Hwi , Alanazi Mohammed , Bang Eun-Kyoung , Keum Gyochang , El-Damasy Ashraf
Published: February 2023

The emergence of cancer resistance to targeted therapy represents a significant challenge in cancer treatment. Therefore, identifying new anticancer candidates, particularly those addressing oncogenic mutants, is an urgent medical demand. A campaign of structural modifications has been conducted to further optimize our previously reported 2-anilinoquinoline-diarylamides conjugate VII as a B-RAFV600E/C-RAF inhibitor. Considering the incorporation of a methylene bridge between the terminal phenyl and cyclic diamine, focused quinoline-based arylamides have been tailored, synthesized, and biologically evaluated. Among them, the 5/6-hydroxyquinolines 17b and 18a stood out as the most potent members, with IC50 values of 0.128 µM, 0.114 µM against B-RAFV600E, and 0.0653 µM, 0.0676 µM against C-RAF. Most importantly, 17b elicited remarkable inhibitory potency against the clinically resistant B-RAFV600K mutant with an IC50 value of 0.0616 µM. The putative binding mode of 17b and 18a were studied by molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD). Moreover, the antiproliferative activity of all target compounds has been examined over a panel of NCI-60 human cancer cell lines. In agreement with cell-free assays, the designed compounds exerted superior anticancer impact over the lead quinoline VII against all cell lines at a 10 µM dose. Notably, both 17b and 18b showed highly potent antiproliferative activity against melanoma cell lines with growth percent under −90% (SK-MEL-29, SK-MEL-5, and UACC-62) at a single dose, while 17b maintained potency with GI50 values of 1.60–1.89 µM against melanoma cell lines. Taken together, 17b, a promising B-RAFV600E/V600K and C-RAF kinase inhibitor, may serve as a valuable candidate in the arsenal of anticancer chemotherapeutics.
Proto-Oncogene FAM50A Can Regulate the Immune Microenvironment and Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Xie Xudong , Li Li , Tao Shuai , Chen Mingsheng , Fei Ling , Yang Qunling , Huang Chenlu , Chen Liang
Published: February 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a vital global health problem. The characteristics are high morbidity, high mortality, difficulty in early diagnosis and insensitivity to chemotherapy. The main therapeutic schemes for treating HCC mainly include Tyrosine kinase inhibitors represented by sorafenib and lenvatinib. In recent years, immunotherapy for HCC has also achieved certain results. However, a great number of patients failed to benefit from systemic therapies. FAM50A belongs to the FAM50 family and can be used as a DNA-binding protein or transcription factor. It may take part in the splicing of RNA precursors. In studies of cancer, FAM50A has been demonstrated to participate in the progression of myeloid breast cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, the effect of FAM50A on HCC is still unknown. In this study, we have demonstrated the cancer-promoting effects and diagnostic value of FAM50A in HCC using multiple databases and surgical samples. We identified the role of FAM50A in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and immunotherapy efficacy in HCC. We also proved the effects of FAM50A on the malignancy of HCC in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, we confirmed that FAM50A is an important proto-oncogene in HCC. FAM50A acts as a diagnostic marker, immunomodulator and therapeutic target for HCC.
Visualization of Nuclease- and Serum-Mediated Chromatin Degradation with DNA–Histone Mesostructures
Authors: Wasielewski Midori L. , Nguyen Katherine , Yalavarthi Srilakshmi , Ekbote Pallavi , Weerappuli Priyan D. , Knight Jason S. , Takayama Shuichi
Published: February 2023

This study analyzed the nuclease- and serum-driven degradation of millimeter-scale, circular DNA–histone mesostructures (DHMs). DHMs are bioengineered chromatin meshes of defined DNA and histone compositions designed as minimal mimetics of physiological extracellular chromatin structures, such as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Taking advantage of the defined circular shape of the DHMs, an automated time-lapse imaging and image analysis method was developed and used to track DHM degradation and shape changes over time. DHMs were degraded well by 10 U/mL concentrations of deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) but not by the same level of micrococcal nuclease (MNase), whereas NETs were degraded well by both nucleases. These comparative observations suggest that DHMs have a less accessible chromatin structure compared to NETs. DHMs were degraded by normal human serum, although at a slower rate than NETs. Interestingly, time-lapse images of DHMs revealed qualitative differences in the serum-mediated degradation process compared to that mediated by DNase I. Importantly, despite their reduced susceptibility to degradation and compositional simplicity, the DHMs mimicked NETs in being degraded to a greater extent by normal donor serum compared to serum from a lupus patient with high disease activity. These methods and insights are envisioned to guide the future development and expanded use of DHMs, beyond the previously reported antibacterial and immunostimulatory analyses, to extracellular chromatin-related pathophysiological and diagnostic studies.
Genetic Heterogeneity of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Repercussions for Molecular Diagnosis
Authors: Di Taranto Maria Donata , Fortunato Giuliana
Published: February 2023

Genetics of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is ascribable to pathogenic variants in genes encoding proteins leading to an impaired LDL uptake by the LDL receptor (LDLR). Two forms of the disease are possible, heterozygous (HeFH) and homozygous (HoFH), caused by one or two pathogenic variants, respectively, in the three main genes that are responsible for the autosomal dominant disease: LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 genes. The HeFH is the most common genetic disease in humans, being the prevalence about 1:300. Variants in the LDLRAP1 gene causes FH with a recessive inheritance and a specific APOE variant was described as causative of FH, contributing to increase FH genetic heterogeneity. In addition, variants in genes causing other dyslipidemias showing phenotypes overlapping with FH may mimic FH in patients without causative variants (FH-phenocopies; ABCG5, ABCG8, CYP27A1 and LIPA genes) or act as phenotype modifiers in patients with a pathogenic variant in a causative gene. The presence of several common variants was also considered a genetic basis of FH and several polygenic risk scores (PRS) have been described. The presence of a variant in modifier genes or high PRS in HeFH further exacerbates the phenotype, partially justifying its variability among patients. This review aims to report the updates on the genetic and molecular bases of FH with their implication for molecular diagnosis.
Detection and Genotypic Analysis of Anaplasma bovis and A. phagocytophilum in Horse Blood and Lung Tissue
Authors: Seo Min-Goo , Ouh In-Ohk , Kwak Dongmi
Published: February 2023

A clinical case of Anaplasma bovis was reported for the first time in our previous study (2019) in a horse, a nondefinitive host. Although A. bovis is a ruminant and not a zoonotic pathogen, it is responsible for persistent infections in horses. In this follow-up study, the prevalence of Anaplasma spp., including A. bovis, was assessed in horse blood and lung tissue samples to fully understand Anaplasma spp. pathogen distribution and the potential risk factors of infection. Among 1696 samples, including 1433 blood samples from farms nationwide and 263 lung tissue samples from horse abattoirs on Jeju Island, a total of 29 samples (1.7%) tested positive for A. bovis and 31 (1.8%) samples tested positive for A. phagocytophilum, as determined by 16S rRNA nucleotide sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism. This study is the first to detect A. bovis infection in horse lung tissue samples. Further studies are needed to clarify the comparison of sample types within cohorts. Although the clinical significance of Anaplasma infection was not evaluated in this study, our results emphasize the need to clarify the host tropism and genetic divergence of Anaplasma to enable the development of effective prevention and control measures through broad epidemiological studies.
Definition and Quantification of Three-Dimensional Imaging Targets to Phenotype Pre-Eclampsia Subtypes: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Hermans Sammy , Pilon Jacob , Eschweiler Dennis , Stegmaier Johannes , Severens–Rijvers Carmen A. H. , Al-Nasiry Salwan , van Zandvoort Marc , Kapsokalyvas Dimitrios
Published: February 2023

Pre-eclampsia is a severe placenta-related complication of pregnancy with limited early diagnostic and therapeutic options. Aetiological knowledge is controversial, and there is no universal consensus on what constitutes the early and late phenotypes of pre-eclampsia. Phenotyping of native placental three-dimensional (3D) morphology offers a novel approach to improve our understanding of the structural placental abnormalities in pre-eclampsia. Healthy and pre-eclamptic placental tissues were imaged with multiphoton microscopy (MPM). Imaging based on inherent signal (collagen, and cytoplasm) and fluorescent staining (nuclei, and blood vessels) enabled the visualization of placental villous tissue with subcellular resolution. Images were analysed with a combination of open source (FIJI, VMTK, Stardist, MATLAB, DBSCAN), and commercially (MATLAB) available software. Trophoblast organization, 3D-villous tree structure, syncytial knots, fibrosis, and 3D-vascular networks were identified as quantifiable imaging targets. Preliminary data indicate increased syncytial knot density with characteristic elongated shape, higher occurrence of paddle-like villous sprouts, abnormal villous volume-to-surface ratio, and decreased vascular density in pre-eclampsia compared to control placentas. The preliminary data presented indicate the potential of quantifying 3D microscopic images for identifying different morphological features and phenotyping pre-eclampsia in placental villous tissue.
Unraveling the Potential Role of Tecomella undulata in Experimental NASH
Authors: Srinivas Akshatha N. , Suresh Diwakar , Suvarna Deepak , Pathak Pankaj , Giri Suresh , Suman  , Satish Suchitha , Chidambaram Saravana Babu , Kumar Divya P.
Published: February 2023

The pathophysiology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is complex, owing to its diverse pathological drivers and, until recently, there were no approved drugs for this disease. Tecomella is a popular herbal medicine used to treat hepatosplenomegaly, hepatitis, and obesity. However, the potential role of Tecomella undulata in NASH has not yet been scientifically investigated. The administration of Tecomella undulata via oral gavage lowered body weight, insulin resistance, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), triglycerides, and total cholesterol in western diet sugar water (WDSW) fed mice but had no effect on chow diet normal water (CDNW) fed mice. Tecomella undulata improved steatosis, lobular inflammation, and hepatocyte ballooning and resolved NASH in WDSW mice. Furthermore, Tecomella undulata also alleviated the WDSW-induced Endoplasmic Reticulum stress and oxidative stress, enhanced antioxidant status, and thus reduced inflammation in the treated mice. Of note, these effects were comparable to saroglitazar, the approved drug used to treat human NASH and the positive control used in the study. Thus, our findings indicate the potential of Tecomella undulata to ameliorate WDSW-induced steatohepatitis, and these preclinical data provide a strong rationale for assessing Tecomella undulata for the treatment of NASH.
Monocytic HLA-DR Expression in Immune Responses of Acute Pancreatitis and COVID-19
Authors: Liu Shiyu , Luo Wenjuan , Szatmary Peter , Zhang Xiaoying , Lin Jing-Wen , Chen Lu , Liu Dan , Sutton Robert , Xia Qing , Jin Tao , Liu Tingting , Huang Wei
Published: February 2023

Acute pancreatitis is a common gastrointestinal disease with increasing incidence worldwide. COVID-19 is a potentially life-threatening contagious disease spread throughout the world, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. More severe forms of both diseases exhibit commonalities with dysregulated immune responses resulting in amplified inflammation and susceptibility to infection. Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, expressed on antigen-presenting cells, acts as an indicator of immune function. Research advances have highlighted the predictive values of monocytic HLA-DR (mHLA-DR) expression for disease severity and infectious complications in both acute pancreatitis and COVID-19 patients. While the regulatory mechanism of altered mHLA-DR expression remains unclear, HLA-DR−/low monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells are potent drivers of immunosuppression and poor outcomes in these diseases. Future studies with mHLA-DR-guided enrollment or targeted immunotherapy are warranted in more severe cases of patients with acute pancreatitis and COVID-19.
Insights into Insulin Resistance and Calcification in the Myocardium in Type 2 Diabetes: A Coronary Artery Analysis
Authors: Martín-Saladich Queralt , Simó Rafael , Aguadé-Bruix Santiago , Simó-Servat Olga , Aparicio-Gómez Carolina , Hernández Cristina , Ramirez-Serra Clara , Pizzi María Nazarena , Roque Albert , González Ballester Miguel A. , Herance José Raul
Published: February 2023

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is responsible for high incidence of cardiovascular (CV) complications leading to heart failure. Coronary artery region-specific metabolic and structural assessment could provide deeper insight into the extent of the disease and help prevent adverse cardiac events. Therefore, in this study, we aimed at investigating such myocardial dynamics for the first time in insulin-sensitive (mIS) and insulin-resistant (mIR) T2D patients. We targeted global and region-specific variations using insulin sensitivity (IS) and coronary artery calcifications (CACs) as CV risk factor in T2D patients. IS was computed using myocardial segmentation approaches at both baseline and after an hyperglycemic–insulinemic clamp (HEC) on [18F]FDG-PET images using the standardized uptake value (SUV) (ΔSUV = SUVHEC − SUVBASELINE) and calcifications using CT Calcium Scoring. Results suggest that some communicating pathways between response to insulin and calcification are present in the myocardium, whilst differences between coronary arteries were only observed in the mIS cohort. Risk indicators were mostly observed for mIR and highly calcified subjects, which supports previously stated findings that exhibit a distinguished exposure depending on the impairment of response to insulin, while projecting added potential complications due to arterial obstruction. Moreover, a pattern relating calcification and T2D phenotypes was observed suggesting the avoidance of insulin treatment in mIS but its endorsement in mIR subjects. The right coronary artery displayed more ΔSUV, whilst plaque was more present in the circumflex. However, differences between phenotypes, and therefore CV risk, were associated to left descending artery (LAD) translating into higher CACs regarding IR, which could explain why insulin treatment was effective for LAD at the expense of higher likelihood of plaque accumulation. Personalized approaches to assess T2D may lead to more efficient treatments and risk-prevention strategies.
General Software Platform and Content Description Format for Assembly and Maintenance Task Based on Augmented Reality
Authors: Shen Yiming , Ueda Shuntaro , Fujimoto Yuichiro , Sawabe Taishi , Kanbara Masayuki , Kato Hirokazu
Published: February 2023

Augmented reality (AR) support systems have proven to be effective in supporting various tasks, but are not yet widely used in real-world applications due to their high development costs. Although several AR authoring tools have been proposed for content development to solve this problem, most AR systems developed with these tools are not compatible with industrial environments and task types, and have inflexible visualization styles. This study provides a systematic solution of combining the AR task support software platform and the general contents description format by expanding the degree of freedom of the visualization methods and improving the design process. The proposed solution adapts to different activities and environments, and optimizes content implementation and user experience. The user study was conducted to evaluate the task performance including processing time and errors and the user experience including the perceived cognitive load and usability of our solution by comparing with a conventional system. The results show that the proposed software platform could improve the compatibility with industrial environments and tasks, and reduce the workload and cognitive effort, although the task performance was the same as the conventional AR system.
An Online Optimal Bus Signal Priority Strategy to Equalise Headway in Real-Time
Authors: Zhai Xuehao , Guo Fangce , Krishnan Rajesh
Published: February 2023

Bus bunching is a severe problem that affects the service levels of public transport systems. Most of the previous studies in the field of Bus Signal Priority (BSP) and Transit Signal Priority (TSP) focus on reducing a bus delay at signalised intersections and ignore the importance of balancing the bus headways. However, since general BSP methods allocate uneven priorities for individual buses, the headways of bus sequences are prioritised or delayed randomly, increasing the likelihood of bus bunching. To address this problem and to improve the reliability of bus services, we propose an online optimisation model to determine the signal duration and splits for each traffic intersection and each signal cycle for bus priority. The proposed model is able to induce the signal timing back to a baseline when the BSP request frequency is low. Using the proposed model, a statistically significant reduction of 10.0% was achieved for bus headway deviation and 6.4% for passenger waiting times. The simulation-based evaluation results also indicate that the proposed model does not affect the efficiency of bus services and other vehicles significantly.
A Non-Inductive Magnetic Eye-Tracker: From Dipole Tracking to Gaze Retrieval
Authors: Biancalana Valerio , Chessa Piero
Published: February 2023

We analyze the information that can be retrieved from the tracking parameters produced by an innovative wearable eye tracker. The latter is based on a permanent-magnet marked corneal lens and by an array of magnetoresistive detectors that measure the magnetostatic field in several positions in the eye proximity. We demonstrate that, despite missing information due to the axial symmetry of the measured field, physiological constraints or measurement conditions make possible to infer complete eye-pose data. Angular precision and accuracy achieved with the current prototypical device are also assessed and briefly discussed. The results show that the instrumentation considered is suitable as a new, moderately invasive medical diagnostics for the characterization of ocular movements and associated disorders.
Research on Establishing Corneal Edema after Phacoemulsification Prediction Model Based on Variable Selection with Copula Entropy
Authors: Luo Yu , Xu Guangcan , Li Hongyu , Ma Tianju , Ye Zi , Li Zhaohui
Published: February 2023

Background: Corneal edema (CE) affects the outcome of phacoemulsification. Effective ways to predict the CE after phacoemulsification are needed. Methods: On the basis of data from patients conforming to the protocol of the AGSPC trial, 17 variables were selected to predict CE after phacoemulsification by constructing a CE nomogram through multivariate logistic regression, which was improved via variable selection with copula entropy. The prediction models were evaluated using predictive accuracy, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: Data from 178 patients were used to construct prediction models. After copula entropy variable selection, which shifted the variables used for prediction in the CE nomogram from diabetes, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), lens thickness and cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) to CDE and BCVA in the Copula nomogram, there was no significant change in predictive accuracy (0.9039 vs. 0.9098). There was also no significant difference in AUCs between the CE nomogram and the Copula nomogram (0.9637, 95% CI 0.9329–0.9946 vs. 0.9512, 95% CI 0.9075–0.9949; p = 0.2221). DCA suggested that the Copula nomogram has clinical application. Conclusions: This study obtained a nomogram with good performance to predict CE after phacoemulsification, and showed the improvement of copula entropy for nomogram models.
Appropriateness of Allogeneic Red Blood Cell Transfusions in Non-Bleeding Patients in a Large Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Czempik Piotr F. , Wilczek Dawid , Herzyk Jan , Krzych Łukasz J.
Published: February 2023

In hemodynamically stable patients, both anemia and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion may be detrimental to patients; hence, a decision regarding RBC transfusion should be based on thorough risk–benefit assessment. According to hematology and transfusion medicine organizations, RBC transfusion is indicated when recommended hemoglobin (Hb) triggers are met, and symptoms of anemia are present. The aim of our study was to examine the appropriateness of RBC transfusions in non-bleeding patients at our institution. We performed a retrospective analysis of all RBC transfusions performed between January 2022 and July 2022. The appropriateness of RBC transfusion was based on the most recent Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) guidelines and some additional criteria. The overall incidence of RBC transfusions at our institution was 10.2 per 1000 patient-days. There were 216 (26.1%) RBC units appropriately transfused and 612 (73.9%) RBC units that were transfused with no clear indications. The incidence of appropriate and inappropriate RBC transfusions were 2.6 and 7.5 per 1000 patient-days, respectively. The most frequent clinical situations when RBC transfusion was classified as appropriate were: Hb < 70 g/L plus cognitive problems/headache/dizziness (10.1%), Hb < 60 g/L (5.4%), and Hb < 70 g/L plus dyspnea despite oxygen therapy (4.3%). The most frequent causes of inappropriate RBC transfusions were: no Hb determination pre-RBC transfusion (n = 317) and, among these, RBC transfused as a second unit in a single-transfusion episode (n = 260); absence of anemia sings/symptoms pre-transfusion (n = 179); and Hb concentration ≥80 g/L (n = 80). Although the incidence of RBC transfusions in non-bleeding inpatients in our study was generally low, the majority of RBC transfusions were performed outside recommended indications. Red blood cell transfusions were evaluated as inappropriate mainly due to multiple-unit transfusion episodes, absence of anemia signs and/or symptoms pre- transfusion, and liberal transfusion triggers. There is still the need to educate physicians on appropriate indications for RBC transfusion in non-bleeding patients.
Antisclerostin Effect on Osseointegration and Bone Remodeling
Authors: Couto Bárbara Alexandra do Amaral , Fernandes Juliana Campos Hasse , Saavedra-Silva Mariana , Roca Hernan , Castilho Rogério Moraes , Fernandes Gustavo Vicentis de Oliveira
Published: February 2023

Objective: This study reviewed the literature on local or systemic administration of antisclerostin, presenting results associated with osseointegration of dental/orthopedic implants and stimulation of bone remodeling. Materials and Methods: An extensive electronic search was conducted through MED-LINE/PubMed, PubMed Central, Web of Science databases and specific peer-reviewed journals to identify case reports, case series, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials and animal studies comparing either the systemic or local administration of antisclerostin and its effect in osseointegration and bone remodeling. Articles in English and with no restriction on period were included. Results: Twenty articles were selected for a full-text, and one was excluded. Finally, 19 articles were included in the study (16 animal studies and 3 randomized control trials). These studies were divided into two groups, which evaluated (i) osseointegration and (ii) bone remodeling potential. Initially 4560 humans and 1191 animals were identified. At least 1017 were excluded from the studies (981 humans and 36 animals), totaling 4724 subjects who completed (3579 humans and 1145 animals). (a) Osseointegration: 7 studies described this phenomenon; 4 reported bone-implant contact, which increased in all included studies. Similar results were found for bone mineral density, bone area/volume and bone thickness. (b) Bone remodeling: 13 studies were used for description. The studies reported an increase in BMD with sclerostin antibody treatment. A similar effect was found for bone mineral density/area/volume, trabecular bone and bone formation. Three biomarkers of bone formation were identified: bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP), osteocalcin and procollagen type 1 N-terminal Pro-peptide (P1NP); and markers for bone resorption were: serum C-telopeptide (sCTX), C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX-1), β-isomer of C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTX) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b). There were limitations: low number of human studies identified; high divergence in the model used (animal or human); the variance in the type of Scl-Ab and doses of administration; and the lack of reference quantitative values in the parameters analyzed by authors’ studies (many articles only reported qualitative information). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this review and carefully observing all data, due to the number of articles included and the heterogeneity existing, more studies must be carried out to better evaluate the action of the antisclerostin on the osseointegration of dental implants. Otherwise, these findings can accelerate and stimulate bone remodeling and neoformation.
Anti-dsDNA B-Cell ELISpot as a Monitoring and Flare Prediction Tool in SLE Patients
Authors: Pérez-Isidro Albert , Xipell Marc , Llobell Arturo , De Moner Noemí , Lledó Gema M. , Cervera Ricard , Prieto-González Sergio , Quintana Luis F. , Espinosa Gerard , García-Ormaechea Mila , Ruiz-Ortiz Estíbaliz , Viñas Odette
Published: February 2023

Anti-dsDNA autoantibodies quantification and complement levels are widely used to monitor disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, better biomarkers are still needed. We hypothesised whether the dsDNA antibody-secreting B-cells could be a complementary biomarker in disease activity and prognosis of SLE patients. Fifty-two SLE patients were enrolled and followed for up to 12 months. Additionally, 39 controls were included. An activity cut-off (comparing active and non-active patients according to clinical SLEDAI-2K) was established for SLE-ELISpot, chemiluminescence and Crithidia luciliae indirect immunofluorescence tests (≥11.24, ≥374.1 and ≥1, respectively). Assays performances together with complement status were compared regarding major organ involvement at the inclusion and flare-up risk prediction after follow-up. SLE-ELISpot showed the best performance in identifying active patients. High SLE-ELISpot results were associated with haematological involvement and, after follow-up, with an increased hazard ratio for disease flare-up (3.4) and especially renal flare (6.5). Additionally, the combination of hypocomplementemia and high SLE-ELISpot results increased those risks up to 5.2 and 32.9, respectively. SLE-ELISpot offers complementary information to anti-dsDNA autoantibodies to evaluate the risk of a flare-up in the following year. In some cases, adding SLE-ELISpot to the current follow-up protocol for SLE patients can improve clinicians’ personalised care decisions.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in COVID-19 Patients Admitted in Intensive Care Units: Relapse, Therapeutic Failure and Attributable Mortality—A Multicentric Observational Study from the OutcomeRea Network
Authors: Wicky Paul-Henri , Dupuis Claire , Cerf Charles , Siami Shidasp , Cohen Yves , Laurent Virginie , Mourvillier Bruno , Reignier Jean , Goldgran-Toledano Dany , Schwebel Carole , Ruckly Stéphane , de Montmollin Etienne , Buetti Niccolò , Timsit Jean-François
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) incidence is high among critically ill COVID-19 patients. Its attributable mortality remains underestimated, especially for unresolved episodes. Indeed, the impact of therapeutic failures and the determinants that potentially affect mortality are poorly evaluated. We assessed the prognosis of VAP in severe COVID-19 cases and the impact of relapse, superinfection, and treatment failure on 60-day mortality. Methods: We evaluated the incidence of VAP in a multicenter prospective cohort that included adult patients with severe COVID-19, who required mechanical ventilation for ≥48 h between March 2020 and June 2021. We investigated the risk factors for 30-day and 60-day mortality, and the factors associated with relapse, superinfection, and treatment failure. Results: Among 1424 patients admitted to eleven centers, 540 were invasively ventilated for 48 h or more, and 231 had VAP episodes, which were caused by Enterobacterales (49.8%), P. aeruginosa (24.8%), and S. aureus (22%). The VAP incidence rate was 45.6/1000 ventilator days, and the cumulative incidence at Day 30 was 60%. VAP increased the duration of mechanical ventilation without modifying the crude 60-day death rate (47.6% vs. 44.7% without VAP) and resulted in a 36% increase in death hazard. Late-onset pneumonia represented 179 episodes (78.2%) and was responsible for a 56% increase in death hazard. The cumulative incidence rates of relapse and superinfection were 45% and 39.5%, respectively, but did not impact death hazard. Superinfection was more frequently related to ECMO and first episode of VAP caused by non-fermenting bacteria. The risk factors for treatment failure were an absence of highly susceptible microorganisms and vasopressor need at VAP onset. Conclusions: The incidence of VAP, mainly late-onset episodes, is high in COVID-19 patients and associated with an increased risk of death, similar to that observed in other mechanically ventilated patients. The high rate of VAP due to difficult-to-treat microorganisms, pharmacokinetic alterations induced by renal replacement therapy, shock, and ECMO likely explains the high cumulative risk of relapse, superinfection, and treatment failure.
The Spread of Exhaled Air and Aerosols during Physical Exercise
Authors: Alsaad Hayder , Schälte Gereon , Schneeweiß Mario , Becher Lia , Pollack Moritz , Gena Amayu Wakoya , Schweiker Marcel , Hartmann Maria , Voelker Conrad , Rossaint Rolf , Irrgang Matthias
Published: February 2023

Physical exercise demonstrates a special case of aerosol emission due to its associated elevated breathing rate. This can lead to a faster spread of airborne viruses and respiratory diseases. Therefore, this study investigates cross-infection risk during training. Twelve human subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer under three mask scenarios: no mask, surgical mask, and FFP2 mask. The emitted aerosols were measured in a grey room with a measurement setup equipped with an optical particle sensor. The spread of expired air was qualitatively and quantitatively assessed using schlieren imaging. Moreover, user satisfaction surveys were conducted to evaluate the comfort of wearing face masks during training. The results indicated that both surgical and FFP2 masks significantly reduced particles emission with a reduction efficiency of 87.1% and 91.3% of all particle sizes, respectively. However, compared to surgical masks, FFP2 masks provided a nearly tenfold greater reduction of the particle size range with long residence time in the air (0.3–0.5 μm). Furthermore, the investigated masks reduced exhalation spreading distances to less than 0.15 m and 0.1 m in the case of the surgical mask and FFP2 mask, respectively. User satisfaction solely differed with respect to perceived dyspnea between no mask and FFP2 mask conditions.
Do Interleukin-1 and Interleukin-6 Antagonists Hold Any Place in the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease and Related Co-Morbidities? An Overview of Available Clinical Evidence
Authors: Dimosiari Athina , Patoulias Dimitrios , Kitas George D. , Dimitroulas Theodoros
Published: February 2023

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) constitutes a real pandemic of the 21st century. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one person dies every 34 min due to some form of CVD in the United States. Apart from the extremely high morbidity and mortality accompanying CVD, the economic burden seems to be unbearable even for developed countries in the Western World. The role of inflammation in the development and progression of CVD appears to be crucial, while, various inflammatory pathways, such as the Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-interleukin (IL)-1/IL-6 pathway of the innate immunity, have attracted scientific interest during the last decade, as a potential treatment target in primary and/or secondary prevention of CVD. Whereas there is a significant amount of evidence, stemming mainly from observational studies, concerning the cardiovascular safety of IL-1 and IL-6 antagonists in patients with rheumatic diseases, evidence from relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is rather scarce and conflicting, especially for patients without underlying rheumatic disease. In this review, we summarize and critically present the currently available evidence, both from RCTs and observational studies, concerning the place that IL-1 and IL-6 antagonists may hold in the treatment of CVD.