bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro to clinical translation of combinatorial effects of doxorubicin and dexrazoxane in breast cancer: a mechanism-based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling approach
Authors: Mody Hardik , Vaidya Tanaya R. , Lezeau Jovin , Taha Kareem , Ait-Oudhia Sihem
Published: October 2023

Dexrazoxane (DEX) is the only drug clinically approved to treat Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC), however its impact on the anticancer efficacy of DOX is not extensively studied. In this manuscript, a proof-of-concept in vitro study is carried out to quantitatively characterize the anticancer effects of DOX and DEX and determine their nature of drug-drug interactions in cancer cells by combining experimental data with modeling approaches. First, we determined the static concentration-response of DOX and DEX in breast cancer cell lines, JIMT-1 and MDA-MB-468. With a three-dimensional (3D) response surface analysis using a competitive interaction model, we characterized their interaction to be modestly synergistic in MDA-MB-468 or modestly antagonistic in JIMT-1 cells. Second, a cellular-level, pharmacodynamic (PD) model was developed to capture the time-course effects of the two drugs which determined additive and antagonistic interactions for DOX and DEX in MDA-MB-468 and JIMT-1, respectively. Finally, we performed in vitro to in vivo translation by utilizing DOX and DEX clinical dosing regimen that was previously identified to be maximally cardioprotective, to drive tumor cell PD models. The resulting simulations showed that a 10:1 DEX:DOX dose ratio over three cycles of Q3W regimen of DOX results in comparable efficacy based on MDA-MB-468 (additive effect) estimates and lower efficacy based on JIMT-1 (antagonistic effect) estimates for DOX + DEX combination as compared to DOX alone. Thus, our developed cell-based PD models can be used to simulate different scenarios and better design preclinical in vivo studies to further optimize DOX and DEX combinations.
The effects of combination-therapy of tocilizumab and baricitinib on the management of severe COVID-19 cases: a randomized open-label clinical trial
Authors: Dastan Farzaneh , Jamaati Hamidreza , Barati Saghar , Varmazyar Shahrzad , Yousefian Sahar , Niknami Elmira , Tabarsi Payam
Published: October 2023

Background: Tocilizumab and baricitinib are considered standard treatments for hospitalized COVID-19 patients with an inflammatory status. However, the effects of co-administering these medications aiming for more rapid patient recovery are controversial among practitioners. The potential benefits include the rapid improvement of patients and regulation of the immune system, and the potential risks include the increased chance of serious adverse events, including infections. This study aimed to investigate the effects of co-administering these two medications on the 28-day mortality rate, other efficacy parameters, and safety issues.

Methods: In this randomized open-label trial, 68 patients were recruited. The study was conducted at Dr. Masih Daneshvari Hospital during 6 months (from 21 March 2022 to 23 August 2022). Severely ill patients aged between 18 and 100 years old with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled. The primary outcomes included the need for invasive mechanical ventilation and a 28-day mortality rate. Secondary outcomes included the need for non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the need for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), the length of hospital stay, and the need for a second dose of tocilizumab. Safety assessments were also performed for 28 days. The data were collected from the patients’ medical records, which included age, gender, and comorbidities.

Results: The 28-day mortality rate or the need for mechanical ventilation was not statistically different among the two groups (p-value = 0.49 for both outcomes). The need for non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the need for admission to the ICU, or the need for a second dose of tocilizumab and the length of hospital stay was not affected either (p-value = 1; 0.1; 0.49 and 0.9, respectively). One patient developed thrombosis in the combination group. No adverse events related to infectious complications were recorded in any groups.

Conclusion: This study showed no beneficial effects of combining tocilizumab and baricitinib in managing severe COVID-19 cases. However, the need for ICU admission was meaningfully lower in the combination group. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these results.

Clinical Trial Registration: Identifier: RCT20151227025726N30M
Dry eye disease in astronauts: a narrative review
Authors: Ax Timon , Ganse Bergita , Fries Fabian N. , Szentmáry Nóra , de Paiva Cintia S. , March de Ribot Francesc , Jensen Slade O. , Seitz Berthold , Millar Thomas J.
Published: October 2023

Long-duration spaceflight can have adverse effects on human health. One of the most common ocular conditions experienced by astronauts is dry eye disease (DED). Symptoms of DED include feelings of eye irritation, eye strain, foreign body sensation and blurred vision. Over 30% of International Space Station expedition crew members reported irritation and foreign body sensation. We reviewed the current literature on the prevalence and mechanisms of DED in astronauts and its potential implications for long-duration spaceflight, including the influence of environmental factors, such as microgravity and fluid shift on tear film physiology in space. DED has negative effects on astronaut performance, which is why there is a need for further research into the pathophysiology and countermeasures. As an in-flight countermeasure, neurostimulation seems to be among the most promising options.
Cryptic invasion suggested by a cytogeographic analysis of the halophytic Puccinellia distans complex (Poaceae) in Central Europe
Authors: Kúr Pavel , Gregor Thomas , Jandová Michaela , Mesterházy Attila , Paule Juraj , Píšová Soňa , Šemberová Kristýna , Koutecký Petr , Ducháček Michal , Schneeweiss Gerald M.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Despite the wealth of studies dealing with the invasions of alien plants, invasions of alien genotypes of native species (cryptic invasions) have been vastly neglected. The impact of cryptic invasions on the biodiversity of plant communities can, however, be significant. Inland saline habitats and halophytes (i.e., salt-tolerant plant species) are especially threatened by this phenomenon as they inhabit fragmented remnants of largely destroyed habitats, but at the same time some of these halophytic species are rapidly spreading along salt-treated roads. To study potential cryptic invasion of halophytes, the patterns of genome size and ploidy variation in thePuccinellia distanscomplex (Poaceae), the most rapidly spreading roadside halophyte in Central Europe, were investigated.

Methods

DNA flow cytometry with confirmatory chromosome counts were employed to assess ploidy levels of 1414 individuals from 133 populations of theP. distanscomplex. In addition, climatic niche modelling was used to predict the distributions of selected cytotypes.

Results

Eight groups differing in ploidy level and/or genome size were discovered, one diploid (2x; 2n= 14), two tetraploid (4xA, 4xB; 2n= 28), one pentaploid (5x; 2n= 35), three hexaploid (6xA, 6xB, 6xC; 2n= 42), and one heptaploid (7x; 2n= 49). The hexaploids (mostly the 6xC cytotype) were widespread through the study area, spreading intensively in both anthropogenic and natural habitats and probably hybridizing with the natural habitat dwelling tetraploids. In contrast, the non-hexaploid cytotypes rarely spread and were predominantly confined to natural habitats.

Discussion

The extensive spread of the hexaploid cytotypes along roadsides has most likely facilitated their incursion into natural habitats. The colonization of new natural habitats by the hexaploids may pose a threat to the indigenousPuccinelliapopulations by compromising their genetic integrity and/or by outcompeting them.
First identification of potato tuber rot caused by Penicillium solitum, its silver nanoparticles synthesis, characterization and use against harmful pathogens
Authors: Shah Syed Haseeb , Shan Xiaoliang , Baig Sofia , Zhao Hongwei , Ismail Bushra , Shahzadi Irum , Majeed Zahid , Nawazish Shamyla , Siddique Maria , Baig Ayesha
Published: October 2023

Potato is one of the highly consumed vegetable crop grown in different regions across Pakistan that is affected by fungal diseases. The current research was conducted to identify fungal pathogen causing mold-like disease of potato in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. For molecular identification and characterization of the fungal disease; potato tuber samples were collected followed by culturing on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Based on morphological features, the pathogen was identified as a Penicillium species. This result was obtained in 45 different isolates from potato tubers. Molecular identification was done using β-tubulin primers and ITS5 sequencing of 13 different isolates that releveled 98% homology with BLAST (GenBank accession no. KX958076) as Penicillium solitum (GenBank accession nos. ON307317; ON307475 and ON310801). Phylogenetic tree was constructed that showed Penicillium solitum prevalence along with Penicillium polonicum and Penicillium citrinum on potato tubers. Based on this, Penicillium solitum based silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized and characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE SEM). UV-analysis showed a characteristic peak at 410 nm confirming synthesis of Penicillium solitum based Ag NPs. This was further confirmed by XRD followed by EDX and SEM that showed face cubic crystal structure with Ag as major constituent of 18 nm formed spherical Ag NPs. FTIR showed band stretching of O-H, N-O and C-H of biological origin. Similarly, Penicillium solitum based Ag NPs presented strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity at 0.5 level of significance LSD. According to our knowledge, this is the first report of Penicillium solitum identification in Pakistan, its Ag NPs synthesis and characterization to be used against pathogens of agricultural significance.
Does report modality modulate psychophysical sensitivity? The jury remains out
Authors: Hulme Oliver J. , Roulston Barrie , Overgaard Morten
Published: October 2023

Scientific studies of perception use motoric reports as the principal means of communicating subjective experience. In such experiments, a widely held and implicit assumption is that the motor action conveys but does not tamper with perceptual experience. We tested nine observers on a luminance detection task in a cross-over repeated measures design. In separate conditions, observers reported their detection via movements of either their hands or eyes. We found only anecdotal evidence for any modality-dependent effect on psychophysical sensitivity. We also reanalyzed an existing dataset from which deployed a similar detection paradigm involving hand and eye reports. In the four paradigm variants tested, we again only found anecdotal evidence for the effect of report modality on psychophysical sensitivity. Both studies reported here provide only anecdotal evidence; thus, whether we can replicate report-dependent perceptual effects still needs to be resolved. We argue why this remains an important question for consciousness research and why it deserves more rigorous and high-powered replication attempts.
Music therapy modulates mothers’ perception of their preterm infants
Authors: Kobus Susann , Diezel Marlis , Dewan Monia Vanessa , Huening Britta , Dathe Anne-Kathrin , Marschik Peter B. , Felderhoff-Mueser Ursula , Bruns Nora
Published: October 2023

Premature birth imposes considerable challenges on the preterm infant, but also challenges the mother, who may not yet be prepared for motherhood and encounter psychological stress during the post-partum period. This secondary analysis of a prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to investigate how mothers perceive their preterm infants. We surveyed 33 mothers of preterm infants born before 32  weeks of gestation, who were participating in an RCT on music therapy. We employed the neonatal perception inventory (NPI), an instrument designed to assess the mother’s perception and expectations regarding her infant immediately after birth. Infants were randomly assigned to either standard care (control group) or standard care plus music therapy (intervention group). Eighteen mothers from the intervention group participated in the survey (mean age 34.1  ±  4.6  years) and 15 mothers from the control group (mean age 29.6  ±  4.2  years). At the time of the infant’s hospital discharge, mothers rated their expectations of how they felt a baby should behave (NPI I) and how they perceived their own infant (NPI II). The NPI score difference was calculated by subtracting the NPI II from the NPI I. Mean NPI I scores were comparable between both groups, but NPI II scores in the intervention group were better [18.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 16.6–19.4] than in the control group (19.1, 95% CI 18.0–20.3). The relative probability of mothers rating their own baby as better than average was 1.94 (95% CI 1.00–3.79) for mothers whose infants received music therapy. These findings suggest that music therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit can positively influence mothers’ perception of their hospitalized preterm infant.
Virtual training, real effects: a narrative review on sports performance enhancement through interventions in virtual reality
Authors: Richlan Fabio , Weiß Moritz , Kastner Patrick , Braid Jeremias
Published: October 2023

The present article reports a narrative review of intervention (i.e., training) studies using Virtual Reality (VR) in sports contexts. It provides a qualitative overview and narrative summary of such studies to clarify the potential benefits of VR technology for sports performance enhancement, to extract the main characteristics of the existing studies, and to inform and guide future research. Our literature search and review eventually resulted in 12 intervention studies with a pre vs. post design focused on different sports, including target and precision sports (archery, bowling, curling, darts, golf), bat/racquet and ball sports (baseball, table tennis), goal sports (football/soccer, basketball), martial arts (karate), and sport-unspecific processes such as bodily sensations and balancing. The samples investigated in the primary studies included novice, amateur, and expert athletes (total aggregated sample size N = 493). Many studies found statistically significant effects in relevant target skills following interventions in VR, often outperforming training effects in passive or active control conditions (e.g., using conventional training protocols). Therefore, interventions in VR (or extended reality) have the potential to elicit real effects in sports performance enhancement through training of motor and psychological skills and capabilities in athletes, including perception-action skills, strategic, tactical and decision-making, responding to unexpected events, and enhancing psychological resilience and mental performance under pressure. The neurocognitive mechanisms (e.g., visual search behavior, imagery), methodological aspects (e.g., adaptive training difficulty), and the issues of real-world transfer and generalizability via which these potential sports-performance-related improvements may occur are discussed. Finally, limitations of the present review, the included studies, the current state of the field in general as well as an outlook and future perspectives for research designs and directions are taken into consideration.
A brief treatment for veterans with PTSD: an open-label case-series study
Authors: Kindt Merel , Soeter Marieke
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Despite the positive outcomes observed in numerous individuals undergoing trauma-focused psychotherapy for PTSD, veterans with this condition experience notably diminished advantages from such therapeutic interventions in comparison to non-military populations.

Methods

In a preliminary study we investigated the efficacy of an innovative treatment approach in a small sample of veterans (n = 7). Recognizing that accessing and targeting trauma memory in veterans with PTSD may be more challenging compared to other patient populations, we employed unique and personalized retrieval cues that engaged multiple senses and were connected to the context of their trauma. This was followed by a session focused on memory reconsolidation, which incorporated both psychological techniques (i.e., imagery rescripting) and a pharmacological component (i.e., 40 mg of propranolol).

Results

The findings from this small-scale case series cautiously indicate that this brief intervention, typically consisting of only one or two treatment sessions, shows promise in producing significant effects on symptoms of PTSD, distress and quality of life.This is particularly noteworthy given the complex symptomatology experienced by the veterans in this study.

Conclusion

To summarize, there are grounds for optimism regarding this brief treatment of combat-related PTSD. It appears that the potential for positive outcomes is far greater than commonly believed, as demonstrated by the encouraging results of this pilot study.
Slouching toward New Humanism
Authors: Contini Paolo , Osmanaj Elisabeta
Published: October 2023

In the contemporary era, novel social and cultural patterns have emerged, prompting the social sciences to engage in timely reflections on current phenomena and the very essence of humanity. These models have undergone significant transformations, so much so that New Humanism appears to be a viable prospect. It is upon this premise that all the observations put forth in this study are centered, operating under the assumption that the evolution of knowledge is a continuous process, marked by perpetual paths of research and reflection. It is well established that Humanism represents a recurring theme in our daily lives, with its premises inscribed on the walls of cities and subways. In the modern era, the concept of Humanism is liberated from its “classical” meanings. As such, it becomes crucial to consider New Humanism as a supplement for the soul, capable of invigorating spirituality, restoring energy, and instilling ethics rooted in solidarity, recognition, and mutual respect among individuals. This mission serves as a formidable catalyst, motivating and mobilizing the consciences and intelligence of individuals, particularly those in the Western world. Furthermore, this pressing need necessitates the adoption of conceptualization and analytical reconstruction pathways, which are functional in actualizing the perspective of New Humanism, establishing it as a proposition of contemporary culture. It is often implicit in widespread individualism, which tends to manifest exaggerated and exasperating tones of hyper-individualism. It is thus essential not to overlook the doctrine espoused by classical Humanism, which suggests that it is possible to be disenchanted and yet remain builders of utopias, and realists who can see new lands and infinite ideal worlds. Indeed, human beings can transcend existing barriers, using tradition as a viaticum for the future, as evidenced by numerous disciplinary fields.
Case report: Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma in a dog: diagnostics and surgical outcome
Authors: Kim Chun-Geun , Lee Ga-Won , Kim Hyun Sil , Han Seung-Yong , Han Dawool , Park Hee-Myung
Published: October 2023

A 6 year-old spayed female Poodle presented with a mandibular mass. Radiographic examination revealed osteolysis from the right mandibular canine to the fourth premolar, along with horizontal bone loss and dorsal displacement of the right mandibular first and second premolars. Skull cone beam computed tomography revealed osteolysis at the level of the right mandibular canine and fourth premolar. A destructive bone lesion was observed in the apical area of the right mandibular canine, with mass invasion of the interradicular bone of the right mandibular first molar near the mandibular canal. Consequently, unilateral total mandibulectomy and skin flap surgery were performed. Histopathological examination revealed poorly demarcated and infiltrative neoplastic epithelial cells that formed small islands and trabeculae. Neoplastic cells exhibited the malignant features of cytological atypia and high mitotic activity. Furthermore, the neoplastic epithelial cells frequently showed ghost cell changes and were diagnosed as ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC). The dog was followed up for 1 year, during which no severe complications or local recurrence was observed, except for slight mandibular drift, tongue protrusion, and drooling. This case report describes the clinical features, diagnostic imaging, and histologic features of an unreported GCOC in a dog and the favorable outcome following surgical resection.
Development of a triplex real-time quantitative PCR for detection and differentiation of genotypes I and II African swine fever virus
Authors: Qian Xinxiu , Hu Liping , Shi Kaichuang , Wei Haina , Shi Yuwen , Hu Xin , Zhou Qingan , Feng Shuping , Long Feng , Mo Shenglan , Li Zongqiang
Published: October 2023

African swine fever virus (ASFV) was first identified in 1921 and is extensively prevalent around the world nowadays, which has a significant negative impact on the swine industry. In China, genotype II ASFV was first discovered in 2018, and has spread quickly to different provinces in a very short time; genotype I ASFV was first found in 2020, and has been reported in several provinces since then. To establish an accurate method for detection and differentiation of genotypes I and II ASFV, three primers and probes were designed targeting the ASFV B646L gene for different genotypes, the F1055L gene for genotype I, and the E183L gene for genotype II, and a triplex real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for differential detection of genotypes I and II ASFV was developed after optimizing the reaction conditions. The assay showed high sensitivity, and the limits of detection (LOD) of the B646L, F1055L, and E183L genes were 399.647 copies/reaction, 374.409 copies/reaction, and 355.083 copies/reaction, respectively; the coefficients of variation (CVs) of the intra-assay and the inter-assay were 0.22–1.88% and 0.16–1.68%, respectively, showing that this method had good repeatability; the assay could detect only ASFV, without cross-reactivity with other swine viruses including PRRSV, PEDV, PDCoV, CSFV, PRV, and PCV2, showing excellent specificity of this method. A total of 3,519 clinical samples from Guangxi province, southern China, were tested by the developed assay, and 8.16% (287/3,519) samples were found to be positive for ASFV, of which 0.17% (6/3,519) samples were positive for genotype I, 7.19% (253/3,519) samples for genotype II, and 0.80% (28/3,519) samples for genotypes I and II. At the same time, these clinical samples were also tested by a previously reported multiplex qPCR, and the agreement between these two methods was more than 99.94%. In summary, the developed triplex qPCR provided a fast, specific and accurate method for detection and differentiation of genotypes I and II ASFV.
Identification of Modern High-Yield Soybean Genotypes for Potassium-Use Efficiency in Sandy Soil of the Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Gomides João Flávio Floriano Borges , Leite Michele dos Santos , Steiner Fábio , Zuffo Alan Mario , Aguilera Jorge González , Ratke Rafael Felippe , Gonzales Herry Lloclla , García Wilmer Enrique Vidaurre , López Luis Miguel Serquen , Aranibar Carlos Gerano Morales , Gutiérrez Nataniel Linares , Morales-Aranibar Luis Fortunato
Published: October 2023

Soybean is the main leguminous crop in Brazil, mostly grown in tropical soils with low potassium (K) availability. Therefore, the identification of new genotypes with efficient K uptake and utilization in environments with low exchangeable K content is an economically viable alternative to maximize crop yield in Brazil. A study was conducted to investigate the response of 25 modern high-yield soybean genotypes for K-use efficiency in a sandy tropical soil of the Brazilian Cerrado. Treatments were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 25 factorial scheme: two levels of K fertilization [20 mg K dm−3 (low level) or 200 mg K dm−3 (high level)] and 25 soybean genotypes with three replicates. Plant morphological traits, leaf K, and crop production components were measured. Based on grain production data, K-use efficiency (KUE) and response efficiency (RE) to K fertilization were calculated. Leaf area, shoot dry matter, pod number per plant, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield were the crop characteristics most limited by low soil K availability. The soybean genotypes “TMG7061 IPRO”, “BMX Bônus IPRO”, “RK6719 IPRO”, and “RK8317 IPRO” were classified as efficient in the use of soil K and are the most suitable genotypes to be cultivated in agricultural soils with low K availability. The genotypes “98R35 IPRO”, “HO Maracaí IPRO”, “BMX Bônus IPRO”, and “RK7518 IPRO” were classified as responsive to K fertilization and are the most recommended genotypes for cultivation in agricultural areas with the application of high K fertilizer rates. The genotype “BMX Bônus IPRO” simultaneously combines characteristics of K-use efficiency and response to K fertilization and hence can be grown in both K-deficient and optimal soils.
Vine and Wine Sustainability in a Cooperative Ecosystem—A Review
Authors: Marques Agostinha , Teixeira Carlos A.
Published: October 2023

The world is changing, and climate change has become a serious issue. Organizations, governments, companies, and consumers are becoming more conscious of this impact and are combining their forces to minimize it. Cooperatives have a business model that differs from those in the private or public sector. They operate according to their own principles of cooperation, which makes it difficult to obtain results that are in harmony with the objectives of the organization and the cooperative members. However, they are also aware of climate change because their businesses are directly affected. Thus, in this review, we have tried to answer the following questions: What is necessary to meet the sustainability goals? Are wine cooperatives competitive in the context of the global market? How can we respond to the challenges of environmental sustainability while maintaining wine quality standards and economic profitability? What are the economic and social impacts of reducing the carbon footprint of cooperatives and their members?
The Identification of Functional Genes Affecting Fat-Related Meat Traits in Meat-Type Pigeons Using Double-Digest Restriction-Associated DNA Sequencing and Molecular Docking Analysis
Authors: Yuan Siyu , Tian Shaoqi , Meng Chuang , Ji Feng , Zhou Bin , Rushdi Hossam E. , Ye Manhong
Published: October 2023

The Chinese indigenous Shiqi (SQ) pigeon and the imported White King (WK) pigeon are two meat-type pigeon breeds of economical and nutritional importance in China. They displayed significant differences in such meat quality traits as intramuscular fat (IMF) content and fatty acid (FA) compositions in the breast muscles. In this study, we aimed to screen candidate genes that could affect fat-related meat quality traits in meat-type pigeons. We investigated the polymorphic variations at the genomic level using double-digest restriction-associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing in 12 squabs of SQ and WK pigeons that exhibited significant inter-breed differences in IMF content as well as FA and amino acid compositions in the breast muscles, and screened candidate genes influencing fat-related traits in squabs through gene ontology analysis and pathway analysis. By focusing on 6019 SNPs, which were located in genes with correct annotations and had the potential to induce changes in the encoded proteins, we identified 19 genes (ACAA1, ACAA2, ACACB, ACADS, ACAT1, ACOX3, ACSBG1, ACSBG2, ACSL1, ACSL4, ELOVL6, FADS1, FADS2, HACD4, HADH, HADHA, HADHB, MECR, OXSM) as candidate genes that could affect fat-related traits in squabs. They were significantly enriched in the pathways of FA metabolism, degradation, and biosynthesis (p < 0.05). Results from molecular docking analysis further revealed that three non-synonymous amino acid alterations, ACAA1(S357N), ACAA2(T234I), and ACACB(H1418N), could alter the non-bonding interactions between the enzymatic proteins and their substrates. Since ACAA1, ACAA2, and ACACB encode rate-limiting enzymes in FA synthesis and degradation, alterations in the enzyme–substrate binding affinity may subsequently affect the catalytic efficiency of enzymes. We suggested that SNPs in these three genes were worthy of further investigation into their roles in explaining the disparities in fat-related traits in squabs.
Associations between Surface and Rectal Temperature Profiles of Low-Birth-Weight Piglets
Authors: Tucker Bryony S. , Petrovski Kiro R. , Craig Jessica R. , Morrison Rebecca S. , Smits Robert J. , Kirkwood Roy N.
Published: October 2023

The use of infrared cameras to record surface temperature has shown some promise in older pigs, but neonatal piglets are metabolically less mature and experience rapid temperature changes during their first 24 h. The present experiment aimed to compare rectal temperature to surface temperature at the base of the ear, measured using an infrared camera, for piglets of different birth weights. During farrowing, 48 multiparous sows were monitored, and rectal and surface temperatures were recorded for their lower-birth-weight (≤1.2 kg) piglets within 3 min of birth and at 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.50, 2, 3, 4, and 24 h. Piglet birth weights were assigned to one of three categories (BWC): BWC1 (≤0.80 kg), BWC2 (0.81 to 1.10 kg), or BWC3 (1.11 to 1.20 kg). Piglet rectal temperatures at 1.25 h after birth were assigned to one of three categories: RC1 (≤32.0 °C), RC2 (32.1 to 35.0 °C), or RC3 (≥35.1 °C). Surface temperatures showed a similar recovery pattern to rectal temperatures in the first 24 h across all piglet birth weights, although large and variable differences seen in the current study militate against surface temperature being an appropriate replacement for neonatal rectal temperature for use in production.
Effects of Different Types of Dietary Fibers on Lipid Metabolism and Bile Acids in Weaned Piglets
Authors: Hu Yaolian , He Dongting , Yu Bing , Chen Daiwen
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary fiber on the serum biochemistry, bile acid profile, and gut microbiota in piglets. Twenty-four pigs (initial body weight: 10.53 ± 1.23 kg) were randomly divided into three treatments with eight replicate pens of one pig per pen for 21 d. The dietary treatments consisted of the following: (1) a fiber-free diet (NS); (2) a fiber-free diet + 3% fructooligosaccharides (SI); (3) a fiber-free diet + 3% dietary fiber mixture (fructooligosaccharides, long-chain inulin, and microcrystalline cellulose at the ratio 1:1:1; MIX). The results showed that compared with the NS group, the 3% SI diet reduced the serum total cholesterol (TC) concentration of the piglets (p < 0.05). The metabolomics results showed that the 3% SI diet increased the level of taurohyocholic acid (THCA) and α-muricholic acid, and the 3% MIX diet increased the level of THCA and cholic acid (p < 0.05). The use of 3% SI or MIX decreased the glycodeoxycholic acid (GDCA) level in the bile of the piglets (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis shows that the GDCA was positively related to the TC. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that UCG-002 and Holdemanella were enriched in the SI group, while Bacteroides was enriched in the MIX group. The microbial function prediction indicated that SI supplementation tended to elevate the relative abundance of gut bacteria capable of expressing bile acid-metabolizing enzymes. To sum up, the regulatory effect of dietary fiber on lipid metabolism is related to bile acids in piglets. Compared with MIX, SI is more likely to regulate bile acids through the gut microbiota.
A Discrete Prey–Predator Algorithm for Cloud Task Scheduling
Authors: Abdulgader Doaa Abdulmoniem , Yousif Adil , Ali Awad
Published: October 2023

Cloud computing is considered a key Internet technology. Cloud providers offer services through the Internet, such as infrastructure, platforms, and software. The scheduling process of cloud providers’ tasks concerns allocating clients’ tasks to providers’ resources. Several mechanisms have been developed for task scheduling in cloud computing. Still, these mechanisms need to be optimized for execution time and makespan. This paper presents a new task-scheduling mechanism based on Discrete Prey–Predator to optimize the task-scheduling process in the cloud environment. The proposed Discrete Prey–Predator mechanism assigns each scheduling solution survival values. The proposed mechanism denotes the prey’s maximum surviving value and the predator’s minimum surviving value. The proposed Discrete Prey–Predator mechanism aims to minimize the execution time of tasks in cloud computing. This paper makes a significant contribution to the field of cloud task scheduling by introducing a new mechanism based on the Discrete Prey–Predator algorithm. The Discrete Prey–Predator mechanism presents distinct advantages, including optimized task execution, as the mechanism is purpose-built to optimize task execution times in cloud computing, improving overall system efficiency and resource utilization. Moreover, the proposed mechanism introduces a survival-value-based approach, as the mechanism introduces a unique approach for assigning survival values to scheduling solutions, differentiating between the prey’s maximum surviving value and the predator’s minimum surviving value. This improvement enhances decision-making precision in task allocation. To evaluate the proposed mechanism, simulations using the CloudSim simulator were conducted. The experiment phase considered different scenarios for testing the proposed mechanism in different states. The simulation results revealed that the proposed Discrete Prey–Predator mechanism has shorter execution times than the firefly algorithm. The average of the five execution times of the Discrete Prey–Predator mechanism was 270.97 s, while the average of the five execution times of the firefly algorithm was 315.10 s.
Observing Material Properties in Composite Structures from Actual Rotations
Authors: Emadi Seyyedbehrad , Sun Yuan , Lozano-Galant Jose A. , Turmo Jose
Published: October 2023

The shear deflection effects are traditionally neglected in most structural system identification methods. Unfortunately, this assumption might lead to significant errors in some structures, like deep beams. Although some inverse analysis methods based on the stiffness matrix method, including shear deformation effects, have been presented in the literature, none of these methods are able to deal with actual rotations in their formulations. Recently, the observability techniques, one of the first methods for the inverse analysis of structures, included the shear effects into the system of equations. In this approach, the effects of the shear rotation are neglected. When actual rotations on-site are used to estimate the mechanical properties in the inverse analysis, it can result in serious errors in the observed properties. This characteristic might be especially problematic in structures such as deep beams where only rotations can be measured. To solve this problem and increase the observability techniques’ applicability, this paper proposes a new approach to include the shear rotations into the inverse analysis by observability techniques. This modification is based on the introduction of a new iterative process. To illustrate the applicability and potential of the proposed method, the inverse analysis of several examples of growing complexity is presented.
Infrared Fault Classification Based on the Siamese Network
Authors: Zhang Lili , Wang Xiuhui , Bao Qifu , Jia Bo , Li Xuesheng , Wang Yaru
Published: October 2023

The rapid development of solar energy technology has led to significant progress in recent years, but the daily maintenance of solar panels faces significant challenges. The diagnosis of solar panel failures by infrared detection devices can improve the efficiency of maintenance personnel. Currently, due to the scarcity of infrared solar panel failure samples and the problem of unclear image effective features, traditional deep neural network models can easily encounter overfitting and poor generalization performance under small sample conditions. To address these problems, this paper proposes a solar panel failure diagnosis method based on an improved Siamese network. Firstly, two types of solar panel samples of the same category are constructed. Secondly, the images of the samples are input into the feature model combining convolution, adaptive coordinate attention (ACA), and the feature fusion module (FFM) to extract features, learning the similarities between different types of solar panel samples. Finally, the trained model is used to determine the similarity of the input solar image, obtaining the failure diagnosis results. In this case, adaptive coordinate attention can effectively obtain interested effective feature information, and the feature fusion module can integrate the different effective information obtained, further enriching the feature information. The ACA-FFM Siamese network method can alleviate the problem of insufficient sample quantity and effectively improve the classification accuracy, achieving a classification accuracy rate of 83.9% on an open-accessed infrared failure dataset with high similarity.
Model-Based Design of Aircraft Landing Gear System
Authors: Delprete Cristiana , Dagna Alberto , Brusa Eugenio
Published: October 2023

The aerospace industry is one of the leading figures in the development and improvement of techniques for the design of new products. One of the most promising developments of the last decades is the exploitation of digital models that make it possible to evaluate design solutions and simulate the behavior of the individual systems and their interactions. The goal is to be able to predict and analyze all aspects an aircraft much in advance of its industrialization in order to heavily reduce the time and costs of product development and to guarantee flexibility to test a multitude of solutions. The main issue in this context is the complexity of creating models that are capable of accurately sizing and simulating multiple interacting systems, thus considering the constraints imposed by the need for their mutual compatibility. The present contribution introduces two interconnected models regarding an aircraft system, in particular, the landing gear, that make it possible to size its main components and subsystems and to use the found parameters to populate a dynamic model that simulates the behavior of the aircraft during landing. These models provide a preliminary digitalization of the system itself and of the design process as well, thereby making it possible to define a potential configuration and to test it in a dynamic virtual environment, thus taking into account the interaction between the individual subsystems. The model was tested through three use cases, differentiated by class and scope, which made it possible to compare and validate the obtained results with actual values.
An Optimal Scheduling Technique for Smart Grid Communications over 5G Networks
Authors: Orumwense Efe F. , Abo-Al-Ez Khaled
Published: October 2023

The latest wireless network technology, Fifth Generation (5G) new radio (NR), is considered to be an emerging wireless network solution for smart grid (SG) communications owing to its ultra-reliable low latency and larger bandwidth properties. Packet scheduling is one of the mechanisms that plays a vital function in the performance of smart grid communications since it is highly responsible for the bandwidth resource allocation processes. The union of a scheduling approach and a beamforming technique can, however, boost the performance of multi-users in the communication system. Since 5G communication is not intended for smart grid communications, the performance of a scheduling approach must be properly utilized and effectively optimized. This paper evaluates and examines the Deadline Scheduling with Commitment (DSC) scheduling approach and further demonstrates that the performance of the popular Earliest Deadline First (EDF) scheduling approach can be richly enhanced by our modification and improvement of the approach. A novel Optimal Usage and Dropping Scheduling (OUD) approach for proper utilization and assigning of Resource Blocks (RBs) is also proposed to meet the stringent requirements of smart grid communications. Several performance indexes are employed to ascertain the performance of these scheduling approaches, and the results indicate that our proposed OUD approach shows a superior scheduling performance. It is concluded that 5G communications can be effectively employed in smart grids while utilizing the proposed OUD scheduling approach.
Authentication by Keystroke Dynamics: The Influence of Typing Language
Authors: Altwaijry Najwa
Published: October 2023

Keystroke dynamics is a biometric method that uses a subject’s typing patterns for authentication or identification. In this paper we investigate typing language as a factor influencing an individual’s keystroke dynamics. Specifically, we discern whether keystroke dynamics is contingent on the spatial arrangement of letters on the keyboard, or alternatively, whether it is influenced by the linguistic characteristics inherent to the language being used. For this purpose, we construct a new dataset called the Bilingual Keystroke Dynamics Dataset in two languages: English and Arabic. The results show that the authentication system is not contingent on the spatial arrangement of the letters, and is primarily influenced by the language being used, and a system that is used by bilingual users must take into account that each user should have two profiles created, one for each language. An average equal error rate of 0.486% was achieved when enrolling in English and testing on Arabic, and 0.475% when enrolling in Arabic and testing on English.
High-Performance Computational Method for an Extended Three-Coupled Korteweg–de Vries System
Authors: Wang Panpan , Feng Xiufang
Published: October 2023

This paper calculates numerical solutions of an extended three-coupled Korteweg–de Vries system by the q-homotopy analysis transformation method (q-HATM), which is a hybrid of the Laplace transform and the q-homotopy analysis method. Multiple investigations inspecting planetary oceans, optical cables, and cosmic plasma have employed the KdV model, significantly contributing to its development. The uniqueness, convergence, and maximum absolute truncation error of this algorithm are demonstrated. A numerical simulation has been performed to validate the accuracy and validity of the proposed approach. With high accuracy and few algorithmic processes, this algorithm supplies a series solution in the form of a recursive relation.
NanoFIRE: A NanoLuciferase and Fluorescent Integrated Reporter Element for Robust and Sensitive Investigation of HIF and Other Signalling Pathways
Authors: Roennfeldt Alison E. , Allen Timothy P. , Trowbridge Brooke N. , Beard Michael R. , Whitelaw Murray L. , Russell Darryl L. , Bersten David C. , Peet Daniel J.
Published: October 2023

The Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) transcription factors are imperative for cell adaption to low oxygen conditions and development; however, they also contribute to ischaemic disease and cancer. To identify novel genetic regulators which target the HIF pathway or small molecules for therapeutic use, cell-based reporter systems are commonly used. Here, we present a new, highly sensitive and versatile reporter system, NanoFIRE: a NanoLuciferase and Fluorescent Integrated Reporter Element. Under the control of a Hypoxic Response Element (HRE-NanoFIRE), this system is a robust sensor of HIF activity within cells and potently responds to both hypoxia and chemical inducers of the HIF pathway in a highly reproducible and sensitive manner, consistently achieving 20 to 150-fold induction across different cell types and a Z′ score > 0.5. We demonstrate that the NanoFIRE system is adaptable via substitution of the response element controlling NanoLuciferase and show that it can report on the activity of the transcriptional regulator Factor Inhibiting HIF, and an unrelated transcription factor, the Progesterone Receptor. Furthermore, the lentivirus-mediated stable integration of NanoFIRE highlights the versatility of this system across a wide range of cell types, including primary cells. Together, these findings demonstrate that NanoFIRE is a robust reporter system for the investigation of HIF and other transcription factor-mediated signalling pathways in cells, with applications in high throughput screening for the identification of novel small molecule and genetic regulators.
Construction Site Layout Planning: A Social Network Analysis
Authors: Salah Mona , Khallaf Rana , Elbeltagi Emad , Wefki Hossam
Published: October 2023

Construction site layout planning (CSLP) is the strategic arrangement and planning of construction site spaces, which has an enormous impact on the success of any construction project. Over the past two decades, multiple planning models have been developed to generate layouts that maintain safety and productivity within the construction environment. Yet these models vary significantly with disparate assumptions, many of which remain unstated. This study harnesses social network analysis (SNA) as a means to convert data into knowledge. It applies SNA to shed light on CSLP, providing a comprehensive overview of the existing models, and illuminating the critical parameters that should be considered in layout planning. This analysis delves deep into past methodologies and sets the potential for forthcoming research investigations. This study aims to be a reference for readers and researchers venturing into the realm of CSLP. Numerous related records and studies from diverse databases and sources were reviewed and analyzed. Out of these, 70 articles were singled out, from which 14 pivotal parameters were distilled as the foundation for any CSLP framework. Through the application of SNA, gaps within the existing research domain and literature were pinpointed. The study findings demonstrate the growing interest in shifting to cutting-edge approaches in CSLP. However, the results show that the majority of these models in the literature fall short of sufficiently addressing realistic facility representation, noise effects, or the construction impact on the surrounding environment. Accordingly, this research illuminates these knowledge gaps. The findings of this review guide future research by sketching a broad outline for future optimization models and planning studies.