bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Significant burden of post-COVID exertional dyspnoea in a South-Italy region: knowledge of risk factors might prevent further critical overload on the healthcare system
Authors: Resta Emanuela , Cuscianna Eustachio , Pierucci Paola , Custodero Carlo , Solfrizzi Vincenzo , Sabbà Carlo , Palmisano Chiara Maria , Barratta Federica , De Candia Maria Luisa , Tummolo Maria Grazia , Capozza Elena , Lomuscio Sonia , De Michele Lucrezia , Tafuri Silvio , Resta Onofrio , Lenato Gennaro Mariano
Published: December 2023

Background

Exertional dyspnoea in post-COVID syndrome is a debilitating manifestation, requiring appropriate comprehensive management. However, limited-resources healthcare systems might be unable to expand their healthcare-providing capacity and are expected to be overwhelmed by increasing healthcare demand. Furthermore, since post-COVID exertional dyspnoea is regarded to represent an umbrella term, encompassing several clinical conditions, stratification of patients with post-COVID exertional dyspnoea, depending on risk factors and underlying aetiologies might provide useful for healthcare optimization and potentially help relieve healthcare service from overload. Hence, we aimed to investigate the frequency, functional characterization, and predictors of post-COVID exertional dyspnoea in a large cohort of post-COVID patients in Apulia, Italy, at 3-month post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

A cohort of laboratory-confirmed 318 patients, both domiciliary or hospitalized, was evaluated in a post-COVID Unit outpatient setting. Post-COVID exertional dyspnoea and other post-COVID syndrome manifestations were collected by medical history. Functional characterization of post-COVID exertional dyspnoea was performed through a 6-min walking test (6-mwt). The association of post-COVID exertional dyspnoea with possible risk factors was investigated through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

At medical evaluation, post-COVID exertional dyspnoea was reported by as many as 190/318 patients (59.7%), showing relatively high prevalence also in domiciliary-course patients. However, functional characterization disclosed a 6-mwt-based desaturation walking drop in only 24.1% of instrumental post-COVID exertional dyspnoea patients. Multivariate analysis identified five independent predictors significantly contributing to PCED, namely post-COVID-fatigue, pre-existing respiratory co-morbidities, non-asthmatic allergy history, age, and acute-phase-dyspnoea. Sex-restricted multivariate analysis identified a differential risk pattern for males (pre-existing respiratory co-morbidities, age, acute-phase-dyspnoea) and females (post-COVID-fatigue and acute-phase-dyspnoea).

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that post-COVID exertional dyspnoea is characterized by relevant clinical burden, with potential further strain on healthcare systems, already weakened by pandemic waves. Sex-based subgroup analysis reveals sex-specific dyspnoea-underlying risk profiles and pathogenic mechanisms. Knowledge of sex-specific risk-determining factors might help optimize personalized care management and healthcare resources.
Evaluating the effect of the plan of national syphilis control in controlling the syphilis epidemic in Jiangsu, China 2010–2020
Authors: Shi Lingen , Chen Liping , Liu Xiaoyan , Hu Haiyang , Chen Yuheng , Chen Yunting , Zhang Zhi , Zhou Ying , Lu Jing , Yang Dandan , Guan Wenhui
Published: December 2023

Background

Starting in 2010, the Chinese government initiated a 10-year syphilis control plan, called the national syphilis control plan (NSCP), to address the emerging threat of syphilis. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the NSCP plan on syphilis control in Jiangsu, China.

Methods

The temporal trends of syphilis incidence, prevalence and rate of condom use were estimated by Joinpoint regression with average annual percent change (APC) and average annual percentage (APPC). A Chi-square test was conducted to analyze the outcomes in different subgroups. ArcGIS was used to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of syphilis incidence.

Results

Geographically, early and congenital syphilis incidence decreased significantly in all areas of the province during the period of NSCP. Early syphilis incidence decreased from 21.1 to 8.8 (APC: −7.5, 95%CI: −8.6, −6.5, p < 0.001) per 100,000 people, and congenital syphilis decreased from 63.6 to 4.1 (APC: −14.8, 95%CI: −20.8, −8.4, p < 0.01) per 100,000 newborns from 2010 to 2020. Also, syphilis prevalence reduced from 13.4 to 3.8% (APC: −8.7, 95%CI: −12.1, −5.0, p = 0.001) among men who have sex with men, from 5.3 to 1.7% (APC: −7.9, 95%CI: −11.7, −3.8, p = 0.002) among female sex workers and remained under 1.0% with slight variations among pregnant women (APC: 0.3, 95%CI: −4.3, 5.1, p = 0.877) from 2010 to 2020. 0.2% (2,436) of pregnant women who received free syphilis testing during pregnancy were diagnosed with current syphilis infection, and 97.0% (2,555) of newborns in the province were delivered to women diagnosed with syphilis. 91.8% (2,346) of live babies and about 90% of diagnosed patients received complete standard syphilis diagnosis and treatment services.

Conclusion

Trends of early syphilis incidence and syphilis prevalence show a considerable decreasing trend among almost all the key populations after implementing NSCP. Congenital syphilis has significantly decreased as well and hence, the NSCP program should be sustained and strengthened to control the syphilis epidemic in China further.
Supporting health education policies: translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a health literacy instrument, in French
Authors: Clément Céline , Lvovschi Virginie-Eve , Verot Elise , du Sartz de Vigneulles Benjamin , Darlington-Bernard Adeline , Bourgeois Denis , Lamure Michel , Vitiello Flavia , Dussart Claude , Carrouel Florence
Published: December 2023

Background

Oral health is a fundamental human right and is inseparable and indivisible from overall health and well-being. Oral Health Literacy (OHL) has been proved to be fundamental to promoting oral health and reducing oral health inequalities. To our knowledge, no OHL instrument to evaluate OHL level is currently validated in French language despite the fact it is the fifth most widely spoken languages on the planet. The Oral health literacy Instrument (OHLI) appears to be the most interesting OHL instrument to adapt into French because it is already available in English, Spanish, Russian, Malaysian, and it contains both reading comprehension and numeracy sections. Its psychometric properties have been rated as adequate.

Objective

The aim of this study was to translate and adapt cross-culturally the OHLI into French, to evaluate its psychometric properties and to compare its results to oral health knowledge.

Method

This study followed and applied well-established processes of translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation, based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization guidelines and on the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) study design checklist for patient-reported outcomes. Two psychometric assessments were planned, the comparison of OHLI-F scores according to education level and frequency of dental visits, and the test–retest reliability of the OHLI-F.

Results

A total of 284 participants answered the OHLI-F. The OHLI-F scores were significantly different between participants with different levels of education and frequency of dental visits (p < 0.001). Participants with an education level lower than the baccalaureate, and those who never visit the dentist or only in case of pain, had significantly lower OHLI-F scores. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.881–0.914). Test–retest reliability was very high (intraclass correlation = 0.985 to 0.996).

Conclusion

The OHLI-F has demonstrated adequate psychometric properties and can therefore be used to measure oral health literacy in French-speaking populations.
A topological model for partial equivariance in deep learning and data analysis
Authors: Ferrari Lucia , Frosini Patrizio , Quercioli Nicola , Tombari Francesca
Published: December 2023

In this article, we propose a topological model to encode partial equivariance in neural networks. To this end, we introduce a class of operators, called P-GENEOs, that change data expressed by measurements, respecting the action of certain sets of transformations, in a non-expansive way. If the set of transformations acting is a group, we obtain the so-called GENEOs. We then study the spaces of measurements, whose domains are subjected to the action of certain self-maps and the space of P-GENEOs between these spaces. We define pseudo-metrics on them and show some properties of the resulting spaces. In particular, we show how such spaces have convenient approximation and convexity properties.
International selection and competition in youth sport: pin the tail on the donkey or targeted intervention?
Authors: Sweeney Liam , MacNamara Áine , Taylor Jamie
Published: December 2023

Across sporting contexts, there is growing debate surrounding the utility of junior international age group selection in sport. In this regard, there has been considerable focus on the age of selection, with the low conversion of athletes from junior to senior international level often used to critique the efficiency of such programmes. In this perspective article, we argue that there is a need for a more nuanced consideration of the effectiveness of international age groups in talent systems. We begin this perspective article with a synthesis of the literature pertaining to junior to senior transitions in sport, followed by the implications and opportunity cost presented by international age groups. We argue for a more contextual evaluation of international age groups relative to the performance aims of a talent system, the need for manipulation of challenge dynamics, and the resource costs of doing so (e.g., providing developmental challenges for those who have early advantage, or spreading resource amongst greater numbers for broader impact). We suggest that talent systems evaluate the opportunity cost presented by international age groups, with decisions based upon individual strategic context.
Can environmentally themed music increase consumers' willingness to pay for low-carbon food? A discrete choice experiment method
Authors: Wang Zuoyi , Li Kai
Published: December 2023

Transitioning to low-carbon food consumption is indispensable for adapting to and mitigating climate change. Nevertheless, altering dietary habits presents a host of formidable challenges. To explore the role of environmentally themed music in promoting low-carbon food consumption, we conducted a discrete choice experiment, incorporating Michael Jackson's renowned “Earth Song” in the background information. The results revealed the following key insights: Firstly, consumers show concerns about food safety, nutrients, and unnaturalness of the cell-cultured beef, demonstrating the existence of food neophobia or distrust of novelties in cell-cultured beef. Secondly, while the inclusion of environmentally themed music did not completely eliminate consumers' food neophobia, it undeniably played a pivotal role in significantly improving their willingness to pay (WTP) for cell-cultured meat. This effect was achieved by effectively conveying environmental information, stimulating guilt and responsibility, and igniting consumers' enthusiasm for environmental protection. Thirdly, the introduction of “Earth Song” caused a crowding-out effect on eco-friendly packaging and carbon labeling, and reshaped trust in distribution channels. These impacts are all related to the high price of low-carbon food. All these conclusions underscore the substantial role that environmentally themed music can play in promoting low-carbon foods and valuable insights for policymakers and low-carbon food producers.
Parenting Practices and Psychosomatic Complaints Among Swedish Adolescents
Authors: Grigorian Karina , Östberg Viveca , Raninen Jonas , Låftman Sara Brolin
Published: December 2023

Objectives: Parent-adolescent relationships play a crucial role in youth development. This study examines the associations between parenting practices (parental support, knowledge, and rule-setting) and psychosomatic complaints across middle and late adolescence.

Methods: The study utilised data from a Swedish national cohort (n = 3,678). Participants completed self-report questionnaires in 2017 (∼15–16 years) and again in 2019 (∼17–18 years).

Results: Parental support exhibited the strongest and most consistent inverse cross-sectional associations with psychosomatic complaints during both middle and late adolescence. Furthermore, increases in parental support and parental knowledge were associated with decreases in adolescent psychosomatic complaints. However, parental support and knowledge at age 15–16 were not prospectively associated with psychosomatic complaints at age 17–18.

Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of ongoing parental engagement, particularly in terms of providing constant support, throughout middle and late adolescence.
Addressing Managerial Loss Aversion for the Corporate Value Creation Process: A Critical Analysis of the Literature and Preliminary Approaches
Authors: Camilli Riccardo , Mechelli Alessandro , Stefanoni Alessandra , Rossi Fabrizio
Published: December 2023

To date, the studies on managerial loss aversion have produced contradictory findings, making it impossible to: (i) identify the ultimate impact of managerial loss aversion on the value that organisations create for themselves and for their stakeholders, and (ii) mitigate the effect of managerial loss aversion to improve corporate value creation. With the aim of filling this gap, the authors of this paper first performed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), resulting in 65 relevant papers. The 65 papers were then analysed through a Thematic Analysis (TA), which was aimed at isolating and revising the single effects of managerial loss aversion on the corporate value creation process. Once it became clear when and how managerial loss aversion leads to negative impacts on corporate value creation (such as suboptimal investments in corporate social responsibility, short-term-oriented budget expenditures, illegal corporate conduct in favourable contexts, and low demand for audit quality), a novel theoretical framework was built. This framework proposes some preliminary approaches to mitigate these detrimental effects. In particular, future empirical research may operationalise potential debiasing strategies, derived from critical analysis of the literature, to reduce managerial loss aversion in different business settings, thereby improving corporate value creation.
Development of Aerodynamic and Propulsion Models Using the Iterative Equation Error Method
Authors: Millidere Murat , Akgül Ferhat , Leblebicioğlu Kemal , Whidborne James F.
Published: December 2023

For developing high-fidelity flight simulations, an accurate and complete representation of the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft is necessary. To obtain a realistic aerodynamic database, system identification methods can be used to describe the applied forces and moments acting on the aircraft. This study is based on simulated flight test data from a nonlinear simulation of the F-16 aircraft. It is demonstrated that the complete set of aerodynamic coefficients can be reconstructed from the flight test data. Thrust forces and moments are obtained from ground tests. A practical system identification methodology based on the iterative equation error method to determine the nonlinear aerodynamic and engine thrust models in the absence of engine manufacturer data is developed. The estimated values obtained using the method are compared with the actual parameter values. A mathematical engine model that can be used to estimate the thrust force for any flight condition is also developed. The findings demonstrate that the proposed method yields accurate results. The developed methodology is well-suited for the identification of isolated aerodynamic drag and lift coefficients and the thrust model.
Genome-Wide Association Study for Somatic Skeletal Traits in Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) Pigs
Authors: Gao Xin , Zhou Shenping , Liu Zhihong , Ruan Donglin , Wu Jie , Quan Jianping , Zheng Enqin , Yang Jie , Cai Gengyuan , Wu Zhenfang , Yang Ming
Published: December 2023

The pig bone weight trait holds significant economic importance in southern China. To expedite the selection of the pig bone weight trait in pig breeding, we conducted molecular genetic research on these specific traits. These traits encompass the bone weight of the scapula (SW), front leg bone weight (including humerus and ulna) (FLBW), hind leg bone weight (including femur and tibia) (HLBW), and spine bone weight (SBW). Up until now, the genetic structure related to these traits has not been thoroughly explored, primarily due to challenges associated with obtaining the phenotype data. In this study, we utilized genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to discern single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes associated with four bone weight traits within a population comprising 571 Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) hybrid pigs (DLY). In the analyses, we employed a mixed linear model, and for the correction of multiple tests, both the false discovery rate and Bonferroni methods were utilized. Following functional annotation, candidate genes were identified based on their proximity to the candidate sites and their association with the bone weight traits. This study represents the inaugural application of GWAS for the identification of SNPs associated with individual bone weight in DLY pigs. Our analysis unveiled 26 SNPs and identified 12 promising candidate genes (OPRM1, SLC44A5, WASHC4, NOPCHAP1, RHOT1, GLP1R, TGFB3, PLCB1, TLR4, KCNJ2, ABCA6, and ABCA9) associated with the four bone weight traits. Furthermore, our findings on the genetic mechanisms influencing pig bone weight offer valuable insights as a reference for the genetic enhancement of pig bone traits.
First Account of the Breeding Biology of Indian Blue Robin (Larvivora brunnea) in Southwest China
Authors: Nie Jun , Fan Shixiang , Luo Xu
Published: December 2023

Breeding biology lies at the core of life history research on birds, and it provides important information for avian conservation. We discovered one nest of the Indian Blue Robin (Larvivora brunnea) on 28 May 2021, at the Laojun mountains in Lijiang, northwestern Yunnan, China. Field observation was combined with the use of a GoPro camera for video shooting to quantitatively study the incubation and brooding behavior. We also conducted measurements of the eggs and nestlings on site and inspected the nesting materials used. A bowl-shaped nest with four eggs was located at 2830 m in the evergreen deciduous broad-leaved forest. All eggs were successfully incubated and two nestlings fledged on 22 June 2021, resulting in a total breeding success of 50%. Only the female bird incubated the eggs and brooded the nestlings. The incubation period was at least 13 days and the nestling period was 13 days. As incubation progressed, the incubation bout duration decreased. During the incubation period, the nesting time of the female bird shows a declining trend as incubation progresses. Both parents participated in feeding the nestling, and the frequency of parental supply increased with the maturity of the nestling.
Prediction of the Concentration and Source Contributions of PM2.5 and Gas-Phase Pollutants in an Urban Area with the SmartAQ Forecasting System
Authors: Siouti Evangelia , Skyllakou Ksakousti , Kioutsioukis Ioannis , Patoulias David , Apostolopoulos Ioannis D. , Fouskas George , Pandis Spyros N.
Published: December 2023

The SmartAQ (Smart Air Quality) forecasting system produces high-resolution (1 × 1 km2) air quality predictions in an urban area for the next three days using advanced chemical transport modeling. In this study, we evaluated the SmartAQ performance for the urban area of Patras, Greece, for four months (July 2021, September 2021, December 2021, and March 2022), covering all seasons. In this work, we assess the system’s ability to forecast PM2.5 levels and the major gas-phase pollutants during periods with different meteorological conditions and local emissions, but also in areas of the city with different characteristics (urban, suburban, and background sites). We take advantage of this SmartAQ application to also quantify the main sources of the pollutants at each site. During the summertime, PM2.5 model performance was excellent (Fbias < 15%, Ferror < 30%) for all sites both in the city center and suburbs. For the city center, the model reproduced well (MB = −0.9 μg m−3, ME = 2.5 μg m−3) the overall measured PM2.5 behavior and the high nighttime peaks due to cooking activity, as well as the transported PM pollution in the suburbs. During the fall, the SmartAQ PM2.5 performance was good (Fbias < 42%, Ferror < 45%) for the city center and the suburban core, while it was average (Fbias < 50%, Ferror < 54%, MB, ME < 3.3 μg m−3) for the suburbs because the model overpredicted the long-range transport of pollution. For wintertime, the system reproduced well (MB = −2 μg m−3, ME = 6.5 μg m−3) the PM2.5 concentration in the high-biomass-burning emission area with an excellent model performance (Fbias = −4%, Ferror = 33%) and reproduced well (MB < 1.1 μg m−3, ME < 3 μg m−3) the background PM2.5 levels. SmartAQ reproduced well the PM2.5 concentrations in the urban and suburban core during the spring (Fbias < 40%, Ferror < 50%, MB < 8.5 μg m−3, ME < 10 μg m−3), while it tended to slightly overestimate the regional pollution. The main local source of fine PM during summer and autumn was cooking, but most of the PM was transported to the city. Residential biomass burning was the dominant particle source of pollution during winter and early spring. For gas-phase pollutants, the system reproduced well the daily nitrogen oxides (NOx) concentrations during the summertime. Predicted NOx concentrations during the winter were consistent with measurements at night but underestimated the observations during the rest of the day. SmartAQ achieved the US EPA modeling goals for hourly O3 concentrations indicating good model performance.
A Generalization of Building Clusters in an Urban Wind Field Simulated by CFD
Authors: Qiu Yu , He Yongjian , Li Mengxi , Zhu Xiaochen
Published: December 2023

The urban climate has a critical influence on developing sustainable cities, and one important factor is the urban wind environment. Moreover, refining urban wind fields is required for the quantitative assessment of urban wind environments. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool for modeling the wind flow characteristics in urban areas. Although CFD has been widely used in various fields, its use for simulating urban wind fields has limitations because of the complexity of urban building models and the high computational workload. Accordingly, we consider the generalization parameters in the vertical and horizontal directions based on the CFD results and the building topology based on the state of the building nodes. We perform a two-dimensional generalization of building clusters, conduct spatial analysis in a geographic information system (GIS), and generate three-dimensional models. This generalization scheme is applied to Meiling Street in Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, China. The results indicate that the generalization decreases the number of buildings from 7003 to 3367 and the computation time from 11 h and 26 min to 10 h and 25 min. The computation efficiency is improved by 8.89%, with 1.85% changes in the average wind speed ratio. This scheme substantially improves the computational efficiency of urban wind field CFD simulations by reducing the geometric model’s complexity without compromising the accuracy. This strategy is suitable for simulating large-scale urban wind fields.
Assessment of the Feasibility of Converting the Liquid Fraction Separated from Fruit and Vegetable Waste in a UASB Digester
Authors: Tanguay-Rioux Fabrice , Spreutels Laurent , Roy Caroline , Frigon Jean-Claude
Published: December 2023

Anaerobic digestion of food waste still faces important challenges despite its world-wide application. An important fraction of food waste is composed of organic material having a low hydrolysis rate and which is often not degraded in digesters. The addition of this less hydrolysable fraction into anaerobic digesters requires a longer hydraulic residence time, and therefore leads to oversizing of the digesters. To overcome this problem, the conversion of the highly biodegradable liquid fraction from fruit and vegetable waste in a up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) digester is proposed and demonstrated. The more easily biodegradable fraction of the waste is concentrated in the liquid phase using a 2-stage screw press separation. Then, this liquid fraction is digested in a 3.5 L UASB digester at a high organic loading rate. A good and stable performance was observed up to an organic loading rate (OLR) of 12 g COD/(Lrx.d), with a specific methane production of 2.6 L CH4/(Lrx.d) and a degradation of 85% of the initial total COD. Compared to the conversion of the same initial waste with a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR), this new treatment strategy leads to 10% lower COD degradation, but can produce the same amount of methane with a digester that is twice as small. The scale-up of this process could contribute to reduced costs related to the anaerobic digestion of food waste, while reducing management efforts associated with digestate handling and increasing process stability at high organic loading rates.
Cell-Free DNA Genomic Profiling and Its Clinical Implementation in Advanced Prostate Cancer
Authors: Bratic Hench Ivana , Roma Luca , Conticelli Floriana , Bubendorf Lenard , Calgua Byron , Le Magnen Clémentine , Piscuoglio Salvatore , Rubin Mark A. , Chirindel Alin , Nicolas Guillaume P. , Vlajnic Tatjana , Zellweger Tobias , Templeton Arnoud J. , Stenner Frank , Ruiz Christian , Rentsch Cyrill , Bubendorf Lukas
Published: December 2023

Most men with prostate cancer (PCa), despite potentially curable localized disease at initial diagnosis, progress to metastatic disease. Despite numerous treatment options, choosing the optimal treatment for individual patients remains challenging. Biomarkers guiding treatment sequences in an advanced setting are lacking. To estimate the diagnostic potential of liquid biopsies in guiding personalized treatment of PCa, we evaluated the utility of a custom-targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel based on the AmpliSeq HD Technology. Ultra-deep sequencing on plasma circulating free DNA (cfDNA) samples of 40 metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC) and 28 metastatic hormone-naive PCa (mCSPC) was performed. CfDNA somatic mutations were detected in 48/68 (71%) patients. Of those 68 patients, 42 had matched tumor and cfDNA samples. In 21/42 (50%) patients, mutations from the primary tumor tissue were detected in the plasma cfDNA. In 7/42 (17%) patients, mutations found in the primary tumor were not detected in the cfDNA. Mutations from primary tumors were detected in all tested mCRPC patients (17/17), but only in 4/11 with mCSPC. AR amplifications were detected in 12/39 (31%) mCRPC patients. These results indicate that our targeted NGS approach has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting clinically relevant mutations in PCa.
The Acquisition of Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity by the Type II Anti-CD20 Therapeutic Antibody Obinutuzumab
Authors: Kuźniewska Alicja , Majeranowski Alan , Henry Sara , Kowalska Daria , Stasiłojć Grzegorz , Urban Aleksandra , Zaucha Jan M. , Okrój Marcin
Published: December 2023

Rituximab, a prototypic anti-CD20 mAb, and the third-generation anti-CD20 mAb obinutuzumab differ in their ability to activate the complement system. According to recent studies, this contrast stems from the architecture of the antigen–antibody complex formed by these two mAbs that facilitates (rituximab) or disables (obinutuzumab) further oligomerization, leading to engagement of the initial classical complement pathway component C1q. We examined whether a gain-of-function C2 variant that acts downstream of C1q and enforces the formation of complement convertase resistant to physiological decay can impact complement activation by obinutuzumab. Co-application of the C2 variant with obinutuzumab and human serum resulted in complement-dependent cytotoxicity equal to or higher than attainable for rituximab. This effect was observed either in serum or hirudin-anticoagulated whole blood. Long-term (24 h) overall cytotoxicity of obinutuzumab was improved in target cells of moderate sensitivity to complement but diminished in cells of low sensitivity. Our results demonstrate that the ability of complement activation of a given antibody is not ultimately determined at the stage of initial interactions with its target antigen but is modulable at later stages of the cascade and that the benefit of the acquisition of this new effector mechanism by obinutuzumab depends on the target cell characteristics.
Infliximab, a Monoclonal Antibody against TNF-α, Inhibits NF-κB Activation, Autotaxin Expression and Breast Cancer Metastasis to Lungs
Authors: Shinde Anjali , Tang Xiaoyun , Singh Rajesh , Brindley David N.
Published: December 2023

An inflammatory milieu in the tumor microenvironment leads to immune evasion, resistance to cell death, metastasis and poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. TNF-α is a proinflammatory cytokine that regulates multiple aspects of tumor biology from initiation to progression. TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation initiates inflammatory pathways, which determine cell survival, death and tumor progression. One candidate pathway involves the increased secretion of autotaxin, which produces lysophosphatidate that signals through six G-protein-coupled receptors. Significantly, autotaxin is one of the 40–50 most upregulated genes in metastatic tumors. In this study, we investigated the effects of TNF-α by blocking its action with a monoclonal antibody, Infliximab, and studied the effects on autotaxin secretion and tumor progression. Infliximab had little effect on tumor growth, but it decreased lung metastasis by 60% in a syngeneic BALB/c mouse model using 4T1 breast cancer cells. Infliximab-treated mice also showed a decrease in proliferation and metastatic markers like Ki-67 and vimentin in tumors. This was accompanied by decreases in NF-κB activation, autotaxin expression and the concentrations of plasma and tumor cytokines/chemokines which are involved in metastasis. We also demonstrated a positive correlation of TNF-α -NF-κB and ATX expression in breast cancer patients using cancer databases. Studies in vitro showed that TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation increases autotaxin expression and the clone forming ability of 4T1 breast cancer cells. This report highlights the potential role of Infliximab as an additional approach to attenuate signaling through the autotaxin–lysophosphatidate–inflammatory cycle and decrease mortality from metastatic cancer.
Molecular Insight into Gastric Cancer Invasion—Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Matsuoka Tasuku , Yashiro Masakazu
Published: December 2023

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. There has been no efficient therapy for stage IV GC patients due to this disease’s heterogeneity and dissemination ability. Despite the rapid advancement of molecular targeted therapies, such as HER2 and immune checkpoint inhibitors, survival of GC patients is still unsatisfactory because the understanding of the mechanism of GC progression is still incomplete. Invasion is the most important feature of GC metastasis, which causes poor mortality in patients. Recently, genomic research has critically deepened our knowledge of which gene products are dysregulated in invasive GC. Furthermore, the study of the interaction of GC cells with the tumor microenvironment has emerged as a principal subject in driving invasion and metastasis. These results are expected to provide a profound knowledge of how biological molecules are implicated in GC development. This review summarizes the advances in our current understanding of the molecular mechanism of GC invasion. We also highlight the future directions of the invasion therapeutics of GC. Compared to conventional therapy using protease or molecular inhibitors alone, multi-therapy targeting invasion plasticity may seem to be an assuring direction for the progression of novel strategies.
Neurodevelopmental Outcome and Neuroimaging of Very Low Birth Weight Infants from an Italian NICU Adopting the Family-Centered Care Model
Authors: Lugli Licia , Pugliese Marisa , Bertoncelli Natascia , Bedetti Luca , Agnini Cristina , Guidotti Isotta , Roversi Maria Federica , Della Casa Elisa Muttini , Cavalleri Francesca , Todeschini Alessandra , Di Caprio Antonella , Zini Tommaso , Corso Lucia , Miselli Francesca , Ferrari Fabrizio , Berardi Alberto
Published: December 2023

Background: Improvements in perinatal care have substantially decreased mortality rates among preterm infants, yet their neurodevelopmental outcomes and quality of life persist as a pertinent public health concern. Family-centered care has emerged as a holistic philosophy that promotes effective alliances among patients, families, and healthcare providers to improve the quality of care. Aims: This longitudinal prospective study aims to evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcomes and brain MRI findings in a cohort of preterm newborns admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) adopting a family-centered care model. Methods: Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants admitted to the NICU of Modena between 2015 and 2020 were enrolled. Infants who underwent conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term-equivalent age were included. Neurodevelopmental follow-up was performed until the age of 24 months by a multidisciplinary team using the Amiel-Tison neurological assessment and the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales (GMDS-R). Neurodevelopmental outcomes were classified as major sequelae (cerebral palsy, DQ ≤ 70, severe sensory impairment), minor sequelae (minor neurological signs such as clumsiness or DQ between 71 and 85), and normal outcomes (no neurological signs and DQ > 85). Risk factors for severe outcomes were assessed. Results: In total, 49 of the 356 infants (13.8%) died before hospital discharge, and 2 were excluded because of congenital disorders. Of the remaining 305 infants, 222 (72.8%) completed the 24 month follow-up and were included in the study. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were classified as normal (n = 173, 77.9%), minor (n = 34, 15.3%), and major sequelae (n = 15, 6.8%). Among 221 infants undergoing brain MRI, 76 (34.4%) had major lesions (intraventricular hemorrhage, hemorrhagic parenchymal infarction, periventricular leukomalacia, and large cerebellar hemorrhage). In the multivariate regression model, the retinopathy of prematurity (OR 1.8; p value 0.016) and periventricular–intraventricular hemorrhage (OR 5.6; p value < 0.004) were associated with major sequelae. Conclusions: We reported low rates of severe neurodevelopmental outcomes in VLBW infants born in an Italian NICU with FCC. Identifying the risk factors for severe outcomes can assist in tailoring and optimizing early interventions on an individual basis, both within the NICU and after discharge.
RETRACTED: Bahmad et al. Histopathologic Findings Associated with Miller–Dieker Syndrome: An Autopsy Report. Diseases 2022, 10, 95
Authors: Bahmad Hisham F. , Ramesar Lauren , Nosti Cecilia , Anthonio Gameli , Brathwaite Carole , Vincentelli Cristina , Castellano-Sánchez Amilcar A. , Poppiti Robert
Published: December 2023

The Journal retracts the article, Histopathologic Findings Associated with Miller–Dieker Syndrome: An Autopsy Report [...]
High-Temperature-Resistant Epoxy Resin Gel Behavior and Profile Control in Heavy Oil Steam Drive
Authors: Shi Ying , He Hong , Li Yu , Ding Fei , Zhou Zhuo , Xiong Nuolin
Published: December 2023

In recent years, the prominence of conformance control technology in heavy oil steam flooding has significantly increased in oilfield development. However, the high-temperature demands of heavy oil steam flooding require more resilient plugging agents. Resin-based plugging agents, known for their exceptional temperature resistance and strength, have emerged as a viable solution within this domain. Yet, they face issues like rapid curing at high temperatures and limited sealing reach. Thus, we introduce a novel approach: epoxy resin gel (EHRB), consisting of epoxy resin (ER) as the curing agent, urotropine (HMTA) and pyrocatechol (RO) as cross-linking agents, and n-butyl glycidyl ether (BGE) as a diluent. EHRB gels at 130 °C in 5.4 h, with curing commencing at 160 °C, extending resin curing time and expanding the sealing radius. This study assessed EHRB’s performance and high-temperature stability through displacement experiments, TGA, and DSC analysis. The results indicate that the EHRB has low viscosity, high compressive strength, and minimal mass loss at high temperatures. At 260 °C, the mass loss is less than 15%. The plugging rate exceeds 90%, and it can withstand steam flushing for over 6 PV. Additionally, it demonstrates a 17% improvement in EOR. EHRB demonstrates outstanding capabilities in proficient channel control for heavy oil steam flooding, offering vital technical support for conformance control in this challenging environment.
Hybrid (Optimal) Selection Model for Phase Change Materials Used in the Cold Energy Storage of Air Conditioning Systems
Authors: Peng Shun-Hsiung , Lo Shang-Lien
Published: December 2023

The latent heat storage of phase change materials (PCMs) can be used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Storing cool energy during the nighttime (off-peak hours) and releasing the cool energy during the daytime (on-peak hours) to reduce the number of starts of the chiller and pumps is a practical approach for achieving energy saving and carbon reduction. Therefore, selecting PCMs is vital for improving energy efficiency and preventing future energy shortages. However, selecting PCMs is complicated by their unique characteristics and types. The purpose of this study was to establish a PCM selection model by combining the Delphi, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) methods to select the optimal PCM type applied in cold storage. A numerical example was used to verify the model’s usability, confirming that A9 is the optimal PCM for the cold storage of an air conditioning system. This three-stage PCM selection model combining the Delphi, AHP, and VIKOR approaches provides a more suitable selection model and considers the selection method of material criteria. Moreover, it can solve the problem of difficult PCM selection. Simultaneously, it considers mechanisms to incorporate a company’s primary considerations into material selection for real-world applications. These results can facilitate material evaluation and selection during system design and material qualification, helping companies achieve the goals of energy saving, carbon reduction, and sustainable management in the future.
How Do Urban Waterfront Landscape Characteristics Influence People’s Emotional Benefits? Mediating Effects of Water-Friendly Environmental Preferences
Authors: Yan Chen , Cai Xiangwu , Wu Yuping , Tang Xuehong , Zhou Yuxuan , Yang Qin , Li Fangying , Lan Siren , Lin Li
Published: December 2023

Landscapes in urban waterfront spaces are of high societal value as they can meet people’s physical, psychological, and social needs for health and well-being, but the relationship between waterfront landscape features and public health benefits has yet to be clarified. From the perspective of blue health, this paper takes blue spaces along the Min River of Fuzhou City as the research object. It constructs the mediation model of “Waterfront landscape characteristic (WLC)→Water-friendly environmental preference (WEP)→Emotional benefit (EB)”. The role of WEP in the mechanisms linking WLC and EB in different waterfront spaces was explored through the quantification of indicators, questionnaires, and physiological measurements. The main results showed that (1) the ability of different types of waterfront spaces to arouse positive emotions in the population is characterized by blue-dominated space > co-dominated space > green-dominated space, while the opposite is true in terms of inducing negative emotions; (2) green visibility, blue visibility, naturalness, water-friendliness, and openness are all significantly related to EBs and could affect positive emotions either directly or mediated by WEPs, but openness seems not to affect negative emotions through WEPs; (3) cleanliness affects the population’s WEP for the coherence dimension, but has no significant role in improving EBs. This study could expand new ideas for research in habitat health, provide a reference for embodied evidence-based waterfront landscape design, and help promote the construction and development of healthy cities.
Functional Cheeses: Updates on Probiotic Preservation Methods
Authors: Araujo Hannah Caroline Santos , de Jesus Mônica Silva , Sandes Rafael Donizete Dutra , Leite Neta Maria Terezinha Santos , Narain Narendra
Published: December 2023

The consumption of natural products, especially those that promote some health benefit, has become a choice for consumers. Foods that improve health when ingested are called functional foods. Among them, the most consumed are probiotics, which are defined as microorganisms that, when administered in adequate quantities, can promote a health benefit for consumers. Probiotic dairy products, especially cheese, are the most appreciated and have been produced to possess the properties that favor the viability of these microorganisms after passing through the gastrointestinal tract. They provide benefits such as antibacterial activity, prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, anti-obesity effects, anti-diabetic effects, improved immune systems, and prodiseases, among others. Despite cheeses being a viable matrix for the survival of these probiotics, the development and adoption of technologies with the aim of increasing the viability of probiotic bacteria are necessary, which presents a research trend to be increasingly explored, as well as studies about the complex mechanisms of health benefits resulting from the actions of probiotics. Thus, this review aims to address the most recent innovations regarding the incorporation of probiotics in cheeses and their functional potential.
Hybrid and Single-Component Flexible Aerogels for Biomedical Applications: A Review
Authors: Fijalkowski Mateusz , Ali Azam , Qamer Shafqat , Coufal Radek , Adach Kinga , Petrik Stanislav
Published: December 2023

The inherent disadvantages of traditional non-flexible aerogels, such as high fragility and moisture sensitivity, severely restrict their applications. To address these issues and make the aerogels efficient, especially for advanced medical applications, different techniques have been used to incorporate flexibility in aerogel materials. In recent years, a great boom in flexible aerogels has been observed, which has enabled them to be used in high-tech biomedical applications. The current study comprises a comprehensive review of the preparation techniques of pure polymeric-based hybrid and single-component aerogels and their use in biomedical applications. The biomedical applications of these hybrid aerogels will also be reviewed and discussed, where the flexible polymeric components in the aerogels provide the main contribution. The combination of highly controlled porosity, large internal surfaces, flexibility, and the ability to conform into 3D interconnected structures support versatile properties, which are required for numerous potential medical applications such as tissue engineering; drug delivery reservoir systems; biomedical implants like heart stents, pacemakers, and artificial heart valves; disease diagnosis; and the development of antibacterial materials. The present review also explores the different mechanical, chemical, and physical properties in numerical values, which are most wanted for the fabrication of different materials used in the biomedical fields.
Textural Restoration of Broiler Breast Fillets with Spaghetti Meat Myopathy, Using Two Alginate Gels Systems
Authors: Wang Chaoyue , Susta Leonardo , Barbut Shai
Published: December 2023

The effects of salt-sensitive alginate (“A”) and a two-component salt-tolerant alginate system (“B”) used at a 0.5% or 1.0% level were evaluated in normal breast (NB) chicken fillets and in spaghetti meat (SM) fillets. Minced raw and cooked SM samples showed higher cooking loss (p < 0.05) and lower penetration force compared to NB meat. Both alginate systems significantly raised the penetration force in raw samples and decreased cooking loss (p < 0.05). Adding 1% of “A” or 0.5% “B” to SM, without salt, resulted in a similar penetration force as the cooked NB meat, while 1% “B” with salt resulted in a higher penetration force. Excluding salt from SM samples while adding alginate “A” or “B” improved texture profiles, but not to the same level as using NB without additives. Overall, salt, together with alginate “B”, improved the texture of SM to that of normal meat without myopathy.
Innovative Protein Gel Treatments to Improve the Quality of Tomato Fruit
Authors: Luta Gabriela , Balan Daniela , Stanca Maria , Jerca Ovidiu , Jurcoane Stefana , Niculescu Mihaela , Gaidau Carmen , Stanculescu Ioana Rodica
Published: December 2023

This study aims to establish the effect of biostimulatory protein gels on the quality of tomato. One of the most consumed vegetables, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is a rich source of healthy constituents. Two variants of protein gels based on bovine gelatin and keratin hydrolysates obtained from leather industry byproducts were used for periodical application on the tomato plant roots in the early stage of vegetation. The gels were characterized by classical physicochemical methods and protein secondary structure was obtained by FTIR band deconvolution. After ripening, tomato was analyzed regarding its content of quality indicators (sugars and organic acids) and antioxidants (lycopene, β-carotene, vitamin C, polyphenols). The results emphasized the positive effects of the protein gels on the quality parameters of tomato fruit. An increase of 10% of dry matter and of 30% (in average) in the total soluble sugars was noted after biostimulant application. Also, lycopene and vitamin C recorded higher values (by 1.44 and 1.29 times, respectively), while β-carotene showed no significant changes. The biostimulant activity of protein gels was correlated with their amino acid composition. Plant biostimulants are considered an ecological alternative to conventional treatments for improving plant growth, and also contributing to reduce the intake of chemical fertilizers.