bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Backyard Poultry Flocks in Morocco: Demographic Characteristics, Husbandry Practices, and Disease and Biosecurity Management
Authors: Fagrach Asma , Fellahi Siham , Challioui Mohammed Kamal , Arbani Oumaima , El Zirani Ibtissam , Kichou Faouzi , Bouslikhane Mohammed
Published: January 2023

Backyard poultry farming is an important tool for poverty alleviation and food security in rural areas of Morocco. A descriptive epidemiologic survey was conducted in 286 backyard poultry flocks from the provinces of Khemisset and Skhirat-Temara to gain baseline data on the current status of backyard poultry flocks in Morocco as well as its potential implications on the transmission and spread of avian diseases. The findings indicated that 88.8% of flocks were raised in a mixed confinement system, with an average flock size of 30 birds (range 1–352). Chickens accounted for 83% of the overall reported birds. More than two-thirds of respondents (69%) kept chickens only, while the remaining flocks raising multiple bird species in total promiscuity. Diseases were the highest cause of mortality (84.7%), followed by predation (15.3%). According to 56.1% of the owners, respiratory symptoms were among the major disease signs reported, besides ectoparasite infestation. Flock health management revealed a lack of preventive vaccination, lack of veterinary consulting, lack of biosecurity practices, and irrational self-medication of diseased birds using antibiotics, pesticides, and hazardous chemicals that could be a significant health risk for consumers. The need for an outreach program about disease prevention and biosecurity practices, along with prophylactic campaigns, should be emphasized to further mitigate the risks of backyard poultry flocks on the commercial sector and public health.
Effect of Tocilizumab on Mortality in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia Caused by Delta or Omicron Variants: A Propensity-Matched Analysis in Nimes University Hospital, France
Authors: Laffont-Lozes Paul , Laureillard Didier , Loubet Paul , Stephan Robin , Chiaruzzi Myriam , Clemmer Edouard , Martin Aurelie , Roger Claire , Muller Laurent , Claret Pierre-Géraud , Goulabchand Radjiv , Roux Clarisse , Lavigne Jean-Philippe , Sotto Albert , Larcher Romaric
Published: January 2023

We aimed to assess the factors associated with mortality in patients treated with tocilizumab for a SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia due to the delta or omicron variants of concern (VOC) and detect an effect of tocilizumab on mortality. We conducted a prospective cohort study in a tertiary hospital from 1 August 2021 to 31 March 2022 including patients with severe COVID-19, treated with tocilizumab. Factors associated with mortality were assessed in a Cox model; then, the 60-day mortality rates of COVID-19 patients treated with standard of care (SoC) +/− tocilizumab were compared after 1:1 propensity score matching. The mortality rate was 22% (N = 26/118) and was similar between delta and omicron cases (p = 0.6). The factors independently associated with mortality were age (HR 1.06; 95% CI (1.02–1.11), p = 0.002), Charlson index (HR 1.33; 95% CI (1.11–1.6), p = 0.002), WHO-CPS (HR 2.56; 95% CI (1.07–6.22) p = 0.03), and tocilizumab infusion within the first 48 h following hospital admission (HR 0.37, 95% CI (0.14–0.97), p = 0.04). No significant differences in mortality between the tocilizumab plus SoC and SoC alone groups (p = 0.5) were highlighted. However, the patients treated with tocilizumab within the 48 h following hospital admission had better survival (p = 0.04). In conclusion, our results suggested a protective effect on mortality of the early administration of tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19 regardless of the VOC involved.
Oxidative Stress in Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Overview of Recent Tools and Findings
Authors: Korovesis Dimitris , Rubio-Tomás Teresa , Tavernarakis Nektarios
Published: January 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been described to induce a broad range of redox-dependent signaling reactions in physiological conditions. Nevertheless, an excessive accumulation of ROS leads to oxidative stress, which was traditionally considered as detrimental for cells and organisms, due to the oxidative damage they cause to biomolecules. During ageing, elevated ROS levels result in the accumulation of damaged proteins, which may exhibit altered enzymatic function or physical properties (e.g., aggregation propensity). Emerging evidence also highlights the relationship between oxidative stress and age-related pathologies, such as protein misfolding-based neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s (PD), Alzheimer’s (AD) and Huntington’s (HD) diseases). In this review we aim to introduce the role of oxidative stress in physiology and pathology and then focus on the state-of-the-art techniques available to detect and quantify ROS and oxidized proteins in live cells and in vivo, providing a guide to those aiming to characterize the role of oxidative stress in ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. Lastly, we discuss recently published data on the role of oxidative stress in neurological disorders.
The Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor Febuxostat Suppresses Adipogenesis and Activates Nrf2
Authors: Higa Yoshiki , Hiasa Masahiro , Tenshin Hirofumi , Nakaue Emiko , Tanaka Mariko , Kim Sooha , Nakagawa Motosumi , Shimizu So , Tanimoto Kotaro , Teramachi Jumpei , Harada Takeshi , Oda Asuka , Oura Masahiro , Sogabe Kimiko , Hara Tomoyo , Sumitani Ryohei , Maruhashi Tomoko , Yamagami Hiroki , Endo Itsuro , Matsumoto Toshio , Tanaka Eiji , Abe Masahiro
Published: January 2023

Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is a rate-limiting enzyme in purine catabolism that acts as a novel regulator of adipogenesis. In pathological states, xanthine oxidoreductase activity increases to produce excess reactive oxygen species (ROS). The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a critical inducer of antioxidants, which is bound and repressed by a kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) in the cytoplasm. The Keap1-Nrf2 axis appears to be a major mechanism for robust inducible antioxidant defenses. Here, we demonstrate that febuxostat, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, alleviates the increase in adipose tissue mass in obese mouse models with a high-fat diet or ovariectomy. Febuxostat disrupts in vitro adipocytic differentiation in adipogenic media. Adipocytes appeared at day 7 in absence or presence of febuxostat were 160.8 ± 21.2 vs. 52.5 ± 12.7 (p < 0.01) in 3T3–L1 cells, and 126.0 ± 18.7 vs. 55.3 ± 13.4 (p < 0.01) in 10T1/2 cells, respectively. Adipocyte differentiation was further enhanced by the addition of hydrogen peroxide, which was also suppressed by febuxostat. Interestingly, febuxostat, but not allopurinol (another xanthine oxidase inhibitor), rapidly induced the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and facilitated the degradation of Keap1, similar to the electrophilic Nrf2 activator omaveloxolone. These results suggest that febuxostat alleviates adipogenesis under oxidative conditions, at least in part by suppressing ROS production and Nrf2 activation. Regulation of adipocytic differentiation by febuxostat is expected to inhibit obesity due to menopause or overeating.
X-ray-Induced Heating in the Vicinity of the X-ray Interaction Point
Authors: Kim Jangwoo , Nam Ki Hyun
Published: January 2023

When X-rays pass through a material, radiation damage occurs, and heat is generated at the X-ray interaction point, which can then be transferred around the X-ray irradiation site. This X-ray-induced heat transfer can affect the temperature of the sample and consequently the experimental environment in serial crystallography (SX) experiments. Here, we investigated radiation damage and measured the level of heating in the vicinity of the X-ray interaction point. In our experimental setup, when water, crystallization solution, and crystal suspension in a glass tube were exposed to X-rays, a temperature increase of approximately 1.0 °C occurred in the vicinity of the X-ray interaction point, with the heat generated by both the sample and the capillary. When Cu and Al/Zn plates were exposed to X-rays, the temperature around the X-ray exposure point increased by approximately 0.3 and 0.4 °C, respectively. The range of temperature rise decreased as the distance from the X-ray exposure point on the Al plate increased. The heat generated by the X-rays and the rise of the heat could be reduced by discontinuously transmitting the X-rays using the shutter. Our results provide useful information for obtaining more accurate experimental parameters.
Formula-Driven Supervised Learning in Computer Vision: A Literature Survey
Authors: Hafiz Abdul Mueed , Hassaballah Mahmoud , Binbusayyis Adel
Published: January 2023

Current computer vision research uses huge datasets with millions of images to pre-train vision models. This results in escalation of time and capital, ethical issues, moral issues, privacy issues, copyright issues, fairness issues, and others. To address these issues, several alternative learning schemes have been developed. One such scheme is formula-based supervised learning (FDSL). It is a form of supervised learning, which involves the use of mathematically generated images for the pre-training of deep models. Promising results have been obtained for computer-vision-related applications. In this comprehensive survey paper, a gentle introduction to FDSL is presented. The supporting theory, databases, experimentation and ensuing results are discussed. The research outcomes, issues and scope are also discussed. Finally, some of the most promising future directions for FDSL research are discussed. As FDSL is an important learning technique, this survey represents a useful resource for interested researchers working on solving various problem in computer vision and related areas of application.
Deep Learning and Embedding Based Latent Factor Model for Collaborative Recommender Systems
Authors: Tegene Abebe , Liu Qiao , Gan Yanglei , Dai Tingting , Leka Habte , Ayenew Melak
Published: January 2023

A collaborative recommender system based on a latent factor model has achieved significant success in the field of personalized recommender systems. However, the latent factor model suffers from sparsity problems. It is also limited in its ability to extract non-linear data features, resulting in poor recommendation performance. Inspired by the success of deep learning in different application areas, we incorporate deep learning into our proposed method to overcome the above problems. In this paper, we propose a dual deep learning and embedding-based latent factor model that considers dense user and item feature vectors. The model combines the existing deep learning and latent factor models to extract deep abstractions and non-linear feature representations of the data for rating prediction. The core idea is to map the dense user and item vectors generated by embedding techniques into dual, fully connected deep neural network architectures. In these two separate architectures, it learns the non-linear representation of the input data. The method then predicts the rating score by integrating the factors obtained from the two independent structures using the inner product. From the experimental result, we observe that the proposed model outperformed state-of-the-art existing models in real-world datasets (MovieLens ML-100K and ML-1M).
PriSign, A Privacy-Preserving Single Sign-On System for Cloud Environments
Authors: Shi Rui , Yang Yang , Xie Huiqin , Feng Huamin , Shi Guozhen , Zhang Jianyi
Published: January 2023

Anonymous single sign-on systems allow users to use a single credential to access multiple services protected by verifiers without revealing their personal information, which is especially important due to privacy regulations such as GDPR. In this paper, we introduce a new strong privacy-preserving single sign-on scheme, dubbed PriSign, based on our proposed attribute-based credential with traceability (ABCT), attribute-based credential with blindness (ABCB), and threshold inner-product functional encryption (TIPFE). Compared with the existing state-of-the-art solutions, PriSign presents three improvements: (1) users can obtain different types of tickets according to the attribute disclosure policies enforced by the ticket issuer to support fine-grained access control; (2) users can hide access tokens and designate a verifier for tokens according to a verifier’s policy jointly issued by multiple policymakers, meaning that non-designated verifiers cannot obtain any information about the tokens; (3) we innovatively use a threshold approach to issue policy keys online in order for verifiers to achieve proxy re-verification services in an unstable cloud environment. We implement PriSign and compare the performance with other ASSO systems in the personal laptop, and the results prove its practicability.
Optimal Design and Simulation for the Intelligent Control of Sewage Treatment Based on Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Shen Baohua , Li Daoguo , Qian Feng , Jiang Juan
Published: January 2023

With the continuous increase in emphasis on the environmental protection industry, sewage treatment plants have been built in many places, and these sewage treatment plants undoubtedly occupy an important position in protecting the local environment. The sewage treatment process is generally complicated and the treatment environment is difficult, which means that the treatment plant must have an excellent control system. At this stage, the sewage treatment systems in many cities have the issue of possessing backward technology and huge costs, which hinder the development of urban sewage treatment. In this paper, a new intelligent control method for sewage treatment is proposed, combined with the multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm. The MOPSO algorithm is used to optimize the parameters and control rules of the controller globally, thereby improving the performance and work efficiency of the controller. Practice has shown that the intelligent control system combined with the MOPSO algorithm can make chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the sewage treatment quickly meet the expected requirements, and the control accuracy is also very accurate, which greatly improves the sewage treatment performance. Through our calculations, the new method improved the sewage treatment efficiency by 7.15%.
Multi-View Analysis of High-Resolution Geomorphic Features in Complex Mountains Based on UAV–LiDAR and SfM–MVS: A Case Study of the Northern Pit Rim Structure of the Mountains of Lufeng, China
Authors: Bi Rui , Gan Shu , Yuan Xiping , Li Raobo , Gao Sha , Yang Min , Luo Weidong , Hu Lin
Published: January 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) can be used to analyze the geomorphic features in complex plateau mountains. Accordingly, a UAV–LiDAR system was adopted in this study to acquire images and lidar point-cloud dataset in the annular structure of Lufeng, Yunnan. A three-dimensional (3D) model was constructed based on structure from motion and multi-view stereo (SfM–MVS) in combination with a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM). Geomorphic identification, measurement, and analysis were conducted using integrated visual interpretation, DEM visualization, and geographic information system (GIS) topographic feature extraction. The results indicated that the 3D geomorphological visualization and mapping were based on DEM, which was employed to identify the dividing lines and ridges that were delineated of the pit rim structure. The high-resolution DEM retained more geomorphic detail information, and the topography and the variation between ridges were analyzed in depth. The catchment and ponding areas were analyzed using accurate morphological parameters through a multi-angle 3D visualization. The slope, aspect, and topographic wetness index (TWI) parameters were analyzed through mathematical statistics to qualitatively and accurately analyze the differences between different ridges. This study highlighted the significance of the UAV–LiDAR high-resolution topographic measurements and the SfM–MVS 3D scene modelling in accurately identifying geomorphological features and conducting refined analysis. An effective framework was established to acquire high-precision topographic datasets and to analyze geomorphological features in complex mountain areas, which was beneficial in deepening the research on numerical simulation analysis of geomorphological features and reveal the process evolution mechanism.
Impact of Construction and Functioning of a Newly Built Ski Slope on the Quality of Nearby Stream Water
Authors: Lenart-Boroń Anna , Bojarczuk Anna , Żelazny Mirosław
Published: January 2023

The construction of new, artificially snowed, ski slopes and the accompanying infrastructure changes the natural environment and exerts pressure on the ecosystems. This study examined the impact of the construction and operation of a new ski slope, with its infrastructure and artificial snow production, on the quality of nearby stream waters. The research period covered the time before, during and after the slope construction. Electrolytic conductivity (EC) and pH were measured on-site, chemical analyses included the determination of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3−, SO42−, Cl−, NO3−, and microbiological analysis comprised mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria, total and fecal coliforms, and E. coli. As a result of intensive environmental transformations, the examined parameters varied significantly over the study period, as shown by the coefficient of variation. Due to land cover changes, concentrations of all the examined parameters increased during the ski slope construction due to ions and bacteria leaching from the soil. However, when construction works were finished, all bacterial and some chemical indicators returned to the state observed before the construction, most probably due to the recovery of vegetation and self-purification of water. Supply of melt water from artificial snow, produced from water containing higher concentrations of ions, increased pH, EC, Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3− in the stream. Providing that the development of ski stations is unavoidable in the considered region, conducting studies assessing the impact of new ski slope construction is an important step that should be conducted prior to undertaking such investments.
An Overview of Challenges and Strategies for Stabilizing Zinc Anodes in Aqueous Rechargeable Zn-Ion Batteries
Authors: Thieu Nhat Anh , Li Wei , Chen Xiujuan , Hu Shanshan , Tian Hanchen , Tran Ha Ngoc Ngan , Li Wenyuan , Reed David M. , Li Xiaolin , Liu Xingbo
Published: January 2023

Aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) have been revived and are considered a promising candidate for scalable electrochemical energy storage systems due to their intrinsic safety, low cost, large abundance, mature recyclability, competitive electrochemical performance, and sustainability. However, the deployment of aqueous rechargeable ZIBs is still hampered by the poor electrochemical stability and reversibility of Zn anodes, which is a common, inherent issue for most metal-based anodes. This review presents a comprehensive and timely overview of the challenges and strategies of Zn anodes toward durable ZIBs. First, several challenges that significantly reduce the Coulombic efficiency and cycling stability of Zn anodes are briefly discussed including dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion. Then, the mitigation strategies are summarized in terms of modifying the electrode/electrolyte interfaces, designing electrode structures, and optimizing electrolytes and separators. Further, we comprehensively discuss the mechanisms behind these issues and improvement strategies with respect to the anodes, electrolytes, and separators. Lastly, we provide perspectives and critical analyses of remaining challenges, outlook, and future direction for accelerating the practical application of aqueous rechargeable ZIBs.
The Role of Multifidus in the Biomechanics of Lumbar Spine: A Musculoskeletal Modeling Study
Authors: Wang Kuan , Deng Zhen , Chen Xinpeng , Shao Jiang , Qiu Lulu , Jiang Chenghua , Niu Wenxin
Published: January 2023

Background: The role of multifidus in the biomechanics of lumbar spine remained unclear. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the role of multifidus in the modeling of lumbar spine and the influence of asymmetric multifidus atrophy on the biomechanics of lumbar spine. Methods: This study considered five different multifidus conditions in the trunk musculoskeletal models: group 1 (with entire multifidus), group 2 (without multifidus), group 3 (multifidus with half of maximum isometric force), group 4 (asymmetric multifidus atrophy on L5/S1 level), and group 5 (asymmetric multifidus atrophy on L4/L5 level). In order to test how different multifidus situations would affect the lumbar spine, four trunk flexional angles (0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°) were simulated. The calculation of muscle activation and muscle force was done using static optimization function in OpenSim. Then, joint reaction forces of L5/S1 and L4/L5 levels were calculated and compared among the groups. Results: The models without multifidus had the highest normalized compressive forces on the L4/L5 level in trunk flexion tasks. In extreme cases produced by group 2 models, the normalized compressive forces on L4/L5 level were 444% (30° flexion), 568% (60° flexion), and 576% (90° flexion) of upper body weight, which were 1.82 times, 1.63 times, and 1.13 times as large as the values computed by the corresponding models in group 1. In 90° flexion, the success rate of simulation in group 2 was 49.6%, followed by group 3 (84.4%), group 4 (89.6%), group 5 (92.8%), and group 1 (92.8%). Conclusions: The results demonstrate that incorporating multifidus in the musculoskeletal model is important for increasing the success rate of simulation and decreasing the incidence of overestimation of compressive load on the lumbar spine. Asymmetric multifidus atrophy has negligible effect on the lower lumbar spine in the trunk flexion posture. The results highlighted the fine-tuning ability of multifidus in equilibrating the loads on the lower back and the necessity of incorporating multifidus in trunk musculoskeletal modeling.
Predicting the Impact of Climate Change on the Habitat Distribution of Parthenium hysterophorus around the World and in South Korea
Authors: Adhikari Pradeep , Lee Yong-Ho , Poudel Anil , Lee Gaeun , Hong Sun-Hee , Park Yong-Soon
Published: January 2023

The global climate change, including increases in temperature and precipitation, may exacerbate the invasion by P. hysterophorus. Here, MaxEnt modeling was performed to predict P. hysterophorus distribution worldwide and in South Korea under the current and future climate global climate changes, including increases in temperature and precipitation. Under the current climate, P. hysterophorus was estimated to occupy 91.26%, 83.26%, and 62.75% of the total land area of Australia, South America, and Oceania, respectively. However, under future climate scenarios, the habitat distribution of P. hysterophorus would show the greatest change in Europe (56.65%) and would extend up to 65°N by 2081–2100 in South Korea, P. hysterophorus currently potentially colonizing 2.24% of the land area, particularly in six administrative divisions. In the future, P. hysterophorus would spread rapidly, colonizing all administrative divisions, except Incheon, by 2081–2100. Additionally, the southern and central regions of South Korea showed greater habitat suitability than the northern region. These findings suggest that future climate change will increase P. hysterophorus distribution both globally and locally. Therefore, effective control and management strategies should be employed around the world and in South Korea to restrict the habitat expansion of P. hysterophorus.
Use of an Integrated Approach Involving AlphaFold Predictions for the Evolutionary Taxonomy of Duplodnaviria Viruses
Authors: Evseev Peter , Gutnik Daria , Shneider Mikhail , Miroshnikov Konstantin
Published: January 2023

The evaluation of the evolutionary relationships is exceptionally important for the taxonomy of viruses, which is a rapidly expanding area of research. The classification of viral groups belonging to the realm Duplodnaviria, which include tailed bacteriophages, head-tailed archaeal viruses and herpesviruses, has undergone many changes in recent years and continues to improve. One of the challenging tasks of Duplodnaviria taxonomy is the classification of high-ranked taxa, including families and orders. At the moment, only 17 of 50 families have been assigned to orders. The evaluation of the evolutionary relationships between viruses is complicated by the high level of divergence of viral proteins. However, the development of structure prediction algorithms, including the award-winning AlphaFold, encourages the use of the results of structural predictions to clarify the evolutionary history of viral proteins. In this study, the evolutionary relationships of two conserved viral proteins, the major capsid protein and terminase, representing different viruses, including all classified Duplodnaviria families, have been analysed using AlphaFold modelling. This analysis has been undertaken using structural comparisons and different phylogenetic methods. The results of the analyses mainly indicated the high quality of AlphaFold modelling and the possibility of using the AlphaFold predictions, together with other methods, for the reconstruction of the evolutionary relationships between distant viral groups. Based on the results of this integrated approach, assumptions have been made about refining the taxonomic classification of bacterial and archaeal Duplodnaviria groups, and problems relating to the taxonomic classification of Duplodnaviria have been discussed.
Effect of Aging and Cortical Stroke on Motor Adaptation to Overground Gait-Slips: Quantifying Differences in Adaptation Rate and Adaptation Plateau
Authors: Purohit Rudri , Wang Shuaijie , Bhatt Tanvi
Published: January 2023

We examined the effect of aging and cortical stroke on the rate of motor adaptation (adaptation rate) and amount of performance gains (adaptation plateau) in balance skills. Fourteen older (≥60 years) and fifteen younger (<60 years) adults with chronic stroke, and thirteen healthy older adults (≥60 years) participated. Participants experienced 8 consecutive gait-slips (≤45 cm) to their non-paretic/dominant limb. Slip outcome (backward/no balance loss) was compared using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Proactive (pre-slip stability) and reactive adjustments (post-slip stability, slip displacement and velocity, and compensatory step length) were compared using non-linear regression models. GEE showed the main effect of group, trial, and group × trial interaction for slip outcome (p < 0.05). There were no differences in the adaptation rate for proactive and reactive variables and plateau for proactive variables (p > 0.05). However, both stroke groups demonstrated a smaller adaptation plateau for the majority of reactive variables compared to healthy older adults (p < 0.05). The rate of adaptation to gait-slips does not slow with aging and cortical stroke; however, cortical stroke, age notwithstanding, may reduce performance gains in reactive balance skills, possibly hindering retention and transfer to real-life scenarios. People with stroke may need adjunctive therapies/supplemental agents to apply laboratory-acquired balance skills to daily life.
Seventy Years of Antipsychotic Development: A Critical Review
Authors: Shad Mujeeb U.
Published: January 2023

Since the mid-1950s discovery of the first effective antipsychotic medications (APM), we have only been able to improve the tolerability but not the overall efficacy of currently available APMs, as reflected by effectiveness trials in Europe and the United States. This inability to develop more effective APMs is attributable to multiple factors, including failure to create and use assessment tools to assess core symptom domains in schizophrenia, move beyond the dopaminergic hypothesis and to develop “me too” drugs, imposing ill-defined research domain criteria, and lacking federal funding for clinical trials. The classification of APMs is also confusing, including second-generation, partial agonists, and multimodal APMs in the same class of APMs, despite significant differences in their mechanisms of action. Other factors stagnating drug development include inadequate sample sizes to address heterogeneity, lack of statistical measures correlating with clinical significance, using the atheoretical basis of psychiatric diagnoses, failure to control placebo response, and high cost of newer and perhaps more tolerable APMs. Furthermore, there has been a failure to develop early predictors of antipsychotic response and various tools to optimize an APM response. Finally, some mental health providers are also responsible for the suboptimal use of APMs, by using excessive maintenance doses, often with irrational polypharmacy, further compromising effectiveness and medication adherence. However, some bright spots in antipsychotic development include improved tolerability of APMs and long-acting injectables to address the high prevalence of medication nonadherence. This review critically reviews 70 years of antipsychotic development, the reasons behind the failure to develop more effective APMs, and suggestions for future direction.
Chronic Hepatitis B and Related Liver Diseases Are Associated with Reduced 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Banerjee Anindita , Athalye Shreyasi , Khargekar Naveen , Shingade Poonam , Madkaikar Manisha
Published: January 2023

Hepatitis B infection is a major public health problem globally leading to chronic liver disease and death, which are influenced by various environmental and host factors including serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels. There is no comprehensive systematic review reporting the association of serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels and different stages of chronic hepatitis B. This study aimed to analyze the association of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels in chronic hepatitis B with various determinants and outcomes. A bibliographic search in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus was conducted using the search terms “Vitamin D”, “cholecalciferol”, “calcitriol”, “Hepatitis B”, and “HBV”, which were published until September 2022. Meta-analysis using the “metafor” package in R was conducted with a random effect model. This analysis included 33 studies with 6360 chronic hepatitis B patients. The pooled estimates of serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D level among CHB cases was 21.05 ng/mL and was significantly lower compared to healthy controls. (p < 0.005). Reduced serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D level was significantly associated with the severity of liver fibrosis as well as HBe positivity. This analysis suggests that serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels are associated with disease activity and pathobiology, although the exact nature of the cause–effect relationship cannot be discerned from this study.
The Integration of Reference Electrode for ISFET Ion Sensors Using Fluorothiophenol-Treated rGO
Authors: Kim Dae Hoon , Cho Hae Shin , Kim Jin Heung , Jo Da Ae , Oh Hong Gi , Jang Byoung Kuk , Song Kwang Soup
Published: January 2023

Ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) detect specific ions in solutions that enable straightforward, fast, and inexpensive sensors compared to other benchtop equipment. However, a conventional reference electrode (RE) such as Ag/AgCl is limited on the miniaturization of the sensor. We introduce reduced graphene oxide (rGO), which serves as a new RE, when fluorinated (F-rGO) using fluorothiophenol through the π–π interaction. The circular RE is integrated between a fabricated microscale two-channel ISFET, which is capable of detecting two kinds of ions on an indium tin oxide (ITO) thin-film substrate, using the photolithography process. F-rGO bound to this circular region to function as an RE in the ISFETs sensor, which operated stably in solution and showed a relatively high transconductance (gm) value (1.27 mS), low drift characteristic (3.2 mV), and low hysteresis voltage (±0.05 mV). It detected proton (H+) ions in a buffer solution with high sensitivity (67.1 mV/pH). We successfully detected Na+ (62.1 mV/dec) and K+ (57.6 mV/dec) ions in human patient urine using a two-channel ISFET with the F-rGO RE. The F-rGO RE will be a suitable component in the fabrication of low-cost, mass-produced, and disposable ISFETs sensors.
Progress in Plasmonic Sensors as Monitoring Tools for Aquaculture Quality Control
Authors: Quintanilla-Villanueva Gabriela Elizabeth , Maldonado Jesús , Luna-Moreno Donato , Rodríguez-Delgado José Manuel , Villarreal-Chiu Juan Francisco , Rodríguez-Delgado Melissa Marlene
Published: January 2023

Aquaculture is an expanding economic sector that nourishes the world’s growing population due to its nutritional significance over the years as a source of high-quality proteins. However, it has faced severe challenges due to significant cases of environmental pollution, pathogen outbreaks, and the lack of traceability that guarantees the quality assurance of its products. Such context has prompted many researchers to work on the development of novel, affordable, and reliable technologies, many based on nanophotonic sensing methodologies. These emerging technologies, such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), localised SPR (LSPR), and fibre-optic SPR (FO-SPR) systems, overcome many of the drawbacks of conventional analytical tools in terms of portability, reagent and solvent use, and the simplicity of sample pre-treatments, which would benefit a more sustainable and profitable aquaculture. To highlight the current progress made in these technologies that would allow them to be transferred for implementation in the field, along with the lag with respect to the most cutting-edge plasmonic sensing, this review provides a variety of information on recent advances in these emerging methodologies that can be used to comprehensively monitor the various operations involving the different commercial stages of farmed aquaculture. For example, to detect environmental hazards, track fish health through biochemical indicators, and monitor disease and biosecurity of fish meat products. Furthermore, it highlights the critical issues associated with these technologies, how to integrate them into farming facilities, and the challenges and prospects of developing plasmonic-based sensors for aquaculture.
Parent Perceptions of the Effects of Early Intensive Behavioral Interventions for Children with Autism
Authors: Giambona Pamela Jean , Ding Yi , Cho Su-Je , Zhang Chun , Shen Yangqian
Published: January 2023

The current study aimed to understand parents’ perceptions of the effects of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) based on the principles of applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and the lasting outcomes for their children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In particular, this study sought to examine parent perceptions of the relationship between the intensity of ABA interventions and current autism symptom severity, adaptive functioning, and school placement. The current study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, which consisted of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and combining both quantitative and qualitative data. Overall, results suggested that the intensity of previous ABA interventions was a unique predictor of current school placement. Additionally, results suggested that the intensity of previous ABA interventions was a unique predictor of adaptive skills, which was supported by parent interviews. However, the intensity of previous ABA interventions was not a unique predictor of current autism severity. Parent responses to interview questions revealed the imperative nature of the interventions and their effect on service delivery for their children with ASD. Overall, this study provided an increased understanding of parents’ perceptions of the effectiveness of EIBI, which in turn may be central to understanding service utilization.
Mechanical Properties on Various FRP-Reinforced Concrete in Cold Regions
Authors: Lu Chenxuan , Ji Yongcheng , Zou Yunfei , Zhou Jieying , Tian Yuqian , Xing Zhiqiang
Published: January 2023

The evaluation of frost resistance varies with different reinforcement methods, but it is a hot research topic for concrete reinforced with Fiber-Reinforced plastic (FRP). Freezing and thawing tests of FRP-reinforced concrete prisms and cylinders are presented to simulate beams and piers of buildings in cold climates. To evaluate the specimens’ frost resistance, tests with various reinforcement techniques, morphological analysis, weight tests, and relative dynamic modulus of elasticity tests were used. Examined also were the variations in stress–strain curves for axial compression tests and load–displacement curves for bending tests following various freeze–thaw cycles. The findings indicated that after 100 freeze–thaw cycles, the weight of unreinforced concrete cylinders decreased by 9.7%, and its compressive strength decreased by 27.6%. On the other hand, CFRP-reinforced concrete cylinders (Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plastics) and GFRP (Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Plastics) gained 1.1% and 1.58% in weight, respectively, while the compressive strength decreased by 7.4% and 8%. After 100 freeze–thaw cycles, the weights of concrete prisms with reinforcement, without reinforcement, and with CFRP reinforcement decreased by 12.13%, 8.7%, and 9.6%, respectively, and their bending strength was reduced by 20%, 42%, and 53%, respectively. The frost resistance of the two FRP-reinforced concrete types had significant differences under freeze–thaw cycles because the prismatic specimens were not fully wrapped with FRP materials. Finally, finite element software ABAQUS was used to simulate the freeze–thaw cycle test of the two specimens. Calculated values were compared to experimental results for the load–displacement curve and the axial stress–strain curve under bending load. The comparison of peak displacement produced a maximum error of 8.6%, and the FRP-reinforced concrete model validity was verified.
Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of Pre-Northridge High Rise Steel Moment Resisting Frame Buildings with Bilinear Oil Dampers
Authors: Akcelyan Sarven , Lignos Dimitrios G.
Published: January 2023

This paper presents quantitative information on the effectiveness of seismic retrofit solutions using bilinear oil dampers for seismically deficient existing tall steel buildings. For this purpose, a benchmark 40-story steel space moment-resisting frame building is studied that represents 1970s design practice in North America. Rigorous seismic performance assessment based on ASCE 41 recommendations reveals a high collapse risk for the existing building. The local engineering demand parameters are comprehensively assessed to quantify the impact of seismic retrofit on steel columns and column splices, which are particularly vulnerable due to the time of construction. Multiple retrofit schemes are explored with numerous damping levels and vertical damping distribution methods. The dampers are designed via a recently developed multi-degree-of-freedom performance curves method. A new balanced vertical damping method is proposed to account for the effects of frame inelasticity. This strongly depends on the supplemental damping level, and it determines the effectiveness of the employed vertical damping distribution method. The results indicate that the proposed retrofit strategies can minimize the collapse risk of the tall building. It is shown that the balanced vertical damping distribution method provides the most uniform drift distribution along the building height. Despite the reduction in story drift ratios, the axial force demand in exterior columns remains relatively high in the bottom stories regardless of the seismic retrofit solution. On the other hand, bilinear oil dampers produce relative constant forces despite exhibiting higher velocity demands than expected.
Experimental and Numerical Study on an Innovative Trapezoidal-Shaped Damper to Improve the Behavior of CBF Braces
Authors: Thongchom Chanachai , Ghamari Ali , Putra Jaya Ramadhansyah , Benjeddoud Omrane
Published: January 2023

Among the existing passive energy dampers, I-shaped shear dampers had shown suitable performance in experimental and numerical studies. Although they improve the dissipating energy and ductility of concentrically braced frames (CBFs), they reduce the stiffness and ultimate strength of the system. Three approaches are generally used to overcome the problem, including (a) increasing the thinness of the shear plates, (b) increasing the number of shear plates, and (c) using more dampers in more bays. The mentioned approaches increase construction costs. Accordingly, to overcome this shortcoming, in this paper, an innovative shear damper with a trapezoidal shape is proposed and investigated experimentally and numerically. The results indicated that when using the same material for I-shaped shear dampers and the proposed damper, the proposed damper has greater ultimate strength, elastic stiffness, and dissipating energy capacity. Additionally, the flange plates are more effective in the behavior of the proposed damper than the I-shaped damper. Moreover, required equations were proposed to design the damper.
Comparative Analysis of Data-Driven Techniques to Predict Heating and Cooling Energy Requirements of Poultry Buildings
Authors: Küçüktopcu Erdem
Published: January 2023

Many models have been developed to predict the energy consumption of various building types, including residential, office, institutional, educational, and commercial buildings. However, to date, no models have been designed specifically to predict poultry buildings’ energy consumption. To address this information gap, this study integrated data-driven techniques, including artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector regressions (SVR), and random forest (RF), into a physical model to predict the energy consumption of poultry buildings in different climatic zones in Turkey. The following statistical indices were employed to evaluate the model’s effectiveness: Root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and coefficient of determination (R2). The calculated and predicted values of the heating and cooling loads were also compared using visualization techniques. The results indicated that the RF model was the most accurate during the testing period according to the RMSE (0.695 and 6.514 kWh), MAPE (3.328 and 2.624%), and R2 (0.990 and 0.996) indices for heating and cooling loads, respectively. Overall, this model offers a simple decision-support tool to estimate the energy requirements of different buildings and weather conditions.
Embedding Acoustic Analysis in Landscape Architecture Design Processes: A Case Study of Munich Airport
Authors: Bar-Sinai Karen Lee , Shaked Tom , Fettahoglu Elif Simge , Krimm Jochen , Boucsein Benedikt
Published: January 2023

Noise is the number two environmental health risk in Europe. With the majority of the world’s inhabitants residing in ever-growing cities, urban noise impacts an increasing number of people. Urban airports significantly contribute to urban noise, and their spatial effects far exceed their boundaries. While indoor acoustic mitigation in architecture is growingly addressed using parametric tools, there is limited research on mitigating noise with digital means through landscape and urban design. Moreover, there is a lack of methods for ameliorating urban noise through ground-forming. To address this, this paper contributes a novel method for integrating acoustic analysis in parametric landscape-forming. The method includes collecting on-line and on-site noise data, developing alternative landscape formations for mitigating noise, and evaluating design alternatives within a single digital design environment. This method was applied using research by design and examined on a case-study site adjacent to the Munich Airport. Three landform landscape designs for a park are developed, and their acoustic performance is compared. The results indicate the possibility of integrating acoustic considerations in landscape architecture, and the method provides a step-by-step guide for doing so. This capacity also promotes the long-term goal of increasing the environmental performance of urban grounds.
A Metabolic Smorgasbord Drives and Sustains CSC Heterogeneity
Authors: Kahn Michael
Published: January 2023

A deeper understanding of the biology of therapy resistance is important for the development of optimal strategies to attain complete cancer cures [...]
Tumor-Educated Platelet Extracellular Vesicles: Proteomic Profiling and Crosstalk with Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Contursi Annalisa , Fullone Rosa , Szklanna-Koszalinska Paulina , Marcone Simone , Lanuti Paola , Taus Francesco , Meneguzzi Alessandra , Turri Giulia , Dovizio Melania , Bruno Annalisa , Pedrazzani Corrado , Tacconelli Stefania , Marchisio Marco , Ballerini Patrizia , Minuz Pietro , Maguire Patricia , Patrignani Paola
Published: January 2023

Background: Platelet–cancer cell interactions modulate tumor metastasis and thrombosis in cancer. Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can contribute to these outcomes. Methods: We characterized the medium-sized EVs (mEVs) released by thrombin-stimulated platelets of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and healthy subjects (HS) on the capacity to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2(PTGS2), and thromboxane (TX)B2 production in cocultures with four colorectal cancer cell lines. Platelet-derived mEVs were assessed for their size distribution and proteomics signature. Results: The mEV population released from thrombin-activated platelets of CRC patients had a different size distribution vs. HS. Platelet-derived mEVs from CRC patients, but not from HS, upregulated EMT marker genes, such as TWIST1 and VIM, and downregulated CDH1. PTGS2 was also upregulated. In cocultures of platelet-derived mEVs with cancer cells, TXB2 generation was enhanced. The proteomics profile of mEVs released from activated platelets of CRC patients revealed that 119 proteins were downregulated and 89 upregulated vs. HS. Conclusions: We show that mEVs released from thrombin-activated platelets of CRC patients have distinct features (size distribution and proteomics cargo) vs. HS and promote prometastatic and prothrombotic phenotypes in cancer cells. The analysis of platelet-derived mEVs from CRC patients could provide valuable information for developing an appropriate treatment plan.
Transformation of Enzymatic Hydrolysates of Chlorella–Fungus Mixed Biomass into Poly(hydroxyalkanoates)
Authors: Senko Olga , Stepanov Nikolay , Maslova Olga , Efremenko Elena
Published: January 2023

The production of poly(hydroxylalkanoates) (PHA) is limited by the high cost of the feedstock since various biomass wastes look attractive as possible sources for polymer production. The originality of this present study is in the biotransformation of mixed Chlorella-based substrates into PHAs. The synthetic potential of Cupriavidus necator B8619 cells was studied during the bioconversion of algae biomass in mixtures with spent immobilized mycelium of different fungi (genus Rhizopus and Aspergillus) into PHAs. The biomass of both microalgae Chlorella and fungus cells was accumulated due to the use of the microorganisms in the processes of food wastewater treatment. The biosorption of Chlorella cells by fungal mycelium was carried out to obtain mixed biomass samples (the best ratio of “microalgae:fungi” was 2:1) to convert them by C. necator B8619 into the PHA. The influence of conditions used for the pretreatment of microalgae and mixed types of biomass on their conversion to PHA was estimated. It was found that the maximum yield of reducing sugars (39.4 ± 1.8 g/L) can be obtained from the mechanical destruction of cells by using further enzymatic hydrolysis. The effective use of the enzymatic complex was revealed for the hydrolytic disintegration of treated biomass. The rate of the conversion of mixed substrates into the biopolymer (440 ± 13 mg/L/h) appeared significantly higher compared to similar known examples of complex substrates used for C. necator cells.