bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A phase I clinical trial assessing the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of inhaled ethanol in humans as a potential treatment for respiratory tract infections
Authors: Hancock David G. , Ditcham William , Ferguson Eleanor , Karpievitch Yuliya V. , Stick Stephen M. , Waterer Grant W. , Clements Barry S.
Published: March 2024

Background

Current treatments for respiratory infections are severely limited. Ethanol’s unique properties including antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and surfactant-like activity make it a promising candidate treatment for respiratory infections if it can be delivered safely to the airway by inhalation. Here, we explore the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of inhaled ethanol in a phase I clinical trial.

Methods

The study was conducted as a single-centre, open-label clinical trial in 18 healthy adult volunteers, six with no significant medical comorbidities, four with stable asthma, four with stable cystic fibrosis, and four active smokers. A dose-escalating design was used, with participants receiving three dosing cycles of 40, 60%, and then 80% ethanol v/v in water, 2 h apart, in a single visit. Ethanol was nebulised using a standard jet nebuliser, delivered through a novel closed-circuit reservoir system, and inhaled nasally for 10 min, then orally for 30 min. Safety assessments included adverse events and vital sign monitoring, blood alcohol concentrations, clinical examination, spirometry, electrocardiogram, and blood tests.

Results

No serious adverse events were recorded. The maximum blood alcohol concentration observed was 0.011% immediately following 80% ethanol dosing. Breath alcohol concentrations were high (median 0.26%) following dosing suggesting high tissue levels were achieved. Small transient increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and blood neutrophil levels were observed, with these normalising after dosing, with no other significant safety concerns. Of 18 participants, 15 completed all dosing cycles with three not completing all cycles due to tolerability. The closed-circuit reservoir system significantly reduced fugitive aerosol loss during dosing.

Conclusion

These data support the safety of inhaled ethanol at concentrations up to 80%, supporting its further investigation as a treatment for respiratory infections.

Clinical trial registration: identifier ACTRN12621000067875.
Post-operative sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome: risk factors for a life-threatening complication
Authors: Bardají-Carrillo Miguel , Martín-Fernández Marta , López-Herrero Rocío , Priede-Vimbela Juan Manuel , Heredia-Rodríguez María , Gómez-Sánchez Esther , Gómez-Pesquera Estefanía , Lorenzo-López Mario , Jorge-Monjas Pablo , Poves-Álvarez Rodrigo , Villar Jesús , Tamayo Eduardo
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Prevalence and mortality of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in intensive care units (ICU) are unacceptably high. There is scarce literature on post-operative sepsis-induced ARDS despite that sepsis and major surgery are conditions associated with ARDS. We aimed to examine the impact of post-operative sepsis-induced ARDS on 60-day mortality.

Methods

We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective observational study in 454 patients who underwent major surgery admitted into a single ICU. Patients were stratified in two groups depending on whether they met criteria for ARDS. Primary outcome was 60-day mortality of post-operative sepsis-induced ARDS. Secondary outcome measures were potential risk factors for post-operative sepsis-induced ARDS, and for 60-day mortality.

Results

Higher SOFA score (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0–1.3, p = 0.020) and higher lactate (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–2.7, p = 0.004) at study inclusion were independently associated with ARDS. ARDS patients (n = 45) had higher ICU stay [14 (18) vs. 5 (11) days, p < 0.001] and longer need for mechanical ventilation [6 (14) vs. 1 (5) days, p < 0.001] than non-ARDS patients (n = 409). Sixty-day mortality was higher in ARDS patients (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1–6.3, p = 0.024). Chronic renal failure (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.2–13.7, p = 0.026), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.7, p = 0.015) and higher APACHE II score (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3–5.4, p = 0.006) were independently associated with 60-day mortality.

Conclusion

Post-operative sepsis-induced ARDS is associated with higher 60-day mortality compared to non-ARDS post-operative septic patients. Post-operative septic patients with higher severity of illness have a greater risk of ARDS and worse outcomes. Further investigation is needed in post-operative sepsis-induced ARDS to prevent ARDS.
Effects of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate/glycopyrronium on diaphragmatic workload and lung function in uncontrolled asthma: a case report
Authors: Maiorano Antonio , Lupia Chiara , Montenegro Nicola , Neri Giuseppe , Bruni Andrea , Garofalo Eugenio , Longhini Federico , Crimi Claudia , Maglio Angelantonio , Vatrella Alessandro , Pelaia Girolamo , Pelaia Corrado
Published: March 2024

Beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate/glycopyrronium (BDP/FF/G) single inhaler extrafine triple therapy is effective for the treatment of uncontrolled asthma. Nevertheless, there is a lack of data about the use of diaphragmatic ultrasonography to monitor adult asthmatics while they are receiving inhaled treatment. We took into consideration a 78-year-old woman complaining of asthma, treated with inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-adrenergic agonist (ICS/LABA), characterized by an asthma control questionnaire-5 (ACQ-5) score and a lung function test suggestive of uncontrolled asthma. Moreover, a diaphragmatic ultrasound showed signs of high diaphragm workload. Because of these findings, we proposed to our patient a shift toward triple inhaled therapy with BDP/FF/G, and she underwent a second evaluation after 7 days of treatment. Improvements in the diaphragmatic ultrasound parameters, lung function test, and ACQ-5 score were found. In particular, we detected a reduction of thickening fraction (TF), and a normalization of the other diaphragmatic measures, indicative of a decrease in diaphragmatic workload. To our knowledge, this is the first literature report showing concomitant improvements of both lung function tests and diaphragmatic ultrasonography parameters, observed in an adult patient with uncontrolled asthma after short-term treatment with the single inhaler triple therapy BDP/FF/G.
Change in microbiota profile after vaginal estriol cream in postmenopausal women with stress incontinence
Authors: Moore Kate H. , Ognenovska Samantha , Chua Xin-Yi , Chen Zhuoran , Hicks Chloe , El-Assaad Fatima , te West Nevine , El-Omar Emad
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Vaginal estrogen is a treatment for genitourinary symptoms of menopause (GSM), which comprises vaginal atrophy and urinary dysfunction, including incontinence. Previous studies show that estrogen therapy promotes lactobacilli abundance and is associated with reduced GSM symptoms, including reduction of stress incontinence. However, detailed longitudinal studies that characterize how the microbiome changes in response to estrogen are scarce. We aimed to compare the vaginal microbiota of postmenopausal women, before and 12 weeks after vaginal estrogen cream.

Methods

A total of 44 paired samples from 22 postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy and stress incontinence were collected pre-vaginal estrogens and were compared to 12 weeks post-vaginal estrogen. Microbiota was characterized by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and biodiversity was investigated by comparing the alpha- and beta-diversity and potential markers were identified using differential abundance analysis.

Results

Vaginal estrogen treatment was associated with a reduction in vaginal pH and corresponded with a significant reduction in alpha diversity of the microbiota. Healthy vaginal community state type was associated with lower mean pH 4.89 (SD = 0.6), in contrast to dysbiotic state which had a higher mean pH 6.4 (SD = 0.74). Women with lactobacilli dominant community pre-treatment, showed stable microbiota and minimal change in their pH. Women with lactobacilli deficient microbiome pre-treatment improved markedly (p = 0.004) with decrease in pH −1.31 and change to heathier community state types.

Conclusion

In postmenopausal women with stress incontinence, vaginal estrogen promotes Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium growth and lowers vaginal pH. Maximum response is seen in those with a dysbiotic vaginal microbiota pre-treatment.
BacA: a possible regulator that contributes to the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Wallart Lisa , Ben Mlouka Mohamed Amine , Saffiedine Brahim , Coquet Laurent , Le Hung , Hardouin Julie , Jouenne Thierry , Phan Gilles , Kiefer-Meyer Marie-Christine , Girard Eric , Broutin Isabelle , Cosette Pascal
Published: March 2024

Previously, we pointed out in P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm cells the accumulation of a hypothetical protein named PA3731 and showed that the deletion of the corresponding gene impacted its biofilm formation capacity. PA3731 belongs to a cluster of 4 genes (pa3732 to pa3729) that we named bac for “Biofilm Associated Cluster.” The present study focuses on the PA14_16140 protein, i.e., the PA3732 (BacA) homolog in the PA14 strain. The role of BacA in rhamnolipid secretion, biofilm formation and virulence, was confirmed by phenotypic experiments with a bacA mutant. Additional investigations allow to advance that the bac system involves in fact 6 genes organized in operon, i.e., bacA to bacF. At a molecular level, quantitative proteomic studies revealed an accumulation of the BAC cognate partners by the bacA sessile mutant, suggesting a negative control of BacA toward the bac operon. Finally, a first crystallographic structure of BacA was obtained revealing a structure homologous to chaperones or/and regulatory proteins.
DCENet-based low-light image enhancement improved by spiking encoding and convLSTM
Authors: Wang Xinghao , Wang Qiang , Zhang Lei , Qu Yi , Yi Fan , Yu Jiayang , Liu Qiuhan , Xia Ruicong , Xu Ziling , Tong Sirong
Published: March 2024

The direct utilization of low-light images hinders downstream visual tasks. Traditional low-light image enhancement (LLIE) methods, such as Retinex-based networks, require image pairs. A spiking-coding methodology called intensity-to-latency has been used to gradually acquire the structural characteristics of an image. convLSTM has been used to connect the features. This study introduces a simplified DCENet to achieve unsupervised LLIE as well as the spiking coding mode of a spiking neural network. It also applies the comprehensive coding features of convLSTM to improve the subjective and objective effects of LLIE. In the ablation experiment for the proposed structure, the convLSTM structure was replaced by a convolutional neural network, and the classical CBAM attention was introduced for comparison. Five objective evaluation metrics were compared with nine LLIE methods that currently exhibit strong comprehensive performance, with PSNR, SSIM, MSE, UQI, and VIFP exceeding the second place at 4.4% (0.8%), 3.9% (17.2%), 0% (15%), 0.1% (0.2%), and 4.3% (0.9%) on the LOL and SCIE datasets. Further experiments of the user study in five non-reference datasets were conducted to subjectively evaluate the effects depicted in the images. These experiments verified the remarkable performance of the proposed method.
Digital spatial profiling identifies molecular changes involved in development of colitis-associated colorectal cancer
Authors: Glyn Tamara , Williams Sarah , Whitehead Martin , Eglinton Tim , West Nicholas , Purcell Rachel V.
Published: March 2024

Objective

Chronic colonic inflammation seen in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). Colitis-associated cancers (CAC) are molecularly different from sporadic CRC. This study aimed to evaluate spatially defined molecular changes associated with neoplastic progression to identify mechanisms of action and potential biomarkers for prognostication.

Design

IBD patients who had undergone colectomy for treatment of their IBD or dysplasia were identified from an institutional database. Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded samples from areas of normal, inflamed, dysplastic and adenocarcinoma tissue were identified for digital spatial profiling using the Nanostring GeoMx™ Cancer Transcriptome Atlas. RNA expression and quantification of 1812 genes was measured and analysed in a spatial context to compare differences in gene expression.

Results

Sixteen patients were included, nine patients had CAC, two had dysplasia only and five had colitis only. Significant, step-wise differences in gene expression were seen between tissue types, mainly involving progressive over-expression of collagen genes associated with stromal remodelling. Similarly, MYC over-expression was associated with neoplastic progression. Comparison of normal and inflamed tissue from patients who progressed to those who did not also showed significant differences in immune-related genes, including under-expression of thte chemokines CCL18, CCL25 and IL-R7, as well as CD3, CD6 and lysozyme. The known oncogene CD24 was significantly overexpressed.

Conclusion

Both tissue types and patient groups are molecularly distinguishable on the basis of their gene expression patterns. Further prospective work is necessary to confirm these differences and establish their clinical significance and potential utility as biomarkers.
The reciprocity of skeletal muscle and bone: an evolving view from mechanical coupling, secretory crosstalk to stem cell exchange
Authors: Sui Hao , Dou Jinfeng , Shi Bing , Cheng Xu
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Muscle and bone constitute the two main parts of the musculoskeletal system and generate an intricately coordinated motion system. The crosstalk between muscle and bone has been under investigation, leading to revolutionary perspectives in recent years.

Method and results: In this review, the evolving concept of muscle-bone interaction from mechanical coupling, secretory crosstalk to stem cell exchange was explained in sequence. The theory of mechanical coupling stems from the observation that the development and maintenance of bone mass are largely dependent on muscle-derived mechanical loads, which was later proved by Wolff’s law, Utah paradigm and Mechanostat hypothesis. Then bone and muscle are gradually recognized as endocrine organs, which can secrete various cytokines to modulate the tissue homeostasis and remodeling to each other. The latest view presented muscle-bone interaction in a more direct way: the resident mesenchymal stromal cell in the skeletal muscle, i.e., fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), could migrate to the bone injury site and contribute to bone regeneration. Emerging evidence even reveals the ectopic source of FAPs from tissue outside the musculoskeletal system, highlighting its dynamic property.

Conclusion: FAPs have been established as the critical cell connecting muscle and bone, which provides a new modality to study inter-tissue communication. A comprehensive and integrated perspective of muscle and bone will facilitate in-depth research in the musculoskeletal system and promote novel therapeutic avenues in treating musculoskeletal disorders.
Ultra-high-resolution UAV-imaging and supervised deep learning for accurate detection of Alternaria solani in potato fields
Authors: Wieme Jana , Leroux Sam , Cool Simon R. , Van Beek Jonathan , Pieters Jan G. , Maes Wouter H.
Published: March 2024

Alternaria solani is the second most devastating foliar pathogen of potato crops worldwide, causing premature defoliation of the plants. This disease is currently prevented through the regular application of detrimental crop protection products and is guided by early warnings based on weather predictions and visual observations by farmers. To reduce the use of crop protection products, without additional production losses, it would be beneficial to be able to automatically detect Alternaria solani in potato fields. In recent years, the potential of deep learning in precision agriculture is receiving increasing research attention. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are currently the state of the art, but also come with challenges, especially regarding in-field robustness. This stems from the fact that they are often trained on datasets that are limited in size or have been recorded in controlled environments, not necessarily representative of real-world settings. We collected a dataset consisting of ultra-high-resolution modified RGB UAV-imagery of both symptomatic and non-symptomatic potato crops in the field during various years and disease stages to cover the great variability in agricultural data. We developed a convolutional neural network to perform in-field detection of Alternaria, defined as a binary classification problem. Our model achieves a similar accuracy as several state-of-the-art models for disease detection, but has a much lower inference time, which enhances its practical applicability. By using training data of three consecutive growing seasons (2019, 2020 and 2021) and test data of an independent fourth year (2022), an F1 score of 0.93 is achieved. Furthermore, we evaluate how different properties of the dataset such as its size and class imbalance impact the obtained accuracy.
Mutating alfalfa COUMARATE 3-HYDROXYLASE using multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 leads to reduced lignin deposition and improved forage quality
Authors: Wolabu Tezera W. , Mahmood Kashif , Chen Fang , Torres-Jerez Ivone , Udvardi Michael , Tadege Million , Cong Lili , Wang Zengyu , Wen Jiangqi
Published: March 2024

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage quality is adversely affected by lignin deposition in cell walls at advanced maturity stages. Reducing lignin content through RNA interference or antisense approaches has been shown to improve alfalfa forage quality and digestibility. We employed a multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-editing system to reduce lignin content and alter lignin composition in alfalfa by targeting the COUMARATE 3-HYDROXYLASE (MsC3H) gene, which encodes a key enzyme in lignin biosynthesis. Four guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting the first exon of MsC3H were designed and clustered into a tRNA-gRNA polycistronic system and introduced into tetraploid alfalfa via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Out of 130 transgenic lines, at least 73 lines were confirmed to contain gene-editing events in one or more alleles of MsC3H. Fifty-five lines were selected for lignin content/composition analysis. Amongst these lines, three independent tetra-allelic homozygous lines (Msc3h-013, Msc3h-121, and Msc3h-158) with different mutation events in MsC3H were characterized in detail. Homozygous mutation of MsC3H in these three lines significantly reduced the lignin content and altered lignin composition in stems. Moreover, these lines had significantly lower levels of acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber as well as higher levels of total digestible nutrients, relative feed values, and in vitro true dry matter digestibility. Taken together, these results showed that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of MsC3H successfully reduced shoot lignin content, improved digestibility, and nutritional values without sacrificing plant growth and biomass yield. These lines could be used in alfalfa breeding programs to generate elite transgene-free alfalfa cultivars with reduced lignin and improved forage quality.
Salt tolerance evaluation and mini-core collection development in Miscanthus sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius
Authors: Tang Yanmei , Li Shicheng , Zerpa-Catanho Dessireé , Zhang Zhihai , Yang Sai , Zheng Xuying , Xue Shuai , Kuang Xianyan , Liu Mingxi , He Xiong , Yi Zili , Xiao Liang
Published: March 2024

Marginal lands, such as those with saline soils, have potential as alternative resources for cultivating dedicated biomass crops used in the production of renewable energy and chemicals. Optimum utilization of marginal lands can not only alleviate the competition for arable land use with primary food crops, but also contribute to bioenergy products and soil improvement. Miscanthus sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius are prominent perennial plants suitable for sustainable bioenergy production in saline soils. However, their responses to salt stress remain largely unexplored. In this study, we utilized 318 genotypes of M. sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius to assess their salt tolerance levels under 150 mM NaCl using 14 traits, and subsequently established a mini-core elite collection for salt tolerance. Our results revealed substantial variation in salt tolerance among the evaluated genotypes. Salt-tolerant genotypes exhibited significantly lower Na+ content, and K+ content was positively correlated with Na+ content. Interestingly, a few genotypes with higher Na+ levels in shoots showed improved shoot growth characteristics. This observation suggests that M. sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius adapt to salt stress by regulating ion homeostasis, primarily through enhanced K+ uptake, shoot Na+ exclusion, and Na+ sequestration in shoot vacuoles. To evaluate salt tolerance comprehensively, we developed an assessment value (D value) based on the membership function values of the 14 traits. We identified three highly salt-tolerant, 50 salt-tolerant, 127 moderately salt-tolerant, 117 salt-sensitive, and 21 highly salt-sensitive genotypes at the seedling stage by employing the D value. A mathematical evaluation model for salt tolerance was established for M. sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius at the seedling stage. Notably, the mini-core collection containing 64 genotypes developed using the Core Hunter algorithm effectively represented the overall variability of the entire collection. This mini-core collection serves as a valuable gene pool for future in-depth investigations of salt tolerance mechanisms in Miscanthus.
Nonhuman treatment reduces helping others: self-dehumanization as a mechanism
Authors: Zhang Zaixuan , Chen Zhansheng
Published: March 2024

Objectification is a daily experience with various negative consequences. In four studies (N = 877), we tested whether and how objectification experience contributes to decreased prosociality. Using correlational designs (Studies 1 and 2), we found that participants’ objectification experience negatively predicted their prosocial intention and that self-dehumanization could account for the negative association between objectification and prosocial intention. Next, by manipulating participants’ objectification experience, we found the negative effect of objectification on prosocial intention, as well as the mediating role of self-dehumanization (Studies 3 and 4). Additionally, we tested the mediating role of self-dehumanization in comparison with relative deprivation (another potential mediator), and consistently found that self-dehumanization was a stronger mediator in accounting for the effect of objectification on prosocial intention (Studies 1, 2, and 4). Together, our findings support the process of self-dehumanization following objectification and offer new insights into the relationship between objectification and prosociality. The implications and limitations of the research were discussed.
The effect of an e-intervention on intellectual disability stigma among Nigerian and Kenyan internet users: a comparative randomised controlled trial
Authors: Odukoya Deborah , Chege Winfred , Scior Katrina
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The negative consequences of stigma for the wellbeing of people with disabilities have raised public and global health concerns. This study assessed the impact of an e-intervention to reduce intellectual disability (ID) stigma among Nigerian and Kenyan internet-users.

Method

Participants aged 18+ and citizens of Nigeria and Kenya were recruited through online advertising. Qualtrics, a web survey platform, randomly assigned (1:1) participants to watch either a short experimental or control film, while masked to their assignment. The experimental film featured education about ID and indirect contact. The control film was on an unrelated topic. Their attitudes were measured on three dimensions (affect, cognitions and behaviour) at three time points (baseline, post intervention and one-month follow-up). Between October 2016 and April 2017, 933 participants were randomised, 469 to the experimental condition and 464 to the control condition. Of these, 827 (89%) provided pre-and post-intervention data but only 287 (31%) were retained at follow-up.

Results

An intent-to-treat analysis revealed that participants in the experimental but not the control condition showed a positive shift in their attitudes towards people with ID over time. Their willingness to interact with people with ID increased post-intervention.

Discussion

A brief intervention that integrates education and indirect contact can make an effective contribution to efforts to reduce stigma faced by people with ID in Africa. Trial registered with the ISRCTN trial registry (number ISRCTN92574712).
Changes in real-world dispensing of ADHD stimulants in youth from 2019 to 2021 in California
Authors: Patel Anika , Chavan Rishikesh , Rakovski Cyril , Beuttler Richard , Yang Sun
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common pediatric neurobehavioral disorders in the U.S. Stimulants, classified as controlled substances, are commonly used for ADHD management. We conducted an analysis of real-world stimulants dispensing data to evaluate the pandemic’s impact on young patients (≤ 26 years) in California.

Methods

Annual prevalence of patients on stimulants per capita across various California counties from 2019 and 2021 were analyzed and further compared across different years, sexes, and age groups. New patients initiating simulants therapy were also examined. A case study was conducted to determine the impact of socioeconomic status on patient prevalence within different quintiles in Los Angeles County using patient zip codes. Logistic regression analysis using R Project was employed to determine demographic factors associated with concurrent use of stimulants with other controlled substances.

Results

There was a notable reduction in prevalence of patients ≤26 years old on stimulants during and after the pandemic per 100,000 people (777 in 2019; 743 in 2020; 751 in 2021). These decreases were more evident among the elementary and adolescent age groups. The most prevalent age group on stimulants were adolescents (12–17 years) irrespective of the pandemic. A significant rise in the number of female patients using stimulants was observed, increasing from 107,957 (35.2%) in 2019 to 121,241 (41.1%) in 2021. New patients initiating stimulants rose from 102,754 in 2020 to 106,660 in 2021, with 33.2% being young adults. In Los Angeles County, there was an increasing trend in patient prevalence from Q1 to Q5 income quintiles among patients ≥6 years. Consistently each year, the highest average income quintile exhibited the highest per capita prevalence. Age was associated with higher risk of concurrent use of benzodiazepines (OR, 1.198 [95% CI, 1.195–1.201], p < 0.0001) and opioids (OR, 1.132 [95% CI, 1.130–1.134], p < 0.0001) with stimulants.

Discussion

Our study provides real-world information on dispensing of ADHD stimulants in California youth from 2019 to 2021. The results underscore the importance of optimizing evidence-based ADHD management in pediatric patients and young adults to mitigate disparities in the use of stimulants.
Symptom trajectories of post-COVID sequelae in patients with acute Delta or Omicron infection in Bergen, Norway
Authors: Iversen Arild , Blomberg Bjørn , Haug Kjell , Kittang Bård , Özgümüs Türküler , Cox Rebecca Jane , Langeland Nina
Published: March 2024

Introduction

A substantial proportion of the over 700 million COVID-19 cases world-wide experience long-term symptoms. The objectives of this study were to compare symptom trajectories and risk factors for post-COVID-19 condition after Delta and Omicron infection.

Methods

This study consecutively recruited patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection from November 2021 to March 2022. We recorded demographics, comorbidities, vaccination status, sick leave, and 18 symptoms during acute infection and after 4 months. The primary outcome measures were symptoms during acute infection and after 4 months. Secondary outcome measures were work and school absenteeism.

Results

We followed a cohort of 1,374 non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Bergen, Norway, at three time points. The median age was 39.8 years and 11% were children <16 years. Common acute upper respiratory symptoms waned during follow-up. Fatigue remained common from acute infection (40%) until after 4 months (37%). Four months post-infection, patients reported increased frequencies of dyspnea (from 15% during acute illness to 25% at 4 months, p < 0.001), cognitive symptoms (from 9 to 32%, p < 0.001) and depression (from 1 to 17%, p < 0.001). Patients infected with Omicron reported less dyspnea (22% versus 27%, p = 0.046) and smell/taste problems (5% versus 19%, p < 0.001) at 4 months follow-up than those with Delta infection. Comorbidities and female sex were risk factors for persistent dyspnea and cognitive symptoms. Ten percent reported sick leave after acute illness, and vaccination reduced the risk of absenteeism (adjusted risk ratio: 0.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.15, 0.72, p = 0.008).

Conclusion

At 4 months, home-isolated patients infected with Omicron reported overall comparable symptom burden, but less dyspnea and smell/taste problems than Delta infected patients. Several acute symptoms waned during follow-up. It is worrying that dyspnea, neurocognitive symptoms, and particularly depression, increased significantly during the first 4 months after acute infection. Previous vaccination was protective against prolonged sick leave.
What’s Mine? What’s Ours? How the Brain Thinks About Shared Resources
Authors: Zappe Ashley , Martinez-Saito Mario , Andraszewicz Sandra
Published: March 2024

Why do people not always choose to take care of the Earth? This study looked at how people’s brains decide to take care of nature, like fish in the ocean. The scientists made a game that was like going fishing, and they used brain-scanning technology to see what was happening in people’s brains while they played. The scientists discovered that when people thought they were fishing with other people, they took more fish than when they were alone. The brain scan showed that a part of the brain was working differently, too. This study helps us understand how people’s brains work when they make decisions about nature. If we know more about how our brains think about nature, we can find better ways to protect our planet. This study also shows how different types of science, like Earth science and brain science, can work together to help solve important problems for the world.
The influence of increasing mineral fertilizer application on nitrogen leaching of arable land and grassland—results of a long-term lysimeter study
Authors: Rupp Holger , Tauchnitz Nadine , Meissner Ralph
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Despite various efforts to reduce nitrogen leaching from agricultural land, the permissible nitrate concentrations in groundwater have often been exceeded in the past. Intensive farming is often seen as the cause of the deterioration in water quality. Therefore, the present lysimeter study aimed to quantify nitrogen (N) leaching at different N fertilization levels for the agricultural land use systems of arable land and grassland to derive suitable management measures for improving groundwater quality.

Methods

The effects of three different of mineral fertilization treatments (50%, 100%, and 150%) in arable land and grassland use on four distinct soil types (loamy sand, sand, loam, loess) concerning seepage formation, nitrogen concentrations, nitrogen loads, dry matter yields and nitrogen balances were tested. The study was conducted at the lysimeter facility of the Helmholtz Centre of Environmental Research – UFZ at Falkenberg (northeast Germany). Twenty-four non-weighable lysimeters with a surface area of 1 m² and a depth of 1.25 m were managed as grassland and arable land with three different fertilization treatments since 1985.

Results and Discussion

For arable land use, N leaching differed between the studied soil types, with the highest N loads from the sand (36.6 kg ha–1 yr–1 ) and loamy sand (30.7 kg ha–1 yr–1 ) and the lowest N loads from loess (12.1 kg ha–1 yr–1) and loam soil (13.1 kg ha–1 yr–1). In contrast to grassland use, a reduction of N fertilization level by 50 % did not result in reduced N leaching for arable land, whereas a maximal 29% reduced dry matter yields was observed. An increase of N fertilization by 50 % did not cause significant enhanced N leaching at arable land use. Soil-and management-related factors (soil type, texture, soil tillage, crop rotation, and others) mask the effect of increased N fertilization rates in arable land using lysimeters. For arable land use, a reduction of N fertilizer levels as the only measure was insufficient to reduce NO3– leaching, and other strategies besides N fertilization levels are required to improve groundwater quality. Measures should be targeted to reduce N losses by mineralization processes.
Case Report: Unique management strategy for rare case of esophageal foreign body
Authors: Rustemov Dastan , Bilal Ruslan , Tukinov Ruslan , Nekessov Adilzhan , Dzhenalaev Damir , Ermeshev Erbulat , Mukhamedov Zarip , Mustafinov Dulat , Utebaliev Ruslan , Sakuov Zhenis , Kaliev Baurzhan
Published: March 2024

Background

Foreign bodies that enter the esophagus can cause serious complications that may require extensive surgical intervention, including open surgery. The treatment method depends on the location, size, configuration, and number of foreign bodies in the esophagus, but to date, the best method to remove foreign bodies from the esophagus remains uncertain. Foreign bodies which can damage the walls of esophagus varies from bones and bone fragments, to metallic objects and batteries. In this article, we present a rare case of a “fish bone” penetrating through the esophagus walls and directly punctured the aorta, forming a post-traumatic saccular pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta, which was successfully treated with endovascular stent placement to the aorta and with endoscopic foreign body removal.

Case summary

We reported a case of a 16-year-old male with a 6-day history of chest pain after consuming fish. As result of immediate test in regional hospital using oral flexible esophagogastroduodenoscopy abnormalities were not reported. Due to persistence of beforementioned symptoms, a fiberoptic esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed 3 days later, revealing a 1.5–2.0 cm long altered area with contact bleeding 33.0 cm from the incisors, but no visualization of any foreign body. Computed tomography revealed a fish bone that had completely passed through walls of the esophagus and punctured the aortic wall, forming an aneurysm. Patient was urgently hospitalized by air ambulance to our hospital for high-specialized medical intervention after 6 days. After the endovascular placement of a stent graft, the fish bone was successfully removed by endoscopic intervention. 12 months follow up showed no abnormalities.

Conclusion

Endoscopic removal of foreign bodies in the esophagus and extracting a foreign body after thoracic endovascular aortic stent may be a feasible option for some cases.
Deviation Sequence Neural Network Control for Path Tracking of Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Su Liang , Mao Yiyuan , Zhang Feng , Lin Baoxing , Zhang Yong
Published: March 2024

Despite its excellent performance in path tracking control, the model predictive control (MPC) is limited by computational complexity in practical applications. The neural network control (NNC) is another attractive solution by learning the historical driving data to approximate optimal control law, but a concern is that the NNC lacks security guarantees when encountering new scenarios that it has never been trained on. Inspired by the prediction process of MPC, the deviation sequence neural network control (DS-NNC) separates the vehicle dynamic model from the approximation process and rebuilds the input of the neural network (NN). Taking full use of the deviation sequence architecture and the real-time vehicle dynamic model, the DS-NNC is expected to enhance the adaptability and the training efficiency of NN. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed controller is verified through simulations in Matlab/Simulink. The simulation results indicate that the proposed path tracking NN controller possesses adaptability and learning capabilities, enabling it to generate optimal control variables within a shorter computation time and handle variations in vehicle models and driving scenarios.
Design and Simulation of a Multi-Channel Biomass Hot Air Furnace with an Intelligent Temperature Control System
Authors: Sheng Tuo , Luo Haifeng , Wu Mingliang
Published: March 2024

Timely and effective drying of agricultural products is crucial for ensuring the quality and yield of grains. Biomass drying enhances energy utilization and reduces energy pressure. To this end, a novel multi-channel circulating biomass hot air furnace was designed to provide precise control of the heat source for grain drying, thereby improving the efficiency and quality of the drying process. The combustion process utilizes a multi-channel combined air supply to ensure complete combustion of biomass pellet fuel. During the heat exchange process, heat exchange plates isolate hot and cold areas, discharging combustion exhaust, while ensuring a pure air output. Using rapeseed as the drying subject, a temperature controller based on adaptive fuzzy PID was designed, targeting the biomass hot air furnace’s heat exchange system for modeling and verifying the model with the step response method. Model simulations were conducted in Matlab’s Simulink module using both adaptive fuzzy PID and traditional PID controllers, for a given signal. The settling times for the conventional PID and fuzzy PID were 445 s and 364 s, respectively, with overshoots of 20.1% and 6.3%, showing that the fuzzy PID controller performed better in terms of control performance. The validation tests showed that both control methods could maintain the temperature within ±5 °C. Compared to traditional PID control, the adaptive fuzzy PID control achieved a precision of ±3 °C. At the target temperature of 90 °C, the error was reduced to 3.7%, with a stabilization time of 1014 s. The use of fuzzy PID control exhibited better dynamic response characteristics, meeting the drying needs of rapeseed. This study provides a theoretical basis for the structural design and control system design of biomass hot air furnaces.
Design of a New Drip Irrigation Belt Recovery Machine with Anti Breakage Function
Authors: Ran Junhui , Song Zhipeng , Zhang Quan , Guo Wensong , Wang Xufeng
Published: March 2024

Drip irrigation technology is widely used in agricultural production in the Xinjiang region. However, there are still a series of problems in the mechanized recovery of field drip irrigation belts, such as easy breakage of drip irrigation belts, low recovery efficiency, and excessive doping of recycled drip irrigation belts. This study focused on the problems of mechanized recovery of drip irrigation belts in Xinjiang and designed a new type of drip irrigation belt recovery machine. The key mechanisms of the new drip irrigation belt recovery machine were designed and theoretically analyzed, and their basic parameters were determined. Then, the superiority of the new drip irrigation belt recovery machine’s operational performance was verified through experiments. The experimental results showed that the new drip irrigation belt recovery machine is superior to existing machines in terms of the drip irrigation belt recovery rate and operational efficiency. In addition, the drip irrigation belts recovered by the newly designed machine have low impurity content. During the recovery process, the new machine requires less labor input than that of the existing machine.
Finite Element Simulation Parameter Calibration and Verification for Stem Cutting of Hydroponic Chinese Kale
Authors: Xia Hongmei , Li Liuquan , Deng Chuheng , Zhu Shicheng , Chen Jieqing , Yang Teng , Huang Runxin , Zhen Wenbin
Published: March 2024

The finite element simulation is a valid way for the rapid development of the root-cutting mechanism for hydroponic Chinese kale. The stem of the hydroponic Chinese kale was simplified as a transverse isotropic elastic body, and axial compression, three-point bending, and shear tests were performed. The ANSYS/LS-DYNA19.2 software was adopted for stem shear simulation, and the regression equation of the maximum simulated shear force was established. The optimized mechanical parameters were determined by minimizing the deviation between the maximum shear force obtained from the simulation and test. The three-dimensional scanning method was employed to establish the geometric model of the hydroponic Chinese kale stem. The cutting finite element simulation model and test platform were constructed. Displacement, deformation, and force measured from simulation and test were compared. Through measurement and simulation calibration, an axial elastic modulus of 6.22 MPa, axial Poisson’s ratio of 0.46, radial elastic modulus of 3.56 MPa, radial Poisson’s ratio of 0.44, radial shear modulus of 0.8 MPa, and a failure strain of 0.08 were determined. During the cutting simulation and test, the resulting maximum displacement deviations of the marking points on the end of the stem were 0.68 mm along the X-axis and 2.83 mm along the Y-axis, while the maximum deviations of the cutting and clamping force were 0.49 N and 0.77 N, respectively. The deformation and force variation laws of the kale stem in the cutting simulation and test process were basically consistent. It showed that the mechanical parameters calibrated by the simulation were accurate and effective, and the stem cutting simulation results with the finite element method were in good agreement with that of the cutting test. The study provided a reference for the rapid optimization design of the root-cutting mechanism for hydroponic Chinese kale harvest.
Improving the Estimation of Rice Crop Damage from Flooding Events Using Open-Source Satellite Data and UAV Image Data
Authors: Ballaran Vicente , Ohara Miho , Rasmy Mohamed , Homma Koki , Aida Kentaro , Hosonuma Kohei
Published: March 2024

Having an additional tool for swiftly determining the extent of flood damage to crops with confidence is beneficial. This study focuses on estimating rice crop damage caused by flooding in Candaba, Pampanga, using open-source satellite data. By analyzing the correlation between Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measurements from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Sentinel-2 (S2) satellite data, a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative for agricultural monitoring is explored. This study comprises two stages: establishing a correlation between clear sky observations and NDVI measurements, and employing a combination of S2 NDVI and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) NDVI to estimate crop damage. The integration of SAR and optical satellite data overcomes cloud cover challenges during typhoon events. The accuracy of standing crop estimation reached up to 99.2%, while crop damage estimation reached up to 99.7%. UAVs equipped with multispectral cameras prove effective for small-scale monitoring, while satellite imagery offers a valuable alternative for larger areas. The strong correlation between UAV and satellite-derived NDVI measurements highlights the significance of open-source satellite data in accurately estimating rice crop damage, providing a swift and reliable tool for assessing flood damage in agricultural monitoring.
Integrated Route-Planning System for Agricultural Robots
Authors: Asiminari Gavriela , Moysiadis Vasileios , Kateris Dimitrios , Busato Patrizia , Wu Caicong , Achillas Charisios , Sørensen Claus Grøn , Pearson Simon , Bochtis Dionysis
Published: March 2024

Within the transition from precision agriculture (task-specific approach) to smart farming (system-specific approach) there is a need to build and evaluate robotic systems that are part of an overall integrated system under a continuous two-way connection and interaction. This paper presented an initial step in creating an integrated system for agri-robotics, enabling two-way communication between an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) and a farm management information system (FMIS) under the general scope of smart farming implementation. In this initial step, the primary task of route-planning for the agricultural vehicles, as a prerequisite for the execution of any field operation, was selected as a use-case for building and evaluating this integration. The system that was developed involves advanced route-planning algorithms within the cloud-based FMIS, a comprehensive algorithmic package compatible with agricultural vehicles utilizing the Robot Operating System (ROS), and a communicational and computational unit (CCU) interconnecting the FMIS algorithms, the corresponding user interface, and the vehicles. Its analytical module provides valuable information about UGVs’ performance metrics, specifically performance indicators of working distance, non-working distance, overlapped area, and field-traversing efficiency. The system was demonstrated via the implementation of two robotic vehicles in route-execution tasks in various operational configurations, field features, and cropping systems (open field, row crops, orchards). The case studies showed variability in the operational performance of the field traversal efficiency to be between 79.2% and 93%, while, when implementing the optimal route-planning functionality of the system, there was an improvement of up to 9.5% in the field efficiency. The demonstrated results indicate that the user can obtain better control over field operations by making alterations to ensure optimum field performance, and the user can have complete supervision of the operation.