bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case report: Shock after percutaneous vertebroplasty of the 5th thoracic vertebra
Authors: Hao Shenshen , Yu Xin , Li Laihao , Liu Shuai , Li Hongke , Dong Shengli , Cao Xinhao
Published: June 2023

Background

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is a common treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Perioperative bleeding is usually rare, so there are few reports of shock. However, we developed shock after treating a case of OVCF of the 5th thoracic vertebra with PVP.

Case presentation

An 80 years old female patient received PVP due to OVCF of the 5th thoracic vertebra. The operation was successfully completed and the patient returned to the ward safely after the operation. At 90 min after operation, she developed shock, which was induced by subcutaneous hemorrhage up to 1500 ml at the puncture site. Before using vascular embolization, transfusion and blood transfusion were used to maintain blood pressure, and local ice bag compression was used to reduce swelling and stop bleeding, which achieved successful hemostasis. She recovered and discharged after 15 days, with the hematoma having absorbed. There was no recurrence during the 17-month follow-up.

Conclusion

Although PVP is considered to be a safe and effective method to treat OVCF, the possible hemorrhagic shock still needs to arouse the vigilance of surgeons.
Computed tomography of the spleen in chickens
Authors: Vali Yasamin , Gumpenberger Michaela , Konicek Cornelia , Bagheri Sina
Published: June 2023

The avian spleen is an important immune organ in birds and its size can be used as an index of immune system responses in different conditions. Based on the lack of knowledge in computed tomography of the spleen in chickens, the present study was conducted to assess the inter-and intraobserver reliability in the measurement of the spleen dimensions and attenuation, as well as the feasibility of utilization of these measurements as a predictor of different diseases. For these purposes, the spleens of 47 chickens were included in the study. Two observers measured the dimensions and attenuations of the spleen, which were finally compared with the clinical diagnosis. The results showed an excellent interobserver reliability in the length, width, and height of the spleen (ICC: 0.944, 0.906, and 0.938, retrospectively), and a good interobserver reliability was observed during the evaluation of the average Hounsfield units of the spleen (ICC: 0.818). The intraobserver reliability was excellent in all the measurements (ICC > 0.940). Additionally, no statistical differences were detected in the spleen size and attenuation between the normal and diseased groups. Based on the present results, the computed tomographic measurements of the spleen could not predict the clinical diseases of the chickens; however, the low rates of the inter- and intraobserver variability suggest the reliable utilization of these computed tomographic measurements in routine clinical application and follow-up examinations.
Impact of Eimeria meleagrimitis and intermittent amprolium treatment on performance and the gut microbiome composition of Turkey poults
Authors: Trujillo-Peralta Carolina , Latorre Juan David , Chai Jianmin , Senas-Cuesta Roberto , Forga Aaron , Coles Makenly , Zhao Jiangchao , Hernandez-Velasco Xochitl , Tellez-Isaias Guillermo , Barta John , Bielke Lisa , Hargis Billy , Graham Danielle
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Drug-sensitive live coccidiosis vaccines have been used to control coccidiosis and renew drug sensitivity in commercial chicken operations. However, only limited species coverage vaccines have been available for commercial turkey producers. This study aimed to assess the effect of an E. meleagrimitis vaccine candidate, with and without amprolium intervention, on performance and oocyst shedding. Additionally, the effect of vaccination, amprolium treatment, and E. meleagrimitis challenge on intestinal integrity and microbiome composition was evaluated.

Methods

Experimental groups included: (1) NC (non-vaccinated, non-challenged control); (2) PC (non-vaccinated, challenged control); (3) VX + Amprol (E. meleagrimitis candidate vaccine + amprolium); and 4) VX (E. meleagrimitis candidate vaccine). For VX groups, 50% of the direct poults were orally vaccinated at DOH with 50 sporulated E. meleagrimitis oocysts and were comingled with contact or non-vaccinated poults for the duration of the study. From d10-14, VX + Amprol group received amprolium (0.024%) in the drinking water. All groups except NC were orally challenged with 95K E. meleagrimitis sporulated oocysts/mL/poult at d23. At d29, ileal and cecal contents were collected for 16S rRNA gene-based microbiome analysis.

Results and Discussion

VX did not affect performance during the pre-challenge period. At d23-29 (post-challenge), VX groups had significantly (P < 0.05) higher BWG than the PC group. Contacts and directs of VX groups in LS had significantly reduced compared to PC. As anticipated, amprolium treatment markedly reduced fecal and litter OPG for the VX + Amprol group compared to the VX group which did not receive amprolium. The ileal and cecal content results showed that the PC group had different bacterial diversity and structure, including alpha and beta diversity, compared to NC. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) identified that Lactobacillus salivarius (ASV2) was enriched in PC’s ileal and cecal content. Compared to NC and PC, the vaccinated groups showed no distinct clusters, but there were similarities in the ileal and cecal communities based on Bray-Curtis and Jaccard distances. In conclusion, these results indicate that vaccination with this strain of E. meleagrimitis, with or without amprolium intervention, caused a very mild infection that induced protective immunity and challenge markedly affected both the ileal and cecal microbiome.
Evaluation of the effect of the indoor environment on the physiological responses of early-gestation sows in a commercial house in China
Authors: Li Yangyang , Li Tong , Shang Bin , Zhao Yang , Tao Xiuping , Peng Feng , Zou Xiaojun , Zhang Sixin
Published: June 2023

Objective

The environment influences the sow's health and physiology during gestation. This study was conducted to evaluate indoor environmental parameters and physiological responses of early-gestation sows and investigate the possible methods for assessing the thermal environment in commercial houses.

Methods

A total of 20 early-gestation sows (commercial purebred Yorkshire) with an average body weight of 193.20 ± 3.62 kg were used for this study in winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The indoor environment parameters comprising dry-bulb temperature (Tdb), relative humidity (RH), and carbon dioxide (CO2) were recorded in 30-min intervals. Physiological parameters including heart rate (HR) and respiration rate (RR) of sows were also measured every 30 min. Wet-bulb temperature (Twb) was calculated using Tdb, RH and atmospheric pressure was recorded at a nearby weather station.

Results

The average indoor Tdb and RH were 12.98 ± 2.03°C and 80.4 ± 6.4% in winter, 18.98 ± 2.68°C and 74.4 ± 9.0% in spring, 27.49 ± 2.05°C and 90.6 ± 6.4% in summer, and 17.10 ± 2.72°C and 64.5 ± 10.9% in autumn. A higher average concentration of CO2 was observed in winter (1,493 ± 578 mg/m3) than in spring (1,299 ± 489 mg/m3), autumn (1,269 ± 229 mg/m3), and summer (702 ± 128 mg/m3). Compared with the HR and RR in the optimum environment, high RH in the house led to a significant decrease in both HR and RR (P < 0.05). In addition, a significant decline in HR was also obtained at high temperatures (P < 0.05). A temperature humidity index (THI), THI = 0.82 × Tdb + 0.18 × Twb, was determined for early-gestation sows, and the THI thresholds were 25.6 for HR. The variation in THI in summer showed that heat stress still occurred under the pad-fan cooling system.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated the critical significance of considering physiological responses of early-gestation sows in commercial houses and THI thresholds. We recommend that much more cooling measures should be taken for early-gestation sows in summer.
Effects of herbal supplements on milk production quality and specific blood parameters in heat-stressed early lactating cows
Authors: Saleh Ahmed Ali , Soliman Mahmoud Mohamed , Yousef Mohammed Farid , Eweedah Nabil Mohammed , El-Sawy Hanan Basiouni , Shukry Mustafa , Wadaan Mohammad A. M. , Kim In Ho , Cho Sungbo , Eltahan Hossam M.
Published: June 2023

The present study explored the influence of supplemental herbal mixtures on cow milk production, quality, and blood parameters in dairy cows under high ambient temperatures. Thirty Holstein cows were randomly assigned into three experimental groups of 10 each. The first control group was supplied with the commercial basal diet, whereas two treatment groups were provided with the commercial basal diet supplemented with 50 and 100 g/head/day of the herbal mixture, respectively. The results showed that the mixture of herbal supplementation did not influence weekly milk production. Milk total fat, triglyceride, and total protein values were not affected (p < 0.05) in cows fed on basal diets supplemented with herbal mixture; however, milk cholesterol was decreased significantly by 100 mg/head/day of the herbal mixture. On the other hand, lactose has increased significantly by adding 100 mg/head/day of herbal mixture. Furthermore, the total cholesterol level in serum was decreased by adding 100 mg/head/day of the herbal mixture, while plasma prolactin, cortisol, GOT, and GPT were unaffected. Regarding fatty acids (C18, C18:1 (c9), 18:1 (c11), 18:2 (c9, c12), 18:2 (t9, t12), and CLA (c9, t11)), there was no significant variation between the groups. Meanwhile, both C19:00 and 18:3 (c6, c9, and c12) were noticeably higher (p < 0.05) in the group that received 100gm, followed by 50 mg, compared to the control. In conclusion, the supplement with a herbal mixture positively affected milk quality by decreasing total cholesterol and increasing lactose, milk fatty acid profile by increasing unsaturated fatty acids content, and plasma cholesterol levels.
Research on Seismic Wave Delay and Amplification Methods in the Shaking Table Test of Large-Span Structures in Mountain Areas
Authors: Sun Laite , Lai Zhengcong , Bai Yu
Published: June 2023

The traveling wave and slope amplification effects should be considered in the shaking table test of large-span structures in mountain areas. Based on the structural characteristics and site conditions of a large-span structure in a mountain area, this paper designed a high-rise steel frame structure with viscous dampers through finite element analysis to amplify seismic waves with a time delay. Then, the original structure and steel frame models with a similarity ratio of 1/40 were made for shaking table tests. The test results showed that a high-rise steel frame structure with reasonable viscous dampers could delay and amplify seismic waves, and the scaled model of the structure could play the same role in shaking table tests. Meanwhile, by comparing the seismic responses of large-span structural models in mountain areas before and after the amplification of seismic wave delays, it was found that the delay and amplification of seismic waves had little impact on the acceleration response of the structure. In contrast, the seismic wave delay played a dominant role in the change in the structural displacement response.
Spherical Grid Creation and Modeling Using the Galerkin Compiler GC_Sphere
Authors: Steppeler Jürgen
Published: June 2023

The construction of spherical grids is, to a large extent, a question of organized programming. Such grids come in the form of rhomboidal/triangular grids and hexagonal grids. We are here mainly interested in Local-Galerkin high-order schemes and consider the classical fourth-order o4 method for comparison. High-order Local-Galerkin schemes imply sparse grids in a natural way, with an expected saving of computer runtime. Sparse grids on the sphere are described for rhomboidal and hexagonal cells. They are obtained by not using some of the full grid points. Technical problems and grid organization will be discussed with the purpose of reaching fully realistic applications. We present the description of a programming concept allowing people, using different programming styles at different locations, to work together. The concept of geometric files is introduced. Such geometric files can be offered for downloading and are supposed to allow Local-Galerkin methods to be introduced into an existing model with little effort. When the geometric files are known, the solution on a spherical grid is equivalent to the limited-area Galerkin solutions on the (irregular) plane grids on the patches. The proposed grids can be used with spectral elements (SE) and the Local-Galerkin methods o2o3 and o3o3. The latter offer an increased numerical efficiency which, in a toy model test, resulted in a ten-times-reduced computer run time.
Differences in Oral Health and Generalized Anxiety Disorder According to Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Public Places
Authors: Kim Yu-Rin , Jang Kyeung-Ae
Published: June 2023

Background: This study aims to provide basic data for minimizing exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) by confirming the relationship between exposure to SHS and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods: Using the third year data of the eighth National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 3874 people were selected as subjects. Complex sampling analysis was applied to all analyses, and 307 people were exposed to the SHS group (SHSG) and 3567 people were not exposed to the SHS group (NSHSG). Complex sample linear regression analysis was conducted to confirm the effect of exposure to SHS on oral health and GAD. Results: Among oral-health-related factors, exposure to SHS in Korean adults was related to the presence of implants. Additionally, exposure to SHS had a significant effect on GAD despite adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and oral-health-related factors (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In this study, the relationship between passive smoking and GAD was confirmed. Therefore, to reduce GAD, oral health management is necessary and exposure to SHS should be minimized.
Long-Term Total Neoadjuvant Therapy Leads to Impressive Response Rates in Rectal Cancer: Results of a German Single-Center Cohort
Authors: Wurschi Georg W. , Knippen Stefan , Ernst Thomas , Schneider Claus , Helfritzsch Herry , Mothes Henning , Liebe Yves , Huber Martin , Wittig Andrea
Published: June 2023

Intensified preoperative chemotherapy after (chemo)radiotherapy, (Total Neoadjuvant Therapy–TNT), increases pathological complete response (pCR) rates and local control. In cases of clinically complete response (cCR) and close follow-up, non-operative management (NOM) is feasible. We report early outcomes and toxicities of a long-term TNT regime in a single-center cohort. Fifteen consecutive patients with distal or middle-third locally advanced rectal cancer (UICC stage II–III) were investigated, who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (total adsorbed dose: 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions and two concomitant courses 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/m2/d)/oxaliplatin (50 mg/m2), followed by consolidating chemotherapy (nine courses of FOLFOX4). NOM was offered if staging revealed cCR 2 months after TNT, with resection performed otherwise. The primary endpoint was complete response (pCR + cCR). Treatment-related side effects were quantified for up two years after TNT. Ten patients achieved cCR, of whom five opted for NOM. Ten patients (five cCR and five non-cCR) underwent surgery, with pCR confirmed in the five patients with cCR. The main toxicities comprised leukocytopenia (13/15), fatigue (12/15) and polyneuropathy (11/15). The most relevant CTC °III + IV events were leukocytopenia (4/15), neutropenia (2/15) and diarrhea (1/15). The long-term TNT regime resulted in promising response rates that are higher than the response rates of short TNT regimes. Overall tolerability and toxicity were comparable with the results of prospective trials.
On Sequential Bayesian Inference for Continual Learning
Authors: Kessler Samuel , Cobb Adam , Rudner Tim G. J. , Zohren Stefan , Roberts Stephen J.
Published: June 2023

Sequential Bayesian inference can be used for continual learning to prevent catastrophic forgetting of past tasks and provide an informative prior when learning new tasks. We revisit sequential Bayesian inference and assess whether using the previous task’s posterior as a prior for a new task can prevent catastrophic forgetting in Bayesian neural networks. Our first contribution is to perform sequential Bayesian inference using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo. We propagate the posterior as a prior for new tasks by approximating the posterior via fitting a density estimator on Hamiltonian Monte Carlo samples. We find that this approach fails to prevent catastrophic forgetting, demonstrating the difficulty in performing sequential Bayesian inference in neural networks. From there, we study simple analytical examples of sequential Bayesian inference and CL and highlight the issue of model misspecification, which can lead to sub-optimal continual learning performance despite exact inference. Furthermore, we discuss how task data imbalances can cause forgetting. From these limitations, we argue that we need probabilistic models of the continual learning generative process rather than relying on sequential Bayesian inference over Bayesian neural network weights. Our final contribution is to propose a simple baseline called Prototypical Bayesian Continual Learning, which is competitive with the best performing Bayesian continual learning methods on class incremental continual learning computer vision benchmarks.
Analysis of High-Temperature Superconducting Current Leads: Multiple Solutions, Thermal Runaway, and Protection
Authors: Krikkis Rizos N.
Published: June 2023

The multiple steady states of Ag/Bi2212-composite high-Tc superconducting leads modeling current delivery to a superconducting magnet have been numerically calculated. The model is based on longitudinal conduction combined with convective heat dissipation from a helium gas stream along the conductor. Because of the nonlinearities introduced by the voltage–current relationship and the temperature-dependent material properties, up to three solutions have been identified within the range of parameters considered. Linear stability analysis reveals that two of them are stable, i.e., the superconducting and the normal branches, while the remaining one is unstable. The limit points separating the stable from the unstable steady states form the blow-up threshold, beyond which any further increase in the operating current results in a thermal runway. Interesting findings are that for low filling ratios no bounded solution exists when the length of the lead exceeds the lower limit point, while very high maximum temperatures may be encountered along the normal solution branch. The effect of various parameters such as the conduction–convection parameter, the applied current, and the reduction in coolant flow (LOFA) on the bifurcation structure and their stabilization effect on the blow-up threshold are also evaluated. Apart from the steady and unsteady operating modes, the multiplicity analysis is also used to identify the range of the design and operating variables where safe operation, with a sufficient margin from the onset of instabilities, may be established, thus facilitating the protection of the leads and the device connected to it.
Predicting the REIT Corporate Life Cycle Phase on a Financial Accounting Basis
Authors: Petris Panagiotis
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the effect of financial–accounting variables on a firm’s distinct life cycle phase. The study concentrates on the real estate sector and uses data of publicly listed REITs which are traded in the European market. To assess the empirical argument, a multinomial panel logit model is employed. The empirical results show that leverage, dividend distribution, the size and the sales variable have significant predictive power over the corporate life cycle classification of an REIT. Higher leverage is associated with an elevated probability of the REIT being classified in the early stage of its corporate life cycle, as opposed to the maturity stage. Positive leverage variation is also a significant predictor of the REIT being categorized in the shake–out stage, while lower dividend distribution, negative sales and size variation are all associated with an increased probability of the REIT being classified in the decline stage, rather than in the maturity phase.
Multi-Amplification-Channel Active EMI Filter Based on Period Spread-Spectrum PWM for Common-Mode EMI Suppression
Authors: Zhou Gaoyi , Jiang Yunhao , Gao Meng , Wu Ke
Published: June 2023

Due to the existing coupling loop between the motor drive system and the ground, when switching devices in the drive system operate at a high speed, common-mode (CM)-conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI) is generated in the loop. The electromagnetic environment quality of the motor and peripheral equipment is reduced. As a small and lightweight EMI suppression device, the active EMI filter (AEF) can be used in the motor drive system to suppress the CM-conducted EMI. As the unity gain bandwidth of the operational amplifier (OPAMP) in the AEF is fixed, the CM-conducted EMI suppression effect of the AEF is poor. To solve this problem, the multiple-amplification-channel method is used to spread the frequency range of the CM voltage that the AEF can sense; therefore, the frequency of the compensation current output using the AEF is more complete, and a better CM-conducted EMI attenuation effect is obtained. At the same time, a combination of the period frequency carrier modulation (PCFM) and the multi-amplification-channel AEF is adopted so that the CM-conducted EMI in the whole EMI frequency range of the motor drive system is effectively suppressed.
Facile Self-Assembly of Exfoliated Graphene/PANI Film for High-Energy Zn-Ion Micro-Supercapacitors
Authors: Wang Yili , Niu Jin
Published: June 2023

The Zn-ion micro-supercapacitor (ZMSC) is a promising candidate for developing miniaturized and integrated energy storage devices. To achieve high-performance functional groups with simple processing to composite with rod-like active PANI fibers, we prepared exfoliated graphene (EG) with an appropriate amount of O-containing functional groups. The appropriate O content simultaneously facilitated self-assembly of the EG and PANI fibers and maintained the electric conductivity of the composite, producing a free-standing EG/PANI film without additional conductive additives or current collectors. As an interdigital electrode for the ZMSC, the EG/PANI film showed ultrahigh capacitance of 1.8 F cm−2 at 2.6 mA cm−2 (361.3 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1) and landmark energy density of 755.8 μWh cm−2 at 2.3 mW cm−2 (148.2 Wh kg−1 at 451.7 W kg−1). The facile preparation of the high-performance EG/PANI electrode provides a potential path for practical applications with ZMSCs.
Zeylleucapenoids A–D, Highly Oxygenated Diterpenoids with Anti-Inflammatory Activity from Leucas zeylanica (L.) R. Br.
Authors: Zhao Ting , Zhang Xuan , Nong Xu-Hua , Zhou Xue-Ming , Chai Ru-Ru , Li Xiao-Bao , Chen Guang-Ying
Published: June 2023

Four previously undescribed highly oxygenated diterpenoids (1–4), zeylleucapenoids A–D, characterized by halimane and labdane skeletons, were isolated from the aerial parts of Leucas zeylanica. Their structures were elucidated primarily via NMR experiments. The absolute configuration of 1 was established using theoretical ECD calculations and X-ray crystallographic analysis, whereas those for 2–4 were assigned using theoretical ORD calculations. Zeylleucapenoids A–D were tested for anti-inflammatory activity against nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages, of which only 4 showed significant efficacy with an IC50 value of 38.45 μM. Further, active compound 4 was also evaluated for the inhibition of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 and was found to have a dose-dependent inhibitory effect, while it showed nontoxic activity for zebrafish embryos. A subsequent Western blotting experiment revealed that 4 inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Furthermore, molecular docking analysis indicated that the possible mechanism of action for 4 may be bind to targets via hydrogen and hydrophobic bond interactions.
Site-Selective Solvation-Induced Conformational Switching of Heteroleptic Heteronuclear Tb(III) and Y(III) Trisphthalocyaninates for the Control of Their Magnetic Anisotropy
Authors: Martynov Alexander G. , Birin Kirill P. , Kirakosyan Gayane A. , Gorbunova Yulia G. , Tsivadze Aslan Yu.
Published: June 2023

In the present work, we report the synthesis of isomeric heteronuclear terbium(III) and yttrium(III) triple-decker phthalocyaninates [(BuO)8Pc]M[(BuO)8Pc]M*[(15C5)4Pc] (M = Tb, M* = Y or M = Y, M* = Tb, [(BuO)8Pc]2−–octa-n-butoxyphthalocyaninato-ligand, [(15C5)4Pc]2−–tetra-15-crown-5-phthalocyaninato-ligand). We show that these complexes undergo solvation-induced switching: the conformers in which both metal centers are in square-antiprismatic environments are stabilized in toluene, whereas in dichloromethane, the metal centers M and M* are in distorted prismatic and antiprismatic environments, respectively. This conclusion follows from the detailed analysis of lanthanide-induced shifts in 1H NMR spectra, which makes it possible to extract the axial component of the magnetic susceptibility tensor χaxTb and to show that this term is particularly sensitive to conformational switching when terbium(III) ion is placed in the switchable “M” site. This result provides a new tool for controlling the magnetic properties of lanthanide complexes with phthalocyanine ligands.
Comparison of DNA–Gold Nanoparticle Conjugation Methods: Application in Lateral Flow Nucleic Acid Biosensors
Authors: Ding Qiaoling , Qiu Wanwei , Sun Chunxue , Ren Hongxin , Liu Guodong
Published: June 2023

Lateral flow nucleic acid biosensors (LFNABs) have attracted extensive attention due to their rapid turnaround time, low cost, and results that are visible to the naked eye. One of the key steps to develop LFNABs is to prepare DNA–gold nanoparticle (DNA–AuNP) conjugates, which affect the sensitivity of LFNABs significantly. To date, various conjugation methods—including the salt-aging method, microwave-assisted dry heating method, freeze–thaw method, low-pH method, and butanol dehydration method—have been reported to prepare DNA–AuNP conjugates. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the analytical performances of LFNABs prepared with the above five conjugation methods, and we found that the butanol dehydration method gave the lowest detection limit. After systematic optimization, the LFNAB prepared with the butanol dehydration method had a detection limit of 5 pM for single-strand DNA, which is 100 times lower than that of the salt-aging method. The as-prepared LFNAB was applied to detect miRNA-21 in human serum, with satisfactory results. The butanol dehydration method thus offers a rapid conjugation approach to prepare DNA–AuNP conjugates for LFNABs, and it can also be extended to other types of DNA biosensors and biomedical applications.
Analytics, Properties and Applications of Biologically Active Stilbene Derivatives
Authors: Kluska Mariusz , Jabłońska Joanna , Prukała Wiesław
Published: June 2023

Stilbene and its derivatives belong to the group of biologically active compounds. Some derivatives occur naturally in various plant species, while others are obtained by synthesis. Resveratrol is one of the best-known stilbene derivatives. Many stilbene derivatives exhibit antimicrobial, antifungal or anticancer properties. A thorough understanding of the properties of this group of biologically active compounds, and the development of their analytics from various matrices, will allow for a wider range of applications. This information is particularly important in the era of increasing incidence of various diseases hitherto unknown, including COVID-19, which is still present in our population. The purpose of this study was to summarize information on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of stilbene derivatives, their biological activity, potential applications as preservatives, antiseptics and disinfectants, and stability analysis in various matrices. Optimal conditions for the analysis of the stilbene derivatives in question were developed using the isotachophoresis technique.
An Integrated, Exchangeable Three-Electrode Electrochemical Setup for AFM-Based Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy
Authors: Karg Andreas , Gödrich Sebastian , Dennstedt Philipp , Helfricht Nicolas , Retsch Markus , Papastavrou Georg
Published: June 2023

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is a versatile scanning probe technique that allows monitoring of a plethora of electrochemical reactions on a highly resolved local scale. SECM in combination with atomic force microscopy (AFM) is particularly well suited to acquire electrochemical data correlated to sample topography, elasticity, and adhesion, respectively. The resolution achievable in SECM depends critically on the properties of the probe acting as an electrochemical sensor, i.e., the working electrode, which is scanned over the sample. Hence, the development of SECM probes received much attention in recent years. However, for the operation and performance of SECM, the fluid cell and the three-electrode setup are also of paramount importance. These two aspects received much less attention so far. Here, we present a novel approach to the universal implementation of a three-electrode setup for SECM in practically any fluid cell. The integration of all three electrodes (working, counter, and reference) near the cantilever provides many advantages, such as the usage of conventional AFM fluid cells also for SECM or enables the measurement in liquid drops. Moreover, the other electrodes become easily exchangeable as they are combined with the cantilever substrate. Thereby, the handling is improved significantly. We demonstrated that high-resolution SECM, i.e., resolving features smaller than 250 nm in the electrochemical signal, could be achieved with the new setup and that the electrochemical performance was equivalent to the one obtained with macroscopic electrodes.
Table-Balancing Cooperative Robot Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Kim Yewon , Kim Dae-Won , Kang Bo-Yeong
Published: June 2023

Reinforcement learning is one of the artificial intelligence methods that enable robots to judge and operate situations on their own by learning to perform tasks. Previous reinforcement learning research has mainly focused on tasks performed by individual robots; however, everyday tasks, such as balancing tables, often require cooperation between two individuals to avoid injury when moving. In this research, we propose a deep reinforcement learning-based technique for robots to perform a table-balancing task in cooperation with a human. The cooperative robot proposed in this paper recognizes human behavior to balance the table. This recognition is achieved by utilizing the robot’s camera to take an image of the state of the table, then the table-balance action is performed afterward. Deep Q-network (DQN) is a deep reinforcement learning technology applied to cooperative robots. As a result of learning table balancing, on average, the cooperative robot showed a 90% optimal policy convergence rate in 20 runs of training with optimal hyperparameters applied to DQN-based techniques. In the H/W experiment, the trained DQN-based robot achieved an operation precision of 90%, thus verifying its excellent performance.
A First Methodological Development and Validation of ReTap: An Open-Source UPDRS Finger Tapping Assessment Tool Based on Accelerometer-Data
Authors: Habets Jeroen G. V. , Spooner Rachel K. , Mathiopoulou Varvara , Feldmann Lucia K. , Busch Johannes L. , Roediger Jan , Bahners Bahne H. , Schnitzler Alfons , Florin Esther , Kühn Andrea A.
Published: June 2023

Bradykinesia is a cardinal hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Improvement in bradykinesia is an important signature of effective treatment. Finger tapping is commonly used to index bradykinesia, albeit these approaches largely rely on subjective clinical evaluations. Moreover, recently developed automated bradykinesia scoring tools are proprietary and are not suitable for capturing intraday symptom fluctuation. We assessed finger tapping (i.e., Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) item 3.4) in 37 people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) during routine treatment follow ups and analyzed their 350 sessions of 10-s tapping using index finger accelerometry. Herein, we developed and validated ReTap, an open-source tool for the automated prediction of finger tapping scores. ReTap successfully detected tapping blocks in over 94% of cases and extracted clinically relevant kinematic features per tap. Importantly, based on the kinematic features, ReTap predicted expert-rated UPDRS scores significantly better than chance in a hold out validation sample (n = 102). Moreover, ReTap-predicted UPDRS scores correlated positively with expert ratings in over 70% of the individual subjects in the holdout dataset. ReTap has the potential to provide accessible and reliable finger tapping scores, either in the clinic or at home, and may contribute to open-source and detailed analyses of bradykinesia.
YOLOv5-KCB: A New Method for Individual Pig Detection Using Optimized K-Means, CA Attention Mechanism and a Bi-Directional Feature Pyramid Network
Authors: Li Guangbo , Shi Guolong , Jiao Jun
Published: June 2023

Individual identification of pigs is a critical component of intelligent pig farming. Traditional pig ear-tagging requires significant human resources and suffers from issues such as difficulty in recognition and low accuracy. This paper proposes the YOLOv5-KCB algorithm for non-invasive identification of individual pigs. Specifically, the algorithm utilizes two datasets—pig faces and pig necks—which are divided into nine categories. Following data augmentation, the total sample size was augmented to 19,680. The distance metric used for K-means clustering is changed from the original algorithm to 1-IOU, which improves the adaptability of the model’s target anchor boxes. Furthermore, the algorithm introduces SE, CBAM, and CA attention mechanisms, with the CA attention mechanism being selected for its superior performance in feature extraction. Finally, CARAFE, ASFF, and BiFPN are used for feature fusion, with BiFPN selected for its superior performance in improving the detection ability of the algorithm. The experimental results indicate that the YOLOv5-KCB algorithm achieved the highest accuracy rates in pig individual recognition, surpassing all other improved algorithms in average accuracy rate (IOU = 0.5). The accuracy rate of pig head and neck recognition was 98.4%, while the accuracy rate for pig face recognition was 95.1%, representing an improvement of 4.8% and 13.8% over the original YOLOv5 algorithm. Notably, the average accuracy rate of identifying pig head and neck was consistently higher than pig face recognition across all algorithms, with YOLOv5-KCB demonstrating an impressive 2.9% improvement. These results emphasize the potential for utilizing the YOLOv5-KCB algorithm for precise individual pig identification, facilitating subsequent intelligent management practices.
Online Personalized Preference Learning Method Based on In-Formative Query for Lane Centering Control Trajectory
Authors: Ran Wei , Chen Hui , Xia Taokai , Nishimura Yosuke , Guo Chaopeng , Yin Youyu
Published: June 2023

The personalization of autonomous vehicles or advanced driver assistance systems has been a widely researched topic, with many proposals aiming to achieve human-like or driver-imitating methods. However, these approaches rely on an implicit assumption that all drivers prefer the vehicle to drive like themselves, which may not hold true for all drivers. To address this issue, this study proposes an online personalized preference learning method (OPPLM) that utilizes a pairwise comparison group preference query and the Bayesian approach. The proposed OPPLM adopts a two-layer hierarchical structure model based on utility theory to represent driver preferences on the trajectory. To improve the accuracy of learning, the uncertainty of driver query answers is modeled. In addition, informative query and greedy query selection methods are used to improve learning speed. To determine when the driver’s preferred trajectory has been found, a convergence criterion is proposed. To evaluate the effectiveness of the OPPLM, a user study is conducted to learn the driver’s preferred trajectory in the curve of the lane centering control (LCC) system. The results show that the OPPLM can converge quickly, requiring only about 11 queries on average. Moreover, it accurately learned the driver’s favorite trajectory, and the estimated utility of the driver preference model is highly consistent with the subject evaluation score.
CONDICIONES SUFICIENTES PARA OPERADORES ASOCIADOS AL OPERADOR DE CAUCHY−RIEMANN EN LOS BI−CUATERNIONES
Authors: Párraga Pincay Luis Alfredo , Ariza García Eusebio Alberto
Published: June 2023

El método de los espacios asociados es una herramienta útil para estudiar algunos problemas de valor inicial. El desarrollo del presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo principal determinar las condiciones suficientes para que un par de operadores diferenciales sean asociados, uno de los cuales es el operador de Cauchy−Riemann generalizado, todo esto en el con­ texto de los cuaterniones complejos; estas condiciones, junto con un estimado interior conveniente para las derivadas de primer orden de funciones regulares generalizadas en los cuaterniones complejos, permiten resolver un problema de Cauchy−Kovalevskaya en un dominio cónico de R4, con respecto a una norma pesada en un espacio de Banach adecuado.
Educação Ambiental para a conservação da avifauna recebida pelo Centro de Pesquisa e Medicina em Animais Selvagens (CEMPAS) da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da UNESP
Authors: Puglia Katia Regina Pereira Ribeiro , Nishida Silvia Mitiko
Published: June 2023

Esta pesquisa foi realizada no CEMPAS da UNESP, Campus de Botucatu, onde os animais silvestres recebidos são oriundos de apreensão do tráfico, comércio e outros. Na Introdução buscou-se contextualizar a biodiversidade da avifauna brasileira. A seguir, apresentou-se a Educação Ambiental (EA) como estratégia conservacionista e mitigadora do combate ao tráfico. Por último, demonstrou-se os resultados do questionário aplicado da percepção sobre EA pela equipe e o Projeto de Educação Ambiental do CEMPAS. Os resultados gerados podem servir como estratégias de práticas educativas em EA para mitigar a problemática relacionada ao tráfico e posse ilegal, bem como contribuir com a natureza e a sua conservação.
Origens da Blockchain: relato das tecnologias subjacentes às criptomoedas
Authors: Do Val Ronaldo Borges , Gouveia Luis Borges
Published: June 2023

O processo evolutivo da tecnologia Blockchain, tem sua origem a arquitetura elementos referenciados na Teoria de Sistemas Distribuídos e a integração diferentes tecnologias, incorporando características como a independência e simultaneidade de seus componentes, que coordenam ações de forma autônoma sem a presença de um elemento central, acrescentado no encapsulamento do software, sofisticados algoritmos matemáticos que definem as regras do negócio e a segurança dos dados, em contraposto aos sistemas tradicionais de acesso a um elemento central, suscetíveis a falhas, com controle limitado ou inexistente sobre os dados armazenados dos usuários, que possibilitam riscos de alterações ou exclusões de dados, sem que se tenha rastreabilidade garantida. Dentre as tecnologias incorporadas citamos as Tecnologias de Registros Distribuídos, Estrutura de blocos, Criptografia de chaves assimétricas, função Hash, Assinatura Digital, Árvore de Merkle, Infraestrutura de Chaves Públicas, Escalabilidade, Mecanismos de Consensos, Contratos Inteligentes, entre outras. A integração dessas tecnologias subsidiaram Nakamoto(2008) a criar a criptomoeda Bitcoin, o mais importante ecossistema de inovação baseado na Blockchain, que visava democratizar a moeda após a crise financeira de 2008, que desde então tem influenciado o surgimento de diferentes aplicações e inúmeros casos de uso.
A expansão dos direitos sociais e a educação na atualidade: contribuições da teoria figuracional de Norbert Elias
Authors: Cunha Monica Isabel Carleti , De Almeida Luiza Elena Candido , Dos Santos Lúcia Helena , Corrêa Roberta Cunha
Published: June 2023

Este artigo propõe reflexões sobre o processo histórico de expansão dos direitos sociais nas sociedades modernas. Trata-se de um ensaio pautado na teoria figuracional de Norbert Elias, na qual aponta que as diferentes direções dos acontecimentos sociais ocorrem como resultantes das relações de forças existentes entre diferentes configurações sociais. Observamos que a educação, embora constitua um direito social amplamente assumido e difundido como primordial nas sociedades ocidentais visando o desenvolvimento humano, contudo vem sendo uma arena para interesses distintos. Em nossa análise há indicativos de que a apropriação pelo capitalismo de determinados elementos propostos pelos ideais socialistas contribuíram para a expansão de direitos nas sociedades modernas. As políticas neoliberais na atualidade, fundamentadas na disciplina de mercado, trazem implicações que geram tensões na efetividade de tais direitos, em especial ao direito à educação. Embora os dispositivos legais sustentem a educação como um direito voltado à formação humana em sua plenitude, diferentes interesses o conduzem, por meio de estratégias diversas, prioritariamente, para a formação de mão de obra a serviço do mercado econômico.
Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes com gastrosquise operados em uma maternidade de referência do estado do Piauí de 2019 a 2021
Authors: Dias Pedro César Veras , Costa Andressa Lyandra Silva , Castro Enzo Carvalho , Costa Jôyce Reis , Medeiros Rogério de Araújo
Published: June 2023

Introdução: esta pesquisa parte da necessidade de discutir sobre o perfil epidemiológico da Gastrosquise, na cidade de Teresina-PI, por se tratar de um debate extremamente importante, uma vez que impacta as esferas sociais, biológicas e psíquicas, que torna-se relevante para a saúde pública da população. Objetivo: analisar o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes com Gastrosquise operados em uma Maternidade Pública de Referência do Estado do Piauí de 2019 a 2021. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo observacional, descritivo, quantitativo, de natureza documental. Foram coletados 30 prontuários físicos de uma Maternidade Pública do Estado, situada em Teresina-PI, com o intuito de analisar os dados através de questões norteadoras, a fim de explorar as informações presentes nos prontuários, o que levou a interpretação e discussão dos achados. Resultados: identificou-se 30 pacientes portadores de gastrosquise, no período de janeiro de 2019 a dezembro de 2021, em que 73,3% das mães realizaram o pré-natal, idade materna com média de 21 anos, 63,3% realizaram parto cesárea. Os fatores de risco relacionados ao óbito do recém-nascido incluem, o Apgar baixo, a prematuridade e o diagnóstico tardio. Conclusão: o presente estudo permitiu esclarecer sobre o perfil clínico-epidemiológico dos recém-nascidos admitidos na Maternidade Pública do Estado, situada em Teresina, Piauí, no período de janeiro de 2019 a dezembro de 2021, que reflete a necessidade de um diagnóstico no pré-natal e melhores cuidados na conduta do paciente, a fim de reduzir a mortalidade.
Ensino de bioquímica: uma abordagem fundamentada nas premissas do movimento CTS
Authors: Ferreira Luan Daniel Silva , Soares Raimundo Rafael de Sousa , Da Silva Luan Cleyton Ramos , Dos Santos Geovana Silva , Sobrinho Dábila Carla de Almeida , Filho Antonio Carlos Monteiro , Tavares Romário da Silva
Published: June 2023

Na atualidade, as sociedades passam por várias transformações de caráter: econômico, político, social e cultural. Essas transformações afetam a educação levando a uma reflexão sobre o papel das escolas e dos professores no processo educacional. Diante disso, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar a aplicabilidade de uma sequência didática (SD) para trabalhar conteúdos de Bioquímica, na educação básica, articulando Ciência-Tecnologia-Sociedade (CTS). A SD foi planejada e executada no formato de um minicurso em uma turma de ensino médio da rede pública de educação. Para tanto, foi utilizada uma abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa. Para a coleta dos dados, foram utilizados questionários e a observação. Os dados foram analisados à luz de três categorias: i) Articulação da tríade CTS; ii) Metodologia de ensino e recursos didáticos utilizados; iii) Percepções dos 3alunos sobre o processo de ensino-aprendizagem desenvolvido. Dessa forma, se fez necessário promover uma atmosfera de interação, discussão, reflexão e dialogicidade durante as aulas, possibilitando um processo educativo visando à cidadania.  Diante dos resultados, observou-se que os estudantes avaliaram de maneira positiva a proposta de ensino de Bioquímica com enfoque CTS e se mostraram satisfeitos com as metodologias de ensino e com os recursos didáticos utilizados.
Utilização de gravações audiovisuais de ações policiais para efeitos de constituição de prova
Authors: Teixeira Rodrigo Kohler , Wittkowski Adirley
Published: June 2023

O presente estudo busca evidenciar, à luz do direito brasileiro, o uso de gravações audiovisuais visando a constituição de meio de prova a ser admitida no devido processo legal. Destaca-se que essa é uma realidade que naturalmente toma proporções nos momentos dos atendimentos de ocorrências, tanto no cenário mundial quanto no nacional, motivando então a exposição jurídica sequencial de revisões legais, doutrinárias e jurisprudenciais a respeito da efetivação da captação de áudios, imagens estáticas ou em movimento, quando realizadas pelos agentes policiais no exercício regular de suas funções, visando a ratificação destas perante o judiciário nacional. Ainda, traz-se à lumen a reflexão a respeito da operacionalidade dos aparelhos físicos que eventualmente venham a fazer parte dos equipamentos obrigatórios sobrepostos ao fardamento/traje policial (militar).
Humanização do cuidado sob a ótica de enfermeiros de uma unidade neonatal
Authors: Tavares Rosangela Cunha Machado , Reis Danielle Bonotto Cabral , De Camargo Fátima Cristina Mattara , Tavares Tainan Maria Cruz Lopes , Vieira Claudia Cristina Augusto Rodrigues , Menaguali Richely Ritta , De Oliveira Rosane , Olivo Katlen Susane da Silva
Published: June 2023

a humanização pode ser compreendida como uma iniciativa que valoriza a excelência do cuidado. No que tende ao cuidado de recém-nascidos, as unidades neonatais têm como principal objetivo prover recursos contínuos, priorizando as melhores práticas, propondo estratégias  individualizadas,  respeitando as particularidades e necessidades de cada um. Aliando, assim,  a personalidade  humanizada  às  ações  dos profissionais de saúde. Objetivos: descrever o perfil de enfermeiros que atuam em uma unidade neonatal; analisar as práticas humanizadas realizadas em uma unidade neonatal; e discutir a visão dos enfermeiros acerca da humanização neonatal. Metodologia: pesquisa descritiva, exploratória, de abordagem qualitativa, realizada em um instituto nacional de saúde. Operacionalizada por meio de formulário e entrevista semiestruturada. Resultados: as estratégias de humanização mais citadas, pelas entrevistadas foram a questão da inclusão familiar no cuidado, o aconchego do bebê e a sucção não nutritiva. Conclusão: percebeu-se uma equipe com graus de entendimento variados sobre a temática. Além de uma  dificuldade, de alguns profissionais, em estabelecer interface da teoria com a prática, limitando a utilização das ferramentas de humanização. Notou-se, também, uma grande referência à inserção da família no cuidado como estratégia, além da hipervalorização da relação mãe-bebê em detrimento da paterna, evidenciando a necessidade de apropriação da temática por partes dos enfermeiros, para uma melhor aplicação.