bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation between Peptacetobacter hiranonis, the baiCD Gene, and Secondary Bile Acids in Dogs
Authors: Correa Lopes Bruna , Chen Chih-Chun , Sung Chi-Hsuan , Ishii Patricia Eri , Medina Luis Fernando da Costa , Gaschen Frederic P. , Suchodolski Jan S. , Pilla Rachel
Published: January 2024

Bile acid metabolism is a key pathway modulated by intestinal microbiota. Peptacetobacter (Clostridium) hiranonis has been described as the main species responsible for the conversion of primary into secondary fecal unconjugated bile acids (fUBA) in dogs. This multi-step biochemical pathway is encoded by the bile acid-inducible (bai) operon. We aimed to assess the correlation between P. hiranonis abundance, the abundance of one specific gene of the bai operon (baiCD), and secondary fUBA concentrations. In this retrospective study, 133 fecal samples were analyzed from 24 dogs. The abundances of P. hiranonis and baiCD were determined using qPCR. The concentration of fUBA was measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The baiCD abundance exhibited a strong positive correlation with secondary fUBA (ρ = 0.7377, 95% CI (0.6461, 0.8084), p < 0.0001). Similarly, there was a strong correlation between P. hiranonis and secondary fUBA (ρ = 0.6658, 95% CI (0.5555, 0.7532), p < 0.0001). Animals displaying conversion of fUBA and lacking P. hiranonis were not observed. These results suggest P. hiranonis is the main converter of primary to secondary bile acids in dogs.
Characterization of Antibiotic Treatment among Children Aged 0–59 Months Hospitalized for Acute Bacterial Gastroenteritis in Israel
Authors: Omar Muna , Kassem Eias , Abu-Jabal Roula , Mwassi Basher , Cohen Dani , Muhsen Khitam
Published: January 2024

Background: We examined the extent and correlates of appropriate antibiotic use among children hospitalized with bacterial acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in Israel, a high-income country setting. Methods: Data were collected from children aged 0–59 months who participated in active hospital-based surveillance of AGE undertaken during 2007–2015. Bacterial AGE was defined as having a positive stool culture for Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, or dysentery. Appropriate antibiotic use was defined as the administration of ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, or third-generation cephalosporins during hospitalization or at discharge. Results: Overall, 550 children had bacterial AGE; of those, 369 (67.1% [95% CI 63.1–70.9]) received antibiotics, mostly azithromycin (61.8%) and third-generation cephalosporins (37.9%). Appropriate antibiotic treatment was given to 318/550 (57.8% [95% CI 53.7–61.9]). Children aged 0–11 months vs. 24–49 months were more likely to receive appropriate antibiotic treatment (OR = 1.90 [95% CI 1.09–3.33]). Having dysentery (OR = 5.30 [95% CI 3.35–8.39]), performing blood culture (OR = 1.59 [95% CI 1.02–2.48]), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (OR = 1.01 [95% CI 1.01–1.02]) were positively associated with receiving appropriate antibiotic treatment. Conclusions: Most children with bacterial AGE received appropriate antibiotic treatment, which correlated with young age, dysentery, CRP level, and performing blood culture, suggesting more severe illness, thus supporting the clinical decisions of physicians.
Targeting Cysteine Oxidation in Thrombotic Disorders
Authors: Yang Moua , Silverstein Roy L.
Published: January 2024

Oxidative stress increases the risk for clinically significant thrombotic events, yet the mechanisms by which oxidants become prothrombotic are unclear. In this review, we provide an overview of cysteine reactivity and oxidation. We then highlight recent findings on cysteine oxidation events in oxidative stress-related thrombosis. Special emphasis is on the signaling pathway induced by a platelet membrane protein, CD36, in dyslipidemia, and by protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), a member of the thiol oxidoreductase family of proteins. Antioxidative and chemical biology approaches to target cysteine are discussed. Lastly, the knowledge gaps in the field are highlighted as they relate to understanding how oxidative cysteine modification might be targeted to limit thrombosis.
An Effective GDP-LSTM and SDQL-Based Finite State Testing of GUI
Authors: Kumar Sumit , Nitin  , Yadav Mitul
Published: January 2024

The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is the most promising factor in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDL), which allows the users to interact with the system. To ensure user-friendliness, GUI Testing (GT) is required. The traditional testing techniques attained flawed results due to having inappropriate functions. Hence, Global Decaying Probabilistic Long Short-Term Memory (GDP-LSTM) and Standard Deviation Q-Learning (SDQL)-based automatic testing for GUI are proposed as solutions. Initially, the Test Case (TC) and GUI are extracted from the historical data and are subjected to Region of Interest (ROI) analysis. Here, an appropriate ROI is analyzed by Module Coupling Slice (MCS), and it is fed into Hadoop Parallelization (HP). Now, Spectral Kernelized Gaussian Clustering (SKGC) and Non-Linear Elite Guided Optimized Ant Colony (NE-GO-AC) are used to perform mapping and reducing, respectively. Likewise, the parallelized output is utilized to construct the Document Object Model (DOM) tree. Then, the attributes are extracted and given to the GDP-LSTM classifier that effectively predicts whether GUIs are desirable or undesirable. Then, the undesirable results are inputted into a SDQL-based deviation analysis. If the deviation is low, it is assumed as an update; otherwise, it is considered as an error. The experimental analysis depicted that the proposed system attained high dominance with 98.89% accuracy in the prevailing models.
Depth Estimation from a Hierarchical Baseline Stereo with a Developed Light Field Camera
Authors: Liu Fei , Hou Guangqi
Published: January 2024

This paper presents a hierarchical baseline stereo-matching framework for depth estimation using a novelly developed light field camera. The imaging process of a micro-lens array-based light field camera is derived. A macro-pixel map is constructed by treating each micro-lens as one macro-pixel in the light field’s raw image. For each macro-pixel, a feature vector is represented by leveraging texture and gradient cues over the surrounding ring of neighboring macro-pixels. Next, the micro-lenses containing edges are detected on the macro-pixel map. Hierarchical baseline stereo-matching is performed by macro-pixel-wise coarse matching and pixel-wise fine matching, effectively eliminating matching ambiguities. Finally, a post-processing step is applied to improve accuracy. The lab-designed light field camera’s imaging performance is evaluated in terms of accuracy and processing speed by capturing real-world scenes under studio lighting conditions. And an experiment using rendered synthetic samples is conducted for quantitative evaluation, showing that depth maps with local details can be accurately recovered.
Improved Physical Function following a Three-Month, Home-Based Resistance Training Program for Fragile Patients with Poor Recovery Years after Femoral Neck Fracture—A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Frandsen Christina Frølich , Mechlenburg Inger , Birch Sara , Lundager Lone , Bæk-Hansen Torben , Stilling Maiken
Published: January 2024

Patients sustaining a hip fracture experience reduced function and an increased risk of recurrent falls and institutionalization following surgical treatment. Rehabilitation programs that are feasible for home-based training could improve patient-reported outcomes and physical function while lowering the care need and social dependency of this patient group. In the present study, we designed and tested a home-based resistance training program on a group of patients with a femoral neck fracture (FNF) selected according to their poor post-operative functional recovery following an FNF. The results showed that the training program was feasible to perform for the patients, and after three months of training, the patients’ walking, physical activity, and patient-reported outcome measures improved. The patients were encouraged to continue walking and performing the training program, but twelve months after the FNF, the results were comparable to the baseline. Background: Femoral neck fracture (FNF) is associated with reduced function, often leading to an increased care need and a greater risk of recurrent falls. Thus, rehabilitation should be a priority. The present study investigated the training potential among fragile FNF patients with poor functional performance treated with total hip arthroplasty. Methods: In a prospective cohort study, 32 participants were included based on poor functional recovery following an FNF fracture. The participants completed a three-month, physiotherapy-guided, home-based resistance training program. At the baseline and three-month follow-up, physiotherapists performed functional tests and measured spatiotemporal parameters, muscle strength, and muscle mass. The Oxford hip score (OHS) questionnaire was administered and physical activity measurements were performed at baseline and at three-month and 12-month follow-ups. Results: Walking distance, step length, walking speed, and muscle strength increased at the three-month follow-up (p < 0.05). OHS scores increased from the baseline to the 12-month follow-up. Physical activity after three months showed more time spent standing (p = 0.02) and walks of 5–10 min (p = 0.002) compared to the baseline. At the 12-month follow-up, physical activity was similar to the baseline. Conclusions: Fragile patients with low functional performance following FNF displayed training potential with an improvement in function, strength, and physical activity. However, continued training is necessary in order to maintain the positive effects.
Determination of Sesquiterpenic Acids with Sedative Properties in Extracts of Medicinal Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.)
Authors: Adaszyńska-Skwirzyńska Michalina , Dzięcioł Małgorzata , Bucław Mateusz , Majewska Danuta , Szczerbińska Danuta
Published: January 2024

Plant raw materials with a calming effect on the nervous system are increasingly used in modern phytotherapy. Lavender belongs to this group of plants, due to the content of essential oil with known therapeutic properties and other phytoconstituents that can be responsible for the sedative effect. Our studies confirmed the presence of sesquiterpenic acids characterized by sedative activity in lavender extracts. The contents of valerenic acid and acetoxyvalerenic acids in flowers and leafy stalks of two various Lavandula angustifolia cultivars—‘Blue River’ and ‘Ellagance Purple’—were determined. Analyses of methanolic extracts performed using the HPLC method showed that content of these sesquiterpenic acids varied with the cultivars and the morphological parts of the plant. The amount of acetoxyvalerenic acid was significantly higher than the amount of valerenic acid. In the ‘Blue River’ cultivar, higher levels of both compounds characterized by sedative properties were found. The content of valerenic acid in flowers ranged from 0.50 mg/100 g d.m. in the ‘Ellagance Purple’ cultivar to 1.75 mg/100 g d.m. in the ‘Blue River’ cultivar. In turn, leafy stalks contained 0.81 mg/100 g d.m. of valerenic acid in the ‘Ellagance Purple’ cultivar and 1.16 mg/100 g d.m. in the ‘Blue River’ cultivar. Interestingly, the ‘Blue River’ cultivar contained about 10 times more acetoxyvalerenic acid (65.80 mg/100 g d.m.) in flowers and four times more acetoxyvalerenic acid in leafy stalks (50.1 mg/100 g d.m.), in comparison with the ‘Ellagance Purple’ cultivar. The higher content of valerenic and acetoxyvalerenic acids in the flowers and leafy stalks of the ‘Blue River’ lavender cultivar can be important for its possible medical applications.
Enhanced YOLO Network for Improving the Efficiency of Traffic Sign Detection
Authors: Cui Yang , Guo Dong , Yuan Hao , Gu Hengzhi , Tang Hongbo
Published: January 2024

One important task for autonomous driving is the precise detection and recognition of road traffic signs. This research focuses on a comprehensive set of 72 distinct traffic signs that are prevalent on urban roads in China, with the goal of developing an enhanced You Only Look Once (YOLO) network model tailored for this specific task. The modifications include the omission of the terminal convolution module and Conv3 (C3) module within the backbone network. Additionally, the 32-fold downsampling is replaced with a 16-fold downsampling, and a feature fusion module with dimensions of 152 × 152 is introduced in the feature layer. To capture a more encompassing context, a novel hybrid space pyramid pooling module, referred to as Hybrid Spatial Pyramid Pooling Fast (H-SPPF), is introduced. Furthermore, a channel attention mechanism is integrated into the framework, combined with three other improved methodologies. Upon evaluation, the enhanced algorithm demonstrates impressive results, achieving a precision rate of 91.72%, a recall rate of 91.77%, and a mean average precision (mAP) of 93.88% at an intersection over union (IoU) threshold of 0.5. Additionally, the method also achieves an mAP of 75.81% for a variety of IoU criteria between 0.5 and 0.95. These achievements are validated on an augmented dataset established for this study.
An Estimation Method of River Dry Runoff Alteration after Upper New Reservoirs Storage
Authors: Chen Zuoqiang , Deng Ya , Ma Aixing , Hu Ying , Li Jiashi , Li Lingqi
Published: January 2024

The impact of reservoirs on downstream river hydrological characteristics is always a focal point in relevant studies exploring the relationship between rivers and dams. Anticipating river runoff patterns following the construction of new dams is crucial for the design of riverine engineering projects, particularly during dry periods. This paper presents a semi-theoretical estimation method based on the correlation between hydrological alterations and reservoir operation. The method incorporates differences in runoff increment distribution and the discrepancy between theoretical and practical results. It was validated and applied in the sub-basins of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, namely the Jinsha River and Min River. The runoff increment during the driest month for the Jinsha River and the Min River is 817 m3/s and 434 m3/s, respectively. The estimated prediction biases were within 30% of the practical runoff increments observed in the Jinsha River and Min River, which is an acceptable range considering the inherent variability in such studies. Since the construction of the Wudongde and Baihetan dams in 2021, the average runoff during the driest month and the navigation assurance runoff at a 95% probability were predicted to be 2866 m3/s and 2174 m3/s, respectively. Therefore, the method developed in this paper provides a reasonable and straightforward tool for researchers, which can help prevent future engineering invalidation and minimize resource costs. Moreover, in the application process, this method requires careful consideration of the characteristics of the studied river section and the operation of the reservoir group. It relies on measured data to determine the differences between theoretical and actual runoff rather than simply generalizing to all watersheds.
Effect of Trailing Edge Cylindrical Spoiler Structure on the Energy Harvesting Performance of the Oscillating Foil
Authors: Zhu Fahui , Li Hao , Zhang Qiang , Xie Yonghui , Zhang Di
Published: January 2024

This study explores a novel flow control approach for enhancing the energy harvesting performance of an oscillating foil, which is a promising technology for harvesting renewable energy from wind and ocean currents. This approach involves placing a cylindrical spoiler structure at the trailing edge of the foil and investigating the effects of its diameter and spacing on the energy harvesting efficiency. The results show that the spoiler cylinders can significantly increase the energy harvesting efficiency of the foil by up to 19.26% compared to the case without them. The optimal configuration for the spoiler cylinders is found to be 11.0% of c in diameter, 0.5% of c in transverse spacing, and 0 in longitudinal spacing. Moreover, this flow control method is proven to be highly effective under a wide range of motion kinetic parameters. The findings of this study provide technical guidance for the design and implementation of oscillating foil energy harvesting devices, highlighting their practical engineering value.
Self-Etch Adhesive-Loaded ZrO2/Ag3PO4 Nanoparticles on Caries-Affected Dentin: A Tensile Bond Strength, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Survival Rate Assessment of S. mutans, and Degree of Conversion Analysis
Authors: Alkhudhairy Fahad , AlRefeai Mohammad H.
Published: January 2024

Aim: To incorporate different concentrations of zirconia/silver phosphate (ZrO2/Ag3PO4) nanoparticles (NPs) in self-etch (SE) adhesive. Surface characterization, elemental analysis, survival rate assessment of S. mutans, micro-tensile bond strength (μTBS), and the degree of conversion (DC) of composite bonded to caries-affected dentin (CAD) were determined. Material and Methods: This study employed a comprehensive methodological approach, incorporating a variety of analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and μTBS testing. Eighty human third molars that had caries advancement up to the middle third of the dentin were included. Samples were distributed into four groups based on concentration of ZrO2/Ag3PO4 NPs in the primers of the two-step SE adhesive: Group 1 (Control): unmodified SE adhesive; Group 2: 0.15 wt% ZrO2/Ag3PO4 + SE adhesive; Group 3: 0.25 wt% ZrO2/Ag3PO4 + SE adhesive; Group 4: 0.5 wt% ZrO2/Ag3PO4 + SE adhesive. SEM was employed to investigate the morphological characteristics of ZrO2/Ag3PO4 NPs. For elemental distribution EDX spectroscopy and to assess the of cured and uncured adhesive with changed concentrations of NPs, FTIR spectroscopy were performed. Antibacterial efficacy was calculated in adhesives with different concentrations of ZrO2/Ag3PO4 using the pour plate method. For μTBS assessment, a compressive force was applied at the material–dentin interface at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The debonding process of each specimen was measured in MegaPascals (MPa). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc test were used to compare the means and standard deviation (SD) between groups. Results: The samples from Group 4, which were applied with 0.5 wt% ZrO2/Ag3PO4 + SE, displayed the lowest survival rate (0.12 ± 0.01 CFU/mL) of S. mutans. The strongest bond of composite to the CAD surface was observed in Group 4 (0.5 wt% ZrO2/Ag3PO4 + SE) (20.12 ± 0.79 MPa). The highest DC was observed in the control group (unmodified SE (69.85 ± 8.37)). Conclusion: The self-etch adhesive modified with ZrO2/Ag3PO4 nanoparticles showed a favorable effect on micro-tensile bond strength (μTBS) and demonstrated enhanced antibacterial efficacy against S. mutans.
A 3D Two-Phase Landslide Dynamical Model on GIS Platform
Authors: Tian Aohua , Wu Yuming , Gao Xing
Published: January 2024

The landslide dynamics model is one of the methods for evaluating landslide motion processes, contributing to disaster prevention and mitigation. With the advancement of science and technology, GIS has become the mainstream platform for landslide simulation. However, the three-dimensional movement of landslides is intricate, leading to a lack of methods for three-dimensional landslide numerical simulation on GIS platforms. In this paper, we propose a three-dimensional, two-phase landslide dynamics model. Through the proposed solution, three-dimensional modeling and numerical simulation of landslides can be achieved on GIS platforms. Simultaneously, drawing inspiration from the SPH kernel functions, we visualize the results of the three-dimensional model on the GIS platform. Simulation of the Yigong landslide demonstrates that our solution can realize three-dimensional landslide simulation on the GIS platform. Our model adeptly captures numerous details in the landslide motion process. However, constrained by the inherent limitations of the three-dimensional model, the model results are susceptible to numerical oscillations and diffusion, with the accuracy of the model being controlled by grid partitioning.
Application of Reinforcement Learning in Decision Systems: Lift Control Case Study
Authors: Wojtulewicz Mateusz , Szmuc Tomasz
Published: January 2024

This study explores the application of reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms to optimize lift control strategies. By developing a versatile lift simulator enriched with real-world traffic data from an intelligent building system, we systematically compare RL-based strategies against well-established heuristic solutions. The research evaluates their performance using predefined metrics to improve our understanding of RL’s effectiveness in solving complex decision problems, such as the lift control algorithm. The results of the experiments show that all trained agents developed strategies that outperform the heuristic algorithms in every metric. Furthermore, the study conducts a comprehensive exploration of three Experience Replay mechanisms, aiming to enhance the performance of the chosen RL algorithm, Deep Q-Learning.
Time Aware F-Score for Cybersecurity Early Detection Evaluation
Authors: López-Vizcaíno Manuel , Nóvoa Francisco J. , Fernández Diego , Cacheda Fidel
Published: January 2024

With the increase in the use of Internet interconnected systems, security has become of utmost importance. One key element to guarantee an adequate level of security is being able to detect the threat as soon as possible, decreasing the risk of consequences derived from those actions. In this paper, a new metric for early detection system evaluation that takes into account the delay in detection is defined. Time aware F-score (TaF) takes into account the number of items or individual elements processed to determine if an element is an anomaly or if it is not relevant to be detected. These results are validated by means of a dual approach to cybersecurity, Operative System (OS) scan attack as part of systems and network security and the detection of depression in social media networks as part of the protection of users. Also, different approaches, oriented towards studying the impact of single item selection, are applied to final decisions. This study allows to establish that nitems selection method is usually the best option for early detection systems. TaF metric provides, as well, an adequate alternative for time sensitive detection evaluation.
Effect of Electric Field on Membrane Fouling and Membrane Performance in Reverse Osmosis Treatment of Brackish Water
Authors: Fu Caixia , Yi Xuenong , Gao Yuqiong
Published: January 2024

One of the most important applied technologies in water treatment is reverse osmosis (RO). However, membrane fouling and flux reduction pose significant challenges. The electric field, as an effective preventive measure, has received limited attention in RO applications. In this study, we added electric fields to finished rolled RO membranes to investigate their effect on membrane fouling and desalination performance. Experimental results indicated that higher electric fields were associated with higher concentrations of treated brine, resulting in a more significant effect. Permeate flux ratios increased with increasing voltage, with peaks of 1.02% (1000 mg/L, 25 V), 1.23% (2000 mg/L, 25 V), and 1.37% (3000 mg/L, 25 V), respectively. Additionally, the maximum reduction in the specific energy consumption (SEC) was 31% (2000 mg/L, 25 V) and 59% (3000 mg/L, 25 V), respectively. Notably, electric fields had a retarding effect on Ca2+ and humic acid (HA) fouling, with a stronger effect on HA, and higher permeate flux was maintained even after 120 h of operation. While this study visually demonstrates the direct effect of electric fields on RO, further quantification of the economic benefits of this method and a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms behind how the electric field enhances permeate flux and mitigates membrane fouling are needed.
Covert Surveillance Video Transmission with QAM Constellations Modulation
Authors: Qiao Sen , Liu Guangjie , Ji Xiaopeng , Zhao Junjie , Ding Huihui
Published: January 2024

This study explores the covert transmission of surveillance videos using QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) constellations. By analyzing transmission strategies used in surveillance video systems, we adopt KL divergence as the constraint for covertness performance and mutual information to characterize transmission rates. Utilizing the Taylor series expansion method, we simplify the complex integral calculations of mutual information and KL divergence into summation operations. This simplification not only reduces computational complexity but also ensures precise calculations. Theoretical derivations establish the necessary conditions for the covert transmission of surveillance videos, optimizing modulation probabilities for constellation points. Experimental results and simulation validations demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed method in terms of both information transfer and precision.
Soft Generative Adversarial Network: Combating Mode Collapse in Generative Adversarial Network Training via Dynamic Borderline Softening Mechanism
Authors: Li Wei , Tang Yongchuan
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we propose the Soft Generative Adversarial Network (SoftGAN), a strategy that utilizes a dynamic borderline softening mechanism to train Generative Adversarial Networks. This mechanism aims to solve the mode collapse problem and enhance the training stability of the generated outputs. Within the SoftGAN, the objective of the discriminator is to learn a fuzzy concept of real data with a soft borderline between real and generated data. This objective is achieved by balancing the principles of maximum concept coverage and maximum expected entropy of fuzzy concepts. During the early training stage of the SoftGAN, the principle of maximum expected entropy of fuzzy concepts guides the learning process due to the significant divergence between the generated and real data. However, in the final stage of training, the principle of maximum concept coverage dominates as the divergence between the two distributions decreases. The dynamic borderline softening mechanism of the SoftGAN can be likened to a student (the generator) striving to create realistic images, with the tutor (the discriminator) dynamically guiding the student towards the right direction and motivating effective learning. The tutor gives appropriate encouragement or requirements according to abilities of the student at different stages, so as to promote the student to improve themselves better. Our approach offers both theoretical and practical benefits for improving GAN training. We empirically demonstrate the superiority of our SoftGAN approach in addressing mode collapse issues and generating high-quality outputs compared to existing approaches.
Transverse Movement Kinetics of a Unit for Inter-Row Crops—Case Study: Cultivator Unit
Authors: Findura Pavol , Nadykto Volodymyr , Kyurchev Volodymyr , Gierz Łukasz
Published: January 2024

Due to the negative impact of chemical inter-row weed control on the environment, mechanical weed control is increasingly used in practice. Machine-tractor units (MTU) are used with the row cultivator’s rear and frontal central position for its implementation. We have designed a unit in which side cultivators are used along with the central one. This paper considers the transverse movement kinematics of such an MTU’s outside right and left cultivators’ working devices in the horizontal plane. The present emulation of side machines is made by changing the longitudinal coordinate of their location relative to the tractor’s front and rear axles. Calculations have established that the frontal cultivator responds more intensively to the control action by changing the turning angle of the tractor’s steering wheels. However, if the value of this parameter is less than 2.75°, a rear-mounted cultivator is preferred, because in this case, the values of lateral deviations for the external, left, and right working device are smaller. When the turning angle of tractor wheels is from 1° to 3° (typical for MTU row work), a threefold increase in the working width of the cultivator causes a slight antiphase deviation in its external working devices (an increase or decrease in the amplitude of these deviations does not exceed 4%). The model that we have developed allows us to select the values of the MTU design parameters for which the lateral displacement will be very small (close to zero). As the turning angle of the tractor wheels increases to 3°, the external left and right working devices of the cultivators react inversely. This means that in the case of the rear machine, the values of lateral displacements increase, while in the case of the front machine, they decrease. At a turning angle of the tires of the tractor wheels close to 2.5°, the lateral displacements for the rear and front machines are the same.
Suspicion and Treatment of Perilymphatic Fistula: A Prospective Clinical Study
Authors: Saliba Issam , Bawazeer Naif , Belhassen Sarah
Published: January 2024

Background: Since the discovery of the perilymphatic fistula (PLF), the diagnosis and treatment remain controversial. If successfully recognized, the PLF is surgically repairable with an obliteration of the fistula site. Successful treatment has a major impact on patient’s quality of life with an improvement in their audiological and vestibular symptoms. Objective: To prospectively investigate patients’ clinical and audiological evolution with PLF suspicion after middle ear exploration and obliteration of the round and oval window. Study Design: Prospective comparative study. Setting: Tertiary care center. Methods: Patients were divided into two groups: Group I consisted of patients where no PLF had been identified intraoperatively at the oval and/or at the round window, and Group II consisted of patients where a fistula had been visualized. Patient assessment was a combination of past medical history, the presence of any risk factors, cochlear and vestibular symptoms, a physical examination, temporal bone imaging, audiograms, and a videonystagmogram (VNG). Results: A total of 98 patients were divided into two groups: 62 in Group I and 36 in Group II. A statistically significant difference regarding gender was observed in Group II (83.3% of males vs. 16.7% of females, p = 0.008). A total of 14 cases (4 and 10 in Groups I and II, respectively) were operated for a recurrent PLF. Fat graft material was used in the majority of their previous surgery; however, no difference was found when comparing fat to other materials. In addition, no statistically significant difference was noted between Groups I and II concerning predisposing factors, imaging, VNG, symptom evolution, or a physical exam before the surgery and at 12 months post-operative. However, both groups showed statistically significant hearing and vestibular improvement. On the other hand, the air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) at each frequency were not statistically different between the two groups before surgery but showed statistically significant improvement at 12 months post-operatively, especially for the BC at the frequencies 250 (p = 0.02), 500 (p = 0.0008), and 1000 Hz (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Whenever you suspect a perilymphatic fistula, do not hesitate to explore middle ear and do window obliterations using a tragal perichondrium material. Our data showed that cochlear and vestibular symptoms improved whether a fistula had been identified or not.
A Probabilistic Physico-Chemical Diffusion Model of the Key Drifting Parameter of Measuring Equipment
Authors: Khayrullin Rustam
Published: January 2024

(1) Background: A new probabilistic physico-chemical model of the drifting key parameter of measuring equipment is proposed. The model allows for the integrated consideration of degradation processes (electrolytic corrosion, oxidation, plastic accumulation of dislocations, etc.) in nodes and elements of measuring equipment. The novelty of this article lies in the analytical solutions that are a combination of the Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equation and the equation of chemical kinetics. The novelty also consists of the simultaneous simulation and analysis of probabilistic, physical and chemical processes in one model. (2) Research literature review: Research works related to the topic of the study were analyzed. The need for a probabilistic formulation of the problem is argued, since classical statistical methods are not applicable due to the lack of statistical data. (3) Statement of the research problem: A probabilistic formulation of the problem is given taking into account the physical and chemical laws of aging and degradation. (4) Methods: The author uses methods of probability theory and mathematical statistics, methods for solving the stochastic differential equations, the methods of mathematical modeling, the methods of chemical kinetics and the methods for solving a partial differential equations. (5) Results: A mathematical model of a drifting key parameter of measuring equipment is developed. The conditional transition density of the probability distribution of the key parameter of measuring equipment is constructed using a solution to the Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equation. The results of the study on the developed model and the results of solving the applied problem of constructing the function of the failure rate of measuring equipment are presented. (6) Discussion: The results of comparison between the model developed in this paper and the known two-parameter models of diffusion monotonic distribution and diffusion non-monotonic distribution are discussed. The results of comparison between the model and the three-parameter diffusion probabilistic physical model developed by the author earlier are also discussed. (7) Conclusions: The developed model facilitates the construction and analysis of a wide range of metrological characteristics such as measurement errors and measurement ranges and acquisition of their statistical estimates. The developed model is used to forecast and simulate the reliability of measuring equipment in general, as well as soldered joints of integrated circuits in special equipment and machinery, which is also operated in harsh conditions and corrosive environments.
Significance of Histidine Hydrogen–Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry in Protein Structural Biology
Authors: Miyagi Masaru , Nakazawa Takashi
Published: January 2024

Histidine residues play crucial roles in shaping the function and structure of proteins due to their unique ability to act as both acids and bases. In other words, they can serve as proton donors and acceptors at physiological pH. This exceptional property is attributed to the side-chain imidazole ring of histidine residues. Consequently, determining the acid-base dissociation constant (Ka) of histidine imidazole rings in proteins often yields valuable insights into protein functions. Significant efforts have been dedicated to measuring the pKa values of histidine residues in various proteins, with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy being the most commonly used technique. However, NMR-based methods encounter challenges in assigning signals to individual imidazole rings and require a substantial amount of proteins. To address these issues associated with NMR-based approaches, a mass-spectrometry-based method known as histidine hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (His-HDX-MS) has been developed. This technique not only determines the pKa values of histidine imidazole groups but also quantifies their solvent accessibility. His-HDX-MS has proven effective across diverse proteins, showcasing its utility. This review aims to clarify the fundamental principles of His-HDX-MS, detail the experimental workflow, explain data analysis procedures and provide guidance for interpreting the obtained results.
Toward Precision Medicine: Exploring the Landscape of Biomarkers in Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Nourie Nicole , Ghaleb Rita , Lefaucheur Carmen , Louis Kevin
Published: January 2024

Acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a complex challenge with diverse underlying pathological mechanisms and etiologies. Current detection methods predominantly rely on serum creatinine, which exhibits substantial limitations in specificity and poses the issue of late-stage detection of kidney injury. In this review, we propose an up-to-date and comprehensive summary of advancements that identified novel biomarker candidates in blood and urine and ideal criteria for AKI biomarkers such as renal injury specificity, mechanistic insight, prognostic capacity, and affordability. Recently identified biomarkers not only indicate injury location but also offer valuable insights into a range of pathological processes, encompassing reduced glomerular filtration rate, tubular function, inflammation, and adaptive response to injury. The clinical applications of AKI biomarkers are becoming extensive and serving as relevant tools in distinguishing acute tubular necrosis from other acute renal conditions. Also, these biomarkers can offer significant insights into the risk of progression to chronic kidney disease CKD and in the context of kidney transplantation. Integration of these biomarkers into clinical practice has the potential to improve early diagnosis of AKI and revolutionize the design of clinical trials, offering valuable endpoints for therapeutic interventions and enhancing patient care and outcomes.
An In Vitro Model to Assess Early Immune Markers Following Co-Exposure of Epithelial Cells to Carbon Black (Nano)Particles in the Presence of S. aureus: A Role for Stressed Cells in Toxicological Testing
Authors: Brown Scott , Evans Stephen J. , Burgum Michael J. , Meldrum Kirsty , Herridge Jack , Akinbola Blessing , Harris Llinos G. , Jenkins Rowena , Doak Shareen H. , Clift Martin J. D. , Wilkinson Thomas S.
Published: January 2024

The exposure of human lung and skin to carbon black (CB) is continuous due to its widespread applications. Current toxicological testing uses ‘healthy’ cellular systems; however, questions remain whether this mimics the everyday stresses that human cells are exposed to, including infection. Staphylococcus aureus lung and skin infections remain prevalent in society, and include pneumonia and atopic dermatitis, respectively, but current in vitro toxicological testing does not consider infection stress. Therefore, investigating the effects of CB co-exposure in ‘stressed’ infected epithelial cells in vitro may better approximate true toxicity. This work aims to study the impact of CB exposure during Staphylococcus aureus infection stress in A549 (lung) and HaCaT (skin) epithelial cells. Physicochemical characterisation of CB confirmed its dramatic polydispersity and potential to aggregate. CB significantly inhibited S. aureus growth in cell culture media. CB did not induce cytokines or antimicrobial peptides from lung and skin epithelial cells, when given alone, but did reduce HaCaT and A549 cell viability to 55% and 77%, respectively. In contrast, S. aureus induced a robust interleukin (IL)-8 response in both lung and skin epithelial cells. IL-6 and human beta defensin (hβD)-2 could only be detected when cells were stimulated with S. aureus with no decreases in cell viability. However, co-exposure to CB (100 µg/mL) and S. aureus resulted in significant inhibition of IL-8 (compared to S. aureus alone) without further reduction in cell viability. Furthermore, the same co-exposure induced significantly more hβD-2 (compared to S. aureus alone). This work confirms that toxicological testing in healthy versus stressed cells gives significantly different responses. This has significant implications for toxicological testing and suggests that cell stresses (including infection) should be included in current models to better represent the diversity of cell viabilities found in lung and skin within a general population. This model will have significant application when estimating CB exposure in at-risk groups, such as factory workers, the elderly, and the immunocompromised.
Next-Generation Proteomics of Brain Extracellular Vesicles in Schizophrenia Provide New Clues on the Altered Molecular Connectome
Authors: Lorca Cristina , Fernández-Rhodes María , Sánchez Milán Jose Antonio , Mulet María , Elortza Félix , Ramos-Miguel Alfredo , Callado Luis F. , Meana J. Javier , Mur Maria , Batalla Iolanda , Vilella Elisabet , Serra Aida , Gallart-Palau Xavier
Published: January 2024

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny membranous structures that mediate intercellular communication. The role(s) of these vesicles have been widely investigated in the context of neurological diseases; however, their potential implications in the neuropathology subjacent to human psychiatric disorders remain mostly unknown. Here, by using next-generation discovery-driven proteomics, we investigate the potential role(s) of brain EVs (bEVs) in schizophrenia (SZ) by analyzing these vesicles from the three post-mortem anatomical brain regions: the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HC), and caudate (CAU). The results obtained indicate that bEVs from SZ-affected brains contain region-specific proteins that are associated with abnormal GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission. Similarly, these vesicles from the analyzed regions were implicated in synaptic decay, abnormal brain immunity, neuron structural imbalances, and impaired cell homeostasis. Our findings also provide evidence, for the first time, that networks of molecular exchange (involving the PFC, HC, and CAU) are potentially active and mediated by EVs in non-diseased brains. Additionally, these bEV-mediated networks seem to have become partially reversed and largely disrupted in the brains of subjects affected by SZ. Taken as a whole, these results open the door to the uncovering of new biological markers and therapeutic targets, based on the compositions of bEVs, for the benefit of patients affected by SZ and related psychotic disorders.
Pathomechanisms of Disturbances Underlying Chronic Disorders
Authors: Formanowicz Dorota
Published: January 2024

Chronic disorders’ complexity poses enormous challenges to our understanding of such disorders [...]
Cutaneous Manifestations in Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy (APECED): A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Sandru Florica , Petca Razvan-Cosmin , Dumitrascu Mihai Cristian , Petca Aida , Ionescu (Miron) Andreea-Iuliana , Baicoianu-Nitescu Livia-Cristiana
Published: January 2024

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), or polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type 1 (PAS-1/APS-1), is a rare autosomal recessive disorder linked to mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. This review provides a detailed analysis of cutaneous manifestations in APECED, focusing on chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC), alopecia areata (AA), and vitiligo. The classic triad of hypoparathyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and CMC serves as a diagnostic cornerstone. However, the varied clinical spectrum of APECED, particularly its cutaneous presentations, poses a diagnostic challenge. CMC, often an early sign, varies in prevalence across populations, including Finnish (100%), Irish (100%), Saudi Arabian (80%), Italian (60–74.7%), North American (51–86%), and Croatian (57.1%) populations. Similarly, AA prevalence varies in different populations. Vitiligo also exhibits variable prevalence across regions. The review synthesizes the current knowledge arising from a narrative analysis of 14 significant human studies published in English up to October 2023. Moreover, this paper underscores the importance of early detection and monitoring, emphasizing cutaneous manifestations as key diagnostic indicators. Ongoing research and clinical vigilance are crucial for unraveling the complexities of this rare autoimmune syndrome and enhancing patient care.
Specific Features of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Patients’ Cytokine Profile
Authors: Kozlova Daria I. , Rybakov Arseny V. , Yureva Karina A. , Khizha Vitaly V. , Sorokina Lybov S. , Kostik Mikhail M. , Guslev Alexandr B.
Published: January 2024

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the joints, leading to disability. Cytokines and signaling molecules expressed by the immune system cells play a key role in JIA pathogenesis. Understanding how their content changes during pathology development can open up new opportunities for its diagnosis and treatment. The blood plasma of 30 patients with JIA (14 males and 16 females with a mean age of 12.2 ± 4.1) and 20 relatively healthy individuals (10 males and 10 females with a mean age of 10.20 ± 5.85) was analyzed to determine the levels of cytokines using the MILLIPLEX® kit. An increase in interleukins (IL)-1α, 1β, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 17F, 22, and 27 and a decrease in IL-3 levels have been shown in patients with JIA. Levels of cytokines, which are important for B-cell activation and proliferation, are increased, while levels of T-cell activating factors remained similar to the control group. Based on our results, it can be assumed that the use of combination therapy aimed at inhibiting both nonspecific interleukins and cytokines that activate B-cells will be more effective for the treatment of JIA.
MicroRNA Expression Profiling—Potential Molecular Discrimination of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Subtypes
Authors: Silaghi Horatiu , Pop Laura Ancuța , Georgescu Carmen Emanuela , Muntean Diana , Crișan Doinița , Silaghi Patricia , Lungu Ionela , Nasui Bogdana Adriana , Dulf Eva-H. , Braicu Cornelia , Berindan-Neagoe Ioana , Silaghi Cristina Alina
Published: January 2024

Recent research has revealed the importance of miRNAs in the diagnosis and clinical evolution of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We aim to identify a specific miRNA profile that could differentiate between specific subtypes of PTC. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, total RNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissues of 43 patients, 17 with an infiltrative follicular variant of PTC (iFVPTC) and 26 with a conventional variant of PTC (cPTC). Nine miRNAs were evaluated using qRT-PCR technology and specific miRNA assays. Results: We found specific patterns for cPTC and iFVPTC, such as miRNA altered in both types of tumours (miR-146b-5p, miR-181a-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-21-5p and miR-222-3p) and two miRNAs significantly expressed only in cPTC (miR-20b-5p, miR-21-5p). The iFVPTC group presented strong and moderate correlations between miRNA expression and clinical data. miR-221-3p, miR-195-5p, miR-181-5p, miR-146b-5p and miR-222 were correlated with age, tumour size (TS) or lymph node metastases (N), while only miR-20b-5p, miR-195-5p and miR-181-5p were correlated with TS, N and age in the cPTC group. Conclusions: The present study allowed the identification of a signature of two miRNAs to confirm miRNA differences between the two histological subtypes of TC. Our results provide advances in the molecular diagnosis of TC and could help to improve the diagnostic performance of already existing molecular classifiers.