bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-center verification of the influence of data ratio of training sets on test results of an AI system for detecting early gastric cancer based on the YOLO-v4 algorithm
Authors: Jin Tao , Jiang Yancai , Mao Boneng , Wang Xing , Lu Bo , Qian Ji , Zhou Hutao , Ma Tieliang , Zhang Yefei , Li Sisi , Shi Yun , Yao Zhendong
Published: August 2022

Objective

Convolutional Neural Network(CNN) is increasingly being applied in the diagnosis of gastric cancer. However, the impact of proportion of internal data in the training set on test results has not been sufficiently studied. Here, we constructed an artificial intelligence (AI) system called EGC-YOLOV4 using the YOLO-v4 algorithm to explore the optimal ratio of training set with the power to diagnose early gastric cancer.

Design

A total of 22,0918 gastroscopic images from Yixing People’s Hospital were collected. 7 training set models were established to identify 4 test sets. Respective sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, accuracy, and corresponding thresholds were tested, and ROC curves were plotted.

Results

1. The EGC-YOLOV4 system completes all tests at an average reading speed of about 15 ms/sheet; 2. The AUC values in training set 1 model were 0.8325, 0.8307, 0.8706, and 0.8279, in training set 2 model were 0.8674, 0.8635, 0.9056, and 0.9249, in training set 3 model were 0.8544, 0.8881, 0.9072, and 0.9237, in training set 4 model were 0.8271, 0.9020, 0.9102, and 0.9316, in training set 5 model were 0.8249, 0.8484, 0.8796, and 0.8931, in training set 6 model were 0.8235, 0.8539, 0.9002, and 0.9051, in training set 7 model were 0.7581, 0.8082, 0.8803, and 0.8763.

Conclusion

EGC-YOLOV4 can quickly and accurately identify the early gastric cancer lesions in gastroscopic images, and has good generalization.The proportion of positive and negative samples in the training set will affect the overall diagnostic performance of AI.In this study, the optimal ratio of positive samples to negative samples in the training set is 1:1~ 1:2.
Combinatorial delivery of CPI444 and vatalanib loaded on PEGylated graphene oxide as an effective nanoformulation to target glioblastoma multiforme: In vitro evaluation
Authors: Mishra Vishnu S. , Patil Sachin , Reddy Puli Chandramouli , Lochab Bimlesh
Published: August 2022

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is known as the primary malignant and most devastating form of tumor found in the central nervous system of the adult population. The active pharmaceutical component in current chemotherapy regimens is mostly hydrophobic and poorly water-soluble, which hampers clinical implications. Nanodrug formulations using nanocarriers loaded with such drugs assisted in water dispersibility, improved cellular permeability, and drug efficacy at a low dose, thus adding to the overall practical value. Here, we successfully developed a water-dispersible and biocompatible nanocargo (GO-PEG) based on covalently modified graphene oxide (GO) with a 6-armed poly(ethylene glycol) amine dendrimer for effective loading of the two hydrophobic anticancer drug molecules, CPI444 and vatalanib. These drug molecules target adenosine receptor (A2AR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and type III stem cell receptor tyrosine kinase (c-KIT), which plays a crucial role in cancers. The effective cellular delivery of the drugs when loaded on GO-PEG is attributed to the increased permeability of the drug-nanoconjugate formulation. We observed that this combinatorial drug treatment with nanocargo resulted in a significant reduction in the overall cell survival as supported by reduced calcium levels and stem cell markers such as Oct4 and Nanog, which are two of the prime factors for GBM stem cell proliferation. Furthermore, reduced expression of CD24 upon treatment with nanoformulation impeded cellular migration. Cellular assays confirmed inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenic potential of GBM treated with GO-PEG–Drug conjugates. Ultimately, GBM U87 cells assumed programmed cell death at a very low concentration due to nanocarrier-mediated drug delivery along with the chosen combination of drugs. Together, this study demonstrated the advantage of GO-PEG mediated combined delivery of CPI444 and vatalanib drugs with increased permeability, a three-pronged combinatorial strategy toward effective GBM treatment.
Clinical analysis of 13 cases of primary squamous-cell thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Ou Di , Ni Chen , Yao Jincao , Lai Min , Chen Chen , Zhang Yajiao , Jiang Tian , Qian Tingting , Wang Liping , Xu Dong
Published: August 2022

Objective

To analyze the clinical features, ultrasonographic manifestations, pathological features, treatment and prognosis of primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma (PSCTC) and summarize the experience in diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who were admitted to Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from 2007 to 2021 due to thyroid nodules or thyroid malignant tumors that were ultimately confirmed by postoperative pathology as primary thyroid squamous cell carcinoma. We summarize the general situation, clinical information, laboratory examination, ultrasonic image characteristics, pathological examination, clinical treatment and prognosis of the patients.

Results

PSCTC is most often seen in older men and progresses rapidly. In laboratory tests, some patients had elevated levels of tumor markers (CA199, squamous cell carcinoma antigen level), thyroglobulin levels and tumor-related substances, but all these indicators lacked specificity. The ultrasound features of PSCTC are mainly hypoechoic, hard, substantial nodules with gross borders and a grade 1-2 blood flow signal, sometimes with signs of necrosis and calcification. In terms of treatment, PSCTC is mainly surgically resected, though some patients in this study underwent iodine-131 radiation therapy, local radiotherapy, and chemotherapy with unclear results. None of the patients survived for very long after treatment, but the prognosis of patients with highly differentiated squamous carcinoma was significantly better than that of patients with poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma. Papillary thyroid carcinoma may be one of the causes of PSCTC.

Conclusion

PSCTC is a malignant tumor with high malignancy and rapid clinical progression. Treatment options are mainly based on surgical resection and can be supplemented with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but there is still a lack of a standardized treatment management system, and more cases and reports are needed to accumulate data.
Therapeutic potential of NR4A1 in cancer: Focus on metabolism
Authors: Deng Shan , Chen Bo , Huo Jiege , Liu Xin
Published: August 2022

Metabolic reprogramming is a vital hallmark of cancer, and it provides the necessary energy and biological materials to support the continuous proliferation and survival of tumor cells. NR4A1 is belonging to nuclear subfamily 4 (NR4A) receptors. NR4A1 plays diverse roles in many tumors, including melanoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and hepatocellular cancer, to regulate cell growth, apoptosis, metastasis. Recent reports shown that NR4A1 exhibits unique metabolic regulating effects in cancers. This receptor was first found to mediate glycolysis via key enzymes glucose transporters (GLUTs), hexokinase 2 (HK2), fructose phosphate kinase (PFK), and pyruvate kinase (PK). Then its functions extended to fatty acid synthesis by modulating CD36, fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), glutamine by Myc, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and hypoxia-inducible factors alpha (HIF-1α), respectively. In addition, NR4A1 is involving in amino acid metabolism and tumor immunity by metabolic processes. More and more NR4A1 ligands are found to participate in tumor metabolic reprogramming, suggesting that regulating NR4A1 by novel ligands is a promising approach to alter metabolism signaling pathways in cancer therapy. Basic on this, this review highlighted the diverse metabolic roles of NR4A1 in cancers, which provides vital references for the clinical application.
A comparative study of three bone age assessment methods on Chinese preschool-aged children
Authors: Gao Chengcheng , Qian Qi , Li Yangsheng , Xing Xiaowei , He Xiao , Lin Min , Ding Zhongxiang
Published: August 2022

Background

Bone age assessment (BAA) is an essential tool utilized in outpatient pediatric clinics. Three major BAA methods, Greulich–Pyle (GP), Tanner–Whitehouse 3 (TW3), and China 05 RUS–CHN (RUS–CHN), were applied to comprehensively compare bone age (BA) and chronological age (CA) in a Chinese sample of preschool children. This study was designed to determine the most reliable method.

Methods

The BAA sample consisted of 207 females and 183 males aged 3–6 years from the Zhejiang Province in China. The radiographs were estimated according to the GP, TW3, and RUS–CHN methods by two pediatric radiologists. The data was analyzed statistically using boxplots, the Wilcoxon rank test, and Student’s t-test to explore the difference (D) between BA and CA.

Results

According to the distributions of D, the boxplots showed that the median D of the TW3 method was close to zero for both male and female subjects. The TW3 and RUS–CHN methods overestimated the age of both genders. The TW3 method had the highest correct classification rate for males but a similar rate for females. The GP method did not show any significant difference between the BA and CA when applied to 3-year-old males and 4-year-old females while the TW3 method showed similar results when applied to 6-year-old females. The RUS–CHN method showed the least consistent results among the three methods.

Conclusion

The TW3 method was superior to the GP and RUS–CHN methods but not reliable on its own. It should be noted that a precise age diagnosis for preschool children cannot be easily made if only one of the methods is utilized. Therefore, it is advantageous to combine multiple methods when assessing bone age.
Effect of Rumex dentatus on Gastrointestinal Protection and Toxicology in Rodents via Investigating H+/K+-ATPase, Calcium Channels, and PDE Mediated Signaling
Authors: Qazi Neelam Gul , Khan Arif-ullah , Abbasi Sumra Wajid , Malik Imran , Naeem Komal
Published: August 2022

This present study aims to delineate Rumex dentatus crude extract (Rd.Cr), n-Hexane, ethyl acetate, aqueous fractions (Rd.n-Hex, Rd.ETAC, and Rd.Aq), and emodin for antidiarrheal, antisecretory effects, anti-spasmodic, gastrointestinal transient time, anti-H. pylori, antiulcer effects, and toxicology. Plant extracts attributed dose-dependent protection against castor oil-induced diarrhea and dose-dependently inhibited intestinal fluid secretions in mice. They decreased the distance transverse by charcoal in the gastrointestinal transit model in rats. In rabbit jejunum preparations, it causes a concentration-dependent relaxation of both spontaneous and K+ (80 mM)-induced contraction, Rd.n-Hex and verapamil were relatively potent against K+-induced contractions and shifted the Ca2+ concentration-response curves (CRCs) to the right, Rd.Cr and Rd.ETAC shifted the isoprenaline-induced inhibitory CRCs to the left, showing potentiating effect similar to papaverine. Rd.n-Hex showed anti-H. pylori effect. Extracts and emodin also show an inhibitory effect against H+/K+-ATPase. Rumex dentatus showed a gastroprotective and antioxidant effect. Histopathological evaluation showed improvement in cellular architecture and decrease in the expression of inflammatory markers such as cyclooxygenase (COX2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B (p-NFƙB), validated through immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and western blot techniques. In RT-PCR, it decreases H+/K+-ATPase mRNA levels. Rumex dentatus was analyzed for certain safety aspects and exhibited a relative safety profile as no impairment was observed in kidneys, heart, liver, and brain further assisted by biochemical and hematological analysis. Docking studies revealed that emodin against H+/K+-ATPase pump and voltage gated L-type calcium channel showed E-value of −7.9 and −7.4 kcal/mol, respectively. MD simulations and molecular mechanics Poisson Boltzmann surface area and molecular mechanics Generalized Born surface area MMPBSA/GBSA findings are consistent with the in-vitro, in-vivo, and docking results. In conclusion, Rumex dentatus extracts and its phytoconstituent could be considered a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drug candidates that possess anti-diarrheal, anti-secretary, antispasmodic, anti-H. pylori, and anti-ulcer potential. Toxicity studies were done according to OECD standards 425. It belongs to group 5 (LD50 > 2000 mg/kg), which suggests that it is in the lower toxicity class.
Hyperstable EGF-like bleogen derived from cactus accelerates corneal healing in rats
Authors: Loo Shining , Kam Antony , Tam James P.
Published: August 2022

Corneal scarring reduces corneal transparency, compromises vision, and is a major cause of vision loss worldwide. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which is the prototypic member of the EGF receptor (EGFR) agonists, is present in tears to provide repair and regeneration. Recently, we discovered bleogen pB1 in the cactus plant Pereskia bleo and showed that it is a non-canonical and hyperstable EGFR agonist with EGF-like wound healing properties for diabetic rats. Here, we apply bleogen pB1 to accelerate corneal wound healing in rats. To assess the corneal healing effects of bleogen pB1, we induced an acute alkali burn to the right eye of male Wistar rats. After five consecutive ophthalmic applications, fluorescein staining and opacity scores of the bleogen pB1-treated, and the positive control EGF-treated groups improved significantly compared to the saline control group. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that infiltrated CD68+ macrophages and the expression of the myofibroblast marker alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were significantly decreased in the bleogen pB1- and the EGF-treated groups. By employing a differential gene expression analysis of bleogen pB1- and EGF-treated keratinocytes through RNA-seq, we demonstrated that bleogen pB1 or EGF treatments can affect the expression of genes associated with inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix remodeling. Taken together, our results indicate that the plant-derived EGFR agonist bleogen pB1 can produce similar effects to those of EGF in accelerating corneal wound healing as well as in reducing persistent inflammation and myofibroblast accumulation in the cornea.
Network pharmacology reveals multitarget mechanism of action of drugs to be repurposed for COVID-19
Authors: Alegría-Arcos Melissa , Barbosa Tábata , Sepúlveda Felipe , Combariza German , González Janneth , Gil Carmen , Martínez Ana , Ramírez David
Published: August 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic accelerated drug/vaccine development processes, integrating scientists all over the globe to create therapeutic alternatives against this virus. In this work, we have collected information regarding proteins from SARS-CoV-2 and humans and how these proteins interact. We have also collected information from public databases on protein–drug interactions. We represent this data as networks that allow us to gain insights into protein–protein interactions between both organisms. With the collected data, we have obtained statistical metrics of the networks. This data analysis has allowed us to find relevant information on which proteins and drugs are the most relevant from the network pharmacology perspective. This method not only allows us to focus on viral proteins as the main targets for COVID-19 but also reveals that some human proteins could be also important in drug repurposing campaigns. As a result of the analysis of the SARS-CoV-2–human interactome, we have identified some old drugs, such as disulfiram, auranofin, gefitinib, suloctidil, and bromhexine as potential therapies for the treatment of COVID-19 deciphering their potential complex mechanism of action.
Population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis of AK111, an IL-17A monoclonal antibody, in subjects with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Authors: Li Qian , Qiao Ju , Jin Hongzhong , Chen Benchao , He Zhimei , Wang Guoqin , Ni Xiang , Wang Max , Xia Michelle , Li Baiyong , Chen Rui , Hu Pei
Published: August 2022

AK111 is an innovative IL-17A antibody, presenting high affinity to IL-17A and showing similar pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics to those of typical immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 antibodies. To optimize the dosage regimen for phase 2/3 clinical trials, PK and pharmacodynamics (PD) of AK111 were first characterized in Chinese moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients in a phase 1b study. AK111 PK serum sample and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score data were collected from 48 moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients in this study. Non-linear mixed-effects modeling was used for the population PK/PD analysis. A one-compartment model with a first-order absorption and a first-order elimination best described the PK behavior of AK111. The apparent systemic clearance was 0.182 L/day, and the central volume was 6.65 L. The exposure–response relationship was characterized using an indirect response model. The pharmacological effect of AK111 was described in the form of inhibiting the formation of psoriatic plaque, whereas placebo was quantified in the form of promoting the degradation of psoriatic skin lesions. The maximum effect of drug effect (Imax) and placebo effect (PLBmax) was 1 and 0.429, respectively. The rate constant for psoriatic plaque production (Kin) was 0.474 PASI/day and psoriatic plaque loss (Kout) was 0.024 day−1. The body surface area (BSA) affected by psoriasis was identified as a significant covariate on Kout. The simulation results confirmed that all of the predicted PASI90 response rates at week 12 were higher than 60% at 150 and 300 mg dose levels with different regimens and could reach higher than 80% at week 24. We hope this first PK/PD study of AK111 in Chinese moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients will be of help in the further clinical development of AK111 and provide a reference to the dosage optimization for similar antibodies with a long half-life.
Succinum extracts inhibit microglial-derived neuroinflammation and depressive-like behaviors
Authors: Kang Ji-Yun , Baek Dong-Cheol , Son Chang-Gue , Lee Jin-Seok
Published: August 2022

Microglia are emerging as important targets for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. The phagocytic microglial phenotype and the resulting neuroinflammation lead to synaptic loss and neuronal cell death. To explore potential candidates that inhibit microglial hyperactivation, we first investigated ten candidate extracts of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Among the candidates, Pinus spp. succinum extract (PSE) was superior; thus, we further investigated its pharmacological activity and underlying mechanisms both in vitro and in vivo. Pretreatment with PSE (10, 20, and 40 μg/ml) attenuated the increases in inflammatory factors (nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α), translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and phenotypic transformations (phagocytic and migratory) in a dose-dependent manner. These inhibitory effects of PSE on microglia were supported by its regulatory effects on the CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1)/nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. In particular, intragastric administration of PSE (100 mg/kg) considerably improved sickness, anxiety, and depressive-like behaviors in mice subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS). Our results suggest that PSE has strong antineuroinflammatory and antidepressant properties, and the underlying mechanisms may involve not only the regulation of NF-κB translocation but also the normalization of the CX3CR1/Nrf2 pathway.
Potential application of TurboID-based proximity labeling in studying the protein interaction network in plant response to abiotic stress
Authors: Zhang Kaixin , Li Yinyin , Huang Tengbo , Li Ziwei
Published: August 2022

Abiotic stresses are major environmental conditions that reduce plant growth, productivity and quality. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) approaches can be used to screen stress-responsive proteins and reveal the mechanisms of protein response to various abiotic stresses. Biotin-based proximity labeling (PL) is a recently developed technique to label proximal proteins of a target protein. TurboID, a biotin ligase produced by directed evolution, has the advantages of non-toxicity, time-saving and high catalytic efficiency compared to other classic protein-labeling enzymes. TurboID-based PL has been successfully applied in animal, microorganism and plant systems, particularly to screen transient or weak protein interactions, and detect spatially or temporally restricted local proteomes in living cells. This review concludes classic PPI approaches in plant response to abiotic stresses and their limitations for identifying complex network of regulatory proteins of plant abiotic stresses, and introduces the working mechanism of TurboID-based PL, as well as its feasibility and advantages in plant abiotic stress research. We hope the information summarized in this article can serve as technical references for further understanding the regulation of plant adaptation to abiotic stress at the protein level.
Wellbeing during a pandemic: An empirical research examining autonomy, work-family conflict and informational support among SME employees
Authors: Zakhem Najib Bou , Farmanesh Panteha , Zargar Pouya , Kassar Abdulnasser
Published: August 2022

Individuals working in different industries were forced to change their work environments to their homes and quickly cope with technical and social changes not experienced before the occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic. This led to blurred boundaries between work and family roles, diminishing performance and wellbeing. Within the scope of the Research Topic “Workplace effects of COVID-19 on employees,” this research emphasizes on the positive impact of job autonomy provided by employers in reducing work-family conflicts. Moreover, the effect of work-family conflict on employees’ performance and wellbeing is analyzed. Furthermore, informational support is examined regarding its moderating effect to mitigate work-family conflicts and enhance wellbeing. A survey was administered among employees of small-medium enterprises in Lebanon, through purposive and convenience sampling with 198 participants. The data was analyzed using PLS-SEM, and the results show that job autonomy reduces work-family conflict. This in turn improves performance and wellbeing as individuals have more control on their tasks. Furthermore, informational support provided to the employees serves as a buffer between work-family conflict and wellbeing. These results can be beneficial for managers of small and medium enterprises, seeking to enhance the performance and wellbeing of their employees in the era of the pandemic. Similarly, scholars can benefit from theoretical premises of current study and the potential pathways for future analyses.
Temporal and spatial characterization of myopia in China
Authors: Shi Xiujing , Gao Zhaorong , Leng Lin , Guo Zhen
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study was to characterize the temporal and spatial distribution of myopia among students aged 7–18 years, by analyzing the aggregation area and providing the basis for the prevention and control of myopia in China.

Methods

A database for the spatial analysis of myopia in China during 1995–2014 was established using ArcGIS10.0 software as a platform for data management and presentation. A spatial autocorrelation analysis of myopia was undertaken, and a temporal and spatial scan analysis was performed using SaTScan9.5 software.

Results

Our data demonstrated that the prevalence of myopia in China in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2014 was 35.9, 41.5, 48.7, 57.3, and 57.1%, respectively, thus indicating a gradual upward trend. The prevalence of myopia was analyzed in various provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions), and the highest was found in Jiangsu Province, with an average Moran'sIindex of 0.244295 in China (P≤ 0.05). According to the local Moran'sIautocorrelation analysis, there was a spatial aggregation of myopia prevalence among students in the entire country, with Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shanghai being classified as high–high aggregation areas, while Hainan and Guangxi were classified as low–low aggregation areas. In addition, the Getis-Ord GeneralGresults of the global hotspot analysis showed a countrywide myopia prevalence index of 0.035020 and aZscore of 1.7959 (P= 0.07251). Because the myopia prevalence correlation difference was not statistically significant, there were no “positive hotspots” or “negative hotspots.” The local hotspot analysis shows that Shandong and Jiangsu belong to high-value aggregation areas, while Hainan and Guizhou belong to low-value aggregation areas. Further analysis using time-space scanning showed 15 aggregation regions in five stages, with four aggregation regions having statistically significant differences (P≤ 0.05). However, the aggregation range has changed over time. Overall, from 1995 to 2014, the aggregation areas for the myopia prevalence in Chinese students have shifted from the northwest, north, and northeast regions to the southeast regions.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate that, from 1995 to 2014, the prevalence of myopia increased in students aged 7–18 years in China. In addition, the prevalence of myopia is randomly distributed in various provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) and exhibits spatial aggregation. Also, the gathering area is gradually shifting to the southeast, with the existence of high-risk areas. It is, therefore, necessary to focus on this area and undertake targeted prevention and control measures.
Comorbidities and complications of COVID-19 associated with disease severity, progression, and mortality in China with centralized isolation and hospitalization: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Zhe , Peng Yingying , Wu Xiaolei , Pang Bo , Yang Fengwen , Zheng Wenke , Liu Chunxiang , Zhang Junhua
Published: August 2022

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes life-threatening with the high-fatality rates and spreads with high-infectious disease worldwide. We aimed to systematically review the comorbidities and complications of COVID-19 that are associated with various disease severity, progression, and mortality in China, to provide contemporary and reliable estimates in settings with centralized isolation and hospitalization.

Methods

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched four main English language databases, and four main Chinese language databases for observational studies published from inception to January 2022, to identify all the related comorbidities and complications of COVID-19, in the China region with centralized isolation and hospitalization, with disease severity, progression, and mortality. Literature search, data extraction, and quality assessment were independently conducted by two reviewers. We used the generalized linear mixed model to estimate pooled effect sizes for any comorbidities and complications, and subgroup in gender ratio was done to further address the potential heterogeneity.

Results

Overall, 187 studies describing 77,013 patients, namely, 54 different comorbidities and 46 various complications of COVID-19, were identified who met our inclusion criteria. The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension [20.37% 95% CI (15.28–26.63), 19.29% (16.17–22.85), 34.72% (31.48–38.10), and 43.94% (38.94–49.06)] and diabetes [7.84% (5.78–10.54), 8.59% (7.25–10.16), 17.99% (16.29–19.84), and 22.68% (19.93–25.69)] in mild, moderate, severe, and critical cases. The most prevalent complications were liver injury [10.00% (1.39–46.72), 23.04% (14.20–35.13), and 43.48% (39.88–47.15)] in mild, moderate, and severe cases, and acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS; 94.17% (20.78–99.90)] and respiratory failure [90.69% (28.08–99.59)] in critical cases. Renal insufficiency [odds ratio (OR) 17.43 (6.69–45.43)] in comorbidities and respiratory failure [OR 105.12 (49.48–223.33)] in complications were strongly associated in severe/critical than in mild/moderate cases. The highest estimated risk in intensive care unit (ICU) admission, progression, and mortality was an autoimmune disease, nervous system disease, and stroke in comorbidities, shock, and ARDS in complications.

Conclusion

Comorbidities and complications in inpatients with COVID-19 were positively associated with increased risk in severe and critical cases, ICU admission, exacerbation, and death during centralized isolation and hospitalization. Prompt identification of comorbidities and complications in inpatients with COVID-19 can enhance the prevention of disease progression and death and improve the precision of risk predictions.
Enhancing motion tracking accuracy of a low-cost 3D video sensor using a biomechanical model, sensor fusion, and deep learning
Authors: Agami Shahar , Riemer Raziel , Berman Sigal
Published: August 2022

Low-cost 3D video sensors equipped with routines for extracting skeleton data facilitate the widespread use of virtual reality (VR) for rehabilitation. However, the accuracy of the extracted skeleton data is often limited. Accuracy can be improved using a motion tracker, e.g., using a recurrent neural network (RNN). Yet, training an RNN requires a considerable amount of relevant and accurate training data. Training databases can be obtained using gold-standard motion tracking sensors. This limits the use of the RNN trackers in environments and tasks that lack accessibility to gold-standard sensors. Digital goniometers are typically cheaper, more portable, and simpler to use than gold-standard motion tracking sensors. The current work suggests a method for generating accurate skeleton data suitable for training an RNN motion tracker based on the offline fusion of a Kinect 3D video sensor and an electronic goniometer. The fusion applies nonlinear constraint optimization, where the constraints are based on an advanced shoulder-centered kinematic model of the arm. The model builds on the representation of the arm as a triangle (the arm triangle). The shoulder-centered representation of the arm triangle motion simplifies constraint representation and consequently the optimization problem. To test the performance of the offline fusion and the RNN trained using the optimized data, arm motion of eight participants was recorded using a Kinect sensor, an electronic goniometer, and, for comparison, a passive-marker-based motion tracker. The data generated by fusing the Kinect and goniometer recordings were used for training two long short-term memory (LSTM) RNNs. The input to one RNN included both the Kinect and the goniometer data, and the input to the second RNN included only Kinect data. The performance of the networks was compared to the performance of a tracker based on a Kalman filter and to the raw Kinect measurements. The accuracy of the fused data was high, and it considerably improved data accuracy. The accuracy for both trackers was high, and both were more accurate than the Kalman filter tracker and the raw Kinect measurements. The developed methods are suitable for integration with immersive VR rehabilitation systems in the clinic and the home environments.
The challenge of plastics in a circular perspective
Authors: Preka Rovena , Fiorentino Gabriella , De Carolis Roberta , Barberio Grazia
Published: August 2022

Although plastic is a very important material in our economy and lifestyle, we need to deal with its pervasive impact and the huge amount of plastic waste produced, especially in the urban context. In Italy, the production of plastic waste is about 4.8 million tons with a share of 31.4% sent for recycling, 32.8% sent to Waste to Energy facilities and 35.8% sent to landfill. The negative effects of plastic waste have to be mitigated by means of prevention and other measures aimed at a transition to sustainable production and consumption patterns. The presented perspective takes advantage of the work done in the framework of the Italian Circular Economy Stakeholders Platform (ICESP) and identifies regulatory and technical criticalities in the sector, while defining strategic actions to be implemented along the entire value chain of plastics in the short, medium and long term perspective, with the aim of outlining possible mitigation solutions. From the snapshot of the ongoing advancement of the circular economy in the plastic sector, within the Italian urban context, suggestions can be gained for a strategy based on a systemic life cycle approach.
Gender Equality in Soil Science in Italy: Wishful Thinking or Reality?
Authors: Adamo Paola , Benedetti Anna , Bonifacio Eleonora , Calzolari Costanza , Celi Luisella Roberta , Cocco Stefania , Marinari Sara , Vingiani Simona
Published: August 2022

Gender equality in Italian soil science is still far from being a reality although an in-depth investigation has never been carried out. In this work we analyse data on women soil scientists working in public research institutions and universities as well as on those affiliated with soil science societies, considering the changes in gender balance with time. We also recall three female pioneers in Italian soil science who played a key role in both research and scientific societies. An analysis of the impact of papers authored by Italian women is finally provided to gauge the contribution of Italian women to soil science in the last 20 years. The results show that the National Research Institutions reached a more equal balance between genders compared to universities. With regard to scientific societies, we observed a strong lack of female inclusion in the first years of the Italian Soil Science Society, founded in 1952, and the Italian Society of Pedology, even if it was founded much later in 1998. The Italian Society of Agricultural Chemistry was less discriminant, likely due to the presence of different sub-disciplines traditionally more open to women, although always far from real equality. With time, in all societies and research institutions we registered a positive trend with a better balance and a pro-active participation of women. However, we observed a persistent loss of highly qualified women resources from the training phase to the beginning of the career as well as under-representation of women in top roles and in the research centre leaderships. However, when we evaluated the scientific production, no statistical differences appear between women and men at all career levels, confirming the key contribution of women to soil science, despite facing major professional difficulties and disparities. These results show that, notwithstanding the marked progress in the number of women entering and working in Italian soil science, beyond the hard numbers, gender equality still remains a challenge and requires greater investments in resources and research toward structural and systemic interventions that may successfully lead to a more gender-balanced society.
Exogenous Salicylic Acid Optimizes Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Metabolism, and Gene Expression in Perennial Ryegrass Subjected to Salt Stress
Authors: Wang Ziyue , Dong Shuang , Teng Ke , Chang Zhihui , Zhang Xunzhong
Published: August 2022

Salicylic acid (SA) is a plant growth regulator that can enhance the abiotic stress tolerance of plants; however, the physiological mechanisms are not yet fully understood. The objective of this study was to examine whether exogenous SA could enhance the salt tolerance of perennial ryegrass (Loliumperenne L.; PRG) and investigate the physiological underlying mechanisms. SA was applied to the foliage of PRG at five concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mM). The SA-treated grass was grown under either control (0 mM NaCl) or salt stress (250 mM NaCl) conditions for 24 d. The SA treatments reduced the leaf electrolyte leakage (EL), malonaldehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content by 36%, 41%, and 40%, respectively, relative to the control under salt stress as measured at 24 d. The SA treatments also alleviated the decline in the leaf photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), nitrate activity (NR), turfgrass quality (TQ) ratings, and chlorophyll (Chl) content under salt stress. In addition, exogenous SA increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD) as well as the expression levels of the Cyt Cu/ZnSOD, FeSOD, APX, CAT, and POD genes under salt stress. The results of this study suggested that the foliar application of SA at 0.25 and 0.5 mM may enhance photosynthesis and antioxidant defense systems and thus improve tolerance to salt stress in perennial ryegrass.
Pyrolysis Temperature Affects Dissolved Phosphorus and Carbon Levels in Alkali-Enhanced Biochar and Its Soil Applications
Authors: Wang Meng , Wang Jim J. , Park Jong-Hwan , Wang Jian , Wang Xudong , Zhao Zuoping , Song Fengmin , Tang Bo
Published: August 2022

Alkali-enhanced biochars, as an environment-friendly material, combine the advantages of biomass nutrients and carbon fixation. In this study, rice-residue-derived biochars were evaluated for P and C solubility and their amendment upon plant P uptake. Biochars from rice straw (RS) and husk (RH), including raw biochar without alkaline pretreatment (0B), alkali-enhanced biochars with KOH (5KB, 5 g KOH per 100 g feedstock;10KB, 10 g KOH per 100 g feedstock), K2CO3 (5K2B, 5 g K2CO3 per 100 g feedstock; 10K2B, 10 g K2CO3 per 100 g feedstock), and CaO (5CB, 5 g CaO per 100 g feedstock; 10CB,10 g CaO per 100 g feedstock) were prepared at 350 °C~550 °C pyrolysis conditions. Alkali-enhanced biochars on soil water soluble P(WSP) and C(WSC) levels were assessed through a soil-biochar incubation experiment. The effect of alkali-enhanced biochar on rice P uptake was evaluated in a greenhouse pot study. The WSP content in KOH- and K2CO3-enhanced biochars produced at 550 °C was significantly increased by up to 144% compared with that produced by the corresponding biochars at 350 °C, while the WSC content in all alkali-enhanced biochars (except for RS-5CB) prepared at 550 °C significantly decreased by up to 6426% compared with that produced by the corresponding biochars at 350 °C. The application of 3% 10KB and 10K2B rice straw biochars (produced at 550 °C) significantly elevated the WSP content in soils. Rice grown in the RH-10K2B-550 treated soil significantly increased the grain P uptake by 15% and 8% compared with RH-0B-350 and RH-10K2B-350, respectively. The water soluble P of the KOH- and K2CO3-enhanced biochars increased with increasing the pyrolysis temperature. RS-10KB and RS-10K2B increased the soil WSP and WSC content compared with the unenhanced biochar (RS-0B), and showed a clear positive effect on increasing the rice P uptake. Overall, KOH- and K2CO3-enhanced biochars pyrolyzed at 550 °C as Si sources could also serve as a potential P pool with multi-functions in C sequestration and K nutrition.
Comprehensive Assessment of Plant and Water Productivity Responses in Negative Pressure Irrigation Technology: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Jin Yuwen , Gao Xiang , Zhang Renlian , Wu Xueping , Long Huaiyu , Sun Zhimei , Zhang Shuxiang
Published: August 2022

Negative pressure irrigation (NPI) is an important water management strategy that can improve crop yields and water use efficiency (WUE). However, because NPI is affected by vital factors, such as negative pressure values, soil properties, and fertilization dosages, there is a lack of systematic analyses of the application effects of NPI on various crops. Hence, this study collected the results of 44 published studies and established the validity of 142 crop yields, 121 WUEs, 138 crop qualities, and 138 crop nutrient statuses in a database for NPI systems. The meta-analysis method was used to analyze NPI in comparison to conventional irrigation (CI) conditions. The results showed that the NPI yields and WUEs significantly improved by 17% and 63% compared to those of CI, respectively. Meanwhile, the negative pressure values were −2~−5 kPa; the improvement effects on yields were the best; and the WUEs exhibited the highest performance with negative pressure values of −6~−10 kPa. NPI promoted crop quality and plant nutrient uptakes under the appropriate NPI conditions. The synergistic impacts for sandy loam, alkalescent soils, and leafy vegetables were greater than for clay loam, neutral soils, and fruit vegetables under NPI conditions. Simultaneously, it was shown that the soil available phosphorus content and application of P fertilizer have a greater impact on NPI and CI crop yields. Therefore, the meta-analysis demonstrated the impacts of NPI on crop yields, WUEs, quality, and nutrient absorption, and quantified the effects of NPI on crop growth under various conditions, which provides an important water-saving technology for greenhouse production.
Reactive Sulfur Species (RSS) in Physiological and Pathological Conditions and in Therapy
Authors: Bilska-Wilkosz Anna , Iciek Małgorzata
Published: August 2022

Sulfur is a multivalent and nonmetallic chemical element with the symbol S and the atomic number 16 [...]
Vitamin C Deficiency in Blood Samples of COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Sinnberg Tobias , Lichtensteiger Christa , Hill-Mündel Katharina , Leischner Christian , Niessner Heike , Busch Christian , Renner Olga , Wyss Nina , Flatz Lukas , Lauer Ulrich M. , Hoelzle Ludwig E. , Nohr Donatus , Burkard Markus , Marongiu Luigi , Venturelli Sascha
Published: August 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most notable pandemic of the modern era. A relationship between ascorbate (vitamin C) and COVID-19 severity is well known, whereas the role of other vitamins is less understood. The present study compared the blood levels of four vitamins in a cohort of COVID-19 patients with different severities and uninfected individuals. Serum concentrations of ascorbate, calcidiol, retinol, and α-tocopherol were measured in a cohort of 74 COVID-19 patients and 8 uninfected volunteers. The blood levels were statistically compared and additional co-morbidity factors were considered. COVID-19 patients had significantly lower plasma ascorbate levels than the controls (p-value < 0.001), and further stratification revealed that the controls had higher levels than fatal, critical, and severe COVID-19 cases (p-values < 0.001). However, no such trend was observed for calcidiol, retinol, or α-tocopherol (p-value ≥ 0.093). Survival analysis showed that plasma ascorbate below 11.4 µM was associated with a lengthy hospitalization and a high risk of death. The results indicated that COVID-19 cases had depleted blood ascorbate associated with poor medical conditions, confirming the role of this vitamin in the outcome of COVID-19 infection.
Magnitude Modeling of Personalized HRTF Based on Ear Images and Anthropometric Measurements
Authors: Zhao Manlin , Sheng Zhichao , Fang Yong
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we propose a global personalized head-related transfer function (HRTF) method based on anthropometric measurements and ear images. The model consists of two sub-networks. The first is the VGG-Ear Model, which extracts features from the ear images. The second sub-network uses anthropometric measurements, ear features, and frequency information to predict the spherical harmonic (SH) coefficients. Finally, the personalized HRTF is obtained through inverse spherical harmonic transform (SHT) reconstruction. With only one training, the HRTF in all directions can be obtained, which greatly reduces the parameters and training cost of the model. To objectively evaluate the proposed method, we calculate the spectral distance (SD) between the predicted HRTF and the actual HRTF. The results show that the SD provided by this method is 5.31 dB, which is better than the average HRTF of 7.61 dB. In particular, the SD value is only increased by 0.09 dB compared to directly using the pinna measurements.
Optimization Design and Analysis of Bionic Friction Reducing Nozzle in Oil Shale High-Pressure Jet Mining
Authors: Zhang Jiansong , Liu Yongsheng , Qin Xing , Dou Zijun , Xu Xiaonan , Lv Jianguo
Published: August 2022

The borehole hydraulic mining method has unique advantages for underground oil shale exploitation. Breaking rock with a high-pressure water jet is a crucial step to ensure the smooth implementation of borehole hydraulic mining in oil shale. The hydraulic performance of the nozzle determines the efficiency and quality of high-pressure water jet technology. To obtain a superior hydraulic performance nozzle, based on the bionic non-smooth theory, a circular groove was selected as the bionic unit to design a bionic straight cone nozzle. The structural parameters of the circular groove include the groove depth, width, and slot pitch. The optimization objective was to minimize the pressure drop, where the fluid has the least resistance. A genetic algorithm was used to optimize the structural parameters of the circular grooves in the inlet and outlet sections of the bionic straight cone nozzle. The optimal structural parameters of the nozzle were as follows: the inlet diameter was 15 mm, the inlet length was 20 mm, the outlet diameter was 4 mm, the length-to-diameter ratio was 3, and the contraction angle was 30°. In addition, in the inlet section, the groove width, slot pitch, and groove depth were 3.9 mm, 5.2 mm, and 5.5 mm, respectively, and the number of circular grooves was 2. Moreover, in the outlet section, the groove width, slot pitch, and groove depth were 2.25 mm, 3 mm, and 5.5 mm, respectively, and the number of circular grooves was 2. The CFD numerical simulation results showed that under the same numerical simulation conditions, compared with the conventional straight cone nozzle, the bionic straight cone nozzle velocity increase rate could reach 13.45%. The research results can provide scientific and valuable references for borehole hydraulic mining of high-pressure water jets in oil shale drilling.
An Integrated Real-Time Hand Gesture Recognition Framework for Human–Robot Interaction in Agriculture
Authors: Moysiadis Vasileios , Katikaridis Dimitrios , Benos Lefteris , Busato Patrizia , Anagnostis Athanasios , Kateris Dimitrios , Pearson Simon , Bochtis Dionysis
Published: August 2022

Incorporating hand gesture recognition in human–robot interaction has the potential to provide a natural way of communication, thus contributing to a more fluid collaboration toward optimizing the efficiency of the application at hand and overcoming possible challenges. A very promising field of interest is agriculture, owing to its complex and dynamic environments. The aim of this study was twofold: (a) to develop a real-time skeleton-based recognition system for five hand gestures using a depth camera and machine learning, and (b) to enable a real-time human–robot interaction framework and test it in different scenarios. For this purpose, six machine learning classifiers were tested, while the Robot Operating System (ROS) software was utilized for “translating” the gestures into five commands to be executed by the robot. Furthermore, the developed system was successfully tested in outdoor experimental sessions that included either one or two persons. In the last case, the robot, based on the recognized gesture, could distinguish which of the two workers required help, follow the “locked” person, stop, return to a target location, or “unlock” them. For the sake of safety, the robot navigated with a preset socially accepted speed while keeping a safe distance in all interactions.