bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nano-selenium impacts on growth performance, digestive enzymes, antioxidant, immune resistance and histopathological scores of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus against Aspergillus flavus infection
Authors: Eissa El-Sayed Hemdan , Bazina Walaa K. , Abd El-Aziz Yasmin M. , Abd Elghany Nadia A. , Tawfik Wesam A. , Mossa Monga I. , Abd El Megeed Ola Hasan , Abd El-Hamed Nadia N. B. , El-Saeed Adel F. , El-Haroun Ehab , Davies Simon J. , Hasimuna Oliver J. , Eissa Moaheda E. H. , Khalil Hala S. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe present study examined the impacts of varying amounts of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) as a natural antioxidant and metabolic regulator on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzymes and immune resistance of Oreochromis niloticus challenged to Aspergillus flavus infection. For 60 days, fish were fed the experimental diet of 30% crude protein up to apparent satiation three times a day. Se-NPs were added to the control diet at different levels of 0.0 (control), 0.5 (T1), 1.0 (T2) and 1.5 (T3) mg/kg diet to fed monosex Nile tilapia fingerlings with average initial weight (4.5 ± 0.5 g). Fish were randomly distributed in 12 tanks 100 L at a density of 20 fish per tank after 2-week acclimation to represent four treatments in triplicates. The results indicated that the growth indices, feed efficiency and survival rate were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) by incorporating Se-NPs up to 1 mg/kg diet. Furthermore, the haemato-biochemical parameters, digestive enzymes activity and antioxidant capacity of the fish were significantly improved (P < 0.05) at T2. When the fish were challenged with Aspergillus flavus, a decreasing mortality rate was observed, which clearly shows that selenium nanoparticles boosted the fish’s immune response at T2. The intestinal morphology as villus length, villus width, muscular fibres layer thickness and absorption intestinal zone after challenged with A. flavus infection were considerably enhanced (P < 0.05) by incorporating all Se-NP levels. Histopathological score significantly improved (P < 0.05) for the hepatopancreatic, intestinal, gills and muscle tissues at T2. The present study concludes that selenium nanoparticles up to 1.0 mg/kg diet can be efficiently used in tilapia feed to help boost fish production, immune system response and histopathological parameters.
Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with TNFα inhibitors does not affect serum levels of tryptophan metabolites
Authors: Witoszyńska-Sobkowiak Joanna , Sikorska Dorota , Rutkowski Rafał , Niklas Karolina , Żychowska Iwona , Samborski Włodzimierz 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe imbalance between the kynurenine and serotonin pathways can have serious consequences, e.g., depression. One of the factors leading to the imbalance between the pathways of tryptophan metabolism is inflammation. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-inhibitors on tryptophan metabolism in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Forty patients with AS (twenty-eight males, twelve females; mean age 40 ± 11 years), qualified to receive anti-TNF-α treatment, were prospectively assessed. As a control group, 20 healthy volunteers (7 males and 13 females, mean age 38 ± 5 years) were recruited from the general population. Patients underwent full clinical and biochemical assessment before and after 6 months of therapy. Disease activity was assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). The presence of depressive disorders was assessed with Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) scale. Serum concentrations of tryptophan, serotonin, kynurenine, and quinolinic acid were measured. The predominance of the kynurenine pathway in AS patients (compared to the control group) was demonstrated (p < 0.001). Surprisingly, no significant changes in serum levels of tryptophan and its metabolites in AS patients after treatment were found, despite clinical improvement. Moreover, the components of tryptophan metabolism did not correlate significantly with the clinical activity of AS, depression nor laboratory inflammatory markers. Probably some other factors influence the pathways of tryptophan metabolism in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Relative Entropy of Fermion Excitation States on the CAR Algebra
Authors: Galanda Stefano , Much Albert , Verch Rainer 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe relative entropy of certain states on the algebra of canonical anticommutation relations (CAR) is studied in the present work. The CAR algebra is used to describe fermionic degrees of freedom in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. The states for which the relative entropy is investigated are multi-excitation states (similar to multi-particle states) with respect to KMS states defined with respect to a time-evolution induced by a unitary dynamical group on the one-particle Hilbert space of the CAR algebra. If the KMS state is quasifree, the relative entropy of multi-excitation states can be explicitly calculated in terms of 2-point functions, which are defined entirely by the one-particle Hilbert space defining the CAR algebra and the Hamilton operator of the dynamical group on the one-particle Hilbert space. This applies also in the case that the one-particle Hilbert space Hamilton operator has a continuous spectrum so that the relative entropy of multi-excitation states cannot be defined in terms of von Neumann entropies. The results obtained here for the relative entropy of multi-excitation states on the CAR algebra can be viewed as counterparts of results for the relative entropy of coherent states on the algebra of canonical commutation relations which have appeared recently. It turns out to be useful to employ the setting of a self-dual CAR algebra introduced by Araki.
Cellular automata simulations of the sintering behavior of ceramics driven by surface energy reduction
Authors: Laura Garrido-Regife , Francisco Jiménez-Morales , Manuela González-Sánchez , Pedro Rivero-Antúnez , Víctor Morales-Flórez 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA cellular automata model has been developed to study the sintering behavior of ceramic particles. In this model, the only physical rule that drives the evolution of the system is to reduce the energy at the interface between the mass cells and the void cells. The meaning of several computational parameters, such as particle size or computational temperature, were investigated. Experiments of partial sintering of spherical particles of silica were performed and it was verified that this model successfully mimics the neck formation. Moreover, other experimental evidences of the stages of the densification, such as the formation of the intermediate vermicular microstructure or the dependence of porosity with temperature, were also qualitatively simulated.
Price-Directed Search, Product Differentiation and Competition
Authors: Obradovits Martin , Plaickner Philipp 
Published: August 2023

AbstractEspecially in many online markets, consumers can readily observe prices, but may need to inspect products further to assess their suitability. We study the effects of product differentiation and search costs on competition and market outcomes in a tractable model of price-directed consumer search. We find that: (i) firms’ equilibrium pricing always induces efficient search behavior; (ii) for relatively large product differentiation, welfare distortions still occur because some consumers (may) forgo consumption; and (iii) lower search costs lead to stochastically higher prices, which increases firms’ expected profits and decreases their frequency of sales. Consumer surplus often falls when search costs decrease.
Strength performance of low-bearing-capacity clayey soils stabilized with ladle furnace slag
Authors: Espinosa Ana B. , Revilla-Cuesta Víctor , Skaf Marta , Serrano-López Roberto , Ortega-López Vanesa 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn this paper, the performance of ladle furnace slag (LFS), a by-product of secondary steel refining, is evaluated as a binder to stabilize clayey soils of low bearing capacity. The aim is to define whether additions of this by-product to clayey soil can stabilize the soil in accordance with the technical specifications of Spanish standards. To do so, three different soils stabilized with 5% LFS were compared with the same soils stabilized with 2% lime and with no stabilization, in order to investigate their different behaviors. The chemical and mineralogical characterizations of all the soil mixes were conducted using X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The Atterberg limit test was used to study the plastic behavior of the soils, and the results of compaction, bearing capacity, unconfined compressive strength, and direct shear strength (cohesion and friction angle) tests defined their strength characteristics. The analysis was completed with the pH monitoring of the mixes along the curing time in order to relate the pH changes with the strength evolution. The addition of LFS to the soils has resulted in an increase in the liquid limit and plastic limit, causing therefore a slight decrease in the plasticity index. All the soils showed increases between 30% and 70% in their California Bearing Ratios immediately after mixing with 5% LFS, and after 90 days of curing, improvements of 30–188% in their unconfined compressive strength were noted in comparison with untreated soil, which were higher than the lime-stabilized soils. The cohesion of soils stabilized with LFS at 28 days of curing obtained improvements ranging from 40 to 300% depending on the type of soil. However, the friction angle showed a slight increase of 10% in two of the soils and zero in another. The high initial pH in LFS-stabilized soils was maintained during the curing time, which favored the development of pozzolanic reactions that improve the soil strength. These results confirmed that the substitution of lime with LFS is a feasible option for soil stabilization.
Microscopic X-ray fluorescence analyses (μ-XRF) of copper-based and silver alloy coins minted in Rhodes, Greece, from the fourth century BCE to the second century CE
Authors: Kladouri N. K. , Skaltsa S. , Gerodimos Th. , Pezouvani K. , Karydas A. G. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe present study provides new data from the analysis of 111 copper-based and 11 silver-alloy coins from the ancient city of Rhodes, Greece. This is the first time that an elemental analysis has been carried out on copper-based coins issued by the Rhodian mint from the mid-4th c. BCE to the 2nd c. CE. Based on the μ-XRF results, three different groups of copper-based alloys are formed, with tin and lead as their major alloying components. The elemental composition shows that most of the coins are binary, leaded and ternary bronzes, while two samples—confirmed as imports—belong to a different technological tradition. All impurities present, such as iron, nickel, cobalt, antimony, or lead, are typical of copper ores, while the diminutive amounts of tin, lead and/or arsenic in some coins could indicate the use of alloys made from copper scrap. Based on a complex and extensive set of compositional data and using silhouette analysis for k-means clustering, we identified the existence of four distinct groups clustered on the basis of similar trace element values. The groups give indication to the raw materials used for minting and provided valuable insights into the technological and origin-related aspects of Rhodian coin production. In the silver coins, four groups of different silver grades can be identified on the basis of the most important alloying elements. Overall, the differences in the composition of the silver coins become clear, but a more extensive sample is needed to better understand the evolution of Rhodian silver coinage.
Novel PEGylated cholephytosomes for targeting fisetin to breast cancer: in vitro appraisal and in vivo antitumoral studies
Authors: Talaat Sara M. , Elnaggar Yosra S. R. , Gowayed Mennatallah A. , El-Ganainy Samar O. , Allam Maram , Abdallah Ossama Y. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractFisetin (FIS) is a multifunctional bioactive flavanol that has been recently exploited as anticancer drug against various cancers including breast cancer. However, its poor aqueous solubility has constrained its clinical application. In the current work, fisetin is complexed for the first time with soy phosphatidylcholine in the presence of cholesterol to form a novel biocompatible phytosomal system entitled “cholephytosomes.” To improve fisetin antitumor activity against breast cancer, stearylamine bearing cationic cholephytosomes (mPHY) were prepared and furtherly modified with hyaluronic acid (HPHY) to allow their orientation to cancer cells through their surface exposed phosphatidylserine and CD-44 receptors, respectively. In vitro characterization studies revealed promising physicochemical properties of both modified vesicles (mPHY and HPHY) including excellent FIS complexation efficiency (˷100%), improved octanol/water solubility along with a sustained drug release over 24 h. In vitro cell line studies against MDA-MB-231 cell line showed about 10- and 3.5-fold inhibition in IC50 of modified vesicles compared with free drug and conventional drug-phospholipid complex, respectively. Preclinical studies revealed that both modified cholephytosomes (mPHY and HPHY) had comparable cytotoxicity that is significantly surpassing free drug cytotoxicity. TGF-β1and its non-canonical related signaling pathway; ERK1/2, NF-κB, and MMP-9 were involved in halting tumorigenesis. Thus, tailoring novel phytosomal nanosystems for FIS could open opportunity for its clinical utility against cancer.
Graphical Abstract
Removal of crystal violet dye from wastewater using low-cost biosorbent Trifolium repens stem powder
Authors: Gul Salma , Afsar Sana , Gul Hajera , Ali Bakhtiar 
Published: August 2023

AbstractCrystal violet (CV) synthetic dyes are well known in the dyeing industry for their mitotic and mutagenic poisoning. CV dye being a toxic organic dye is responsible for serious health issues as well as environmental damage. In this study, an inexpensive biosorbent (white clover: Trifolium repens) stem powder was tested for the adsorption of CV dye (cationic dye) from an aqueous solution. The batch adsorption measurements were designed to find out the influence of contact time, pH, adsorbent dose, and dye concentration, for dye removal. The operation parameters studied are the contact time (20 to 160 min), initial dye concentration (10–100 mg/L), dose (0.1–1 g), and pH, (1–10). At optimum conditions, maximum percent removal of 92.997% and adsorption capacity value of 1.952 mg/g was achieved at pH 2, adsorbent dose (1 g), and contact time (140 min), and dye concentration (70 ppm). The results suggested that the removal of CV rose with the contact time and adsorbent dose. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to the equilibrium adsorption data, and data were perfectly fitted to Langmuir isotherm model. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-orders were applied to the data, and it was found that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was best fitted to the experimental data. It was also revealed that the stem powdered of the Trifolium repens plant can be employed as a useful adsorbent to remove cationic CV dye from different water samples (tap, river and distilled). Furthermore, the performance of adsorbent was also evaluated in saline water containing sodium chloride, potassium chloride and manganese chloride salts to check the effect of various ions on the performance of adsorbent and it was observed that the adsorbent showed excellent performance in saline water. Moreover, a comparative study was performed to check the efficiency of different commercial adsorbents (silica gel and active carbon) and to compare their performance with our study. All these experiments revealed that the biosorbent used in this study effectively removes contaminating dyes from industrial wastewater and as well as saline water and thus, can be used for the treatment of wastewater at the commercial level.
Design and technical validation to generate a synthetic 12-lead electrocardiogram dataset to promote artificial intelligence research
Authors: Yoo Hakje , Moon Jose , Kim Jong-Ho , Joo Hyung Joon 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study is to construct a synthetic dataset of ECG signal that overcomes the sensitivity of personal information and the complexity of disclosure policies.MethodsThe public dataset was constructed by generating synthetic data based on the deep learning model using a convolution neural network (CNN) and bi-directional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM), and the effectiveness of the dataset was verified by developing classification models for ECG diagnoses.ResultsThe synthetic 12-lead ECG dataset generated consists of a total of 6000 ECGs, with normal and 5 abnormal groups. The synthetic ECG signal has a waveform pattern similar to the original ECG signal, the average RMSE between the two signals is 0.042 µV, and the average cosine similarity is 0.993. In addition, five classification models were developed to verify the effect of the synthetic dataset and showed performance similar to that of the model made with the actual dataset. In particular, even when the real dataset was applied as a test set to the classification model trained with the synthetic dataset, the classification performance of all models showed high accuracy (average accuracy 93.41%).ConclusionThe synthetic 12-lead ECG dataset was confirmed to perform similarly to the real-world 12-lead ECG in the classification model. This implies that a synthetic dataset can perform similarly to a real dataset in clinical research using AI. The synthetic dataset generation process in this study provides a way to overcome the medical data disclosure challenges constrained by privacy rights, a way to encourage open data policies, and contribute significantly to promoting cardiovascular disease research.
PL-geoid2021: A quasigeoid model for Poland developed using geophysical gravity data inversion technique
Authors: Trojanowicz Marek , Owczarek-Wesołowska Magdalena 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis paper presents the results of research and analyses related to the development of a new quasigeoid model fitted to GNSS/levelling data for the area of Poland (PL-geoid2021). The model was determined employing two procedures based on the Geophysical Gravity data Inversion technique (GGI method): procedure A consisted of the determination of the gravimetric quasigeoid model in the first step and its subsequent fitting to GNSS/levelling data in the second step, and procedure B consisted of a one-step determination of the model fitted to GNSS/levelling data. Both models were developed using the global geopotential model SGG-UGM-2 and gravity data covering the area of Poland, and slightly extend beyond Poland's southern and northern borders. The average model was adopted as the final model. It was demonstrated that the accuracy of the gravimetric quasigeoid model had a very low dependence on the reference topographic mass density model used. On the basis of this model, the GNSS/levelling datasets were also assessed and outliers were identified. The estimated accuracy of the gravimetric model, determined based on four GNSS/levelling datasets, was in the range of ± 1.2 to ± 1.7 cm, in terms of the standard deviation of the differences between the measured and model-determined height anomalies. Due to partial lack of gravity data just beyond the Polish border, the edge effect was also analysed. The accuracy of the final quasigeoid model (estimated in the same way as the gravimetric model) ranges from ± 1.0 to ± 1.2 cm. It should be noted, however, that this assessment is not fully independent because three of the four sets of GNSS/levelling points used for it, were also used to build the final model.
A comprehensive analysis of intraoperative factors associated with acute-on-chronic kidney injury in elderly trauma patients: blood loss as a key predictor
Authors: Lisitano Leonard , Röttinger Timon , Thorne Tyler , Förch Stefan , Cifuentes Jairo , Rau Kim , Vounatsos Panagiotis Daniel , Mayr Edgar 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background
Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical issue in geriatric patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing orthopedic trauma surgery. The goal of this study was to investigate modifiable intraoperative risk factors for AKI.

Methods
A retrospective study was conducted on 206 geriatric patients with CKD, who underwent orthopedic trauma surgery. Several variables, including intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hypoalbuminemia, intraoperative blood pressure and long-term use of potentially nephrotoxic drugs, were analyzed.

Results
Postoperative AKI (KIDGO) was observed in 25.2% of the patients. The 1-year mortality rate increased significantly from 26.7% to 30.8% in patients who developed AKI. Primary risk factors for AKI were blood loss (p < 0.001), postoperative hypoalbuminemia (p = 0.050), and potentially nephrotoxic drugs prior to admission (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor antagonists, diuretics, antibiotics, NSAIDs) (p = 0.003). Furthermore, the AKI stage negatively correlated with propofol dose per body weight (p = 0.001) and there was a significant association between AKI and the use of cement (p = 0.027). No significant association between intraoperative hypotension and AKI was observed in any statistical test. Femur fracture surgeries showed the greatest blood loss (524mL ± 357mL, p = 0.005), particularly intramedullary nailing at the proximal femur (598mL ± 395mL) and revision surgery (769mL ± 436mL).

Conclusion
In geriatric trauma patients with pre-existing CKD, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hypoalbuminemia, and pre-admission use of potentially nephrotoxic drugs are associated with postoperative AKI. The findings highlight the necessity to mitigate intraoperative blood loss and promote ortho-geriatric co-management to reduce the incidence and subsequent mortality in this high-risk population.
Respiratory Exposure Tests in Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease
Authors: Bobolea Irina , Rubira Nuria , Mullol Joaquim 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Purpose of review
Controlled oral provocation test with aspirin is considered the “gold standard” for diagnosing hypersensitivity to NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs). Newer techniques of respiratory exposure tests, bronchial and nasal respectively, have been nonetheless developed, as they are safer, less likely to cause a systemic reaction, and less time-consuming than the oral provocation test with aspirin (acetyl-salicylic acid). These tests are also particularly useful when oral challenge testing is contraindicated. The aim of this paper is to review and update the detailed protocols of bronchial and nasal challenges with lysine-aspirin, a salt of acetyl-salicylic acid, more soluble and less irritative.

Recent findings
Current guidelines recommend standardized protocols for nasal, and especially bronchial challenge with lysine-aspirin, in patients with suspected N-ERD (NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease).

Summary
Nasal and bronchial tests are useful and safe, nonetheless not that sensible as oral aspirin challenge for the diagnosis of N-ERD. So, in cases of high suspicion and negative respiratory tests, an oral challenge should be performed before ruling out the diagnosis. These techniques should be performed by trained personnel in specialized allergy clinics. Further consensus on nasal test protocol and interpretation is still needed.