bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of ICF-Based Adaptive Physical Activity Programs for High School Students with Intellectual Disabilities in China：a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Shen Xin , Huang Peiying , Nie Bing , Su Maolin , Liu Dan , Guo Yin , Zheng Lan
Published: July 2024

The insufficient effectiveness of physical education curriculum for Chinese high school students with intellectual disabilities (ID) arises from a deficiency in customized frameworks. This study aims to evaluate the impact of adaptive physical activity (APA) programs designed according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework on the health-related physical fitness (HRPF) and fundamental movement skills (FMS) of high school students with intellectual disabilities (ID). A total of 28 students with ID (mean age = 16.2 years) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) participating in APA programs, or a control group (CG) following traditional physical education. The APA sessions lasted 45 minutes, three times a week, for 16 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention HRPF and FMS were assessed. The results show that significant improvements were observed in HRPF and FMS in the IG compared to the CG. Specifically, handgrip strength, sit-to-stand performance, and PACER test results improved significantly. The APA program, based on the ICF theory, is a valuable addition to the current physical education curriculum for students with ID, offering a more inclusive and effective approach to their physical education.
Effects of continuous cropping on growth and rhizosphere soil microbial community structure of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge
Authors: JU Ji dong , Zhou Bingqian , Meng Yuan , Yang Guohong , Fu Xinyu , Wang Xiao , Guo Lanping , Liu Wei
Published: July 2024

Continuous cropping has restricted the development of high-quality and high-yield Salvia miltiorrhiza, which has become an urgent problem to be addressed. The evolution of microbial rhizosphere communities is closely related to plant growth, which may be a key factor that is aggravating obstacles to continuous cropping. Therefore, this study explored the effects of continuous cropping on the microbial rhizosphere community of S. miltiorrhiza. Methods: The effects of continuous cropping on the physiological and morphological indices of S. miltiorrhiza were evaluated by pot experiments. The V4 region of the rhizosphere bacterial 16S rDNA gene and ITS1 region of the fungal gene were sequenced by NovaSeq platform high-throughput sequencing technology to explore the effects of continuous cropping on the bacterial and fungal community structure in the rhizosphere of S. miltiorrhiza. Results: After continuous cropping, the biomass of S. miltiorrhiza decreased, the plant wilted and dwarfed, and the effective leaf area, main root length, and diameter significantly decreased. The accumulation of total chlorophyll, carbohydrates, and effective components was significantly reduced, and photosynthesis was reduced. The bacterial and fungal community composition and function in the rhizosphere soil altered significantly. The bacterial diversity in continuous cropping soil decreased, while the fungal community diversity increased, along with the emergence of pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium solani. Conclusion: Continuous cropping led to morphological changes, weak physiological activity, and reduced bioaccumulation of S. miltiorrhiza, and affected the composition of the microbial rhizosphere community. This may be a key factor that aggravates obstacles in continuous cropping.
Deletion of pagL and arnT genes that involved in LPS structure and charge modulation in Salmonella genome confer reduced endotoxicity and retained efficient protection against wild-type S. Gallinarium challenge in chicken
Authors: Aganja Ram Prasad , Kwon Jun , Senevirathne Amal , Lee John Hwa
Published: July 2024

Fowl typhoid (FT) poses a significant threat to the poultry industry, especially in developing regions, causing substantial economic losses. Caused by Salmonella Gallinarium, FT can be prevented by vaccination, but existing vaccines like the SG9R strain have limitations, including residual virulence and potential reversion of pathogenicity. This study aims to develop safer and more effective SG vaccine strains through targeted genetic modifications, focusing on genes involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis and modification. We evaluated two novel mutant SG strains, JOL3015 and JOL3016, carrying in-frame deletions in ΔlonΔrfaLΔarnT and ΔlonΔrfaLΔpagL respectively. Intramuscular immunization with JOL3015 and JOL3016 strains showed minimal impact on the growth of 4-week-old young birds, significantly increased antigen-specific IgY, sIgA secretion, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, while inducing lower proinflammatory cytokine levels than SG9R. Histopathological evaluations revealed substantial protection in immunized birds, with minimal tissue damage and inflammatory responses, reducing the in vivo bacterial burden. None of the immunized birds died, highlighting the significant safety and protection conferred by the selected genetic modifications. Our results indicate that JOL3016 provided comparable protective outcomes on par with SG9R, yet with significantly lower endotoxicity responses during the lethal challenge with SG WT JOL422. The novel detoxified SG strains, particularly JOL3016, offer a promising alternative to existing vaccines for FT. They provide effective protection with minimal impact on poultry growth, minimizing the risks associated with reversion and endotoxicity. This study highlights the potential of genetically engineered vaccine strains in improving poultry health and productivity, emphasizing the importance of continued research.
Machine Learning-Based Prediction Models for the Prognosis of COVID-19 Patients with DKA
Authors: Xiang Zhongyuan , Hu Jingyi , Bu Shengfang , Ding Jin , Xi Chen , Li Ziyang
Published: July 2024

Patients with Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) have increased critical illness and mortality during coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of our study try to develop a predictive model for the occurrence of critical illness and mortality in COVID-19 patients with DKA utilizing machine learning. Blood samples and clinical data from 242 COVID-19 patients with DKA collected from December 2022 to January 2023 at Second Xiangya Hospital. Patients were categorized into non-death (n = 202) and death (n = 38) groups, and non-severe (n = 146) and severe (n = 96) groups. We developed five machine learning-based prediction models—Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), Logistic Regression (LR), Logistic Regression (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP)—to evaluate the prognosis of COVID-19 patients with DKA. We employed 5-fold cross-validation for model evaluation and used the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) algorithm for result interpretation to ensure reliability. The LR model demonstrated the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.933) in predicting mortality. Additionally, the LR model excelled (AUC = 0.898) in predicting progression to severe disease. This study successfully developed a machine learning-based prediction model for the prognosis of COVID-19 patients with DKA, demonstrating high predictive accuracy and clinical utility. This model can serve as a valuable tool in guiding the development of clinical treatments.
Prognosis of connective tissue disease related interstitial lung disease after initiation of long-term oxygen therapy: comparison with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Ishiwari Mayuko , Kono Yuta , Togashi Yuki , Kobayashi Kenichi , Kikuchi Ryota , Kogami Mariko , Abe Shinji
Published: July 2024

Background
The studies of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) for patents with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) are limited. This study aimed to investigate the prognosis of patients with CTD-ILD after the initiation of LTOT, compared to those with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Methods
We retrospectively investigated patients with CTD-ILD and IPF who were introduced to LTOT between January 2014 and December 2020.
Results
The study included 24 patients with CTD-ILD and 55 patients with IPF. Female gender, never-smoking history, higher body mass index (BMI), higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, lower pulmonary Surfactant Protein-D (SP-D) level and lower Gender-Age-Physiology (GAP) scores were more common in the CTD-ILD group (all < 0.05). The time from interstitial lung disease (ILD) diagnosis to LTOT initiation for patients with CTD-ILD was significantly longer than for patients with IPF (36.0 vs 23.5 months, p = 0.028). Log-rank tests showed that patients with CTD-ILD had significantly longer survival compared to IPF patients after the diagnosis of ILD (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference in survival after the initiation of LTOT was noted between patients with CTD-ILD and IPF (p = 0.276).
Conclusion
Although patients with CTD-ILD had longer overall survival than those with IPF, there was no significant difference in prognosis after the initiation of LTOT between the two groups.
Construction of an interactome network among circRNA-miRNA-mRNA reveals new biomarkers in hBMSCs osteogenic differentiation
Authors: Su Kaixin , Cui Xinyan , Zhou Jian , Yi Qiao , Liu Ousheng
Published: July 2024

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) are adult stem cells residing in the bone marrow, characterized by their capacity for multi-directional differentiation, self-renewal, migration, and engraftment. Serving as seed cells, BMSCs play a pivotal role in the regeneration of bone defects. Hence, investigating the transcription factors and signaling pathways involved in the regulation of osteogenic differentiation in BMSCs holds significant importance. Recent re-search has unveiled that certain circular RNAs (circRNAs) can function as molecular sponges, influencing the osteogenic differentiation process of mesenchymal stem cells. However, many circRNAs remain undiscovered, and their precise mechanisms remain elusive. Therefore, the objective of this study is to construct an osteogenic differentiation-related circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in hBMSCs through bioinformatics analysis. Subsequently, circRNAs associated with the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, as identified by bioinformatics analysis, along with their potential miRNA-mRNA axes, will be validated through in vitro experiments.
CREB3L1 deficiency impairs odontoblastic differentiation and molar dentin deposition partially through the TMEM30B
Authors: Chen Zhi , Li Yuanyuan , Lin Yuxiu , Guo Jinqiang , Huang Delan , Zuo Huanyan , Zhang Hanshu , Yuan Guohua , Liu Huan
Published: July 2024

Odontoblasts are primarily responsible for synthesizing and secreting extracellular matrix proteins, which are crucial for dentinogenesis. Our previous single-cell profile and RNAscope for odontoblast lineage revealed that cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive element-binding protein 3 like 1 (Creb3l1) was specifically enriched in the terminal differentiated odontoblasts. In this study, deletion of Creb3l1 in the Wnt1 + lineage led to insufficient root elongation and dentin deposition. Assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing were performed to revealed that in CREB3L1-deficient mouse dental papilla cells (mDPCs), the genes near the closed chromatin regions were mainly associated with mesenchymal development and the downregulated genes were primarily related to biological processes including cell differentiation, protein biosynthesis and transport, all of which were evidenced by a diminished ability of odontoblastic differentiation, a significant reduction in intracellular proteins, and an even greater decline in extracellular supernatant proteins. Dentin matrix protein 1 (Dmp1), dentin sialophosphoprotein (Dspp), and transmembrane protein 30B (Tmem30b) were identified as direct transcriptional regulatory targets. TMEM30B was intensively expressed in the differentiated odontoblasts, and exhibited a significant decline in both CREB3L1-deficient odontoblasts in vivo and in vitro. Deletion of Tmem30b impaired the ability of odontoblastic differentiation, protein synthesis, and protein secretion in mDPCs. Moreover, overexpressing TMEM30B in CREB3L1-deficient mDPCs partially rescued the extracellular proteins secretion. Collectively, our findings suggest that CREB3L1 participates in dentinogenesis and facilitates odontoblastic differentiation by directly enhancing the transcription of Dmp1, Dspp, and other differentiation-related genes and indirectly promoting protein secretion partially via TMEM30B.
Two-sample Mendelian randomization to analyze the association between depression and osteoarthritis risk
Authors: Yang Sidian , Yan Dezhi , Wang Xiangpeng , Yin JIguang , Yan Fulin , Wu Weishan
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND: Clinical experience has shown that psychiatric disorders are likely to be risk factors for osteoarthritis, and the incidence of depression, as an important category of psychiatric disorders, has been increasing year by year, but the association between depression and osteoarthritis has not yet been established. , as an important category of psychiatric disorders, has been increasing year by year, but the association between depression and osteoarthritis has not been clearly investigated.
OBJECTIVE: To select a dataset of depression and osteoarthritis from the GWAS database and explore the relationship between the two by Mendelian randomisation analysis.
RESEARCH METHODS: A database of depression and osteoarthritis was selected to explore the relationship between depression and osteoarthritis using the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method of the Mendelian randomised random-effects model, and the results of the study were supplemented with the the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method of the Mendelian randomized random-effects model, and the results of the study were supplemented with the use of the MR-Egger method, among others. The results of the study were supplemented with the use of the MR-Egger method, among others.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: IVW results found a causal association between depression and osteoarthritis and that depression is a risk factor for osteoarthritis.
Assesment of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Haemonchus Contortus Infection of Sheep and Goat in Afgooye District, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
Authors: Mohamed Moktar Omar Sheikh , Yasin Abdirahmaan Mohamad . , Jama Naciima Ahmad .
Published: July 2024

Background
Haemonchus contributes considerably to the economic losses incurred in the rearing of small ruminants in developing countries, impacting both small and large-scale operations. This parasitic nematode is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, resulting in substantial losses in production, impaired growth, and elevated mortality rates among the young animals.
Methods
A cross-sectional investigation was implemented in seven villages situated in the Afgoye district, Lower Shabelle, Somalia, between September 2023 and February 2024. During this period, 384 fecal samples from small ruminants were obtained and examined using direct smear and flotation techniques to determine the occurrence and risk factors of haemonchosis in sheep and goats.
Results
The study's results demonstrated a substantial prevalence of Haemonchus contortus among the animals, with a total of 41.67% being infected. Specifically, the infection rate was 30.73% for sheep (246/384) and 10.94% for goats (138/384), with no statistically significant difference between the two species (χ²=2.235, P=0.135). The higher rate of infection in sheep may be due to their grazing habits, which involve feeding closer to the ground and increased exposure to infective larvae (L3). Additionally, variations in feeding behaviors between sheep and goats were also observed.
Sheep and goats in the Afgooye district of the Lower Shabelle region in Somalia were examined for haemonchosis. In female sheep, 20.09% tested positive for the condition, while in male sheep, 7.29% showed positive results. For goats, 9.11% of females and 5.18% of males were infected, with no observable gender-based difference. Animals aged over four years had a slightly higher infection rate of 18.75%, compared to those aged 1-4 years (11.46%) and under one year (11.46%), indicating a significant age-related correlation.
The influence of body condition on infection rates was not found to be significant. However, animals in middle and poor condition exhibited higher rates of infection at 17.71% and 14.58%, respectively, compared to those in good condition at 9.38%. Additionally, the grazing practices employed had an impact on the prevalence of the infection, with animals that were allowed to free-graze showing a higher prevalence rate of 20.83%, compared to those engaged in mixed grazing at 16.67% and zero grazing at 4.17%.
Conclusions
This research offers essential insights into haemonchosis in sheep and goats in Afgoye, which can be used to develop effective farm management practices. The findings particularly highlight the importance of parasite control and eradication strategies to mitigate the impact of haemonchosis on small ruminant production.
Analysis on Interfering factor of Superhighway Pavement Roughness Based on DEMATEL/ISM/MICMAC Models
Authors: HE Yongming , Song Yuting , XING Wanyu , WU Jiaxuan , KANG Jia
Published: July 2024

To make superhighways safer and more comfortable, the interfering factor of the superhighway roughness were determined through investigation and analysis, and the correlations among the interfering factors and the degree of interfering on the roughness were evaluated by the method of integrating DEMATEL-ISM and MICMAC model. Through the analysis of DEMATEL model, 9 causal factors and 19 result factors that affect roughness were obtained. The mutual interfering correlation among these factors and the interfering degree on roughness are studied. Based on ISM model, a multilayer hierarchical model of all factors affecting roughness was established, and the 28 factors were divided into 14 levels. Through the MICMAC model, 8 dependent factors, 5 independent factors and 15 autonomous factors were obtained, which verified the rationality of the selection of interfering factor. The results show that reasonable design, strict management and strict construction process can effectively improve the roughness of the superhighway.
ZnO-Salen NPs employed as chemosensor for detection of Al 3+ and K + in aqueous medium, developing human cell images
Authors: Huerta-Aguilar Carlos Alberto , Bazany-Rodríguez Iván J. , Hansberg-Pastor Valeria , Camacho-Arroyo Ignacio , Reyes-Dominguez Iván Alejandro , Cervantes-Avilés Pabel Antonio , Thangarasu Pandiyan
Published: July 2024

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and characterized by different analytical methods and then they were used to decorate with N,N´-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine (salen) in order to perform as receptor for the metal ions in an aqueous medium. The results show that ZnO-salen selectively detects Al3+ ions in aqueous medium since the intensity of fluorescence has been enhanced significantly. However, the presence of K+ in the medium further intensified the fluorescence emission for the [ZnO-salen-Al3+] system. The above system has been applied to recognize cells by developing the cell images, for which, the fluorescence image is brightened if a human glioblastoma U251 cell contains [ZnO-salen-Al3+] + K+ ions, consisting of the fluorescence titration. The binding global constant for Al3+ and the subsequent recognition of K+ by ZnO-salen resulted in β2(Al3+) = 6.61x103 and β2(K+) = 3.71x103 with a detection limit of 36.51 µM for Al3+ and 17.39 µM for K+. In the cell toxicity analysis, the cell viability was over 85% for the ZnO-salen even in the concentration as high as 100 mM.
Whether pattern memory can be truly realized in deep neural network?
Authors: Xie Zhenping , li tingting , Lyu Ruimin
Published: July 2024

The unknown boundary issue, between superior computational capability of deep neural networks (DNNs) and human cognitive ability, has becoming crucial and foundational theoretical problem in AI evolution. Undoubtedly, DNN-empowered AI capability is increasingly surpassing human intelligence in handling general intelligent tasks. However, the absence of DNN’s interpretability and recurrent erratic behavior remain incontrovertible facts. Inspired by perceptual characteristics of human vision on optical illusions, we propose a novel working capability analysis framework for DNNs through innovative cognitive response characteristics on visual illusion images, accompanied with fine adjustable sample image construction strategy. Our findings indicate that, although DNNs can infinitely approximate human-provided empirical standards in pattern classification, object detection and semantic segmentation, they are still unable to truly realize independent pattern memorization. All super cognitive abilities of DNNs purely come from their powerful sample classification performance on similar known scenes. Above discovery establishes a new foundation for advancing artificial general intelligence.
Deep Learning based Approaches for Intelligent Industrial Machinery Health Management & Fault Diagnosis in Resource-Constrained Environments
Authors: Khan Ali Saeed , Akram Muhammad Usman , Khattak Muazzam K , Jawed Soyiba
Published: July 2024

Industry 4.0 represents the fourth industrial revolution, which is characterized by the incorporation of digital technologies, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, big data, and other advanced technologies into industrial processes.Industrial Machinery Health Management (IMHM) is a crucial element, based on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which focuses on monitoring the health and condition of industrial machinery. The academic community has focused on various aspects of IMHM, such as prognostic maintenance, condition monitoring, estimation of remaining useful life (RUL), intelligent fault diagnosis (IFD), and architectures based on edge computing. Each of these categories holds its own significance in the context of industrial processes. In this survey, we specifically examine the research on RUL prediction, edge-based architectures, and intelligent fault diagnosis, with a primary focus on the domain of intelligent fault diagnosis. The importance of IFD methods in ensuring the smooth execution of industrial processes has become increasingly evident. However, most methods are formulated under the assumption of complete, balanced, and abundant data, which often does not align with real-world engineering scenarios. The difficulties linked to these classifications of IMHM have received noteworthy attention from the research community, leading to a substantial number of published papers on the topic. While there are existing comprehensive reviews that address major challenges and limitations in this field, there is still a gap in thoroughly investigating research perspectives across RUL prediction, edge-based architectures, and complete intelligent fault diagnosis processes. To fill this gap,we undertake a comprehensive survey that reviews and discusses research achievements in this domain, specifically focusing on IFD. Initially, we classify the existing IFD methods into three distinct perspectives: the method of processing data, which aims to optimize inputs for the intelligent fault diagnosis model and mitigate limitations in the training sample set; the method of constructing the model, which involves designing the structure and features of the model to enhance its resilience to challenges; and the method of optimizing training, which focuses on refining the training process for intelligent fault diagnosis models and emphasizes the importance of ideal data in the training process. Subsequently, the survey covers techniques related to RUL prediction and edge-cloud architectures for resource-constrained environments. Finally, this survey consolidates the outlook on relevant issues in IMHM, explores potential solutions, and offers practical recommendations for further consideration.
Dietary practices and nutritional status of elderly persons in post-conflict: A cross-sectional study of Northern Uganda
Authors: Ocaya Dennis , Ndagire Regina , Namboze Joweria , Kyeyune Jemimah , Atim Fiona
Published: July 2024

Background
Malnutrition remains a problem in older populations globally. Most older persons do not meet the required dietary intake with the majority consuming more of carbohydrate-based foods and vegetables. The current study therefore aimed at assessing the dietary practices, nutritional status and associated factors among elderly persons in the post-war setting of Gulu district.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study among elderly persons ≥ 60 years residing in Bungatira Sub-County, Aswa County-Gulu District. The study used a multi-stage sampling procedure. Nutritional status was measured using the Mini Nutrition Assessment – Short Form (MNA-SF) Analysis was done in STATA 16 using modified Poisson regression model. Variables with a p-value of 0.05 at multivariable analysis were considered as factors associated with malnutrition.
Results
The study enrolled 141 participants with a median age (IQR) of 71(64,79) years. Majority of the
respondents, 96(68.1%) were female and 72(51.1%) reported to be widows or widowers. Nearly three quarters, 104(73.8%) were involved in agriculture as a source of livelihood and 64(45.4%) had no education background. The prevalence of malnutrition was 53.9% [95%Cl: 45.6 – 62.0]. The study found that 47(33.6%) participants ate Sorghum and its products daily and 64(45.7%) ate it 1-4 times per week. Millet was eaten by 62(45.9%) participants 1-4 times a week while maize and its products was eaten by 56(40.6%) 1-2 times monthly. We found that increasing age (aPR=1.02, 95%Cl =1.00–1.04, p-value=0.022), having primary education (aPR=1.59, 95%Cl=1.06–2.38, p-value=0.026), staying <5km away from the health facility (aPR=1.60, 95%Cl=1.18–2.16, p-value=0.003) and a DDS ≥60 (aPR=0.70, 95%CI=0.53–0.94, p-value=0.018) were significantly associated with having malnutrition.
Conclusion
Majority of the participants were malnourished. Elderly persons were found to have a decline in food intake in the past months; and age, education, dietary diversity and distance from healthcare facility were the factors that influenced nutritional status. There’s need for age-appropriate elderly health education programs. Elderly programs should aim at bringing healthcare services nearer to the elderly through community and home-based approaches.
A Meaningful Machine Learning Model for Predicting Amputation Rate of Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer
Authors: Liu Zixuan , Han Siyang , Gao Lei , Wang Jiangning , Yao Qi
Published: July 2024

Background. Diabetic foot (DF) disease, which includes ulcers, infections and gangrene of the feet, is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Due to the high disability rate and expensive treatment cost of diabetic foot, doctors and patients all hope to forecast the prognosis in time and give early intervention. With the development of artificial intelligence technology, more and more methods are used in the diagnosis and prognosis prediction of chronic diseases. Machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence, has excellent predictive effects with a certain accuracy.1 The results of diabetic foot are affected by many factors, so it is necessary for the machine learning to reasonably predict the relationship between input variables and output variables, and to correct and tolerate faults.2 Objective. To develop an accurate and applicable predictive model for diabetic foot amputation and use it to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment, indicating the direction for the prevention of diabetic foot amputation.
Methods and Materials. This retrospective study collected the basic data of 150 patients with DFU who met the study criteria in Beijing Shijitan Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022. Above all, We divided them into amputation group and non-amputation group based on prognostic outcome. Then we used Lasso algorithm to screen relevant risk factors, and predictive models were built with support vector mechanism(SVM) to input risk factors and predict amputation. Besides, we divided the test set and training set by 5-fold cross-validation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the model were 0.89. This model’s calibration capability was 19.614 through Hosmer-Lemeshow test (p=0.012).
Conclusion. In summary, our survey data suggested that C-reactive protein (CRP) in the infection index and the Wagner scale of the affected foot might play a vital role in predicting diabetic foot amputation. The predictive model we constructed can accurately estimate the rate of amputation during hospitalization in DFU patients. In addition, the model allows for personalized analysis of patients' risk factors.
Stress wave propagation characteristics and energy dissipation effects in sandy soil
Authors: CUI Peng , SU Tian , LIU Le , WANG Teng , LI Bangxiang , GUAN Xuetao , MEI Xuefeng
Published: July 2024

To investigate the energy attenuation law and propagation velocity of stress waves in sandy soil material, this paper focuses on the dynamic response of stress waves in a specimen under both single impact and repetitive impact conditions. The improved split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system is utilized for this purpose. The results reveal that the length of the specimen follows an exponential function relationship with the attenuation of peak stress. As the length of the specimen increases from 40 mm to 240 mm, the attenuation rate of peak stress increases from 26.3–99.0%. The velocity of peak stress decreases with the increase in specimen length, indicating a correlation between these two factors. Furthermore, the impact test results show that the number of impacts and the density of the specimen affect the attenuation of the stress wave. As the number of impacts increases, the density of the specimen also increases, resulting in a gradual decrease in the degree of stress wave attenuation. When the density increases from 1.60 g·cm− 3 to 2.29 g·cm− 3, the attenuation of the stress wave decreases by 17.0%, and the energy absorption density increases from 0.241 MJ·m− 3 to 1.172 MJ·m− 3, representing a 386.3% increase. Additionally, the study finds that the energy absorption efficiency decreases with the increase in the number of impacts at the same stress level. However, after two impacts, the energy absorption efficiency approaches a steady state. At the same strain level, the energy absorption efficiency remains consistent, indicating the material's energy dissipation characteristics.
Dynamical Analysis of Neuron-Astrocyte Interactions at the Tripartite Synapse
Authors: Garcia Den Whilrex , Jacquir Sabir
Published: July 2024

Astrocytes are currently gaining attention from the neuroscience community due to their contribution to multitude of functions, which includes but not limited to their ability to change the neuron's spiking frequency, their capacity to alter neuron's firing activity and their involvement in memory formation and synaptic plasticity regulation. To date, many computational models describing the dynamics of astrocytes, together with their complex interaction with neurons, were proposed, however, these could still be improved since the exploration to their functions and mechanisms was way later than neurons. Hence, in this paper, we want to investigate the steady state behavior of the neuron-astrocyte interaction through a presentation of phase plane analysis. We utilize the Adaptive Exponential Integrate-and-Fire model to describe the firing dynamics of the neuron while drawing inspiration from the work of Postnov and collaborators to describe the calcium dynamics of the astrocyte. Our findings unveil that astrocytes can stimulate an inactive neuron and modulate an active neuron's firing pattern. In addition, astrocyte can also inhibit neurons from firing. These highlight the crucial role that the contribution of astrocyte to the synapse plays in regulating neuronal activity and producing a range of neuronal firing behaviors within the neuron-astrocyte ensemble. They may impact neuronal synchronization, an attribute of several illnesses, including epilepsy, and, on the other hand, may enhance brain information processing.
MAQT:Multi-scale Attention and Query-Optimized Transformer for End-to-End Pose Estimation
Authors: Liang Hong , Wang Cuiping , Shao Mingwen , Zhang Qian
Published: July 2024

Researchers are rapidly turning their focus to human pose estimation as a crucial area of computer vision. In light of the shortcomings of existing Transformer-based pose estimate methods when handling localized features, this work presents MAQT, an enhanced end-to-end method aimed at precise multi-human body pose estimation.To improve the localization of keypoints that are sensitive to scale changes, MAQT offers a Asym-Fusion block. Additionally, we design a new query strategy to optimize the initial selection of queries with Uncertainty-minimal Query Selection. This study combines two self-attention mechanisms in the decoding phase to more correctly understand and record the intricate relationships among keypoints. Based on experimental results on MS COCO using the CrowdPose dataset, MAQT performs better than current contemporary methods.
A Study of the Application of Nafamostat Mesylate Anticoagulation in the Treatment of Patients with Hepatic Failure in a Double-Plasma Molecular Adsorption System
Authors: Hu Yao , He Xin , Sun Min , Wu Yuxi , Xiang Yuanbing , Tang Yayun , Wang Ying , Zhong Lihui , Lei Min
Published: July 2024

Background
Hepatic failure is a critical condition that frequently necessitates advanced therapeutic interventions, including extracorporeal treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nafamostat mesylate in a double-plasma molecular adsorption system (DPMAS) compared to enoxaparin.
Methods
We conducted a single-center randomized controlled study. We included adult patients who required DPMAS in our department from 2021 to 2024. Clinical and filter-related data were extracted.
Results
We included 30 patients in the study, with 16 in the MN group and 14 in the Enoxaparin group. The MN group received an average dosage of 92.75 ± 6.28 mg, whereas the Enoxaparin group received 3214.29 ± 892.58 IU. Use of MN was associated with a lower risk of bleeding complications at the puncture site (6.25% vs. 28.57%, P = 0.037). Both groups showed significant reductions in total bilirubin levels post-treatment (MN: 139.12 ± 34.69 µmol/L, Enoxaparin: 135 ± 16.61 µmol/L), with no significant difference between the groups. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of dialyzer coagulation, hypotension, red blood cell transfusion, or 30- and 90-day survival rates (P > 0.05).
Conclusions
The use of NM as an anticoagulant during DPMAS was associated with a decreased incidence of bleeding complications compared to the use of enoxaparin. NM is a safe and effective anticoagulant for DPMAS treatment in hepatic failure patients.
Pigment production by identified Pseudofusicoccum adansoniae: extract production, Cytotoxicity activity and diketopiperazines identified
Authors: Alves Bianca V. B. , Borges Letícia J. , Hanna Samira A. , Soares Milena B. P. , Bezerra Daniel P. , Moreira Laysa Lanes Pereira Ferreira , Borges Warley S. , Portela Ricardo Wagner Dias , Fernandez Clara Couto , Umsza-Guez Marcelo A.
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to molecularly identify an isolated fungus that produces a burgundy pigment, and to verify the influence of the type of light on the growth of the fungus and on the production of the pigment in submerged fermentation. In addition, a cytotoxicity assay was performed with HepG2, SCC4, BJ and MRC-5 cells, and the identification of the secondary metabolites produced by the fungus was performed by NMR. The isolated fungus was identified as Pseudofusicoccum adansoniae, which demonstrated better growth and pigment production under yellow light. The extract produced did not show cytotoxicity. Among the isolated compounds, cyclo(L-Pro-L-Val) and cyclo(L-Leu-L-Pro) (Diketopiperazines) have already been described in food and are produced by different organisms, presenting several beneficial biological activities. The identified fungus is a promising producer of biopigments, whose crude extract does not show cytotoxicity. The isolated compounds exhibit interesting biological activities in the food area, such as antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant actions, making it a viable option for application in food as a natural pigment.
Assessment of antioxidant capacity of Cystosphaera jacquinotii (Fucales, Ochrophyta) by two methods: DPPH and CUPRAC.
Authors: Pena-Martín Carolina , Serrano Raquel , Grindlay Guillermo , Crespo Manuel B.
Published: July 2024

The present work was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Cystosphaera jacquinotii and to quantify its total phenolic content (TPC), compared with other fucal, Ericaria amentacea. Phenolic compounds occur in high quantities in brown algae and they have an essential paper in antioxidative action.
Extracts were prepared with methanol dilution. The quantification methods used for the determination of the antioxidant capacity were CUPRAC and DPPH.
From the obtained results it can be concluded that Cystosphaera jacquinotii presents a high TPC, which directly contributes to the strong antioxidant activity detected, even higher than Ericaria amentacea. Besides, this work evidences that the kinetics of the extracts in DPPH assays is a markedly variable factor that must be considered to assess the antioxidant capacity of seaweeds species. Furthermore, standardized extraction methods and antioxidant activity analyses are needed to properly compare data and get the optimal ones. In the same way, more studies on the role of different compounds in antioxidant activity are wanting, which will help to get the best performance.
Non-unital channel can sometimes enhance faithfulness of two-qubit entanglement
Authors: Liu Longjiang , Li Lingchao
Published: July 2024

States whose entanglement can be detected by a fidelity-based entanglement witness are faithful. In this paper, we introduce a new necessary and sufficient condition for identifying faithful states. This condition is based on trace norm. With the help of this condition, we investigate the effect of local channels on faithfulness of two-qubit entangled states. The result shows that all the unital channels cannot enhance the faithfulness of entangled states. Some non-unital channels can improve the faithfulness of a restricted set of entangled states, and even can change an unfaithful entangled state to a faithful one. However, the faithfulness of all the states with maximally mixed marginals only can decrease when they are subjected to local channels.
Novel dual inhibitor targeting CDC25 and HDAC for treating triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Sethy Bidyadhar , Upadhyay Richa , Narwanti Iin , Yu Zih-Yao , Lee Sung-Bau , Liou Jing-Ping
Published: July 2024

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses a significant challenge for treatment due to its aggressive nature and the lack of effective therapies. This study developed dual inhibitors against cell division cycle 25 (CDC25) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) for TNBC treatment. CDC25 phosphatases are crucial for activating cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), the master regulators of cell cycle progression. HDACs regulate various biological processes by deacetylating histone and non-histone proteins, affecting gene expression, chromatin structure, cell differentiation, and proliferation. Dysregulations of HDACs and CDC25s are associated with several human malignancies. We generated a group of dual inhibitors for CDC25 and HDAC by combining the molecular structures of CDC25 (quinoline-5,8-dione) and HDAC (hydroxamic acid or benzamide) pharmacophores. The newly developed compounds were evaluated against solid-tumor, leukemia, and non-malignant breast epithelial cells. Among the synthesized compounds, 18A emerged as a potent inhibitor, demonstrating significant cytotoxicity against TNBC cells, superior to its effects on other cancer types while sparing non-malignant cells.18A possessed similar HDAC inhibitory activity as Entinostat and potently suppressed the CDC25 activity in cells. Additionally, 18A hindered the progression of S and G2/M phases, caused DNA damage, and induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that 18A holds promise as a targeted therapy for TNBC and warrants further preclinical development.
Hepatoprotective effect of L-carnitine is achieved via activating Nrf2 and targeting TLR4 signaling pathways in Thioacetamide –induced liver fibrosis in rats
Authors: Shalaby Mostafa Abbas , Ramadan Amer , El-Rahman Sahar S. Abd , Fayed Hany M.
Published: July 2024

Background: Liver fibrosis is a critical health problem that can results in serious illness and death. L-carnitine (LC) is a naturally occurring compound which transports fatty acids through the inner mitochondrial membrane for consequent beta-oxidation. It acts as an antioxidant to lessen cellular oxidative stress. .This study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of LC in the modulation of Nrf2 signaling and TLR4 pathways in rats with liver fibrosis caused Thioacetamide (TAA).
Methods: Twenty-four adult male Wister rats were assigned into four groups as follows: Group 1 served as a normal control group. Rats in group 2 were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with TAA to twice a week at a dose of 200 mg/kg B.wt for 6 weeks to produce liver fibrosis. Two weeks following TAA injections, 50 and 100 mg/kg of LC were administered to the rats in groups 3 and 4, concurrently with TAA injections until end of the experiment.
Results: Injection of LC decreased the levels of the liver enzymes (ALT and AST) in rats with liver fibrosis induced by TAA. Malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) levels all significantly decreased in LC treated groups. LC administration increased albumin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and glutathione (GSH) levels. Additionally, expression of PI3K was increased and expression of TLR4 was decreased in the LC treated groups according to PCR data. The biochemical findings were supported by histopathological findings. Regarding immunohistopathological examination, the LC treated groups reduced in hepatic expression of caspase-3 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA).
Conclusion that LC reduces, in a dose dependent manner, liver fibrosis in rats induced by Thioacetamide via modifying Nrf2 and TLR4 pathways.
Investigating factors influencing rabies protective practices among dog owners in the endemic southern zone of sarawak, malaysia: establishing baseline data for future outbreak management
Authors: Bihos Peter Ronald , Jiee Sam Froze , Lim Siong Hee , Ngui Romano
Published: July 2024

Background
Since 2017, the state of Sarawak in Malaysia has been in a relentless battle to contain the rabies outbreak, with 79 recorded cases of human rabies and 72 fatalities. This study, therefore, is not just an investigation but a call to action to understand the factors influencing rabies protective practices among dog owners in the southern zone of Sarawak, Malaysia.
Methodology
This comprehensive study, conducted in the southern zone of Sarawak from January to August 2024, involved 295 dog owners aged 18 and above residing in urban and rural areas with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and ethnic groups. Researchers used a range of statistical methods, including descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and binary logistic regression to analyse data and identify predictors influencing rabies protective practices, with a significance level of p<0.05 for all analyses. The thoroughness of the study ensures the reliability of the findings.
Results
. Among the 295 respondents, the average age was 40.5 ± 13.5 years. The majority of respondents, 76 (25.8%), were aged 30–39 years. Of the participants, 164 (55.6%) were female, 109 (36.9%) were of Iban ethnicity, 130 (44.1%) had tertiary education, and 169 (57.3%) resided in rural areas. Regarding rabies awareness, 149 (50.5%) strongly agreed that dogs can spread rabies, while 115 (30.0%) agreed that the symptoms of rabies in dogs are easily recognisable. Additionally, 147 (40.8%) strongly supported the idea that vaccinating all stray dogs is the most effective way to control the spread of rabies. Good rabies protective practices were significantly associated with the level of knowledge (p < 0.001) and attitude level (p < 0.002). Specifically, those with good knowledge and a positive attitude were likelier to exhibit good rabies protective practices.
Conclusion
Strong knowledge, positive attitudes, and effective practices related to rabies prevention among dog owners in Southern Sarawak provide an opportunity for local government and non-governmental organisations to improve rabies control through community education, regular vaccination campaigns, and professional training. These efforts can help put an end to the rabies outbreak in Sarawak.
Pregnancy and obstetric outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer with embryos generated from SARS-CoV-2 Infection during controlled ovarian stimulation: A retrospective study
Authors: Yin Huayan , Zhou Yuqi , Wu Longmei , Shen Qunshan , Song Bing
Published: July 2024

Background
Investigations of the long-term effects of the COVID-19 are ongoing. This investigation aimed to explore the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) on the pregnancy and obstetric outcomes in frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FETs) cycles. This area has not been thoroughly examined in previous research.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study including 126 couples with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection during COS, undergoing FET cycles with embryos generated from the infection before July 31 of 2023. Controls were women with non-infected during the COS and matched by age, number, and day of embryo transfer in the same time. Demographic and cycle characteristics and pregnancy and obstetric were examined for this retrospective cohort analysis.
Results
The study included 300 infertile couples, with 126 having an infection during the COS and the remaining 174 not infected. The clinical pregnancy rates were 58.8% and 58.6% respectively (P = 0.958). Other pregnancy features, such as biochemical pregnancy, early miscarriage rate, ongoing pregnancy, cumulative clinical pregnancy were also comparable between the two groups. There also were no significant differences of obstetric outcomes were found between the groups in terms of cesarean section rate, gestational age and premature delivery rate between the two groups.
Conclusions
In FET cycles of patients with embryos generated from SARS-CoV-2 infection, no significant difference of pregnancy and obstetric outcomes were observed. FET can be safely continued in patients with past COVID-19 during COS. However, more research is needed to figure out COVID-19's long-term impact on the physical and psychological development of newborns.