bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying immune cell infiltration and effective diagnostic biomarkers for ischemic stroke using bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Zhang Zongyong , Zheng Zongqing , Luo Wenwei , Li Jiebo , Liao Jiushan , Chen Fuxiang , Wang Dengliang , Lin Yuanxiang
Published: December 2024

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Screening for marker genes in IS is crucial for its early diagnosis and improvement in clinical outcomes. In the study, the gene expression profiles in the GSE22255 and GSE37587 datasets were extracted from the public database Gene Expression Omnibus. Weighted gene co‑expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to investigate the gene sets that were related to ubiquitination. A total of 33 ubiquitination-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using “limma (version 3.50.0)”. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) analysis enriched multiple pathways that were closely related to IS. The correlations between the HALLMARK signaling pathways and DGEs were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to validate the diagnostic value of the key genes. Among them, 16 genes were identified as hub genes. Single-sample GSEA was performed to evaluate the infiltration status of immune cells in IS. To understand the potential molecular mechanisms of the hub genes in IS, we constructed RBP-mRNA and mRNA–miRNA–lncRNA interaction networks. Additionally, we used the GeneMANIA database to create a PPI network for the signature genes to investigate their functions. As a result, there was a significant difference in the overall infiltration of immune cells between the IS and control groups. Among the 28 types of immune cells, the degree of infiltration of seven types was significantly different between the two groups (p<0.05). The expression of four types of immune cells, namely type 1 T helper cell, type 17 T helper cell, eosinophil, and mast cell, in the IS group were significantly higher than that in the control group. The expressions of DHFR2 (R = -0.575; p<0.001) and DNAAF2 (R = -0.562; p<0.001) were significantly negatively correlated with eosinophil infiltration. The PPI network demonstrated that the 16 hub genes interacted with each other. In conclusion, we identified DEGs, WGCNA modules, hub genes, enriched pathways, and infiltrating immune cells that may be closely involved in IS. Further studies are required to explore the functions of these genes.
1.25(OH)2D3 decreases PCNA and mTOR expression and alleviates renal injury in Thy-1 nephritis rat model
Authors: Li Jian-feng , Jin Lei , Ma Huan , Suo Jie , Yang Rui , Yang Xiao-ping
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study investigated the role and mechanisms of 1.25(OH)2D3 in proliferative glomerulonephritis and its effect on the regulation of mesangial cells.

Methods

Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (CG), nephritis (NG), nephritis + 1.25(OH)2D3(NVG), and nephritis + 1.25(OH)2D3+ rapamycin (NVRG) (n = 15 per group). Three rats from each group were sacrificed on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after intervention. Urine samples were collected over 24 hours on day 0 to measure urinary protein excretion. Renal tissue samples were stained with HE and PAS to evaluate the extent of renal injury, while immunohistochemistry was employed to quantify PCNA and mTOR expression in the renal tissues.

Results

Compared to the NG, mesangial cell proliferation in the renal tissues was significantly reduced in the NVG and NVRG at all time points (all p<0.05). PCNA expressionwas significantly higher in the NG compared to the CG (p < 0.05) and significantly lower in the NVG and NVRG (p < 0.05). mTOR expression was also significantly increased in the NG compared to the CG, with a significant reduction observed in the NVG and NVRG compared to the NG.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that 1.25(OH)2D3significantly inhibits the proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells in rats. Additionally, mTOR protein is involved in the regulation of glomerular mesangial cells by 1.25(OH)2D3. These results further elucidate the molecular mechanism by which 1.25(OH)2D3alleviates renal injury in glomerulonephritis.
Topology aware multitask cascaded U-Net for cerebrovascular segmentation
Authors: Rougé Pierre , Passat Nicolas , Merveille Odyssée
Published: December 2024

Cerebrovascular segmentation is a crucial preliminary task for many computer-aided diagnosis tools dealing with cerebrovascular pathologies. Over the last years, deep learning based methods have been widely applied to this task. However, classic deep learning approaches struggle to capture the complex geometry and specific topology of cerebrovascular networks, which is of the utmost importance in many applications. To overcome these limitations, the clDice loss, a topological loss that focuses on the vessel centerlines, has been recently proposed. This loss requires computing the skeletons of both the manual annotation and the predicted segmentation in a differentiable way. Currently, differentiable skeletonization algorithms are either inaccurate or computationally demanding. In this article, it is proposed that a U-Net be used to compute the vascular skeleton directly from the segmentation and the magnetic resonance angiography image. This method is naturally differentiable and provides a good trade-off between accuracy and computation time. The resulting cascaded multitask U-Net is trained with the clDice loss to embed topological constraints during the segmentation. In addition to this topological guidance, this cascaded U-Net also benefits from the inductive bias generated by the skeletonization during the multitask training. This model is able to predict the cerebrovascular segmentation with a more accurate topology than current state-of-the-art methods and with a low training time. This method is evaluated on two publicly available time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA) images datasets, also the codes of the proposed method and the reimplementation of state-of-the-art methods are made available at: https://github.com/PierreRouge/Cascaded-U-Net-for-vessel-segmentation.
Species-specific renal and liver responses during infection with food-borne trematodes Opisthorchis felineus, Opisthorchis viverrini, or Clonorchis sinensis
Authors: Zaparina Oxana G. , Kapushchak Yaroslav K. , Lishai Ekaterina A. , Hong Sung-Jong , Sripa Banchob , Pakharukova Maria Y.
Published: December 2024

Three food-borne trematodes—Opisthorchis felineus, Opisthorchis viverrini, and Clonorchis sinensis—are closely related epidemiologically important species. Despite the similarity of their life cycles, these liver flukes also have marked differences in the geographical range, helminth biology, and hepatobiliary disorders. O. viverrini and C. sinensis are classified as Group 1 biological carcinogens while O. felineus is not. Direct comparisons of systemic response to the liver fluke infections are unexplored aspects. This study was carried out to identify species-specific liver and kidney responses in the hamster models after the infection with one of the three liver flukes. Liver periductal-fibrosis development was similar between hamsters infected with O. felineus or C. sinensis, whereas biliary intraepithelial neoplasia development was noticed predominantly in O. viverrini–infected ones. Species-specific renal damage was detected, including progression of interstitial fibrosis and IgA deposition in glomeruli of O. felineus–infected hamsters and C. sinensis–infected ones. A strong correlation (R = 0.63; P = 0.0001) was found between periductal fibrosis in the liver and kidney interstitial fibrosis. Future comparative studies are needed to elucidate the development of serious complications during the long term of the infection, as well as under the influence of additional factors, including concomitant infections and the use of dimethylnitrosamine to clarify the mechanisms underlying the liver fluke-associated carcinogenesis. Thus, our findings may stimulate new comparative studies on the pathogenicity.
DRSegNet: A cutting-edge approach to Diabetic Retinopathy segmentation and classification using parameter-aware Nature-Inspired optimization
Authors: Kamal Sundreen Asad , Du Youtian , Khalid Majdi , Farrash Majed , Dhelim Sahraoui
Published: December 2024

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a prominent reason of blindness globally, which is a diagnostically challenging disease owing to the intricate process of its development and the human eye’s complexity, which consists of nearly forty connected components like the retina, iris, optic nerve, and so on. This study proposes a novel approach to the identification of DR employing methods such as synthetic data generation, K- Means Clustering-Based Binary Grey Wolf Optimizer (KCBGWO), and Fully Convolutional Encoder-Decoder Networks (FCEDN). This is achieved using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to generate high-quality synthetic data and transfer learning for accurate feature extraction and classification, integrating these with Extreme Learning Machines (ELM). The substantial evaluation plan we have provided on the IDRiD dataset gives exceptional outcomes, where our proposed model gives 99.87% accuracy and 99.33% sensitivity, while its specificity is 99. 78%. This is why the outcomes of the presented study can be viewed as promising in terms of the further development of the proposed approach for DR diagnosis, as well as in creating a new reference point within the framework of medical image analysis and providing more effective and timely treatments.
Previous binaural experience supports compensatory strategies in hearing-impaired children’s auditory horizontal localization
Authors: Gulli Andrea , Fontana Federico , Aruffo Alessandro , Orzan Eva , Muzzi Enrico
Published: December 2024

This study investigates auditory localization in children with a diagnosis of hearing impairment rehabilitated with bilateral cochlear implants or hearing aids. Localization accuracy in the anterior horizontal field and its distribution along the angular position of the source were analyzed. Participants performed a localization task in a virtual environment where they could move their heads freely and were asked to point to an invisible sound source. The source was rendered using a loudspeaker set arranged as a semi-circular array in the horizontal plane. The participants’ head positions were tracked while their hands pointed to the auditory target; the preferred listening position and the onset of active strategies involving head movement were extracted. A significant correlation was found between age and localization accuracy and age and head movement in children with bilateral hearing aids. Investigating conditions where no, one, or both hearing devices were turned off, it was found that asymmetrical hearing caused the largest errors. Under this specific condition, head movement was used erratically by children with bilateral cochlear implants who focused on postures maximizing sound intensity at the more sensitive ear. Conversely, those with a consolidated binaural hearing experience could use dynamic cues even if one hearing aid was turned off. This finding may have implications for the clinical evaluation and rehabilitation of individuals with hearing impairments.
Can transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the motor cortex increase endurance running performance? a randomized crossover-controlled trial
Authors: Martens Géraldine , Hody Stéphanie , Bornheim Stephen , Angius Luca , De Beaumont Louis , Fregni Felipe , Ruffini Giulio , Kaux Jean-François , Thibaut Aurore , Bury Thierry
Published: December 2024

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, has been shown to increase exercise performance in strength and cycling studies but its effects on running endurance remain unclear. The objectives of this randomized sham-controlled crossover trial were to assess tDCS efficacy on submaximal treadmill running time to exhaustion (TTE). Forty-five healthy male runners aged between 18 and 32 years (mean maximal oxygen consumption: 46.6 mL/min/kg) performed two constant-load tests at 90% of their maximal aerobic speed preceded by 20 minutes of active or sham multichannel (5 anodes, 3 cathodes) tDCS applied over the bilateral motor cortex with a total intensity of 4 mA. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate, VO2, and heart rate were monitored every five minutes until volitional exhaustion. The median [IQR] TTE was similar following active (12.2 [10.5, 16.1] minutes) or sham (12.5 [10.2, 15.1] minutes) tDCS (p = 0.96). Likewise, there were no significant differences between active and sham conditions for RPE, blood lactate, final VO2, and final heart rate (all p ≥0.05). No difference in TTE was found when stratifying groups according to their VO2max (i.e., VO2max ≥ 45 mL/min/Kg, p = 0.53; VO2max < 45 mL/min/Kg, p = 0.45) but there was a trend for a significant correlation between VO2max and change in TTE (p = 0.06). TDCS applied over the bilateral motor cortex did not improve endurance performance in a large sample of trained runners. Characterization of individual tDCS responsiveness deserves further consideration. In our experimental conditions, tDCS had no ergogenic effect on endurance running performance.

Trial registration: Clinical trial registration: NCT04005846.
Quality indicators for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in primary care: A systematic review
Authors: Bam Kiran , Olaiya Muideen T. , Cadilhac Dominique A. , Redfern Julie , Nelson Mark R. , Sanders Lauren M. , Sundararajan Vijaya , Andrew Nadine E. , Murphy Lisa , Kilkenny Monique F.
Published: December 2024

Background

Primary care is usually the entry point for preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Quality indicators can be used to assess and monitor the quality of care provided in a primary care setting. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify, summarise, and assess the methodological quality of indicators reported in the articles for the primary prevention of CVD in primary care.

Methods

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, SCOPUS, and grey literature for articles containing quality indicators published in English language. Quality indicators were categorised using the Donabedian framework: Structure (organisation of care), Process (assessment of metabolic risk factors, global risk assessment, lifestyle management, prescription of medications, risk communication/advice, referral), and Outcome (attainment of risk factor targets). Articles were reviewed by two authors, using the Appraisal of Indicators through Research and Evaluation (AIRE) instrument, where a score of ≥50% for each domain indicated strong methodological quality (e.g., stakeholder involvement).

Results

We identified 282 articles for full-text review; 57 articles were included for extraction. A total of 726 (681 unique) quality indicators were extracted. Three out of four (76%) were process indicators (56 articles), followed by 15% outcome indicators (40 articles), and 9% structure indicators (12 articles). One-third of process indicators were related to the assessment of metabolic risk factors (222/726 indicators, 41 articles), followed by lifestyle management (153/726 indicators, 39 articles), prescription of medications (122/726 indicators, 37 articles), and global risk assessment (27/726, 14 articles). Few indicators were related to risk communication/advice (20/726 indicators, 7 articles) and referral (9/726 indicators, 6 articles). Only 26/57 (46%) articles were found to have strong methodological quality.

Conclusion

We summarised and appraised the methodological quality of indicators for the primary prevention of CVD. The next step requires prioritising a minimum set of quality indicators to encourage standardised collection and monitoring across countries.
SE-MAConvLSTM: A deep learning framework for short-term traffic flow prediction combining Squeeze-and-Excitation Network and Multi-Attention Convolutional LSTM Network
Authors: Zhu Rong , Tang Jie , He Xuansen , Zhou Xianlai , Huang Xiaohui , Wu Fengyun , Chen Songli
Published: December 2024

Traffic flow prediction is an important part of transportation management and planning. For example, accurate demand prediction of taxis and online car-hailing can reduce the waste of resources caused by empty cars. The prediction of public bicycle flow can be more reasonable to plan the release and deployment of public bicycles. There are three difficulties in traffic flow prediction to achieve higher accuracy. Firstly, more accurately to capture the spatio-temporal correlation existing in historical flow data. Secondly, the weight of each channel in the traffic flow data at the same time interval affects the prediction results. Thirdly, the proportion of closeness, period and trend of traffic flow data affects the prediction results. In this paper, we design a deep learning algorithm for short-term traffic flow prediction, called SE-MAConvLSTM. First, we designed Spatio-Temporal Feature Extraction Module (STFEM), which is composed of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Squeeze-and-Excitation Network (SENet), Residual Network (ResNet) and Convolutional LSTM Network (ConvLSTM) to solve the above two problems mentioned. In addition, we design multi-attention modules (MAM) to model the closeness, period and trend of traffic flow data to solve the third problem mentioned above. Finally, the aggregation module was used to integrate the output of the last time interval in STFEM and the output of the multi-attention module. Experiments are carried out on two real data sets, and the results show that the proposed model reduces RMSE by 4.5% and 3.7% respectively compared with the best baseline model.
Rapamycin administration causes a decrease in muscle contractile function and systemic glucose intolerance concomitant with reduced skeletal muscle Rictor, the mTORC2 component, expression independent of energy intake in young rats
Authors: Ato Satoru , Oya Chieri , Ogasawara Riki
Published: December 2024

Emerging evidence suggests the potential of rapamycin, an antibiotic from Streptomyces hygroscopicus that functions as a mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, as a mimetic of caloric restriction (CR) for maintaining skeletal muscle health. Several studies showed that rapamycin administration (RAP) reduced appetite and energy intake. However, the physiological and molecular differences between RAP and CR in skeletal muscle are not fully understood. Here we observed the effects of 4 weeks of RAP administration and CR corresponding to the reduction in energy intake produced by RAP administration (PF, paired feeding) on fast glycolytic and slow oxidative muscle in young adult rats. We found that 4 weeks of RAP demonstrated low fast-glycolytic muscle mass with smaller type I and IIb/x myofiber size independent of the energy intake. In addition, PF improved the contractile function of the plantar flexor muscle, whereas RAP did not improve its function. The suppressing response of mTORC1 signaling to RAP is greater in slow-oxidative muscles than in fast-glycolytic muscles. In addition, systemic glucose tolerance was exacerbated by RAP, with reduced expression of Rictor and hexokinase in skeletal muscle. These observations imply that RAP may have a slight but significant negative impact and it obviously different to CR in young adult skeletal muscle.
ATM-deficient murine thymic T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas are PTEN-deficient and require AKT signaling for survival
Authors: An Joseph B. , Hathcock Karen S. , Steinberg Seth M. , Choo-Wosoba Hyoyoung M. , Hodes Richard J.
Published: December 2024

Mice deficient in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase have impaired responses to genotoxic and oxidative stressors, predisposing them to develop thymic T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas (T-LBL) resembling human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL). A previous study identified genomic deletions of the gene encoding PTEN, a negative regulator of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, in a subset of murine ATM-deficient (ATMKO) thymic T-LBLs; however, the frequency and consequences of these deletions were not defined. The present study demonstrates that the majority of established cultures of ATMKO T-LBLs isolated from ATMKO thymi have a variety of genomic Pten alterations and fail to express functional PTEN protein. In addition, all T-LBLs demonstrate constitutive expression of pAKT, indicating the presence of activated AKT signaling, and are sensitive to treatment with the pan-AKT inhibitor MK-2206, suggesting that these lymphomas are dependent on pAKT signaling for their survival. Lastly, ATM-deficiency itself does not cause loss of PTEN or dysregulated AKT signaling, as ATM-deficient non-malignant thymocytes express wild-type levels of PTEN and lack detectable pAKT. This study demonstrates for the first time that the majority of ATM-deficient thymic T-LBLs lose PTEN expression and all depend on AKT signaling for survival, suggesting their potential use as an animal model for PI3K/AKT/MTOR pathway dysfunction in human T-ALL.
Parental satisfaction towards care given at neonatal intensive care unit in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Haile Teklehaimanot Gereziher , Gebremeskel Gebreamlak Gebremedhn , Mariye Teklewoini , Mebrahtom Guesh , Aberhe Woldu , Hailay Abrha , Abraha Teklehaymanot Huluf , Asres Negasi , Guesh Teklay , Teklay Girmay
Published: December 2024

Background

Satisfaction reflects a consumer’s judgment regarding the quality of care received. Satisfaction of parents with healthcare services can serve as a reliable indicator for evaluating the quality of care given to their newborns. The aim of this study is to determine the pooled prevalence of parental satisfaction with neonatal intensive care unit services and its associated factors in Ethiopia.

Methods

International databases such as PubMed/Medline, African Journals Online, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were used to identify relevant published articles. Risk of bias was assessed independently by two authors. Funnel plot and Egger regression test were also employed to assess publication bias. A significant p-value of 0.05 or less suggests the presence of publication bias. PROSPERO registration number is CRD42024570971.

Results

The researchers initially identified a total of 1,264 articles through their search strategy from all databases. Finally, eleven studies met the inclusion criteria and were considered suitable for the final meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of parental satisfaction with neonatal intensive care unit services in Ethiopia was 55% (95% CI: 49%–60%). There was neither publication bias nor small study impact among the included studies. Based on the subgroup analysis by region, the pooled prevalence in Oromia were slightly higher, 63% (95% CI: 57%–69%). Birth weight, length of hospital stays, place of residence, and availability of necessary information are factors identified as significant predictors for parental satisfaction with neonatal intensive care unit service.

Conclusion

According to the study’s findings, there is a lower pooled prevalence of parental satisfaction than in previous research that was published in some countries. By working to raise the satisfaction levels of parents in neonatal intensive care units, healthcare facilities can enhance the overall experience for both parents and infants, leading to improved outcomes and a more positive care environment.
Heat dissipation analysis and multi-objective optimization of microchannel liquid cooled plate lithium battery pack
Authors: Pan Xueyong , Xu Chuntian , Sun Xuemei , Shi Jianhui , Zhou Zhilong , Liu Yunlong
Published: December 2024

An efficient battery pack-level thermal management system was crucial to ensuring the safe driving of electric vehicles. To address the challenges posed by insufficient heat dissipation in traditional liquid cooled plate battery packs and the associated high system energy consumption. This study proposes three distinct channel liquid cooling systems for square battery modules, and compares and analyzes their heat dissipation performance to ensure battery safety during high-rate discharge. The results demonstrated that the extruded multi-channel liquid cooled plate exhibits the highest heat dissipation efficiency. Subsequently, response surface experiments were conducted to analyze the width parameters of various flow channels in the liquid cooled plate Finally, the Design of Experiment (DOE) was employed to conduct optimal Latin hypercube sampling on the flow channel depth (H), mass flow (Q), and inlet and outlet diameter (d), combined with a genetic algorithm for multi-objective analysis. The Tmax of the battery module decreased by 6.84% from 40.94°C to 38.14°C and temperature mean square deviation decreased (TSD) by 62.13% from 1.69 to 0.64. Importantly, the battery thermal management model developed in this study successfully met heat dissipation requirements without significantly increasing pump energy consumption.
Pharmacological interventions for remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of preclinical trials
Authors: Koponen Mia E. , Naray Emily , Hales Tim G. , Forget Patrice
Published: December 2024

Background

To improve perioperative pain management, several interventions have been suggested for the prevention of increased pain sensitivity caused by opioids (called opioid-induced hyperalgesia). It is currently unclear which intervention is the most effective or appropriate in preventing opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Remifentanil is the most investigated opioid causing opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Thus, to guide future research, we conducted a systematic review and a network meta-analysis of preclinical trials investigating pharmacological interventions for remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia.

Methods

To identify relevant articles, electronic database searches were conducted in Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Study characteristics were extracted, and the risk of bias was evaluated. Studies were included in the network meta-analysis if they shared similar characteristics with at least one other study. The interventions were ranked based on P-scores.

Results

Overall, the 62 eligible trials tested 86 individual interventions and 6 combination interventions. Thirty-five studies eligible in the network meta-analysis formed five groups which were further divided into subgroups based on the quantitative sensory tests used. The best-ranked interventions within the subgroups were Anxa12-26, MRS2179, salicylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone (SIH), ANA-12, TDZD-8, ketamine, dexmedetomidine, JWH015, and the combination of KN93 and ketamine.

Discussion

The current literature is too heterogeneous to produce a clear answer on which intervention is the most effective in preventing remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia. Future research in this field should prioritise finding the most effective intervention over testing the efficacy of new options. The results of our work can be used in planning which comparisons should be included in new trials.
Leveraging logistic models to enhance nutrient dynamics modeling in intercropped spring wheat with varied nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization strategies
Authors: Feng Yue , Ma Ying , Deng Renqiang , Wang Bo , Tian Haiyan , Liu Xin , Dong Qi , Wang Aiping , Anwar Sumera
Published: December 2024

Intercropping systems offer substantial benefits in crop yield nd nutrient absorption. Utilizing logistic models, we simulated the dynamic of nutrient uptake and accumulation in spring wheat and the impact of different planting patterns and compound fertilizer application rates on spring wheat yield. We conducted a field experiment involving two planting patterns: spring wheat monoculture (MS) and spring wheat-pea intercropping (MI), with five compound fertilizer applications: C0 (0 kg ha-1), C1 (480 kg ha-1), C2 (540 kg ha-1), C3 (600 kg ha-1), and C4 (660 kg ha-1). We assessed spring wheat yield and aboveground nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) accumulation under different planting patterns and fertilization treatments. Results revealed that intercropping significantly increased spike number, grains per spike, and grain yield of spring wheat by 3.7%, 6.3%, and 13.3%, respectively, compared to monoculture. Fertilization treatments notably enhanced average spring wheat grain yield, with C2 performing optimally. Logistic model analysis indicated that under intercropping, the maximum accumulated aboveground N and N uptake rate (v) of spring wheat was 11.4% and 13.2% higher, and the maximum accumulated P and maximum P uptake rate (Vmax) were 11.3% and 9.5% higher, respectively, compared to monoculture. Intercropped spring wheat under C2 exhibited the highest P accumulation among all treatments. In conclusion, both intercropping and fertilization can enhance N and P uptake and accumulation in spring wheat, thereby boosting yield. Optimized yield can be achieved under C2 (540 kg h-1) with a 10% reduction in fertilizer application. Thus effective control of fertilizer application is pivotal for maximizing the yield advantage of the spring wheat/pea intercropping system.
Seroprevalance of Brucellosis and Q-fever in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Haryana state, India
Authors: Muthiah Dharanya , Singh Mahavir , Chhabra Rajesh , Gupta Renu , Dahiya Swati , Priya  , Manoj Jinu
Published: December 2024

Brucellosis and Q-fever are two highly contagious bacterial diseases with significant zoonotic potential and economic threats, yet they often remain underreported and neglected in low- and middle-income countries. The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Brucellosis and Q-fever in water buffaloes in the Haryana state of India to implement effective preventive measures for disease control. The study covered all 22 districts of Haryana and involved 400 serum samples collected from female buffaloes belonging to two age groups and three distinct agro-climatic zones. The collected sera were tested using the Rose Bengal Plate agglutination test (RBPT) and commercial indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA) for the presence of antibodies against smooth strains of Brucella spp. Additionally, the same serum samples were examined by i-ELISA for antibodies against Coxiella burnetii. The overall seroprevalence of brucellosis was observed as 8.25% (CI: 5.75–11.39) using the RBPT and 7.5% (CI: 5.12–10.53) by i-ELISA. The overall observed seroprevalence of Q-fever was 2.00% (CI: 0.87–3.90). No significant variation was seen in seropositivity of both diseases based on age and agroclimatic zones of the state. The findings of this study provide critical insights to farmers, agricultural organizations, veterinary services, and healthcare providers, facilitating more effective implementation of disease control measures.
Effect of perioperative dexmedetomidine on sleep quality in adult patients after noncardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials
Authors: Wang Lin , Liang Xin-Quan , Sun Yan-Xia , Hua Zhen , Wang Dong-Xin
Published: December 2024

Background

Dexmedetomidine may improve sleep quality after surgery, but conflicting results also exist. Herein, we explored the effects of perioperative dexmedetomidine on postoperative sleep quality in adult patients.

Methods

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of perioperative dexmedetomidine on sleep quality after noncardiac surgery were retrieved from Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE from inception to January 12, 2023, and updated on March 15, 2024. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool was applied to assess risk of bias. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. The primary outcome was the subjective sleep quality score on the first night after surgery.

Results

A total of 29 trials containing 5610 participants were included. The subjective sleep score on the first postoperative night was lower (better) with dexmedetomidine than with placebo (SMD [standardized mean difference] = -0.8, 95% CI -1.1 to -0.6, p<0.00001; I2 = 93%; 22 trials; n = 4611). Sensitivity analysis showed that overall conclusion was not changed (SMD = -0.8, 95% CI -1.1 to -0.5, p<0.00001; I2 = 93%; 14 trials; n = 3846). Results of polysomnographic monitoring showed improved sleep structure with dexmedetomidine on the first night after surgery, as manifested by increased sleep efficiency index and stage N2 sleep and decreased arousal index and stage N1 sleep.

Conclusions

This systematic review suggests that, among patients who underwent noncardiac surgery, perioperative dexmedetomidine administration may improve early postoperative sleep quality pattern. However, the resulting evidence were of low or very low qualities and further studies are required to confirm our results.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023390972.
Curating models from BioModels: Developing a workflow for creating OMEX files
Authors: Xu Jin , Smith Lucian
Published: December 2024

The reproducibility of computational biology models can be greatly facilitated by widely adopted standards and public repositories. We examined 50 models from the BioModels Database and attempted to validate the original curation and correct some of them if necessary. For each model, we reproduced these published results using Tellurium. Once reproduced we manually created a new set of files, with the model information stored by the Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML), and simulation instructions stored by the Simulation Experiment Description Markup Language (SED-ML), and everything included in an Open Modeling EXchange (OMEX) file, which could be used with a variety of simulators to reproduce the same results. On the one hand, the reproducibility procedure of 50 models developed a manual workflow that we would use to build an automatic platform to help users more easily curate and verify models in the future. On the other hand, these exercises allowed us to find the limitations and possible enhancement of the current curation and tooling to verify and curate models.
Treatment decision for impacted mandibular third molars: Effects of cone-beam computed tomography and level of surgeons’ experience
Authors: ADALI Emine , OZDEN YUCE Meltem , IŞIK Gözde , ŞENER Elif , MERT Ali
Published: December 2024

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of surgeons’ experience and the benefit of using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, compared to the use of panoramic radiography (PAN) images, on their decisions with regard to mandibular third molar treatment modality. Panoramic radiographs and CBCTs from a total of 143 patients who had undergone impacted third molar surgery were randomly evaluated for treatment decision by 10 participants with differing clinical experience (5 novices and 5 experienced surgeons). The degree of agreement between the same type of participants was ’Substantial Agreement’ (0.61–0.80) or ’Almost Perfect’ (0.81–1.00). When the treatment modality decisions of the experienced and novice surgeons, using PAN and CBCT images, were compared, a statistically significant difference was found (p<0.01) between the variables. In 50 cases, experienced surgeons decided from CBCT images that total extraction was the best treatment method but opted for coronectomy when presented with PAN images of the same cases. In 164 cases novice surgeons decided on total extraction from CBCT images but chose coronectomy when presented with PAN images of the same cases. The results obtained from this study revealed that the degree of professional experience of the surgeon was a significant factor in determining the treatment decision. Moreover, the treatment choice of experienced surgeons was less affected by the change in imaging technique employed, when compared to novice surgeons.
Effect of axial misalignment and tip clearance on the performance of double spiral seals
Authors: Liao Haorui , Li Ning , Gao Feng , Ming Yuzhou , Jia Xingyun , Li Kening , Bian Decai
Published: December 2024

The axial misalignment and tip clearance of the double spiral seals are important indexes affecting the sealing performance of the double spiral seals. In practical engineering applications, the sealing ability of double spiral seals is greatly affected by axial misalignment and tip clearance, and the coupling of assembly parameters and structural parameters of double spiral seals leads to the difficulty of seal design and use. A numerical model of spiral seals was established, and the velocity field, pressure field and critical sealing ability of double spiral seals were simulated and calculated. The influence of different axial misalignment displacements and different tip clearances on the sealing ability of double spiral seals was analyzed. The influence of axial misalignment displacement, tip clearance and rotor speed on the sealing performance of double spiral seals is obtained. The above research results provide a design basis for the engineering application of double spiral seals.
Comparison of journal and top publisher self-citation rates in COVID-19 research
Authors: Quincho-Lopez Alvaro
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Journal self-citation contributes to the overall citation count of a journal and to some metrics like the impact factor. However, little is known about the extent of journal self-citations in COVID-19 research. This study aimed to determine the journal self-citations in COVID-19 research and to compare them according to the type of publication and publisher.

Methods

Data in COVID-19 research extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection 2020–2023 was collected and further analyzed with InCites. The journals with the highest self-citation rates and self-citation per publication were identified. Statistical comparisons were made according to the type of publication and publishers, as well as with other major infectious diseases.

Results

The median self-citation rate was 4.0% (IQR 0–11.7%), and the median journal self-citation rate was 5.9% (IQR 0–12.5%). 1,859 journals (13% of total coverage) had self-citation rates at or above 20%, meaning that more than one in five references are journal self-citations. There was a positive and statistically significant correlation of self-citations with the other indicators, including number of publications, citations, and self-citations per publication (p<0.001). Editorial materials contributed more to journal SC with a median self-citation rate of 5%, which was statistically higher than other documents such as articles, letters or reviews (p<0.001). Among the top twelve publishers, the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute had a median self-citation rate of 8.33% and was statistically higher than the rest (p<0.001). Self-citation rates for COVID-19 were lower than tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, but self-citations per publication of these diseases were statistically lower than those for COVID-19 (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Some journals from the Web of Science Core Collection displayed exorbitant journal self-citation patterns during the period 2020–2023. Approximately, one in every five paper references in COVID-19 is a journal self-citation. Types of publication such as editorials engage in this practice more frequently than others, suggesting that in COVID-19 research, self-citing non-citable items could potentially contribute to inflate journal impact factors during the pandemic.
Effective feature selection based HOBS pruned- ELM model for tomato plant leaf disease classification
Authors: Amudha M. , Brindha K.
Published: December 2024

Tomato cultivation is expanding rapidly, but the tomato sector faces significant challenges from various sources, including environmental (abiotic stress) and biological (biotic stress or disease) threats, which adversely impact the crop’s growth, reproduction, and overall yield potential. The objective of this work is to build deep learning based lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture for the real-time classification of biotic stress in tomato plant leaves. This model proposes to address the drawbacks of conventional CNNs, which are resource-intensive and time-consuming, by using optimization methods that reduce processing complexity and enhance classification accuracy. Traditional plant disease classification methods predominantly utilize CNN based deep learning techniques, originally developed for fundamental image classification tasks. It relies on computationally intensive CNNs, hindering real-time application due to long training times. To address this, a lighter CNN framework is proposed to enhance with two key components. Firstly, an Elephant Herding Optimization (EHO) algorithm selects pertinent features for classification tasks. The classification module integrates a Hessian-based Optimal Brain Surgeon (HOBS) approach with a pruned Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), optimizing network parameters while reducing computational complexity. The proposed pruned model gives an accuracy of 95.73%, Cohen’s kappa of 0.81%, training time of 2.35sec on Plant Village dataset, comprising 8,000 leaf images across 10 distinct classes of tomato plant, which demonstrates that this framework effectively reduces the model’s size of 9.2Mb and parameters by reducing irrelevant connections in the classification layer. The proposed classifier performance was compared to existing deep learning models, the experimental results show that the pruned DenseNet achieves an accuracy of 86.64% with a model size of 10.6 MB, while GhostNet reaches an accuracy of 92.15% at 10.9 MB. CACPNET demonstrates an accuracy of 92.4% with a model size of 18.0 MB. In contrast, the proposed approach significantly outperforms these models in terms of accuracy and processing time.
Low to moderate wave exposure did not impact blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) growth in a mesocosm study
Authors: Lukić Ivana , Hayes Lucas , Bekkby Trine
Published: December 2024

Little is known about the causes of the decline in blue mussel populations in the North Atlantic. If mussel beds are to be protected, and maybe even restored, we need knowledge about environmental conditions under which blue mussels can survive and grow. Wave exposure impacts the growth and abundance of blue mussels by impacting food availability, predation, competition and sedimentation. In the field it is difficult to separate the effects of the different variables, and we therefore wanted to perform a simple, but controlled, mesocosm study on the impact of wave exposure on blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) growth. We placed three replicate blue mussels in each of 12 mesocosm basins, of which six had high and six had low wave level. Each of the 36 blue mussels were measured weekly for 13 summer weeks and the measured parameters (length, width, thickness, weight and displacement volume) were analysed against wave exposure and time using a non-parametric Generalised Additive Model (GAM). Surprisingly, we found no effect of wave exposure on any of the parameters. This could be because wave exposure is not as important as we have believed, but that it usually captures other factors, such as sedimentation, predation and competition. It could also be explained by the level and span in wave exposure being too low, failing to generate measurable effects. Our advice for future studies is to increase the difference in wave exposure levels, but still perform controlled studies to separate the effect of wave exposure from other variables.
Conservatives watch cartoons: The rise of Disney, the right and cultural criticism in the 1990s
Authors: Pinelli Alex
Published: December 2024

This research explores the dynamic intersection of conservatism and Disney animation during the 1990s, a pivotal decade for both political ideology and cultural influence in the United States. It examines the complex relationship between conservative film critics and Disney’s animated productions, focusing on the tension between conservative expectations of Disney as a bastion of traditional values and the company’s evolving cultural and corporate identity. The study highlights key features of Disney’s animated films that troubled conservative critics while revealing the diversity of conservative perspectives. Central to the former critiques were concerns about the erosion of traditional family and societal norms, especially regarding power structures, feminism and familial hierarchy. Additionally, it addresses a gap in the historiography of American conservatism and Disney Studies by analysing how conservative cultural critics engaged with Disney’s animated productions, offering new insights into the interplay between conservative ideology and American popular culture. By analysing conservative film reviews from this period, the research challenges the notion that Disney’s animated features were merely conservative propaganda and identifies the 1990s as the turning point in the relationship between conservatism and Disney.
‘We’re not quite there yet… but we will be’: Identifying shifts in the Walt Disney Company’s LGBTQ+ representation
Authors: Weaver Matt
Published: December 2024

The Walt Disney Company has a long, complicated history with the LGBTQ+ community, particularly regarding film representation. There has been much external pressure on Disney to provide better LGBTQ+ depiction, further emphasized with controversies surrounding their involvement in Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill. In recent years, there have been some indications of progress in animated films such as Lightyear (2022) and Strange World (2022). In this article, I analyse these films as exemplary of how Disney can be more LGBTQ+ inclusive in both their censorship practices (the re-instatement of a same-sex kiss in Lightyear), and their narratives, themes and character developments (the introduction of Disney’s first openly gay character – Ethan – in Strange World). I also place these films within their wider political context, recognizing them as both reflective of Disney’s efforts to correct its past, and their significance in normalizing queer experiences during a time of growing hostility towards LGBTQ+ communities, and introduction of laws that negatively impact queer youth. I conclude with some thought on the company’s future, and whether progression will continue in film representation – when the future of democracy and visibility is increasingly uncertain, Disney can and need to ‘say gay’, now more than ever.
Revisiting Disney’s The Living Desert: A documentary or a wildlife fable filmed in a mythical desert?
Authors: Swanberg Susan E.
Published: December 2024

This article examines Walt Disney’s 1950s-era Academy Award-winning wildlife film, The Living Desert, the first full-length feature film in Disney’s True-Life Adventures series. Using a historical case study approach, the nature and significance of the film and its narrative’s impact on the public’s understanding of and connection to the natural world are explored. Although the film was produced 70 years ago, its impact is still felt in the wildlife and nature films of today. The article addresses several questions: Where does The Living Desert’s narrative fall on a continuum of authenticity? How accurately does the film describe the relationship between human and non-human life? And how might the film’s authenticity (or lack thereof) have impacted the public’s understanding of nature, its inhabitants and the environment?
Riley and representation: Challenging assumptions of generalizability in the Inside Out franchise
Authors: Lammon Marissa
Published: December 2024

The following commentary calls to question the assumptions of generalizability in the Inside Out franchise, specifically the notion that Inside Out 2 depicts an authentic adolescent experience. It uses specific examples from the sequel in conversation with intersectionality to demonstrate how both films reflect a world from the eyes of a white, upper-middle-class, non-disabled, neurotypical girl and therefore should be regarded as a reflection of one type of teenage experience. This particular piece makes an effort, however, to acknowledge the progressive attempts the franchise makes at providing an educational opportunity for youth audiences, but cautions scholars and the public against assuming the applicability of the film’s elements to each and every viewer.