bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of the Pre-gradual Course on Professional Communication, Prevention of Violence and Self-Protection on Early Paramedics Practice: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Pekara Jaroslav , Kočovská Eva , Sýkora Roman , Němcová Jitka , Vlk Radomír
Published: September 2023

Background Violence against paramedics has been described as a serious public health problem with the potential for significant physical and psychological harm. Education and training have been identified as key elements of any workplace violence prevention program. To compare the influence of the pregraduate course on 'Professional Communication and Prevention of Violence' and 'Self-Protection' on factors that impacted prevention, communication and understanding of violent patients among paramedics in their early practice.
Method This qualitative study was a form of thematic analysis and adopted an inductive, ‘bottom-up’ approach, in which coded categories were derived from rich, descriptive data. Twenty semistructured in-depth interviews were carried out with paramedics two years after their graduation. The outcomes from the intervention group (course graduates, n = 10) were compared with a control group (did not attend the course, n = 10) matched for gender, age, specialisation, level of education, and practice experience.
Results The course graduates were more likely to consider the causes and reasons leading to patients’ violence than the control group. Moreover, course graduates tried to prevent conflict more often and demonstrated greater respect for, compassion for and understanding violent patients.
Conclusion This study demonstrates that thorough, deep and focused pre-graduate education focused on communication is more likely to lead to consideration of the causes and reasons leading to patients’ violence in early paramedic practice.
Fully flexible implantable neural probes for electrophysiology recording and controlled neurochemical modulation
Authors: Chamanzar Maysamreza , Malekoshoaraie Mohammad , Wu Bingchen , Krahe Daniela , Ahmed Zabir , Pupa Stephen , Jain Vishal , Cui Xinyan
Published: September 2023

Targeted delivery of neurochemicals and biomolecules for neuromodulation of brain activity is a powerful technique that, in addition to electrical recording and stimulation, enables a more thorough investigation of neural circuit dynamics. We have designed a novel flexible neural implant capable of controlled, localized chemical stimulation and electrophysiology recording. To minimize tissue damage and response, the neural probe was implemented with a small cross-sectional dimension using planar micromachining processes on Parylene C, a mechanically flexible, biocompatible substrate. The probe shank features two large microelectrodes (chemical sites) for drug loading and sixteen small microelectrodes for electrophysiology recording to monitor neuronal response to drug release. To reduce the impedance while keeping the size of the microelectrodes small, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was electrochemically coated on recording microelectrodes. In addition, PEDOT doped with mesoporous sulfonated silica nanoparticles (SNP) was used on chemical sites to achieve controlled, electrically-actuated drug loading and releasing. Different neurotransmitters, including glutamate (Glu), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), were incorporated into the SNPs and electrically triggered to release repeatedly. An in vitro experiment was conducted to quantify the stimulated release profile by applying a sinusoidal voltage (0.5 V, 2 Hz). The flexible neural probe was implanted in the barrel cortex of the wild-type Sprague Dawley rats. As expected due to their excitatory and inhibitory effects, Glu and GABA release caused a significant increase and decrease in neural activity, respectively, which was recorded by the recording microelectrodes. This novel flexible neural probe technology, combining on-demand chemical release and high-resolution electrophysiology recording, is an important addition to the neuroscience toolset used to dissect neural circuitry and investigate neural network connectivity.
Cyclic-di-AMP confers an invasive phenotype on Escherichia coli through elongation of flagellin filaments
Authors: Tanaka Rika , Imai Jin , Sugiyama Eiji , Tsubaki Shogo , Hozumi Katsuto , Tsugawa Hitoshi
Published: September 2023

Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) is isolated from patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). AIEC can invade the intestinal epithelium, suggesting that it is involved in the development and pathogenesis of CD. However, themechanism by which AIEC acquired the invasive phenotype remains unknown. This study was designed to examine the mechanisms of AIEC invasiveness. We found that the flagellin (fliC) expression in AIEC was two-fold higher than that in non-AIEC strains, and this overexpression induced the formation of long-filament flagellin. Deletion of fliC in the AIEC LF82 strain resulted in the disappearance of flagellar filamentsand attenuated the motility and invasive ability of the bacterium, suggesting that the formation of long filament flagellin induced by increased fliC expression is required by AIEC to invade the intestinal epithelium. In AIEC and non-AIEC K12 strains cultured in the presence of cyclic-di-AMP (c-di-AMP), the expression of fliC was enhanced, and flagellar filaments were elongated. Stimulation with c-di-AMP enhanced the bacterial motility and ability to invade epithelial cells, even in the non-AIEC K12 strain. Our findings show that c-di-AMP confers an AIEC-like phenotype on non-AIEC strains by enhancing the expression of fliC. The results should be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of CD.
CD146-assisted isolation and multi-omics characterisation of human pluripotent stem cell derived cranial Schwann cell precursor-like cells.
Authors: Wolvetang Ernst , Balachandran Anushree , Dave Keyur , Tiwari Kanupriya , Gomez-Inclan Cecilia , Leeson Hannah C. , Su Shian , Pietrogrande Giovanni , Ovchinnikov Dmitry , Hawksworth Owen , Amann-Zalcenstein Daniela , Voss Carola , Wells Christine , Headlam Madeleine. , Cooper-White Justin , Glass Nick , Stefani Ilaria , Tull Dedreia , Schittenhelm Ralf , Marchant Ceilidh , Schwarz Quenten , De Souza David , McConville Malcolm , Nielsen Lars , Gorman Jeff , Naik Shalin
Published: September 2023

Schwann Cell Precursors (SCPs) are multipotent precursor cells and express SOX10, but relatively little is known about the specification and molecular make-up of human SCPs. To address this, we subjected a human SOX10 knock-in reporter iPSC line to a one step cranial Schwann cell precursor differentiation protocol. We show that SOX10-expressing cells acquire the morphology, motility and gene expression of SCP-like cells, and we exemplify that these cells migrate to multiple developing craniofacial structures following injection into early mouse embryos. We next defined the bulk and single-cell transcriptomes, metabolomes, and proteomes of SOX10 expressing human SCP-like cells, revealing gene expression heterogeneity, shifts in splicing events, a reduced dependence on glycolysis, and changes in the expression of cell adhesion proteins, miRNAs and LncRNAs that accompany SCP specification. Discovery proteomics identifies MCAM (CD146) as a cell surface marker that permits the isolation of pure SOX10 expressing human cranial SCP-like cells from human pluripotent stem cell lines subjected to SCP differentiation. We further show that this permits isolation of Down syndrome cranial SCP-like cells that display defects in proliferation. Collectively these data provide a detailed map of the molecular make-up of in vitro generated human cranial Schwann cell precursor-like cells and exemplify the utility of MCAM-sorted cranial SCP-like cells for modelling human neurocristopathies.
Timing of physical therapy to optimize shoulder range of motion among patients receiving breast radiotherapy
Authors: Baek Carolyn , Saraf Anurag , Hu Bonnie , Specht Michelle C. , Liao Eric C , Jimenez Rachel B.
Published: September 2023

Purpose
Establishing optimal timing of physical therapy (PT) during multimodal breast cancer treatment can be challenging. We hypothesized patients initiating PT post-surgery and pre-radiation therapy (RT) would experience greater gains in functionality compared to PT initiated during/after RT.
Methods
A retrospective review was performed for patients receiving multimodality breast cancer treatment and PT between 1/2015-8/2021. Three cohorts were established: patients who received no RT, PT initiated before RT (pre-RT), and PT during/after RT (d/a-RT). The primary endpoint was percent change in ipsilateral shoulder ROM between first and last PT visits. Associations between range of motion (ROM) across groups and baseline characteristics were evaluated with analysis of variance testing.
Results
Thirty-seven patients were identified, median age of 47 years. The no-RT cohort exhibited the greatest mean percent improvement in ROM with PT (74%) versus pre-RT (59%) and d/a-RT (20%). The no RT and pre-RT groups demonstrated greater improvements in ROM compared to patients receiving PT d/a-RT (no RT 74% vs d/a-RT 20%, p = 0.006; pre-RT 59% vs d/a-RT 20%, p = 0.045). There was no difference in ROM gains between the no-RT and pre-RT groups (p = 0.528). Lower baseline ROM was associated with smaller improvements in ROM after PT (p = 0.008). When adjusting for baseline ROM, the no-RT cohort remained associated with ROM improvement compared to the d/a-RT group (p = 0.024). There was no difference in ROM change between no-RT and pre-RT cohorts.
Conclusion
PT improves shoulder ROM in patients undergoing multimodality breast cancer treatment; however, early initiation of PT before starting RT may maximize ROM gains.
Alpha-mangostin promotes diabetic wound healing: An in vitro study with mechanistic elucidation
Authors: Patrick Melonney , Zohdi Wan Najwa Wan Mohd , Muid Suhaila Abd. , Omar Effat
Published: September 2023

Poor wound healing is a common manifestation of diabetes mellitus, culminating in chronic, non-healing ulcer. Alpha(α)-mangostin, one of the most active xanthones found in mangosteen pericarp, has been reported to promote wound healing. However, its effectiveness and mechanism in expediting diabetic wound healing is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alpha-mangostin on wound cell migration and growth factor expressions in a diabetic wound healing model. Human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) and human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells were used in this laboratory study. Alpha-mangostin of different concentrations and carboxymethyl cellulose (used as positive control) were introduced to the cell culture plates. Scratch assay was performed for each plate and the rate of cell migration was calculated. Growth factors released by the cells were measured using the ELISA method. Treatment with alpha-mangostin at 0.15 ug/ml concentration showed the fastest rate of endothelial and fibroblast cell migration compared to negative controls. Alpha-mangostin treatment increased PDGF, TGF-β, FGF, TIMP, and reduced MMP-9 levels compared to glucose controls. The findings indicate that in an in vitro diabetic wound healing model, alpha-mangostin stimulates endothelial and fibroblast cell migration, increased the release of growth factors, and lowered the MMP-9 secretion.
Efficacy and safety of Huachansu combined with adjuvant chemotherapy in resected colorectal cancer patients: A prospective, open label, randomized phase II study
Authors: Li Shichao , Shen Dongxiao , Zuo Qingsong , Wang Shengzi , Meng Lingjia , Yu Jiaojiao , Liu Yang , Li Wusheng , Chen Chao , Yin Peihao , Chen Teng , Wang Jie
Published: September 2023

Background
Although some studies in China have suggested Huachansu (HCS) combined with chemotherapy is effective in the treatment of various cancers, there are few studies on colorectal cancer (CRC), especially in postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that HCS combined with adjuvant chemotherapy would improve survival probability in resected CRC patients.
Methods
This was a prospective, open label, randomized phase II study. Patients with stage III or high-risk stage II resected CRC were randomly assigned to the chemotherapy and HCS + chemotherapy groups. The Chemotherapy group was treated with the FOLFOX regimen for ≥ 6 cycles or the CAPEOX regimen for ≥ 4 cycles. The HCS + chemotherapy group was treated with HCS on the basis of the chemotherapy group. The primary endpoint was 3-year disease-free survival (DFS), and the secondary endpoints were 3-year overall survival (OS) and toxicity.
Results
A total of 250 patients were included in this study (126 chemotherapy, 124 HCS + chemotherapy). There were significant differences in 3-year DFS between the two groups (median 28.7 versus 31.6 months respectively; P = 0.027), but no significant differences in 3-year OS between the two groups (median 32.7 versus 34 months, respectively; P = 0.146). No patients experienced grade 4 adverse events, and the rates of leukopenia, neutropenia and diarrhea in the HCS + chemotherapy group were lower than that those in the chemotherapy group.
Conclusion
HCS combined with adjuvant chemotherapy after radical resection for patients with stage III or high-risk stage II CRC was demonstrated to be an effective and feasible treatment.
Complement Factor H attenuates TNF-α-induced inflammation by upregulating EIF3C in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Jia Yimeng , Feng Bin , Ji Xin , Tian Xinping , Zhao Lidan , Zhou Jiaxin , Zhang Wen , Li Mengtao , Fei Yunyun , Wu Xunyao
Published: September 2023

Objective
To explore the role and underlying mechanism of Complement Factor H (CFH) in the peripheral and joint inflammation of RA patients.
Methods
The levels of CFH in the serum and synovial fluid were determined by ELISA. The pyroptosis of monocytes was determined by western blotting. The inflammation cytokine release was tested by ELISA. The cell migration and invasion ability of fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) were tested by Wound healing Assay and transwell assay, respectively. The potential target of CFH was identified by RNA sequencing.
Results
CFH levels were significantly elevated in the serum and synovial fluid from RA and associated with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and disease activity score 28 (DAS28). TNF-α could inhibit CFH expression, and CFH combined with TNF-α significantly decreased cleaved-caspase 3, gasdermin E N-terminal (GSDME-N), and inflammatory cytokines release (IL-1β and IL-6) of RA-derived monocytes. Stimulated with TNF-α increased CFH levels in RA FLS and CFH inhibits the migration, invasion and TNF-α–induced production of inflammatory mediators, including proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8) as well as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs, MMP1 and MMP3) of RA FLSs. The RNA-seq results showed that CFH treatment induced upregulation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (EIF3C) and the migration of RA FLSs was promoted and the expressions of IL-6, IL-8, and MMP-3 were enhanced upon EIF3C knockdown under the stimulation of CFH combined with TNF-α.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have unfolded the anti-inflammatory roles of CFH in the peripheral and joints of RA, which might provide a potential therapeutic target for RA patients.
Relationship between degenerative changes in the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint in patients with total hip arthroplasty: Possibility of Hip-Sacroiliac Joint-Spine syndrome
Authors: Kaneuji Ayumi , Fukui Makoto , Takahashi Eiji , Sanji Yusuke , Hirata Hiroaki , Kawahara Norio
Published: September 2023

This study is designed to compare the extent of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) degeneration at total hip arthroplasty (THA) for two pathologies: osteoarthritis of the hip (OA) and osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ON). We also assessed the prevalence of SIJ degeneration in patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis or degenerative scoliosis. A total of 138 hips from 138 patients (69 OA and 69 ON) were assessed in this study, including 66 hips affected by OA secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip. The degenerative changes in the SIJ and lumbar spine were evaluated prior to THA using radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans, showing 9 instances of spondylolisthesis and 38 of degenerative scoliosis. The OA group exhibited longer duration from onset to surgery than the ON group. The OA group also included more cases with significant pelvic obliquity (3 degrees or more) and with significant increases in SIJ sclerosis and irregularities. Patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis or degenerative scoliosis were significantly more likely to have SIJ irregularities. The prevalence of SIJ degeneration was higher in cases of THA for OA than for ON. This study also suggests the possibility of Hip-SIJ-Spine syndrome in THA patients with OA.
Helsmoortel-Van der Aa syndrome – psychophysical functioning of patient and therapeutic management (case report)
Authors: Kołecka Aleksandra Mariola , Kołecka Barbara
Published: September 2023

Introduction. Helsmoortel-Van der Aa syndrome (HVDAS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a mutation in the ADNP gene. Many previous studies concern the basis of the disease, but there is also a need to focus on the therapeutic aspect of people with HVDAS.
Case presentation. The aim of this article is a multi-faceted characteristic of the psychophysical functioning of a person with Helsmoortel-Van der Aa syndrome and indication of appropriate therapeutic interactions (the presentation of possible forms of patient support and selected therapeutic methods that are used in clinical practice in this disease entity). A case study of a 13-year-old female patient diagnosed with the HVDAS is presented. The case report was extended to include family history data and observation of the patient during cyclical therapeutic classes.
Conclusion. The performed characterization of the patient's psychophysical condition allows us to conclude that the clinical picture of the Helsmoortel-Van der Aa syndrome is very complex and diverse, as it affects various levels of a person's functioning. The therapeutic procedure should be multifaceted, taking into account both health needs and current physiological fitness, as well as the need for appropriate developmental stimulation. The developed therapeutic procedure extends the patient's functional abilities and increases the comfort of his everyday life.
Single-sided magnetic resonance-based sensor for point-of-care evaluation of muscle
Authors: Cima Michael , Sherman Sydney , Zammit Alexa , Heo Won-Seok , Rosen Matthew
Published: September 2023

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a powerful clinical tool for the detection of soft tissue morphology and pathology, which often provides actionable diagnostic information to clinicians. Its clinical use is largely limited due to size, cost, time, and space constraints. Here, we discuss the design and performance of a low-field single-sided MR sensor intended for point-of-care (POC) evaluation of skeletal muscle in vivo. The 11kg sensor has a penetration depth of > 8 mm, which allows for an accurate analysis of muscle tissue and can avoid signal from more proximal layers, including subcutaneous adipose tissue. Low operational power and minimal shielding requirements are achieved through the design of a permanent magnet array and surface transceiver coil. We present the in vitro and human in vivo performance of the device for muscle tissue evaluation. The sensor can acquire high signal-to-noise (SNR > 150) measurements in minutes, making it practical as a POC tool for many quantitative diagnostic measurements, including T2 relaxometry.
Association of preoperative red blood cell width and postoperative 30-day mortality in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study using propensity-score matching Running title: The association between RDW and postoperative 30-day mortality
Authors: Wei Wei , Feng Bishan , Hu Haofei , Chen Zimiao , Liu Xiaojie , Xiao Mengjing , Yang Hongming
Published: September 2023

Background: In terms of predicting surgery mortality, it is controversial whether red blood cell width works independently. In non-cardiac surgery patients older than 18 years, we intend to examine the relationship between red blood cell width and postoperative 30-day mortality.
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 90,785 Singapore General Hospital patients were matched by propensity score between January 1, 2012 and October 31, 2016. It was determined that red blood cell width at baseline and mortality within 30 days after surgery were the independent and dependent variables. We used a non-parametric multivariate logistic regression to balance the confounders among 7807 patients with high RDW and 7807 patients with non-high RDW in the propensity score matching. We investigated the association between RDW and 30-day mortality after surgery using the doubly robust estimation method.
Results: Cohorts matched according to propensity score, the risk of 30-day mortality after surgery increased by 114.6.0% among high RDW group(OR = 2.146, 95%CI: 1.645–2.799, P＜0.00001). In crude model, there was a significant correlation between RDW and 30-day mortality after surgery (OR = 1.877, 95% CI: 1.476–2.388, P＜0.00001). In the propensity-score adjusted model, the risk of 30-day mortality after surgery dropped to 86.7% among people with high RDW (OR = 1.867, 95%CI: 1.467–2.376,P＜0.00001).Compared to non-high RDW group, the risk of 30-day mortality after surgery increased by 117.0% and 127.7% among high RDW group in the original cohort(OR: 2.170, 95%CI: 1.754–2.683, P＜0.00001) and the weighted cohort(OR: 2.272, 95%CI: 2.009–2.580, P＜0.00001),respectively.
Conclusions: According to the results of this observational, propensity score-matched cohort study, there is a significant correlation between higher RDW and higher postoperative 30-day mortality, that is to say, patients over the age of 18 with high preoperative RDW who undergo non-cardiac surgery have a worse postoperative prognosis than those with normal RDW.
Zero-additional-energy-consumption Fabrication of a Self-supported Electrode ： Synergistic Redox-Corroding and Boronizing Engineering for Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Sun Guanglun , Wang Yuanzhe , Chen Feng , Gao Faming
Published: September 2023

The non-precious metal-based materials show excellent catalytic activity for overall water splitting. However, it is still a challenge to meet the requirements of fabricating catalysts with cost-effective, high-performance, and large-scale production. In this work, we report an energy-efficient, low-cost, scaled-up redox-corroding and boronizing engineering method for transforming inexpensive nickel foam into highly active, flexible and durable self-supported electrodes for overall water splitting. This synthetic method is carried out using a desirable redox-corroding and one-pot NaBH4 reduction reaction of nickel foam in aqueous solutions containing trivalent cations (Fe3+) under ambient temperature. This process results in well-distributed amorphous iron-nickel borides and hydroxides active materials that are grown in situ on the surface of porous nickel foam. The NiFeBx/NF//NiFe-OH /NF electrode pair shows low cell voltages of 1.63 V to achieve 10 mA cm− 2 in 1 M KOH. More importantly, the NiFeBx/NF//NiFe-OH /NF electrode exhibits ultrahigh catalytic activities at high current densities, outperforming the benchmark electrode pair of Pt-C/NF//RuO2/NF. This inexpensive and simple controllable strategy provides Ni foam-substrate-derived electrodes with excellent catalytic activities and open up a new avenues for the rapid and simple fabrication of highly efficient electrodes for overall water splitting with large scale applications.
Excessive dilution of oral antibiotic suspensions and oversized bottles: an exploratory survey based on pediatricians’ experiences in Kabul
Authors: Daanish Ahmad Farid , Mushkani Ershad Ahmad , Atiq Mohammad Asif
Published: September 2023

Medication errors in the reconstitution of oral suspensions, which include excessive dilution, may affect the treatment outcome despite the correct diagnosis and selection of appropriate treatment. Objective: To document the practice of parents/caregivers adding more than double the recommended volume of water to oversized bottles of oral Azithromycin or Cefixime suspensions. Method: An exploratory survey was conducted using self-administered anonymous questionnaires. It involved the participation of 32 pediatricians from different pediatrics departments at Maiwand Teaching Hospital, an inner-city hospital in Kabul. The survey aimed to gather pediatricians' experiences with parents/caregivers adding excessive water to Azithromycin or Cefixime oral suspensions, surpassing the recommended amount. Results: twenty-five participating pediatricians (78.1%) reported encountering at least one instance where more than double the recommended amount of water was added to Azithromycin or Cefixime suspensions. The majority of these cases (84%) were observed in the outpatient department. Eighteen participants (72%) thought the issue was rare or infrequent, while seven (28%) thought it was frequent. Conclusion: Bottles of oversized oral antibiotic suspensions had been filled up with water to nearly their full volumes, which reduced the concentration of active substances to half or less, and may threaten the treatment outcome. This problem is not confined to any particular country but can arise in any situation where non-healthcare professionals reconstitute pediatric oral suspensions using oversized bottles. Improved reconstitution education, separate diluent bottles for oral suspension, and the establishment of standards and ceilings relative to total dose volume for oral suspension bottles are recommended.
Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Combination With Facial Exercise in Patient With Bell’s Palsy: A Comparitive Study
Authors: Parveen Urusia , Maurya Neeraj , Khan Abdur Raheem , Khan Ashfaque , Aafreen Aafreen , Shohaim Shaikh , Ahamad Taufish
Published: September 2023

Background; Bell’s palsy is a type of facial paralysis that results in inability to control the facial muscles on the affected side. It is also known as idiopathic facial paralysis. Bell’s palsy is one of the most common neurological disorders of cranial nerves. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is an approach in which we use small current to activate nerve that affected muscle. It shows significant effect in muscle strengthening, in neuromuscular rehabilitation and improve functional movement of muscles.
Method; It was a pre and post experimental study that consisting 30 participants (male and female)15 in each group. Group A received NMES, facial exercises and Group B received PNF, facial exercise for 15 days with one session per day.
Results; The results suggest that both treatment approach had significant improvement but Group A had significant higher score at House Brackmann Scale than Group B. The p value (0.038) of t test performed at day 15 gives the evidence that the group A subjects shows better and faster recovery than the group B subjects.
Conclusion; In this study, both group A and group B showed significant results and displayed efficient improvement after 15 days of treatment. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation technique with facial muscle exercises is more effective in improving facial function and reducing facial disability.
Biomimetic Fe-bearing nanoparticles in hot spring: morphology, origin and potential bioavailable Fe
Authors: Chen Zhaoying , Liu Rui , Wang Guoqiang , Lu Bo , Cui Yuxiang , Zuo Lei , Zhang Peng , Wang Yaqing , Cao Cong
Published: September 2023

Iron is a critical redox-active element in geothermal water, and the presence of nanoparticulate Fe is essential in comprehending the intricate cycling of iron and related elements within the natural geothermal ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the mineral properties of Fe-bearing nanoparticles in a hot spring located in Shanxi Province. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is utilized for the examination of the morphology, chemical composition, and crystalline structure of Fe-bearing nanoparticles. The findings indicate that Fe-bearing nanoparticles can exist as single particles measuring 50–200 nm in size, as well as aggregate to form nanoparticle aggregations. The morphology of Fe-bearing nanoparticles mainly includes triangle, axiolitic, and irregular shapes. The selected area electron diffraction patterns reveal the crystal form, amorphous form, and the transition from amorphous to crystalline forms of these nanoparticles. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis indicates that these nanoparticles primarily consist of O and Fe in composition, along with various trace elements including N, Al, Si, Ca, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Mo. Combined with the mineral characteristics, we confirm that some iron-bearing nanoparticles belong to goethite and hematite. These mineral characteristics also indicate that these iron-bearing nanoparticles are formed through natural processes. The presence of biomimetic morphologies, such as cell-like or microorganism-like shapes, suggests that these nanoparticles may be produced through microbial activity. The biomimetic properties also imply that these nanoparticles may be readily available for biological processes. Our findings further validate that the shape of iron oxide nanoparticles can serve as an indicator of environmental conditions.
On Computational Models of Theory of Mind and the Imitative Reinforcement Learning in Spiking Neural Networks
Authors: Ganjtabesh Mohammad , Mohammadi Ashena G.
Published: September 2023

Theory of Mind is referred to the ability of inferring other's mental states, and it plays a crucial role in social cognition and learning. Biological evidences indicate that complex circuits are involved in this ability, including the mirror neuron system. The mirror neuron system influences imitation abilities and action understanding, leading to learn through observing others. To simulate this imitative learning behavior, a Theory-of-Mind-based Imitative Reinforcement Learning (ToM-based ImRL) framework is proposed. Employing the bio-inspired spiking neural networks and the mechanisms of the mirror neuron system, ToM-based ImRL is a bio-inspired computational model which enables an agent to effectively learn how to act in an interactive environment through observing an expert, inferring its goals, and imitating its behaviors. The aim of this paper is to review some computational attempts in modeling ToM and to explain the proposed ToM-based ImRL framework which is tested in the environment of River Raid game from Atari 2600 series.
Water quality parameters in source water: multivariate analysis of surface water and groundwater supply on data from 4 supply systems in Brazil
Authors: Dallmann Daiane Kath , Beltrame Rafael , Valentini Marlon Heitor Kunst , Mello Norton Peterson , Morselli Luiza Beatriz Gamboa Araújo , Romani Rubia Flores
Published: September 2023

In this research, multivariate statistical analysis was performed to assess the water quality of 4 important drinking water sources in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. For this, nineteen water quality parameters (WQP) were applied twice a year, for the period 2013-2018, to assess water quality from different sources. The evaluation was conducted on tree water surface (SWS) and one groundwater source (GWS), separately. Analysis of outliers, Shapiro-Wilk normality test, non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman correlation analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis and the Ward method were carried out to identify the quality of water from different sources. There were higher coefficients of variation for metals, color, turbidity, and total phosphorus. The multivariate analysis pointed out that variables with the highest correlation and grouping in the springs indicate the movement of soil particles into water bodies and their degradation, due to the lack of protection in the areas of these relevant sources of supply.
Using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with machine vision systems (MVS) to assess fish weight of red tilapia in river cage culture
Authors: Taparhudee Wara , Jongjaraunsuk Roongparit , Nimitkul Sukkrit , Suwannasing Pimlapat , Mathurossuwan Wisit
Published: September 2023

Efficiently estimating fish weight poses a major challenge for effective fish feeding and harvesting.This study introduced a novel approach using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a Machine Vision System (MVS) to non-intrusively estimate the weight of red tilapia fish within a cultured environment (river-based cage culture). Our proposed method applied image acquisition via the UAV and subsequent image analysis using the MVS. Initially, Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Naïve Bayes (NB), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were trained for image classification across 9 fish classes in 5 cages. Subsequently, these models were tested on another set of 9 fish classes in 3 different cages. The results demonstrated that ANN achieved the highest prediction efficiency during training and validation, having mean (± standard deviation) scores for accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 of 90.39±8.33, 90.13±10.61, 90.05±9.14, and 90.13±9.05 %, respectively. However, during testing, the accuracy was 42 %. Therefore, future implementations are recommended to expand the dataset and to optimize ANN parameters (including K-fold, training cycle, hidden layers, and neurons) to enhance the efficiency of the ANN model. Where a substantial accuracy improvement cannot be achieved, we suggest considering the utilization of Convolutional Neural Network models and image data generator with transfer learning techniques.
De-identification of Clinical Document Images using Deep Learning and Data-Driven Methods
Authors: Sri Ravichandra , S Siva Sathya , S LourduMarie Sophie
Published: September 2023

Clinical Documents include clinical narratives, images, tables, charts, etc., that have substantial value to researchers in the medical domain. Nevertheless, this information is intermingled with Protected Health Information (PHI), posing confidentiality risks. This work offers an end-to-end de-identification framework for autonomously removing PHI from Scanned Clinical Document Images like discharge summaries, radiology reports, laboratory reports, etc. A synthetic dataset was created for experimental purposes containing 550 clinical document images collected from various patients of different hospitals. The de-identification framework includes two phases: (1) Annotation of Dataset and Training of Yolov3- DLA Deep learning model, which comprises of labeling of PHI regions in the clinical document Images using nine pre-defined categories and training Yolov3-DLA model. (2) De-identification identifies the regions of the Clinical Document Image using the Yolov3-Document Layout Analysis (Yolov3-DLA) trained model and verifies whether each region contains PHI fields that will be removed for anonymization. The proposed model, which uses Document layout analysis to identify the regions based on the structure of the contents and helps ease the identification process of PHI regions, achieved an F1 score of 97.21%. The proposed end-to-end framework is a robust de-identification solution for clinical narrative corpora. Any form of clinical narrative documents may be readily adapted to use this approach.
Heat Mitigation in Cities: A Catalyst for Building Energy Saving
Authors: Santamouris Mat
Published: September 2023

Overheating of cities increases the cooling energy consumption of buildings and the corresponding peak electricity demand. Advanced urban heat mitigation technologies that involve the use of super cool photonic materials combined with properly designed green infrastructure, lower the urban ambient and land surface temperatures and reduce the cooling energy consumption at the city scale. Here, we present and report the results of the world’s largest heat mitigation project in Riyadh, KSA. Daytime radiative coolers as well as cool and super cool materials combined with irrigated or non-irrigated greenery, have been used to design eight holistic and integrated heat mitigation scenarios, properly assessed by mesoscale climatic models covering the whole city. We assessed the impact of the scenarios as well as the corresponding energy benefits of 3323 urban buildings. An impressive decrease of the peak ambient temperature, up to 4.5°C, is calculated, consisting of the highest reported urban cooling performance, while the cooling degree hours in the city decrease by up to 26%. We found that innovative urban heat mitigation strategies contribute to remarkable cooling energy conservation by up to 16%, while the combined implementation of heat mitigation and energy adaptation technologies result in a decrease in the cooling demand by up to 35%. It is the first article investigating and reporting the large-scale energy benefits of modern heat mitigation technologies implemented in large cities as well as the dynamic and complex interdependencies between urban buildings and the urban environment as well asthe suitability and the corresponding cooling and energy conservation potential of current and advanced heat mitigation technologies. It finally explores pathways to optimise urban heat mitigation and the related energy conservation strategies in cities.
Diagnostic Performance of Two-Dimensional Shear-Wave Elastography and Attenuation Imaging for Fibrosis and Steatosis Assessment in Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Kobayashi Tamaki , Nakatsuka Takuma , Sato Masaya , Soroida Yoko , Hikita Hiromi , Gotoh Hiroaki , Iwai Tomomi , Tateishi Ryosuke , Kurano Makoto , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro
Published: September 2023

We investigated the diagnostic performance of two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) and attenuation imaging (ATI) in detecting fibrosis and steatosis among patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was performed in 209 patients with CLD using 2D-SWE and vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE), and steatosis quantification using ATI and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). Significant correlations were found between 2D-SWE and VCTE (r=0.78, p <0.001), and between ATI and CAP (r=0.70, p <0.001). Liver stiffness tended to be lower in 2D-SWE compared with that in VCTE, especially in cases with higher LSM, and ATI was less influenced by skin-to-capsular distance than CAP. Area under the receiver-operating characteristics curves (AUCs) and optimal cut-offs of 2D-SWE for diagnosing liver fibrosis stages F2, F3, and F4 were 0.74 (8.7 kPa), 0.79 (9.1 kPa), and 0.89 (11.6 kPa), respectively. The AUCs and optimal cut-offs of ATI for diagnosing hepatic steatosis stages S1, S2, and S3 were 0.91 (0.66 dB/cm/MHz), 0.81 (0.79 dB/cm/MHz), and 0.88 (0.86 dB/cm/MHz), respectively. A subgroup analysis of 93 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease also demonstrated good performance of 2D-SWE and ATI. Overall, 2D-SWE and ATI performed comparably with established VCTE and CAP in CLD evaluation.
A Redistribution Framework for Diffusion Auctions
Authors: Zhao Dengji , Gu Sizhe , Zhang Yao
Published: September 2023

Redistribution mechanism design aims to redistribute the revenue collected by a truthful auction back to its participants without affecting the truthfulness. We study redistribution mechanisms for diffusion auctions, which is a new type of mechanisms on social networks [1]. The key property of a diffusion auction is that the existing participants are incentivized to invite new participants to join the auction. Hence, when we design redistributions, we also need to maintain this incentive. Existing redistribution mechanisms in the traditional setting are targeted at modifying the payment design of a truthful mechanism, such as the Cavallo modification on the Vickrey auction. In this paper, we do not focus on one specific diffusion mechanism. Instead, we propose a framework to redistribute the revenue for all truthful diffusion auctions for selling a single item. The framework treats the original truthful diffusion auction as a black box, and it does not affect its truthfulness. Under the framework, we also give the conditions to satisfy the property of asymptotical budget-balance.
A Preliminary Analysis of Serum Iron's Role in Predicting Sepsis-associated Encephalopathy
Authors: Jin Jun , Du Qian , Cheng Beibei , Zhou Qingshan , Wu Lili , Yu Lei
Published: September 2023

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by organ dysfunction resulting from an uncontrolled response to infection, with the nervous system being particularly vulnerable. Iron is an essential trace element in the human body and is closely associated with sepsis and neurological diseases. The MIMIC-IV database was utilized for a retrospective cohort study involving 936 patients in the intensive care unit who experienced severe adverse events (SAE). These patients were randomly assigned to either a training or validation cohort. Independent risk factors for SAE were identified through LASSO logistic regression. Subsequently, a nomogram was developed incorporating these factors to predict the occurrence of SAE in sepsis patients. The efficacy of the nomogram was evaluated using several statistical measures, including the AUC, calibration curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test, IDI, NRI, DCA. Furthermore, in order to delve deeper into the correlation between serum iron and the occurrence of SAE, both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. The analysis revealed that out of the 936 patients, there were a total of 649 cases of SAE. Additionally, the implementation of LASSO regression analysis identified several independent risk factors for SAE, namely mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate, type of microorganism, serum iron levels, elective surgery, SASPIII score, and OASIS score. Moreover, the performance evaluation of the developed nomogram, based on metrics such as AUC, NRI, IDI, and DCA, demonstrated superior results compared to the conventional combination of SOFA and delirium. Moreover, the satisfactory calibration of the nomogram was confirmed by the calibration curve and results of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Our nomogram scoring system exhibited superior NRI and IDI values compared to conventional diagnostic methods. The DCA curves demonstrated favorable clinical utility for the nomogram. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that serum iron remained an independent predictor of SAE. Specifically, lower serum iron levels were associated with a higher risk of SAE (OR = 0.997, 95% CI = 0.993-1.000). The findings of our study clearly indicate that serum iron levels significantly influence the diagnosis of SAE.
Synthesis of EPD, an established cytotoxic agent for ovarian cancer cells, and its efficacy in cisplatin and paclitaxel resistant tumor cells
Authors: Haaften Caroline , Koek Jan , Eendenburg Jaap D.H. , Hoeve Wolter ten
Published: September 2023

Ovarian cancer remains still the leading cause of death of gynaecological malignancy, for the greater part caused by tumour resistance to conventional treatment with cisplatin and paclitaxel. In the past a new compound, EPD, from the plant Calomeria amaranthoides has been isolated and proved to be a potential anti-cancer agent. The sesquiterpene lactone, EPD, or Eremophila-1(10)-11(13)-dien-12,8β-olide, has an alpha-methylene gamma-lactone ring, essential for its apoptotic activity. In order to have sufficient EPD material for further anti-tumour studies, a synthetic route has been developed. Drug combinations with synthesized EPD, cisplatin and paclitaxel were studied in four ovarian cell lines, and normal fibroblasts. EPD showed in particular strength in its effects with the cisplatin resistant cell line COV362 cl 4 and with a paclitaxel resistant cell line A2780. Compared to cisplatin and paclitaxel, less effects of EPD were shown to effect the viability of normal fibroblasts. Synthesized EPD proved to be promising both as an anti-ovarian cancer agent as well as a chemo-sensitizing agent in combination with other anti-cancer drugs. Synthesized EPD will facilitate pre-clinical studies.
A modified method for isolating sinoatrial node myocytes from adult mice
Authors: Li Qiang , Zhang Hanying , Liu Ronghua , Wang Luqi , Guo Xintong , You Hongjie , Xue Jingyi , Luo Dali
Published: September 2023

Sinoatrial node (SAN) is the pacemaker of the heart in charge of initiating spontaneous electronical activity and controlling heart rate. Myocytes from SAN can generate spontaneous rhythmic action potentials, which propagate through the myocardium thereby triggering cardiac myocyte contraction. Acutely, the method for isolating sinoatrial node myocytes (SAMs) is critical in studying the protein expression and function of myocytes in SAN. Currently, the SAMs were isolated by transferring SAN tissue directly into the digestion solution, but it is difficult to judge the degree of digestion, and the cell yield and viability. Here, we present a modified protocol for isolation of SAMs in mice, based on the collagenase II and protease perfusion of heart using a Langendorff-apparatus, and subsequent dissociation of SAMs. The appearance and droplet flow rate of the heart could be significantly changed during enzymatic digestion via perfusion, which allowed us to easily judge the degree of digestion and avoid incomplete or excessive digestion. The SAMs with stable yield and viability achieving from our optimized approach would facilitate the follow-up experiments.
Assessment of Nutritional and Subjective Health Status 0f Chronically Ill Children Aged 7-15 Years Attending Special Schools in Lahore
Authors: Ahmad Afaq , Shahbaz Hafiz Muhammad , Sohaib Muhammad , Bilal Muhammad
Published: September 2023

Background Malnutrition adversely impacts the health of chronically ill children, increasing the risk of infections, disabilities, and even mortality. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the nutritional and subjective health status of children aged 7-15 years with chronic diseases attending special schools.
Methods A total of 172 children with chronic diseases attending seven schools for the disabled (Blind and Physically disabled) were included in the study. Socio-demographic parameters of nutritional status and subjective health status were assessed using questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Malnutrition status was assessed as acute malnutrition (<-2 SDS for WFH) and chronic malnutrition (<-2 SDS for HFA). Malnutrition risk was evaluated using the STRONGkids screening tool. The EQ-5D tool was used to assess subjective health status.
Results Malnutrition prevalence was 52.9% among children with 19.2% acute and 30.2% chronic. Based on the STRONGkids questionnaire, 11.6% of children were at high risk and 31.4% were at moderate risk for developing malnutrition. Caretakers from different schools reported some/severe problems in health status dimensions of mobility 64%, self-care 45%, usual activities 45%, pain 49%, and anxiety/discomfort 36% in children. The mean VAS score was 67.5 (SD 11.8). Malnutrition explained 31% of the variation in the VAS score.
Conclusions The presence of malnutrition among chronically ill children going to special schools was significantly associated with low subjective health status. Addressing malnutrition can improve the subjective health status of chronically-ill children.