bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Different responses of sugarcane and rhizosphere soil microorganisms to single or mixture application of PGPB
Authors: Wei Jiang-Lu , Qin Ying , Khan Qaisar , Liang Wan-Tao , He Wan-Ling , Dong Deng-Feng , Xing Yong-Xiu , Li Yang-Rui
Published: July 2024

Background: Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) benefit plant growth and development via different direct and indirect mechanisms. However, our knowledge about rhizosphere soil response at different plant growth stages to diverse PGPB application in sugarcane is limited. In this study, four strains of bacteria genera (Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAL5, Streptomyces chartreusis WZS021, Bacillus spp. CA1, and Pseudomonas mosselii CN11) were inoculated into two sugarcane varieties (B8, ROC22) as single or mixture in a pot planting experiment. The effects of single or combined application of PGPB on nitrogen metabolism, agronomic traits, rhizosphere soil chemical and biological properties and microbial community were surveyed.
Results: It was found that different treatments had different promotion ways for different sugarcane varieties and rhizosphere soils. PAL5 and CA1+CN11 significantly improved the nitrogen fixation efficiency of sugarcane, while WZS021 treatment enhanced phosphorus (available phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase). High-throughput sequencing (HTS) analysis revealed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and Actinobacteria were the main microbial community phylum components. Correlation analysis indicates that phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota played a key role in the nitrogen cycle of the soil-microbe-plant interaction system, while phylum Firmicutes had a crucial role in the phosphorus cycle. And we found that, In the varieties with weak bacterial species in the rhizosphere soil, the addition of the composite strain had the best effect, while in the varieties with rich bacterial species, the addition of the composite strain may have the exclusion phenomenon, which was not as good as the addition of the single dominant strain.
Conclusions:The PGPB had excellent activities, such as nitrogen fixation, phosphorus and potassium solubilization, which could promote plant growth by decomposing soil nutrients. The inoculated strains can positively enrich the beneficial bacteria in sugarcane. However, there were variations in the quantities of these promoted properties in the treatments with different bacterial strains and sugarcane varieties. It was found that soil-disadvantaged and inoculum-specific bacteria were more favorable to plant development. The considerable variation in soil microbe provides a knowledge base and an experimental system for further mining and utilization of microbial strains.
In vitro detection of breast and cervical cancer cells using a novel fluorescent choline derivative
Authors: Caprifico Anna Eleonora , Vaghi Luca , Spearman Peter , Calabrese Gianpiero , Papagni Antonio
Published: July 2024

Introduction Cervical and breast cancers can be easily preventable but they still represent the main causes of cancer-related deaths of women worldwide. Detecting cancer at its early stages is key since treatment of pre-invasive lesions is more efficient than treating an invasive disease. However, there no screening method that is highly sensitive and specific, as well as affordable and practical is currently available. Therefore, the identification of markers complementing traditional cyto/histopathological assessments is needed. Alterations in choline metabolism represents a hallmark of many malignancies, including cervical and breast cancers. Choline radiotracers are widely used for several imaging purposes for the detection of tumours, even though there are many risks associated with the use of radioactivity. Therefore, the aim of this work was to synthesize and characterize a choline tracer based on fluorinated acridine scaffold (CFA) for the in vitro detection of cervical and breast cancer cells.
Methods CFA was synthesized, fully characterized and tested for cytotoxicity on breast (MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. CFA’s uptake by cancer cells was investigated by confocal microscopy and its intracellular intensity was studied by fluorescence means; a comparative uptake between living normal and cancer cells was also conducted.
Results An enhanced intensity of CFA was recorded in breast cancer cells compared to cervical cancer cells in both confocal and fluorescence microscope analysis (p ≤ 0.001). Weak signal intensity of CFA was recorded in normal cells (p ≤ 0.0001). CFA was toxic at much higher concentrations (HeLa IC50= 200 ±18 µM and MCF-7 IC50=105 ±3 µM) than the one needed for its detection in cancer cells (5 µM).
Conclusions Results showed that CFA preferentially accumulated in cancer cells rather than in normal ones. This suggests that CFA may be a potential diagnostic probe in discriminating healthy tissues from malignant ones, due to its specific and highly sensitive features; CFA may also represent a useful tool for in vitro investigations of choline metabolism in cervical and breast cancers.
Aging and Frailty; the case of HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals in Ghana: A case-control study
Authors: Ntiamoah Paul , Ananni-Akollor Max Efui , Frempong Magaret T. , Mutocheluh Mohammed , Narkwah Patrick Williams , Agordzo Samuel Kekeli , Dapaah Dora , Adu-Gyasi Dennis
Published: July 2024

Background
Physical frailty remains an important health challenge associated with aging. HIV infection may influence the development of physical frailty. This may lead to persons living with HIV experiencing adverse health outcomes that result from physical frailty at earlier ages as compared to persons who are HIV-negative. There is inadequate knowledge of frailty among Ghanaians especially in persons living with HIV. This study sought to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with frailty among elderly persons (older adults) with or without HIV infection in Ghana.
Methodology: This case-control study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2020. A total of 181 elderly persons were recruited for this study. Sociodemographic and lifestyle data were obtained with a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained to determine the HIV status of individuals whose HIV status was unknown for exclusion purposes. Frailty was assessed by the Frailty Phenotype Tool. Statistical values with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results
Out of the 181 participants, 42.5% (n = 77) were known HIV-positive individuals on antiretroviral therapy whereas 57.5% of participants in this study were HIV-negative. While the overall prevalence of frailty was 15.5% (n = 28), the prevalence of frailty among HIV-negative adults was 12.5% (n = 13) and that recorded among HIV-positive elderly persons was 19.5% (n = 15). Occupation (p = 0.020), age (p = 0.049), smoking status (p = 0.029), and not having multiple sex partners (p = 0.031) were associated with frailty among HIV-negative older adults. Conclusion: Frailty is more common among elderly persons with HIV infection than those without HIV infection, with nearly 2 out of 10 elderly HIV-infected persons being frail. No significant association was observed between frailty status and sociodemographics and lifestyle characteristics among the HIV-positive participants. We conclude that frailty is common among Ghanaian older adults and it is a bigger problem in elderly persons living with HIV infection.
Drivers of wild boar abundance and hunting effectiveness in southern Tunisia
Authors: Ghandri Aida , Acevedo Pelayo , Jarray Mohsen , Zaidi Ali , Chammem Mohsen
Published: July 2024

Over the past few decades, wild boar populations have surged globally, including in Tunisia, creating challenges that necessitate understanding the factors influencing their abundance and trends. Herein, we analyzed hunting statistics (number of seen and hunted animals during the hunting events) from 2008 to 2022 to examine the spatial pattern of wild boar abundance in the oases of Kebili and Gabés in south Tunisia. Using Generalized Linear Mixed Models, we examined the relationships between wild boar abundance (the number of animals seen during hunting activities) and hunting effectiveness (the ratio of hunted to seen animals during hunting activities), considering landscape structure, human infrastructure, and hunting pressure. Wild boar abundance was higher in Kebili than in Gabés, but in Gabés wild boar population trend was positive. Our results suggest that wild boar abundance was positively correlated with oasis size, mostly in oasis with presence of herb, shrub, and tree layers. Regarding hunting effectiveness, our results showed that it was significantly higher in Gabés and was positively correlated with the distance to the nearest road. This study underscores the distinct dynamics of wild boar populations in the two regions and highlights the potential risk of population increase based on environmental conditions. The results emphasize the importance of region-specific management strategies that influence both abundance and distribution, and the capability to regulate wild boar populations by hunting. It also underscores the significance of collecting reliable hunting statistics to monitor population dynamics and formulate effective wildlife policies.
Study on oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by SiO2 nanoparticles for Enhancing Oil Recovery in harsh reservoirs
Authors: Yang Liu , Ge Jiiang , Wu Hao , Li Xiaqing , Zhang Xiangfeng , Zhang Guicai
Published: July 2024

In high-temperature and high-salt environments, emulsions stabilized by surfactants are susceptible to instability phenomena, such as droplet coalescence, thereby limiting their utility in tertiary oil recovery. Addition of nanoparticles to the emulsion systems is able to improve the stability of emulsions by several mechanisms. In this paper, two kinds of SiO2 nanoparticle stabilized emulsions, i.e., the electrostatic repulsion stabilized emulsions (ERS) and the Pickering emulsions, are investigated to clear their potential for Enhancing Oil Recovery. The ERS emulsions are prepared by adding SiO2 nanoparticle to a SDS stabilized emulsion. It is found that the critical surfactant concentration for forming emulsions is reduced from 0.06% to 0.006%, and the ERS emulsions are stable at salinity lower than 1% NaCl with no oil phase releasing. The cryo-SEM experiments show that the nanoparticles mainly disperse in the aqueous phase and prevent the droplets from coalescence by electrostatic repulsion. On the other hand, Pickering emulsions are prepared using nonionic surfactant modified SiO2 nanoparticles. By adjusting a surfactant-to-nanoparticles ratio (such as 0.1%:1.0%), the hydrophilic-lipophilic equilibrium is obtained. Laser confocal and cryo-scanning electron microscopy results indicated that SiO2 nanoparticles in Pickering emulsions are dispersed at the oil-water interface, forming a network structure between the emulsion droplets. Further experiments indicates that the ERS emulsions are effective at salinity lower than 1% NaCl, and the Pickering emulsions adapt to salinity lower than 4% NaCl. In the visual 2-D oil displacement experiments, the ERS emulsion and the Pickering emulsion contribute to 8% and 15% oil recovery, respectively, since the droplets of the Pickering emulsions may aggregate and plug large pores.
The influence of parents' oral health literacy and behavior on oral health of preschool children aged 3-6 years - Evidence from China
Authors: Wu Kan , yin Wei , Liang Xinhua , Zou Ling , Yang Zheng
Published: July 2024

Background
Direct and indirect associations have been identified among health literacy, health behavior, and health status. Thus, we aimed to investigate the influence of oral health literacy and behaviors in parents on their children's oral health status. Moreover, we aimed to analyze the mentioned mediating effects through oral health behavior management.
Methods
Oral health information of 1,102 preschool children aged 3 to 6 years was collected from five primary schools in Jinjiang District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China. The decay-missing-filled teeth (DMFT) index and soft scale plaque index (PI) were used by professional dentists aided by school teachers to assess caries and periodontal health among the children. Simultaneously, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey among the parents to determine their oral health literacy and health behavior and their children's oral health behavior. The probit model, instrumental variables, and mediation effect model were used to evaluate the association of parents' oral health literacy and behavior with their children's oral health status.
Results
The DFMT index was 1.58 among the children, with zero caries in 646 (58.6%) children. The PI was 0.68, with zero gum disease in 517 (46.9%). The univariate analysis suggested that the parents' health literacy and behavior were correlated with their children's oral health status (P < 0.01). Parents' oral health behavior significantly affected their children's oral health status. Simultaneously, a stronger correlation was observed upon using parents' health literacy as an instrumental variable to assess the endogeneity, indicating endogeneity problems. Parents' health-related behaviors exerted a mediating effect on children's oral health, with parents helping children brush their teeth demonstrating the strongest effect.
Conclusion
Parents' oral health-related behaviors can affect their children's oral health status. We recommend enhancing parents' oral health literacy to improve children's oral health status.
Block Identification and Stability Analysis of Underground Stope with Multi-working Face
Authors: Zhang Minsi , Lin Caize , Yang Yong , Wang Shuhong , Shu Fan , Zha Wenhua
Published: July 2024

In the analysis of multi-working face stopes using block theory, the established rock mass model is a complex concave body, and the classic plane cutting algorithm for convex polyhedra cannot be used. To address the challenge, a cavity polyhedron model is constructed through the combination of convex sub-regions, and a detailed methodology for the construction of concave models is provided. In the combinatorial model, the classical cutting algorithm is unrestricted. Subsequently, block identification is achieved through the contraction of structural planes and the merging of sub-regions, which avoids cutting concave polyhedra and takes into account the actual dimensions of structural planes, overcoming the assumption of infinite structural planes in traditional methods. Combining with a shallow underground stope, all independent blocks in the study area are identified. The basic information of the key blocks around the surrounding rock is also provided. The calculation results show that this method can precisely identify all blocks formed by finite structural planes within concave models, regardless of their shapes and quantities. It proves the effectiveness and accuracy of this method applied to multi-working face stopes, and provides technical support for ensuring the safe production of underground stopes.
Predictive factors for compliance to Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor therapy in Palestinian patients with diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and age- related macular degeneration: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Abualhasan Hamza , Beshtawi Ithar , Mustafa Othman , Hantoli Salem , Noor Mohammad
Published: July 2024

Background
The burden of retinal vascular and degenerative diseases on patients and healthcare systems can be significant if patients do not complete scheduled intravitreal injections. This study aimed to identify the factors that influence compliance with follow-up injections in patients with diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal vein occlusion who are undergoing intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment.
Methods
This study utilized data from patients who received intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment injections between 2022 and 2023 at An-Najah National University Hospital. Patient information such as demographics, number of injections administered, and details of follow-up visits were obtained from the hospital's electronic records. In cases where the electronic records lacked certain information, patients or their relatives were contacted to provide the missing data. Data entry and analysis were performed using Chi-squared tests and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Statistical significance was determined when the p-value was (≤ 0.05).
Results
A total of 107 patients were eligible for the study, with an average age of 61.9 ± 10.881 years. Out of the total, 64 patients (59.8%) were identified as non-compliant. The factors that significantly affected compliance included the patient's expectation, the planned number of injections, cost issues, injection indications, gender, need for physical assistance, and mobility problems.
Conclusion
Our study found that 59.8% of patients did not adhere to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment injections. Factors influencing compliance included the planned number of injections, cost, indication of injections, gender, need for physical assistance, and mobility issues. It is crucial to increase awareness of these factors to prevent complications like blindness. Raising awareness could lead to improved compliance rates, better treatment outcomes, and positive impacts on patient and community health.
Analysis of Electromagnetic Effect on Semiconducting Medium
Authors: Islam N. , Das B. , Shit G. C. , Lahiri A.
Published: July 2024

This paper addresses the generalized electro-magneto-thermoelastic problem for a homogeneous and isotropic thin circular semiconductor. We consider the non-local heat conduction equation due to the miniaturization of modern electronic devices and their widespread use of ultrashort lasers under extremely high-temperature gradient environments in the presence of a primary electromagnetic field. The curved surface of the semiconductor is subjected to an exponentially time-dependent thermal and mechanical load. The governing coupled linear equations of hyperbolic type are numerically solved by developing a finite difference method using the Crank-Nicolson implicit scheme for extremely short-time actions and extremely small micro-structure sizes. The study investigates the effect of chemical concentration along with the physical field variables of the diffusive material to predict thermoelastic behavior in nano-structured semiconducting medium. Numerical computations of temperature distribution, chemical potential, deformation and stress components are presented for fixed values of physical parameters. The results indicate significant effects of physical parameters such as the non-local parameter, time phase lagging and heat phase lagging parameters on ultrashort thermoelastic response, which play an important role in the design and processing of nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS).
Deciphering the Lung Microbiota in COVID-19 patients: Insights from Culture Analysis, FilmArray Pneumonia Panel, Ventilation Impact, and Mortality Trends
Authors: Molina Francisco José , Botero Luz Elena , Isaza Juan Pablo , Cano Luz Elena , López Lucelly , Valdés Luis , Arbeláez Angela J. Arévalo , Moreno Isabel , Restrepo Laura S. Pérez , Usuga Jaime , Ciuoderis Karl , Hernandez Juan Pablo , López-Aladid Rubén , Fernández Laia , Torres Antoni
Published: July 2024

Few studies have analyzed the role of the lung microbiome in the diagnosis of pulmonary coinfection in ventilated ICU COVID-19 patients. We characterized the lung microbiota in COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia on invasive mechanical ventilation using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing and established its relationship with coinfections, mortality, and the need for mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days. This study included 67 COVID-19 ICU patients. DNA extracted from mini-bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and endotracheal aspirates was amplified by PCR with specific 16S primers (27F and 1492R). General and relative bacterial abundance analysis was also conducted. Alpha diversity was measured by the Shannon and Simpson indices, and differences in the microbiota were established using beta diversity. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size algorithm was implemented to describe biomarkers. Streptococcus spp. represented 51% of the overall microbial abundance. There were no differences in alpha diversity between the analyzed variables. There was variation in bacterial composition between samples that had positive and negative cultures. The genera Veillonella sp., Granulicatella sp., Enterococcus sp. and Lactiplantibacillus sp., with LDA scores > 2, were biomarkers associated with negative cultures. Rothia sp., with an LDA score > 2, was a biomarker associated with mortality.
Preoperative pectoralis muscle index predicts recurrence and metastasis in early-stage non- small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Shi Zhihui , Wu Lin , Jiang Dengke , Yang Ruiling , Liao Rui , Liu Lizhu , You Ruimin , Li Yanli , Dong Xingxiang , Zhang Dafu , Zhang Xuewen , Chen Xiaobo , Li Zhenhui
Published: July 2024

Background
Sarcopenia is a well-established prognostic factor in patients with malignancies, with the muscle index serving as a key parameter in evaluating sarcopenia. However, the relationship between the pectoralis muscle index (PMI) determined by preoperative computed tomography (CT) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), as well as distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), remains unclear in patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods
Consecutive patients who underwent curative-intent resection for stage I to IIIA NSCLC between 2013 and 2018 at a cancer center were retrospectively identified. The Cox proportional hazard model was employed to analyze the correlation between PMI and survival, with subgroup analyses conducted to explore potential heterogeneity among different subgroups. Finally, the relative influence of each parameter was compared using a gradient boosting model (GBM).
Results
A total of 2110 patients (median (IQR) age 59.00 (52.00, 66.00) years, 1125 (53.32%) males, median follow-up of 64.73 months) were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the RFS rate, DMFS rate, lung metastasis-free survival (MFS) rate, liver MFS rate, brain MFS rate, bone MFS rate, and adrenal MFS rate of patients in the high PMI group were higher than those in the low PMI group, all with P < 0.001. In the multivariable analysis, low PMI is still associated with shorter RFS ( hazard ratio [HR] = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: (1.10, 1.62), P = 0.004), DMFS (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: (1.11, 1.65), P = 0.003), lung MFS (HR = 1.47, 95% CI (1.19, 1.81), P < 0.001) and bone MFS (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: (1.11, 1.73), P = 0.004). These associations were consistent in subgroup analysis of different gender, age, tumor stage, histologic type, and surgical approach group.
Conclusions
As an independent predictor of RFS and DMFS in patients with early-stage NSCLC, preoperative CT-based PMI may contribute to further refining the risk stratification of NSCLC.
Queue wait time prediction in High PerformanceComputing (HPC) Systems
Authors: Okafor Nwamaka , Lusch Bethany , Vishwanath Venkatram
Published: July 2024

High Performance Computing (HPC) systems are critical enablers for groundbreaking scientific research across various domains. Efficient resource allocation, facilitated by job scheduling, is paramount for maximizing the utilization of HPC systems. However, the variability in wait times for queued jobs poses challenges for users, necessitating accurate job wait time estimation. This paper explores the influence of job characteristics, including job size (the number of nodes requested and walltime), the queue to which the job is submitted and other resource requirements, on job wait times in leadership-class HPC systems. Focusing on the Theta Cray XC40 and Polaris machines at Argonne National Laboratory, the study evaluates the performance of different supervised learning algorithms in predicting job wait times. It underscores the importance of effective data handling and processing, including outlier detection and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), to enhance prediction accuracy.The findings reveal insights into the relationship between job characteristics and wait times, offering a foundation for optimizing resource allocation and enhancing user experience. The methodologies and tools developed in this study are adaptable to other leadership-class HPC systems, providing a valuable contribution to the broader HPC community aiming to improve job scheduling efficiency and user satisfaction.
Dapagliflozin for the primary prevention of chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients treated with neo-adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy: design of the multi-center phase II randomized PROTECT trial
Authors: Greco A. , Quagliariello V. , Rizzo G. , Turazza F. , Mascolo C. , Pelosi C. , Galiazzo M. C. , Acquaro M. , Lasagna A. , Perrone L. , Amici M. , Klersy C. , Ghio S. , De Luca L. , Maurea N. , Scelsi L.
Published: July 2024

Background: Their clinical effectiveness of anthracyclines may be thwarted by the development of cardiotoxicity progressively leading to heart failure (HF) and compromising the quality of life and overall survival of breast cancer (BC) patients. Sequential therapy regimen of anthracyclines and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) blocking agents, such as trastuzumab, is associated to higher risk of cardiotoxicity compared to monotherapy regimen.
Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) exert several cardiometabolic benefits in HF with reduced and preserved ejection fraction through the systemic reduction of insulin, visceral fat, chemokines and growth factors involved in cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies in preclinical models of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity concluded that SGLT2i are able to prevent ejection fraction reduction and myocardial inflammation and fibrosis. A very recent retrospective study indicates that SGLT2i were associated with lower rate of cardiac events among diabetic patients with cancer treated with anthracyclines. Based on this background we sought to conduct a randomized clinical trial testing SGLT2i in patients with BC treated with anthracyclines+/- trastuzumab.
Methods: PROTECT trial is a phase II “proof of concept”, multicentre, randomized 1:1, open label, parallel-groups study, designed to evaluate if the SGLT2i dapagliflozin reduces chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in participants with BC treated with (neo-) adjuvant Anthracycline-based chemotherapy +/- trastuzumab. Chemotherapy-naive patients (18-70 years) scheduled for antracycline +/- trastuzumab treatment in the (neo-)adjuvant setting for stage I-III BC will be randomized using a web-based system stratified by the use of trastuzumab to follow a chemotherapy regimen plus the SGLT2i Dapagliflozin (10 mg/die) (active group) or chemotherapy regimen plus standard of care (control group). During follow up period, patients developing asymptomatic or symptomatic systolic disfunction will be treated according to good clinical practice. From randomization, to the third, sixth, twelfth and eighteenth months, echocardiographic and cardiological visits will be performed associated to blood analysis for quantification of cardiotoxicity biomarkers, estimated glomerular filtration rate and systemic inflammation.
Discussion: PROTECT study aims to reduce cadiovascular events in BC through the oral administration of SGLT2i Dapagliflozin and to investigate on its systemic cardio-metabolic benefits.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06341842 (EudraCT Number 2022-003377-28). Registered on 19 March 2024.
The impact of gray matter structural changes on clinical disability in Multiple Sclerosis： Voxel- and Surface-based analyses
Authors: Chen Hongping , Zhang WeiHua , Ma Yuchao , Ren Jiayun , Zhong Di
Published: July 2024

Background：
This study used voxel- and surface-based morphometry to analyze the changes in gray matter structure in MS patients and their correlation with clinical scales.
Methods:
An analysis was conducted on the structural magnetic resonance imaging data of 30 patients with MS who met the inclusion criteria and 30 healthy controls. Clinical disability, cognitive function, depression, and anxiety status were assessed using relevant scales. Imaging data were also collected from the MS and healthy control groups, and SPM12 and CAT12 analyzed the images. After controlling for age and gender, voxel- and surface-based morphometry were used to study inter-group differences. Finally, the discrepancy data were correlated with the clinical scales.
Results:
Compared to the hc group, the gray matter volume reduction in the MS group was mainly concentrated in the deep gray matter, with a small portion located in the cortical gray matter (FWE-corrected p-value <0.05). Cortical thickness was significantly reduced in multiple dispersed regions of the brain bilaterally in the MS group compared to hc (FWE-corrected p-value <0.05), and there was no obvious anatomical connection between these regions. Correlation analysis showed a correlation between some of these regions and clinical disability.
Conclusion:
A pattern of multiple gray matter structural changes was identified in our study, and a clinical correlation between structural changes was found. Grey matter volume and cortical thickness hold substantial promise as markers of disease progression and have the potential to respond to neuroprotective treatments for MS neurodegeneration.
The value of endocervical curettage during large loop excision of the transformation zone in combination with endocervical surgical margin in predicting persistent/recurrent dysplasia of the uterine cervix: a retrospective study
Authors: Scherer-Quenzer Anne Cathrine , Findeis Jelena , Herbert Saskia-Laureen , Yokendren Nithya , Reinhold Ann-Kristin , Schlaiss Tanja , Wöckel Achim , Diessner Joachim , Kiesel Matthias
Published: July 2024

Background
Cervical cancer often originates from cervical cell dysplasia. Previous studies mainly focused on surgical margins and high-risk human papillomavirus persistence as factors predicting recurrence. New research highlights the significance of positive findings from endocervical curettage (ECC) during excision treatment. However, the combined influence of surgical margin and ECC status on dysplasia recurrence risk has not been investigated.
Methods
In this retrospective study, data from 404 women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) who underwent large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) were analyzed. Records were obtained retrospectively from the hospital’s patient database including information about histopathological finding from ECC, endocervical margin status with orientation of residual disease after LLETZ, recurrent/persistent dysplasia after surgical treatment and need for repeated surgery (LLETZ or hysterectomy).
Results
Patients with cranial (= endocervical) R1-resection together with cells of HSIL in the ECC experienced re-surgery 17 times. With statistical normal distribution, this would have been expected to happen 5 times (p < 0.001). The Fisher’s exact test confirmed a statistically significant connection between the resection status together with the result of the ECC and the reoccurrence of dysplasia after surgery (p < 0,001). 40,6% of the patients with re-dysplasia after primary LLETZ had shown cranial R1-resection together with cells of HSIL in the ECC. Investigating the risk for a future abnormal Pap smear, patients with cranial R1-resection together with dysplastic cells in the ECC showed the greatest deviation of statistical normal distribution with SR = 2.6.
Conclusion
Our results demonstrate that the future risk of re-dysplasia, re-surgery, and abnormal Pap smear for patients after LLETZ due to HSIL is highest within patients who were diagnosed with cranial (endocervical) R1-resection and with cells of HSIL in the ECC in their primary LLETZ. Consequently, the identification of patients, who could benefit of intensified observation or required intervention could be improved.
MRI distortion correction is associated with improved local control in stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastases
Authors: Höfler Daniel , Grigo Johanna , Siavosch Hadi , Saake Marc , Schmidt Manuel Alexander , Weissmann Thomas , Schubert Philipp , Voigt Raphaela , Lettmaier Sebastian , Semrau Sabine , Dörfler Arnd , Uder Michael , Bert Christoph , Fietkau Rainer , Putz Florian
Published: July 2024

Distortions in brain MRI caused by gradient nonlinearities may reach several millimeters, thus distortion correction is strongly recommended for radiotherapy treatment planning. However, the significance of MRI distortion correction on actual clinical outcomes has not been described yet. Therefore we investigated the impact of planning MRI distortion correction on subsequent local control in an historic series of 419 brain metastases in 189 patients treated with stereotactic radiotherapy between 01/2003–04/2015. Local control was evaluated using a volumetric extension of the RANO-BM criteria. The prognostic significance of distortion correction was assessed using competing risk analysis. In this cohort, 2D distortion-corrected MRIs had been used for treatment planning in 52.5% (220/419) of lesions, while uncorrected MRIs had been employed in 47.5% (199/419) of metastases. 2D distortion correction was associated with improved local control (Cumulative incidence of local progression at 12 months: 14.3% vs. 21.2% and at 24 months: 18.7% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.038). In multivariate analysis, adjusting for histology, baseline tumor volume, interval between MRI and treatment delivery, year of planning MRI, biologically effective dose and adjuvant Whole-brain radiotherapy, use of distortion correction remained significantly associated with improved local control (HR 0.55, p = 0.020). This is the first study to clinically evaluate the impact of MRI gradient nonlinearity distortion correction on local control in stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastases. In this historic series, we found significantly higher local control when using 2D corrected vs. uncorrected MRI studies for treatment planning. These results stress the importance of assuring that MR images used for radiotherapy treatment planning are properly distortion-corrected.
Generalizable deep learning framework for 3D medical image segmentation using limited training data
Authors: Ekman Tobias , Barakat Arthur , Heiberg Einar
Published: July 2024

Medical image segmentation is a critical component in a wide range of clinical applications, enabling the identification and delineation of anatomical structures. This study focuses on segmentation of anatomical structures for 3D printing, virtual surgery planning, and advanced visualization such as virtual or augmented reality. Manual segmentation methods are labor-intensive and can be subjective, leading to inter-observer variability. Machine learning algorithms, particularly deep learning models, have gained traction for automating the process and are now considered state-of-the-art. However, deep-learning methods typically demand large datasets for fine-tuning and powerful graphics cards, limiting their applicability in resource-constrained settings. In this paper we introduce a robust deep learning framework for 3D medical segmentation that achieves high performance across a range of medical segmentation tasks, even when trained on a small number of subjects. This approach overcomes the need for extensive data and heavy GPU resources, facilitating adoption within healthcare systems. The potential is exemplified through six different clinical applications involving orthopedics, orbital segmentation, mandible CT, cardiac CT, fetal MRI and lung CT. Notably, a small number of hyper-parameters and augmentation settings produced >95\% segmentation Dice score results for a diverse range of organs and tissues.
La/Ce New Electrode Composition for Anodic Oxidation Process: Reactive Black 5 Treatment Study
Authors: Okur Melike Ceren , Öztürk Dilara , Akyol Abdurrahman
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the impact of lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) doped iridium-ruthenium mixed metal oxide electrodes characterization, optimization and the treatment performance of synthetic waters containing Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye. The electrodes were coated with brushing method with varying doping levels of La and Ce, specifically at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 20%. Additionally, a new electrode was developed with a mixed doping of 10% Ce and 10% La, which exhibited the highest efficiency in terms of degradation performance. The research focuses on understanding the roles of La and Ce doping, pH, conductivity, and concentration effects on the electrochemical degradation process. Experiments were conducted across a range of pH values (3, 5, 7, and 9), dye concentrations (50, 100, 300, and 500 ppm), current densities (100, 200, 350, and 600 A.m-²), and conductivities (1500, 3500, 5500, and 10000 µS.cm-1). It was found that the newly developed electrode with 10% Ce and 10% La doping showed the most efficiency results. The findings show significant improvements in pollutant removal and toxicity reduction, highlighting the potential of these doped electrodes in wastewater treatment. The study provides insights into optimizing operational parameters for the effective electrochemical treatment of industrial effluents, particularly in the context of textile industry wastewater.
Wildlife Ecological Spectrum: unveiling alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) diversity of the Kaptai National Park, Bangladesh
Authors: Rakib Mehedi Hasan , Chowdhury Mohd Imran Hossain , Das Chinmoy , Hossain Tonima , Tanvir Md. Seikh Sadiul Islam
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the impact of different habitats forests, rivers, and tourist areas on the biodiversity of trees, birds, mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates. Data were collected from 90 plots, using quadrat sampling for trees, circular strip transects for birds, live trapping for small mammals, and reptiles, pitfall traps for ground-dwelling species and invertebrates, and transects for butterflies. Biodiversity indices, including alpha, beta, and gamma diversity, were calculated using the R programming environment, specifically the vegan and iNEXT packages. Results indicated significant differences in species richness and composition among habitats. Forest areas had an alpha diversity index of 86 for trees, 104 for birds, 46 for mammals, 45 for reptiles, and 35 for invertebrates. River-associated forests showed higher species richness and evenness, with significant beta diversity, particularly among invertebrates. Tourist areas exhibited reduced species richness, with the alpha diversity index slightly lower at 84 for trees and 33 for invertebrates. The Shannon diversity index values were highest for trees (3.60) and lowest for invertebrates (1.00), indicating a well-balanced distribution of species in forests and a significant impact of human activities in tourist areas. Statistical analyses, including the Games-Howell test and NMDS, confirmed significant differences in species distributions across habitats. Rarefaction curves highlighted the highest species richness in forests, while tourist areas showed a quicker plateau, indicating fewer overall species. The study also examined the impact of conservation efforts, correlating diversity metrics with reforestation and anti-poaching activities. The findings underscore the importance of habitat-specific conservation strategies. Recommendations include prioritizing the protection of high-biodiversity habitats, restoration initiatives in disturbed areas, continuous ecological monitoring, public education, and stringent enforcement of environmental policies. These measures are crucial for enhancing biodiversity conservation and maintaining ecological integrity in diverse habitats. This research provides valuable insights into the relationship between habitat types and biodiversity, informing effective management practices to preserve ecological diversity.
Precision Medicine in Cardiology: An Evolving Understanding of Biomarkers in Coronary Artery Disease Prevention a 10-year Thematic Review
Authors: Borges Julian
Published: July 2024

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Precision medicine, utilizing biomarkers for early detection and prevention of CAD, has emerged as a promising approach to improve patient outcomes. This systematic review aims to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding biomarkers in CAD prevention, focusing on the most promising and well-studied biomarkers over the past decade.
Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant studies published between 2013 and 2023. Inclusion criteria were original research articles, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses focusing on biomarkers in CAD prevention, with sufficient data on biomarker performance. Exclusion criteria were case reports, editorials, conference abstracts, and studies on biomarkers in established CAD. The STARD “Standards for Reporting Diagnostic accuracy studies” 2015 guideline criteria for assessing diagnostic tools was also utilized to ensure the precision of the methodology and help readers to appraise the applicability of the study findings and the validity of conclusions and recommendations. The main outcome assessed was the association between biomarkers and CAD risk, using various statistical methods. The study is registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42023 564048).
Findings: The search identified 2,345 articles, of which 40 met the inclusion criteria, including 32 original research articles, 6 systematic reviews, and 2 meta-analyses. The biomarkers studied included traditional risk factors (lipid profiles and blood pressure), novel biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and adipokines), and imaging biomarkers (coronary artery calcium scores and carotid intima-media thickness). Several studies demonstrated the association between these biomarkers and increased CAD risk, independent of traditional risk factors. Multi-marker approaches combining various biomarkers showed improved accuracy in CAD risk assessment compared to traditional risk factors alone. The risk of bias and variability between studies were assessed and reported.
Interpretation: This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of biomarkers in CAD prevention. While traditional risk factors remain important, novel and imaging biomarkers have shown promise in improving risk stratification and guiding personalized prevention strategies.
However, challenges remain in translating biomarker research into clinical practice, including the need for standardized guidelines, cost-effectiveness analyses, and further research on multi-marker approaches and personalized prevention strategies. Addressing these challenges and developing evidence-based guidelines for biomarker use in CAD prevention can improve risk assessment accuracy, tailor prevention strategies, and ultimately reduce the global burden of CAD.
A Mechanically Verified Garbage Collector for OCaml
Authors: Shamsu Sheera , Kaphle Dipesh , Maroo Dhruv , Nagar Kartik , Bhargavan Karthikeyan , KC Sivaramakrishnan
Published: July 2024

The OCaml programming language finds application across diverse domains, including systems programming, web development, scientific computing, formal verification, and symbolic mathematics. OCaml is a memory-safe programming language that uses a garbage collector (GC) to free unreachable memory. OCaml features a low-latency, high-performance GC, turned for functional programming. The GC has two generations -- a minor heap collected using a copying collector and a major heap collected using an incremental mark-and-sweep collector. Alongside the intricacies of an efficient GC design, OCaml compiler uses efficient object representations for some object classes, such as interior pointers for supporting mutually recursive functions, which further complicates the GC design. The GC is a critical component of the OCaml runtime system, and its correctness is essential for the safety of OCaml programs.
In this paper, we propose a strategy for crafting a correct, proof-oriented GC from scratch, designed to evolve over time with additional language features. Our approach neatly separates abstract GC correctness from OCaml-specific GC correctness, offering the ability to integrate further GC optimizations, while preserving core abstract GC correctness. As an initial step to demonstrate the viability of our approach, we have developed a verified stop-the-world mark-and-sweep GC for OCaml. The approach is fully mechanized in F* and its low-level subset Low*. We use the KaRaMel compiler to compile Low* to C, and integrate the verified GC with the OCaml runtime. Our GC is evaluated against off-the-shelf OCaml GC and Boehm-Demers-Weiser conservative GC, and the experimental results show that verified OCaml GC is competitive with the standard OCaml GC.
The Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) of Foods Consumed by Nigerian Adults
Authors: Galya Bigman , Adebamowo Sally N. , Group Nutrition Epidemiology Research of Nigeria (NERON) , Adebamowo Clement A.
Published: July 2024

Background: Poor diet quality is a significant and modifiable risk factor associated with numerous non-communicable diseases. Despite its critical importance, there is a paucity of comprehensive data concerning diet quality in Nigeria. In this study, we evaluated the healthiness of food intake among Nigerian adults to identify the factors associated with them and seasonal variations in food consumption patterns.
Methods: We used a validated semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to collect dietary data from adults in Ibadan, Nigeria, on four occasions over two years. We assessed food intake healthiness using the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS), which ranges from 0 to 49 based on 25 food groups, and its sub-metrics GDQS+ (0-32, 16 food groups) and GDQS- (0-17, 9 food groups). We used Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) to examine the relationships between GDQS, demographic factors, and participants’ dietary habits.
Results: There were 205 participants (110 women, 95 men) with mean(SD) age of 45.0(13.4) years, mean(SD) GDQS of 29.0(4.0). 91.7% of the participants had a GDQS ≥ 23, signifying a low risk of poor diet quality. The multivariable analysis showed that the GDQS of those who frequently consumed home-cooked meal was higher than those who did not by 2.04 (95%CI: 0.11 to 4.07). The GDQS+ of men was higher than women by 1.64 (95%CI: 0.11 to 3.03). The GDQS- of men was 0.88 lower than that of women (95%CI: -1.53 to -0.24) while younger (<40 years) had lower GDQS- compared to older (60+ years) participants (2.51, 95%CI: -1.58 to -3.43) indicating a higher intake of unhealthy foods by these groups. Most participants (~95%) reported low intake of cruciferous vegetable. There was no significant seasonal variations in GDQS and its sub-metrics in both sexes.
Conclusions: Despite the overall healthiness of foods consumed by Nigerian adults and low risk of poor diet quality across seasons, men and younger adults tend to consume more unhealthy foods and fewer home cooked meals. Both genders, irrespective of age, had low intakes of cruciferous vegetables. These highlight opportunities for targeted interventions to improve the overall healthiness of dietary intakes among Nigerian adults.