bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A 15-month-old boy with communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation (CBPFM) type II and VACTERL association: A case report
Authors: Sadr Saeed , pour Ahmad Safa , tabari Ahmad khalegh nejad , Sarafi Mehdi , kiani Masoud , Khalili Mitra , Qomi Zahra , Derikvandi Shima
Published: May 2024

Background
Communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation (CBPFM) is a rare congenital anomaly involving abnormal connections between respiratory tissue and the esophagus or stomach. This case report details a 15-month-old boy with CBPFM type II, presenting with cardiac dextroposition, an esophageal lung, and associated VACTERL (vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheo-oesophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb abnormalities) association.
Case presentation:
The patient's clinical history, prenatal screenings, and three hospitalizations were documented. Diagnostic tools included chest X-rays, upper GI contrast series, CT scans, echocardiography, bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy. Surgical intervention involved thoracotomy, lung resection, and fistula repair. Pathological examination and postoperative care were conducted, with outcome monitoring. The patient initially presented with recurrent respiratory distress and pneumonia. Imaging revealed severe right lung hypoplasia, cardiac dextroposition, and an esophageal bronchus. Surgical intervention identified a fistula between the esophagus and lung. Unfortunately, postoperative complications, including Acinetobacter sepsis, led to the patient's demise four days after surgery.
Conclusions
CBPFM, a complex congenital anomaly, poses diagnostic challenges, often leading to delayed recognition. Early diagnosis is crucial, especially considering the potential for associated malformations. This case emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, including imaging modalities like CT scans and bronchoscopy, in achieving accurate diagnoses. Surgical intervention, although currently the primary treatment, may carry risks, and postoperative complications can impact outcomes.
Prognostic value of deep learning based RCA PCAT and plaque volume beyond CT-FFR in patients with stent implantation
Authors: Huang Zengfa , Tang Ruiyao , Du Xinyu , Ding Yi , Yang ZhiWen , Cao Beibei , Li Mei , Wang Xi , Wang Wanpeng , Li Zuoqin , Xiao Jianwei , Wang Xiang
Published: May 2024

The study aims to investigate the prognostic value of deep learning based pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation computed tomography (PCAT) and plaque volume beyond coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) -derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 183 patients with PCI who underwent coronary CTA were included in this retrospectively study. Imaging assessment included PCAT, plaque volume and CT-FFR which were performed using an artificial intelligence (AI) assisted workstation. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression were used to estimate major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including non-fatal myocardial infraction (MI), stroke and mortality. In total, 22 (12%) MACE occurred during the median follow-up of 38.0 months (interquartile range 34.6–54.6 months). Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that right coronary artery (RCA) PCAT (p = 0.007) and plaque volume (p = 0.008) were significantly associated with the increasing of MACE. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that RCA PCAT [hazard ratios (HR): 2.94, 95%CI: 1.15–7.50, p = 0.025] and plaque volume (HR: 3.91, 95%CI: 1.20-12.75, p = 0.024) were independent predictors of MACE after adjusting for clinical risk factors. However, CT-FFR was not independently associated with MACE in multivariable Cox regression (p = 0.271). Deep learning based RCA PCAT and plaque volume derived from coronary CTA was found to be more strongly associated with MACE than CT-FFR in patients with PCI.
Structure and optical properties of Ag135Cu60 nanocluster incorporating an Ag135 fullerene wrapped by copper complexes
Authors: Wang Shuxin , Tang Li , Dong Weinan , Han Qikai , Wang Bin , Wu Zhennan
Published: May 2024

We report the synthesis and crystal structure of Ag135Cu60(PET)60Cl42 (Ag135Cu60 for short hereafter; PET = 2-phenylethanethiol) — the first example of a noble metal nanocluster incorporating a C60-like buckminsterfullerene moiety. Ag135Cu60 was obtained by sodium borohydride reduction of a solution of AgCu-SR complexes, and its structure can be described as Ag13@Ag42@Ag60Ag20@Cl12@Cu60(PET)60Cl30. This layer-by-layer assembly leads to varying electron delocalization due to changes in metal bond lengths, giving Ag135Cu60 both molecular and metallic properties leading to unusual power dependencies resulting from molecular-state-directed acoustic oscillations. This research inspires further exploration into customizable metal nanocluster structures and opens up new opportunities to study the influence of nanocluster structure on the metallic state.
Today's Problem, Tomorrow's Crisis: Longlivers in the Emergency Department
Authors: ŞENGÜLDÜR ERDINÇ , SELKI KUDRET
Published: May 2024

Background
The aim of this study was to analyze the emergency department (ED) admissions of patients aged 90 years and older (longlivers) and to provide the literature with data showing the needs and characteristics of this highly vulnerable group in the ED.
Methods
This was a retrospective, single-center observational study. Patients aged 65 years and older admitted to the ED between 1 January, 2022 and 31 December, 2023 were identified and included in the study. Descriptive statistical data of the patients included in the study were generated in terms of the scanned parameters. The characteristics of the longlivers and patients aged less than 90 years were compared with each other. Longlivers were analyzed for comorbid diseases and diagnoses made in the ED. Continuous data were compared between two groups by the Mann‒Whitney U test. The relationships between two categorical variables were analyzed by Pearson's chi-square test.
Results
The proportion of longlivers among elderly patients who presented to the ED was 3.9% (n = 711). The longitudinal population consisted of 60% (n = 428) women. A total of 77.6% (n = 552) of the longlivers were admitted to the ED by ambulance. The 48-hour, 30-day and 180-day mortality rates of longlivers were greater than those of elderly patients under 90 years of age (1.4% [n = 10] vs 0.4% [n = 69], 5.8% [n = 41] vs 2% [n = 352], and 10.5% [n = 75] vs 4.9% [n = 858]). The most common comorbid diseases of longlivers are hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and dementia. The most common diagnoses in the ED are falls, upper respiratory tract infections and asthma/COPD attacks.
Conclusions
The mortality rate of longlivers is quite high, and the decision to discharge patients from the ED should be made with extreme caution. The prescribed treatments should be explained in detail to longlivers and their relatives, and readmissions due to exacerbations of chronic diseases should be prevented. Precautions to be taken about falls may prevent injuries. Special examination and treatment areas or geriatric EDs to be established for longlivers will prevent ED crowding that will develop due to recurrent ED admissions of these patients, which are expected to increase proportionally in the future.
HTLV-1-infected cells drive the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages in vitro
Authors: Souza Sabrina Pires Maciel , Melo Guilherme A. , Calôba Carolina , Pereira Renata M. , Echevarria-Lima Juliana
Published: May 2024

Background. The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that causes HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HAM/TSP is a chronic inflammatory neurodegenerative disease characterized by leukocyte infiltration in the spinal cord. T-lymphocytes are the most important targets of HTLV-1 infection, but monocytes are also infected. Monocytes from HTLV-1-infected individuals exhibit important functional differences compared to cells from uninfected donors. Here, we investigated the effects of cell-cell physical contact and/or secreted factors of HTLV-1-infected cells in monocyte activation and differentiation.
Methods. The THP-1 human monocytic cell line was co-cultured with a human cell line transformed by HTLV-1 (MT-2) for 6 days. To determine the effects of co-culturing HTLV-1-infected cells in THP-1 monocytes cells were characterized by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, and real-time PCR. Computational analysis of published transcriptomic datasets was realized to investigate molecular profiles of macrophages with mononuclear cells from HTLV-1 carriers.
Results. Co-culture of monocytes with HTLV-1-infected cells induced macrophage differentiation and upregulation of typical macrophages-associated molecules (HLA-DR, CD80, and CD86), increased cytokine (TNFα, IL-6, and IL-1β) levels and their coding genes. Consistently, published transcriptomic datasets showed changes in important genes associated with inflammation during HAM/TSP in patients. The presence of HTLV-1-infected cells in the culture also induced significant upregulation of Interferon Stimulated Genes (ISG), indicating viral infection. Monocyte activation and differentiation into pro-inflammatory macrophages occurred in a cell-to-cell contact-independent manner, suggesting the role of factors secreted by infected cells.
Conclusions. Together our results indicated that the presence of HTLV-1-infected cells can induce monocyte differentiation into macrophages, predominantly, inflammatory.
A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Mothers and Healthcare Professionals Caring for Preterm Babies in Abuja, Nigeria
Authors: Peter Igoche David , Oshagbami Ayomide , Danjuma-Karau Jemimah Kuyet , Ashaolu Joseph
Published: May 2024

Background and Objectives: The survival of preterm infants and the mental health of their mothers have attracted global health concerns. The present study explored the lived experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of mothers with preterm infants and those of healthcare professionals attending to the preterm infant-mother dyad in Abuja, Nigeria.
Methods: A qualitative research design using an interpretative phenomenological approach with semistructured interviews was used. Purposively sampled participants (10 mothers, 5 pediatricians, and 5 nurses) were recruited from Limi Children’s Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria, until data saturation was reached. The data were audio recorded and transcribed using TurboScribe.aiâ software. Codes were manually generated, and themes were formed and analyzed using inductive content analysis. This study followed the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research.
Results: Overall, this was an emotionally and physically stressful experience for mothers of preterm infants and healthcare professionals caring for premature babies. Five major themes determining the lived experiences of participants emerged: 1) experience as a spectrum; 2) how we coped; 3) how we supported the mothers; 4) meaning drawn; and 5) suggestions for improvement.
Conclusions: Mothers of preterm infants and attending healthcare professionals face diverse challenging lived experiences that are both physically and psychologically demanding. Apart from extended family and healthcare professionals’ support, religion was found to play a significant role in the coping strategies adopted by these mothers. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to the mental health of mothers of preterm infants and prioritize empathy with effective communication during care for the preterm infant–mother dyad.
Clinicopathological and endoscopic characteristics of pyloric gland adenoma
Authors: Hou Junzhen , Meng Fandong , Yue Bing , Li Peng , Dong Ningning
Published: May 2024

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological and endoscopic characteristics of patients with pyloric gland adenoma (PGA), as well as their prognosis.
Methods Data of 30 cases from 24 patients, who had been histologically diagnosed as PGA, was retrospectively analyzed.
Results Among the 24 patients, there were 15 females and 9 males, with an average age of 59 years old. Ten cases were located in the stomach, 4 in the duodenal bulb and 16 in the gallbladder. The average maximum diameter was 13.5mm and morphologically the vast majority were type 0-I. The assessment of the background mucosa identified autoimmune gastritis (AIG), Helicobacter Pylori-associated gastritis, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), ectopic gastric mucosa and chronic cholecystitis.Endoscopic resection was performed on the vast majority of gastric and duodenal cases, while all gallbladder PGAs underwent cholecystectomy. Histologically, 33.3% of PGAs showed high-grade dysplasia. All PGAs expressed MUC6 with co-expression of MUC5AC.
Conclusions: PGAs often arose from the background of AIG, Helicobacter Pylori-associated gastritis, FAP and ectopic/metaplastic gastric mucosal epithelia. It is recommended that PGAs should be completely resected, especially if they are large or show high-grade features due to malignant potential, as endoscopic resection has been proven to be safe and effective for gastric and duodenal PGAs.
Circulating tumor DNA in patients with Uveal Melanoma (UM) may be associated with the tumor recurrence: Co- accordance of pathogenic variants GNAQ, GNAS and IDH1 in recurrent UM
Authors: Azimi Fatemeh , Talebi Saeed , Mirshahi Reza , Khakpoor Golnaz , Naseripour Masood
Published: May 2024

Background
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy. Prediction of recurrence risk in UM patients may be done by tumor genotyping for early diagnosis, increasing clinical and pathological accuracy. The purpose of this pilot study is to investigate the importance of pathogenic variants of ctDNA in predicting early diagnosis of recurrent in UM and increasing the globe survival rate of UM by early treatment.
Methods
Variant allelic frequency (VAF) of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was investigated in three patients with choroidal uveal melanoma using the ion ampliseq cancer hotspot panel v2 and Ion Proton™ sequencing. Serial sampling of ctDNA was done from 12 blood samples in 3 cases (Two recurrent patients + one non-recurrent patient) in 4 time periods.
Results
Variant Call Format (VCF) was analyzed through the Franklin Genoox platform. The variant allele frequency (VAF) of ctDNA was examined at each case in 4 phases. After applying filters, we reached 10 important genes out of 50 genes in the panel. Finally, by comparing ctDNA variants, we found the co-occurrence of GNAQ, GNAS and IDH1 mutations at the time of recurrence. Minimum VAF of co-occurrence these genes were reported 0.51%, 0.25% and 0.1%, respectively. Also, in recurrent cases tumor was located at the posterior fundus, but non-recurrent lesion were located in peripheral part. In patient non-recurrent disease, the pathogenic variants related to UM invasion was negative and the VAF of other important genes was decreased from baseline to the last phase.
Conclusion
Considering the poor prognosis associated with the development of recurrent UM, investigating the level of pathogenic variants in GNAQ, GNAS and IDH1 variants in ctDNA may be useful in predicting UM recurrence and proper management of with adjuvant treatment. It is suggested that further studies are needed to develop the best panel and determine the best cut-off level of VAF for early diagnosis of recurrent UM to confirm the implications of GNAS and IDH1 in UM tumorigenesis.
Associating serum testosterone levels with African ancestral prostate cancer health disparities
Authors: Lebelo Maphuti Tebogo , Mmekwa Naledi , Jaratlerdsiri Weerachai , Mutambirwa Shingai B.A. , Loda Massimo , Hayes Vanessa M. , Bornman M. S. Riana
Published: May 2024

Serum testosterone levels decrease in the aging male, while the risk for prostate cancer (PCa) increases concomitantly. Higher levels in younger men have been linked with racially driven PCa disparities, with African men disproportionately impacted. In turn, higher levels of serum lipids have been associated with aggressive disease, while racial disparity between serum testosterone, cholesterol and cancer mortality has been suggested. Having previously reported a 2.1-fold increased age-adjusted risk for aggressive PCa in Black South African over Black American men, we determined the serum testosterone and associated lipid levels in 250 Black South African men either with or without clinicopathologically diagnosed disease. Observing no associations with serum lipid levels, Black South Africans presented with testosterone levels between 1.24 (< 60 years) and 1.3-fold (≥ 60 years) greater than African Americans. Notably, a rapid drop in total-, bioavailable- and free testosterone levels in men 65 years or older was significantly associated with PCa risk (P = 0.0057, 0.009 and 0.005, respectively), while irrespective of age, further associated with advanced disease (P = 0.004, 0.0012 and 0.0036, respectively). These preliminary data provide insights into the potential role of androgens in driving PCa health disparities, with important consequence for tailoring treatment for Black men.
AnVILWorkflow: A runnable workflow package for Cloud-implemented bioinformatics analysis pipelines
Authors: Oh Sehyun , Gravel-Pucillo Kai , Ramos Marcel , Davis Sean , Carey Vince , Morgan Martin , Waldron Levi
Published: May 2024

Advancements in sequencing technologies and the development of new data collection methods produce large volumes of biological data. The Genomic Data Science Analysis, Visualization, and Informatics Lab-space (AnVIL) provides a cloud-based platform for democratizing access to large-scale genomics data and analysis tools. However, utilizing the full capabilities of AnVIL can be challenging for researchers without extensive bioinformatics expertise, especially for executing complex workflows. Here we present the AnVILWorkflow R package, which enables the convenient execution of bioinformatics workflows hosted on AnVIL directly from an R environment. AnVILWorkflowsimplifies the setup of the cloud computing environment, input data formatting, workflow submission, and retrieval of results through intuitive functions. We demonstrate the utility of AnVILWorkflowfor three use cases: bulk RNA-seq analysis with Salmon, metagenomics analysis with bioBakery, and digital pathology image processing with PathML. The key features of AnVILWorkflow include user-friendly browsing of available data and workflows, seamless integration of R and non-R tools within a reproducible analysis pipeline, and accessibility to scalable computing resources without direct management overhead. While some limitations exist around workflow customization, AnVILWorkflowlowers the barrier to taking advantage of AnVIL's resources, especially for exploratory analyses or bulk processing with established workflows. This empowers a broader community of researchers to leverage the latest genomics tools and datasets using familiar R syntax. This package is distributed through the Bioconductor project (https://bioconductor.org/packages/AnVILWorkflow), and the source code is available through GitHub (https://github.com/shbrief/AnVILWorkflow).
Comparison of Pathologic Response and Survival Outcomes between Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy (nICT) in Patients with Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
Authors: Wang Yi , Ma Ke , Zhang Huan , Wu Lei , Liu Li , Zhou Yehan , Peng Lin , Wang Qifeng , Zhuang Xiang
Published: May 2024

Background
In locally advanced, operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (nICT) has shown results that are somewhat comparable to those of standard neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). The impact of these neoadjuvant treatments on survival outcomes, however, has yet to be elucidated.
Methods
This study included 489 patients with locally advanced ESCC who underwent surgery at Sichuan Cancer Hospital after receiving neoadjuvant treatment between June 2017 and September 2023. Patients were categorized into nCRT and nICT groups based on whether they received neoadjuvant treatment. To mitigate potential biases and balance covariates between the two cohorts, 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted using a caliper width of 0.05.
Results
After PSM, the baseline characteristics of the 360 patients remained balanced between the two groups. The findings indicated a superior pathological response in the nCRT group, as evidenced by significantly greater rates of complete response (32.87% vs 14.58%, P = 0.0002) and favorable tumor regression grade (TRG), as well as reduced ypT stages and less perineural and angioinvasion, despite comparable ypN stages. Despite the improvement in complete pathological response (pCR) in the nCRT group, the 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates did not significantly differ between the groups (DFS: 58.32% vs 56.16%, P = 0.67; OS: 69.96% vs 71.99%, P = 0.99). Crucially, multivariate Cox regression analysis was conducted to ascertain factors independently predictive of survival outcomes, identifying ypN stage as the sole significant prognostic marker and underscoring the complexity of translating pathological advantages into survival benefits.
Conclusions
This study highlights the nuanced role of neoadjuvant regimens in managing ESCC, necessitating further exploration to clarify the dynamics between therapeutic modality, pathological response, and long-term survival.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Elevates the Distress of Sexual Pain in Iranian Women with Infertility
Authors: Tahmasbi Bita , Eshraghi Reza , Amini-Tehrani Mohammadali , Zamanian Hadi , Ilami Ashkan
Published: May 2024

Background
Sexual dysfunction may lead to sexual distress in women with infertility, while polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may escalate this distress. This study aimed to investigate the role of PCOS in the relationship between sexual dysfunction and sexual distress in Iranian women with infertility.
Methods
The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R), and Depression and Anxiety modules of the DASS-21 were cross-sectionally investigated in 190 women with infertility (103 women with PCOS and 87 women without PCOS).
Results
There were negative correlations between sexual function domains and sexual distress (P < .001) in the total sample. Moderation analysis revealed that higher levels of impaired desire, arousal, and pain elevated sexual distress in the PCOS group. After adjusting for depression and anxiety, only the association between sexual pain and sexual distress was moderated by PCOS condition (P = .008).
Conclusions
The findings suggest that impaired sexual function is associated with increased levels of sexual distress in infertile female patients. Importantly, comorbid PCOS renders patients susceptible to sexual distress where sexual pain is elevated. Further research may shed light on the physiological, psychological, and relational aspects of sexual pain and associated distress in infertile female patients with comorbid PCOS.
Survival, Mortality and Epidemic Risk Status of COVID-19: A Population- Based Study in Golestan Province, Iran
Authors: kashiri Fatemeh , Sarbakhsh Parvin , Mohammadpoorasl Asghar , seyedghasemi navisa sadat , Bagheri Ali , Akbari Hossein
Published: May 2024

Background
Appreciating the various dimensions of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can improve health systems and prepare them to deal better with future pandemics and public health events. This study was conducted to investigate the association between the survival of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and the epidemic risk stratification of the disease in Golestan province, Iran.
Methods
In this study, all patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized in the hospitals of Golestan province of Iran from February 20, 2020, to December 19, 2022, and were registered in the Medical Care Monitoring Center (MCMC) system (85,885 individuals) were examined.The community's epidemic risk status (ERS) was determined based on the daily incidence statistics of COVID-19. The survival distribution and compare Survival in different subgroups was investigated using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test and association between the survival and ERS by multiple Cox regression modeling
Results
Out of 68,983 individuals whose data were correctly recorded, the mean age was 49 (SD = 23.98) years, and 52.8% were women. In total, 11.1% eventually died. The length of hospital stay was varying significantly with age, gender, ERS, underlying diseases, and COVID-19 severity (P < 0.001 for all). The adjusted hazard ratio of death for the ERS at medium, high, and very high-risk status compared to the low-risk status increased by 19%, 26%, and 56%, respectively (P < 0.001 for all).
Conclusions
Enhancing preparedness, facilitating rapid rises in hospital capacities, and developing backup healthcare capacities can prevent excessive hospital referrals during health crises and further deaths.
Causality between insulin use and malignant tumors of the digestive system: a two-sample Mendelian randomized study
Authors: Chen DengZhuo , Ma YongLi , Li JingHui , Wen Liang , Zhang GuoSheng , Huang ChengZhi , Yao XueQing
Published: May 2024

Background
According to the results of the available cohort studies, there is no association between insulin use and digestive system cancers. But a number of meta-analyses have shown that insulin use increases the risk of digestive system tumors. Therefore, the causal relationship between the two needs to be further determined. We used two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the causal association between insulin use and digestive system cancers.
Methods
The analysis was performed by selecting SNPs that were strongly associated with insulin use as instrumental variables in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and using aggregated statistics on digestive system neoplasm as the end event. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) is used as the main analysis method in this study, and weighted median, MR-Egger regression, weighted mode and simple mode were used as supplementary methods to the results. Finally, the reliability of this study is evaluated through heterogeneity test, pleotropy analysis and sensitivity analysis.
Result
A total of eight SNPs associated with insulin use were included as IVs, and random-effects IVW analysis showed that insulin use was associated with an increased risk of CRC (OR = 1.1037, 95%CI = 1.0183–1.1962, P = 0.016). There was no statistically significant association between insulin use and the development of other digestive system tumors. The results were not affected by pleiotropy and heterogeneity, and the reliability of the results was confirmed by sensitivity analysis.
Conclusion
Our Mendelian randomization study showed that insulin use was associated with an increased risk of CRC, while there was no clear association with other digestive system tumors, however, further Mendelian randomization studies with larger sample sizes of GWAS data are needed to verify this relationship.
A Modeling Investigation of the Disease Severity Driven by COVID-19-Induced Diabetic Patients
Authors: Hoque Ashabul , Sultana Razia , Islam Hamidul , Malek Abdul
Published: May 2024

In this study, we propose a new SEICHR compartmental model to investigate the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. We emphasize the role of COVID-19-induced diabetic patients in disease dynamics. The well-posedness of the model and the stability of the equilibrium points are confirmed through rigorous mathematical analysis. Mathematical results are validated using numerical simulations. Sensitivity and bifurcation analyses are conducted to determine the most sensitive parameters in the proposed model. The sensitivity of the model parameters is examined using the partial rank correlation coefficients (PRCC) analysis. The results show that the disease progression rate is higher among COVID-19 infected diabetic patients than non-diabetic patients. The role of COVID-19-induced diabetic patients in driving disease severity was then analyzed through a constant and progressive delay in isolating them in hospitals. It can be observed numerically that a forward bifurcation region increases gradually with increases of the value of exposed individuals. In addition, the progressive waiting time was found to have a way greater effect on the transmission dynamics compared to the constant waiting time. Furthermore, the model outcomes could not verified in the light of real field data due to unavailability of data.
Effects of Low-Volume Court-Based Sprint Interval Training on Anaerobic Capacity and Sport-Specific Performance in Competitive Tennis Players
Authors: Zhao Delong , Liu Haochong , Yang Wenpu , Ho Indy Man Kit , POON ERIC TSZ-CHUN , Su Yuying , Guo Yuxin , Huang Yan , Li Qian
Published: May 2024

Sprint interval training (SIT) is a potent exercise strategy to enhance athletes' anaerobic capacity in a time-efficient manner. This study aimed to investigate the impact of low-volume, court-based SIT on the anaerobic capacity and sport-specific performance in competitive tennis players. Twenty-four competitive collegiate tennis players were randomly assigned to either the SIT group (n=12; three sessions per week of court-based repeated-sprint training) or the traditional endurance training (ET) group (n=12; three sessions per week of 45-min continuous treadmill running, n=12) for a 6-week intervention. Baseline and post-intervention assessments included the Wingate Anaerobic Test, elimination rate of blood lactate (BLAer), tennis-specific repeated sprint ability (RSA), and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2 (YoYo-IR2). The results showed that SIT group demonstrated significant improvements in peak and average power during the Wingate test (p=0.07; p<0.001), along with a notable increase in YoYo-IR2 performance (7.8% increase, p=0.04). Significant decreases were observed in both mean (5.1% decrease, p=0.02) and sum RSA time (5.2% decrease, p=0.02) in the tennis-specific RSA assessments. Additionally, the SIT group showed significantly higher effective training time and TRIMP in the 90–100% HRmax zone compared to the ET group (p<0.01). This study underscores the potential benefits of low-volume, court-based SIT in enhancing anaerobic capacity and sport-specific performance in competitive tennis players, in comparison to traditional ET.
Synthetic on-demand charging optimization with ADCMA for energy conservation in WRSN
Authors: Mukase Sandrine , Xia Kewen , Owoola Eunice Oluwabunmi
Published: May 2024

Recently, the research community has shown a growing interest in using mobile chargers to recharge the energy supply of sensor nodes in wireless rechargeable sensor network (WRSN). Mobile energy chargers offer a more dependable energy source compared to devices that harvest dynamic energy from the surrounding environment. This research introduces a synthetic on-demand charging optimization approach using Adaptive Crossover Mayfly Algorithm (ADCMA) to enhance the charging performance in WRSN. The genetic operator of roulette wheel selection is employed to choose possibly valuable solutions for crossover and the objective is to reduce the overall energy consumption of the system and the mobile charger's total distance traveled, while simultaneously enhancing its vacation time ratio. Unlike prior systems that required the mobile charger to visit and charge all nodes in every cycle, this strategy simply requires the mobile charger to visit a subset of nodes. The proposed ADCMA is also tested on 46 benchmark functions and applied to the on-demand charging model by comparing it with other well-known seven algorithms. The mathematical results demonstrate that the ADCMA effectively decreases the overall energy consumption and distance traveled by the mobile charging device, while still maintaining performance. This algorithm is particularly advantageous for real-world networks as it allows for the network to remain operational with reduced complexity compared to other approaches.
Qualitative analysis and optical soliton solutions galore: scrutinizing the (2+1)-dimensional complex modified Korteweg-de Vries system of equations
Authors: Kopçasız Bahadır
Published: May 2024

This investigation discusses the (2+1)-dimensional complex modified Korteweg-de Vries (cmKdV) system of equations. The cmKdV equation describes the nontrivial dynamics of water particles from the surface to the bottom of a water layer, providing a more comprehensive understanding of wave behavior. A new version of the generalized exponential rational function method (nGERFM) is utilized to discover diverse soliton solutions. This method uncovers analytical solutions, including exponential function, singular periodic wave, combo trigonometric, shock wave, singular soliton, and hyperbolic solutions in mixed form. Moreover, the planar dynamical system of the concerned equation is created, all probable phase portraits are given, and sensitive inspection is applied to check the sensitivity of the considered equation. Furthermore , after adding a perturbed term, chaotic and quasi-periodic behaviors have been observed for different values of parameters, and multistability is reported at the end. Numerical simulations of the solutions are added to the analytical results to understand the dynamic behavior of these solutions better. These obtained outcomes provide a foundation for further investigation, making the solutions useful, manageable, and trustworthy for the future development of intricate nonlinear issues. This study’s methodology is reliable, strong, effective, and applicable to various nonlinear partial differential equations (NLPDEs). The Maple software application is used to verify the correctness of all obtained solutions.
In vitro evaluation of three white rot fungi for their lignolytic potential and biopulping action on Eucalyptus and Bamboo
Authors: Chepyala Sahith , Bodiga Sreedhar , Bathula Jagadeesh , Sihag Kapil , Durgam Mohan Krishna
Published: May 2024

The study aimed to assess the lignolytic enzyme production in three white rot fungi (WRF) upon stimulation with metal ion (FeSO4.7H2O) and thereby develop an optimal fungal consortium for biopulping applications. Invitro wood decay experiments conducted with Eucalyptus and Bamboo demonstrated significant weight loss following inoculation with Trametes versicolor (TV), Ganoderma lucidum (GL), and Schizophyllum commune (SC). Over time (45–90 days), the weight loss gradually increased in all inoculations, ranging from 6.5–16.9% for Eucalyptus and 7.9–17.7% for Bamboo. Qualitative plate assays revealed TV’s positive ligninolytic potential in all tests, SC in three, and GL in only two tests. Secondary screening confirmed laccase, manganese peroxidase, and lignin peroxidase activities for all fungi, with SC consistently exhibiting higher activity. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis of Eucalyptus sawdust treated with individual fungi and the consortium (TV, GL, and SC) showed significant lignin degradation compared to the control. While individual strains displayed a decrease in lignin-associated bands, the consortium exhibited a more pronounced decrease (98.55% and 84.21% at I1511/I1739 and I1248/I1739), indicating synergistic effects. Conversely, cellulose and hemicellulose associated band intensities increased, suggesting preferential lignin degradation by the fungal consortium. Overall, the study highlights the potential of all three fungal isolates to produce lignolytic enzymes with industrial applications.
S1PR3/RhoA signaling pathway in microglia mediates inflammatory activation in early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Feng Lu , Wu Panxing , Ding Chao , Yan Xiuyou , Zhu Xuanhao , Lu Ming
Published: May 2024

Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a serious and common cerebrovascular disease with high mortality rate and poor prognosis. The immune response caused by abnormal activation of intracranial microglia is one of the main factors contributing to early brain injury after SAH. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) signaling pathway is widely involved in immune regulation, nerve cell differentiation and other processes. It has been reported that S1P expression is increased in cerebrospinal fluid after SAH, but its role in early brain injury and neuroinflammation induced by SAH remains unclear. In the rat model of SAH established by arterial puncture, low (0.5mg/kg) or high dose (5mg/kg) of the S1P receptor inhibitor FTY720 was administered immediately or at 24 hours after surgery. Improvement of behavioral scores and brain edema symptoms after SAH was observed in immediate treatment group at high dose. In addition, activation of cortical microglia near the perforation site was observed after SAH, and this activation was significantly inhibited after 5mg/kg FTY720 treatment immediately after surgery. Further studies showed that S1P could induce activation and M1 polarization of human microglia cells in vitro. This activation may be mediated through the S1PR3-Gα12/13-RhoA pathway. Therefore, our study highlights the important role of S1P signaling and microglia activation in SAH-induced early brain injury, and provides evidence for novel therapies targeting the neuroinflammatory process after SAH.
A retrospective study of the efficacy and safety of Almonertinib in the treatment of locally advanced or brain metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR-positive mutations
Authors: Gao Min , Li Kuo , Chen Guohua , Yang Zhengqiang , Xu Biao , Cai Yuanyuan , Liu Mingguo , Dong Qingfen , Kang Yingchun , Zheng Xin , Liu Huaxu , Ge Wenkai
Published: May 2024

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the efficacy and safety of Almonertinib in locally advanced or brain metastatic non-small cell lung cancer（NSCLC）with EGFR-positive mutations.
Patients and Methods: Patients with advanced NSCLC initially diagnosed with brain metastases (BMs) or progression of BMs were recruited into this study, and treated with Almonertinib.The patients were divided into two groups, Almonertinib mono-therapy group and combined group of Almonertinib and radiotherapy(RT).The primary endpoint were intracranial objective response rate (ORR) and intracranial disease control rate (DCR). The secondary endpoints included PFS and OS.
Results: 162 patients were included in our study, in which 86 patients in the Almonertinib mono-therapy group and 76 patients in thecombined therapy group. At the end of follow-up, 40 patients died with a data maturity of 24.7%. The median follow-up was 18 months. The ORR and DCR of intracranial lesions were observed in 83 of 162 (51.2%) and 155 of 162 (95.6%). The ORR and DCR of extra-cranial lesions were observed in 67 of 162 (42.9%) and 143 of 162 (91.6%). The overall population ORR and DCR were observed in 82 of 162 (50.6%) and 150 of 162 (92.5%). The median PFS in this group was 15.0 months, and the 1- and 2-year PFS rates were 59.7% and 36.4%, respectively. The 1-year PFS rates for Almonertinib plus RT and mono-therapy were 53.5% and 65.7%, respectively.
Conclusions: Almonertinib mono-therapy is a safe and effective treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR-positive mutation.
A real-world disproportionality analysis of Amiodarone: data mining of the public version of FDA adverse event reporting system
Authors: Xu Ye , Zhao Bin , He Liqun
Published: May 2024

Background: Amiodarone is a class III antiarrhythmic medication used to treat arrhythmias for decades. The objective of this study was to enhance the current understanding of adverse events (AEs) associated with Amiodarone by employing data mining methods on the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Methods: The AE records were selected by searching the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database from September 2014 to September 2023. The disproportionality analysis algorithms, including reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN) and empirical Bayes geometric mean (EBGM) were used to detected signals of Amiodarone-related adverse events.
Results: Among 8,595,344 reports, 7,841 specifically mentioned Amiodarone use, with the majority of AEs occurring in males over 60 years old. The United States was responsible for the highest proportion of reported AEs. Reports of severe outcomes, including hospitalization, life-threatening events and death, were notable. Significant system organ classes (SOC) included “Cardiac disorders” (SOC: 10007541), “Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders” (SOC: 10038731), and “Metabolism and nutrition disorders” (SOC: 10027433), etc. The significant AEs were then mapped to preferred terms such as “myxoedema coma” (n=108, EBGM05=499.73), “thyrotoxic crisis” (n=97, EBGM05=194.83), and “mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase increased ” (n=8，EBGM05=186.19)，which have emerged in the study usually reported in patients with Amiodarone. Of note, unexpected significant AEs, including “thyroiditis” (n=161, EBGM05=127), “electrocardiogram T wave alternans” (n=13, EBGM05=236.29) and “iodine overload” (n=5, EBGM05=152.03), were uncovered in the label.
Conclusions: These findings underscore the significance of vigilantly monitoring and comprehending the potential risks linked to Amiodarone use. Unexpected AEs discovered made a thorough understanding of the drug, which is essential for clinicians to ensure safe use of Amiodarone.
Predicting water status, growth and yield of tomato under different irrigation regimes using the RGB image indices and artificial neural network model
Authors: El-baki Mohamed S. Abd , Ibrahim Mohamed M , Elsayed Salah , El-Fattah Nadia G. Abd
Published: May 2024

Water stress is a global challenge that severely impacts crop production by hindering essential processes such as nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and respiration. To address this issue, proximal sensing has emerged as a promising technique for detecting stress in plants. By utilizing remote sensing and non-destructive methods, early and spatial identification of stress in vegetable crops becomes possible, enabling timely management interventions and optimizing yield in precision farming. This study aimed to use RGB image indices and an artificial neural network (ANN) model to quantify the responses of various plant traits, such as fresh biomass (FB) weight, dry biomass (DB) weight, canopy water content (CWC), relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), soil moisture content (SMC), and tomato yield across different irrigation levels, growth stages, and growing seasons. Field experiments were conducted during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, capturing digital RGB images and measuring plant traits at the flowering and fruit-ripening stages. The results revealed that a reduced irrigation level led to decreased FB, DB, CWC, SMC, and tomato yield. The study also revealed significant differences in RGB image indices between different irrigation levels, with lower values observed under severe stress treatment. The majority of RGB image indices incorporating the green component demonstrated strong positive relationships, with R2 ranging between 0.52 and 0.94 for FB, 0.49 and 0.92 for DB, 0.44 and 0.85 for CWC, 0.29 and 0.82 for SPAD, 0.27 and 0.74 for SMC, and 0.42 and 0.89 for tomato yield. Notably, we did not observe a significant correlation between any of the RGB image indices and SPAD during the combined data of both stages. However, the red-blue simple ratio (RB) index, which does not consider the green component (G), did not significantly correlate with any of the plant traits. The ANN models utilizing RGB image indices achieved high prediction accuracy, as indicated by R2 values ranging from 0.84 to 0.99 for FB, 0.88 to 0.98 for DB, 0.81 to 0.97 for CWC, 0.67 to 0.98 for SPAD, 0.55 to 0.81 for SMC, and 0.83 to 0.96 for tomato yield. These findings underscore the practicality and reliability of employing RGB imaging indices in conjunction with ANN models for effectively managing tomato crop growth and production, particularly under conditions of limited water availability for irrigation.
Development of an In-House Indirect ELISA kit for the serological detection of antibodies against infectious bursal disease in Chickens of Ethiopia
Authors: Hurisa Takele Tesgera , Jing Zh-Zhong , Abayneh Takele , Bayisa Berecha , Tolera Teshale Sori , Dinka Hunduma , Mokonnin Mulatu , Bulto Warkisa Chala , Negi Teferi Degefa , Demeke Birhan , Yami Megersa Mindaye , Jemal Mohammed , Legesse Abinet , Tesfaye Yeneneh , Akalu Mirtneh , Geresu Adunya , Sherefa Kedir , Ayele Getu , Zeleke Amde
Published: May 2024

Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) causes a highly contagious disease in young chickens. Due to its worldwide distribution, IBDV poses an important threat to the commercial poultry industry. Lymphoid cells in the bursa of Fabricius are the target cells of IBDV serotype-1 strains. The study was designed for the development of an In-House Indirect Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (ELISA) kit as a suitable serological method for the rapid detection of antibodies against IBDV. The IBDV antigen dilution (1:2), the sample serum (1:500), and the mouse anti-chicken immunoglobulin G (IgG) labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) (1:2,000) were determined to be optimal for this assay. The calculated cut-off value was 0.24. This homemade ELISA method was compared with the commercial ELISA kit for the detection of antibodies against IBDV in Chickens in Ethiopia. The performance of the newly developed and commercial ELISA kit was evaluated by the method reported by Samad et al. (1994). The sensitivity and specificity of the current ELISA assay showed 95.1% and 89.7% respectively. The average intra-assay % CV of the triplet of 2 samples showed 7.6 and interassay comparisons indicated a CV of 5.45%. Taking into consideration these data, we elaborated a home-based ELISA kit that is a valuable and cost-effective substitute for commercial kits in the diagnosis and control of IBDV infection in Ethiopia.
The occurrence of Otodectes cynotis in owned cats: prevalence, morphometry and risk factors in Egypt
Authors: El-Dakhly Khaled Mohamed
Published: May 2024

Feline otoacariasis is a worldwide parasitic infestation caused by the common ear mite, Otodectes cynotisHering, 1838 (Family: Psoroptidae). The current study aimed to detect the occurrence of Otodectes cynotis in owned cats of various breeds in Cairo, Giza and Beni-Suef provinces, Egypt. The life cycle and risk factors including age, sex, breed and seasons were considered. Questionnaire of cat owners was done. Data including age, sex, season, breed and residence assessed. Mites were collected from cats and underwent laboratory investigations for further identification. The recovered mites were microscopically identified. Adult males, females as well as developmental stages, including eggs, protonymphs and deuto-/tritonymphs, were recognized. The overall prevalence of mites was 25.47% (174/683). The mite was predominant in the ear canal of infested cats. Among risk factors, it has been found that age, seasons and breed significantly influenced the prevalence of otoacariasis. On the other hand, no statistical significance relative to the sex was obtained. Based on the revealed criteria, it has been found that the recovered mite was Otodectes cynotis. Further investigations are needed for molecular identification of the mites as well as control programming in terms of hygiene.