bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fine grained analysis method for unmanned aerial vehicle measurement based on laser-based light scattering particle sensing
Authors: Jia Xutao , Song Tianhong , Liu Guang
Published: May 2024

As an effective particle measurement method, laser-based particle sensors combined with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used for measuring air quality in near ground space. The Sniffer4D Mini2 features portability and real-time acquisition of accurate spatial distribution information on air pollution. Additionally, a new fine-grained analysis method called Co-KNN-DNN has been proposed to assess air quality between flight trajectories, allowing for a more detailed presentation of the continuous distribution of air quality. Therefore, this article introduces an unmanned aerial vehicle measurement fine-grained analysis method based on laser light scattering particle sensors. Firstly, the overall scheme was designed, M30T UAV was selected to carry the portable air quality monitoring equipment, with laser-based laser particulate matter sensor and Mini2, to collect AQI and related attributes of the near-ground layer in the selected research area, to do the necessary processing of the collected data, to build a data set suitable for model input, etc., to train and optimize the model, and to carry out practical application of the model. This article is based on the Co-KNN-DNN model for fine-grained analysis of air quality in spatial dimensions. Three experiments were conducted at different altitudes in the study area to investigate the practical application of fine-grained analysis of near-surface air quality. The experimental results show that the average R-squared value can reach 0.99. Choose to conduct experiments using the M30T UAV equipped with Sniffer4D Mini2 and a laser-based particulate matter sensor. The application research validates the effectiveness and practicality of the Co-KNN-DNN model.
Comprehensive analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Rehmannia glutinosa: insights into repeat-mediated recombinations and RNA editing-induced stop codon acquisition
Authors: Zeng Tiexin , Ni Yang , Li Jingling , Chen Haimei , Lu Qianqi , Jiang Mei , Xu Lijia , Liu Chang , Xiao Peigen
Published: May 2024

Rehmannia glutinosa is an economically significant medicinal plant. Yet, the structure and sequence of its mitochondrial genome has not been published, which plays a crucial role in evolutionary analysis and regulating respiratory-related macromolecule synthesis. In this study, the R. glutinosa mitogenome was sequenced employing a combination of Illumina short reads and Nanopore long reads, with subsequent assembly using a hybrid strategy. We found that the predominant configuration of the R. glutinosa mitogenome comprises two circular chromosomes. The primary structure of the mitogenome encompasses two mitochondrial chromosomes corresponding to the two major configurations, Mac1-1 and Mac1-2. The R. glutinosa mitogenome encoded an angiosperm-typical set of 24 core genes, nine variable genes, three rRNA genes, and 15 tRNA genes. A phylogenetic analysis using the 16 shared protein-coding genes (PCG) yielded a tree consistent with the phylogeny of Lamiales species and two outgroup taxa. Mapping RNA-seq data to the coding sequences (CDS) of the PCGs revealed 507 C-to-U RNA editing sites across 31 PCGs of the R. glutinosa mitogenome. Furthermore, one start codon (nad4L) and two stop codons (rpl10 and atp6) were identified as products of RNA editing events in the R. glutinosa mitogenome.
Interruption in visual search: a systematic review
Authors: Cambronero-Delgadillo Alejandro J. , Nachtnebel Sarah Jasmin , Körner Christof , Gilchrist Iain D. , Höfler Margit
Published: May 2024

Visual search, the process of trying to find a target presented among distractors, is a much-studied cognitive task. Less well-studied is the condition in which the search task is interrupted before the target is found. The consequences of such interruptions in visual search have been investigated across various disciplines, which has resulted in diverse and at times contradictory findings. The aim of this systematic review is to provide a more cohesive understanding of the effects of interruptions in visual search. For this purpose, we identified 28 studies that met our inclusion criteria. To facilitate a more organized and comprehensive analysis, we grouped the studies based on three dimensions: the search environment, the interruption aftermath, and the type of the interrupting event. While interruptions in visual search are variable and manifest differently across studies, our review provides a foundational scheme for a more cohesive understanding of the subject. This categorization serves as a starting point for exploring potential future directions, which we delineate in our conclusions.
Scalability, test–retest reliability and validity of the Brief INSPIRE-O measure of personal recovery in psychiatric services
Authors: Moeller Stine Bjerrum , Larsen Pia Veldt , Austin Stephen , Slade Mike , Arendt Ida-Marie T. P. , Andersen Martin Stolpe , Simonsen Sebastian
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Mental health services have transitioned from treating symptoms to emphasizing personal recovery. Despite its importance, integrating personal recovery into clinical practice remains work in progress. This study evaluates the psychometric qualities of the Brief INSPIRE-O, a five-item patient-reported outcome measure assessing personal recovery.

Method

The study collected data from 2018 to 2020 at the Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, using an internet-based system examining 8,192 non-psychotic patients – receiving outpatient treatment.

Materials

This study evaluated the Brief INSPIRE-O and used measures of symptomatology (SCL-10), well-being (WHO-5), and social functioning (modified SDS).

Results

The study population comprised 76.8% females with a mean age of 32.9 years, and diagnoses included anxiety (28%), depression (34%), and personality disorder (19%). The mean Brief INSPIRE-O score (39.9) was lower than the general population norm (71.1). The Brief INSPIRE-O showed acceptable test–retest reliability (0.75), scalability (0.39), and internal consistency (0.73). Correlations with other mental health criteria were in the expected direction for symptomatology (−0.46), well-being (0.60), and social functioning (−0.43) and remained consistent across diagnoses.

Discussion

The Brief INSPIRE-O demonstrated strong psychometric qualities and could be recommended as a measure of personal recovery for use in both research and clinical practice. Its strong theoretical basis and short completion time make it suitable for use for research. Incorporating Brief INSPIRE-O into clinical assessment will further support the process of mental health systems re-orientating towards personal recovery.
Public attitudes toward COVID-19 prevention and control in China
Authors: Zhu Wei
Published: May 2024

Based on the data of the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) in 2021, this study aims to investigate the public attitudes toward COVID-19 prevention and control in China. The household survey CGSS 2021 contains 8,148 valid samples gathered from 320 communities across 19 provinces in China. The logistic regression model is adopted to examine the relationship between public attitudes and influencing factors. The results show that the vast majority of respondents firmly believe that the government has the authority to implement strict measures; their confidence in the government and in the healthcare system has increased; and they willingly choose to be vaccinated. The regression results suggest that gender, age, health condition, political affiliation, source of information, sense of fairness, socio-economic status, and place of residence are significantly associated with individuals’ attitudes toward COVID-19 prevention and control. These findings highlight the importance for the government to design epidemic or pandemic policies based on data and to tailor them toward specific demographics.
Presidents and vaccines: head of state inoculation as a tool for vaccine promotion
Authors: Collart Lara , Lunanga Elie , Stoop Nik , Verpoorten Marijke
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Vaccine hesitancy, an important threat to global health, has increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The public vaccination of high-profile figures, such as heads of state, has been touted as a potential tool for increasing vaccine acceptance among the general population. However, systematic information on such role modelling is lacking and existing studies focus on a small number of high-income countries. We take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to fill this gap.

Methods

Through a systematic search of internet sources, we first document that most global leaders supported the vaccination campaign and actively communicated their vaccination status to the public. We then turn to a case study to provide experimental evidence on vaccine role modelling for a country in Africa – the region that is most lagging behind in achieving universal immunization coverage. We rely on a randomized survey experiment with 600 citizens in the Democratic Republic of Congo and take advantage of the fact that the Congolese President publicly received a COVID-19 vaccine during the survey period.

Results and discussion

Our findings demonstrate that the impact of political leader’s role modelling is moderated by trust and depends on media outreach and access. When trust in leaders is lacking, or news on their actions is inaccessible, alternative ambassadors and effective communication methods become crucial in motivating and informing the public. This may be especially relevant in fragile states and remote regions.
Effects of combined ciprofloxacin and Neulasta therapy on intestinal pathology and gut microbiota after high-dose irradiation in mice
Authors: Horseman Timothy S. , Frank Andrew M. , Cannon Georgetta , Zhai Min , Olson Matthew G. , Lin Bin , Li Xianghong , Hull Lisa , Xiao Mang , Kiang Juliann G. , Burmeister David M.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Treatments that currently exist in the strategic national stockpile for acute radiation syndrome (ARS) focus on the hematopoietic subsyndrome, with no treatments on gastrointestinal (GI)-ARS. While the gut microbiota helps maintain host homeostasis by mediating GI epithelial and mucosal integrity, radiation exposure can alter gut commensal microbiota which may leave the host susceptible to opportunistic pathogens and serious sequelae such as sepsis. To mitigate the effects of hematopoietic ARS irradiation, currently approved treatments exist in the form of colony stimulating factors and antibiotics: however, there are few studies examining how these therapeutics affect GI-ARS and the gut microbiota. The aim of our study was to examine the longitudinal effects of Neulasta and/or ciprofloxacin treatment on the gut microbiota after exposure to 9.5 Gy 60Co gamma-radiation in mice.

Methods

The gut microbiota of vehicle and drug-treated mice exposed to sham or gamma-radiation was characterized by shotgun sequencing with alpha diversity, beta diversity, and taxonomy analyzed on days 2, 4, 9, and 15 post-irradiation.

Results

No significant alpha diversity differences were observed following radiation, while beta diversity shifts and taxonomic profiles revealed significant alterations in Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and Lactobacillus. Ciprofloxacin generally led to lower Shannon diversity and Bacteroides prevalence with increases in Akkermansia and Lactobacillus compared to vehicle treated and irradiated mice. While Neulasta increased Shannon diversity and by day 9 had more similar taxonomic profiles to sham than ciprofloxacin-or vehicle-treated irradiated animals. Combined therapy of Neulasta and ciprofloxacin induced a decrease in Shannon diversity and resulted in unique taxonomic profiles early post-irradiation, returning closer to vehicle-treated levels over time, but persistent increases in Akkermansia and Bacteroides compared to Neulasta alone.

Discussion

This study provides a framework for the identification of microbial elements that may influence radiosensitivity, biodosimetry and the efficacy of potential therapeutics. Moreover, increased survival from H-ARS using these therapeutics may affect the symptoms and appearance of what may have been subclinical GI-ARS.
miR-29 as diagnostic biomarkers for tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: He Jie , Xiong Juan , Huang Yuanyuan
Published: May 2024

Background

The timely diagnosis of tuberculosis through innovative biomarkers that do not rely on sputum samples is a primary focus for strategies aimed at eradicating tuberculosis. miR-29 is an important regulator of tuberculosis pathogenesis. Its differential expression pattern in healthy, latent, and active people who develop tuberculosis has revealed its potential as a biomarker in recent studies. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed for the role of miR-29 in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Methods

EMBASE, PubMed, CNKI, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched utilizing predefined keywords for literature published from 2000 to February 2024.Included in the analysis were studies reporting on the accuracy of miR-29 in the diagnosis of tuberculosis, while articles assessing other small RNAs were not considered. All types of study designs, including case–control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies, were included, whether prospectively or retrospectively sampled, and the quality of included studies was determined utilizing the QUADAS-2 tool. Publication bias was analyzed via the construction of funnel plots. Heterogeneity among studies and summary results for specificity, sensitivity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) are depicted in forest plots.

Results

A total of 227 studies were acquired from the various databases, and 18 articles were selected for quantitative analysis. These articles encompassed a total of 2,825 subjects, primarily sourced from the Asian region. Patient specimens, including sputum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, cerebrospinal fluid and serum/plasma samples, were collected upon admission and during hospitalization for tuberculosis testing. miR-29a had an overall sensitivity of 82% (95% CI 77, 85%) and an overall specificity of 82% (95% CI 78, 86%) for detecting tuberculosis. DOR was 21 (95% CI 16–28), and the area under the curve was 0.89 (95% CI 0.86, 0.91). miR-29a had slightly different diagnostic efficacy in different specimens. miR-29a showed good performance in both the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. miR-29b and miR-29c also had a good performance in diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Conclusion

As can be seen from the diagnostic performance of miR-29, miR-29 can be used as a potential biomarker for the rapid detection of tuberculosis.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=461107.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome and How Does Behavior Influence it?
Authors: Lenover Makenna B. , Shenk Mary K.
Published: May 2024

How often you poop can reflect your digestive health. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common digestive illness that affects close to one in five people. Symptoms include pain in the abdomen and changes in how often someone poops. Certain behaviors can increase a person’s risk of having IBS, including the foods they eat, the amount of exercise they get, how much sleep they have per night, and how often they go outside. All these behaviors can influence the brain, which tells the digestive tract the rate at which it should work—which then determines how often people poop. In this article, we will introduce IBS and the main behaviors that are known to affect this disorder.
Can the recent sex-specific evolutions in elite running performances be attributed to advanced footwear technology?
Authors: Mason Joel , Starc Laura , Morin Jean-Benoit , McClelland Emily L. , Zech Astrid
Published: May 2024

Recent improvements in elite running performances across all distances have been largely attributed to the introduction of advanced footwear technology (AFT), which features a curved and stiff plate working synergistically with a new generation of midsole foams demonstrating enhanced resilience and compliance. These recent improvements appear to be considerably more pronounced in women's events, highlighted by improvements in road racing world records by an average of 3.7% (range: 2.6%–5.2%) compared to mean progressions of 1.5% (range: 1.3%–1.9%) in the same men's events. Although there is a growing body of research investigating the mechanisms underpinning running performance enhancements derived from AFT, there remains no explanation for potential sex-based differences in their benefits. We overview the currently available evidence and highlight why the recent direction of AFT research provides a barrier to progress by focusing primarily on male athletes. We subsequently provide our perspective on why women may be benefiting from the new generation of shoes more than men, suggest potential mechanisms leading to hypotheses that need to be further investigated in upcoming studies, and finally propose that factors outside of footwear innovation may have concurrently driven the recently observed performance evolutions.
Modeling of Water, Heat, and Nitrogen Dynamics in Summer Maize under Broad Furrow Irrigation and the Mechanism of Enzyme Activity Response
Authors: Liu Tengfei , Wang Shunsheng , Yang Mingwei
Published: May 2024

This study explores the impact of water and nitrogen management on the dynamics of water, heat, and nitrogen in farmland soil. It also explores the correlations soil factors, enzyme activity, and crop yield. To achieve this, field experiments and HYDRUS model simulations were conducted in the broad furrow irrigation system of the Yinhuang Irrigation Area. The experiment involved three irrigation levels (60%, 70%, and 80% of field water holding capacity, labeled as W1, W2, and W3, respectively) and three nitrogen application rates (120, 220, and 320 kg·ha−1, labeled as N1, N2, and N3). Results indicated that the HYDRUS model, optimized using field trial data, accurately represented soil dynamics. Soil profile water and nitrogen exhibited greater variation in the root zone (0–40 cm) than in the deeper layers (40–100 cm). Water–nitrogen coupling predominantly influenced water and nitrogen content changes in the soil, with minimal effect on soil temperature. Soil enzyme activities at the trumpet, silking, and maturity stages were significantly affected by water–nitrogen coupling, displaying an initial increase and subsequent decrease over the reproductive period. The highest summer maize yield, reaching 10,928.52 kg·ha−1 under the W2N2 treatment, was 46.64% higher than that under the W1N1 treatment. The redundancy analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between soil nitrate nitrogen content and soil enzyme activity (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between soil enzyme activity and both maize yields (p < 0.01). This underscores that appropriate water and nitrogen management can effectively enhance yield while improving the soil environment. These findings offer valuable insights for achieving high yields of summer maize in the Yellow River Basin.
Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance Diversity of Salmonella Isolates in Jiaxing City, China
Authors: Li Ping , Zhan Li , Wang Henghui , Yan Yong , Jia Miaomiao , Gao Lei , Sun Yangming , Zhu Guoying , Chen Zhongwen
Published: May 2024

Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a cause of foodborne diarrheal diseases worldwide. Important emerging NTS serotypes that have spread as multidrug-resistant high-risk clones include S. Typhimurium monophasic variant and S. Kentucky. In this study, we isolated Salmonella in 5019 stool samples collected from patients with clinical diarrhea and 484 food samples. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing were performed on positive strains. The detection rates of Salmonella among patients with diarrhea and food samples were 4.0% (200/5019) and 3.1% (15/484), respectively. These 215 Salmonella isolates comprised five main serotypes, namely S. Typhimurium monophasic variant, S. Typhimurium, S. London, S. Enteritidis, and S. Rissen, and were mainly resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The MDR rates of five major serotypes were 77.4%, 56.0%, 66.7%, 53.3%, and 80.0%, respectively. The most commonly acquired extended-spectrum β-lactamase-encoding genes were blaTEM−1B, blaOXA-10, and blaCTX-M-65. The S. Typhimurium monophasic variant strains from Jiaxing City belonged to a unique clone with broad antibiotic resistance. S. Kentucky isolates showed the highest drug resistance, and all were MDR strains. The discovery of high antibiotic resistance rates in this common foodborne pathogen is a growing concern; therefore, ongoing surveillance is crucial to effectively monitor this pathogen.
Fatigue Damage of Rubber Concrete Backfill at Arch Springing Influence on Surrounding Rock Deformation in Tunnel Engineering
Authors: Wu Bo , Zhu Ruonan , Liu Zhaochun , Zeng Jiajia , Liu Cong
Published: May 2024

The backfill area of tunnel projects may deform or collapse due to the cyclic disturbance of groundwater and train loads. Hence, the anti-deformation and crack resistance performance of backfill materials under cyclic disturbance is critical to engineering safety. In this paper, concrete was produced by mixing 0.85 mm, 1–3 mm and 3–6 mm rubber particles instead of 10% sand, and tested to discuss the effect of rubber particle size on the deterioration of concrete material properties (compressive characteristics and energy dissipation) after bearing cyclic loading. The stress–strain curve and various parameters obtained through the uniaxial compression test and cyclic load test were used to explore the optimal grain size that can be applied to the tunnel engineering backfill area, and numerical simulation was adopted to calculate the deformation of the surrounding rock and the structural stress of different backfill materials. Research shows that the increase in particle size lessens the compressive strength, deformation resistance and cracking resistance of specimens, but after the cyclic loading test, the concrete material deterioration analysis indicates that rubber concrete has lesser and more stable losses compared to ordinary concrete, so the optimum rubber particle size is 0.85 mm. Numerical calculations show that RC-1 reduces the arch top displacement by 0.4 mm, increases the arch bottom displacement by 0.6 mm and increases the maximum principal stress by 11.5% compared to OC. Therefore, rubber concrete can ensure the strength and stability requirements of tunnel structures, which can provide a reference for similar projects.
Research on Defect Detection Method for Composite Materials Based on Deep Learning Networks
Authors: Cheng Jing , Tan Wen , Yuan Yuhao , Zhao Zirui , Cheng Yuxiang
Published: May 2024

Compared to traditional industrial materials, composites have higher durability and compressive strength. However, some components may have flaws due to the manufacturing process. Traditional defect detection methods have low accuracy and cannot adapt to complex shooting environments. Aiming to address the issues of high computational requirements in traditional detection models and the lack of lightweight detection capabilities, the Ghost module is used instead of convolutional arithmetic to construct a lightweight model. To reduce the computational complexity of the feature extraction module, we have incorporated an improved Efficient Channel Attention mechanism to improve the model’s feature extraction capabilities. A rapid defect classification method is implemented to determine whether there are defects in the image or not by comparing the performance and running speed of models such as AlexNet, VGGNet, and ResNet. And ablation experiments are conducted for each model. The results show that the Ghost module model, which incorporates the improved Efficient Channel Attention mechanism, has a significant optimization effect on the convolutional neural network model. It can achieve a high accuracy rate when constructing lightweight models. It improves the running speed of the model, making it more efficient to use and deploy.
International Classification of Diseases Prediction from MIMIIC-III Clinical Text Using Pre-Trained ClinicalBERT and NLP Deep Learning Models Achieving State of the Art
Authors: Aden Ilyas , Child Christopher H. T. , Reyes-Aldasoro Constantino Carlos
Published: May 2024

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) serves as a widely employed framework for assigning diagnosis codes to electronic health records of patients. These codes facilitate the encapsulation of diagnoses and procedures conducted during a patient’s hospitalisation. This study aims to devise a predictive model for ICD codes based on the MIMIC-III clinical text dataset. Leveraging natural language processing techniques and deep learning architectures, we constructed a pipeline to distill pertinent information from the MIMIC-III dataset: the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III), a sizable, de-identified, and publicly accessible repository of medical records. Our method entails predicting diagnosis codes from unstructured data, such as discharge summaries and notes encompassing symptoms. We used state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms, such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs), long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) and BERT models after tokenizing the clinical test with Bio-ClinicalBERT, a pre-trained model from Hugging Face. To evaluate the efficacy of our approach, we conducted experiments utilizing the discharge dataset within MIMIC-III. Employing the BERT model, our methodology exhibited commendable accuracy in predicting the top 10 and top 50 diagnosis codes within the MIMIC-III dataset, achieving average accuracies of 88% and 80%, respectively. In comparison to recent studies by Biseda and Kerang, as well as Gangavarapu, which reported F1 scores of 0.72 in predicting the top 10 ICD-10 codes, our model demonstrated better performance, with an F1 score of 0.87. Similarly, in predicting the top 50 ICD-10 codes, previous research achieved an F1 score of 0.75, whereas our method attained an F1 score of 0.81. These results underscore the better performance of deep learning models over conventional machine learning approaches in this domain, thus validating our findings. The ability to predict diagnoses early from clinical notes holds promise in assisting doctors or physicians in determining effective treatments, thereby reshaping the conventional paradigm of diagnosis-then-treatment care. Our code is available online.
Staging of Liver Fibrosis Based on Energy Valley Optimization Multiple Stacking (EVO-MS) Model
Authors: Zhang Xuejun , Chen Shengxiang , Zhang Pengfei , Wang Chun , Wang Qibo , Zhou Xiangrong
Published: May 2024

Currently, staging the degree of liver fibrosis predominantly relies on liver biopsy, a method fraught with potential risks, such as bleeding and infection. With the rapid development of medical imaging devices, quantification of liver fibrosis through image processing technology has become feasible. Stacking technology is one of the effective ensemble techniques for potential usage, but precise tuning to find the optimal configuration manually is challenging. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel EVO-MS model—a multiple stacking ensemble learning model optimized by the energy valley optimization (EVO) algorithm to select most informatic features for fibrosis quantification. Liver contours are profiled from 415 biopsied proven CT cases, from which 10 shape features are calculated and inputted into a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier to generate the accurate predictions, then the EVO algorithm is applied to find the optimal parameter combination to fuse six base models: K-Nearest Neighbors (KNNs), Decision Tree (DT), Naive Bayes (NB), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), and Random Forest (RF), to create a well-performing ensemble model. Experimental results indicate that selecting 3–5 feature parameters yields satisfactory results in classification, with features such as the contour roundness non-uniformity (Rmax), maximum peak height of contour (Rp), and maximum valley depth of contour (Rm) significantly influencing classification accuracy. The improved EVO algorithm, combined with a multiple stacking model, achieves an accuracy of 0.864, a precision of 0.813, a sensitivity of 0.912, a specificity of 0.824, and an F1-score of 0.860, which demonstrates the effectiveness of our EVO-MS model in staging the degree of liver fibrosis.
Disruption of Transmembrane Phosphatidylserine Asymmetry by HIV-1 Incorporated SERINC5 Is Not Responsible for Virus Restriction
Authors: Raghunath Gokul , Abbott Elizabeth H. , Marin Mariana , Wu Hui , Reyes Ballista Judith Mary , Brindley Melinda A. , Melikyan Gregory B.
Published: May 2024

Host restriction factor SERINC5 (SER5) incorporates into the HIV-1 membrane and inhibits infectivity by a poorly understood mechanism. Recently, SER5 was found to exhibit scramblase-like activity leading to the externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the viral surface, which has been proposed to be responsible for SER5’s antiviral activity. This and other reports that document modulation of HIV-1 infectivity by viral lipid composition prompted us to investigate the role of PS in regulating SER5-mediated HIV-1 restriction. First, we show that the level of SER5 incorporation into virions correlates with an increase in PS levels in the outer leaflet of the viral membrane. We developed an assay to estimate the PS distribution across the viral membrane and found that SER5, but not SER2, which lacks antiviral activity, abrogates PS asymmetry by externalizing this lipid. Second, SER5 incorporation diminished the infectivity of pseudoviruses produced from cells lacking a flippase subunit CDC50a and, therefore, exhibited a higher baseline level of surface-accessible PS. Finally, exogenous manipulation of the viral PS levels utilizing methyl-alpha-cyclodextrin revealed a lack of correlation between external PS and virion infectivity. Taken together, our study implies that the increased PS exposure to SER5-containing virions itself is not directly linked to HIV-1 restriction.
A Survey of Deep Learning Methods for Estimating the Accuracy of Protein Quaternary Structure Models
Authors: Chen Xiao , Liu Jian , Park Nolan , Cheng Jianlin
Published: May 2024

The quality prediction of quaternary structure models of a protein complex, in the absence of its true structure, is known as the Estimation of Model Accuracy (EMA). EMA is useful for ranking predicted protein complex structures and using them appropriately in biomedical research, such as protein–protein interaction studies, protein design, and drug discovery. With the advent of more accurate protein complex (multimer) prediction tools, such as AlphaFold2-Multimer and ESMFold, the estimation of the accuracy of protein complex structures has attracted increasing attention. Many deep learning methods have been developed to tackle this problem; however, there is a noticeable absence of a comprehensive overview of these methods to facilitate future development. Addressing this gap, we present a review of deep learning EMA methods for protein complex structures developed in the past several years, analyzing their methodologies, data and feature construction. We also provide a prospective summary of some potential new developments for further improving the accuracy of the EMA methods.
Intranasal Administration of Apelin-13 Ameliorates Cognitive Deficit in Streptozotocin-Induced Alzheimer’s Disease Model via Enhancement of Nrf2-HO1 Pathways
Authors: Lu Hai , Chen Ming , Zhu Cuiqing
Published: May 2024

Background: The discovery of novel diagnostic methods and therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) faces significant challenges. Previous research has shed light on the neuroprotective properties of Apelin-13 in neurodegenerative disorders. However, elucidating the mechanism underlying its efficacy in combating AD-related nerve injury is imperative. In this study, we aimed to investigate Apelin-13’s mechanism of action in an in vivo model of AD induced by streptozocin (STZ). Methods: We utilized an STZ-induced nerve injury model of AD in mice to investigate the effects of Apelin-13 administration. Apelin-13 was administered intranasally, and cognitive impairment was assessed using standardized behavioral tests, primarily, behavioral assessment, histological analysis, and biochemical assays, in order to evaluate synaptic plasticity and oxidative stress signaling pathways. Results: Our findings indicate that intranasal administration of Apelin-13 ameliorated cognitive impairment in the STZ-induced AD model. Furthermore, we observed that this effect was potentially mediated by the enhancement of synaptic plasticity and the attenuation of oxidative stress signaling pathways. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that intranasal administration of Apelin-13 holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for preventing neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. By improving synaptic plasticity and mitigating oxidative stress, Apelin-13 may offer a novel approach to neuroprotection in AD and related conditions.
The Approach to a Child with Dysmorphic Features: What the Pediatrician Should Know
Authors: Ciancia Silvia , Madeo Simona Filomena , Calabrese Olga , Iughetti Lorenzo
Published: May 2024

The advancement of genetic knowledge and the discovery of an increasing number of genetic disorders has made the role of the geneticist progressively more complex and fundamental. However, most genetic disorders present during childhood; thus, their early recognition is a challenge for the pediatrician, who will be also involved in the follow-up of these children, often establishing a close relationship with them and their families and becoming a referral figure. In this review, we aim to provide the pediatrician with a general knowledge of the approach to treating a child with a genetic syndrome associated with dysmorphic features. We will discuss the red flags, the most common manifestations, the analytic collection of the family and personal medical history, and the signs that should alert the pediatrician during the physical examination. We will offer an overview of the physical malformations most commonly associated with genetic defects and the way to describe dysmorphic facial features. We will provide hints about some tools that can support the pediatrician in clinical practice and that also represent a useful educational resource, either online or through apps downloaded on a smartphone. Eventually, we will offer an overview of genetic testing, the ethical considerations, the consequences of incidental findings, and the main indications and limitations of the principal technologies.
Ultrasonic Evaluation of the Achilles Tendon in Patients Treated for Congenital Clubfoot: Comparison between Patients Treated with Plaster Alone, Achilles Tenotomy, and Z-Plasty Lengthening
Authors: Pedrotti Luisella , Bertani Barbara , Tuvo Gabriella , Mora Redento , Nasi Fabrizio , Manzoni Federica , Marin Luca , Moro Francesco , De Rosa Federica
Published: May 2024

Background: Clubfoot is a common congenital deformity. The Ponseti technique, involving early corrective manipulations followed by applying long leg casts and Achilles tenotomy, is widely accepted as the preferred treatment. Rapid tendon healing after surgery has been documented, but the aspect regarding long-term tendon structure and properties is not known. Three cases of Achilles tendon rupture in adolescents previously treated for clubfoot have been described in the literature. As rupture is a rare event in this age group, a possible correlation with previous surgery has been hypothesized. The primary aim of the study was to compare the ultrasound findings of the Achilles tendon in patients treated for clubfoot, between patients treated with casting alone and with patients who underwent surgery (percutaneous tenotomy or Z-plasty lengthening). Methods: There were 22 asymptomatic patients (34 feet) with a median age of 12 years, previously treated for clubfoot, that were recruited for this study; the patients underwent an Achilles tendon ultrasound examination during a follow-up outpatient visit. Results: A greater thickness and increased number of structural alterations with the presence of hypoechoic areas of the operated tendons compared with those treated with plaster alone were observed (p-value: 0.0498 and <0.001, respectively). These ultrasound findings were indicative of tendon suffering, as seen in tendinopathies. Conclusions: The presence of ultrasound alterations in asymptomatic patients operated on for clubfoot requires careful control of the extrinsic factors of tendinopathy in order to reduce the risk of subcutaneous rupture.
A Comprehensive Look at the Development of Asthma in Children
Authors: Diaconu Ileana Diana , Gheorman Veronica , Grigorie Gabriela Adriana , Gheonea Cristian , Tenea-Cojan Tiberiu-Stefanita , Mahler Beatrice , Voropanov Ion Alexandru , Firoiu Mihnea Cristian , Pîrvu Andreea Silvia , Popescu Alexandru Bogdan , Văruț Renata
Published: May 2024

Asthma, a prevalent chronic respiratory condition affecting millions of children globally, presents a significant health challenge. This review critically examines the developmental pathways of asthma in children, focusing on genetic, environmental, and early-life determinants. Specifically, we explore the impact of prenatal and postnatal factors such as maternal smoking, nutrition, respiratory infections, and allergen exposure on asthma development. Our analysis highlights the intricate interplay of these influences and their contribution to childhood asthma. Moreover, we emphasize targeted strategies and interventions to mitigate its burden, including genetic counseling for at-risk families, environmental modifications to reduce triggers, and early-life immunomodulation. By delving into these preventive measures and interventions, our review aims to provide actionable insights for healthcare professionals in developing tailored strategies to address the complexities of childhood asthma. In summary, this article offers a detailed examination of asthma development in children, aiming to enhance understanding and inform efforts to reduce its burden through targeted interventions.
An Update to Biomechanical and Biochemical Principles of Retinal Injury in Child Abuse
Authors: Shahraki Kourosh , Suh Donny W.
Published: May 2024

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is an extreme form of physical child abuse, a subset of which is shaken baby syndrome (SBS). While traumatic injury in children is most readily observed as marks of contusion on the body, AHT/SBS may result in internal injuries that can put the life of the child in danger. One pivotal sign associated with AHT/SBS that cannot be spotted with the naked eye is retinal injury (RI), an early sign of which is retinal hemorrhage (RH) in cases with rupture of the retinal vasculature. If not addressed, RI can lead to irreversible outcomes, such as visual loss. It is widely assumed that the major cause of RI is acceleration–deceleration forces that are repeatedly imposed on the patient during abusive shaking. Still, due to the controversial nature of this type of injury, few investigations have ever sought to delve into its biomechanical and/or biochemical features using realistic models. As such, our knowledge regarding AHT-/SBS-induced RI is significantly lacking. In this mini-review, we aim to provide an up-to-date account of the traumatology of AHT-/SBS-induced RI, as well as its biomechanical and biochemical features, while focusing on some of the experimental models that have been developed in recent years for studying retinal hemorrhage in the context of AHT/SBS.
Hirschsprung Disease: The Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist
Authors: Milbery Julie-Ann , Curry Joe
Published: May 2024

Hirschsprung disease is a life-long condition that can have a significant impact on both children and their families. This article explores the role of the clinical nurse specialist and the support they can provide from initial diagnosis through the patient’s surgical journey and right through to transition into adult services. Through the provision of education, training, signposting of social and psychological support, and linking in with community-based services, the clinical nurse specialist can help the child and family to limit that impact of the disease.
Development of Si-Based Anodes for All-Solid-State Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhao Xuyang , Rong Yunpeng , Duan Yi , Wu Yanlong , He Deyu , Qi Xiaopeng , Wang Jiantao
Published: May 2024

All-solid-state Li-ion batteries (ASSBs) promise higher safety and energy density than conventional liquid electrolyte-based Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Silicon (Si) is considered one of the most promising anode materials due to its high specific capacity (3590 mAh g−1) but suffers from poor cycling performance because of large volumetric effects leading to particle pulverization, unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), and electric disconnection. In ASSBs, additional issues such as poor solid–solid contacts and interfacial side reactions between Si and solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are also hindering their practical application. This review first outlines the prospects and recent research achievements of Si-based anodes with special focuses on various Si structures and composite materials, then analyzes the issues of electrochemical–mechanical effects, and finally summarizes key factors and promising strategies for further improving Si-based anodes for high-performance ASSBs.
Bile Acids and Bilirubin Role in Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Punzo Angela , Silla Alessia , Fogacci Federica , Perillo Matteo , Cicero Arrigo F. G. , Caliceti Cristiana
Published: May 2024

Bile acids (BAs) and bilirubin, primarily known for their role in lipid metabolism and as heme catabolite, respectively, have been found to have diverse effects on various physiological processes, including oxidative stress and inflammation. Indeed, accumulating evidence showed that the interplay between BAs and bilirubin in these processes involves intricate regulatory mechanisms mediated by specific receptors and signaling pathways under certain conditions and in specific contexts. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) due to its role in inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, and other risk factors. In the cardiovascular (CV) system, recent studies have suggested that BAs and bilirubin have some opposite effects related to oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms, but this area of research is still under investigation. This review aims to introduce BAs and bilirubin from a biochemical and physiological point of view, emphasizing their potential protective or detrimental effects on CVDs. Moreover, clinical studies that have assessed the association between BAs/bilirubin and CVD were examined in depth to better interpret the possible link between them.
Multi-Altitude Corn Tassel Detection and Counting Based on UAV RGB Imagery and Deep Learning
Authors: Niu Shanwei , Nie Zhigang , Li Guang , Zhu Wenyu
Published: May 2024

In the context of rapidly advancing agricultural technology, precise and efficient methods for crop detection and counting play a crucial role in enhancing productivity and efficiency in crop management. Monitoring corn tassels is key to assessing plant characteristics, tracking plant health, predicting yield, and addressing issues such as pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies promptly. This ultimately ensures robust and high-yielding corn growth. This study introduces a method for the recognition and counting of corn tassels, using RGB imagery captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the YOLOv8 model. The model incorporates the Pconv local convolution module, enabling a lightweight design and rapid detection speed. The ACmix module is added to the backbone section to improve feature extraction capabilities for corn tassels. Moreover, the CTAM module is integrated into the neck section to enhance semantic information exchange between channels, allowing for precise and efficient positioning of corn tassels. To optimize the learning rate strategy, the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) is utilized. Significant improvements in recognition accuracy, detection efficiency, and robustness are observed across various UAV flight altitudes. Experimental results show that, compared to the original YOLOv8 model, the proposed model exhibits an increase in accuracy of 3.27 percentage points to 97.59% and an increase in recall of 2.85 percentage points to 94.40% at a height of 5 m. Furthermore, the model optimizes frames per second (FPS), parameters (params), and GFLOPs (giga floating point operations per second) by 7.12%, 11.5%, and 8.94%, respectively, achieving values of 40.62 FPS, 14.62 MB, and 11.21 GFLOPs. At heights of 10, 15, and 20 m, the model maintains stable accuracies of 90.36%, 88.34%, and 84.32%, respectively. This study offers technical support for the automated detection of corn tassels, advancing the intelligence and precision of agricultural production and significantly contributing to the development of modern agricultural technology.
Exploring the Use of Minecraft in Sámi Teacher Education
Authors: Føreland Line Reichelt , Äärelä-Vihriälä Rauni
Published: May 2024

This article explores the integration of digital games, specifically Minecraft, within Sámi educational contexts. The qualitative case study was based on a development project in Sámi teacher education, exploring key aspects highlighted by pre-service teachers when using Minecraft during their practice periods with primary school children. Given the significant role teachers play in instructional organisation, this article aims to identify specific areas where pre-service teachers may benefit from additional support and training to enhance their preparedness for the classroom. Incorporating Sámi educational frameworks and digital competencies into Sámi teacher education, we utilised the digital competence of future teachers (DCFT) model to guide data collection and analysis. This involved distributing anonymous online questionnaires to pre-service teachers (n = 17). Our findings indicate the transformative potential of digital games in Sámi education, particularly in the use of Sámi as a gaming language and Sámi cultural game content. The article emphasises the relevance of digital technologies in preserving and revitalising Indigenous languages and cultures to better understand how to leverage these tools effectively in culturally relevant ways. By utilising contemporary digital tools within an Indigenous education, educators can enhance cultural continuity and empower Indigenous communities in the digital age.