bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation between kinetic and kinematic measures, clinical tests and subjective self-evaluation questionnaires of the affected upper limb in people after stroke
Authors: Baer Ronnie , Feingold-Polak Ronit , Ostrovsky Daniel , Kurz Ilan , Levy-Tzedek Shelly
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Assessment of stroke recovery should include multiple sources of information in order to obtain a complete understanding of the individual’s rehabilitation progress. Self-evaluation questionnaires’ scores do not always correspond to the scores of commonly used clinical evaluation tools. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between self-evaluation questionnaires, clinical tests, and kinematic and kinetic analyses of the affected upper limb after stroke, and to determine the correlation between these measures and self-reported general function 2–4 years after the stroke.

Methods

Twenty-six subjects recovering from stroke were included in the study. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to measure the correlation between Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), Motor activity Log (MAL), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Action Reach Arm Test (ARAT) scores, and kinematic and kinetic analyses. A logistic regression was used to assess the extent to which these measures may predict the participants’ functional self-reported status 2–4 years post stroke.

Results

Sections regarding hand function, hand force and general ADL of the self-evaluation questionnaires correlated with kinematic variables. However, only questionnaires that focus on hand function correlated with clinical tests. Mean and maximal hand velocity had the strongest correlations with self-evaluation questionnaires and with the clinical tests, more than other kinematic variables. Self-evaluation questionnaires and clinical tests were found to be correlated with hand kinetic metrics force-to-time ratio and number of force peaks. SIS hand force domain, mean velocity and maximal velocity predicted self-reported general function 2–4 years after the stroke.

Conclusion

Self-evaluation questionnaires should be considered for wider use in the clinical evaluation of a patient’s stroke recovery, since they add important information on the individual’s functional status, which is not reflected in the clinical tests.
Immunomodulation of NK, NKT and B/T cell subtypes in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients treated with pomalidomide along with velcade and dexamethasone and its association with improved progression-free survival
Authors: Prabhala Rao , Pierceall William E. , Samur Mehmet , Potluri Lakshmi B. , Hong Kevin , Peluso Teresa , Talluri Srikanth , Wang Angela , Katiki Aishwarya , Vangala Sahan D. , Buonopane Michael , Bade Vaishnavi , Seah Hannah , Krogman Arthur , Derebail Sanika , Fulciniti Mariateresa , Lazo Suzan B. , Richardson Paul , Anderson Kenneth , Corre Jill , Avet-Loiseau Herve , Thakurta Anjan , Munshi Nikhil
Published: December 2023

Background

Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients exhibit dysregulated immune system, which is further weakened by chemotherapeutic agents. While cereblon-modulating agents, such as pomalidomide and lenalidomide, have been found to improve the immune profile, the efficacy of their impact in combination with other treatments is yet unknown.

Methods

We conducted an immune-profiling of a longitudinal cohort of 366 peripheral blood samples from the CC4047-MM-007 (OPTIMISMM, NCT01734928) study. This study followed relapsed/refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) patients who were treated with Velcade + dexamethasone (Vd), or Vd with pomalidomide (PVd). 366 blood samples from 186 patients were evaluated using multi-color flow cytometry at 3 timepoints: screening, day 8 of cycle 1, and cycle 3.

Results

Among NK and NKT cell populations, adding pomalidomide showed no inhibition in the frequency of NK cells. When expression of double positivity for activation markers like, p46/NKG2D, on NK cells was higher than the median, PVd treated patients showed significantly better (p=0.05) progression-free survival (PFS) (additional 15 months) than patients with lower than the median expression of p46/NKG2D on NK cells. PVd treated patients who expressed CD158a/b below the median at cycle 1 demonstrated a significantly better PFS (more than 18months). Among B cell subtypes, PVd treatment significantly increased the abundance of B1b cells (p<0.05) and decreased Bregs (p<0.05) at day 8 of both cycle 1 and cycle 3 when compared to screening samples. Of all the B cell-markers evaluated among paired samples, a higher expression of MZB cells at day 8 of cycle 1 has resulted in enhanced PFS in PVd treated patients. Within T cells, pomalidomide treatment did not decrease the frequency of CD8 T cells when compared with screening samples. The higher the surface expression of OX-40 on CD8 T cells and the lower the expression of PD-1 and CD25 on CD4 T cells by PVd treatment resulted in improved PFS.

Conclusion

The prognostic significance for the number of immune markers is only seen in the PVd arm and none of these immune markers exhibit prognostic values in the Vd arm. This study demonstrates the importance of the immunomodulatory effects and the therapeutic benefit of adding pomalidomide to Vd treatment.
Quantitative Dixon and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion magnetic resonance imaging parameters in lumbar vertebrae for differentiating aplastic anemia and acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Hou Meidan , Huang Yanan , Yan Jinsong , Fan Guoguang
Published: December 2023

Objective

We sought to evaluate the use of quantitative Dixon (Q-Dixon) and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion imaging (IVIM) for the differential diagnosis of aplastic anemia (AA) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Methods

Between August 2021 and October 2023, we enrolled 68 diagnosed patients, including 36 patients with AA and 32 patients with AML, as well as 26 normal controls. All patients underwent 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging, which included IVIM and T2*-corrected Q-Dixon imaging at the L2–4 level. The iliac crest biopsy’s pathology was used as the diagnostic criterion. The interobserver measurement repeatability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). One-way analysis of variance, Spearman analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used.

Results

The fat fraction (FF) and perfusion fraction (f) values were statistically significantly different between the three groups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.007). The FF and f values in the AA group were higher than those in the AML group. The true apparent diffusion coefficient (D) value was substantially negatively correlated to the FF and R2* values (r = −0.601, p < 0.001; r = −0.336, p = 0.002). The f value was positively correlated with both FF and pseudo-apparent diffusion coefficient (D*) values (r = 0.376, p < 0.001; r = 0.263, p = 0.017) and negatively correlated with the D value (r = −0.320, p = 0.003). The FF and f values were negatively correlated with the degree of myelodysplasia (r = −0.597, p < 0.001; r = −0.454, p = 0.004), and the D value was positively correlated with the degree of myelodysplasia (r = 0.395, p = 0.001). For the differential diagnosis of AA and AML, the Q-Dixon model’s sensitivity (93.75%) and specificity (84%) confirmed that it outperformed the IVIM model.

Conclusion

Q-Dixon parameters have the potential to be used as new biomarkers to differentiate AA from AML.
Application of medical imaging in ovarian cancer: a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2022
Authors: Leng Yinping , Li Shuhao , Zhu Jianghua , Wang Xiwen , Luo Fengyuan , Wang Yu , Gong Lianggeng
Published: December 2023

Background

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal tumor within the female reproductive system. Medical imaging plays a significant role in diagnosis and monitoring OC. This study aims to use bibliometric analysis to explore the current research hotspots and collaborative networks in the application of medical imaging in OC from 2000 to 2022.

Methods

A systematica search for medical imaging in OC was conducted on the Web of Science Core Collection on August 9, 2023. All reviews and articles published from January 2000 to December 2022 were downloaded, and an analysis of countries, institutions, journals, keywords, and collaborative networks was perfomed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

Results

A total of 5,958 publications were obtained, demonstrating a clear upward trend in annual publications over the study peroid. The USA led in productivity with 1,373 publications, and Harvard University emerged as the most prominent institution with 202 publications. Timmerman D was the most prolific contributor with 100 publications, and Gynecological Oncology led in the number of publications with 296. The top three keywords were “ovarian cancer” (1,256), “ultrasound” (725), and “diagnosis” (712). In addition, “pelvic masses” had the highest burst strength (25.5), followed by “magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)” (21.47). Recent emergent keywords such as “apoptosis”, “nanoparticles”, “features”, “accuracy”, and “human epididymal protein 4 (HE 4)” reflect research trends in this field and may become research hotspots in the future.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive summary of the key contributions of OC imaging to field’s development over the past 23 years. Presently, primary areas of OC imaging research include MRI, targeted therapy of OC, novel biomarker (HE 4), and artificial intelligence. These areas are expected to influence future research endeavors in this field.
Serum 25(OH)D levels are associated with disease activity and renal involvement in initial-onset childhood systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Jiang Lijun , Zhi Shufeng , Wei Chenxi , Rong Zanhua , Zhang Huifeng
Published: December 2023

Background

Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may affect their disease activity and severity.

Objective

This study aims to assess the vitamin D status in patients with initial-onset SLE during childhood and its association with the clinical and laboratory markers of disease activity.

Method

This is a retrospective study that includes 168 patients with initial-onset SLE during childhood and 109 healthy children as controls. Clinical and laboratory data were recorded. The area under the curve (AUC) method was used to evaluate the efficacy of double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA), lower 25(OH)D and complement 3 (C3) alone and in combination to diagnose the presence of renal damage in children with SLE.

Result

Compared with the controls (25.53 ± 7.02 ng/ml), patients with initial-onset SLE during childhood have lower serum 25(OH)D levels (18.63 ± 5.32 ng/ml) (P < 0.05). Among patients with initial-onset SLE during childhood, SLEDAI-2K scores are significantly higher in the vitamin D insufficiency (median = 14.5) and vitamin D deficiency (median = 14.0) groups than in the vitamin D sufficiency group (median = 9.0) (P < 0.05). Patients with initial-onset SLE during childhood with lower 25(OH)D levels are more likely to have lupus nephritis (LN) and a higher SDI score (P < 0.05). Compared with patients with other types of LN (16.69 ± 3.90 ng/ml), patients with type V LN have lower levels of 25(OH)D (12.27 ± 3.53 ng/ml) (P < 0.05). The AUC was 0.803 when dsDNA antibody, 25(OH)D level and C3 were used in combination to diagnose LN in patients with SLE.

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are closely related to an increase in SLEDAI and SDI scores. Significant decrease in vitamin D level is a risk factor for LN.
Price increase negotiations to address drug shortages in South Korea’s national health insurance
Authors: Yu Seung Rae , Lee Jong Hyuk
Published: December 2023

South Korea has adopted a unique approach to address drug shortages by increasing reimbursement prices within its National Health Insurance Service. This study aims to analyze the characteristics, increase rates, affecting factors, and budget impacts of products that have increased price through the negotiation system. Between 2007 and 2022, there were price increase negotiations over 244 items. Of these, price increase negotiations were successful for 217 items, resulting in an agreement rate of 89%. The average rate of price increase for the agreed-upon products was 37.8%, and the overall budget increase for drugs with price increases (n = 217) was approximately 24.5%. Budget impact of each variable of the negotiated agreements showed that the number of negotiated agreement items was smaller after 2015 than before 2015, but each total budget impact (initial budget, increased budget, and final budget) and the average budget impact were higher. Although domestic companies accounted for a larger overall budget, the average budget per item was larger for multinational companies. The correlation analysis of the ratio of price increase and budget impact variables showed that the ratio of price increase was positively and significantly correlated with the increased budget, while it was negatively but not significantly correlated with the initial and final budgets. The South Korean model of increasing reimbursement prices in public insurance for drugs at risk of shortages serves as an exemplary case for not only securing patient access but also considering budget management.
The role of kaempferol in gynaecological malignancies: progress and perspectives
Authors: Ma Xijun , Zhang Xiaoyu , Wang Xuan , Wang Congan , Ma Yuning
Published: December 2023

Kaempferol, a flavonoid derived from various herbs such as cocoyam, propolis, and grapefruit, has garnered interest due to its numerous pharmacological benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic properties. Kaempferol has been shown to possess notable anti-tumour bioactivity, indicating potential for treating gynaecological malignancies. To date, numerous studies have demonstrated the potential of kaempferol to induce tumour cell apoptosis, inhibit proliferation, and prevent metastasis and invasion in several gynaecological malignancies, including breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers. However, there is currently insufficient research investigating the efficacy of kaempferol for the treatment of gynaecological malignancies, and a lack of systematic review of its mechanism of action. Therefore, this review is founded on a literature analysis of the anticancer effects of kaempferol on gynaecological malignancies. The goal is to provide valuable reference material for scientific researchers and medical practitioners.
Phylogenomic analyses reveal reticulate evolution between Neomicrocalamus and Temochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae)
Authors: Cai Zhuo-Yu , Niu Zheng-Yang , Zhang You-Yuan , Tong Yi-Hua , Vu Tien Chinh , Goh Wei Lim , Sungkaew Sarawood , Teerawatananon Atchara , Xia Nian-He
Published: December 2023

Neomicrocalamus and Temochloa are closely related to bamboo genera. However, when considered with newly discovered and morphologically similar material from China and Vietnam, the phylogenetic relationship among these three groups was ambiguous in the analyses based on DNA regions. Here, as a means of investigating the relationships among the three bamboo groups and exploring potential sources of genomic conflicts, we present a phylogenomic examination based on the whole plastome, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and single-copy nuclear (SCN) gene datasets. Three different phylogenetic hypotheses were found. The inconsistency is attributed to the combination of incomplete lineage sorting and introgression. The origin of newly discovered bamboos is from introgressive hybridization between Temochloa liliana (which contributed 80.7% of the genome) and Neomicrocalamus prainii (19.3%), indicating that the newly discovered bamboos are closer to T. liliana in genetics. The more similar morphology and closer distribution elevation also imply a closer relationship between Temochloa and newly discovered bamboos.
An exploratory study on counterfactual thinking in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Poletti Barbara , Aiello Edoardo Nicolò , Tagini Sofia , Solca Federica , Torre Silvia , Colombo Eleonora , Maranzano Alessio , Bonetti Ruggero , Schevegher Francesco , Morelli Claudia , Doretti Alberto , Verde Federico , Barbieri Sergio , Mameli Francesca , Priori Alberto , Ferrucci Roberta , Silani Vincenzo , Cherubini Paolo , Pravettoni Gabriella , Ticozzi Nicola
Published: December 2023

Objectives

This study aimed at exploring (1) the motor and non-motor correlates of counterfactual thinking (CFT) abilities in non-demented amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and (2) the ability of CFT measures to discriminate these patients from healthy controls (HCs) and patients with and without cognitive impairment.

Methods

N = 110 ALS patients and N = 51 HCs were administered two CFT tasks, whose sum, resulting in a CFT Index (CFTI), was addressed as the outcome. Patients further underwent an in-depth cognitive, behavioral, and motor-functional evaluation. Correlational analyses were run to explore the correlates of the CFTI in patients. Logistic regressions were performed to test whether the CFTI could discriminate patients from HCs.

Results

The CFTI was selectively associated (p ≤ 0.005) with fluency and memory subscales of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS), but not with other variables. CFTI scores discriminated patients from HCs (p < 0.001) with high accuracy (82%), but not patients with a normal vs. defective performance on the ECAS-Total.

Conclusion

CFT measures in non-demented ALS patients were associated with verbal fluency and memory functions, and they were also able to discriminate them from HCs.
Positive psychosocial factors and the development of symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms following acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Zuccarella-Hackl Claudia , Jimenez-Gonzalo Lucia , von Känel Roland , Princip Mary , Jellestad Lena , Langraf-Meister Rebecca E. , Znoj Hansjörg , Schmid Jean-Paul , Barth Jürgen , Schnyder Ulrich , Ledermann Katharina
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is a potentially fatal condition, leading to high psychological distress and possibly resulting in the development of depressive symptoms and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of clusters of positive psychosocial factors (resilience, task-oriented coping, positive affect and social support) with both MI-induced depressive symptoms and PTSS, independent of demographic factors.

Methods

We investigated 154 consecutive patients with MI, 3 and 12 months after hospital discharge. All patients completed the short version of the German Resilience Scale, the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), the Enriched Social Support Inventory (ESSI) and the Global Mood Scale (GMS). The level of interviewer-rated MI-induced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms at 3- and 12-months follow-up was evaluated through the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Depressive symptoms were assessed at 3- and 12-month follow-up with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).

Results

Three different clusters were revealed: (1) lonely cluster: lowest social support, resilience and average task-oriented coping and positive affect; (2) low risk cluster: highest resilience, task-oriented coping, positive affect and social support; (3) avoidant cluster: lowest task-oriented coping, positive affect, average resilience and social support. The clusters differed in depressive symptoms at 3 months (F = 5.10; p < 0.01) and 12 months follow-up (F = 7.56; p < 0.01). Cluster differences in PTSS were significant at 3 months (F = 4.78, p < 0.05) and 12 months (F = 5.57, p < 0.01) follow-up. Differences in PTSS subscales were found for avoidance (F = 4.8, p < 0.05) and hyperarousal (F = 5.63, p < 0.05), but not re-experiencing, at 3 months follow-up. At 12 months follow-up, cluster differences were significant for re-experiencing (F = 6.44, p < 0.01) and avoidance (F = 4.02, p < 0.05) but not hyperarousal.

Discussion

The present study contributes to a better understanding of the relationships among different positive psychosocial factors, depressive symptoms and PTSS following acute MI. Future interventions may benefit from taking into account positive psychosocial factors to potentially reduce patients’ depressive symptoms and PTSS after MI.
Model-agnostic explainable artificial intelligence tools for severity prediction and symptom analysis on Indian COVID-19 data
Authors: Nambiar Athira , S Harikrishnaa , S Sharanprasath
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic had a global impact and created an unprecedented emergency in healthcare and other related frontline sectors. Various Artificial-Intelligence-based models were developed to effectively manage medical resources and identify patients at high risk. However, many of these AI models were limited in their practical high-risk applicability due to their “black-box” nature, i.e., lack of interpretability of the model. To tackle this problem, Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) was introduced, aiming to explore the “black box” behavior of machine learning models and offer definitive and interpretable evidence. XAI provides interpretable analysis in a human-compliant way, thus boosting our confidence in the successful implementation of AI systems in the wild.

Methods

In this regard, this study explores the use of model-agnostic XAI models, such as SHapley Additive exPlanations values (SHAP) and Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME), for COVID-19 symptom analysis in Indian patients toward a COVID severity prediction task. Various machine learning models such as Decision Tree Classifier, XGBoost Classifier, and Neural Network Classifier are leveraged to develop Machine Learning models.

Results and discussion

The proposed XAI tools are found to augment the high performance of AI systems with human interpretable evidence and reasoning, as shown through the interpretation of various explainability plots. Our comparative analysis illustrates the significance of XAI tools and their impact within a healthcare context. The study suggests that SHAP and LIME analysis are promising methods for incorporating explainability in model development and can lead to better and more trustworthy ML models in the future.
Sexual, reproductive and mental health among young men (10–24) in low-and-middle income countries: a scoping review
Authors: Mhlongo Siphiwe , Mason-Jones Amanda J. , Ford Keith
Published: December 2023

Background

The relationship between SRH and mental health among men is not well documented, especially in the 10–24 age group. This scoping review aimed to investigate what is known about the association between SRH and mental health among young men (10–24) in LMICs.

Methods

Embase, APA PsycInfo, MEDLINE(R) ALL, ASSIA and the Cochrane Library of Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from the year of establishment up to August 2022. The review was reported using the PRISMA-ScR checklist.

Results

A total of (n = 2636) studies were identified from the five databases. After the completion of screening, only ten studies (n = 8 cross-sectional, n = 1 mixed methods and n = 1 qualitative) met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The findings suggest that there is a reciprocal relationship between mental health and SRH. Sperm concentration and total sperm count were found to be lower in depressed men. Poor mental health was associated with early sexual debut, higher rates of sexual activity and an increased number of sexual partners. Poor mental health was also found among men who had sex with men (MSM). In addition, we found a relationship between sexual abuse, sexual coercion and poor mental health.

Conclusion

The findings of this unique study indicate that poor mental health is associated with poor SRH outcomes and vice versa among young men (10–24) living in LMICs. However, further research will be needed to establish the temporal relationship between SRH and mental health outcomes.
Research on water extraction from high resolution remote sensing images based on deep learning
Authors: Wu Peng , Fu Junjie , Yi Xiaomei , Wang Guoying , Mo Lufeng , Maponde Brian Tapiwanashe , Liang Hao , Tao Chunling , Ge WenYing , Jiang TengTeng , Ren Zhen
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Monitoring surface water through the extraction of water bodies from high-resolution remote sensing images is of significant importance. With the advancements in deep learning, deep neural networks have been increasingly applied to high-resolution remote sensing image segmentation. However, conventional convolutional models face challenges in water body extraction, including issues like unclear water boundaries and a high number of training parameters.

Methods: In this study, we employed the DeeplabV3+ network for water body extraction in high-resolution remote sensing images. However, the traditional DeeplabV3+ network exhibited limitations in segmentation accuracy for high-resolution remote sensing images and incurred high training costs due to a large number of parameters. To address these issues, we made several improvements to the traditional DeeplabV3+ network: Replaced the backbone network with MobileNetV2. Added a Channel Attention (CA) module to the MobileNetV2 feature extraction network. Introduced an Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) module. Implemented Focal loss for balanced loss computation.

Results: Our proposed method yielded significant enhancements. It not only improved the segmentation accuracy of water bodies in high-resolution remote sensing images but also effectively reduced the number of network parameters and training time. Experimental results on the Water dataset demonstrated superior performance compared to other networks: Outperformed the U-Net network by 3.06% in terms of mean Intersection over Union (mIoU). Outperformed the MACU-Net network by 1.03%. Outperformed the traditional DeeplabV3+ network by 2.05%. The proposed method surpassed not only the traditional DeeplabV3+ but also U-Net, PSP-Net, and MACU-Net networks.

Discussion: These results highlight the effectiveness of our modified DeeplabV3+ network with MobileNetV2 backbone, CA module, ASPP module, and Focal loss for water body extraction in high-resolution remote sensing images. The reduction in training time and parameters makes our approach a promising solution for accurate and efficient water body segmentation in remote sensing applications.
Forecasting individual exercise sweat losses from forecast air temperature and energy expenditure
Authors: Cheuvront Samuel N. , Sollanek Kurt J. , Kenefick Robert W.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Recent success in predicting individual sweat losses from air temperature and energy expenditure measurements suggests a potential for forecasting individual sweat losses for future combinations of environment and exercise. The purpose of this study is to determine the plausibility of accurately forecasting exercise sweat losses from meteorological air temperature forecasts and individual running energy expenditure forecasts. The potential impact on plasma sodium is also estimated when setting drinking rates equal to forecast sweat losses.

Materials and methods

Individual exercise sweat losses (equated to water needs) and energy expended while running were measured in 33 participants along with air temperature and compared with forecasts of the same. Forecast inputs were used in a web app to forecast exercise sweat losses for comparison with observed values. The bias between forecast and observed exercise sweat losses was used to calculate the potential drinking impact on plasma sodium.

Results

The concordance correlation coefficient between forecast and observed values was 0.95, 0.96, and 0.91 for air temperature, energy expenditure, and exercise sweat losses, respectively, indicating excellent agreement and no significant differences observed via t-test. Perfect matching of water intake to sweat losses would lower plasma sodium concentrations from 140 to 138 mmol/L; calculations using the 95% limits of agreement for bias showed that drinking according to forecast exercise sweat losses would alter plasma sodium concentrations from 140 to between 136 and 141 mmol/L.

Conclusions

The outcomes support the strong potential for accurately forecasting exercise sweat losses from commonly available meteorological air temperature forecasts and energy expenditure from forecast running distance.
Case report: Spontaneous abortion of monoamniotic twins at the third trimester of pregnancy in Camelus dromedarius
Authors: Hossein Mohammad Shamim , Son Young-Bum , Jeong Yeon Ik , Kang Mina , Lee Seejin , Tinson Alex , Hwang Woo Suk
Published: December 2023

Monoamniotic twins develop when a blastocyst spontaneously splits its progenitor cells, and each group of progenitor cells independently grows to become an individual. It is the rarest type of twin pregnancy and usually has significant developmental or congenital abnormalities, a higher rate of abortion, perinatal morbidity, and mortality. There is no information regarding monoamniotic twins in livestock species. Here, we reported a spontaneous abortion of monoamniotic twins in a dromedary camel at 278 days of gestation. Gonadorelin acetate (100 μg) was injected intramuscularly to induce ovulation in the recipient. A 7 days-old embryo produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer was transferred transcervically to the recipient. Early pregnancy was confirmed by an elevated level of serum progesterone followed by ultrasonography at 22 and 44 days after embryo transfer. A single sac was observed on 22 days while twins were evident 44 days after embryo transfer. Pregnancy was periodically monitored by the tail-up phenomenon. A ruptured fetal sac was observed on the ground having two fetuses. On autopsy, full-grown fetuses were found. Their bodies were separated. There was no congenital anomaly or any malformation in the fetuses. According to the reported chronology in human twins, we hypothesized that the blastocyst splitted before 13 days as it was monoamniotic and not conjoined. If the embryo splits within 4 to 8 days, it develops two amniotic sacs, and splitting after 13 days develops conjoined fetuses. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of monoamniotic twin abortion in dromedary camels. This report will increase awareness among practicing veterinarians and camel breeders about twin abortions.
A proteomic approach to identifying spermatozoa proteins in Indonesian native Madura bulls
Authors: Rosyada Zulfi Nur Amrina , Pardede Berlin Pandapotan , Kaiin Ekayanti Mulyawati , Gunawan Muhammad , Maulana Tulus , Said Syahruddin , Tumbelaka Ligaya I. T. A , Solihin Dedy Duryadi , Ulum Mokhamad Fakhrul , Purwantara Bambang
Published: December 2023

Proteins assist sperm mature, transit the female reproductive tract, and recognise sperm oocytes. Indigenous Indonesian bulls, Madura bulls, have not been studied for reproductive proteomics. As local Indonesian beef livestock, Madura cattle assist in achieving food security; hence, their number must be improved. Thus, the identification of molecular proteomics-based bull fertility biomarkers is needed. This study aimed to characterise the sperm fertility function of the superior Madura bull (Bos indicus × Bos Javanicus) spermatozoa proteome. Frozen semen from eight Madura superior bulls (Bos indicus × Bos javanicus) aged 4–8 years was obtained from the artificial insemination centre (AIC) in Singosari and Lembang. Madura superior bulls are those that have passed the bull breeding soundness evaluation. Frozen sperm were thawed and centrifuged at 3000 × g for 30 min. Proteins in sperm were characterised through proteomic analysis using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The resulting gene symbols for each protein were then subjected to bioinformatics tools, including UniProt, DAVID, and STRING databases. Regarding sperm fertility, the analysis revealed that 15 proteins were identified in the sperm of Madura bulls. Amongst the identified proteins, the superior Madura bull sperm contained several motilities, energy-related proteins, and chaperone proteins. A substantial portion of characterised proteins are linked to metabolic pathways and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, contributing to sperm energy production. In conclusion, the first in-depth proteome identification of sperm related to sperm quality and bull fertility of a unique indigenous Madura breed of Indonesia was performed using the LC–MS/MS proteomic method. These findings may serve as a reference point for further studies related to the functions of bovine sperm and biomarkers of fertility and sperm quality.
Kaempferol is a novel antiviral agent against channel catfish virus infection through blocking viral attachment and penetration in vitro
Authors: Hao Kai , Wang Yu , Xu Jie Hua , Nie ChunLan , Song SiYang , Yu Fei , Zhao Zhe
Published: December 2023

Channel catfish virus (CCV, Ictalurid herpesvirus 1) is the causative pathogen of channel catfish virus disease, which has caused high mortality and substantial economic losses in the catfish aquaculture industry. Due to the lack of licensed prophylactic vaccines and therapeutic drugs, the prevention and control of CCV infection seem to remain stagnant. Active compounds from medicinal plants offer eligible sources of pharmaceuticals and lead drugs to fight against endemic and pandemic diseases and exhibit excellent effect against viral infection. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral ability of 12 natural compounds against CCV with cell models in vitro and found kaempferol exhibited the strongest inhibitory compound against CCV infection among all the tested compounds. Correspondingly, kaempferol decreased transcription levels of viral genes and the synthesis of viral proteins, as well as reduced proliferation and release of viral progeny, the severity of the CPE induced by CCV in a dose-dependent manner, based on quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), western blotting, viral cytopathic effects (CPE) and viral titer assessment. Moreover, time-of-drug-addition assays, virus attachment, and penetration assays revealed that kaempferol exerted anti-CCV activity probably by blocking attachment and internalization of the viral entry process. Altogether, the present results indicated that kaempferol may be a promising candidate antiviral agent against CCV infection, which shed light on the development of a novel and potent treatment for fish herpesvirus infection.
Understanding the Influence of Genre-Specific Music Using Network Analysis and Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Lamichhane Bishal , Singh Aniket Kumar , Devkota Suman , Dhakal Uttam , Singh Subham , Dhakal Chandra
Published: December 2023

This study analyzes a network of musical influence using machine learning and network analysis techniques. A directed network model is used to represent the influence relations between artists as nodes and edges. Network properties and centrality measures are analyzed to identify influential patterns. In addition, influence within and outside the genre is quantified using in-genre and out-genre weights. Regression analysis is performed to determine the impact of musical attributes on influence. We find that speechiness, acousticness, and valence are the top features of the most influential artists. We also introduce the IRDI, an algorithm that provides an innovative approach to quantify an artist’s influence by capturing the degree of dominance among their followers. This approach underscores influential artists who drive the evolution of music, setting trends and significantly inspiring a new generation of artists. The independent cascade model is further employed to open up the temporal dynamics of influence propagation across the entire musical network, highlighting how initial seeds of influence can contagiously spread through the network. This multidisciplinary approach provides a nuanced understanding of musical influence that refines existing methods and sheds light on influential trends and dynamics.
Fabrication and Characterization of Narrow-Wavelength Phosphors of Tb-Doped Yttrium-Silicon-Aluminum Oxynitride Using Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Aji Bramantyo Bayu , Huang Yu-Hsiuan , Oishi Masatsugu , Moriga Toshihiro , Shih Shao-Ju
Published: December 2023

Selective emission of green light phosphor powder Y4SiAlO8N as the host material and Tb3+ as the activator was successfully achieved using spray pyrolysis (SP). Samples synthesized with various calcination temperatures and precursor concentrations indicated that the most suitable parameter for the synthesized powder is the calcination of 0.05 M Y3.92SiAlO8N:0.08Tb3+ at a temperature of 1600 °C. The effect of the selected parameters was substantiated by the high purity of the Y3.92SiAlO8N:0.08Tb3+ phase, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The Scherrer equation was used to calculate grain size. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) confirmed the presence of micron-sized particles, which matched well with the theoretical chemical composition. The specific surface area of the phosphor powder was determined using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. Finally, fluorescence spectrometry was used to determine the luminescence properties. The correlation between the crystallinity of the phosphor powder and narrowing emission is also discussed.
Analysis of the Structure and Durability of Refractory Castables Impregnated with Sodium Silicate Glass
Authors: Malaiškienė Jurgita , Antonovič Valentin , Boris Renata , Kudžma Andrius , Stonys Rimvydas
Published: December 2023

This study examines the impact of the impregnation of fireclay-based conventional (CC) and medium-cement castables (MCCs) with liquid sodium silicate glass under vacuum conditions. The goal is to assess how this treatment affects the physical and mechanical properties and durability (alkali and thermal shock resistance) of these castables used in biomass combustion boilers, where they are exposed to temperatures up to 1100 °C. The research work employs standard test methods to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties. Additionally, advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and specific tests for alkali resistance and thermal shock resistance are used. The research findings suggest that impregnation with sodium silicate glass under vacuum significantly enhances the alkali resistance of both CC and MCCs. This improvement is primarily due to the reduction in porosity and the increase in density. SEM images reveal that the impregnated samples are coated with a glassy layer and the pores are partially filled with sodium silicate. Tests for alkali resistance demonstrate the formation of a protective glassy layer (with a thickness of 0.9–1.5 mm) on the castable surfaces, thereby reducing the further penetration of alkali into deeper layers of the samples. However, it is important to mention that the impregnated refractory castables have reduced resistance to thermal shock cycles.
The Protein Composition of Bovine Milk from Once-a-Day and Twice-a-Day Milking Production Systems in New Zealand
Authors: van der Zeijden Marit , Ellis Ashling , Lopez-Villalobos Nicolas , Li Siqi , Roy Nicole C. , McNabb Warren
Published: December 2023

An increasing number of dairy farmers in New Zealand (NZ) have adopted a once-a-day (OAD) milking production system, and little is known about the impact of this production system on milk protein composition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of OAD milking on the protein composition in milk from individual cows. Milk was sampled in early, mid-, and late lactation from cows kept at Massey University farms Dairy No. 1 (OAD milking) and Dairy No. 4 (TAD milking) in Palmerston North, NZ. The yields of total milk and milk solids, the proximate composition, and the protein composition were determined. Results showed that OAD milking yielded less milk and milk solids than TAD milking. However, no significant differences in protein, fat, and lactose contents were found. While the proportions of total casein (CN), total whey proteins, αs1-CN, β-CN, and β-lactoglobulin were not affected by the milking frequency, milk from a OAD milking system contained higher proportions of αs2-CN and κ-CN and lower proportions of α-lactalbumin. These proteins also changed differently throughout the milking season in a OAD milking system than in a TAD milking system. These changes in the protein composition of the milk observed in a OAD milking system could have implications for its processing properties and product quality.
Spectral Clustering Community Detection Algorithm Based on Point-Wise Mutual Information Graph Kernel
Authors: Chen Yinan , Ye Wenbin , Li Dong
Published: December 2023

To address the problem that traditional spectral clustering algorithms cannot obtain the complete structural information of networks, this paper proposes a spectral clustering community detection algorithm, PMIK-SC, based on the point-wise mutual information (PMI) graph kernel. The kernel is constructed according to the point-wise mutual information between nodes, which is then used as a proximity matrix to reconstruct the network and obtain the symmetric normalized Laplacian matrix. Finally, the network is partitioned by the eigendecomposition and eigenvector clustering of the Laplacian matrix. In addition, to determine the number of clusters during spectral clustering, this paper proposes a fast algorithm, BI-CNE, for estimating the number of communities. For a specific network, the algorithm first reconstructs the original network and then runs Monte Carlo sampling to estimate the number of communities by Bayesian inference. Experimental results show that the detection speed and accuracy of the algorithm are superior to other existing algorithms for estimating the number of communities. On this basis, the spectral clustering community detection algorithm PMIK-SC also has high accuracy and stability compared with other community detection algorithms and spectral clustering algorithms.
The Magnetic Field Freezes the Mercedes–Benz Water Model
Authors: Urbic Tomaz
Published: December 2023

In this study, we investigate the impact of magnetic fields on the structural and thermodynamic properties of water. To accomplish this, we employed the Mercedes–Benz (MB) model, a two-dimensional representation of water using Lennard–Jones disks with angle-dependent interactions that closely mimic hydrogen bond formation. We extended the MB model by introducing two charges to enable interaction with the magnetic field. Employing molecular dynamics simulations, we thoroughly explored the thermodynamic properties concerning various magnetic flux intensities. As a result, we observed that under a weak magnetic flux, the property of water remained unaltered, while a stronger flux astonishingly led to the freezing of water molecules. Furthermore, our study revealed that once a specific flux magnitude was reached, the density anomaly disappeared, and an increase in flux caused the MB particles to form a glassy state.
Properties of a Random Bipartite Geometric Associator Graph Inspired by Vehicular Networks
Authors: Pandey Kaushlendra , Gupta Abhishek , Dhillon Harpreet , Perumalla Kanaka
Published: December 2023

We consider a point process (PP) generated by superimposing an independent Poisson point process (PPP) on each line of a 2D Poisson line process (PLP). Termed PLP-PPP, this PP is suitable for modeling networks formed on an irregular collection of lines, such as vehicles on a network of roads and sensors deployed along trails in a forest. Inspired by vehicular networks in which vehicles connect with their nearest wireless base stations (BSs), we consider a random bipartite associator graph in which each point of the PLP-PPP is associated with the nearest point of an independent PPP through an edge. This graph is equivalent to the partitioning of PLP-PPP by a Poisson Voronoi tessellation (PVT) formed by an independent PPP. We first characterize the exact distribution of the number of points of PLP-PPP falling inside the ball centered at an arbitrary location in R2 as well as the typical point of PLP-PPP. Using these distributions, we derive cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) and probability density functions (PDFs) of kth contact distance (CD) and the nearest neighbor distance (NND) of PLP-PPP. As intermediate results, we present the empirical distribution of the perimeter and approximate distribution of the length of the typical chord of the zero-cell of this PVT. Using these results, we present two close approximations of the distribution of node degree of the random bipartite associator graph. In a vehicular network setting, this result characterizes the number of vehicles connected to each BS, which models its load. Since each BS has to distribute its limited resources across all the vehicles connected to it, a good statistical understanding of load is important for an efficient system design. Several applications of these new results to different wireless network settings are also discussed.
Techno-Economic Evaluation of a Compressed CO2 Energy Storage System for Load Shifting Based on Dynamic Modelling
Authors: Zhang Bin , Yang Junbo , Tian Sule , Huang Qingxi , Wang Wei , Sun Qie , Ren Xiaohan
Published: December 2023

To reduce the electricity grid’s valley—peak difference, thereby resulting in a smoother electricity load, this study employs a compressed CO2 energy storage system to facilitate load shifting. Load shifting by the CCES system not only enhances the energy flexibility of the electricity load but also creates energy arbitrage from variations in the electricity prices. An optimization model is developed to optimize the operation of the CCES system to minimize the standard deviation of the electricity load. Thereby, load shifting by the CCES system can be achieved. Based on the real electricity loads and prices, results indicate that, with an energy storage capacity of 267 MWh, the CCES system can provide 3845 MWh, 4052 MWh, and 3816 MWh of upward flexible energy and 3846 MWh, 3180 MWh, and 3735 MWh of downward flexible energy during a week in summer, winter, and the transition season, respectively. With a lifespan of 35 years, the CCES system can attain a net present value (NPV) of MUSD 239.9 and a payback time of 2 years. The sensitivity analysis shows that increasing the energy storage capacity of the CCES system augments both the upward and downward flexible energy of the electricity load but reduces the NPV of the CCES system.
A Data-Driven Architecture for Smart Renewable Energy Microgrids in Non-Interconnected Zones: A Colombian Case Study
Authors: Colmenares-Quintero Ramón Fernando , Maestre-Gongora Gina , Valderrama-Riveros Oscar Camilo , Baquero-Almazo Marieth , Stansfield Kim E.
Published: December 2023

Implementing smart microgrids for Non-Interconnected Zones (NIZs) has become an alternative solution to provide electrical energy by taking advantage of the resources available through the generation of renewable energy within these isolated areas. Within this context, in this study, the challenges related to microgrids and data analysis are presented, and different relevant data architectures described in the literature are compared. This paper focuses on the design of a data architecture for a smart microgrid for NIZs whose microgrid contains two 260 W solar panels, a 480 W inverter, and two 260 Ah batteries. Regarding the Colombian context, this paper describes the limitations (connectivity, isolation, appropriation of technologies) and opportunities (low demand, access to natural resources, state interest) from which the functional and non-functional requirements for the architecture are established. Finally, a data architecture is proposed and implemented in a NIZ in Colombia, and this paper also includes a description of the architecture, its characteristics, its associated opportunities and challenges, and discussions regarding its implementation.