bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of bioactive compounds, radical scavenging activity and sensory quality attributes of tropical fruit juice blends
Authors: Gomez Saji , S Ananya P , Sadi Rinsa , Raphael Rixon , Kuruvila Bintu
Published: November 2024

Fruit juice blends encompass the flavour and nutritional properties of the fruits used for their preparation, which give them distinct and unique phytochemical composition and flavour attributes. This research was carried out to evaluate the effect of blending tropical fruits such as mango (Mangifera indica), acerola (Malpighia punicifolia), cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale), guava (Psidium guajava) and Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis) on their sensory properties as well as the level of bioactive compounds, ultimately leading to their antioxidant potential. The blended beverage was pasteurized, followed by storage at 5 20C for three months. Results revealed that the highest overall acceptability score was recorded for the blend containing mango and acerola (8.0). Even after three months of storage, the blend containing mango and acerola had significantly higher ascorbic acid (159.490 mg100g-1), which was almost six times higher than the one blended with Indian gooseberry. The combination of mango and cashew apple had the highest initial total carotenoids (1.4628 mg100g-1), followed by the one containing mango and acerola (1.3162 mg100g-1). The blend of mango and Indian gooseberry had the highest total phenolics (315.0 mg100g-1). The blend of mango in combination with Indian gooseberry and acerola exhibited highest DPPH scavenging activity of 2.743 µgml-1 and 2.845 µgml-1, respectively. The findings suggest that the tropical fruits mentioned above are valuable sources of functional nutrients in addition to their unique and diverse flavour attributes.
Photorefractive and pyroelectric photonic memory and long-term stability in thin- film lithium niobate microresonators
Authors: Ren Xinyi , Lee Chun-Ho , Xue Kaiwen , Ou Shaoyuan , Yu Yue , Chen Zaijun , Yu Mengjie
Published: November 2024

The stability of the integrated photonic circuits is of critical importance for many applications that require high frequency precision or robust operation over time, such as optomechanical sensing, frequency conversion, optical communication, and quantum optics. Photonic memory is useful for low-energy optical computing and interconnects. Thin film lithium niobate (TFLN), as an emerging photonic platform, exhibits complex material properties including pyroelectric (PE) and photorefractive (PR) effects which could lead to intra-device drift and excess noise under different environmental or operating conditions as well as be utilized for building photonic memory. However, the long-term stability and memory effect of its optical properties has not been explored. In this paper, we discovered a long-lived change of optical refractive index as a result of light excitation and temporal temperature variation using Z-cut TFLN microresonators and reveal a strong dependence of the instability with the crystal orientation of the thin film form. The recovery time are measured to be over 10 hours. Leveraging the photonic memory with a long relaxation time, we realize optical trimming of the cavity resonance frequencies. Our result offers insights towards understanding the fundamental noise properties and dynamic behavior of the integrated TFLN material and devices.
A comparative study of the effectivity of MSC-based, NP-based and combined therapies in an experimental model of NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration
Authors: Palacka Katerina , Hermankova Barbora , Cervena Tereza , Rossner Pavel , Holan Vladimir , Javorkova Eliska
Published: November 2024

Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are currently being tested as one of the promising options for retinal therapy, due to their immunomodulatory and neuroprotective abilities. Although the potential of MSCs in ophthalmology has been well documented, there are several limitations associated with this type of treatment. One complication may be the increased immune reaction following intravitreal application. Therefore, combinations of MSCs with other therapeutic agents are now being considered. One such approach is represented by the application of MSCs with nanoparticles (NPs), which are widely used in medicine for their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. The combination of both therapies could provide an increase in immunoregulatory and neuroprotective effects. However, the interaction of MSCs with NPs in ophthalmological treatment should be further investigated.Methods In this study, we tested the in vitro and in vivo effect of silver (Ag) NPs on the properties of MSCs in an experimental mouse model of chronic retinal degeneration induced by sodium iodate.Results The results showed that simultaneous intravitreal administration of MSCs with AgNPs had no effect on the survival of MSCs in the eye, but a less effective regulation of Iba-1 (activated microglia/macrophages) and interleukin-1β expression in the retinal tissue compared to MSC or AgNP only treated groups was observed. Nevertheless, all treated groups had decreased expression of the gene for galectin-3 compared to the untreated control. In addition, MSCs applied alone or in combination with AgNPs and sorted from the degenerated retina on day 7 after application had increased expression of genes for specific retinal markers, and for transforming growth factor-β and insulin-like growth factor-1 compared to untreated naïve MSCs. On the contrary, the increased expression of the gene for glial cell-derived growth factor was observed only in the MSCs combined with AgNPs. However, the application of MSCs with AgNPs triggered increased expression of the IL-6 gene in the CD45 cells separated from the retina.Conclusion Overall, the results show that the application of MSCs or AgNPs has an immunomodulatory effect in chronic retinal degeneration, but the combined application of MSCs and AgNPs could decrease the effects of a single therapy.
Identifying targeted cell-free DNA methylation regions in head and neck cancer via paired methylome analysis
Authors: Li Tingyi , Patel Krupal B. , Yu Xiaoqing , Yao Sijie , Wang Liang , Chung Christine H. , Wang Xuefeng
Published: November 2024

Despite the critical need, progress in developing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) liquid biopsy biomarkers for the diagnosis and risk stratification of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) has been limited. In this study, we present a comprehensive paired-sample differential methylation region (psDMR) analysis in HNSC, aimed at identifying reliable and HNSC-specific regions for cfDNA biomarker discovery. Traditional DMR analyses often overlook paired-sample information and fail to account for the heterogeneity within HNSC tissues. Our findings reveal a substantial overlap of hypermethylated DMRs across two independent HNSC methylation datasets, demonstrating the robustness and clinical relevance of these regions for cfDNA biomarker development. Furthermore, we identified consistent DMRs in both HNSC and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), suggesting the potential for pan-squamous cell carcinoma biomarkers. Notably, gene clusters such as HOXD, ZNF, and NKX2 were frequently hypermethylated, providing new insights into the shared epigenetic landscape of HNSC and LSCC. This study underscores the importance of incorporating matched normal tissues in cancer methylome analyses and establishes a foundation for advancing cfDNA-based biomarker discovery across squamous cell carcinomas.
Characterization of the peripheral nervous system manifestations in patients with IgG4-related disease: a systematic review
Authors: Rosenstein Renan Fabri , Baima José Pedro , Giardini Henrique Ayres Mayrink , Mendonça Leonardo Oliveira , Silva Guilherme Diogo
Published: November 2024

Background: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a multisystem fibroinflammatory condition. While neurological involvement typically presents as pachymeningitis, there have been reports of peripheral nervous system (PNS) manifestations in IgG4-RD patients. Our objective was to review the involvement of the peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction, and muscles in individuals with IgG4-RD.
Main text: We conducted a systematic review of case reports and case series of patients with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) presenting with peripheral nervous system (PNS) manifestations, using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases. Articles were analyzed for demographic characteristics, neurological presentations, systemic involvement, and investigative findings (laboratory, electrophysiological, and pathological). A total of 38 articles, encompassing 42 cases of PNS manifestations in patients with IgG4-RD, were included. Peripheral nerve involvement was most frequently reported (25/42, 60%). The most common clinical presentations were mononeuritis multiplex (48%) and polyneuropathy (20%). Systemic involvement was observed in all patients with peripheral neuropathy. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed an axonal pattern in 88% of cases, while nerve biopsies were compatible with vessel and nerve infiltration by IgG4-positive cells in 46% (6/13) of cases. Involvement of the neuromuscular junction was infrequently reported (n = 4), presenting as Lambert-Eaton syndrome (25%) or myasthenia gravis (75%), with all cases being negative for anti-acetylcholinesterase antibodies. Muscle involvement (n = 13) manifested as focal myositis in 53% and a limb-girdle muscle weakness pattern in 47%. Systemic involvement was absent in 61% of muscle cases. Creatine kinase levels were elevated in 53%, and muscle biopsy demonstrated IgG4-positive cell infiltration in all focal myositis cases.
Conclusion: Our review suggests that typical PNS manifestations in patients with IgG4-RD include mononeuritis multiplex, polyneuropathy, and focal myopathy. However, comorbid conditions such as systemic vasculitis, anti-acetylcholinesterase antibody-negative myasthenia gravis, and inflammatory myositis should also be considered as potential contributors to PNS symptoms.
Bibliometric analysis of frozen shoulder research in the last ten years
Authors: Jiang Yongdong , Kanglin Li , Shihua Gao , Yufeng Wu
Published: November 2024

Objective
To analyze the research status, hotspots, and development trends in the field of frozen shoulder in recent 10 years.
Methods
The literature included in the core collection of the Web of Science database from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2023 was retrieved. VOSViewer and CiteSpace software were used to visually analyze the publication year, country/region, journal, institution, author, literature co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence of the literature.
Results
A total of 631 literatures were retrieved, and the number of publications entered a rapid growth stage in the past 5 years. South Korea, the United States and China are the three countries with the largest number of publications. Keimyung University in South Korea is the most prolific institution. The Journal Of Shoulder And Elbow Surgery is the most popular journal in the field, accounting for 7.92% of publications, as well as the most cited journal. Cho is the most active author with a total of 18 publications, while Millar is the author with the most citations per article. shoulder pain, ultrasound-guided, physiotherapy, etc. were the most commonly used keywords.
Conclusion
The literature on frozen shoulder research is increasing, but there is still a lack of cooperation among countries, institutions and authors. Pain management of frozen shoulder, ultrasound-guided nerve block therapy, physical therapy, and diabetes are among the hot topics. PRP treatment, Mendelian randomization studies and high-quality randomized controlled studies are the directions of future research.
Detection and Segmentation of Pulmonary Embolism in 3D CT Pulmonary Angiography Using a Threshold Adjustment Segmentation Network
Authors: Fan Jian-cong , luan Haoyang , Li Yang , qiao Yaqian , Ren Yande
Published: November 2024

Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition where early diagnosis and precise localization are crucial for improving patient outcomes. While CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the primary method for detecting pulmonary embolism, existing segmentation algorithms struggle to effectively distinguish thrombi from vascular structures in complex 3D CTPA images, often leading to both false positives and false negatives. To address these challenges, the Threshold Adjustment Segmentation Network (TSNet) is proposed to enhance segmentation performance in 3D CTPA images. TSNet incorporates two core modules: the Threshold Adjustment Module (TAD) and the Geometric-Topological Axial Feature Module (GT-AFM). TAD utilizes logarithmic scaling, adaptive adjustments, and nonlinear transformations to optimize the probability distributions of thrombi and vessels, reducing false positives while improving the sensitivity of thrombus detection. GT-AFM integrates geometric features and topological information to enhance the recognition of complex vascular and thrombotic structures, improving spatial feature processing. Experimental results show that TSNet achieves a sensitivity of 0.761 and a false positives per scan of 1.273 at ε = 0 mm. With an increased tolerance of ε = 5 mm, sensitivity improves to 0.878 and false positives per scan decreases to 0.515, significantly reducing false positives. These results indicate that TSNet demonstrates superior segmentation performance under various tolerance levels, showing robustness and a well-balanced trade-off between sensitivity and false positives, making it highly promising for clinical applications.
Calibration of the Omnidirectional Vision System for Robotics Sorting System
Authors: Kholodilin Ivan , Zhang Zihan , Guo Qihui , Grigorev Maksim
Published: November 2024

Sorting objects is a relevant field in the robotics direction and includes a complex approach in order to meet the objectives. The important part of this system is a vision system. Vision system should provide a correct distance to obstacles to make the robot operate with them properly. In this paper is considered an omnidirectional vision system consisting of the fisheye camera and structured light. Towards other vision systems, an omnidirectional one has its own distinctive advantages as it can provide more information of the environment on the image snapshot. The advantage of the use of the structured light is its simple detection the image. However, before moving to the distance measurements the vision system must be calibrated. This paper proposed an improved extrinsic calibration of the vision system. The calibrated vision system is evaluated experimentally by using simulated and real data to demonstrate that the proposed calibration method is more robust and provides a higher measurement accuracy in comparison to other methods. This paper also proposed a simulator which was useful during experiments part and can be useful for researchers in robotics direction. Built using Unity, the simulator integrates vision system, industrial robot, elements of the environment, and allows one to generate synthetic photo-realistic datasets with automatic ground truth annotations. The proposed simulator and supporting materials are available online: https://github.com/kholodilinivan/RoboticsSystemCalibration.
Willingness and influencing factors of maintenance hemodialysis patients to use mobile healthcare apps: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Xu Jun , Guo Suping , Yu Xintao , Ji Xiaojing
Published: November 2024

Purpose: Grounded on the Technology Acceptance Model and integrating theories of perceived risk and trust, this study explores the willingness of maintenance hemodialysis patients to use mobile healthcare application services as well as its influencing factors.
Patients and Methods: Using convenience sampling, 313 maintenance hemodialysis patients treated in six comprehensive hospitals in Yangzhou City were selected as survey subjects from January to March 2024. The study utilized a general information questionnaire and a specific questionnaire assessing the willingness of maintenance hemodialysis patients to use mobile healthcare application services. A structural equation model was constructed to analyze the influencing factors.
Results: The scores for each dimension assessing the willingness of maintenance hemodialysis patients to use mobile healthcare application services questionnaire were as follows: Perceived Risk (3.31±1.20), Perceived Trust (3.63±0.85), Social Influence (3.84±0.86), Perceived Ease of Use (3.57±0.96), Perceived Usefulness (3.69±0.84), Individual Innovativeness (4.02±0.97), and Willingness to Use (3.85±0.92). Structural equation model analysis indicated that Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, and Individual Innovativeness have a positive impact on the Willingness to Use, with effect values of 0.25, 0.38, and 0.21, respectively. There differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05).
Conclusion: The willingness level of maintenance hemodialysis patients to use mobile healthcare application services is above average. Key factors influencing the willingness of maintenance hemodialysis patients to use these services are Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, and Individual Innovativeness.
High cycle fatigue limit prediction of machining foreign object damaged TC17 titanium specimen based on the theory of critical distance
Authors: Lu Kainan , Shang Yibo , Wang Chen , Li Bin , Zhang Xiaosheng , Wang Lingfeng , Zhao Zhenhua , Zhou Liucheng , Chen Wei
Published: November 2024

Aircraft engine fans and compressor blades are inevitably subject to external damage during service. It’s an important work to predict the high cycle fatigue limit of foreign object damaged blades. In this paper, machining aerofoil specimen were manufactured to simulate the foreign object damaged blade, and the high cycle fatigue limit of machining foreign object damaged TC17 titanium aerofoil specimen were tested at 3×107 cycles, and a high cycle fatigue limit prediction model of machining foreign object damaged TC17 titanium aerofoil specimen was built based on the theory of critical distance, and compared with the Peterson model. The prediction error is 9.56%±6.78% for theory of critical distance model and 59.76%±16.93% for Peterson model. The accuracy of fatigue limit prediction on notched samples using theory of critical distance model is much higher than that of Peterson model, and the theory of critical distance method model is more efficient to evaluate the fatigue strength of notched blade.
Morphological and molecular variability of the species complex of Actinostella flosculifera (Le Sueur, 1817) (Cnidaria: Actiniaria: Actiniidae) across the western and eastern Atlantic Ocean: are there cryptic species involved?
Authors: Durán-Fuentes Jeferson A. , González-Muñoz Ricardo , Lizaola-Guillermo José M. , Mendes Flavío , Brandão Rafael , Gomes Paula B. , Pereira Sergio , Santana Ana Clara P. , Stampar Sérgio N.
Published: November 2024

Based on a phylogenetic and morphological analysis of different populations of Actinostella flosculifera (Le Sueur, 1817) species complex throughout the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and Brazil, and on the descriptions of Barragán et al. [1] from the Caribbean Sea and Ocaña (1994) from the Canary Islands (CI), as well as other studies in South America, we found that all samples of A. flosculifera on the east coast of America presented similar characteristics (both internal and external) and could not be distinguished from one another. Genetically, we could differentiate two subclades. The individuals of the CI presented holotrichs and an additional mesenteric cycle, indicating that reviewing new material for verification is necessary. Additionally, we document the second report of cinclides within the family Actiniidae. We recognize the need for further molecular studies to understand the evolutionary history of the A. flosculifera species complex, incorporating additional specimens from other locations, as well as sequences from other congeners, and using other molecular markers (e.g., with ultraconserved elements).
Relationships among social capital, community identity and perceived safety resilience under public emergencies: Evidence from Shanghai
Authors: Tian Shuicheng , Ning Shiqiang , Li Hongxia , Chen Lei , Zhu Haoming , Gao Guoping
Published: November 2024

Community resilience is important to public safety in the face of unexpected disruptions caused by public emergencies. In addressing how to improve the ability of community systems to absorb, adapt, learn, and recover when confronted with the perturbations of public emergencies, this study examines the relationships among three types of social capital (SC), community identity (CI), and community resilience from the perspective of social psychology. The study introduces the notion of perceived community safety resilience (PCSR) based on the concepts of perceived resilience and safety resilience, and then conducts theoretical modeling of the relationships among PCSR, CI, and SC. Using public health emergencies in Shanghai from March to June 2022 as an example, our hypotheses were tested through structural equation modeling with survey data from 349 Shanghai residents. The results show that Bonding SC, Bridging SC, and Linking SC are correlated with each other. Bonding SC and Linking SC have significant positive effects on CI and PCSR, while the effect of Bridging SC on CI and the effect of Bridging SC on PCSR are not significant. CI has varying degrees of partial mediation effects between the three types of SC and PCSR. Under China’s emergency management model, Linking SC plays the most critical role in enhancing CI and PSCR. However, the hypothesized relationships between Bridging SC and PCSR, as well as between Bridging SC and CI, are not significant. To improve the community’s ability to respond to emergencies, more attention should be paid to the cultivation of Bridging SC. The results contribute to understanding the current relationships among SC, CI, and PCSR. This study provides a reference for policymakers and community residents to enhance community resilience in the face of public emergencies through the cultivation of SC and CI.
Physical Layer Implementation Analysis of IEEE 802.11be Preamble Puncturing in SU Transmission
Authors: DEMBELE Hamidou , Chou Sih-Yu
Published: November 2024

Due to incumbent technologies in the 6 GHz band, including dynamic frequency selection (DFS) activities such as radar and military communications, as well as interference from other neighboring Wi-Fi networks in dense and highly competitive environments, contiguous wide channel bandwidths like 80, 160, 240, and 320 MHz may not always be available for wireless local area network (WLAN) deployment. To address these challenges, preamble puncturing has been adopted as a mandatory feature in IEEE 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7). This technique allows nonprimary 20 MHz channels to be excluded in transmission bandwidths of 80 MHz or greater. While the implementation of preamble puncturing has been demonstrated in multiple-users (MU) scenarios with orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) in IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) downlink transmissions, its feasibility, especially for single-user (SU) transmission at the physical (PHY) layer, including resource units (RUs) aggregation in IEEE 802.11be, remains under investigation, with ongoing research efforts. This paper explores preamble puncturing in SU transmissions, tracing its evolution from IEEE 802.11ax to its anticipated implementation in IEEE 802.11be. Our study including simulations results reveal that preamble puncturing with PHY Option 3 offers significant benefits, including reduced hardware complexity and lower transmission airtime. This approach involves aggregating non-contiguous available RUs with a post-channel encoding parser. It is well-aligned with both current and future IEEE 802.11 PHY processing standards, including joint low-density parity check (LDPC) encoding. For RUs affected by DFS or other transmissions, signal power must be reduced to remain below the clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold. Our findings indicate that incorporating contaminated RUs with negligible signal power into the aggregation results in minimal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) wastage across most puncturing options outlined in the IEEE 802.11 specification.
Occupational Stress and Coping Mechanism Among District Armed Reserve (DAR) Police, Karnataka, India
Authors: G Shonly K , Thekkel Sudha Thomas
Published: November 2024

INTRODUCTION
This research investigates District Armed Reserve (DAR) police personnel, a significant but often underappreciated organization whose tireless efforts go unnoticed in society. The study aims to understand better the demands placed on DAR police personnel in their occupation and investigate coping mechanisms for stress management. By exposing the various difficulties the police force encountered, the study established an in-depth understanding of their obligations.
AIM
The research sought to investigate how the District Armed Reserve Police (DAR) experience occupational stress and explore their coping mechanisms to manage it.
METHODS
The study uses a mixed-method, explanatory design and 104 DAR police personnel from Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka. Researcher distributed the questionnaire to the participants, utilizing the Dass-21 and Coping Scale. Furthermore, they selected five participants for semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to identify recurrent themes in the qualitative data, offering a comprehensive understanding of the research issue.
RESULTS
The study found non-normal distributions in Total Stress and Total Coping scores, with a significant positive correlation between stress levels and coping mechanisms (r = 0.349, p < 0.01, 2-tailed). In qualitative, Coping mechanisms include seeking positive thoughts, engaging in personal interests, and seeking support.
CONCLUSIONS
The study highlights the significant occupational stress experienced by DAR police personnel, revealing specific stressors and coping mechanisms used by these personnel.
DASNet: Dual-Branch Multi-Level Attention Sheep Counting Network
Authors: Yini Chen , Ronghua Gao , Qifeng Li , Hongtao Zhao , Rong Wang , Luyu Ding , Xuwen Li
Published: November 2024

The grassland sheep counting task is recognized as an efficient approach for promoting the development of the livestockeconomy and maintaining the ecological balance of the grassland. In this paper, the Dual-Branch Multi-Level Attention SheepCounting Network (DASNet) is presented as a novel solution designed to address the challenges of automated sheep countingin dense grassland environments. Traditional methods have been labor-intensive and prone to inaccuracies, underscoringthe need for more efficient and accurate systems. DASNet is built on a modified VGG-19 architecture, where a dual-branchstructure is employed to integrate both shallow and deep features, thereby enhancing texture and contour detection whilereducing background noise interference. A Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) is incorporated into the network tomore effectively focus on sheep regions, alongside a Multi-Level Attention Module (MAM) in the deep feature branch. TheMAM, consisting of three Light Channel and Pixel Attention Modules (LCPM), is designed to refine feature representationat both the channel and pixel levels, improving the accuracy of density map generation for sheep counting. In addition, aresidual structure is used to connect each module, facilitating feature fusion across different levels and offering increasedflexibility in handling diverse information. Experiments conducted on the self-collected Sheep1500 dataset have demonstratedthat DASNet significantly outperforms the baseline VGG-19 network, with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 3.95 and a MeanSquared Error (MSE) of 4.87, compared to the baseline’s MAE of 5.39 and MSE of 6.49. DASNet is shown to be effectivein handling challenging scenarios, such as dense flocks and background noise, due to its dual-branch feature enhancementand global multi-level feature fusion. DASNet has shown promising results in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency,making it an ideal solution for practical sheep counting in precision agriculture.
Nov 3, 2023 Nepal earthquake: Source mechanisms and structural response of Indo-Gangetic basin
Authors: Silwal Vipul , Dwivedi Adarsh , Mahanta Rinku , Mittal Himanshu
Published: November 2024

The 2023 Nepal earthquake is one of the major earthquakes in the Himalayas after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. The shaking from the earthquake was felt strongly in Nepal and parts of Indo-Gangetic basin. In this study, we estimate the source mechanism of the earthquake using regional and teleseismic broadband seismograms, and polarity information from local RaspberryShake seismome-ters. We further simulate the moment tensor solution for the 2023 event in a three-dimensional medium using the spectral element method. This region is of particular importance because of extreme topographic variations, large crustal thickening beneath Tibet, and the presence of thick Indo-Gangetic sedimentary basin. The structural model used for simulation includes the basin and the topo-graphical variations. With this simulation, we compare peak ground velocity (PGV) values at basin and non-basin sites. The results are useful for hazard assessment and mitigation by characterizing places with higher potential for ground shaking.
Empirical Laws of Location and Rupture Time of Asperities for Strong Ground Motion Prediction
Authors: Oshima Mitsutaka
Published: November 2024

The location of asperities on a fault plane, together with rupture times, has a significant influence on strong ground motion. If these positions for predicting strong ground motions of future earthquakes could be set empirically based on data from actual earthquakes, it would be possible to predict ground motions with better accuracy and greater adherence to reality. For some earthquakes, data and dynamic rupture simulations have shown that the time from the beginning of the seismic waveform until the amplitude increases scales with the earthquake magnitude. In this study, the author extracted asperities from fault slip data inferred by waveform inversion and showed that asperity rupture times and distances between asperities (or maximum slip subfault)and hypocenters are proportional to the cube root of the seismic moment. It was also confirmed that this relationship is not merely attributed to an increase in fault area with the increase in magnitude of the earthquake. Scaling laws were also obtained for each earthquake type (inland, inter-plate, and intra-plate) and focal mechanism. The distance from the hypocenter to the asperities (or maximum slip subfault) is the greatest for the strike-slip and inland earthquakes. Furthermore, in 71.1% of the strike-slip earthquakes and 71.8% of the inland earthquakes, the maximum slip point was found to be located shallower than the hypocenter. In addition, 70.5% of the asperities closest to the hypocenter are the largest asperities on the fault plane. The percentages of maximum slip points located at the asperities closest to the hypocenter and at the largest asperity on the fault plane are 73.5% and 86.8%, respectively. The empirical rules presented in this study are useful for improving the accuracy of prediction results by setting the location of asperities and rupture times in the models used for strong ground motion prediction to match those of actual earthquakes.
The Relationship Between Dietary Fiber Intake and C-reactive Protein Levels in Elderly Diabetic Patients With Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Authors: Yin Bo , Wang Tian , Wu Yuyun , Lv Silu
Published: November 2024

Background
Dietary fiber, a key component of food, has been studied for its potential to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. However, the relationship between dietary fiber intake and CRP levels in elderly diabetic patients remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of dietary fiber intake on CRP levels in diabetic patients aged over 60 years.
Methods
Data were sourced from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The cohort consisted of participants over 60 years old with a diabetes diagnosis. CRP levels were classified into two risk categories: low/normal and medium/high. Multivariate regression models were applied to evaluate the effect of dietary fiber intake on CRP levels, adjusting for confounding variables such as age, gender, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI). Sensitivity analyses, including robust regression and variable transformation, were performed to confirm the stability of the results.
Results
A total of 204 participants were included in the analysis. Among individuals with moderate alcohol consumption, Higher dietary fiber intake was linked to lower CRP levels. [β=-0.03, 95% CI: (-0.04, -0.01), p < 0.001], while this relationship was weaker and non-significant in the almost non-drinking and excessive drinking groups. Overall, dietary fiber intake was negatively correlated with CRP levels after adjusting for other variables [β=-0.02, 95% CI: (-0.04, -0.01), p = 0.003]. Sensitivity analyses using robust regression and variable transformations reinforced the consistency of these findings.
Conclusions
Our study indicates that dietary fiber intake is significantly inversely related to CRP levels in elderly individuals, particularly those with moderate alcohol consumption. This suggests that increasing dietary fiber intake could be a valuable lifestyle intervention for reducing inflammation and potentially lowering cardiovascular disease risk. However, the non-linear relationship between dietary fiber and CRP was not significant, warranting further research.
Efficacy of neoadjuvant toripalimab plus chemotherapy and the role of dynamic monitoring of plasma cell-free DNA methylation in predicting pathological response in resectable stage IIB-IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (RENAISSANCE study): a prospective phase II trial
Authors: Liu Bing , Tao Ye , Zhuo Minglei , Xu Li-Di , Lv Chao , Wang Yuzhao , Li Shaolei , Zhang Shanyuan , Huang Miao , Wang Yaqi , Li Xiang , Zhu Yuge , Cui Xinrui , Zhou Xuantong , Han Bateer , Zhang Enli , Huang Yu S. , Chen Weizhi , Wang Jia , Yan Shi , Wu Nan
Published: November 2024

Introduction:
Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy does not benefit all non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and reliable biomarkers are urgently needed. We conducted this prospective phase II trial of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy to explore the role of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) features in pathological response assessment.
Methods
Totally, 100 patients with stage IIB-IIIB NSCLC were enrolled and treated with neoadjuvant toripalimab plus platinum-based chemotherapy for at least 2 cycles. Targeted methylation panel sequencing and whole methylation sequencing (WMS) were conducted on 195 cfDNA samples collected from 60 patients before each treatment cycle (C0, C1) and before surgery (BS), with subsequent calculations of methylation fragment ratio (MFR) and chromosome aneuploid of featured fragment (CAFF) scores, respectively. The correlations between MFR or CAFF and pathological response were evaluated.
Results
Finally, 83 patients underwent surgery, and 54 (65.1%) patients achieved major pathological response (MPR), including 38 (45.8%) with complete pathological response (pCR). The median MFR and CAFF scores in both the MPR and non-MPR groups significantly decreased after the first cycle, but the MPR group maintained low levels before surgery (P < 0.001). According to pre-defined cut-off values, the MFR and CAFF scores were recategorized as low or high. Patients with low MFR at BS (74.5% vs. 11.1%, P < 0.001) or low CAFF at C1 (73.9% vs. 36.4%, P = 0.031) and BS (76.2% vs. 38.9%, P = 0.008) were more likely to achieve MPR than those with high MFR or CAFF at the same points. Three dynamic patterns were identified: C0 low, C0 high/C1 low and C0 high/C1 high. These patterns were further divided by BS low or high, which indicated distinctive MPR rate (C0 low: BS low vs. high 78.9% vs 0%; C0 high/C1 low: BS low vs. high 73.9% vs. 25%; C0 high/C1 high: BS low vs. high 83.3% vs. 0%). An integrative model was constructed by incorporating immune parameters and cfDNA features (MFR and CAFF) at C1 and BS, achieving an AUC of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.80–0.92).
Conclusion
Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy could achieve an optimal response rate. Dynamic monitoring of cfDNA methylation has potential to predict pathological response of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in NSCLC.
Association of 1-year weight loss with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: a cohort study based on NHANES 1999--2018
Authors: Yu Yan , Wu Tongtong , Chen Genghang , Chen Xueyin , Liu Shaonan , Xie Changcai , Guo xinfeng , Chen Yu , Yang Lihong
Published: November 2024

Objective
To investigate the associations between 1-year weight loss and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in overweight and obese adults.
Methods
All the data used were acquired from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018, including 11,872 overweight and obese adults. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality associated with 1-year percentage weight loss.
Results
During a median follow-up of 9.2 years, there were 1,401 and 425 cases of all-cause and cardiovascular death. Compared with individuals who had a 1-year weight loss of less than 5%, the HRs of all-cause mortality were 1.15 (0.91, 1.45), 1.00 (0.72, 1.39), and 1.58 (1.11, 2.24) for those with a 1-year weight loss of 5%-9.9%, 10%-14.9%, and ≥ 15%, respectively. A significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality for a 1-year weight loss of ≥ 15% was observed among individuals aged ≥ 60 years, females, non-Hispanic White adults, those with hypertension, without diabetes, and regardless of the presence of hyperlipidemia. There was no significant association between 1-year weight loss and cardiovascular mortality across the entire population sample; however, an increased risk was observed among the female and elderly subgroups. Notably, a strong protective association between 1-year weight loss of 10–14.9% and cardiovascular mortality was found in individuals with diabetes.
Conclusions
1-year weight loss of more than 15% in overweight and obese adults is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality.
Straightening the Facts: Early versus Late Adolescent Surgery in Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Choi Ji Uk , Lee Choon Sung , Lee Dong-Ho , Cho Jae Hwan , Park Sehan , Je Mingeol , Hwang Chang Ju
Published: November 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate how age at surgery influences outcomes in teenage patients with AIS, addressing the gap in comparative analysis within the adolescent years.
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with AIS who underwent posterior spinal fusion were divided into two groups: <14 years (Y-14) and ≥14 years (O-14). Inclusion criteria were Lenke Type 1A curve, Cobb angle between 45° and 80°, and minimum 2-year follow-up. Radiographic parameters, correction rates, and Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) scores were compared. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with curve correction rates.
Results: The study included 168 patients (Y-14, n=37; O-14, n=131). The Y-14 group demonstrated significantly larger preoperative main thoracic (MT) curves (59.65° vs. 53.29°) and greater curve flexibility (52.88% vs. 46.35%) than the O-14 group. The Y-14 group achieved higher correction rates both immediately after surgery (83.25% vs. 77.49%) and at two-year follow-up (82.28% vs. 75.61%), maintaining more favorable MT curve correction over time (Final follow-up: 10.18° vs. 12.91°). The SRS-22 scores showed no significant differences between groups. In univariable analysis, age, height, weight, MT bending, and flexibility were significantly associated with MT curve correction. Multivariable analysis confirmed age as an independent predictor of correction.
Conclusion:Patients who underwent AIS surgery before the age of 14 years demonstrated superior radiographic outcomes and maintained better correction over time than those who underwent the surgery at 14 years or older, while clinical outcomes measured using the SRS-22 scores were similar between the groups.
Fluorescent carbon dot embedded polystyrene nanoplastic: In vivo toxicity assessment and bioaccumulation study in Daphnia magna
Authors: S Ashmi C , R. Nisha A. , Nair Suresh N , Sajith V , B Varsha , Jose Agnes
Published: November 2024

The levels of nano- and microplastic in the aquatic environment rises due to the industrial production of plastic and the degradation of plastic into smaller particles. We have limited knowledge about what happens to nanoplastic specifically in freshwater environments. Acute toxicity study of carbon dot embedded polystyrene nanoplastic (CDPS-NP) was conducted according to OECD-202 guidelines (OECD, 2004) in Daphnia magna. The distribution of CDPS-NPs and its impact on aspects of D. magna’s life cycle, such as growth, motility and mortality rate and occurrence of malformations was examined. Daphnids were placed in individual containers and exposed to various concentrations of test media over a 48-hr period. Mortality was taken as the endpoint of the test. The exposure of CDPS-NPs led to reduced body size and severe disruptions in reproduction. Its bioaccumulation in body was confirmed using fluorescent microscopy. Exposure to PS-NPs caused an increase in mortality with an increase in concentration. The changes observed were found to be time and concentration dependent. Overall, these data indicated that the acute toxic effects of CDPS-NPs exposure on neonates were more pronounced than in adults.
Production of Gypsum Board Paper with Enhanced Radiation Shielding Properties
Authors: Sözbir Tamer , TUTUS Ahmet , KAVUN Yusuf
Published: November 2024

This study aims to produce gypsum board paper with radiation shielding properties by utilizing wastepaper and incorporating borax, colemanite and fly ash as fillers. Gypsum board papers and cartons weighing 150 and 180 g/m² were produced. The radiation absorption properties of these papers and cartons were evaluated using Cs-137 and Co-60 gamma radioisotopes. The highest results in HVL and LAC metrics were obtained from papers and cartons filled with borax and colemanite. Particularly, papers weighing 150 g/m² and containing 20% borax yielded optimal results. Additionally, papers containing colemanite exhibited excellent performance, especially in terms of HVL and LAC, at the 1333 keV energy level. Although fly ash showed positive results in terms of paper and carton properties, it demonstrated lower performance in radiation shielding compared to borax and colemanite. In conclusion, this study significantly improved the radiation shielding (absorption) capacity of gypsum board papers and cartons enhanced with colemanite, borax and fly ash. It was concluded that high-radiation absorption papers and cartons can be produced from wastepaper, offering a value-added product.
Digital logic from high-efficiency superconducting diodes
Authors: Hosur Pavan
Published: November 2024

Recent advancements in the realizations of superconducting diodes have pushed the diode coefficient η
towards its theoretical maximum of η=1. In this work, we describe the construction of logic gates NOT, AND, OR, NAND and NOR using superconducting diodes with η≈1 by exploiting their dynamically tunable polarity. We then argue that fundamental theorems suppress η in intrinsic superconductors, rendering them likely unsuitable for the proposed devices, and point out that several previous proposals and platforms, remarkably, bypassed this suppression unwittingly. We discuss the realization of the digital logic in one such platform -- Josephson triodes that yielded η≈1 -- and argue that phases with spontaneous spatial or magnetic order can overcome some of its drawbacks. Thus, this work provides guiding principles for future platforms and develops the building blocks for superconductors-based digital electronics.
A comprehensive perspective on febrile seizures in children: prospective evaluation of clinical, laboratory, and genetic features
Authors: Yalçın¹ Gülşen , Yıldırım² Ruken , Unal³ Edip , Cebeci⁴ Dilek , Ersen¹ Atilla , Özyılmaz⁵ Berk , Tekeş Selahattin , Anıl Murat , Gürbay Aylin
Published: November 2024

Background
The aim of this study is to evaluate children with febrile seizures (FS) from the perinatal period with clinical, biochemical, and genetic perspectives.
Methods
This prospective case-control study included a study group (n = 124) presenting with simple and complex FS and a control group (n = 93) presenting with febrile illnesses but without seizure in the pediatric emergency department. Perinatal history, sociodemographic, clinical features, and laboratory parameters were documented and evaluated. A genetic epilepsy panel study including 37 genes was performed using Next-Generation Sequencing in patients with FS.
Results
Among the FS cases, 69.4% (n = 86) had simple FS, and 30.6% (n = 38) had complex FS. A family history of seizures was found in 66.9% (n = 83) of patients with FS compared with 8.6% (n = 8) in the control group (p < 0.001). The maternal smoking rate during pregnancy was 37.1% (n = 46) in the FS and 12.9% (n = 12) in the control group. When simple and complex FS subgroups were compared; serum sodium, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium levels were significantly lower, and serum glucose, ferritin, prolactin, and cortisol levels were significantly higher in the complex FS group. Pathogenic/Likely Pathogenic variants were detected in 15.7% (n = 18) of the patients with FS. The SCN1A gene variant was identified in 4.8% (n = 5) and PCDH19 gene variant was identified in 26% (n = 4) of these patients. The other variants that we found were AP4B1, ASPM, BTD, CACNA1A, CHD2, KCNJ1, LDRL, PLA2G6, SCN2A, and SCN9A. Novel variants were identified in 5 patients. Genetic analysis revealed a significant decreased level of serum iron, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium in patients with positive genetic test results.
Conclusion
Our results highlight the impact of maternal smoking during pregnancy and the importance of some parameters such as sodium, vitamin D, zinc, ferritin, and cortisol levels in differential diagnosis, and suggesting the necessity of genetic testing in FS patients and provides insights for future research.