bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Associated Uveitis with Laser Flare Photometry in the Pediatric Rheumatology Office: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Ede Kaleo , Shishov Michael , Wershba Elisa , Goswami Nikita , Gorry Sabrina , Joseph Malin , Mirea Lucia , O'Neil James
Published: January 2024

Background
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) Associated Uveitis (JIA-U) remains one of the most serious complications of JIA in children. Historically, pediatric JIA is diagnosed by an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist; however, barriers to scheduling increase wait times that may delay diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate laser flare photometry (LFP) use to diagnose JIA-U in the Pediatric Rheumatology clinic for patients with JIA.
Methods
This prospective, observational study assessed pediatric patients diagnosed with JIA without a previous history of uveitis between January 2020 and September 2022. All patients underwent at least one evaluation of both eyes using a Kowa FM-600 laser flare photometer during a routine Rheumatology appointment, as well as a standard slit lamp examination (SLE) by optometry or ophthalmology during routine clinical care. Data collected at patient visits included demographics, JIA characteristics, treatment, LFP readings, and anterior chamber (AC) cell grade score utilizing the SUN grading system. Data were summarized using descriptive analyses and the uveitis false positive rate was calculated.
Results
The study cohort included 58 pediatric patients diagnosed with JIA. The mean age was 8.4 years (1.2–16.3 years) at diagnosis and 11.9 (4.8–16.5 years) at enrollment. Participants were predominantly female (n = 43, 74.1%) and white/Caucasian race (n = 37, 63.8%). The most common JIA subtypes included persistent oligoarticular JIA (n = 19, 32.8%), and 12 RF negative polyarticular JIA (n = 12, 20.7%). At enrollment, 15 patients (25.9%) were not on medications, with 26 (44.8%) on methotrexate, 22 (37.9%) on adalimumab, 6 (10.3%) on tocilizumab, and 5 (8.6%) on etanercept During the study period, no eye exams detected active uveitis based on SLE with a SUN grade over 0. However, of the 135 LFP readings, 131 (97.0%) were normal, yielding a false positive rate of 3% (95% CI: 0.8%, 7.4%).
Conclusions
LFP is a non-invasive tool that can be utilized in the pediatric rheumatology clinic to evaluate for JIA-U. There is a low false positive rate of LFP when compared with standard slit lamp exam.
A hybrid lens to realize electrical real-time super-resolution Imaging
Authors: Wu Geng-Bo , Chen Jin , Huang Shao-Xin , Chan Ka Fai , Chan Chi Hou
Published: January 2024

Real-time dynamic super-resolution focusing technology is crucial for various applications, particularly in super-resolution imaging. However, the diffraction limit significantly impedes the achievement of real-time dynamic super-resolution imaging. Prior studies within this domain, such as super-resolution fluorescence imaging and structural illumination microscopy, heavily rely on fluorescent labels and intricate algorithms. This article proposes a novel approach to achieving real-time dynamic super-resolution imaging at microwave frequency by integrating the Mikaelian lens derived from conformal transformation optics with the space-time-coding metasurface antenna. Real-time dynamic super-resolution focusing with a resolution ranging from 0.3λ to 0.4λ is demonstrated at the periphery of the Mikaelian lens. The proposed hybrid lens exhibits the capacity to discern features separated by about one-third of a wavelength with high precision. Our work offers a universal solution for achieving dynamic real-time super-resolution imaging electrically, which can be extended to terahertz waves, visible light, and other wave fields, such as acoustic and flexural waves
Two-dimensional red phosphorus: Emerging nonlinear optical material with solvent effect
Authors: Xie Zheng , Wang Jingjing , Wu Cuiyu , Dong Xuezhe , Li Yunfei , Liu Fulai , Zhang Hailong , Chen Yong , Zhang Han
Published: January 2024

Currently, the existing third-order nonlinear optical research about phosphorus-based two-dimensional materials mainly focuses on black phosphorus, while the study on red phosphorus is still insufficient. Here, the third-order nonlinear optical properties of two-dimensional red phosphorus are reported for the first time. Interestingly, the nonlinear optical solvent effect is observed in several solvents including 1,2-propylene glycol and 1,2,3-glycerol. Ultrafast carrier dynamics and time-dependent density functional theory calculations jointly reveal that this solvent-dependent nonlinear optical behavior is attributed to different absorption capacities between the ground and excited states, which are influenced by the dielectric polarizations of the solvents. These results endow two-dimensional red phosphorus with promising prospects in nonlinear optical applications.
Which contributes more to the relict flora distribution pattern in East Asia, geographical processes or climate change? New evidence from the phylogeography of Rehderodendron kwangtungense
Authors: Jin Jiehao , Zhao Wanyi , Chen Sufang , Gu Chao , Chen Zhihui , Liu Zhongcheng , Liao Wenbo , Fan Qiang
Published: January 2024

Background
Relict species are important for enhancing the understanding of modern biogeographic distribution patterns. Although both geological and climatic changes since the Cenozoic have affected the relict flora in East Asia, the contributions of geographical processes remain unclear. Here, we studied the population differentiation history of the relict species Rehderodendron kwangtungense Hu during the Cenozoic. In this study, 138 individuals from 16 populations of R. kwangtungense were subjected to double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) and shallow genome sequencing.
Results
We studied the population structure and historical biogeography of the relict species R. kwangtungense. The genetic diversity within the R. kwangtungense populations was extremely low. Mantel tests revealed an isolation-by-distance pattern, and the evidence of pollen and fruit morphology suggested that the distribution pattern of R. kwangtungense formed prior to the Miocene. Between 23 and 21 Ma, R. kwangtungense underwent a period of rapid differentiation that coincided with the rise of the Himalayas and the establishment of the East Asian monsoon. According to ecological niche modelling (ENM) and population demographic history, the suitable area and effective population size of R. kwangtungense decreased sharply during the glacial period and expanded after the last glacial maximum (LGM).
Conclusion
Our study shows that the distribution pattern of southern China mountain relict flora may have developed during the panplain stage between the middle Oligocene and the early Miocene. Then, the flora later fragmented under the force of orogenesis, including intermittent uplift during the Cenozoic Himalayan orogeny and the formation of abundant rainfall associated with the East Asian monsoon.
End-of-Life Care in ICU in Saudi Arabia: perceptions of Charge Nurses
Authors: MANI Zakaria
Published: January 2024

Aim: the aim of this study was to explore the intensive care unit charge nurses' perceptions of end-of-life care in Saudi Arabia.
Design: a qualitative content analysis
Method: semi-structured interviews were conducted. Senior intensive care unit charge nurses were interviewed in the ICU meeting room of their units. The manifest qualitative content analysis method was used to analyse the transcribed data and then refining them into meaning unit, condensation, interpretation, sub-theme and theme.
Result: four themes were emerged including lack of family’s knowledge about their dying patient's condition, the need for EoLC awareness, language barriers, and education and preparation. The finding also indicated the requirement for end-of-life care guidelines, education, and preparation.
Conclusion: the issues of providing end-of-life care in the intensive care unit in Saudi Arabia can influence nurses' ability to meet the patients and their families' needs. Clear end-of-life care guidelines, education and training for nurses including Saudi’s Islamic culture, and multi professionals’ teamwork are significant to meet patients needs.
Edema melting length and therapeutic failure during hospitalization as factors associated with long-term mortality after basic treatment of severe acute malnutrition: Lwiro cohort follow-up in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Lembebu Jean Corneille , Gaylord Amani Ngaboyeka , Bisimwa Ghislain , Neven Anouk , Makali Samuel Lwamushi , Chimanuka Christine , Chiribagula Christian Zalinga , Bugugu Bony Bonane , Bigirinama Rosine , Donnen Philippe , Mwene-Batu Pacifique
Published: January 2024

Purpose
The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with long-term mortality in subjects treated for SAM in childhood 11 to 30 years after nutritional rehabilitation.
Methodology
Referring to the data collected from December 2017 to November 2018 from the Lwiro cohort; we updated this database with additional data. Records of subjects admitted for SAM between 1988 and 2007 were extracted from the archives of the pediatric hospital in Lwiro, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify factors associated with long-term mortality.
Results
A total of 816 subjects were found to be alive and 119 died. The mean age at admission to nutritional rehabilitation was 46 months. Around two third of the subjects had edema, and in 6,8% of these subjects, edema had subsided after thirty days in hospital. Almost one in ten (9.5%) cases of SAM resulted in treatment failure. The risk of death was significantly higher in subjects with a history of therapeutic failure (hospital stay ≥ 45 days) and in those whose edema had melted late (≥ 30 days) during their hospitalization, with respective risks of HR = 1.98 (1.07; 3.67) and 2.81 (1.12; 7.03) respectively.
Conclusion
Good follow-up after hospital discharge is imperative to ensure the success of SAM management in the medium and long term. However, this follow-up must be more intensive in patients who have failed treatment and whose edema has melted late during hospitalization.
Association between interleukin-4 C589T polymorphism and asthma in Iraq: Ameta-analysis
Authors: Hameed Raghdah Maytham , Abood Mustafa
Published: January 2024

Background
Asthma is a common disease with a complex risk architecture involving both genetic and environmental factors. Several studies have identified an association between interleukin (IL)-4 C-589T and asthma risk; however, the results remain inconclusive.
Aims
to identify the effect of IL-4 C589T polymorphisms on asthma susceptibility in Iraq.
Material and methods
PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched for only case-control studies published on Iraqi asthmatic. The methodological quality assessment of the included studies was performed based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Scale (NOS). Based on the heterogeneity, we conducted a meta-analysis using random-effect models. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the allele (C vs. T), homozygous (CC vs. TT), heterozygous (CT vs. TT), dominant (CC þ CT vs. TT), and recessive (CC vs. CT þ TT) genetic models to assess the strength of the relationship between IL-4 C589T polymorphism and asthma risk. In addition, the stability of our analysis was evaluated by heterogeneity, sensitivity, and study design, and publication bias analysis.
Result
We included 5 case-control studies with a total of 359 cases and 245 controls. All genetic models showed a higher risk of asthma, the overall analyses were a highly statistically significant. There was moderate to high heterogeneity among the genetic models. However, sensitivity analysis revealed highly significant differences in the pooled odds ratios of the rs2243250 polymorphism between asthmatic patients and control groups.
Conclusion
The meta-analysis identified a significant association between the IL-4 C-589T polymorphism and asthma. However, the substantial result variability indicates the need for well-designed case-control studies with a large population to more accurately estimate this association.
Colloidal atomic layer deposition on nanocrystals using ligand-modified precursors
Authors: Green Philippe , Lecina Ona Segura , Albertini Petru , Newton Mark , Kumar Krishna , Boulanger Coline , Leemans Jari , Thompson Paul , Loiudice Anna , Buonsanti Raffaella
Published: January 2024

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a method to grow thin metal oxide layers on a variety of materials for applications spanning from electronics to catalysis. Extending ALD to colloidally stable nanocrystals promises to combine the benefits of thin metal oxide coatings with the solution processability of nanocrystals. However, challenges persist in applying this method, which relate to finding precursors that promote growth of the metal oxide while preserving colloidal stability throughout the process. Herein, we introduce a colloidal ALD method to coat nanocrystals with amorphous metal oxide shells using metal and oxygen precursors that act as colloidally stabilizing ligands. Our scheme, involves metal-amide precursors modified with solubilizing groups and oleic acid as the oxygen source. The growth of the oxide is self-limiting and proceeds in a layer-by-layer fashion. Our protocol is generalizable and intrinsically scalable. Potential applications in display, light detection and catalysis are envisioned.
Hospital referrals, exclusions from hospital care, and deaths among long-term care residents in the Community of Madrid during the March-April 2020 COVID-19 epidemic period: A multivariate time series analysis
Authors: Béland François , Zunzunegui Maria Victoria , Garcia-Lopez Fernando José , Pozo-Rodriguez Francisco
Published: January 2024

Background:
From March 6 to April 7, 2020 the Community of Madrid (CoM), Spain, issued interventions in response to the COVID-19 epidemic, including hospital referral triage protocols for long-term care facility (LTCF) residents (March 18–25). Those with moderate to severe physical disability and/or cognitive impairment were excluded from hospital referral. This research assesses changes in the association between daily hospital referrals and the deaths of LTCF residents attributable to the triage protocols.
Methods:
Daily hospital referrals and all-cause mortality from January to June 2020 among LTCF residents were obtained. Statistically significant changes in LTCF resident hospital referrals, and daily deaths in-hospital and in-LTCF were identified when testing for breaks and regimes in the time series. Multivariate time series analyses were conducted to test changes in the associations between LTCF resident hospital referrals with in-hospital and in-LTCF daily deaths as well as with daily deaths in the CoM population aged 65 + at the time triage protocols were implemented.
Results:
Among LTCF residents, hospital referrals declined sharply from March 6 to March 23, 2020. Increases in daily deaths at LTCFs occurred from March 7 to April 1 followed by a decrease reaching pre-epidemic levels after April 28. The daily ratio of in-hospital deaths to in-LTCF deaths reached its lowest values from March 8 to April 13, 2020. The four versions of the triage protocol, published from March 18 to March 25 had no impact on further changes in the association of hospital referrals with daily deaths of LTCF residents in-hospital or in-LTCF. Daily deaths in the CoM population aged 65 + were the main driver of daily deaths of LTCF residents.
Conclusions:
During March-April 2020, while hospital referrals decreased because of CoM governmental interventions, daily deaths of LTCF residents within LTCFs increased. Increases in hospital ICU bed occupancy and non-ICU bed occupancy by non-residents of LTCF suggest that the CoM government chose to protect hospitals from collapse by restricting hospital referrals from LTCFs without concurrently implementing crisis standards of care within LTCFs. CoM triage protocols sanctioned the already existing restrictions on hospital referrals of LTCF residents set by the CoM government.
Chrysosplenetin B induces apoptosis and inhibits metastasis of gastric cancer AGS cell by regulating reactive oxygen species-mediated signaling pathways
Authors: Xue Hui , Li Shu-Mei , Tang Yan-Jun , Cao Jing-Long , Hou Wen-Shuang , Wang An-Qi , Ren Wan-Xia , Jin Cheng-Hao
Published: January 2024

Chrysosplenetin B (CHR) is a flavonoid compound with various pharmacological activities. This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of CHR on gastric cancer (GC). A cell counting Kit 8 assay results showed that CHR had a good cytotoxic effect in twelve types of GC cell lines. Annexin-V/PI staining, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis results showed that CHR induced mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis of AGS cells by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential and increasing the expression levels of Bad/Bcl-2 homologous dimer proteins. Network pharmacological analysis results showed that there were twenty high-value signaling pathways correlated with CHR and GC, among which AKT, MAPK, and STAT3 signaling pathways were closely related to the CHR induced apoptosis signaling pathways on AGS cells. Further through western blot analysis results showed that the protein expression levels of p-AKT, p-ERK, and p-STAT3 were significantly decreased, while the protein expression levels of p-JNK and p-p38 were significantly increased. Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis results showed that CHR induced ROS accumulation on AGS cells as an initial signal to regulate downstream signaling pathways. Cell cycle results showed that CHR arrested the AGS cell cycle in the G2/M phase by regulating the ROS/AKT signaling pathway. Transwell and wound healing assay results showed that CHR inhibited the invasion and migration of AGS cells by regulating ROS/Wnt-3a/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. In conclusion, CHR inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis, arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase, and inhibited invasion and migration on AGS cells.
Molecular characterization of a Single negative stranded RNA virus from the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae isolate NJ39
Authors: Ding Hang , Wang Yao , Cong Li , Shuai Simin , An Hongliu , 方 守国 , Zhang Songbai , Deng Qingchao
Published: January 2024

A novel negative-sense single-stranded RNA mycovirus, designated as " Magnaporthe oryzae
mymonavirus 1" (MoMNV1), was identifed in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae isolate NJ39. MoMNV1 has a single genomic RNA segment consisting of 10,515 nucleotides, which contains six open reading frames. The largest open reading frame contains 5837 bases and encodes RNA replicase. The six open reading frames have no overlap and are linearly arranged on the genome, but the spacing of the genes is small, with a maximum of 315 bases and a minimum of 80 bases. Genome comparison and phylogenetic analysis indicated that MoMNV1 is a new member of the genus Penicillimonavirusin the family Mymonaviridae.
Study on viscoelasticity and damping properties of OSA/PAAM hydrogel
Authors: Zhang Xiaoran , Zhang Xin , Wang Puying , Wang Xinze , Zhong Linlin , Ma Songmei , Xu Wenlong
Published: January 2024

The problems of vibration and noise have seriously affected people's production and life. Hydrogel can be used as damping material because of its good viscoelasticity, but the current damping material is difficult to meet the needs of actual production and life because of the lack of wide damping temperature and frequency range and high loss factor. In this work, ammonium persulfate was used as both initiator and oxidant to form a mixed double network hydrogel of polyacrylamide and oxidized sodium alginate. The double network hydrogel prepared by this method has good adhesion and mechanical properties. In addition, due to the adjustable viscoelasticity of the hydrogel, the hydrogel shows excellent damping properties. When the concentration of MBA is 0.02%, it can reach the temperature range of 0-125 ℃, and the damping factor is more than 0.3. The visualization experiment proves the practical application effect of the hydrogel, so it is expected to be used as a damping material in damping, noise reduction and other fields in the future.
Integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing reveals a novel signature based on NK cell marker genes to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in gastric cancer
Authors: Sun Jian-Rong , Kong Chen-Fan , Ye Yi-Xiang , Wang Qin , Qu Xiang-Ke , Jia Li-Qun
Published: January 2024

Natural killer (NK) cells play essential roles in the tumor development, diagnosis, and prognosis of tumors. In this study, we aimed to establish a reliable signature based on marker genes in NK cells, thus providing a new perspective for assessing immunotherapy and the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC). We analyzed a total of 1187 samples retrieved from the public database. We performed a comprehensive analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of gastric cancer and identified 377 marker genes for NK cells. By performing Cox regression analysis, we established a 12-gene NK cell-associated signature (NKCAS) for the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort, that assigned GC patients into a low-risk group (LRG) or a high-risk group (HRG). In the TCGA cohort, the areas under curve (AUC) value were 0.73, 0.81, and 0.80 at 1, 3, and 5 years. External validation of the predictive ability for the signature was then validated in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohorts (GSE84437). The expression levels of signature genes were measured and validated in GC cell lines by real-time PCR. Moreover, NKCAS was identified as an independent prognostic factor by multivariate analysis. We combined this with a variety of clinicopathological characteristics (age, M stage, and tumor grade) to construct a nomogram to predict the survival outcomes of patients. Moreover, the LRG showed higher immune cell infiltration, especially CD8 + T cells and NK cells. The risk score was negatively associated with inflammatory activities. Importantly, analysis of the independent immunotherapy cohort showed that the LRG had a better prognosis and immunotherapy response when compared with the HRG. The identification of NK cell marker genes in this study suggests potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, the developed predictive signatures and nomograms may aid in the clinical management of GC.
Effect of hydrogen embrittlement on the adhesion strength and wear resistance of DLC-coated 316L stainless steel for application in hydrogen valves of FCEVs
Authors: Kim Seong-Jong , Shin Dong-Ho
Published: January 2024

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating is a surface coating technology with excellent hydrogen permeation resistance and wear resistance. However, it is difficult to completely prevent hydrogen permeation, and when hydrogen penetrates into the coating layer, the DLC coating is adversely affected. Therefore, we investigated the effect of hydrogen embrittlment on the adhesion strength and wear resistance of the DLC coating layer. As the results of the research, the surface roughness of the DLC coating was increased by a maximum of 3.8 times with hydrogen charging, and the delamination ratio of the DLC coating reached about 58%. In addition, the Lc3, which refers to the adhesion strength corresponding to the complete delamination of the DLC coating, was decreased by a maximum of 2.0 N due to hydrogen permeation. In addition, the wear resistance decreased due to hydrogen permeation, and the exposed width of the substrate due to wear increased by more than 4 times. It was also determined that hydrogen blistering or hydrogen-induced cracking occurred at the interface between the DLC coating and the chromium buffer layer due to hydrogen permeation, which decreased the durability of the DLC coating.
Cluster analysis of Noncommunicable disease risk factors among adults in Brunei: The National Health and Nutritional Status Survey based on WHO’s STEPwise methodology
Authors: Rahman Hanif Abdul , Ong Sok King , Arifin Evi Nurvidya , Ahmad Siti Rohaiza , Murang Zaidah Rizidah , Tuah Nik AA , Razak Lubna Abdul , Lai Daphne Teck Ching , Chong Chean Lin , Naing Lin
Published: January 2024

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) constitute a major global health concern, accounting for 74% of annual deaths worldwide. In Brunei Darussalam, the population faces high prevalence of risk factors for NCDs. To monitor progress of interventions aimed at reducing NCDs, Brunei conducted the third National Health and Nutritional Survey (NHANSS) using WHO STEPs methodology in 2022-2023.
Methods: Data from the NHANSS, comprising of 2,832 adults aged 18 to 69 in Brunei Darussalam were extracted and analysed. Clustering analysis was applied to identify naturally occurring clusters in the population based on NCD risk factors.
Results: The analysis revealed five distinct clusters. Cluster 1 exhibited highest prevalence (79%) of insufficient fruit and vegetable intake. Clusters 2 and 4, predominantly male, exhibited smoking, low fruit and vegetable intake, and abdominal obesity despite physical activity. Cluster 3, mainly comprised of women and older adults, demonstrated highest physical inactivity. Cluster 5, comprised of non-smokers with lower incidences of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases among high income group.
Conclusions: Effective population-based strategies, in line with the World Health Organization's recommendations, were proposed based on each cluster's characteristics. This underscores the Brunei government's commitment to implementing preventive measures and tailored interventions to mitigate the harmful impact of noncommunicable diseases.
Morpho-agronomic traits in Phaseolus lunatus L.: systematic review and meta-analysis as a tool in genotype selection
Authors: Dantas Saulo de Jesus , Torres Maria Fernanda Oliveira , Álvares-Carvalho Sheila Valéria , Leal Gildemberg Amorim , Silva-Mann Renata , Vargas Pablo Forlan
Published: January 2024

This study estimated the mean values of morpho-agronomic traits of Phaseolus lunatus L. through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Seven studies were selected through the systematic review, which encompassed a total of 104 genotypes. The selected traits were pod length and width, number of seeds per pod, grain yield, and 100-seed weight. In the exploratory analysis, normality, descriptive parameters, box-plot graph, and quantile-quantile plot of the data were evaluated. In the meta-analysis, the Q test and I² statistic were applied, and then, the combined effect model and fixed effect model were tested, using the Genes and R software. The data showed a normal distribution, and the box-plot graph indicated the need to remove some outliers. The quantile-quantile plot showed no publication bias. Q values were high for most traits, indicating that the studies were not homogeneous, and the random effects model was adopted. The combined estimates of pod length, width, number of seeds, grain yield, and 100-seed weight were 69.80mm, 16.29mm, 2.69, 395.97kg/ha, and 48.61g, respectively. The values obtained were precise, due to their similarity with the mean values, indicating that the methodology is adequate for generating mean values of agronomic interest.
COVID-19 and the risk of acute cardiovascular diseases: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Li Yuling , Yang Dongliang , Kang Jian , Cao Yaming , Cui Liwang , Liu Funan
Published: January 2024

Background
Evidence suggests that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the results are inconsistent, and the causality remains to be established. We aimed to investigate the potential causal relationship between COVID-19 and CVDs by using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Methods
Summary-level data for COVID-19 and CVDs including myocarditis, heart failure (HF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), arrhythmia and venous thromboembolism (VTE) were obtained from the IEU OpenGWAS project, a public genome-wide association study (GWAS). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used as instrumental variables. Five complementary MR methods were performed, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode and simple mode methods. IVW method was considered as the primary approach. Besides, sensitivity analyses, including Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, and leave-one-out analysis, were performed to evaluate the robustness of the results.
Results
According to the IVW results, our MR study indicated that genetically predicted COVID-19 was not causally connected with the risk of CVDs [myocarditis: odds ratio (OR) = 1.407, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.761–2.602, p-value = 0.277; HF: OR = 1.180, 95% CI = 0.980–1.420, p-value = 0.080; AMI: OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 0.998–1.005, p-value = 0.241; arrhythmia: OR = 0.865, 95% CI = 0.717–1.044, p-value = 0.132; VTE: OR = 1.013, 95% CI = 0.997–1.028, p-value = 0.115]. The supplementary MR methods showed similar results. Sensitivity analyses suggested that the causal estimates were robust.
Conclusion
This two-sample MR analysis did not provide sufficient evidence for a causal relationship between COVID-19 and the risk of acute CVDs, which may provide new insights into the prevention of acute CVDs in COVID-19 patients.
Insomnia is associated with reduced quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Barnes Alex , Bryant Robert , Mukherjee Sutapa , Spizzo Paul , Mountifield Réme
Published: January 2024

Quality of life is reduced in people with inflammatory bowel disease and poor sleep is prevalent in people with inflammatory bowel disease. This study aimed to investigate the influence of sleep on quality of life in people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Methods
An online questionnaire was administered through three tertiary IBD centres, social media and through Crohn’s Colitis Australia. The questionnaire included the EQ-5D-5L measures of health-related quality life of, the insomnia severity index (ISI), the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). IBD activity was assessed using validated patient reported scores. Demographic data and mental health scores were also obtained.
Results
Quality of life was lower in people with IBD than the general South Australian population. Poor sleep and clinically significant insomnia were associated with lower quality of life (EQVAS, and utility score) and moderately correlated with the domains of pain, usual activities and depression-anxiety. After adjusting for demographic variables, IBD anxiety, depression and anxiety, the pain domain continued to be influenced by sleep quality, sleep disturbance and sleep duration, and the usual activities domain continued to be influenced by daytime dysfunction. Insomnia resulted in a reduction in quality of life (EQVAS, utility score) independent of IBD activity and of a similar magnitude to that seen with IBD activity.
Conclusion
Health related quality of life in IBD is influenced by aspects of sleep quality irrespective of IBD activity and mental health conditions. The presence of insomnia is associated with a significant reduction in health-related quality of life. Consideration should be given to sleep targeting interventional studies in an IBD population.
Encryption and decryption algorithm with the ability of different computing layers to send and receive data in the network (Encryption Decryption Multi-Layer Algorithm)
Authors: Bukani Ahmad Karami
Published: January 2024

Encryption Decryption Multi-Layer algorithm is in the form of several layers and each layer performs a specific action, in total, this algorithm has eight layers, four layers are for encryption and four layers are for decryption, and these layers guarantee that the best The method of encryption and decryption of very important data.
Clinical and immunological characterization of IgG subclass deficiency reveals that low levels of pneumococcal antibodies associate with need of immunoglobulin replacement therapy
Authors: Wågström Per , Hjorth Maria , Appelgren Daniel , Björkander Janne , Dahle Charlotte , Nilsson Mats , Nilsdotter-Augustinsson Åsa , Skattum Lillemor , Ernerudh Jan , Nyström Sofia
Published: January 2024

Immunoglobulin G subclass deficiencies (IgGsd) comprise a wide clinical spectrum from no symptoms to repeated respiratory infections and risk for the development of lung damage. In Sweden, immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT) is considered in IgGsd patients with a high burden of infections. Our aims were to characterize immunological parameters in IgGsd on and off IgRT, and to identify factors that can predict the need of IgRT in IgGsd. Thirty-five patients with IgGsd were included in this prospective study and followed up to 36 months, when on and off IgRT. We analyzed possible associations between need of continuous IgRT and levels of immunoglobulins, IgG-subclasses, 21 serotype-specific pneumococcal antibodies, complement function and other factors that may predispose for a severe clinical course or increased exposure to airway pathogens. In-depth lymphocyte phenotyping was performed when on and off IgRT and compared to 34 healthy controls. Seventeen of the patients needed continuous IgRT. The prevalence of protective levels of serotype-specific antibodies was lower in IgGsd with need of IgRT. T cell and B cell subsets were similar irrespective of the need of IgRT. A combination of factors including age, autoimmunity, lung disease, fatigue, and a profession associated with increased risk of infections could predict the need of IgRT. In conclusion comorbidities due to dysregulated immunsystem in combination with low IgG subclass levels and presence of low levels of serotype specific IgGs, have a higher impact on the need of IgRT than aberrations in T cell and B cell subsets.
When organizational models influence the intention to leave of professionals. The case of Family and Community Nurses in the Tuscan healthcare system
Authors: barchielli chiara , vainieri milena , taddeucci lorenzo
Published: January 2024

Background
To describe Nurses’ Intention to Leave (ITL) their job across Tuscany -Italy- after a major healthcare structural policy redesign of the community organizational care delivery model, namely the Family and Community Nurse (FCN) model.
Methods
In this organizational case study, we evaluate the differences in the effects on Nurses’ ITL through the comparison between non-FCNs and FCN’s answers to the region-wide administered Organizational Climate Survey (OCS) conducted in 2023, after the model’s implementation.
Results
A general decrease in all ITL dimensions was registered, indicating, therefore, a higher FCNs’ intention to stay. There are variations in the answers from Nurses working in different Local Health Authorities (LHAs), and it is due to the uniqueness of organizations and to the dissimilar levels of maturity of the organizational models within them.
Conclusions
The effects of structural policy redesign on Nurses’ ITL highlight the importance of tailored, region-specific approaches to improve Nurses’ retention in the healthcare sector, which is currently experimenting the worst Nursing shortage crisis ever.
Optimal depth for left atrial pressure monitoring in pediatric open-heart surgery
Authors: Zhang Shuiting , Chen Xiaofeng , Wu Zhongshi , Li Hui , Dai Ruping , Zhang Yanling
Published: January 2024

Background
Monitoring the left atrial pressure (LAP) is an important perioperative management tool for maintaining adequate cardiac output. This study aimed to devise a simple formula of left atrial catheterization to quantify the LAP in infants based on strongly correlated demographic and clinical characteristics.
Methods
62 open-heart surgery infant patients, aged ≤ 1 year, who underwent right internal jugular vein (RIJV) catheterization to monitor the LAP, were enrolled in this study. Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the association between the optimal depth and characteristics. A new simple formula was developed using regression analysis to predict the depth for the LAP measurement.
Results
The participants comprised 39 (62.9%) males and 23 (37.1%) females, of which 10 (16.1%) were preterm. The average age was 4.3 months; average weight, 5.4 kg; and average height, 60.0 cm. Age, height, and weight were strongly associated with the optimal depth, with height having the highest corrected determination coefficient (R2 = 0.832) and the most significant difference in multiple regression model (P < 0.001). Thus, we established a new height-based formula: depth (cm) = 5 + 0.1 × height (cm). The proportion of optimal depth determined by the new simplified formula was 88.7%.
Conclusions
Height was the most significant individual predictor of optimal depth in this study. The novel formula, depth = 5.0 + 0.1 × height (cm), is feasible and can be used to determine the optimal depth for monitoring the LAP via RIJV catheterization in pediatric open-heart surgery.
Using an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guided Multimodal Pathway to Reduce Opioid Consumption in Lumbar Spine Surgery
Authors: Brown La Donna , Ardisson Michelle
Published: January 2024

Background: Spinal pathologies are increasingly prevalent among the aging population in the United States, leading to back pain as a common reason for adults seeking emergency care and necessitating surgical interventions. Lumbar and spinal fusions have been associated with high rates of opioid use, contributing to the opioid public health crisis. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have successfully reduced complications and hospital length of stay (LOS) across various surgical specialties, but their potential in spine surgery remains unexplored. The primary aim of this quality improvement project was to assess the impact of an ERAS multimodal pathway on opioid consumption rates in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery.
Methods: Patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery were included between August 30 and September 30, 2017 (PRE-ERAS Group n=12) and August 30 and September 30, 2018 (POST-ERAS Group n=13). Before the implementation of ERAS, there was no consistent use of multimodal pain modalities. The new ERAS multimodal pathway included non-opioid medications such as Acetaminophen, NSAIDs, gabapentinoids, and local anesthetics. Data were collected from electronic medical records, including demographics, intraoperative opioids, PACU LOS, pain scores, and opioid consumption in the recovery room until discharge.
Results: Implementing an ERAS multimodal pathway was associated with significantly lower postoperative pain scores (p = .003) and a trend towards decreased patient opioid administration dosages(p=.22). Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) scores were zero in both PRE- and POST-ERAS groups, while postoperative LOS increased (p=.02) in the POST-ERAS group.
Conclusion: Implementing an ERAS multimodal pathway is associated with improved pain scores and may reduce opioid consumption in elective lumbar spine surgery.
Systemic cytokines and risk of periodontitis: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Zheqin , Wang Shengnan , Zhang Jinming , Hu Min
Published: January 2024

Background: This study aims to investigate the bidirectional causal relationship between systemic cytokines and periodontitis.
Methods: We conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study of the relationship between systemic cytokines and periodontitis using inverse variance weighted, weighted median and MR-Egger regression. The genome-wide association study data included information on 41 cytokines in 8293 individuals and periodontitis in 456,348individuals.
Results: Increased systemic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels were found to be a risk factor for periodontitis (Odds ratio =1.564, 95% confidence interval = 1.137-2.150, P = 0.006). Heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy were not detected.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that G-CSF may have an essential role in the progression of periodontitis.
Combination of mutations in genes controlling DNA repair and high mutational load plays a prognostic role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): a retrospective real-life study in Sardinian population
Authors: Sini MariaCristina , Doro MariaGrazia , Frogheri Laura , Zinellu Angelo , Paliogiannis Panagiotis , Porcu Alberto , Scognamillo Fabrizio , Delogu Daniele , Santeufemia Davide Adriano , Persico Ivana , Palomba Grazia , Maestrale GiovanniBattista , Cossu Antonio , Palmieri Giuseppe
Published: January 2024

Background
Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDCA) carrying impaired mismatch repair mechanisms seem to have an outcome advantage under treatment with conventional chemotherapy, whereas the role for the tumor mutation burden on prognosis is controversial. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic role of the mutated genes involved in genome damage repair in a real-life series of PDAC patients in a hospital-based manner from the main Institution deputed to surgically treat such a disease in North Sardinia.
Methods
A cohort of fifty-five consecutive PDAC patients with potentially resectable/border line resectable PDAC (stage IIB-III) or oligometastatic disease (stage IV) and tumor tissue availability underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based analysis using a panel containing driver oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes as well as genes controlling DNA repair mechanisms.
Results
Genes involved in the both genome damage repair (DR) and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) were found mutated in 17 (31%) and 15 (27%) cases, respectively. One fourth of PDAC cases (14/55; 25.5%) carried tumors presenting a combination of mutations in repair genes (DR and MMR) and the highest mutation load rates (MLR-H). After correction for confounders (surgery, adjuvant therapy, stage T, and metastasis), multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that mutations in DR genes (HR = 3.0126, 95% CI 1.0707 to 8.4764, p = 0.0367) and the MLR (HR = 1.0018, 95%CI 1.0005 to 1.0032, p = 0.009) were significantly related to worse survival.
Conclusions
The combination of mutated repair genes and MLR-H, which is associated with a worse survival in our series of PDAC patients treated with conventional chemotherapy protocols, might become a predictive biomarker of response to immunotherapy in addition to its prognostic role in predicting survival.
Co-treatment with atorvastatin and bevacizumab improved antitumor efficacy and biochemical status in lung cancer in vivo
Authors: El-Said Karim S. , Attia Merna S. , Salim Elsayed I.
Published: January 2024

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Atorvastatin (ATOR), an anti-cholesterol drug, was shown recently to employ a probable effect against lung cancer. Bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibody antagonist, is a known lung cancer remedy. This study aimed to address the effects of co-treatment of ATOR and bevacizumab against mouse lung cancer. Male mice were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 (G1), was used as a normal control. Groups 2-5 were administered with urethane (Ure) (1mg/g) and butylated hydroxy-toluene (BHT) (150 or 200 mg/kg) for lung cancer initiation and promotion respectively. G2 was a carcinogen-only control. G3 was post-treated with 10 mg/kg ATOR. G4 was treated with 5 mg/kg bevacizumab. G5 was co-treated with ATOR and bevacizumab. Co-treatment with ATOR and bevacizumab significantly decreased the tumor incidences, multiplicities, and sizes as compared with each treatment alone. Also, the combination treatment has reduced the immunohistochemical proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling indexes (PCNA LI%) in lung parenchyma and tumors. Further, the treatment with ATOR/bevacizumab has significantly caused a G0/1 cell cycle arrest, induced apoptosis in cells and tumors, and ameliorated the antioxidative stress parameters in lung tissues. Furthermore, co-treatment with ATOR/bevacizumab has shown upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and downregulation of Heme oxygenase (HMOX1), nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2), and VEGF genes. Collectively, ATOR co-treatment has significantly improved bevacizumab's efficacy against lung cancer in mice, through induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell proliferation, and causing G0/1 cell cycle arrest, without adverse side effects.
A novel meta-heuristic algorithm for high-dimensional problems: Rhinopithecus Swarm Optimization
Authors: Zhou Guoyuan , Wang Dong , Zhou Guoao , Du Jiaxuan , Guo Jia
Published: January 2024

This paper introduces a novel meta-heuristic algorithm know as Rhinopithe-cus Swarm Optimization (RSO) to deal with the high-dimensional problems. The RSO is inspired by the different social behaviors of different subgroups in the rhinopithecus swarm. This algorithm categorizes the population into king, matures, adolescences and infancy based on fitness values before each iteration. At iterations they are given different search methods including vertical migration , concerted search and mimicry due to their social division of labor. The experiment was independently conducted 36 times on the highest dimension recommended by CEC2017. The results show that comprehensive performance of RSO is higher than 8 well-known meta-heuristic algorithms including DBO, BWO, SSA, AVOA, WOA, ARBBPSO, GTO, and HHO. RSO ranked first in the CEC2017 with a score of 1.655 on 29 benchmark functions using Ferideman test, which is 42.8% better than the second-ranked algorithm SSA. Overall, it 1 is concluded that RSO outperforms well-known algorithms and can better solve high-dimensional optimization problems
Hybrid Energy Storage Configuration of Wind Power Microgrid: A Strategy based on the EMD technique and Two-stage Robust Method
Authors: Yang Xiuyu , YE Xiaoyyu , Li Zhongzheng , Wang Xiaobin , Song Xinfu , Liao Mengke , Liu Xueyuan , Guo Qi
Published: January 2024

Data centers are usually characterized by high energy loads, which raises increasing sustainability concerns in both academic and daily usage. To mitigate the uncertainty and high volatility of distributed wind energy generation, this paper proposes a hybrid energy storage allocation strategy by means of the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) technique and the two-stage robust method. First, this paper conducts the evolution analyses for the over- and under-evaluated uncertainty of wind power fluctuation under different time scales. Second, we employ the EMD technique to configure a high-frequency flywheel energy storage device, realizing the wind power transformation from large fluctuations to small fluctuations and the convergence of the wind power fluctuation curves in minute- and hour levels. Finally, based on the hour-level wind energy stable power curves, we carry out two-stage robust planning for the equipment capacity of low-frequency cold storage tanks and lithium bromide chillers. The case study on a data center microgrid in northeastern China confirms the effectiveness of our proposed strategy.