bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Covid-19 infection outcomes and testing outreach efforts among people living with HIV in Milwaukee, WI
Authors: Birkey Trevor , Woodbury Joanna , Aldrete Sol Del Mar
Published: February 2023

Background
- Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the incidence and severity of Covid-19 co-infection in people living with HIV (PLWH) has been an area of investigative research. Clinic databases of PLWH provide opportunities to investigate outcomes of Covid-19 co-infection and efficacy of outreach efforts, which are integral to patient care during health crises.
Methods
- All PLWH over 18 years of age in the Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin (F&MCW) with a Covid-19 test performed between May 2020 and March 2021 were included for analysis. All patients received an individualized phone call with Covid-19 testing education and information. Automated data collection and manual chart review were used to acquire information on demographics, outreach efforts, Covid-19 testing results, and Covid-19 clinical course.
Results
− 462 Covid-19 tests completed on 793 PLWH at F&MCW were included, with 40 (8.7%) positive tests and 422 (91.3%) negative tests, on a predominantly male and virally suppressed cohort. Most patients had mild-moderate Covid-19 infection with one patient requiring hospitalization and zero deaths. Outreach efforts from the F&MCW infectious disease clinic were associated with a significant increase in Covid-19 testing, most of which occurred after one phone call.
Conclusions
- Outcomes of Covid-19 infection in this cohort support most existing data suggesting co-infection in PLWH is not associated with significantly worse outcomes than patients without HIV. An individualized approach to outreach efforts may have utility in other public health arenas, though could be limited by larger patient populations.
A downscaling and bias correction method for climate model ensemble simulations of local-scale hourly precipitation
Authors: Yoshikane Takao , Yoshimura Kei
Published: February 2023

Ensemble simulations of climate models are used to assess the impact of climate change on precipitation, and require downscaling at the local scale. Statistical downscaling methods have been used to estimate daily and monthly precipitation from observed and simulated data. Downscaling of short-term precipitation data is necessary for more accurate prediction of extreme precipitation events and related disasters at the regional level. In this study, we developed and investigated the performance of a downscaling method for climate model simulations of hourly precipitation. Our method was designed to recognize time-varying precipitation systems that can be represented at the same resolution as the numerical model. Downscaling improved the estimation of the spatial distribution of hourly precipitation frequency, monthly average, and 99th percentile values. The climate change characteristics of precipitation was clearly shown by using the 50 ensemble averages of estimated precipitation, although the natural variability was too large to compare with observations. The changes in precipitation were consistent with simulations. Therefore, our downscaling method improved the evaluation of the climatic characteristics of extreme precipitation events and more comprehensively represented the influence of local factors, such as topography, which have been difficult to evaluate using previous methods.
Identification of ferroptosis-related genes in patients with renal ischemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: Jiang Guangwei , Li Jikuan , Chen Yuyan , Dong Ruoyu , Zhang Xiaoyu , Shi Xiaoming
Published: February 2023

Background
Effective and curable treatment for kidney injury caused by renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) have been poor reported. Severe inflammation and ferroptosis resulting from the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)，is the main cause of kidney injury. Thus, identify the biomarkers associated with ferroptosis in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI) is emergency and crucial.
Methods
Bioinformatics analysis was used to discover differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the GSE43974 dataset. Differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes were discovered as the intersection of DEGs and ferroptosis-related genes (DEFRGs). Using the "clusterProfiler" R package, gene ontology（GO）and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment studies were done on DEFRGs. The Cytoscape plugin Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE)was used to extract hub genes from a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Finally, regulatory networks for TF-hub genes and miRNA-hub genes were predicted and created using the miRNet software.
Results
There found a total of 3,950 DEGs between the RIRI and control samples. After taking the intersection of DEGs and ferroptosis-related genes, 74 DEFRGs are obtained. DEFRGs were enriched in reaction to oxidative stress, cellular response to chemical stress, response to nutritional levels, and cellular response to oxidative stress, according to the GO analysis. The KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that these DEFRGs were substantially related with the mitophagy-animal, kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection, autophagy-animal, and IL17 signaling pathways. MCODE found ATF3, ATF4, ATG3, ATG5, BECN1, DDIT3, HSPA5, NFE2L2, WIPI1, and XBP1 as the hub genes. Finally，the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the GSE43974 data set reveals ATF3, DDIT3, ATF4, and ATG3 with AUC greater than 0.70,which were identified as the biomarkers related RIRI.
Conclusion
ATF3, DDIT3, ATF4, and ATG3 were identified as ferroptosis-related hub genes and proven to have diagnostic value for RIRI.
Isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency following immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment often occurred in polyglandular endocrinopathies
Authors: Chen Hong , Zhang Lei , Zhao Lin , Li Xiaomu
Published: February 2023

Background: With the increasing application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in tumor therapy, the occurrence of isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency (IAD), as one of its adverse effects, is on the rise. Nevertheless, there are only a few studies regarding IAD induced by ICI. This study aimed at investigating the characteristics of IAD induced by ICI and its relationship with other endocrine adverse events.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in patients with ICI-induced endocrinopathies in Endocrinology Department from January 2019 to August 2022. Clinical features, laboratory findings and therapy information were collected. All patients underwent 3-6-month follow-up.
Results: 28 patients with IAD were enrolled. All of them were treated with anti-PD-1/ PD-L1. The median occurrence time of IAD was 24 weeks after starting ICI treatment.Over half of patients (53.5%) also had primary hypothyroidism or fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (FT1DM). Other types of endocrinopathy were not found. The interval between two gland damages was 4-21 weeks or at the same time. In the 28patients, primary hypothyroidism (46.4%) was more common than FT1DM (7.1%). Fatigue and nausea were the chief manifestation. Hyponatremia was also easily to be detected. All patients continued oral cortisol during follow-up.
Conclusions: IAD induced by ICI could occur independently, and more often in combination with hypothyroidism or FT1DM. This damage could happen at any stage of ICI treatment. Given that IAD can be life-threatening, it is critical to evaluate pituitary function dynamically in patients undergoing immunotherapy.
Lower extremity performance in older women as influenced by total body composition versus thigh muscularity
Authors: Kishigami Keiko , Kanehisa Hiroaki , Arimitsu Takuma , Miyachi Motohiko , Iemitsu Motoyuki , Sanada Kiyoshi
Published: February 2023

Background:This study aimed to elucidate whether total body composition or thigh muscularity is more closely associated with lower extremity performance in older women.Methods:Sixty-seven Japanese women aged 60-77 years voluntarily participated in this study. Fat mass (FM) and lean soft tissue mass (LSTM) of each body segment and total body were determined using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner and expressed as values relative to body mass (FM/BM and LSTM/BM, respectively). In addition, cross-sectional area (CSA) was determined for each of the quadriceps femoris (QF), hamstrings (HAM), and adductors at mid-thigh using magnetic resonance imaging and expressed as the value relative to the two-third power of body mass (CSA/BM2/3). Participants conducted three performance tests: 5-m walking at normal speed, Timed Up and Go (TUG), and Two-step.Results:FM and FM/BM of the legs and total body were significantly correlated with scores of the three tests, and LSTM/BM of the legs and total body with 5-m walking time and Two-step length. QF CSA/BM2/3was correlated with scores of the three tests, and HAM CSA/BM2/3with Two-step length and TUG time. Multiple regression analyses identified LSTM/BM of the legs as an explanatory factor for 5-m walking time, waist circumference and QF CSA/BM2/3　for Two-step length, and age and QF CSA/BM2/3for TUG time.Conclusion:In older women, compared to total body composition, LSTM of the legs and CSA of the QF, expressed as values relative to body mass, are more closely associated with lower extremity performance.Trial registration number:UMIN000024651 (2016.10.31.)
Development and evaluation of case video-based debriefing on a simulation of high-risk neonatal care for nursing students in South Korea: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Koo Hyun Young , Lee Bo Ryeong , An Hyeran
Published: February 2023

Background: The debriefing process after health care simulations should provide a psychologically safe learning environment for nursing students. Case video-based debriefing on a simulation of high-risk neonatal care can be used to help nursing students to feel psychologically safe and make learning more effective. This study was conducted to develop case video-based debriefing materials for a simulation of high-risk neonatal care for nursing students in South Korea and to evaluate their effects.
Methods: This mixed-methods study, consisting of a survey and an in-depth interview, was conducted between August and December 2022. The participants were 27 nursing students for the development of the case video-based debriefing and 51 nursing students for the evaluation of its effects (25 in the experimental group and 26 in the control group) at a university in South Korea. A case video-based debriefing on a simulation of high-risk neonatal care was developed, and the experimental group took part in case video-based debriefing. The participants’ self-efficacy, critical thinking, state anxiety, and satisfaction with practice were examined. The experimental group’s learning experiences were explored. Quantitative data were analyzed using the chi-square test, the unpaired t-test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance. Qualitative content analysis was conducted.
Results: In the experimental group, critical thinking and satisfaction with practice increased to a greater extent than in the control group. However, the changes in self-efficacy and state anxiety were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups. Four categories were extracted from nursing students who participated in the case video-based debriefing: “definitely learned,” “expansion of learning,” “comfortable learning environment,” and “efficient utilization of case videos.”
Conclusions: Case video-based debriefing on a simulation of high-risk neonatal care effectively enhanced nursing students’ critical thinking and satisfaction with practice, and it will be utilized to improve nursing students’ competency in high-risk neonatal care.
Disparate behavioral types in wild and reared juveniles of gilthead seabream
Authors: Sanllehi Javier , Signaroli Marco , Pons Aina , Martorell-Barceló Martina , Mulet Júlia , Lana Arancha , Barcelo-Serra Margarida , Aspillaga Eneko , Grau Amalia , Catalán Ignacio A. , Viver Tomeu , Alós Josep
Published: February 2023

Fish differ consistently in behavior within the same species and population, reflecting distinct behavioral types (BTs). Comparing the behavior of wild and reared individuals provides an excellent opportunity to delve into the ecological and evolutionary consequences of BTs. In this work, we evaluated the behavioral variation of wild and reared juvenile gilthead seabreams, Sparus aurata, a highly relevant species for aquaculture and fisheries. We quantified behavioral variation along the five major axes of fish behavioral traits (exploration-avoidance, aggressiveness, sociability, shyness-boldness, and activity) using standardized behavioral tests and a deep learning tracking algorithm for behavioral annotation. Results revealed significant repeatability in all five behavior traits, suggesting high consistency of individual behavioral variation across the different axes in this species. We found reared fish to be more aggressive, social and active compared to their wild conspecifics. Reared individuals also presented less variance in their aggressiveness, lacking very aggressive and very tame individuals. Phenotypic correlation decomposition between behavioral types revealed two different behavioral syndromes: exploration-sociability and exploration-activity. Our work establishes the first baseline of repeatability scores in wild and reared gilthead seabreams, providing novel insight into the behavior of this important commercial species with implications for fisheries and aquaculture.
Amblyseius orientalis shows high consumption and reproduction on Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) in China
Authors: Zhang Yannan , Sheng Fujing , Wang Endong , Lv Jiale , Xu Xuenong
Published: February 2023

The broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae), is a cosmopolitan pest that infest many greenhouse crops. Biological control is an important way to control P. latus, with predatory mites being the most widely used natural enemy of this pest. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the capabilities of three native phytoseiids in China (Neoseiulus californicus, Neoseiulus barkeri and Amblyseius orientalis) in controlling P. latus, using Amblyseius swirskii, a commercial biological control agent of this pest widely used in Europe as a control. Consumption, development, and reproduction of the four species when fed with P. latus were assessed, and their life table parameters were estimated and compared. Among the three native species, A. orientalis has the highest consumption rate of P. latus (29.0 per day), the shortest developmental duration (5.32 d), and the highest cumulative fecundity (13.50 eggs/female). Overall, its intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) is 0.12, comparable to that of A. swirskii. Among the three candidates, A. orientalis is the only one that population increase might be expected when fed with P. latus. Therefore, we suggest it to be a potential biological control agent for this pest in China.
Simple new clinical score to predict hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained viral response with direct-acting antivirals
Authors: Watanabe Takao , Tokumoto Yoshio , Joko Kouji , Michitaka Kojiro , Horiike Norio , Tanaka Yoshinori , Hiraoka Atsushi , Tada Fujimasa , Ochi Hironori , Kisaka Yoshiyasu , Nakanishi Seiji , Yagi Sen , Yamauchi Kazuhiko , Morita Makoto , Okazaki Yuki , Yukimoto Atsushi , Hirooka Masashi , Abe Masanori , Hiasa Yoichi
Published: February 2023

The time point of the most precise predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development after viral eradication with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy is unclear. In this study we developed a scoring system that can accurately predict the occurrence of HCC using data from the optimal time point. A total of 1,683 chronic hepatitis C patients without HCC who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) with DAA therapy were split into a training set (999 patients) and a validation set (684 patients). The most accurate predictive scoring system to estimate HCC incidence was developed using each of the factors at baseline, end of treatment, and SVR at 12 weeks (SVR12). Multivariate analysis identified diabetes, the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, and the α-fetoprotein level as independent factors at SVR12 that contributed to HCC development. A prediction model was constructed with these factors that ranged from 0–6 points. No HCC was observed in the low-risk group. Five-year cumulative incidence rates of HCC were 1.9% in the intermediate-risk group and 15.3% in the high-risk group. The prediction model at SVR12 most accurately predicted HCC development compared with other time points. This simple scoring system combining factors at SVR12 can accurately evaluate HCC risk after DAA treatment.
A study on ancient casting method through microstructures of impurities and copper found in bronze excavated from the Unified Silla Period
Authors: Choi Jungeun
Published: February 2023

In Hwangnyongsa temple site in Dongdaebong mountain in Korea, a large number of gilt-bronze artifacts were excavated. Optical microscope, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, focused ion beam, transmission electron microscopy are used to identify the structure of the specimen and impurities. This article investigates the impurities and copper grains in bronze Buddha’s robe from Hwangnyongsa temple site to suggest ancient bronze craft technology in the unified Silla period. XRF results of specimen indicate that were made using alloy of copper and tin, and gold plating was done on the front side only. The microstructure of specimen was confirmed as a recrystallized polygonal structure, with twins and impurities. The results of impurities’ EDS indicated the molar ratio of Cu : S as 2 : 1 and electron diffraction pattern corroborated with that of Cu2S (JCPDF 33-0490). A layer of specimen surface consisted of high lead layer and copper grains. It is speculated that the copper grains were formed by reaction of Pb with matte (Cu2S) during casting. Lead with black gas would help to make high quality bronze. The copper grains used to exist in Silla, as detected in Koryo bronze artifacts. Hence, it was possible that the ancient artisans knew that lead make bronze quality good when they were casting bronze.
CD45 inhibition in myeloid leukaemia cells sensitizes cellular responsiveness to chemotherapy
Authors: Barashdi Maryam Ahmed S. Al , Ali Ahlam , McMullin Mary Frances , Mills Kenneth
Published: February 2023

Background

Myeloid malignancies are a group of blood disorders characterized by the proliferation of one or more haematopoietic myeloid cell lineages, predominantly in the bone marrow and are often caused by aberrant protein tyrosine kinase activity. The protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 is a transmembrane molecule expressed on all haemopoietic blood cells except that of platelets and red cells. CD45 regulates various cellular physiological processes including proliferation, apoptosis, and lymphocyte activation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of CD45 in myeloid malignancies in terms of cellular growth, apoptosis, and response to chemotherapy to investigate alternative therapies with less toxicity and more efficacy.

Methods

The expression profile of CD45 was established in a panel of myeloid leukaemia cell lines and in peripheral blood cells from normal individuals, AML and MPN patients using western blot, flow cytometry, and PCR. CD45 KD was performed by using siRNA nucleofection and lipofectamine RNAiMAX technology. Bioinformatics study was performed using Partek Genomic Suit and Quadratic software for connectivity mapping.
RNA sequencing was performed on CD45 KD cells and CD45 inhibited cells versus control cells. Apoptosis was studied by using Caspase-Glo™ Assay and western blotting. Drug combination studies between CD45 inhibitors and chemotherapy were performed and cytotoxicity was estimated by using Cell Titer-Glo® (CTG).

Results

The expression of CD45 on myeloid leukaemia primary cells and cell lines was heterogeneous with HEL and OCI-AML3 cells showing the highest level. Knockdown (KD) and/or inhibition of CD45 resulted in increased cellular sensitivity to cytarabine and ruxolitinib. Bioinformatics analysis identified of alendronate, allopurinol, and balsalazide as CD45 inhibitors along with genes whose expression was correlated with CD45 expression such as JAK2, ACTR2, THAP3 Serglycin and PBX-1 genes.

Conclusions

CD45 inhibition could be explored as a potential therapeutic partner for treatment of myeloid malignancies in combination with chemotherapy such as cytarabine. Identification of alendronate, allopurinol, and balsalazide, licensed drugs, could be repurposed as CD45 inhibitors at non-toxic concentrations which effectively increases sensitivity to cytarabine and ruxolitinib at low doses. Therefore, combining CD45 inhibitor drugs with low dose chemotherapy can be beneficial in treating myeloid leukaemia and can provide an alternative therapy characterized by less toxicity and more efficiency especially for elderly patients and those showing chemotherapy resistance.
Does Nebulized Unfractionated Heparin Cause changes in derived Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratios in severe Covid-19 pneumonitis?
Authors: Thompson Cecily W. , Robinson Stacey-Ann M. , McIntosh Jevonne J. , Risden Jodian S. , White Dwayne R. , Morgan Keri S. , Beecher Tamara S.
Published: February 2023

Background
Covid-19 a multisystemic disorder caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus with deleterious and often fatal effects on respiratory function. Many therapeutic but expensive options have been presented. Unfractionated Heparin is widely available and has been shown to have anti-viral properties in vitro (by inhibiting the interaction of the spike protein of the corona virus with ACE2), as well as anti-inflammatory, mucolytic and anticoagulant effects.
Objective
To conduct a retrospective cohort study on Covid-19 patients admitted to an isolation ward in Jamaica to determine if Nebulized Unfractionated heparin delivered to patients with severe Covid 19 pneumonitis would influence the derived Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), a predictor of infection severity which was routinely measured.
Methods
Study participants were hospitalized with Covid-19 pneumonitis, confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, between August 4, 2021 to November 13, 2021 and manged by anaesthesiologists. All had at admission, SpO2 < 92% on room air. Patients received standard Covid-19 care management protocol, as per national guidelines of Jamaica. Seventeen patients with median (range)age 53 (35-67) years received nebulized unfractionated heparin (the study group); and seventeen patients with median (range) age 53 (38-67) years were not given Nebulized unfractionated heparin (the control group). Derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios were observed daily over a 15-day period and tabulated and charted using stacked line graphs and box plots to compare changes in the variable between the groups.
Results
The demographic and illness severity were comparable for groups. Stacked line graphs of dNLR in each group indicated more rapid decline in the group treated with Nebulized Unfractionated Heparin group compared to the control group. Univariate analysis using box plots of serial dNLR changes showed larger interquartile ranges, longer whiskers, higher means and medians in the control group compared to the study group.
Conclusions
Participants treated with Nebulized Unfractionated Heparin had a sharper decline in dNLR than patients who did not get this therapy. there was a less varied, more predictable serial dNLR response in the study group than in the control group. Larger studies should explore the clinical implications of this finding.
Electronic Effects of Substituents on the Reactivity of Silenes: A Computational Analysis
Authors: K Amrutha , Mallikasseri Jose John , Mathew Jomon
Published: February 2023

Computational analysis have been carried out to understand the electronic effect of substituents on the reactivity silenes. Three types of reactions viz. (i) dimerization of silenes, (ii) small molecule activation (NH3 and NO) and (iii) isomerization of silene to silylene were taken for the analysis using monosubstituted silenes (RHC=SiH2 and H2C=SiRH) and disubstituted silene (HRC=SiRH) with substituents –CH3, -SiH3, -OH, -CN and –F. It is found that the position of substituent is decisive in C-Si bond polarity as well as the reactivity of silenes and π-donating substituents can significantly control the reactive nature of silenes.
TSMFPMSM: Design of a Temporal Sentiment analysis Model for identification of Fake Profiles from Multimodal Social Media interfaces
Authors: BHRUGUMALLA L V S ADITYA , Mohanty Sachi Nandan
Published: February 2023

The growing number of fake profiles on social media has made it necessary to develop intelligent models for identifying and removing them. This study proposes a novel approach for identifying fake profiles using temporal sentiment analysis. The model collects large datasets from various social media platforms, which are then processed using an ensemble sentiment analysis engine. This produces temporal sentiment patterns, which are used to train a 1D Convolutional Neural Network (1D CNN) for the efficient identification of fake profiles. The model is based on the theory that the data communicated by fake users always converges, and was observed to improve fake-profile detection accuracy by 5.9% with higher precision and recall compared to standard methods. This proposed model can be applied to multimodal social media interfaces.
Association of balance impairment with risk of incident cardiovascular diseases among older adults
Authors: Kim Hye Jun , Jeong Seogsong , Seo Ji Young , Oh Yun Hwan
Published: February 2023

Background: Rapid decline in balance is a hallmark of aging, elevating the risk of falls and other age-related geriatric illnesses among older adults.
Objective: Our aim was to assess whether impairment in balance function is associated with the risk of incident CVD in older adults.
Design: Retrospective cohort analysis
Participants: A total of 129,024 participants who had undergone health screening between 2002 and 2009 were derived the National Health Insurance Service-Senior.
Main Measures: Balance impairment was evaluated using the open-eyes one-leg standing (OLS) test. The association between balance impairment and incident CVD was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. All participants were followed up with until either the date of the first incident of CVD, death, or 31 December 2019.
Key Results: Those with abnormal balance function (<10 seconds in OLS test) had a higher risk of CVD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.23, CI 1.16-1.31). The association was significant in both the obese and the non-obese, but it seemed to be more pronounced in the latter. Results were supported by sensitivity analyses that did not include cases of CVD development in the first 1, 2, or 3 years and that used a different criterion to define balance dysfunction (<9 seconds in OLS test).
Conclusions: Older adults with balance impairment were found to have an increased risk of incident CVD. Patients with impaired balance function may be a high-risk population who require preventive managements against CVD.
Perceived benefits and barriers to exercise and associated factors among Zimbabwean undergraduate students: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Shava Beatrice K. , Vhudzijena Blessed , Kupenga-Maposa Tariro , Musingwini Thelma , Samudzi Tanaka , Muchemwa Sidney , Chibanda Dixon , Dambi Jermaine M.
Published: February 2023

Objective: Despite the well-documented benefits of regular physical activity (PA), many university students are physically inactive. Multiple factors, including perceived barriers and benefits and environmental factors (e.g., availability of exercise facilities), predict PA engagement behaviours in university students. This study primarily evaluated the barriers and facilitators to PA engagement in Zimbabwean undergraduate students using the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale. We also evaluated the correlates of exercise barriers and benefits to PA levels, mental health disorders and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We recruited 465 university students. Data were analysed through descriptive statistics and logistic regression using SPSS Version 27.
Results: The mean perceived benefits and barriers to PA were 95±11.4 and 28.6±5.4, respectively. The most perceived benefits were in the physical performance and life enhancement domains, while lack of exercise infrastructure and physical exertion were the most perceived barriers. Food insecurity and the risk of CMDS were associated with increased odds of experiencing barriers to exercise. Not using substances and a higher self-rated HRQoL were associated with increased odds of a high perception of exercise benefits. It is needful to improve access to on-campus exercise facilities and campus-wide health promotional interventions to enhance PA amongst university students.
Estimation of Correlation Confidence Intervals Via the Bootstrap: Non-Normal Distributions
Authors: DelosReyes John Mart V. , Padilla Miguel A.
Published: February 2023

Confidence intervals (CIs) for the correlation were investigated with interest on how bootstrap CIs perform with non-normal distribution pairings across correlation magnitudes. The bootstrap CIs had acceptable performance if one of the variables was normal or if sample size was greater than 200 if the paired variables were non-normal.
Prognostic model and immunomicroenvironment analysis of combined thyroid and breast cancer in females based on cuproptosis related miRNA
Authors: Zheng Jun , Tian Yingliu , Zhang Yongfei , Lu Ye , Shi Xiang rong
Published: February 2023

Background
Previous studies have shown that breast cancer and thyroid cancer are more common in females . Among them, the incidence of breast cancer in the female cancer research ranks first. Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy in women. cuproptosis is a new type of programmed cell death discovered recently. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of cuproptosis related miRNA (CRM) in female breast and thyroid cancers and to explore potential associations between the two cancers.
Methods：
We extracted transcriptomic data and clinicopathological features of women with THCA and BRCA from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Univariate Cox regression and LASSO analysis were used to establish the prognostic characteristics of CRM. In order to verify the accuracy of the model, Kaplan-Meyer (K-M) and transient receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis were used. We drew a column graph that included clinical features and miRNA features to refine the prediction of the patient prognosis model. Finally, we performed immunoinfiltration correlation analysis.
Results：
In this study, we constructed a prognostic profile of CRM containing 15 miRNAs. This CRM feature was an independent predictor of overall survival. In addition, risk score was a better independent prognostic factor than traditional clinicopathological features. The correlation and differentiation analysis of immune invasion found a strong positive correlation among immune cells such as aDCs and DCs, while Macrophages showed significant differences among the risk group. The study revealed that there was strong positive correlation between immune functions such as APC co stimulation and Check-point. Furthermore, indicators of APC co inhibition, APC co stimulation, Check-point, and Inflammation-promoting showed significant differences between risk groups. Based on risk score and immune score, we finally screened out 6 differential expression genes (DEGs) : such as PCOLCE, SV2C. These DEGs were significantly correlated with one or more immune cells and their functions during immune invasion.
Conclusion：
CRM features can be used as novel biomarkers to predict the prognosis of patients with breast cancer and thyroid cancer, and to predict the clinical outcome and treatment response of patients, thus providing basic insights for further research.
Genetic diversity and differentiation of South African cactus pear cultivars (Opuntia spp.) based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers
Authors: Modise Tsholofelo Jastina , Maleka Mathabatha Frank , Fouché Herman , Coetzer Gesine M.
Published: February 2023

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. is one of the most recognisable agricultural crops that can withstand harsh environmental conditions. South Africa is one of the few countries that hosts a large germplasm of Opuntia cultivars that represent an ex-situ conservation population. However, little is known about the genetic diversity in this population. Additionally, some genotypes are morphologically indistinct, and therefore, making it a challenge for novice farmers and researchers to recognise specimens in the germplasm. The current study aimed to differentiate and measure the genetic diversity in 44 cultivars that represent the South African Opuntia germplasm using eight SSR markers. Evidently, the cultivars comprised moderate levels of diversity (average polymorphic information content, PIC = 0.37, Nei’s unbiased gene diversity = 0.42) that discriminated 90% of the cultivars. Analysis of the cultivars with the unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA) method revealed three main clusters, whereas principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed indistinct clustering of cultivars based on their usage in the agricultural market. Overall, the used SSR markers were able to distinguish most cultivars in the South African Opuntia germplasm – a genetic resource that appears to hold sufficient genetic diversity to aid the conservation and breeding of novel cultivars for the agriculture market.
Prospective QTc interval monitoring avoids cardiac toxicity of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in critically ill SARS-CoV-2 patients: a cohort study
Authors: Nathalie Layios , Florian Beck , Didier Ledoux , Jean-Luc Canivet
Published: February 2023

Purpose

During the first wave of the SARS-Cov2 pandemic, the use of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin raised safety concerns in terms of arrhythmias related to QT segment prolongation. The aim of this observational, prospective, single-center study was to describe cardiovascular events in critically ill patients who were mechanically ventilated for SARS-Cov2 pneumonia.

Methods

Patients included were prospectively monitored for QTc segment prolongation when treated with the association of hydroxychloroquine alone or in combination with azithromycin for Covid-19 pneumonia and treatment had to be stopped before QTc ≤ 500ms.

Results

23 patients were prospectively included. Treatment had to be interrupted in 43.5% of patients and more often in the combination group. None of the patients displayed torsade de pointes or sudden cardiac arrest. Forty percent of patients in the combination group experienced atrial fibrillation. Cardiac Troponin I was elevated in 70% of all patients without electric signs of ischemia.

Conclusion

The association of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for treatment of Covid-19 pneumonia mandates the need for prospective evaluation of QTc especially in the presence of biological myocardial injury.
The Institutional Review Board waived the need for consent to use prospectively collected clinical data and the study was appointed the serial number 2020-214.
Kappa-distributed electrons in solar outflows:beam-plasma instabilities and radio emissions
Authors: Lazar Marian , Lopez Rodrigo , Poedts Stefaan , Shaaban Shaaban Mohamed
Published: February 2023

Electrostatic (ES) wave instabilities assumed to be at the origin of radio emissions from interplanetary shocks and solar coronal sources are most likely induced by electron beams, more energetic but less dense than electron strahls in the solar wind. This paper presents the results of a new dispersion and stability analysis for electron populations with Kappa velocity distributions, as often indicated by in-situ measurements. We investigate, both theoretically and in numerical simulations, three electron plasma beam configurations with different implications in the generation of radio emissions. The kinetic plasma approach clarifies the nature of the unstable mode as being an electron beam ES instability in all cases (and not a Langmuir instability), Landau resonant and with frequencies of the fastest growing modes close to, but below the plasma frequency (i.e., ω ≲ ωpe). Suprathermal Kappa tails tend to inhibit the instability, by reducing the growth rates, but these effects become minor if the drift speed of the beam is sufficiently high compared to the thermal speed of the electrons. The frequency downshift, also revealed by the observations, clearly tend to increase in the presence of a Kappa-distributed beam. Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations confirm the inhibiting effects of (initially) Kappa distributed electrons, but these minor effects in the linear and quasi-linear phases unexpectedly lead to significant decreases in the wave energy levels of the (primary) ES fluctuations near the plasma frequency and higher harmonics. As a result, EM radio (secondary) emissions generated nonlinearly after saturation are even more drastically reduced, and can even be completely suppressed. However, the EM emissions around second harmonic (ω ≲ 2 ωpe) are markedly powered by two symmetric counter-moving beams, even in the presence of Kappa electrons. These results offer real premises for a realistic interpretation and modeling of radio emissions observed in heliosphere, arguing in favor of a rigorous spectral analysis of the wave instabilities at their origin.
Theoretical analysis of git bisect
Authors: Courtiel Julien , Dorbec Paul , Lecoq Romain
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we consider the problem of finding a regression in a version control system (VCS), such as git. The set of versions is modelled by a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) where vertices represent versions of the software, and arcs are the changes between different versions. We assume that somewhere in the DAG, a bug was introduced, which persists in all of its subsequent versions. It is possible to query a vertex to check whether the corresponding version carries the bug. Given a DAG and a bugged vertex, the Regression Search Problem consists in finding the first vertex containing the bug in a minimum number of queries in the worst-case scenario. This problem is known to be NP-complete. We study the algorithm used in git to address this problem, known as git bisect. We prove that in a general setting, git bisect can use an exponentially larger number of queries than an optimal algorithm. We also consider the restriction where all vertices have indegree at most 2 (i.e. where merges are made between at most two branches at a time in the VCS), and prove that in this case, git bisect is a 1/log2(3/2)-approximation algorithm, and that this bound is tight. We also provide a better approximation algorithm for this case. Finally, we give an alternative proof of the NP-completeness of the Regression Search Problem, via a variation with bounded indegree.
A Distributed Virtual-Machine Placement and Migration Approach Based on Modern Portfolio Theory
Authors: Filho Manoel Campos da Silva , Monteiro Claudio de Castro , Inácio Pedro Ricardo Morais , Freire Mário Marques
Published: February 2023

Virtual machine placement and migration (VMPM) are key operations for managing cloud resources. Considering the large scale of cloud infrastructures, several proposals still fail to provide a comprehensive and scalable solution. A variety of approaches have been used to address this issue, e.g., the modern portfolio theory (MPT). Originally formulated for financial markets, MPT enables the construction of a portfolio of financial assets in order to maximize profit and reduce risk. This paper presents a novel VMPM approach applying MPT and incremental statistics computation for VMPM decision-making so as to maximize resource usage while minimizing under and overload. Simulation experiments were conducted using CloudSim Plus, relying on synthetic data, PlanetLab and Google Cluster traces. Results show that the proposal is highly scalable and largely reduces computational complexity and memory footprint, making it suitable for large-scale cloud service providers.
The subfield and extended codes of a subclass of optimal three-weight cyclic codes
Authors: Hernández Félix , Vega Gerardo
Published: February 2023

A class of optimal three-weight $[q^k-1,k+1,q^{k-1}(q-1)-1]$ cyclic codes over $\bbbf_q$, with $k\geq2$, achieving the Griesmer bound, was presented by Heng and Yue [IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, 62(8) (2016) 4501-4513]. In this paper we study some of the subfield codes of this class of optimal cyclic codes when $k=2$. The weight distributions of the subfield codes are settled. It turns out that some of these codes are optimal and others have the best known parameters. The duals of the subfield codes are also investigated and found to be almost optimal with respect to the sphere-packing bound. In addition, the covering structure for the studied subfield codes is determined. Some of these codes are found to have the important property that any nonzero codeword is minimal, which is a desirable property that is useful in the design of a secret sharing scheme based on a linear code. Moreover, a specific example of a secret sharing scheme based on one of these subfield codes is given. Finally, a class of optimal two-weight linear codes over $\bbbf_q$, achieving the Griesmer bound, whose duals are almost optimal with respect to the sphere-packing bound is presented. Through a different approach, this class of optimal two-weight linear codes was reported very recently by Heng [IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, 69(2) (2023) 978–994]. Furthermore, it is shown that these optimal codes can be used to construct strongly regular graphs.
Event-triggered controller on practically exponential input-to-state stabilization of stochastic reaction-diffusion neural networks and its application to image encryption
Authors: Gokulakrishnan V , Sriniva R
Published: February 2023

The stabilization problem for a class of stochastic reaction-diffusion delayed Cohen-Grossberg neural networks (SRDDCGNNs) with event-triggered controller is addressed in this paper. To address such a problem, Neumann boundary condition, distributed and boundary external disturbances are introduced. New sufficient criteria are derived by using the Lyapunov method, event-triggered mechanism, and the linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach to ensure the proposed controlled systems achieve practically exponential input-to-state stabilization. In light of these criteria, the impact of an event-triggered controller on practically exponential input-to-state stability (PEISS) is examined. Furthermore , the obtained results are successfully applied to stochastic reaction-diffusion delayed cellular neural networks (SRDDCNNs) and stochastic reaction-diffusion delayed Hopfield neural networks (SRD-DHNNs). At last, simulation results are given to illustrate the main results, and the SRDDHNNs are applied to the image encryption.
The emission of abnormal electrons with energy up to 790TeV are detected on the electron storage ring of BEPCII
Authors: Qian Dapeng
Published: February 2023

In a new version of special relativity that incorporated the uncertainty principle, the Einstein-Lorentz mass formula is extended more completely. The new formula shows that there is a weak "high-speed but low-mass" effect in particles movement, which will cause the generation of abnormal ultra-high energy electrons with a certain small probability when the electron beam passes through an accelerating electric field. This previously unknown anomaly has been tested at the electron storage ring of BEPCII by the author with the cumulative detection method, and results show that there is indeed electron emission with energy up to 790TeV downstream of the RF cavity, which is consistent with the theoretical expectation. On this basis, it is suggested that particle physicists do more experimental detections, so as to further fully verify the extended Einstein-Lorentz mass formula.
First close insight into global daily gapless 1 km PM2.5 pollution, driving factors, and health impact
Authors: Wei Jing , Li Zhanqing , Lyapustin Alexei , Wang ‬Jun , Dubovik Oleg , Schwartz Joel , Sun Lin , Li Chi , Liu Song , Zhu Tong
Published: February 2023

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the largest environmental risk factor impacting human health. While PM2.5 has been measured widely across the world, there has been no high-resolution and gapless global PM2.5 data on a daily scale. We generate a global daily PM2.5 concentration at 1 km resolution using satellite gap-filled aerosol products and machine learning. Daily PM2.5 retrievals agreed well with ground measurements, with sample-, space-, and time-based cross-validated correlations of 0.93, 0.89, and 0.88, respectively. This enables us to unprecedentedly monitor the day-to-day variations of PM2.5, exposure risk, and mortality burden around the globe. More than 96% of the days exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended daily air quality guidelines (AQG) level (15 μg m-3) in 2020, and 99% of populated areas were exposed to PM2.5 risk at least one day; in particular, the proportions are 91% and 64% similarly in 7 and 30 days, respectively. The annual population-weighted mean PM2.5 concentration was 27.6 μg m-3 (~5.5 times higher than the WHO annual AQG level of 5 μg m-3), resulting in estimated premature deaths of ~4.2 million people and accounting for ~6.6% of total global deaths. Substantial differences are noted in many parts of the world between 2019 and 2020 associated with widespread episodes of wildfires or the COVID-19 shutdowns. The overall air quality in 2020 was significantly better than in 2019 in more than 70% of major cities. The global population-weighted mean PM2.5 decreased by ~5.1%, and the associated number of premature deaths dropped by 56,700.