bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disrespect and abuse during childbirth and associated factors among women: a cross-sectional study
Authors: dolatabadi Zari , farahani Leila amiri , zargar Zahra , haghani Shima , mousavi Seyedeh saeedeh
Published: May 2024

Background:Respectful maternity care is a fundamental right for all women. However, reports of disrespect and abuse are prevalent in various childbirth settings. This study aimed to assess the disrespect and abuse experienced by women during childbirth and associated factors in Comprehensive health centers of Tehran, Iran.Methods:This study employed a cross-sectional design to investigate the prevalance of disrespect and abuse among women who had recently delivered vaginally. The sample comprised 300 mothers who gave birth within the last five days in Tehran, Iran. Data collection occurred between April and September 2021 using a two-stage cluster sampling method and systematic random sampling technique. A demographic and midwifery questionnaire, alongside the Disrespect and Abuse Questionnaire, were used to collect data. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) were employed alongside inferential statistics including chi-square tests and logistic regression.Results:This study revealed a high prevalence of disrespect and abuse, with 68.3% of mothers experiencing at least one form from the seven identified dimensions. When examining the factors contributing to the increase in disrespect and abuse, it was observed that Turkish women had a 67% lower prevalence of disrespect and abuse compared to fars women (OR: 0.339). Mothers with unwanted pregnancies were 2.3 times more likely to experience disrespect and abuse during labor (OR: 2.317). the prevalence of disrespect and abuse was 88% lower in women who received care from a physician compared to those who were attended by a midwife (OR: 0.129). Experience of disrespect and abuse increased 7.1 times when the mother was unaware of who was responsible for her care (OR: 7.190). Mothers without a companion during labor experienced 74% less disrespect and abuse compared to women who had a companion (OR: 0.263). Finally, women who did not undergo instrumental delivery had a 92% reduction in the incidence of abuse (OR: 0.088).Conclusion:This study revealed a high prevalence of disrespect and abuse during childbirth. All mothers should experience consistent and utmost respect throughout the childbirth. Execution of respectful care advancement must be the business of all healthcare providers.
Multi-omics analysis reveals molecular mechanism of flavonol biosynthesis during the formation of petal color in Camellia nitidissima
Authors: Feng Yi , Li Jiyuan , Yin Hengfu , Shen Jian , Liu Weixin
Published: May 2024

Background
Camellia nitidissima is a rare and prized species of camellia with golden-yellow flowers, and has high ornamental, medicinal and economic value. Previous studies showed that the content of flavonol accumulated greatly in petals during the formation of golden petal. However, the molecular mechanism of golden flower formation in C. nitidissima remains largely unknown.
Results
In this study, we performed an integrative analysis of transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome of petals at five developmental stages to construct the regulatory network during golden flower formation in C. nitidissima. Metabolome analysis showed that 323 flavonoids were detected, and epically two flavonols, the quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, were highly accumulated in the golden petals. And transcriptome and proteome sequencing suggested that the expression of flavonol biosynthesis genes or proteins was increased in golden petal stage, whereas expression of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin genes or proteins were decreased. Further investigation revealed that several putative transcription factors, MYBs and bHLHs, were identified as potentially involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. Expression analysis showed that Flavonol Synthase gene 2 (CnFLS2) was specifically overexpressed in petals, and the expression of CnFLS2 of petals at five developmental stages was positively correlated with flavonol content. Overexpression of CnFLS2 in petals increased flavonol content. Furthermore, analysis showed that the jasmonate (JA) pathways was positively correlated with flavonol biosynthesis, and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment induced the expression of CnFLS2 and the accumulation of flavonol.
Conclusions
This work describes that JA-CnFLS2 module regulates flavonol biosynthesis during golden petal formation in C. nitidissima.
Identification and validation of a novel defined stress granule-related gene signature for predicting the prognosis of ovarian cancer via bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Chen Xiaoqi , Han Qianqian , Pu Yongqiang
Published: May 2024

Background
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a malignant gynecological cancer with an extremely poor prognosis. Stress granules (SGs), nonmembrane organelles, are responses to stress stimuli. However, the correlations between SG-related genes and prognosis in OC remain unclear.
Methods
In this study, RNA-seq data and clinical information from GSE18520 and GSE14407 in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and ovarian plasmacytoma adenocarcinoma in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were downloaded. SG-related genes were obtained from GeneCards, MSigDB, and the literature. First, thirteen SG-related genes were identified in the prognostic model by using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression. The prognostic value of each SG-related gene for survival and its relationship with clinical characteristics were evaluated. Next, we performed functional enrichment analysis of SG-related genes. Then, the protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of SG-related genes were visualized by Cytoscape with STRING.
Results
According to the median risk score from the LASSO Cox regression, a thirteen-gene signature was created and classified all OC patients in the TCGA cohort and GEO into high- and low-risk groups. A total of five SG-related genes were differentially expressed between the high-risk and low-risk groups of OC in GEO. A total of thirteen SG-related genes were related to several important oncogenic pathways (TNF-α signaling, PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling, and WNT-βcatenin signaling) and several cellular components (cytoplasmic stress granule, cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granule, and ribonucleoprotein granule). The PPI network identified eleven hub genes that obtained the highest interaction between ELAVL1 and other genes.
Conclusion
Taken together, SG-related genes (DNAJA1, ELAVL1, FBL, GRB7, MOV10, PABPC3, PCBP2, PFN1, RFC4, SYNCRIP, USP10, ZFP36, ZFP36L1) can be used to predict the prognosis of OC.
Epidemiological Patterns and Clinical Impact of Vasculitis in China: An Insight from the FUTURE Database
Authors: Zhao Xiaozhen , Tan Xiaohua , Xu Hui , Kuang Weiying , Deng Jianghong , Zhang Junmei , Feng Guoshuang , Li Chao , Li Shipeng , Wang Jiang , Li Caifeng
Published: May 2024

Background Vasculitis presents significant health challenges due to its complex clinical manifestations and the variability in its prevalence and severity across different regions and demographics. Understanding these patterns is crucial for developing targeted medical interventions and health policies, especially during global health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods Using the Futang Updating Medical Regulations (FUTURE) database, we conducted an exhaustive analysis of the prevalence, complications, and healthcare impacts of vasculitis across mainland China from January 2016 to August 2023. The study assessed demographic distributions, regional variations, and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on disease diagnosis rates.Results The study found that conditions such as Takayasu arteritis (TAK), ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), and immune complex vasculitis were more prevalent in females, while diseases like polyarteritis nodosa and Behçet's disease (BD) showed a gender-neutral distribution. A significant decrease in vasculitis diagnoses was noted during the pandemic. Geographical analysis indicated a higher incidence of various types of vasculitis in the northern and eastern regions of China. Complications varied, with BD showing significant digestive system involvement and TAK associated with high rates of hypertension and vascular complications. Critical cases required intensive care, highlighting the severity of these conditions.Conclusions The analysis underscores the need for region-specific healthcare strategies and more robust disease monitoring frameworks, particularly in the face of global health emergencies. The financial and clinical burden of vasculitis is considerable, emphasizing the necessity for efficient diagnostic and treatment modalities to manage and mitigate the impacts of this disease group effectively.
Implementation of Energy Efficient Light control system using Wireless network technology
Authors: Bhavani R , Yokidha S
Published: May 2024

Lighting load will consume about 10% of total electricity. Traditional lighting sytem are less efficient because they use more energy and lead to higher electricity costs. People sometimes neglect to turn off lights when not in use, wasting energy. This proposed system describes a low-cost, leader-friendly, smart office lighting control system that uses IoT to save energy. This system uses MCU, wireless network (cloud), smartphone, PIR (passive infrared sensor), LDR and timing module to solve the problem. Through the use of sensors, this system replaces conventional non-touch LED bulbs with touch LED lights. When no one is nearby, all LED lights inside the area are in low light mode. Otherwise, all the internal LEDs will switch to high brightness mode together. To control the system brightness, LED parameters are transmitted to the microcontroller via IoT and the Internet. This system will eliminate the need for additional wiring as it uses existing fixtures and wiring. The system also shows how many bulbs are working properly and how many are broken due to short circuits. A calculation is made to determine the amount of energy saved by comparing it with conventional LED lights
Analysis of Myocardial T1, T2, and T2* Values by Age, Sex, and Cardiac Segments in Normal Population: A Prospective Study
Authors: ÖZCAN Çağrı , YİĞİT Hasan , ÇETİN Mehmet Serkan , Özcan İrem
Published: May 2024

PURPOSE
This study examines myocardial T1, T2, and T2* values in a sizable cohort of healthy volunteers, analyzing variations by age, sex, and cardiac segments. It offers a novel approach to defining normal parametric mapping boundaries and represents the first comprehensive study of its kind in Turkey.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Our prospective study was conducted between August 2021 and 2022. Healthy volunteers aged 20-80 were grouped, with at least eight females and eight males per decade. Cardiac MRI examination measured T1 and T2 times in 16 left ventricle segments using parametric mapping techniques on a 1.5 Tesla MRI device. T2* mapping was also performed on the mid-section interventricular septum. The data analysis considered the impact of age, sex, and segments.
One hundred eighteen cases were included in the study. Female volunteers observed significantly higher T1, T2, and T2* values than male volunteers. For the T2* and T1 times, significantly lower values were detected in women over 50 than those under 50. It was observed that the Midventricular approach gave closer results than the Midventricular Septal approach in predicting Global times.
CONCLUSIONS
We present the normal reference ranges for cardiac T1, T2, and T2* times in a large cohort of healthy volunteers with homogeneous sex and age distribution. Sex was the most influential factor in our study. Therefore, we suggest using separate reference values for males, and females above and below 50 years old, instead of the standard reference intervals that do not account for specified sex in current guidelines.
Peptide Mold: A Novel Strategy for Mapping Potential Binding Sites in Protein Targets
Authors: Bagwe Pritam V. , Jagtap Yogesh , Ghegade Vaibhav , Machhar Janvhi , Martis Elvis , Joshi Shreerang V. , Kharkar Prashant S.
Published: May 2024

A novel concept titled ‘Peptide Mold’ for mapping potential binding sites in protein targets is presented. A large multiconformer tetrapeptide library comprising of 32 million conformations of all possible combinations of naturally-occurring amino acids was constructed and used for molecular docking analysis in the substrate-binding site of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro enzyme. The top-ranking, structurally-diverse tetrapeptide docked conformations (symbolizing peptide mold, analogous to a clay mold) were used then for elucidating a five-point pharmacophore. Ligand-based virtual screening of a large, multiconformer library of phytoconstituents using the derived five-point pharmacophore led to identification of potential binders for SARS-CoV-2 PLpro at its substrate-binding site. The approach is based on generating the imprint of a macromolecular binding site (cavity) using tetrapeptides (clay), thereby generating a reverse mold (with definitive shape and size), which can further be used for identifying small-molecule ligands matching the captured features of the target binding site. The approach is based on the fact that the individual amino acids in the tetrapeptide represent all possible drug-receptor interaction features (electrostatic, H-bonding, van der Waals, dispersion and hydrophobic among others). The ‘peptide mold’ approach can be extended to any protein target for mapping the binding site(s), and further use of the generated pharmacophore model for virtual screening of potential binders. The peptide mold approach is a robust, hybrid computational screening strategy, overcoming the present limitations of structure-based methods, e.g., molecular docking and the ligand-based methods such as pharmacophore search. Exploration of the peptide mold strategy is expected to yield high-quality, reliable and interesting virtual hits in the computational screening campaigns during the hit and lead identification stages.
Serving Up FLAN. A Food Literacy and Nutrition Intervention to Fend Off Food Insecurity.
Authors: Royer Michael F. , Hauser Michelle E. , Zamora Astrid N. , Campero Maria Ines , Garcia Dulce , Gabaray Martha , Sheats Jylana L. , King Abby C.
Published: May 2024

Background: Food insecurity, an ongoing and accelerating problem in the U.S., is an economic and social condition involving limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Some of the highest rates of food insecurity in 2022 were found among individuals who were Hispanic-Latinx (20.8%), a population that already faces disproportionate health and socioeconomic disadvantages. There remains an urgent health-related need to identify sustainable strategies to prevent food insecurity in the Latinx population.
Methods: A first-generation pilot investigation was conducted using data derived from a sub-study connected to the Computerized Physical Activity Support for Seniors (COMPASS) Trial, a 12-month cluster-randomized controlled trial among older Latinx adults. The sub-study focused on two nutrition interventions that included 1) the Food Literacy and Nutrition (FLAN) curriculum, and 2) a nutrition information-only control. Research hypotheses aimed to determine whether the FLAN intervention reduced food insecurity and increased daily fruit and vegetable servings.
Results: On average, participants (n = 39) were 61.5 years of age (SD = 6.7), mostly female (69%), and reported Spanish as their primary language (69%). The FLAN intervention was associated with decreased odds of food insecurity at 12 months (AOR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.54, 0.95; p = 0.03) when compared to the nutrition-information only control intervention. Although no between-group differences in daily fruit and vegetable servings were found, there was a significant correlation between changes in daily fruit and vegetable servings from baseline to six months and changes in food insecurity from baseline to 12 months (r = -0.51, p = 0.01).
Conclusions: The FLAN intervention, a bilingual and culturally tailored educational curriculum, yielded 12-month improvements in food security among a small sample of older Latinx adults. Evidence from this investigation suggests the potential utility of implementing the FLAN curriculum among individuals who are at an increased risk of food insecurity. Further investigation in a larger sample is merited to determine whether the 12-month decreases in food insecurity that were produced by the FLAN intervention can be replicated.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02111213
Mesozoic larva in amber reveals the venom delivery system and the palaeobiology of an ancient lineage of venomous insects (Neuroptera)
Authors: Badano Davide , Fratini Michela , Palermo Francesca , Pieroni Nicola , Maugeri Laura , Cerretti Pierfilippo
Published: May 2024

The larvae of Neuroptera are predators that feed by injecting bioactive compounds into their prey and then suctioning the fluids through modified mouthparts. We explore the evolutionary history of this feeding structure through the examination of a new fossil larva preserved in Late Cretaceous Kachin amber, which we describe as new genus and species, Electroxipheus veneficus gen et sp. nov. X-ray phase-contrast microtomography enabled us to study the anatomy of the larva in 3D, including the reconstruction of the structure of the mouthparts and of the venom delivery system. The specimen exhibited a unique combination of morphological traits not found in any known fossil or extant lacewing, including an unusual structure of the antenna. Phylogenetic analyses, incorporating a selection of living and fossil larval Neuroptera and enforcing maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference, identified the larva as belonging to the stem group Mantispoidea. The larva shows that the anatomy of the feeding and venom-delivery apparatus has remained unchanged in Neuroptera from the Cretaceous to the present. The morphology of the specimen suggest that it was an active predator, in contrast with the scarcely mobile, specialized relatives, like mantispids and berothids.
Effect of β-Lactam Antibiotics on the Gut Microbiota of Term Neonates
Authors: Gu Hongdan , Tao Enfu , Fan Yijia , Long Gao , Jia Xinyi , Yuan Tianming , Chen Lihua , Shu Xiaoli , Zheng Wei , Jiang Mizu
Published: May 2024

β-Lactam antibiotics are a class of antibiotics that are commonly used to treat bacterial infections. However, the effects of β-lactam antibiotics on term neonatal intestinal flora have not been fully elucidated. Hospitalized full-term newborns receiving β-lactam antibiotics formed the antibiotic group, while those without antibiotic treatment comprised the non-antibiotic group. A healthy group included healthy full-term newborns. Stool samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing to analyze gut microbiota variations. Further investigation was carried out within the β-lactam antibiotic group, exploring the effects of antibiotic use on the newborns’ gut microbiota in relation to the duration and type of antibiotic administration, delivery method, and feeding practices. The antibiotic group exhibited significant difference of microbial beta diversity compared to the other groups. Genera like Klebsiella, Enterococcus,Streptococcus, Alistipes, and Aeromonas were enriched, while Escherichia-Shigella, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Bifidobacterium, and Parabacteroideswere reduced. Klebsiella negatively correlated with Escherichia-Shigella, positively with Enterobacter, and Escherichia-Shigella negatively correlated with Enterococcus and Streptococcus. Regardless of neonatal age, β-lactam antibiotics induced elevated Klebsiella andEnterococcus. Impact on gut microbiota varied with antibiotic duration and type (cefotaxime or ampicillin/sulbactam). Compared to vaginal delivery, cesarean delivery after β-lactam treatment heightened the abundance of Klebsiella, Enterobacteriaceae_Unclassified, Lactobacillales_Unclassified, and Pectobacterium. Feeding patterns minimally influenced β-lactam-induced alterations. In conclusion, β-lactam antibiotic treatment for neonatal pneumonia and sepsis markedly disrupted intestinal microbiota, favoring Klebsiella, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Alistipes, and Aeromonas. β-lactam impact varied by duration, type, and delivery method, emphasizing heightened disruptions post-cesarean delivery.
Bridging Realities: Training visuo-haptic object recognition models for robots using 3D virtual simulations
Authors: Ruiz Conrado , de Jesús Òscar , Serrano Claudia , González Alejandro , Nonell Pau , Metaute Arnau , Miralles David
Published: May 2024

This paper proposes an approach for training visuo-haptic object recognition models for robots using synthetic datasets generated by 3D virtual simulations. In robotics, where visual object recognition has witnessed considerable progress due to an abundance of image datasets, the scarcity of diverse haptic samples has resulted in a noticeable gap in research on machine learning incorporating the haptic sense. Our proposed methodology addresses this challenge by utilizing 3D virtual simulations to create realistic synthetic datasets, offering a scalable and cost-effective solution to integrate haptic and visual cues for object recognition seamlessly. Acknowledging the importance of multimodal perception, particularly in robotic applications, our research not only closes the existing gap but envisions a future where intelligent agents possess a holistic understanding of their environment derived from both visual and haptic senses. Our experiments show that synthetic datasets can be used for training object recognition in haptic and visual modes by incorporating noise, performing some preprocessing, data augmentation, or domain adaptation. This work contributes to the advancement of multimodal machine learning towards a more nuanced and comprehensive robotic perception.
Gender differences in the relationship between forbearance and depression among college students — a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Wangrong , Lv Xia , Xiao Rong
Published: May 2024

Background: College students are at a high risk of depression, and forbearance might be a critical resource to help college students alleviate depression. However, forbearance exhibits heterogeneity, with people displaying distinct styles of forbearance in coping with stress. Furthermore, gender differences in the relationship between forbearance and depression have not been investigated. Thus, the study aims to comprehensively explore gender differences in the relationship between forbearance and depression.
Methods: Data were collected from 825 Chinese college students. We assessed their forbearance using the Forbearance Scale (FS) and evaluated their depression using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). A moderated model was used to explore the effect of gender in the relationship between forbearance and depression.
Results: Active forbearance (b = -0.22, t = -5.29, p ＜0.01) had a negative predictive effect on depression in college students, while repressive forbearance (b = 0.10, t = 2.35, p ＜ 0.05) had a positive predictive effect on depression. The interaction term of active forbearance and gender was a significant predictor of depression (b = 0.19, t = 2.71, p ＜0.01), and active forbearance negatively predicted depression in females at a significant level (b = -0.22, t = -5.29, p＜0.01), but not in males (b = -0.03, t = -0.60, p = 0.55). The interaction term of repressive forbearance and gender was not a significant predictor of depression (b = 0.04, t = 0.54, p = 0.59).
Conclusions: The impact of active forbearance on depression was modulated by gender. When utilizing forbearance for psychological health interventions, relevant personnel should consider the heterogeneity of forbearance and potential gender differences to enhance the effectiveness of interventions.
Crystal Structures and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis of Two Inner Salts of 3-carboxy-2-(quinolinium-1-ylmethyl)propanoate, and 3-(3-carbamoylpyridinium-1-yl)-2-(carboxymethyl)propanoate
Authors: Chen Yutao , Hong Xingyi , Jin Shouwen , Ma Xiaodan , Ji Yanglin , Gong Xusen , Wu Ronghui , Wang Daqi
Published: May 2024

Two crystalline inner salts 3-carboxy-2-(quinolinium-1-ylmethyl)propanoate dihydrate (1), and 3-(3-carbamoylpyridinium-1-yl)-2-(carboxymethyl)propanoate (2) were featured by the X-ray diffraction analysis, IR, mp, and elemental analysis. Salt 1 crystallizes in the triclinic, space group P-1, with a = 7.8315(8) Å, b = 11.1063(12) Å, c = 11.3763(14) Å, α = 67.5800(10)º, β = 82.295(2)º, γ = 80.970(2)º,V = 900.38(17) Å3, Z = 2. Salt 2 adopts the monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 8.4782(8) Å, b = 7.7825(7) Å, c = 16.8649(17) Å, β = 97.999(2)º, V = 1101.95(18) Å3, Z = 4. Both salts comprise the extensive O-H···O H-bonds as well as other non-covalent associates. The percentage contribution of the significant non-covalent contacts were calculated via the Hirshfeld surface analysis. The hetero supramolecular synthons R21(6), R22(10), R22(12), R22(13), R22(14), R22(16), R22(22), R33(9), R42(8), R43(10), and R55(17) were established at the both salts. Most of the synthons were not found repeatedly, yet the R22(10) was established at the both cases. The role of these non-covalent interactions in the crystal structure extension is ascertained. These weak interactions combined together, both salts exhibited the 3D framework structures.
Full Vaccination coverage, Smoking, Hypertension and COVID-19-associated Excess Mortality in Southeast Asia Region: GLMM analysis of Real-world Epidemiological Data
Authors: Midon Mu’syadzwinna Binti , Ngatu Nlandu Roger , Kanda Kanae , Hirao Tomohiro , Kanenishi Kenji , Yasuda Saneyuki , Ogawa Takashi , Wada Kenji , Nishiyama Akira
Published: May 2024

Background. From Wuhan (China) where its originated, COVID-19 has rapidly spread worldwide; mass vaccination and cardiometabolic disorders are reported to influence the disease prognosis and mortality burden. We applied a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to explore associations between COVID-19 mortality, full vaccination coverage and cardiometabolic health indicators in Southeast Asia region (SEAR).Methods. A region-wide ecological analysis of aggregate COVID-19 data of 10 SEAR countries (January 2020-December 2022) was performed. Databases used were from John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center and WHO. Excess deaths associated with COVID-19/100,000 and case-fatality rate (CFR) were outcome variables. GLMM was performed to determine the predictors of COVID-19 mortality; adjustment was made for sociodemographics. Statistical significance level was set at p < 0.01 (double-sided).Results. Adjusted GLMM analysis showed that number of excess deaths due to COVID-19/100,000 was strongly and positively associated with age-standardized smoking (coeff.= 9.18 (SE: 2.15); p < 0.001) and hypertension prevalence (coeff.= 25.98 (SE: 9.15); p < 0.01), whereas it was strongly and negatively associated with full vaccination coverage rate (coeff.= -5.23 (SE: 1.54); p < 0.01) and log-transformed GDP per capita (coeff.= -102.01 (SE: 18.31); p < 0.001). COVID-19 CFR was positively associated with age-standardized hypertension prevalence (coeff.= 0.30 (SE: 0.16); p < 0.01), negatively with full vaccination coverage rate (coeff.= -0.05 (SE: 0.01); p < 0.01) and GDP per capita (coeff.= -1.09 (SE: 0.34); p < 0.01). The associations observed in the multivariate analysis remained true in the stratified analysis using quartiles.Conclusion. Study findings suggest that implementing effective public health interventions that increase vaccine uptake and improve cardiometabolic health would have reduced COVID-19 mortality in SEAR.
Effect of Surface Crosslinking on the Wear and Friction Behavior of Tea Polyphenol Stabilized Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene for Total Joint Replacements
Authors: Ahmad Adnan , Shah Nouman Ali , Gul Rizwan M. , Kamran M. Ali , Ishaq M. Aaqib , Xu Jia Zhuang , Li Zhong Ming , Sagbas Binnur
Published: May 2024

Highly crosslinked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with vitamin E (VE) as an antioxidant is widely accepted as a bearing material for joint implants. VE significantly helps in resisting oxidation, but it poses concerns about the loss of crosslink density and causes deterioration of the wear performance. This research aims to hypothesized that tea polyphenols, such as lipid-soluble epigallocatechin gallate (lsEGCG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) could inhibit the usual decrease in crosslink density due to VE, leading to higher wear performance. The antioxidants were blended with UHMWPE at 0.2 wt%, followed by surface chemical crosslinking using di-cumyl peroxide. The surface properties such as crosslink density, roughness, co-efficient of friction and wear performance is evaluated in detail. The results show a significantly higher crosslinked density of lsEGCG and EGCG blended UHMWPE, compared to VE stabilized UHMWPE, which was 17% lower than the virgin UHMWPE. The co-efficient of friction increased after crosslinking and was relatively higher in tea polyphenol blended UHMWPE, confirming a highly crosslinked network structure. The wear resistance of surface crosslinked tea polyphenol stabilized UHMWPE was significantly higher in comparison to crosslinked UHMWPE stabilized with VE. In addition, a substantial number of scratches, furrows, and flakes were observed on the surface of VE stabilized UHMWPE as compared to tea polyphenol stabilized UHMWPE. It was concluded that tea polyphenols are promising alternatives to VE for improvement in the overall performance and longevity of UHMWPE based implants.
Identification Method of Top Plate Pallet of Underground Roadways in Coal Mines Based on Improved Faster R-CNN
Authors: Ma Lisen , Tian Yuan , Li Chengcheng
Published: May 2024

Pallets are an important feature in intelligent coal mine applications based on machine vision technology such as coal mine roadway roof monitoring and automatic equipment positioning, where whether pallets can be accurately identified is the key to such application technology. A roof pallet recognition method based on improved Faster R-CNN is designed. Firstly, the ResNet50 network with better feature extraction effect is selected to replace the VGG16 feature extraction network in the original Faster R-CNN model; Secondly, according to the aspect ratio of pallets and incomplete pallets, the candidate box size in the region suggestion network is optimized based on K-means++ clustering algorithm to fit the pallet size, so that the model can accurately locate the borders; finally, for the coal mine underground environment, low visibility and other problems that affect the pallet is difficult to be detected, the attention mechanism module is introduced in the feature extraction network ResNet50 to enhance the saliency of the pallet in the image and strengthen the attention of the network to the pallet, thus improving the efficiency and accuracy of pallet detection. In the simulated roadway, the AGV trolley is used to simulate the roadheader, and the tray image is collected by the airborne camera for the test. The proposed algorithm is compared with three classical algorithms. The experimental results show that the improved Faster R-CNN model has good robustness, and the average mean accuracy (mAP) of recognizing pallets is 92.53%, which is 7.59% higher than the original Faster R-CNN network.
Dyskinesia after Levetiracetam Therapy: A Case Report
Authors: Doumiati Hassan , Ezzeddine Ali
Published: May 2024

This is a case report of a 71-year-old female with advanced Parkinson's disease, post-DBS surgery, presenting with uncontrolled jerking movements and impaired consciousness. Upon admission patient was diagnosed with seizure due to a suspected subclinical infection despite negative blood work, MRI and cultures. Patient was treated with Levetiracetam via a loading dose of 40mg/kg and started 500mg twice daily. She was later discharged on Levetiracetam and presented to the clinic 4 days later complaining of progressive dyskinesias prompting its discontinuation and replacement with Lacosamide. The patient's dyskinetic movements significantly improved within 24 hours. Contrary to literature suggesting LEV's anti-dyskinetic effects, this case raises questions about paradoxical hypersensitivity or genetic variations leading to unexpected outcomes. Concurrent Pramipexole use adds complexity, given its distinct mechanism from LEV. This report highlights the importance of vigilance for rare adverse effects in patients with complex neurodegenerative medication regimens. MeSH Terms: Levetiracetam, Dyskinesias, Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions, Drug Interactions
Using driver monitoring to estimate readiness in automation: A conceptual model based on simulator experimental data
Authors: Gonçalves Rafael C. , Goodridge Courtney M. , Kuo Jonny , Lenné Mike G. , Merat Natasha
Published: May 2024

This paper provides a theoretical overview of how the concept of driver readiness can be objectively measured, using controlled experimental data. First, a literature review regarding the concept of driver readiness is provided. Then, it highlights challenges for a standardized readiness estimation model. A conceptual readiness estimation model is presented, and a methodology is proposed for defining readiness thresholds for use by Driver State Monitoring (DSM) systems. The paper then explores how this model can be used to estimate readiness thresholds. A proof of concept for the model application is presented, using previously collected experimental involving SAE Level 2 automation. This paper contributes to the state of the art in DSM-development, by providing a methodology for estimating driver readiness, while considering variabilities across individual drivers. The model also allows readiness thresholds to be defined with data from driving simulator experiments, without relying on subjective assessment of readiness as its ground truth.
Stability of Multi-Peptide Vaccines in Conditions Enabling Accessibility in Limited Resource Settings
Authors: Ashkani Emily , McKenna Brian , Bryant Jennifer , Silva Dilza , Sherman Nicholas , Chianese-Bullock Kimberly , Slingluff Craig
Published: May 2024

We have previously shown that lyophilized mixtures of six- and twelve-melanoma peptide vaccines retain stability, purity, and amino acid sequence identity for up to five years when stored at -80°C. However, this temperature requirement presents a significant obstacle to storage and distribution of vaccines for low-resource environments. Thus, we examined the stability of these peptides over a range of temperatures for varying durations of time. When stored at + 4°C or at room temperature for up to one month, 17 of the 18 peptides remained stable. The only change for the remaining peptide was an increase in an oxidized methionine residue. The results presented in this report support broadening the accessibility of these and other peptide-based vaccines to resources-limited communities.
Active vitamin D corrects cerebrovascular dysfunction and aberrant vasopressin expression in the hypertension phenotype of 1α-hydroxylase knockout mice
Authors: Zhang Wei , Hu Yingying , Zhang Luqing , Dong Ping , Li Dongmei , Du Ronghui
Published: May 2024

Background Under hypertensive conditions, vitamin D has a protective effect on the brain. Our previous research showed that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] negatively regulates hypertension and central renin–angiotensin system activation partly through a central antioxidative mechanism in 1α-hydroxylase knockout [1α(OH)ase–/–] mice. To further confirm whether the endogenous 1,25(OH)2D3 deficiency and exogenous 1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation alter cerebrovascular function and vasopressin expression through antioxidation, we provided 1α(OH)ase–/– mice and their wild-type littermates with normal diet; a high-calcium, high-phosphorus rescue diet with N-acetyl-l-cysteine supplementation; or 1,25(OH)2D3 subcutaneous injection. We analysed and compared the changes in arterial blood pressure, brain microvessel reactivity, cerebral blood flow, expression of hypothalamic vasopressin, and brain/blood oxidation and antioxidative indices using caudal artery plethysmography, isolated microvessel pressure myographs, laser Doppler flowmetry, immunohistochemistry, western blot and biochemistry. Results Compared with their wild-type littermates, the hypertension phenotype was present in the 1α(OH)ase–/– mice, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus vasopressin expression was significantly upregulated, and the posterior cerebral artery reaction to the vasodilatory effect of acetylcholine and vasoconstrictive effect of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-nitro-arginine was significantly decreased. Brain/blood oxidative stress was increased, but the antioxidative parameters were decreased. These pathologic changes were corrected by 1,25(OH)2D3 or N-acetyl-l-cysteine plus rescue diet. Conclusions our findings indicate that 1,25(OH)2D3 has an inhibitory effect on vasopressin expression and cerebrovascular dysfunction. 1,25(OH)2D3 may be a promising protective intervention to reduce brain impaired induced by oxidative stress in the hypertension phenotype of 1α(OH)ase–/– mice.
Chronopotentiometry driven electrodeposition of Cu- Ni-W thin films on ITO substrate: A comprehensive study of microstructure and corrosion behaviour
Authors: Saini Himanshu , Singh Ravi , Khatri Manvendra Singh
Published: May 2024

Cu-Ni-W thin films are deposited by varying the current density from − 5 to -60 mA/cm² using the galvanostatic chronopotentiogram method on ITO-coated glass substrates. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that Cu-Ni-W thin films exhibit a face-centered cubic structure with the presence of specific crystallographic planes, particularly (111), (200), and (220), at 2θ values of 43.4°, 50.7°, and 74.7°. The additional peaks observed at other 2θ values correspond to NiW and Ni4W phases. It is found that film deposited at higher current densities favor the growth of smaller crystalline size of 17 nm and higher degree of texture coefficient of 2.48. The maximum value of micro-strain of about 16% is calculated from the peak broadening of X-ray diffractograms. Due to the strong (111) texture and nano crystallites as confirmed by XRD resulted in an outstanding corrosion resistance of 16.22 kΩ cm² for the film deposited at -60 mA/cm².
Exploring the relations between ethical reasoning and moral intuitions among Chinese engineering students in a course on global engineering ethics
Authors: Clancy Rockwell F. , Zhu Qin
Published: May 2024

Research in engineering ethics has assessed the ethical reasoning of students in mostly the US. However, it is not clear that ethical judgments are primarily the result of ethical reasoning, or that conclusions based on US samples would be true of global populations. China now graduates and employs more STEM (science technology engineering and mathematics) majors than any other country in the world, but the moral cognition and ethics education of Chinese engineers remains understudied. To address this gap, a study was conducted examining the relations between ethical reasoning, moral intuitions, and ethics education among engineering students in China. Engineering students at a university in Shanghai, China completed measures of ethical reasoning and moral intuitions before and after a course on global engineering ethics. Among engineering students in China, (1) ethical reasoning is positively related to an emphasis on care and fairness and (2) global ethics education results in significantly higher levels of ethical reasoning, as well as a greater concern with fairness and loyalty. Whereas the relation between ethical reasoning and moral intuitions among engineering students in China is similar to that of students in the US, ethics education affects engineering students in China differently from their US counterparts.
QxEAI - Automated probabilistic forecasting with Quantum-like evolutionary algorithm
Authors: Xin Kevin , Xin Lizhi
Published: May 2024

Forecasting, to estimate future events, is crucial for business and decision-making. This paper proposes QxEAI, a methodology that produces a probabilistic forecast that utilizes a quantum-like evolutionary algorithm based on training a quantum-like logic decision tree and a classical value tree on a small number of related time series. By using different cycles of the Dow Jones Index (yearly, monthly, weekly, daily), we demonstrate how our methodology produces accurate forecasts while requiring little to none manual work.
Antioxidant defense responses of hulled wheat varieties to the addition of sodium and potassium salts and exogenous glycine-betaine, and evaluation of the usability of these hulled wheats in the remediation of saline soils
Authors: Temizgul Ridvan
Published: May 2024

Soil salinization is an important factor that reduces crop yield by causing soil degradation, severely restricting plant growth and development. We examined the usability of four types of ancient ancestral hulled wheat plants in saline soils based on the enzymatic and non-enzymatic responses of the wheat plants to salt stress and evaluated the ability of these varieties to be used in saline soils. We investigated the extent to which four different ancient hulled wheat species from Turkey can be cultivated in saline soils based on their antioxidant response to different salt stresses and the contribution of exogenously applied GB to this response. The fresh and dry weights of the roots and leafy stems of the plants; plant height; leaf length; chlorophyll and carotene contents; total protein, proline and MDA accumulation; and antioxidant enzyme activities were also analyzed. Concentrations of both sodium and potassium chloride salts above 100 mM cause high levels of stress in hulled wheat. When sodium and potassium chloride salts are given together, this stress decreases by approximately 20–30%, and when plants are supplemented with exogenous glycine-betaine, almost all the negative effects of stress disappear. For successful plant growth in saline/sodic environments, it seems that both the type of salt and the type of plant grown in the salty environment are important rather than the amount of salt in the environment. Specifically, in soils where salinity is caused by sodium, ancient hulled wheat is grown rather than modern cultivated wheat, and if potassium-based fertilizers are applied to plants in addition to nitrogen-based fertilizers, the plant can control the ingress of salt into the cell and cope with salinity stress by maintaining the intracellular K+/Na + balance.
Adiabatic Quantum Power Flow
Authors: Kaseb Zeynab , Moller Matthias , Vergara Pedro P. , Palensky Peter
Published: May 2024

Power flow (PF) analysis is a foundational computational method to study the flow of power in an electrical network. This analysis involves solving a set of non-linear and non-convex differential-algebraic equations. State-of-the-art solvers for PF analysis, therefore, face challenges with scalability and convergence, specifically for large-scale and/or ill-conditioned cases characterized by high penetration of renewable energy sources, among others. The adiabatic quantum computing paradigm has been proven to efficiently find solutions for combinatorial problems in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era, and it can potentially address the limitations posed by state-of-the-art PF solvers. For the first time, we propose a novel adiabatic quantum computing approach for efficient PF analysis. Our key contributions are (i) a combinatorial PF algorithm and (ii) an adiabatic quantum PF algorithm (AQPF), both of which use Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) and Ising model formulations; (iii) a scalability study of the AQPF algorithm; and (iv) an extension of the AQPF algorithm for larger problem sizes using a partitioned approach. Numerical experiments are conducted using different test system sizes on D-Wave’s Advantage™ quantum annealer, Fujitsu’s digital annealer V3, D-Wave’s quantum-classical hybrid annealer, and two simulated annealers running on classical computer hardware. The reported results demonstrate the effectiveness and high accuracy of the proposed AQPF algorithm and its potential to speed up the PF analysis process while handling ill-conditioned cases using quantum and quantum-inspired algorithms.
Brinkman Equation in Tangent Sphere and Cardioid
Coordinate Systems: Stream Function Solution
Authors: Maurya Deepak Kumar , Sharma Vikas Kumar
Published: May 2024

In the present investigation, we have identified the stream function solution of the Brinkman equation in both the cardioid coordinates (λ, σ, ζ) and tangent sphere coordinates (τ, η, ζ). Trigonometric functions, special functions such as modified Bessel functions and Bessel functions, are contained in the analytical expressions of the stream function and velocity components. We also discussed about how permeability depends on the estimated stream function solution for the Brinkman equation in the cardioid and tangent sphere coordinate systems, which can be deduced as a particular scenario that corresponds with the solution which is currently available [7].
MSC (2020): 35G05, 35C05, 76S05
Higher-group symmetry of (3+1)D fermionic $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge theory: Logical CCZ, CS, and T gates from higher symmetry
Authors: Barkeshli Maissam , Hsin Po-Shen , Kobayashi Ryohei
Published: May 2024

It has recently been understood that the complete global symmetry of finite group topological gauge theories contains the structure of a higher-group. Here we study the higher-group structure in (3+1)D \mathbb{Z}_2ℤ2 gauge theory with an emergent fermion, and point out that pumping chiral p+ipp+ip topological states gives rise to a \mathbb{Z}_{8}ℤ8 0-form symmetry with mixed gravitational anomaly. This ordinary symmetry mixes with the other higher symmetries to form a 3-group structure, which we examine in detail. We then show that in the context of stabilizer quantum codes, one can obtain logical CCZ and CS gates by placing the code on a discretization of T^3T3 (3-torus) and T^2 \rtimes_{C_2} S^1T2⋊C2S1 (2-torus bundle over the circle) respectively, and pumping p+ipp+ip states. Our considerations also imply the possibility of a logical TT gate by placing the code on \mathbb{RP}^3ℝℙ3 and pumping a p+ipp+ip topological state.
Green perspective on intellectual capital, corporate social responsibility, and competitive advantage: The role of firm performance
Authors: Hermawan Sigit , Tawfeeq Yousif Alabdullah Tariq , Sriyono Sriyono , Sudarso Satrio , Utomo Prasetyo
Published: May 2024

Green economy issues can occur both in the external and internal environment of business entities in terms of intellectual capital activities, social responsibility, and competitive advantage. This study aims to examine the relationship between intellectual capital, corporate social responsibility, firm performance, and competitive advantage through the mediating role of firm performance from a green perspective. Data were collected from annual reports accessed through the official Stock Exchange websites in each respective research country. The number of samples used is 60 sample data from pharmaceutical companies in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Data analysis is carried out using multiple linear regression, path analysis, and Sobel test. This study shows that green intellectual capital, corporate social responsibility, and firm performance have a significant effect on green competitive advantage. Green intellectual capital and green corporate social responsibility have a significant effect on firm performance. Regarding mediating relationships, the results showed green intellectual capital and corporate social responsibility can increase green competitive advantage through firm performance. This shows that a company manager should pay attention to improving intellectual capital capability and corporate social responsibility because they have been proven to improve firm performance and competitive advantage in the context of green economy issues.