bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a solution based on GIS and fuzzy logic to rescue earthquake victims
Authors: Aghamohammadi Hossein , Baikpour Shahram , Jalali seyed hossein , Mohammadikhas Uranos , Behzadi Saeed
Published: June 2024

Earthquake is one of the natural disasters that can cause significant loss of life and property. The unpredictable nature of earthquakes distinguishes them from the other natural disasters, making them a primary topic of crisis management. There are some extensive and carefully-planned measures to deal with this crisis, one of which is the management of rescue forces to rescue people trapped in collapsed buildings. Research has shown that the chance of trapped people surviving after 72 hours is almost zero. In this study, the survivability of people trapped in collapsed buildings was modeled with the time elapsed and the population density. The model of Coburn and Spence was used as the base method for estimating the survivability of trapped people. In this study, buildings were classified into eight categories. A fuzzy inference engine was then built with the time elapsed and building’s type as input, and survivability as its sole output. The data related to district 11 of Tehran was given to this fuzzy inference engine to generate survivability maps for 8, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours after earthquakes with an intensity of 7 and 9 on the Mercalli scale. The results showed that in the both Mercalli 7 and 9, buildings in the northern part of the area rapidly collapse, trapping a large number of people, which leads to decrease in survivability in this area. However, survivability decreases with a nearly constant pattern in other parts. According, urban planners can adopt preventive measures and build rescue and relief sites in these areas before the expected earthquake.
Disruption of microtubules with low intensity ultrasound rescues hair follicle damage by paclitaxel
Authors: Xu Xiang-Xi , Amaya Celina , Luo Shihua , Cheret Jeremy , Smith Elizabeth
Published: June 2024

Paclitaxel exemplifies one of the key taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel, cabazitaxel), a group of versatile and effective drugs commonly used in chemotherapy for several major cancer types. These drugs work by stabilizing cellular microtubules, a unique mechanism to account for their impressive success in oncology. Unfortunately, side effects and inevitable development of resistance limit their utility. Hair loss (alopecia) is a well-known adverse side effect and poses a significant quality of life issue for many patients. Substantial efforts have been made to prevent or limit alopecia in chemotherapy, however their efficacy is minimal.
We discovered that a brief exposure to low intensity and low frequency ultrasound at a defined timing is able to eliminate toxicity of paclitaxel (and other taxanes) in cultured cells by breaking the stabilized cellular microtubules. We subsequently showed that a brief exposure of low intensity ultrasound was able to break cellular microtubules and mitotic spindles transiently in hair follicle matrix cells of the furred skin of live mice. Such treatment reversed mitotic arrest by paclitaxel in the proliferative hair follicle matrix cells and prevented cell death, and thus annulled the consequent hair follicle damage and suppression of hair growth following paclitaxel administrations. These experimental findings herald a practical method that is within reach to prevent hair loss in cancer chemotherapy using taxanes.
Correlation between sleep disorder, anxiety, depression, and sarcopenia in multiethnic areas of western China
Authors: Xu Zhigang , Liu Xiaolei , Ning Huang , Zhang Gongchang , Jia Shuli , Xia Xin , Hu Fengjuan , Ge Meiling , Dong Birong
Published: June 2024

Background
Sarcopenia not only leads to impaired physical function but may also be associated with changes in sleep and mental health as individuals age. Research on the relationship between sleep, anxiety, and depression and adultonset sarcopenia is limited; however, there are no reports indicating the relationship between them and the different groups of sarcopenia. The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between sarcopenia (diagnosed sarcopenia, severe sarcopenia) and sleep, anxiety, and depression in different groups in the multiethnic region of western China based on the 2019 Asian sarcopenia diagnostic criteria.
Methods
The diagnostic method recommended by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019 was used to screen for sarcopenia. The population in the multiethnic region of western China included in this study underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis to classify sarcopenia into the diagnosed sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia groups, while also recording other data for analysis. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, and the 15-item geriatric depression scale were used to assess the sleep quality, anxiety, and depression status of participants, respectively. Multiple logistic regression multivariate analysis was used to determine the relationship among sleep, anxiety, depression, and the different types of sarcopenia.
Results
Among the 4500 participants surveyed in the western region of China, 408 (9.06%) were identified as having myasthenia gravis and 618 (13.73%) as having severe myasthenia gravis, whereas 2015 individuals (44.78%) had poor sleep quality, 842 (18.71%) had anxiety, and 1045 (23.22%) had depression. Sleep abnormalities were associated with severe sarcopenia (odds ratio [OR]: 0.717, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.550–0.934), whereas depression was associated with diagnosed sarcopenia (OR: 1.289, 95%CI 1.032–1.608) and severe sarcopenia (OR: 1.622, 95%CI 1.032–1.608).
Conclusion
The western region of China is a multiethnic area with 44.78% of participants > 50 years of age experiencing poor sleep quality, 18.71% suffering from anxiety, and 23.22% experiencing depression. It may be possible to delay or reduce the severity of sarcopenia by early intervention in improving sleep quality and alleviating depression.
Clinical trial number
: ChiCTR1800018895
Anomalous Gate-tunable Capacitance in Graphene Moiré Heterostructures
Authors: Shi Yanmeng , Chen Linshang , Long Haoran , Wu Heng , Mei Rui , Su Zhengyu , Feng Mengjie , Wu Jiangbin , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Cao Xuewei , Wei Zhongming , Tan Ping-Heng
Published: June 2024

Moiré ferroelectricity in graphene/hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) heterostructures driven by charge ordering instead of traditional lattice displacement has drawn considerable attention because of its fascinating properties and promising applications in neuromorphic computing and so on. Combining the interface engineered ferroelectricity and strong correlations in moiré heterostructures could enable the realization of novel quantum states such as ferroelectric superconductivity and multiferroicity. Here we study the electronic transport properties of twisted double bilayer graphene (TDBLG), aligned with one of the neighbouring hBN. We observe a strong gating hysteresis and the electronic ratchet effect. We find that the top gate is anomalously screened, while the back gate is anomalously doubly efficient in injecting charges into graphene, that is, the effective back gate capacitance is two times larger than its geometry capacitance. This unexpected gate-tunable capacitance causes a dramatic change in electric fields between forward and backward scans. The anomalous change in capacitance could be explained with a spontaneous electric polarization located between top hBN and graphene. Our work provides more insights into the mysterious ferroelectricity in graphene/hBN moiré heterostructures and paves the way to the understanding of the underlying mechanism.
Causal relationship between gut microbiota and diabetic complications: a two- sample Mendelian Randomization study
Authors: Liu Jinya , Chen Yuanyuan , Peng Cheng
Published: June 2024

Background: Imbalances in gut microbiota (GM) have been proposed as a potential contributing factor to diabetic complications; however, the causal relationship remains incompletely understood.
Methods: Summary statistics were obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of 196 gut microbial taxa, including 9 phyla, 16 classes, 20 orders, 32 families, and 119 genera. These data were then analyzed using mediation Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to explore the potential mediating effect of diabetes complications risk factors on the relationship between gut microbiota and specific diabetic complications such as diabetic kidney disease (DKD), ketoacidosis, and diabetic retinopathy (DR).
Results: In our Mendelian analysis, we observed negative associations between Bifidobacterial order and Actinomycete phylum with DKD in type 1 diabetes (T1D) as well as early DKD in T1D. Conversely, these taxa showed positive associations with ketoacidosis in type 2 diabetes (T2D). In reverse Mendelian analysis, we found that DR in both T1D and T2D as well as ketoacidosis in T2D affected the abundance of Eubacterium fissicaten genus and LachnospiraceaeUCG010 family within the gut flora.
Conclusions: Our findings provide compelling evidence for causal relationships between specific GM taxa and various diabetes complications. These insights contribute valuable knowledge for developing treatments targeting diabetes-related complications.
Effect of training sequences on the maximum strength and explosive power of the lower limbs
Authors: WANG Shuo , YI Qing , GUO Yiran , CHEN Zitong
Published: June 2024

This study investigated the effects of different 8-week concurrent training sequences on the maximal strength and explosive power of lower extremities in male college students. Forty male students from sports colleges were divided into four groups, following the same training content and load over an 8-week period and prioritizing different types of training: resistance-training (GCOM1 RT + ET), endurance-training (GCOM1 ET + RT), two-session resistance-training (GCOM2 RT + ET), and two-session endurance-training (GCOM2 ET + RT) priority groups. The one-repetition maximum (1RM) deep squat score improved significantly after different training sequences (F = 12.240, p < 0.001, ES = 0.238). Post hoc two-by-two comparisons showed that the effect size was significantly lower in the GCOM1 RT + ET (p < 0.05), GCOM2 RT + ET (p < 0.05), and GCOM2 ET + RT (p < 0.05) groups. The 1RM hard pull improved significantly after different training sequences (F = 3.674, p = 0.021, ES = 0.234). Post hoc two-by-two comparisons showed that the degree of variables was significantly lower in the endurance-first group than in the two-session strength-first group (p < 0.05) and the two-session endurance-first group (p < 0.05). Squat jumps improved significantly after different training sequences (F = 12.405, p < 0.001, ES = 0.508). Post hoc two-by-two comparisons showed that the degree of variables was significantly higher in the strength-first exercise group during the same session than in the endurance-first exercise group during the same session (p < 0.05), two-session strength-first exercise group (p < 0.05), and two-session endurance-first exercise group (p < 0.05). Squat jumps improved after different training sequences without significant differences (F = 0.495, p = 0.688, ES = 0.004). The GCOM2 training sequence was more effective than the GCOM1 sequence in improving the maximum strength of the lower limbs. The RT + ET training sequence was more effective in improving the countermovement jump height using the GCOM1 training sequence. Future research should consider factors such as training pattern and intensity.
Core competencies of different-level clinical nurse specialists: A comparative study between two years
Authors: Zhao Yafang , Lai Xiaoxing , Zheng Danping , Zhang Xinyue , Zhang Hongmei , Huo Xiaopeng
Published: June 2024

Background: To promote the collaborative development of CNSs at different levels, it is necessary to have a targeted understanding of the current core capabilities of CNSs at different levels. The study aims to describe and compare the core competencies of clinical nurse specialist (CNS) between two years in China and investigate the differences among three levels of expertise of CNSs: primary, intermediate, and advanced.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. An online survey was conducted in 5 November, 2021 and 7 November, 2023. The study was conducted in a grade 3A hospital in China. A population sample of clinical nurse specialists from China was recruited. Core competency was assessed through a self-evaluation strategy, and the assessment instrument included five first-level domains and 35 items. The data were analysed based on their level and survey year.
Results: A total of 483 clinical nurse specialists, classified into primary, intermediate, and advanced levels of expertise, participated in the study. The average CNS competency scores increased after two years (P=.002). Among the primary-level CNSs, the scores for all five core competencies significantly differed from 2021 to 2023 (P= .032, .009, .031, .006, .047). The competency of intermediate-level CNSs improved throughout the two years, and their scores for ‘consulting and teaching’ and ‘management and leadership’ were significantly different (P< .001). For advanced-level CNSs, self-assessment scores all increased but were not significantly different.
Conclusion: After two years of working at the clinic and receiving further education, the overall core abilities of specialized nurses improved. The performance improvement of intermediate specialized nurses is particularly outstanding, and they are the most popular among colleagues in clinical practice and can provide effective care for patients. The core abilities of primary and intermediate clinical nurse specialists need to be further improved to meet the more urgent needs of hospitals and patients in difficult clinical problems, team management, and professional development.
Infection pattern of male-killing viruses alters phenotypes in the tea tortrix moth, Homona magnanima
Authors: Takamatsu Takumi , Arai Hiroshi , Itoh Yoshiyuki , Wu Chien-Fu , Kitaura Kentaro , Inoue Maki
Published: June 2024

Male-killing is a microbe-induced reproductive manipulation in invertebrates whereby male hosts are eliminated during development. In the tea tortrix moth Homona magnanima, Osugoroshi viruses 1‒3 (OGVs/ Partitiviridae) induce male-killing. OGVs co-infect with a host individual, however, it is still unclear how infection patterns influence host phenotypes remains largely unknown. Using field-collected larvae, we established the OGV1 and OGV3 double infection line, in addition to a triple infection line, and examined the dsRNA segments, purified viral proteins, OGVs density, and host phenotypes. PCR analysis showed that the triple infection line lost one dsRNA segment, while the double infection line lost eight segments including one RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene. LC-MS analysis detected three potential structural proteins in the OGVs. Males died in the larval stage when infected with three different OGVs and at the embryo-larval stages when infected with OGVs 1 and OGV3, even though no apparent correlation between virus density and lethal stages was found. Compared to the triple infection line, the larval period of the double infection line was significantly longer. These results suggest that, rather than viral density, the pattern of viral infection controls the stage of development at which male-killing occurs. The shorter larval period of in the triple-infection line would probably be advantageous over the double-infection line in maximizing transmission efficiency.
Assessment of the elevation-dependent warming of land surface temperatures in the Qinling-Daba Mountains and its relationship with land surface albedo and aerosol optical depth from 2001 to 2021
Authors: Lian Yuanyuan , Tang Jiale , Zhang Yanli , Zhao Fang , Yu Haifang , Zheng Zhixian , Wang Yumeng
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we examined the elevation-dependent warming (EDW) patterns of MODIS LST across different seasons in the Qinling-Daba Mountains, further investigate the connections between the EDW patterns of LST and ALB as well as AOD. The key findings include: 1) Our study reveals a robust correlation between LST and air temperature in the Qinling-Daba Mountains, suggesting the feasibility of using MODIS LST to predict the temperature trends 2) During the period from 2001 to 2010, MODIS LST shows a significant EDW trend, primarily in the spring season. In contrast, a negative EDW is observed in the period during 2011–2021, which is contrary to the earlier decade, particularly during the autumn and winter seasons. 3) EDW of MODIS LST is affected by the combination of ALB and AOD. The former has a negative influence on the change of LST, particularly above 2500 m in elevation. However, the latter is negatively correlated with the trend of MODIS LST, primarily at lower and middle altitudes (0-2500 m). This study gives a comprehensive explanation for the EDW of the temporal variations of LST in the Qinling-Daba Mountains to improve our understanding of the complex interactions and potential future climate scenarios in the region.
Traffic Safety Evaluation and Accident Modelling at Horro Guduru Wallaga Zone
Authors: Garoma Shiferaw , Tolera Daniel , Kumar Sitesh
Published: June 2024

One of the principal reasons of losses and wounds international was traffic accidents. Ethiopia was among the top nations for traffic coincidences. The aim of the investigation was to determine the main causes that contribute to traffic accidents on the roads in the Horro Guduru Wallaga Zone, to investigate these factors and suggest potential solutions, and to gather empirical data on the viability of existing solutions to problems. The objective of this study was to measure Road Traffic accident associated subjects to Horro Guduru Wallaga zone in terms of time. The key data essential for the study would be gathered from the daily road traffic accident records present of the zone. In this study, the management status and factors connected to drivers in the Horro Guduru Wallaga Zone were to be determined. Structured interviews and both open-ended & closed-ended surveys were created for population of the chosen sample. There were 520 samples drawn from these target demographics, distributed among five sites in the zone: 300 were pedestrians, 170 were drivers & 50 were traffic police & other relevant accountable entities. Demographic factors, excessive speeding, overloading, driving while intoxicated, overtaking too closely, and inexperienced driving are all issues associated with the driver. Participants also gave their opinions on the distribution of adequate traffic police, the lack of road signals & symbols, the failure to raise community awareness, the absence of combined efforts with institutions (both governmental & non-governmental), the lack of commitment from supervising bodies, & dishonesty. Last but not least, the researchers advised other investigators who were attracted in this field to broaden their study zone & contain documenting accidents & measuring vehicle speeds appropriately. In general, the mixed traffic flow in congested and heavily pedestrianized areas, improper management of public transportation in urban areas, subpar vehicle quality, poor upkeep & expansion of roads, carelessness on the part of drivers outstanding to inadequate exercise and challenging, carelessness on the part of pedestrians unpaid to lax laws, and poor traffic governor & enforcement all contribute to a higher risk of accidents on the roads of Horro Guduru Wallaga Zone.
Examining environmental sustainability in last-mile delivery: a quality function deployment analysis
Authors: Agarwal Alpana , Ojha Ravindra
Published: June 2024

Considering the unprecedented growth in last-mile delivery (LMD) of goods in the e-commerce business, the paper aims to analyze its related environmental sustainability concerns. It involves prioritizing the barriers to sustainable LMD and recommending countermeasures to minimise the growing adverse impact of last-mile logistics on the environment. The Quality Function Deployment (QFD) approach is applied to convert the LMD barriers into sustainable LMD design requirements. It utilizes Delphi approach to capture inputs for the development of the House of Quality (HOQ) framework. The analysis from the HOQ has highlighted that four dominant barriers contribute approximately 70% to the total sustainability issues of LMD. These are high emissions due to fossil-fuelled vehicles, lack of consumer awareness, increasing traffic congestion due to delivery vehicles, and growing expectations from today’s end-consumers. Five out of the nine countermeasures identified together have a significant 72% contribution in mitigating the adverse impact of the growing LMD.
Precise determining lymphovascular infiltration and the role of tumor-associated macrophage in cervical cancer
Authors: Guan Liming , Xu Xuexiang , Xu Junhao , Xu Gang , Zhang Yunzhu , Xia Haitao
Published: June 2024

Background: Accurate determination of lymphovascular infiltration(LVI) status can guide the accurate surgical scope of cervical cancer patients and improve the prognosis.
But LVI reduces overall survival (OS) of cervical cancer patients and not easy detected by routine HE staining.The role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in this process is not well defined.
Methods: Early stage cervical cancer patients received carbon nanoparticles(CNP) for sentinel lymph nodes(SLNs) mapping,laparotomy pelvic lymph node dissection and radical hysterectomy.The samples were detected for ultra staging,cocktail double immunohistochemical(IHC) staining, Flow cytometry and Western blot anlysis.
Results: The combine of CNP mapping,ultra staging and double IHC staining enhance determining ratio for tumor LVI than that of HE staining alone(41.8% (41/98) vs. 20.4% (20/98), P=0.046)).
When the number of vascular invasion foci>2.0,or the number of cancer emboli cells ≥5.3, there was negative correlation with the OS for patients (p < 0.05).
More M2 macrophage emerged surrounding the tumor vasculature detected by double IHC staining, accompanied higher M2/M1 ratio detected by flow cytometry detection (P<0.05). M2 TAMs number was positive correlation to the number of tumor LVI(P=0.0024),indicating M2 TAMs increased in tumor LVI infiltration.TAMs related genes MMP2,SPARC and GNLY expessed higher level in tumor in Western blot analysis, while the OS of the patients decreased accordingly.
Conclusions: The CNP mapping combined with double IHC staining could improve the precision surgical detection rate of cervical cancer LVI. M2 macrophages polarization and related markers increased cervical cancer tissure LVI.
Being autonomous in dialysis: Association with occupational status, social activity level, quality of life, and physical activity level
Authors: Huré Fabrice , Laruelle Eric , Dolley-Hitze Thibault , Chazot Charles , Bayat Sahar , Couchoud Cécile
Published: June 2024

Introduction. End-stage kidney disease radically alters the patients’ lives. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of employment, financial assistance, global activities, quality of life, and energy expenditure in patients according to the autonomous dialysis modality: Long Nocturnal Hemodialysis (LNHD), Daily Home Hemodialysis (DHHD), Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD), and hemodialysis in a self-care unit. Methods. Voluntary patients (n = 182) treated with an autonomous dialysis modality completed an anonymous e-questionnaire that included items on type of paid employment, voluntary work and leisure activities, and three self-report questionnaires (SONG-Fatigue, Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire, and EuroQol EQ-5D-5L). Results. Overall, 33% of patients had a remunerated activity, 10% of patients were considered as sedentary and 39.6% reported an important physical activity. The SONG-Fatigue median score was 3 (IQR 2–5). Moreover, 54%, 89% and 56% of patients did not report any problem with mobility, self-care, and usual activities, respectively. In addition, 35% of patients did not complain about pain or discomfort and 59% had no anxiety or depression symptoms. Patients estimated their global health status at 60 (IQ 50–80). The LNHD group had more often a remunerated activity and the DHHD group reported fewer problems with usual activities. The APD and LNHD groups experienced pain more often. Conclusion. This study showed a significant overall impact of dialysis on the patients’ daily life with some differences according to the dialysis modality.
Optical skyrmions from metafibers with subwavelength features
Authors: Xiao Qirong , He Tiantian , Meng Yuan , Wang Lele , Zhong Hongkun , Mata-Cervera Nilo , Li Dan , Yan Ping , Liu Qiang , Shen Yijie
Published: June 2024

Optical skyrmions are an emerging class of structured light with sophisticated particle-like topologies with great potential for revolutionizing modern informatics. However, the current generation of optical skyrmions involves complex or bulky systems, hindering the development of practical applications. Here, exploiting the emergent “lab-on-fiber” technology, we demonstrate the design of a metafiber-integrated photonic skyrmion generator. We not only successfully generated high-quality optical skyrmions from metafibers, but also experimentally verified their remarkable properties, such as topology switchable and topological stability with subwavelength features beyond the diffraction limits. Our flexible and fiber-integrated optical skyrmions platform paves the avenue for future applications of topologically-enhanced remote super-resolution microscopy and super-robust information transfer.
Intrinsic Gata4 expression sensitizes the aortic root to dilation in a Loeys-Dietz syndrome mouse model
Authors: Bramel Emily , Camejo Wendy Espinoza , Creamer Tyler , Restrepo Leda , Saqib Muzna , Bagirzadeh Rustam , Zeng Anthony , Mitchell Jacob , Stein-O’Brien Genevieve , Pedroza Albert , Fischbein Michael , Dietz Harry , MacFarlane Elena Gallo
Published: June 2024

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an aneurysm disorder caused by mutations that decrease transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling. Although aneurysms develop throughout the arterial tree, the aortic root is a site of heightened risk. To identify molecular determinants of this vulnerability, we investigated the heterogeneity of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the aorta of Tgfbr1M318R/+ LDS mice by single cell and spatial transcriptomics. Reduced expression of components of the extracellular matrix-receptor apparatus and upregulation of stress and inflammatory pathways were observed in all LDS VSMCs. However, regardless of genotype, a subset of Gata4-expressing VSMCs predominantly located in the aortic root intrinsically displayed a less differentiated, proinflammatory profile. A similar population was also identified among aortic VSMCs in a human scRNAseq dataset. Postnatal VSMC-specific Gata4 deletion reduced aortic root dilation in LDS mice, suggesting that this factor sensitizes the aortic root to the effects of impaired TGF-β signaling.
Human exposure to air contaminants under the far-UVC system operation in an office: Effects of lamp position and ventilation condition
Authors: Park Seongjun , Rim Donghyun
Published: June 2024

The far-UVC (222 nm) system has emerged as a solution for controlling airborne transmission, yet its effect on indoor air quality concerning positioning remains understudied. In this study, we examined the impact of far-UVC lamp position on the disinfection and secondary contaminant formation in a small office. We employed a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to integrate UV intensity fields formed by different lamp positions (ceiling-mounted, wall-mounted, and stand-alone types) with the air quality model. Our findings reveal that the ceiling-mounted type reduces human exposure to airborne pathogens by up to 80%. For all the lamp positions, the O3 concentration in the breathing zone increases by 4–6 ppb after one hour of operation. However, the stand-alone type poses a risk of exposing occupants to elevated levels of O3, as it creates a high concentration zone (> 25 ppb) near the lamp. Moreover, ventilation plays a crucial role in determining human exposure to airborne pathogens and secondary contaminants. Increasing the ventilation rate from 0.7 h− 1 to 4 h− 1 reduces airborne pathogen and secondary contaminant concentrations by up to 90%. However, caution is warranted as it could also lead to elevated O3 indoors, particularly in high outdoor O3 conditions.
Physicochemical Characterization of Biomineralized Structures of Sea Pen Pteroeides spinosum (Ellis & Solander, 1786)(Octocorallia: Pennatulidae)
Authors: Erdoğan Sevil , Özalp H. Barış , Taşdelen Betül
Published: June 2024

In this study, biomineralized polyp leaf spicules and the endoskeletal axis of the coral Pteroeides spinosum were physicochemically characterized by FTIR, SEM, EDX, TGA, and XRD analyses. The mineralized inner axis of P. spinosum was also pulverized and incorporated into the polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogel structure. In vitro bioactivity of coral polyp leaf spicules was evaluated by using simulated body fluid. Characterization analyses identified the major crystalline phase of coral polyp leaves spicules and the inner axis as calcite. The coral's inner axis exhibits a looser structure due to its organic content, and also it has a notched and perforated surface morphology. Calcite sclerites obtained from polyp leaves exhibit a harder and crystalline structure and smooth surface morphology. TGA results revealed the organic matter in the coral individual is higher than that of the polyp leaf spicules. It resulted the coral's inner axis was compatible with the PAAm hydrogel. Coral polyp leaf spicules did not form apatit on their surface in simulated body fluid (SBF). The calcite content of the coral P. spinosum can be evaluated as an additive to improve mechanical properties and thermal stability in hydrogels and tissue engineering scaffolds.
Long-Term Outcomes Associated with a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team, a Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Longino August , Gardner Tiffany , Fuher Alexandra , Jurica James , Lindquist Jonathan , Bull Todd , Hountras Peter
Published: June 2024

In this retrospective cohort study, we investigated the impact of Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) consultation on long-term outcomes for patients with intermediate or high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE). The study spanned from April 1, 2019, to April 1, 2021, assessing the association between PERT consultation and various clinical outcomes in the 1–5 years following discharge. Propensity-matched analyses revealed that patients receiving PERT consultation (PCs) had significantly higher odds of PE clinic referral (OR 11.8, 95% CI 6.6–21.2, P < 0.001), follow-up visit attendance (OR 5.14, 95% CI 2.51–10.5, P < 0.001), and discussion of anticoagulation (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.5–4.6, P < 0.001) compared to non-recipients (NPCs). There was no significant association between PERT consultation and bleeding complications or hospital readmission. However, a borderline-significant trend toward increased likelihood of venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence among PCs was noted (OR 3.8, 95% CI 0.99–14.8, P = 0.05). We observed a reduction in 1-year mortality among PCs (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.12–0.59, P = 0.001), as well as over the entire follow-up period (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.39–0.99, P = 0.47). Kaplan-Meier analysis further supported a significant difference in mortality (P = 0.001), with a hazard ratio of 0.44 (95% CI 0.28–0.73, P = 0.001) based on a Cox proportional-hazards model. This study suggests that PERT consultation may improve follow-up care and long-term outcomes for patients with intermediate or high-risk PE. However, additional research is needed to determine the optimal role of PERTs in PE management.
WAM Assisted Robust Fault Location in Smart Grids: Resilience Amid Cascaded Failures
Authors: Raskar Shivaji , Gawande Prashant , Dambahre Sanjay
Published: June 2024

This paper presents a robust transmission line fault location technique based on Wide-Area Measurements (WAMs). The ideal places for Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) in the transmission network enable the acquisition of time-synchronized voltage and current measurements. Because of the optimalplacement of the PMU locations, every bus is observable to at least two. The fault section is first located using measurements of PMUs positioned appropriately to apply the proposed algorithm properly. Once the faulty section is identified, the exact fault location is found using the voltage and current measurements obtained for both ends of the faulty transmission line. When cascaded faults occur on the multi-bus system, interconnected line faults prohibit data acquisition for the non-PMU bus. In this particular instance, the transmission line’s characteristics, impedance, and propagation constant are considered to offer a single-ended fault location approach with enhanced fault location accuracy. The IEEE 39-bus New England system is employed to test the approach. The ATP-EMTP modeling platform simulatesthe power system, and an algorithm is written in MATLAB. Additionally, the intended results of the provided algorithm have been verified through the Opal-RT-OP4510 real-time simulator.
Performance Evaluation of Compansion-Based Clipped OFDM Systems
Authors: Pfletschinger Stephan , Dietl Guido
Published: June 2024

The peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), commonly used to describe the amplitude variations of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signal, does not accurately reflect its impact on the system performance. This paper applies the mutual information as a metric to assess the effects of nonlinear PAPR reduction schemes on the performance of OFDM systems. Evaluation of the achieved mutual information shows that a significant capacity loss from clipping occurs only at high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and a simple compression/expansion technique is proposed to achieve close to optimal performance in this regime. The effectiveness of this method is validated through bit error rate (BER) simulations with several modulation and coding schemes.
Cluster Based Adaptive Multi-Voltage Scaling Dynamic Task Mapping for WNoC and HWNoC
Authors: Ghosh Rivu , Agarwal Sneha , Sinha Mitali , Deb Sujay
Published: June 2024

Wireless Network-on-Chip (WNoC) and Hybrid Wireless Network-on-Chip (HWNoC) architectures are promising solutions for future high-performance computing systems. However, WNoC consumes significant power, while HWNoC experiences congestion over the wireless link. Several state-of-the-art task mapping algorithms have been proposed to reduce power consumption and congestion over wireless links. However, these existing task mapping algorithms face challenges related to hotspots creation, sub-optimal utilization of wireless links, and also overlook idle core power reduction strategy. Additionally, each of the existing task mapping algorithms is designed for a specific architecture, either WNoC or HWNoC. To address these challenges we propose a novel task mapping algorithm called Cluster-Based Adaptive Multi-Voltage Scaling (CB-AMS). This algorithm dynamically maps tasks to clusters while performing multi-voltage scaling based on workload to significantly reduce power consumption and congestion over wireless links. A new cluster selection strategy is also proposed in CB-AMS to address the hotspot creation issue. CB-AMS is designed to be used in both WNoC and HWNoC architecture. Experimental results show that CB-AMS significantly reduces power consumption by 41% for WNoC and by 15-20% for HWNoC compared to state-of-the-art task mapping algorithms. Experimental results also validate that CB-AMS achieves better congestion control in HWNoC architecture by reducing latency by 3.6-5.5% compared to existing task mapping algorithms. Our experimental analysis has demonstrated that CB-AMS outperforms the current algorithms and delivers significant power reduction and improved congestion control for both WNoC and HWNoC architectures.
Superrefractory status epilepticus due to MT-TF-related mitochondrial disorder: a case report
Authors: Abdullah Farah Hanim , Ng Chin Ang , Kader Mohd Khazrul Nizar Abd , Masri Syarifah Noor Nazihah Sayed , Mat Wan Rahiza Wan
Published: June 2024

Background
Here, we present a case of superrefractory status epilepticus (SRSE) in a 23-year-old female with underlying mitochondrial epilepsy and a homoplastic pathogenic variant (m.616T > C) in the MT-TF gene.
Case Presentation:
Following a recent long-haul flight, the patient experienced breakthrough seizures and initially responded to oral levetiracetam and clonazepam but subsequently developed status epilepticus (SE), necessitating intubation, ventilation and multiple antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Multiple computerized tomography scans of the brain and cerebrospinal fluid biochemistry were unremarkable. The patient’s seizures remained refractory, and thiopentone infusion was initiated, resulting in burst suppression. Transcranial magnetic stimulation resulted in intermittent seizure-free intervals with abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) waveforms. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU), where her SRSE persisted despite receiving levetiracetam, perampanel, lacosamide, and escalating doses of midazolam, propofol and fentanyl intravenous infusions with clonazepam, clobazam and lamotrigine subsequently added. Electroconvulsive therapy temporarily halted epileptiform activity but resulted in orofacial dyskinesia. Tracheostomy was performed to facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation and discharge from the ICU.
Conclusion
This case highlights the challenges encountered in managing SRSE associated with mitochondrial epilepsy. Multiple treatment modalities are necessary to achieve seizure control. Further research and treatment strategies are needed to optimize outcomes in patients with mitochondrial epilepsy and refractory seizures.
Impaired Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase Leads to Plant-Specific Ribosomal Stress Responses in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Maekawa Shugo , Nishikawa Ikuto , Horiguchi Gorou
Published: June 2024

Nucleotides are the building blocks of living organisms and their biosynthesis must be tightly regulated. Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a rate-limiting enzyme in GTP synthesis that is essential for biological activities, such as RNA synthesis. In animals, the suppression of IMPDH function causes ribosomal stress (also known as nucleolar stress), a disorder in ribosome biogenesis that results in cell proliferation defects and apoptosis. Despite its importance, plant IMPDH has not been analyzed in detail. Therefore, we analyzed the phenotypes of mutants of the two IMPDH genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and investigated their relationship with ribosomal stress. Double mutants of IMPDH1 and IMPDH2 were lethal, and only the impdh2 mutants showed growth defects and transient chlorophyll deficiency. These results suggested that IMPDH1 and IMPDH2 are redundant and essential, whereas IMPDH2 has a crucial role. In addition, the impdh2 mutants showed a reduction in nucleolus size and resistance to several translation inhibitors, which is a known response to ribosomal stress. Furthermore, the IMPDH1/impdh1 impdh2 mutants showed more severe growth defects and phenotypes such as reduced plastid rRNA levels and abnormal processing patterns than the impdh2 mutants. Finally, multiple mutations of impdh with as2, which has abnormal leaf polarity, caused the development of needle-like leaves because of the enhancement of the as2 phenotype, which is a typical effect observed in mutants of genes involved in ribosome biogenesis. These results indicated that IMPDH is closely related to ribosome biogenesis, and that mutations in the genes lead to not only known responses to ribosomal stress, but also plant-specific responses.
New distributional record of 31 marine fishes from rocky reefs of Kerala: A case study with underwater visual census (UVC) method
Authors: Baiju P. T. Puthuparambil , Pereira F. G. Pereira Benno , Sethu M. R. Madhavan , V Limna Mol V. P. , Prabhakaran M. P. M , Jayaprakas V. Vasu
Published: June 2024

Monitoring ichthyofaunal diversity through in-situ approach is crucial in critical habitats like rocky reefs serving as feeding, breeding, and nursing grounds for marine life, including fishes. This is significant in coastal regions facing habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and overfishing. Marine scientists use underwater visual census (UVS) for fish diversity surveys. This manuscript highlights UVS's importance in marine biodiversity documentation. During an underwater survey from December 2013 to February 2018, 232 fish species from 2 classes, 16 orders, 62 families, and 114 genera were recorded. The study focused on shallow depths (~ 1 m), reef crests, reef slopes (up to 10 m), and sand flats (up to 12 m). It predicted family-wise species diversity at 15–30m depths using extrapolation and modelling. Notably, 31 marine fish species from 17 families and 24 genera had new distribution ranges in the Indian Ocean and India. Among these, 13 species were first-time records for Indian waters, and 18 were new regional records for Kerala. The study underscores reef-associated biodiversity explorations' importance and the in-situ method's significance in biodiversity documentation of the least-studied, species-rich, and ecologically sensitive rocky reef ecosystems of Kerala coast.
Enhanced Analysis: GAN-Based Medical Imaging Analysis for Brain Tumor Detection
Authors: Ramya T , Charan S Sai , Amith S , Kumar T Akshay , Pallavi Lanke
Published: June 2024

This is one of the most prevalent and intricate medical conditions. Brain tumours are an example of an imaging challenge that can arise. Conventional approaches prove inadequate in capturing the diverse array of lesions. As widely recognised, brain tumours are among the most profoundly deleterious conditions that can drastically shorten an individual’s lifespan. Numerous techniques are inadequate for discerning the variety of tumour shapes, sizes, and locations. When combined with deep learning methods, GANs are capable of capturing the tumour’s dimensions, locations, and structures. GAN artificially scans brain tumours. In practice, deep learning systems will improve upon the scarcity of datasets. This improves their skills and allows them to achieve their goals. Classifying and dividing brain tumours efficiently is crucial. You can also improve photos with poor resolution. We use GANs in conjunction with a comprehensive learning process. Neuronet19, a deep learning architecture, is a crossbreed of IPPM (Inverted Pyramid Pooling Module) and VGG19 which is used to identify brain tumors. The Visual Geometry Group, or VGG19, detects brain tumours and functions as the backbone of Neuronet19. The NeuroNet 19 training employs four distinct types of BTs: glioma, meningioma, absence of tumor, and pituitary tumor. Furthermore, it is apparent that NeuroNet19 uses the most accurate approach compared to all other businesses. The accuracy examination yielded an F1 score of 99.2% and a Cohen Kappa coefficient (CKC) of 99%.
Multi-layered Network Analysis of Osteoking in the Treatment of Osteoporosis: Unraveling Mechanisms from Gene Expression to Molecular Docking
Authors: Chen He , Ying Jun , Xie Xianjie , Huang Boyun , Lin Pengcheng
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms of Osteoking in the treatment of osteoporosis through a comprehensive analysis of potential targets, active ingredients, and associated pathways. Method: The study employed an integrated approach to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying Osteoking's treatment of osteoporosis. The construction of the protein-protein interaction network involved analyzing data from GENEMANIA and STRING databases. KEGG enrichment analysis was performed to identify enriched pathways, focusing on the cAMP signaling and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways. Active ingredients, disease targets, and osteoporosis-related pathways were integrated into a comprehensive network diagram using Cytoscape. Result: The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was employed to identify osteoporosis-related gene targets, revealing 3,578 downregulated and 1,204 upregulated genes. Simultaneously, Osteoking's active ingredients and potential targets were investigated using the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM). A protein-protein interaction network and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were constructed, highlighting potential targets for Osteoking's therapeutic effects on osteoporosis. The study also conducted molecular docking analysis, revealing the strong binding capacities of Kaempferol with key disease targets. The results suggest that Osteoking, particularly its active component Kaempferol, holds promise as a potential intervention for osteoporosis, providing insights for further exploration and development of osteoporosis treatments. Conclusions: In conclusion, despite some limitations, this study provides valuable information for the treatment of osteoporosis. Future research should make further progress by continually expanding data sources, conducting in-depth experimental validations, and broadening the scope of targets to better understand and address this common skeletal disorder.
Multi-Stable Origami Structures with Thick Panels
Authors: Li Yang , Wang Heming , Miao Zhuangzhi , Zhou Tong , Liu Ke , Ye Haitao
Published: June 2024

Multi-stable morphing structures can be self-locked, easily actuated, and generate impulsive motion, and origami mechanisms with thick panels have the practical combination of morphing ability and load-bearing capacity. In this paper, we combine the two and propose a method to design multi-stable thick-origami (MSTO) structures, where the stable configurations can be arbitrarily prescribed. Bi-stable degree-4 and tri-stable degree-6 vertices with the corresponding tessellations are designed, analyzed, manufactured, and experimentally tested. Compared to the original one-degree-of-freedom thick-origami mechanisms, the multi-stable/multi-compatible version in this paper has a larger design space with more achievable configurations due to the relaxation of compatibility constraints. In addition to the existent multi-stable origami designs, such as Kresling-ori tubes and vertex-inverting locking designs, this work provides a new form of multi-stable origami with 2 to 3 arbitrarily prescribable stable configurations. Preliminary applications like self-locking deployable furniture and an impulsive gripper are demonstrated, which suggest a promising and potential prospect in many engineering fields such as deployable architectures and robotic devices.
Desmoplakin CSM models unravel mechanisms regulating the binding to intermediate filaments and putative therapeutics for cardiocutaneous diseases
Authors: Badowski Cedric , Benny Paula , Verma Chandra S , Lane E. Birgitte
Published: June 2024

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) is a severe heart condition that can be fatal during intense exercise or in pregnant women. It is induced by mutation (e.g. R2834H) of the carboxyterminus tail of desmoplakin (DP CT), but the lack of knowledge on this region limits the discovery of therapeutic compounds. Here, we have created 3D models of DP CT which show the structural effects of AC-inducing mutations as well as the implications of post-translational modifications (PTMs). Our results suggest that, in absence of PTMs, positively charged wildtype DP CT likely folds back onto negatively-charged plectin repeat 14 of nearby plakin repeat domain C (PRD C) contributing to the recruitment of intermediate filaments (IFs). When phosphorylated and methylated, negatively-charged wildtype DP CT would then fold back onto positively-charged plectin repeat 17 of PRD C, promoting the repulsion of intermediate filaments (IFs). However, by preventing PTMs, the R2834H mutation would lead to the formation of a cytoplasmic mutant desmoplakin with a constitutively positive DP CT tail that would be aberrantly recruited by cytoplasmic IFs instead of desmosomes, potentially weakening cell-cell contacts and promoting AC. Virtual screening of FDA-approved drug libraries identified several promising drug candidates for the treatment of cardiocutaneous diseases through drug repurposing.