bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Choice History Biases in Dyadic Decision-Making
Authors: Huang Ann , Pink Mathis , Zemliak Viktoria , Czeszumski Artur , König Peter
Published: May 2024

How do we interact with our environment and make decisions about the world around us? Empirical research using psychophysical tasks has demonstrated that our perceptual decisions are influenced by past choices, a phenomenon known as the “choice history bias” effect. This decision-making process suggests that the brain adapts to environmental uncertainties based on history. However, the use of single-subject experiment task design is prevalent across the work on choice history bias, thus limiting the implications of the empirical evidence to individual decisions. Here, we explore the choice history bias effect using a dual-participant approach, where dyads perform a shared perceptual decision-making task. We first consider two extreme hypotheses: the participant either treats his/her partner’s decision as his/her own or simply ignores the partner’s decision. We then use a statistical modeling approach to fit generalized linear models to the choice data in a series of steps. Our best-fitting model suggests the participant has a choice repetition bias that spans several trials in the past, compatible with previous single-participant studies. Yet, there is also a dyadic influence on decision-making where both the participant’s own and partner’s last responses indicated a choice alternation bias. The results reject the hypothesis that the participant ignores the partner’s decision, in line with the idea that perceptual decision-making is not solely an individualistic decision process, though the partners’ decisions are treated differently from their own decisions.
Pharmacy Approach to Early Detection of Diabetes through Opportunistic Screening in Rural Australia
Authors: Osuagwu Uchechukwu Levi , Wilson Ross , Agho Kingsley , Simmons David , Buck-Reed Krista , John Eme , Sethi Siddarth , Denyer-Simmons Peter
Published: May 2024

Background
Early screening and identification of diabetes is crucial, particularly in underserved rural communities lacking access to specialised care. Presently, T2DM affects approximately 1.2 million Australians, with a daily diagnosis rate of around 125 individuals. Knowledge of diabetes is the first step in confronting this silent epidemic. Alarmingly, up to 500,000 individuals unknowingly live with undiagnosed T2DM. This study, situated in Bathurst, seeks to assess the diabetes knowledge of its residents, recognising the urgent need for improved awareness. By addressing knowledge gaps, health authorities can tailor interventions to this context, fostering proactive community health management and positively impacting outcomes.
Methods
Over five months, 95 participants underwent a diabetes knowledge test as part of a pharmacy-led screening project. The survey covered key aspects: general knowledge of diabetes (5 items), complications (6 items), diet (8 items), lifestyle (4 items), symptoms (4 items) and risk factors of diabetes (4 items). Data on demography, lifestyle and medical history were also collected. Correct responses were allocated one point, with a cumulative maximum score of 31. Data were analysed using nonparametric tests.
Results
Demographic analysis highlighted older (≥ 55 years; 62, 65%), female (50, 53%) and Australian-born (90, 94%) participants as significant cohorts. Median DKT score of all the participants was 22 (IQR: 3) with 50% of the scores falling within the range of 20–23. Those not taking blood pressure medication (57, 60%) showed significantly higher knowledge scores (6.0, p = 0.03; median = 6; IQR = 1). Having at least 2.5hrs of physical activity daily correlated with higher scores in diabetes complications awareness, participants with high blood glucose had higher scores in the general knowledge (4.13, p = 0.009; median = 4; IQR = 0.5), and lifestyle (2.47, p = 0.013; median = 2; IQR = 0.5 domains, emphasizing the link between personal health status and diabetes awareness.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that substantial knowledge gaps in diabetes knowledge exist in the Central West of NSW. Tailoring interventions for older individuals, emphasising physical activity, and targeting those with high blood glucose levels can effectively address these disparities. The findings provide a foundation for nuanced strategies to enhance diabetes awareness in regional settings, empowering communities for proactive health management and positive health outcomes.
Study on the association of oxidized abnormal lipids oxLDL and oxHDL with comorbidity of type 2 diabetes and pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Gui Jing , Wang Feng , Hong Chuang-Yue , Fu Yu , Yang Hui , CAI Yu-Mao
Published: May 2024

Objectives Dyslipidemia has been shown to have a significant impact on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), atherosclerosis, and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), the pathological mechanisms underlying abnormal lipid profiles of these three disease categories remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the correlation between oxidized lipoproteins, specifically oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and oxidized high-density lipoprotein (oxHDL), and the comorbidity of T2DM and PTB（T2DM+PTB）.
Methods A total of 360 cases were prospectively included from June 2022 to June 2023, including 60 cases of the simple hyperlipidemia group, 100 cases of the PTB group, 100 cases of the T2DM group, and 100 cases of the T2DM+PTB group from the outpatient department of our center. Among them, the PTB group, T2DM group, and T2DM+PTB group were further divided into subgroups of normal blood lipids (40 cases) and hyperlipidemia (60 cases). Sixty healthy individuals were included as the control group. The age range of the participants was 35 to 70 years old. Venous blood was collected from each group to detect HbA1c, INS, FSG, CHOL, TG, HDL, LDL, ApoA I, and Apo B, and oxLDL levels were measured using ELISA. The differences in levels between groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis assessed the association between oxLDL and oxHDL levels with PTB and T2DM+PTB.
Results Patients with T2DM hyperlipidemia subgroup, and T2DM+PTB hyperlipidemia subgroup, showed oxLDL levels more than twice as high and oxHDL levels more than four times higher than those in the control group. A simple hyperlipidemia group also exhibited oxLDL levels significantly higher than the control group. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive linear correlations between TG and LDL with oxLDL in both subgroups, while CHOL and LDL showed significant positive correlations with oxLDL in the PTB hyperlipidemia subgroup. TG levels were significantly positively correlated with oxHDL in all three hyperlipidemia subgroups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed oxLDL levels exceeding twice those of the control group to be independent risk factors for PTB and T2DM+PTB, while oxHDL levels exceeding four times those of the control group were independent risk factors for PTB.
Conclusion There are higher levels of oxLDL and oxHDL which may increase the risk of having both T2DM and PTB. It is suggested that we should clinically evaluate the significance of oxLDL levels that are more than twice the levels of the control group and oxHDL levels that are more than four times the levels of the control group. This will help us identify a threshold that can be used for further assessment of a pathological condition.
The Influence of Overcrowding and Socioeconomy on the Spatio-temporal Spread of Covid-19 – a Swedish Register Study
Authors: Han Bin , Cronie Ottmar , Adiels Martin , Rosengren Annika , Söderberg Mia
Published: May 2024

The impact of household overcrowding, alone or in combination with other sociodemographic factors, on COVID-19 infection rates over time and geographical areas remains unclear. Through national register databases, information on relevant sociodemographic markers, and positive COVID-19 test results in Sweden, was available to us up until February 2022. Our spatial analyses were conducted using a Poisson regression approach: the DeSOs’ population sizes were used as off-sets, and the model selection was carried out by means of elastic-net regularisation in combination with cross-validation. The analysis of spatial risks indicated elevated risks in overcrowded regions, particularly when coupled with a high proportion of residents earning below the national median income, males, or a combination of a notable male population and a high density of motor vehicles. When incorporating time in the models (spatio-temporal modelling), overcrowding appeared as a predictor for COVID-19 confirmed cases, however, only during the periods between April and July of 2020 and the month February of 2022. Overcrowding otherwise seemed to foremost constitute a risk factor when interplaying with other disadvantageous socioeconomic variables, thus indicating that general socioeconomic vulnerability constituted a risk enhancer.
Preterm birth affects the gut microbiota, metabolome and health outcomes of twins at 12 months of age: a case control study
Authors: Mei Hong , Hu Liqin , Yang Meng , Xiang Feiyan , Zheng Hao , Cai Xiaonan , Hou Guilin , Li Ruizhen , Peng An'na , Zhang Jianduan , Zhou Ai'fen , Xiao Han
Published: May 2024

Perinatal factors can influence gut microbiota, adversely impacting infant health outcomes. However, little is known about the combined effect of preterm birth and chorionicity on gut microbiota, metabolism, physical and neurobehavioral development for twin infants. In this study, we profiled and compared the gut microbial colonization of 350 twins aged 12 months. Twins were divided into four groups based on their gestational age at birth and chorionicity as dichorionic-diamniotic full-term birth group, dichorionic-diamniotic preterm-birth group, monochorionic-diamniotic full-term birth group, and monochorionic-diamniotic preterm birth group. Gut microbiota diversity and fecal metabolic alterations at 12 months old were determined by 16S rDNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics, respectively. Wilcoxon's rank-sum tests were used to compare alpha diversity between the four groups. The general linear models were applied to identify microbiota species that were differentially abundant among the four groups and the health effects of gut microbiota on physical and neurobehavioral development conducted at 12 months of age. In addition, the twin-based ACE model was used to evaluate the contribution of genetic and environmental effects on the composition and function of the gut microbiota. We found that preterm birth and chorionicity dominated genetics in altering the composition of gut microbiota and concentration of metabolites over 12 months of age. The influence of genetic factors differed between preterm and full-term births. There were 16 gestational age and chorionicity specified gut microbiota genera and 285 group-specified metabolites. Association analysis filtered 7 microbiota genera and 19 metabolites associated with twins' physical and neurobehavioral development. Three metabolites, N-Oleoyl dopamine, Ecgonine, and Methyl jasmonate participated in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, tropane, piperidine, and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis pathway, and alpha-Linolenic acid metabolism and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, respectively. We concluded that preterm birth is associated with dysbiotic microbiota profiles and significant metabolic alterations, which may eventually influence physical and neurobehavioral development.
“We have to look deeper into why”: perspectives on problem identification and prioritization of women’s and girls’ health across United Nations agencies
Authors: Kulenova Alua , Rice Kathleen , Adams Alayne , Lencucha Raphael
Published: May 2024

Eliminating gender inequality and promoting population health are stand-alone goals in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is crucial to understand goal setting and policy making processes aimed at promoting gender and health equality given the entrenched and structural natures of these inequalities. Our research examines the process of problem and solution representation, priority setting, and factors that shape the policymaking process concerning women and girls within the UN system in relation to the SDGs. Data for this study were collected from semi-structured one-on-one interviews with participants who have work experience within the United Nations (UN) (n = 9). The analysis was informed by a qualitative descriptive methodology. Our findings identify the role of political forces in influencing policy, the challenges of limited and tied financial resources, the role of scientific evidence and data, and the purpose of different mandates across agencies. Political forces were found to shape the work of UN agencies, often hindering advancement of the SDG agenda. At the same time participants noted how they navigated opposition or what they considered regressive approaches to women and girls’ health in order to pursue a more progressive agenda. Finite financial resources were also noted to play an important role in shaping SDG implementation pertaining to women and girls’ health. Identification of the types of knowledge, evidence, and data that drive and are given preference in policy creation and development can highlight shortcomings and strengths of current modes of policy development and implementation. Key stakeholders and future research in health and development policy spheres can draw from our findings to gain insight into problem representation and prioritization. This will help identify underlying assumptions that inform work on women’s and girls’ health and how they shape policy agendas.
Five years follow-up of patients with non-melanoma skin cancer treated with HeberFERON
Authors: Roberts Yaquelin Duncan , Vega Yanelda García , Caballero Sonia Collazo , García María Rodríguez , Sedano Manuel Salazar , Rojas José Luis Rodríguez , Iglesias Angela Tuero , Silva Carmen Valenzuela , Basart Naylet Castro , Iglesias Elizeth García , Lamela Laura Pereda , Rodríguez Reinier Hernández , Hernández Ernesto Arteaga , González Verena Muzio , Rivero Iraldo Bello
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common tumor. The combination of IFN-alpha 2b and IFN-gamma has been used as a new therapeutic opportunity to treat basal cell carcinomas and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. The aim of this report is to record prospectively the recurrence and new lesions rates in patients participating in phase II clinical trials. Methods Phase II clinical trials (double-blind randomized one center study, InCarbacel-III, in patients with basal cell carcinoma; and open, non-randomized multicenter study, CECIN, in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, with the use of the combination of IFN-alpha 2b and IFN-gamma) were conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety and the 5-year duration of clinical responses. Both studies were approved by institutional ethics committees, from the Hermanos Ameijeiras (INCARBACEL-III) and Amalia Simoni (INCARBACEL-III and CECIN) hospitals, in Havana and Camaguey respectively. All patients gave their written informed consent to participate in them. The investigational treatment was administered, peri- or intralesionally, three times per week, during 3 weeks. Clinical (RECIST 1.0) responses were evaluated three months after the end of treatment. Results The combination of IFNs in InCarbacel-III study showed the best clinical response (complete response of 64.3%, overall response of 85.7%) with the highest doses (10.5 MIU); without patient’s recurrence at 5 years follow-up (3.5 MUI and 10.5 MUI groups). The frequency of new lesions decreased in the treated patients 8 times. In the CECIN study 14 patients achieved complete response and 4 partial responses (overall response rate 67%). Up to the 5-year follow-up none of the patients with complete response had recurrence or new lesion. In both studies the cosmetic results were excellent and the reported adverse events were mostly of mild intensity. Conclusions: The use of the combination of IFN-alpha 2b and IFN-gamma showed efficacy in basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma promoting a long term response for at least 5 years and decreasing the rate of new lesions, safely and with excellent cosmetic effects.
Microbial community composition of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel root in different regions
Authors: Shi Jun , Xi Gangjun , Ding Jiuling , Yang Hetong , Xu Chao
Published: May 2024

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the microbial community composition in the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel samples from three different regions.
Methods: 16S rRNA sequencing of P. chinensis (Bunge) Regel samples from three different regions, Anhui, Northeast China, and Hebei, was performed using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to screen the highly collaborative bacterial modules, followed by hub microbiota identification. Finally, the correlation between the hub microbiota was evaluated.
Results: The top 10 phyla in the three groups included Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, and Bacteroidota; and the top 10 genera in the three groups included Alphaproteobacteria, Dongia, and Gemmatimonadaceae. In addition, Gemmatimonadaceae, Gemmatimonadales, and Gemmatimonadetes were significantly overrepresented in the DB samples; Rhizobiales, Alphaproteobacteria, and Proteobacteria were all significantly overrepresented in the AH samples; and Rokubacteriales, Methylomirabilia, and Methylomirabilotawere all significantly overrepresented in the HB samples. In addition, the brown and turquoise modules were closely related to regional groups (|r| > 0.5 and P < 0.05). Moreover, 14 hub microbiota were identified at the species level, including Gemmatimonadaceae, KD4-96, MBNT15, Micromonospora chersina, Rokubacteriales, Streptomyces, Reyranella, Acidobacteriota, uncultured Sinorhizobium, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobiotae, Litorilinea, Rhodoplanes, and bacteriap25. Finally, the correlation between the hub microbiota was evaluated. Among which, Gemmatimonadaceae was positively correlated with Proteobacteria, whereas Acidobacteriota was negatively associated with bacteriap25.
Conclusion: The microbial community composition of P. chinensis (Bunge) Regel roots showed differences in the three different regions, and the 14 hub microbiota might be associated with the altitudinal, geographical, climatic, and cultivation practices of this species, which provides new insights into its cultivataion.
Predictors of bradycardia in non-small-cell lung cancer patients receiving anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors in a teaching hospital: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ho Chin Chin , Wu Shang-Liang , Tsai Han-Yi , Chou Chian-Ying
Published: May 2024

Background
Previous studies have primarily focused on evaluating drug safety and the incidence of cardiotoxicity caused by anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors in clinical trials. However, there is a lack of comprehensive drug epidemiological research data in real-world hospitals.
Aim
To investigate the predictors of bradycardia after receiving ALK inhibitors with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after receiving ALK inhibitors.
Method
This retrospective cohort study included adult participants aged 18 years and above who were diagnosed with NSCLC between January 1, 2014, and March 1, 2023. All subjects received an ALK inhibitor (including crizotinib, alectinib, brigatinib, ceritinib, and lorlatinib), and their heart rate data were recorded.
Results
The average follow-up period for our 58 study participants was 3.1 ± 1.7 years. Patients with a recorded heart rate < 60 bpm prior to taking ALK inhibitors were observed to have a significantly higher risk of drug-related bradycardia (hazard ratio [HR] 6.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6–28.5, p = 0.011) compared to those without a recorded heart rate < 60 bpm prior to taking ALK inhibitors. Patients with a recorded heart rate < 60 bpm who received anticancer drugs prior to taking ALK inhibitors had a significantly higher risk for drug-related bradycardia (HR 7.2, 95% CI 2.0–26.1, p = 0.003).
Conclusion
Patients with NSCLC and a pre-existing heart rate < 60 bpm should be assessed for risk when using ALK inhibitors with other anticancer drugs. Therefore, preventive cardiovascular medications should be considered to reduce the risk of drug-related bradycardia.
The Development Level and Influencing Factors of Urban‒Rural Integration in the Yangtze River Delta Region
Authors: PENG Zhisheng , DING Weihao , Fan Xingyu
Published: May 2024

The advancement of Chinese-style modernization and construction largely hinges on urban‒rural integrated development (URID) within the Yangtze River Delta region (YRDR). An index system for evaluating urban‒rural integrated development, encompassing economic, social, and quality-of-life dimensions, is formulated in this study. This study examines the degree of URID and its determinants across 41 cities within the YRDR during the period spanning from 2012 to 2021 by employing the entropy weighting method and geodetic detector model. The results reveal the following. First, the overall URID in the YRDR accelerated. Cities in the central and eastern parts exhibit a greater URID, which decreases toward the west, north, and south, highlighting prominent developmental imbalances between cities. Second, integrated economic development between urban and rural areas (URAs) has consistently demonstrated superior performance. Social integration in URA has exhibited a steady upward trajectory, whereas the integration and improvement of urban and rural residents' quality of life have advanced at a comparatively modest pace. Third, the factors that significantly influence the URID within the YRDR include per capita GDP, postal and telecommunication services per capita, and the proportion of private car ownership. Conversely, the impact of governmental intervention and agricultural security appears to be comparatively diminished. Moreover, the combined influence of interacting dual factors surpasses that of individual elements, with the influence gradually stabilizing over time. Ultimately, this study provides policy suggestions to foster integrated urban and rural development in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) with a focus on regional collaboration and development strategies.
Performance of GPT-4 and mainstream Chinese Large Language Models on the Chinese Postgraduate Examination dataset: Potential for AI-assisted Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Peng Suyuan , Zhu Yan , Wang Baifeng , Zhang Meiwei , Wang Zhe , Yao Keyu , Hao Meng , Wang Junhui
Published: May 2024

ChatGPT is a well-known example of a Large Language Models(LLMs) that has performed notably well in the medical licensing exams of many countries. Tradition Chinese Medicine(TCM) has gained increasing attention and concern from the international medical community. In China, the medical master’s degree exam carries more weight than the licensing exam due to the multi-level doctor training system. However, the current study lacks an evaluation of the performance of various LLMs in TCM postgraduate examinations. Consequently, we created a test dataset of LLMs using postgraduate examination questions to comprehensively evaluate the performance of GPT-4 and mainstream Chinese LLMs in responding to knowledge and clinical inquiries about TCM. Besides computing the exam scores and presenting LLM's performance on various subjects, we evaluated the output responses based on three qualitative metrics: logical reasoning, and the ability to use internal and external information. The results indicated that Ernie Bot and ChatGLM's expertise in TCM surpassed the passing threshold for the postgraduate selection examination, showcasing their enormous potential as TCM support tools.
Circ4207 regulates vasculogenic mimicry formation in colorectal cancer through the miR-20b-5p/VEGFA axis
Authors: He Zhiqiang , Wang Yue , Yang Tianyi , Xiong Chengying , Liang Mingli , Ou Zhuojun , Chen Yan , Tang Min
Published: May 2024

Background
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly prone to metastasis, leading to a continual increase in the number of deaths each year. One of the commonly used clinical treatments for CRC metastasis is anti-angiogenesis, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is considered to be one of the important reasons for the unsatisfactory effect of anti-vascular therapy. Circular RNA (CircRNA) may have an essential regulatory effect during the development of VM and appears to be an ideal marker for fluid biopsy. Therefore, exploring the role of circular RNA in the formation of VM is of great value to the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.
Methods
The differentially expressed circRNAs in CRC were obtained by full transcriptome sequencing. Then the back splice site and its good stability were verified by Sanger sequencing, RNase R and Actinomycin D experiments. Then, the effects of Circ4207 on the growth, invasion and VM of CRC were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The regulatory mechanism between Circ4207 and miR-20b-5p/VEGFA was further confirmed by bioinformatics, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and dual luciferase reporting experiments. Finally, the serum levels of Circ4207 in patients with colorectal cancer were detected to evaluate its clinical diagnostic value.
Results
Circ4207 is highly expressed in CRC. Circ407 promotes the proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer and also facilitates the formation of vascular mimicry. Further studies revealed that Circ4207 primarily enhances the formation of vasculogenic mimicry through the miR-20b-5p/VEGFA axis. The study found higher levels of Circ4207 in the serum of patients with colorectal cancer (P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Circ4207 promotes the formation of vasculogenic mimicry in colorectal cancer through the miR-20b-5p/VEGFA axis. It is suggested that it can be used as a potential liquid biopsy marker and a novel therapeutic target for CRC.
Non-smooth modelling of drive wheels stick-slip
Authors: Oprea Razvan Andrei , Tudorache Cristina Mihaela , Spiroiu Marius Adrian
Published: May 2024

Motor railway vehicles necessitate enhanced control of wheel-rail contact mechanics to ensure optimal adhesion. During train running, driving axles can exhibit torsional vibrations that compromise adhesion and potentially lead to axle damage. Consequently, the development of dynamic models for analyzing driving axle stick-slip phenomena and control strategies is an area of significant research interest. This work focuses on demonstrating the efficacy of non-smooth models in studying the torsional stick-slip behaviour of axles in traction vehicles during acceleration. Despite their application in various railway vehicle problems, non-smooth models haven't been explored as an alternative for analyzing stick-slip. The proposed model prioritizes simplicity while capturing the essential friction characteristics, enabling efficient dynamic simulations. A set-valued friction law is incorporated, and the equations of motion are formulated as a switch model. Numerical integration is achieved through an event-driven algorithm. The paper showcases application examples for the model. A direct comparison with a “classic” model yields that the non-smooth integration is 5 times more efficient in the stick phase.
Fisher information and quantum entropies of a 2D system under a non-central scalar and a vector potentials
Authors: Becir Ahmed , Moumni Mustapha
Published: May 2024

In this study, we examine a 2 dimensional system influenced by a non-central potential consisting of a Kratzer potential with a dipole moment, along with a vector potential of the (AB) effect. We explore various information-theoretic measures, including Fisher information, Shannon entropy, Tsallis entropy, and Rényi entropy. Our numerical results show that the Fisher information increases with an increase in dissociation energy and decreases with rising dipole moment, Aharonov–Bohm potential strength, and both the radial and angular quantum numbers. In contrast, the Shannon entropy, the Tsallis entropy, and the Rényi entropy decrease with rising dissociation energy, while they increase with an increase in dipole moment, Aharonov–Bohm potential strength, as well as the principal and angular quantum numbers. These observations collectively indicate that the precision and localization of particles in space are enhanced by the increasing of the dissociation energy and reduced when the dipole moment, Aharonov–Bohm potential strength, and both the radial and angular quantum numbers increase.
Data Communication in Wireless Sensor Networks with Short Labels
Authors: Lam Tan , Huynh Dung
Published: May 2024

Broadcast, Convergecast, and Data Aggregation are the three most used communication primitives in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Due to collisions, without labels, these communication tasks cannot be done deterministically, even in a four-cycle network. In this paper, we study the deterministic distributed broadcast, convergecast, and data aggregation algorithms enhanced with labeling schemes for WSNs in environments where collisions are present. For the convergecast algorithm, our labeling scheme uses at most O(log Δ) number of bits where Δ is the maximum node degree, which is better than previous approaches which use at least O(log n) amount of storage, where n is the number of nodes in the network. For broadcast algorithms in geometric graphs under the radio network or the SINR collision model, our labeling schemes use at most a constant number of bits. Based on the broadcast algorithms, we design data aggregation algorithms for geometric graphs under these collision models whose label sizes are at most O(log Δ). Our convergecast and broadcast algorithms are not only asymptotically space-optimal in terms of label sizes but also match the asymptotic runtime lower bounds to achieve these data communication primitives when nodes in the networks have unique IDs of size O(log n) and/or coordinate information. Finally, our data aggregation algorithms match the best runtime upper bounds when nodes are assumed to know a much larger amount of information than a label of size O(log Δ).
Experimental study of the effect of natural fracture curvature on hydraulic fracture propagation behavior
Authors: Gong Xun , Jin Zhijun , Ma Xinhua , Liu Yuyang , Li Guanfang
Published: May 2024

The interaction mechanism between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures has been the focus of hydraulic fracturing research. To reveal the influence mechanism of natural fractures with different curvatures on hydraulic fracture propagation during the fracturing process, this study simulated the hydraulic fracture propagation patterns under natural fractures with different curvatures by carrying out large-size true triaxial hydraulic fracturing physical modeling experiments on artificial rock samples prefabricated with different curvatures of fractures. Results show that the injection rate of fracturing fluid and the curvature of natural fractures have important effects on the interaction between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures. When the approximation angle (the angle between the hydraulic fracture and the natural fracture) is 90°, with the gradual decrease of the fracturing fluid injection rate, the interaction between the hydraulic fracture and the natural fracture shows that the hydraulic fracture passes through the natural fracture directly, and gradually changes to the hydraulic fracture passes through the natural fracture and also extends along the natural fracture, and then in the end, only hydraulic fracture extends along the natural fracture occurs. When the injection rate is constant and the approximation angle is 90°, with the curvature of the natural crack gradually increasing (increasing curvature), the interaction between the hydraulic fracture and the natural fracture shows that the hydraulic fracture passes through the natural fracture and also partially extends along the natural fracture, and gradually changes to the hydraulic fracture extending only along the natural fracture, and then finally extends along the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress. The results of the study are instructive for revealing the interaction mechanism between hydraulic fractures and natural cracks.
Serum starvation induces cytosolic DNA trafficking via exosome and autophagy-lysosome pathway in microglia
Authors: Zhou Liyan , Wu Zilong , Yi Xiaoqing , Xie Dongxue , Wang Jufen , Wu Wenhe
Published: May 2024

The imbalance of microglial homeostasis is highly associated with age-related neurological diseases, where cytosolic endogenous DNA is also likely to be found. However, the intracellular trafficking of endogenous DNA remains unidentified. In this study, we demonstrated that nuclear DNA (nDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) undergo different intracellular trafficking under conditions of microglial homeostasis imbalance induced by serum starvation. Upon detecting various components of endogenous DNA in the cytoplasmic and extracellular microglia, we found that cytosolic nDNA primarily exists in a free form and undergoes degradation through the autophagy-lysosome pathway. In contrast, cytosolic mtDNA predominantly exists in a membrane-wrapped form and is trafficked through both exosome and autophagy-lysosome pathways, which are key components of intracellular biomolecule trafficking. When the autophagy-lysosome pathway was inhibited, there was an increase in exosomes. More importantly, the inhibition of the autophagy-lysosome pathway resulted in enhanced trafficking of mtDNA through the exosome pathway. These findings unveiled the crosstalk between these two pathways in the trafficking of microglial cytosolic DNA and thus provide new insights into intervening in age-related neurological diseases.
Analysis of Threaded Joint Mechanical Behavior in Barrel-Type MWD Instrument Under Make-up Torque
Authors: Bao Zhongli , Yu Huiyuan , Song Yanzuo , Jia Qingzheng , Liu Jianfeng
Published: May 2024

The normal operation of Measurement While Drilling (MWD) instruments is directly impacted by the strength of threaded joints. To investigate the mechanical behavior of threaded joints in Barrel-Type MWD instruments under make-up torque, theoretical analysis is conducted on the load distribution and axial preload force of threaded joints under make-up torque. Based on a typical MWD Instrument, considering the asymmetry of the threads and helix angle, a three-dimensional finite element model of the threaded joint is established. The mechanical behavior of threaded joints under make-up torque is simulated and analyzed using torque loading method. The results indicate that, under make-up torque load, the von-Mises stress distribution on each thread crest of the threaded joint is uneven. The von-Mises stress on the effective engaged threads from the large end to the small end of the threaded joint shows a gradually decreasing trend. During the make-up preloading process of the MWD instrument, excessive make-up torque may lead to the occurrence of thread joint fracture under external load during normal operation. The research findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanical behavior of threaded joints in Barrel-Type MWD instruments under make-up torque load, providing valuable insights for the design and application of threaded joints in Barrel-Type MWD instruments.
PSVM-MR: A Parallel Support Vector Machine Algorithm Based on MapReduce
Authors: Mao Yimin , A Yaser , Neelakandan chandasekaran , Kang Le , Li Wenhao , Guo Bingbing , Miao Decheng
Published: May 2024

In big data environments,utilizing a parallel Support Vector Machine (SVM) can significantly expedite the training process. However, prior efforts have faced challenges due to the excessive deviation of subset distribution, inadequate performance of parallel training, and poor filtering ability of non-support vector. To tackle these obstacles, this paper proposes a novel approach called SVM algorithm based on MapReduce (PSVM-MR). Firstly, a data partition method based on relative entropy (DP-RE) calculates relative entropy to prevent excessive deviation of subset distribution introduced. Secondly, it presents a redundancy level-removing method based on cosine similarity (RLR-CS) that addresses the inadequate performance of parallel training by eliminating the redundancy levels in the cascade structure. Finally, a non-support vector filtering method (NSVF) that enhances the ability of non-support vector filtering by combining rough identification and singular vector identification is proposed. The proposed algorithm demonstrates higher parallel efficiency and lower training costs compared to the general parallel SVM algorithm.
Exploring the Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Multi-Ethnic Refugee Women in Maricopa County, Arizona
Authors: Malekian Sheila , Adeleye Olufunmilola , Fawcett Lubayna , Khan Aqsa
Published: May 2024

This study explores the prevalence of urinary incontinence among multi-ethnic refugee women and their comfort levels in discussing this topic with their healthcare providers. Between July and November 2021, 58 refugee women were recruited within community spaces using convenience sampling and word-of-mouth. They completed a 20-item questionnaire in Arabic, Burmese, Swahili, or Somali. Urinary incontinence was identified by an affirmative response to any of the 6-item Urogenital Distress Inventory questions or the report of at least one episode of stress or urgency incontinence per month. The observed prevalence of urinary incontinence in this cohort was 50%. Despite 59.6% of participants expressing comfort in discussing these symptoms, 82.8% of them revealed that they had never spoken with a healthcare provider about them. Moreover, 77.6% of these women reported never being queried about these symptoms by a healthcare professional. Based on these results, urinary incontinence is notably prevalent among refugee women, either surpassing or at least aligning with the prevalence observed in the general female population. Healthcare professionals serving refugee women should consider incorporating screening for this condition into routine office visits. Notably, the limited sample size of this study underscores the necessity for further research on this subject.
Biological evaluation and synthesis of hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]xanthen and pyridine-3-carbonitrile derivatives ...
Authors: Heravi Mohammad Reza Poor , Lashgari Mehdi , Vessally Esmail , mohammadi Bagher
Published: May 2024

In the present study, a novel magnetic organosilica supported Pd-Schiff base complex (Fe3O4@SiO2/Si(CH2)3NH/HMPO/Pd(OAc)2) was prepared. The nanocatalyst were synthesized using Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles and functionalized with 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (CPTMS) as Fe3O4@SiO2@Cl. The Schiff base ligand was synthesized by reaction of 5-hydroxypicolinaldehyde with hydrazine to produce of (hydrazineylidenemethyl)pyridin-3-ol (HMPO), then palladium acetate was added to produce of Schiff-base-Pd(II) complex. The catalyst was characterized thoroughly by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, VSM, EDX, TGA, SEM image of elemental maps and ICP analyses. Its catalytic activity was assessed in the synthesis of 12-aryl- 8,9,10,12-tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthene-11-one, 14-aryl-14H- hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]xanthen-11-one and chromeno[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile derivatives through a one-pot condensation of dimedone or malononitrile, naphthols, and aryl aldehydes in EtOH/H2O. The excellent yield of products, easy work-up, column-free, short reaction time, and facility of reusability by an external magnet are other important advantages of this methodology.
Non-invasive multiple cancer screening using trained detection dogs and artificial intelligence: A prospective double-blind study
Authors: Half Elizabeth , Ovcharenko Adelina , Shmuel Ronit , Furman-Assaf Sharon , Avdalimov Milana , Rabinowicz Assaf , Arber Nadir
Published: May 2024

Purpose: SpotitEarly Ltd. has developed a simple non-invasive self-administered screening method to detect cancer in humans. We conducted a double-blind study that evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of this method in detecting breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer in a single test. The method's performance in detecting 14 additional malignancies was also evaluated.
Experimental design: Breath samples of adults who underwent screening for cancer using gold-standard screening methods, or a biopsy for a suspected malignancy were collected. The samples were analyzed using a bio-integrated platform of trained detection canines and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Specificity and sensitivity were analyzed.
Results: Overall, 1386 participants (59.7% males, median age 56.0 years) were included. According to cancer screening/biopsy results, 1048 (75.6%) were negative for cancer and 338 (24.4%) were positive. Among the 338 positive samples, 261 (18.8%) were positive for the four cancer types that the canines were trained to detect, with an overall sensitivity and specificity of 93.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 90.3%-96.2%) and 94.3% (95% CI 92.7%- 95.5%), respectively. The sensitivity of each cancer type was similar; breast: 95.0% (87.8%-98.0%), lung: 95.0% (87.8%-98.0%), colorectal: 90.0% (74.4%-96.5%), prostate: 93.0% (84.6%-97.0%). The sensitivity of other malignant tumors that the canines were not trained to detect was 81.8% (95% CI 71.8%-88.8%). The sensitivity of early-stage cancer detection (stages 0-2) was 94.8% (95% CI 91.0%-97.1%).
Conclusions: A bio-hybrid multi-cancer screening platform, combining detection canines and AI tools using breath samples, demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity. This platform enabled early-stage cancer detection of multiple cancer types.
Primary Health Care: Roles of Community Pharmacists in Low- and Middle-Income Countries—A Systematic Review
Authors: Hedima Erick Wesley , Okoro Roland Nnaemeka
Published: May 2024

Community pharmacists (CPs) play vital roles in primary healthcare (PHC), yet they are not officially recognised as PHC providers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Objectives: This review aims to uncover the provision of PHC services by CPs in LMICs and identify barriers to these services, as well as strategies to overcome them.
Methods: Medline, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and others were searched for articles published between 2000 and 2022 that reported on CPs’ provision of PHC services in LMICs. Eligible studies were evaluated, and data were extracted and assessed for quality using the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT).
Results: Only 23 articles were of considerable quality (MMAT 75-<100%), while 13 had a high quality rating (MMAT 100%). The most common PHC services reported were health education, referral to GPs, medication review, point-of-care testing, self-care for chronic illnesses (n=17 countries), and promoting access to essential medicines (n=11 countries). The major hindrances to PHC activities included unfriendly government policies (n=25), lack of time and effective collaboration (n=14), physical barriers and limited knowledge in patient care (n=11). The majority of studies recommended enacting pharmacy-friendly policies to designate CPs as PHC providers (n=17) and continuous professional development (n=18).
Conclusion: Pharmacists in LMICs play a vital role in PHC. Policies that provide primary care providers and continuous training could improve their PHC services.
Acinic Cell Carcinoma of The Breast: A Population-Based Clinicopathologic Study
Authors: Skenderi Faruk , Babu Giridhara Rathnaiah , Glamoclija Una , Veledar Emir , Gatalica Zoran , Lamovec Janez , Vranic Semir
Published: May 2024

Purpose
Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a very rare, primary salivary gland-type breast malignancy with ~ 100 reported cases in the literature. Limited information about the clinical features and outcomes of the patients with ACC is available.
Methods
We utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify ACC cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2018. For comparison, we also examined a cohort of invasive breast carcinomas of no special type (NST).
Results
Thirty ACC cases were identified among over 248,000 invasive breast carcinoma NST cases in the SEER database. Most ACC cases affected the White population (87%) and individuals over 50 years old (70%). ACCs were predominantly grade 3 carcinomas (44%), diagnosed at an early stage (AJCC TNM stages I and II, 67%). Hormone receptor (HR) and HER2 status were available for 13 cases, revealing molecular heterogeneity: HR-/HER2- (four cases, 31%), HR-/HER2+ (two cases, 15%), HR+/HER2- (four cases, 31%), and HR+/HER2+ (three cases, 23%). Surgery was the primary treatment modality for 26 out of 30 (86.7%) ACC patients, with chemotherapy and radiotherapy used in 46.7% and 33% of cases, respectively. The median survival time for ACC patients was 19 months compared to 48 months for invasive breast carcinoma NST patients (p < 0.001). Year-wise survival rates for ACC patients showed a dramatic decrease in the number of at-risk patients over time, starting at 30 months and decreasing rapidly, compared to a slower decline in the invasive breast carcinoma NST group (p < 0.01). The log odds of death for ACC patients were significantly higher (by 4.5 times) than for invasive breast carcinoma NST patients (p < 0.01), indicating a substantially worse prognosis.
Conclusions
Acinic cell carcinoma of the breast is a very rare (0.01%) primary breast malignancy. Despite its early clinical presentation, ACC of the breast appears to have a more aggressive clinical course and poorer clinical outcomes compared with conventional breast cancer.
LncRNA-mediated gene regulation in cardiopulmonary development, homeostasis and disease
Authors:   , Rogala Sandra
Published: May 2024

Precise regulation of gene expression networks is required to develop and maintain a healthy organism before and after birth and throughout adulthood. Such networks are mostly comprised of regulatory proteins, but meanwhile many long non-coding transcripts (lncRNAs) are shown to participate in these regulatory processes. The functions and mechanisms of these lncRNAs vary greatly, however they are often associated with transcriptional regulation. Three lncRNAs, namely Sweetheart RNA (Swhtr), Fetal-lethal noncoding developmental regulatory RNA / Foxf1 adjacent non-Coding developmental regulatory RNA (Fendrr) and lncFsd2, were studied in this work to demonstrate the variety of cellular and biological processes that require lncRNA-mediated fine-tuning, in regard to the cardiopulmonary system. Swhtr was found to be expressed exclusively in cardiomyocytes and became critical for regeneration after myocardial injury. Mice lacking Swhtr did not show issues under normal conditions, but failed to undergo compensatory hypertrophic remodeling after injury, leading to increased mortality. This effect was rescued by re-expressing Swhtr, demonstrating importance of the RNA. Genes dependent on Swhtr during cardiac stress were found to likely be regulated by NKX2-5 through physical interaction with Swhtr. Fendrr was found to be expressed in lung and interacted with target promoters through its RNA:dsDNA binding domain, the FendrrBox, which was partially required for Fendrr function. Fendrr, together with activated WNT signaling, regulated fibrosis related target genes via the FendrrBox in fibroblasts. LncFsd2, an ubiquitously expressed lncRNA, showed possible interaction with the striated muscle specific Fsd2, but its exact function and regulatory role remain unclear in muscle physiology. Immunoprecipitation and subcellular fractionation experiments suggest that lncFsd2 might be involved in nuclear retention of Fsd2 mRNA, thus fine-tuning FSD2 protein expression. These investigations have shed light on the roles of these lncRNAs in stress responses, fibrosis-related gene regulation, and localization processes, advancing our understanding of cardiovascular and pulmonary maintenance, reaction to injury, and diseases. The diverse and intricate roles of these three lncRNAs highlight how they influence various cellular processes and disease states, offering avenues for exploring lncRNA functions in different biological contexts.