bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Progress and challenges in heterocyclic polymers for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater: a review
Authors: Brirmi Nour El Houda , Chabbah Taha , Chatti Saber , Alimi Kamel , Romdhame Hatem Ben , Mercier Regis , Marestin Catherine , Jaffrezic-Renault Nicole
Published: November 2024

Water contamination by heavy metals has emerged as a global environmental problem. Their toxicity, non-degradability, and persistent nature make them a serious threat to human health, flora, and fauna. Therefore, several techniques have been developed for the removal of these pollutants from wastewater. Recently, linear aromatic polymers have received increasing attention for wastewater treatment due to the presence of various heterocyclic moieties containing electron-donating atoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur on their backbone, which can be easily coordinated with metals, resulting in excellent affinity for heavy metals. This review article is specifically devoted to providing an overview of the various linear-architecture heterocyclic polymers that have been synthesized to be used as adsorbent phases for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater over the past fifteen years. The importance of incorporating heterocyclic units as efficient chelating sites for ion binding is highlighted. The adsorption mechanisms of different aromatic polymers are presented; their adsorption isotherms can primarily be modeled with the Langmuir model and their kinetics follow a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The ways to improve the adsorption capacities of the linear aromatic polymers by increasing their specific surface area are discussed in the perspective paragraph, along with strategies to improve their reusability by choosing the proper acidic washing step.
Tumor-related fungi and crosstalk with gut fungi in the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Wang Yue , Wang Yiwen , Zhou Yuhang , Feng Yun , Sun Tao , Xu Junnan
Published: November 2024

Most studies on the human gut microbiome have focused on the bacterial fraction rather than fungal biomics, which as resulted in an incomplete understanding of the fungal microbiome. Recent advances in microbiota detection and next-generation sequencing technology have boosted an increase in research on fungi. Symbiotic fungi have become increasingly influential in health and disease and modulate various physiologic functions within the host. Fungal infections can result in high morbidity and mortality rates and are life-threatening in some immunocompromised patients. In addition to bacterial dysbiosis, alterations in fungal communities are important and have been linked to many diseases, including asthma, mental illness, and various cancers. When investigating cancer it is imperative to consider the role of fungi alongside viruses and bacteria. This review examined the impact of intestinal fungi and peri-tumor fungi on tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and response to anticancer therapies. The review highlights the specific involvement of some fungal species in cancers include digestive tract tumors such as colorectal, pancreatic, liver, and gastric cancers, as well as non-digestive tract tumors such as lung, melanoma, breast, and ovarian cancers. Furthermore, fungal mechanisms of action, including fungus-host recognition and immune regulation, biofilm formation, toxin and metabolite production in the tumor microenvironment, and the complex effects of fungus-bacteria interactions on tumorigenesis and development, highlight the significance of potential biomarkers in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Enhancing Children's Gross Motor Skills Through the Single Leg Balance Sandbag Game
Authors: Kurnia Rika , Rusmayadi Rusmayadi , Aziza Sazkiyah
Published: November 2024

Development motor rough child considered important, because If development motor rough child develop optimally then in a way No direct will influence behavior child daily. If growth physical and motoric child develop optimally, then activity motion child will become more ripe and more good . This research aims to to find out whether there is any influence game single leg balance sand bag on the gross motor skills of early childhood children . The research approach used is a quantitative approach with a Quasi Experimental research type which includes an experimental group and a control group. Data collection techniques include tests, observations, and documentation. Data analysis techniques used in study This is a descriptive data analysis and non-parametric statistical analysis with a population of 20. From the results of the non-parametric data analysis, it can be proven that the game single leg balance sand bag can has a significant influence on gross motor skills in children. Single leg balance sand bag game can affect gross motor skills in early childhood. This game can have a positive influence on children's gross motor skills. It is expected that with the Single leg balance sand bag game, children will be more enthusiastic in learning activities, can socialize well and develop more in children's gross motor skills
Kindergarten Teachers' Responses to Career Parents Seen from the Social Emotional Aspects of Children Aged 5-6 Years
Authors: Habibah Anna , Pranoto Yuli Kurniawati Sugiyo
Published: November 2024

This study aims to investigate the response of kindergarten teachers to career parents from the social-emotional perspective of 5-6 year old children. The respondents to the study were six kindergarten teachers in Semarang City. The research method used in the study is a type of qualitative approach with a case study research design, data collection using interview measurement instruments, observation and documentation. Data analysis was carried out by data reduction and triangulation to validate the research results. The results of the study show that career parents have an impact on children's social-emotional behavior. Positive Impact Children with career parents tend to be independent, adaptive, have good social interaction, and quickly adapt to a new environment. As a negative impact, children often experience a lack of affection, difficulty in managing emotions, and lack of self-regulation. The implications of this study include the need to increase cooperation between teachers and parents to create communication of children's needs, parents provide quality time and choose caregivers who are competent in the field of children, in order to optimize child development.
Coğrafi İşaretli Türk Baklavaları
Authors: Çılgınoğlu Hakkı
Published: November 2024

Baklava, Türk mutfağının en seçkin tatlılarından biridir. İncecik hazırlanmış yufka tabakalarının arasına yerleştirilen ceviz veya fıstık gibi iç malzemelerle zenginleştirilmiş özgün bir lezzet sunmaktadır. Baklava, Türk mutfak kültürünün bir simgesi haline gelmiştir. Bu araştırma, Türk mutfağının önemli bir unsuru olan coğrafi işaretli baklavaların derlenmesi ve bu baklavaların ayırt edici özelliklerinin, benzerliklerinin ve farklılıklarının kapsamlı bir şekilde ortaya konulmasını amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda, coğrafi işaretli baklavaların üretim süreçleri, kullanılan malzemeler ve bölgesel farklılıklar detaylı olarak incelenmektedir. Bu çalışma, coğrafi işaret tescili almış baklavalarının kültürel ve gastronomik değerlerini vurgulayarak, Türk mutfağının zenginliğini ve çeşitliliğini gözler önüne sermeyi hedeflemektedir. Çalışmada nitel araştırma desenlerinden doküman analizi tekniği kullanılmıştır. Coğrafi işaretli baklavalara ilişkin veriler Türk Patent ve Marka Kurumu'nun Coğrafi İşaretler Portalı platformu taranarak elde edilmiştir. Araştırma, 07.03.2024-18.05.2024 tarihleri arasındaki süre içerisinde tescillenen 13 farklı destinasyona ait baklavaları kapsamaktadır. Elde edilen veriler, betimsel analiz yöntemi kullanılarak incelenmiş ve tescillenen farklılıklar ve benzerlikler nitel veri analiz programıyla değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırmada baklavaların içerdiği malzemelerden, yapım tekniklerine ve şerbetin bileşenlerine kadar yaygın benzerliklerle birlikte detaylı farklılıkların da olduğu görülmüştür. Araştırma sonuçları Türk mutfağının zenginliğinin ve kültürel mirasının bir yansıması olan coğrafi işaretli baklavaların korunması ve tanıtılmasına yönelik önemli katkılar sağlayacaktır.
A new subfamily classification of the Coskinolinidae Moullade, 1965, Middle Jurassic-Paleogene Larger Benthic Foraminifera
Authors: Schlagintweit Felix
Published: November 2024

The Coskinolinidae are a family of Middle Jurassic to Paleogene, typically orbitoliniform, Larger Benthic Foraminifera (LBF) characterized by a pseudokeriothecal wall structure. The type genus, Coskinolina Stache, 1875, lacks an exoskeleton (i.e., beams, rafters), resulting in an undivided marginal chamber zone. However, other taxa within the family, such as the Upper Cretaceous Lepinoconus Cruz-Abad et al., 2017, or the Paleogene Coleiconus Hottinger & Drobne, 1980, are genera with vertical partitions (beams) that subdivide the marginal chamber zone. In the currently accepted classification of agglutinated benthic foraminifera, the nature of the exoskeleton is a criterion for distinction at subfamily level, e.g., Cyclamminidae Marie, 1941. Thus, here, the presence or absence of an exoskeleton in the marginal chamber lumen is treated as a criterion at the subfamily level within the classification of the Coskinolinidae, leading to a division into two subfamilies: the Coskinolininae Moullade, 1965 (lacking an exoskeleton), and the newly proposed Coleiconinae subfam. nov. (with an exoskeleton of vertical partitions), as exemplified by Coleiconus Hottinger & Drobne, 1980.
Spatial Scale Modulates Stochastic and Deterministic Influence on Biogeography of Photosynthetic Biofilms in Southeast Asian Hot Springs
Authors: Pointing Stephen , George Christaline , Kortheerakul Chananwat , Khunthong Nithiya , Bhunjun Chitrabhanu , Chan Kok-Gan , Daroch Maurycy , Hyde Kevin , Lee Patrick , Luo Danli , Goh Kian Mau , Waditee-Sirisattha Rungaroon
Published: November 2024

Hot springs, with their well-characterized major abiotic variables and island-like habitats, are ideal systems for studying microbial biogeography. Photosynthetic biofilms are a major biological feature of hot springs but despite this large-scale studies are scarce, leaving critical questions about the drivers of spatial turnover unanswered. Here, we analysed 395 photosynthetic biofilms from neutral-alkaline hot springs (39–66 °C, pH 6.4–9.0) across a 2,100 km latitudinal gradient in Southeast Asia. The Cyanobacteria-dominated communities were categorized into six biogeographic regions, each characterized by a distinct core microbiome and biotic interactions. We observed a significant decline in the explanatory power of major abiotic variables with increasing spatial scale, from 62.6% locally, 55% regionally, to 26.8% for the inter-regional meta-community. Statistical null models revealed that deterministic environmental filtering predominated at local and regional scales, whereas stochastic ecological drift was more influential at the inter-regional scale. These findings enhance our understanding of the differential contribution of ecological drivers and highlight the importance of spatial scale in shaping biogeographic distributions for microorganisms.
Anti-glycaemic effect of the Chinese modified DASH diet combined with 23% low-sodium salt in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes: A preliminary study
Authors: An jiaxian , Liu Guowei , Luo Wenjun , Zhou Xiaomeng , Mei Ying , Zhang Ziyan , Zhao Li , Huang Yao , Mu Lihong
Published: November 2024

Background
Although many previous trials have formalized the blood glucose-lowering effect of the DASH diet, relevant reports in China remain limited. This study aimed to explore the anti-hyperglycaemic effect of the Chinese Modified Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet combined with 23% low-sodium salt in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
Methods
We conducted a randomized controlled single-blinded trial with a semi-open design; 100 participants were randomly assigned to Group A (control), Group B (23% low-sodium salt), and Group C (meal pack) for 8 weeks of dietary intervention. All participants were followed up weekly to collect glycaemia data (standardized meal tolerance test), salt use, and adverse events.
Results
After the intervention, the mean blood glucose (fasting/postprandial glucose) decreased by 0.72/2.43 mmol/L, 2.02/2.52 mmol/L, and 2.06/4.29 mmol/L in Groups A–C, respectively, with significant differences compared with baseline (P < 0.001). Comparison between groups showed that postprandial glucose in Group C was lower than that in Group A (-1.272 mmol/L, P = 0.016). Except the fasting blood glucose control rate in Group A, the blood glucose control rate in all other groups improved significantly after the intervention (P < 0.05). No serious adverse events occurred during the trial.
Conclusion
This dietary intervention lowered blood glucose in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes and can effectively improve the postprandial glucose control rate.
Trial registration:
All procedures reported in this study were conducted in an ethical and responsible manner and in full compliance with all relevant codes of experimentation and legislation (Trial registration: ChiCTR2000029017. Registered January 11, 2020-Prospective registration, http://www.chictr.org.cn/.)
Sustainable low-carbon AI control framework for urban district heating system
Authors: Junjie Liu , Yanmin Wang , Zhiwei Li , Han Meng , Yiwen Sun , Yu Zhuang , Yi Li
Published: November 2024

In urban district heating systems (DHSs) of China, the conventional system control method can easily lead to uneven indoor temperature of end buildings, resulting in high energy consumption. The carbon emission of DHSs exceeds the total carbon emissions of the United Kingdom. Here we establish a sustainable low-carbon control framework that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, covering the entire process of indoor temperature sensing, transmission, analysis, and utilization. The heating plan is developed using AI prediction methods and is corrected based on the deviation between indoor temperature measured and set values. We validate this solution in an actual DHS, with indoor temperature stability exceeding 0.95 and a heat saving range of 5.16-8.01%. According to rough estimates, 29.66 million tons of carbon emissions can be reduced annually from DHS. Our research can improve user's thermal comfort, reduce heat consumption, and contribute to achieving carbon emissions and sustainability for DHS.
Fingerprint localization based on Hybrid TOA, AOA, and RSS measurements
Authors: Liu Shuiwei , Tang Lei , Wang Zhangsheng
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a novel joint TOA-AOA-RSS fingerprint localization method aimed at reducing the necessity for collecting extensive fingerprint data for database construction. Initially, The Time-of-Arrival(TOA) is employed for coarse localization to narrow down the fingerprint database. Subsequently, Angle-of-Arrivals(AOAs) and Received Signal Strengths(RSSs) were used as feature parameters to construct the fingerprint database together with the coarse localization coordinates obtained from the TOA. Finally, a matching algorithm is utilized to determine the coordinate of the localization point. Additionally, we introduce an improved Self adaptive weighted K nearest neighbor (ISAWKNN) algorithm is proposed based on Hybrid TOA,AOA, and RSS measurements. Simulation results illustrate the proposed algorithm improving the localization accuracy.
Orifice surface temperature measurement of a LaB 6 hollow cathode using a near-infrared two-color radiation thermometer
Authors: Oshio Yuya , Hirai Keito , Watanabe Hiroki , Horisawa Hideyuki , Funaki Ikkoh
Published: November 2024

This study measured the two-dimensional orifice surface temperature of a 20-A-class LaB6 hollow cathode using a near-infrared two-color radiation thermometer. The thermometer technique resolved the orifice plate temperature with an accuracy of approximately 123 ℃. With this technique, the surface temperature of the orifice was found nearly uniform, with no observed temperature gradient on the orifice plate. Consequently, the operational characteristics of the hollow cathode are discussed in relation to the average surface temperature. Data analysis revealed that the orifice temperature was not sensitive to the mass flow rate; conversely, it was highly sensitive to the discharge current. The findings suggest that the orifice temperature is unaffected by internal pressure but is instead correlated with the insert temperature, which is related to the thermionic emission necessary to sustain the discharge current. Moreover, for the same input power, the orifice temperature was higher in the high-current, low-voltage mode—also known as the spot mode—indicating efficient emitter heating. The measurement system developed in this study provides a more precise evaluation of the orifice temperature and allows for estimating the internal conditions of a hollow cathode, thus facilitating more appropriate design evaluations under various operating conditions.
An Unusual Case of Primary Pulmonary Synovial Sarcoma
Authors: DOLE SACHINKUMAR , BARTHWAL M S
Published: November 2024

Background: An extremely rare intrathoracic tumour that typically affects young adults is primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma. It manifests as a big intrathoracic mass without involvement of the bone or mediastinal region. Tumour biopsy, immunostaining and histologic analysis can assist in determining the kind of tumour.
Case Presentation: We present a case of a 25 year old male with complaints of breathlessness and chest pain for a month. On radiological imaging he was found to have mass in upper and middle zones of right hemithorax. For confirmation of diagnosis patient underwent ultrasound guided biopsy of the lesion and histopathologhical examination (HPE) of the lesion. The histopathological features were suggestive of a rare type of lung malignancy. For further diagnosis regarding type of malignancy, immunohistochemical staining of the lesion was done with the help of with specific immunological markers, which confirmed the diagnosis of monophasic pulmonary sarcoma. On PET (positron emission tomography) CT (computed tomography) scan there were no features suggestive of distant metastasis especially in extremities which confirmed the diagnosis of primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma. Patient was started on chemotherapy regimen of Ifosfamide and Doxorubicin after oncologist’s opinion but was lost to follow up after 3rd cycle of chemotherapy.
Conclusions: Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma is an extremely uncommon tumor in young adults as lung metastases from other sources mainly extremities are more common. Diagnosis of such rare tumour requires histopathological examination along with immunohistochemical staining of the lung lesions. A multimodal strategy of treatment involving resection, chemotherapy and radiation is used for the treatment of such tumours.
Stakeholder Perceptions and Experiences of Competency-Based Training with Entrustable Professional Activities (SPECTRE): Protocol of a Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Research
Authors: Phung Justin , Cowley Lindsay , Sikora Lindsey , Humphrey-Murto Susan , LaDonna Kori A , Touchie Claire , Khalife Roy
Published: November 2024

Background:
Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) aims to align educational outcomes with the demands of modern healthcare. Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) serve as key tools for feedback and professional development within CBME. With the growing body of literature on EPAs, there is a need to synthesize existing research on stakeholders’ experiences and perceptions to enhance understanding of the implementation and impact of EPAs. In this synthesis, we will address the following research questions: How are Entrustable Professional Activities experienced and perceived by stakeholders in various healthcare settings, and what specific challenges and successes do they encounter during their implementation?
Methods:
Using Thomas and Harden’s thematic synthesis method, we will systematically review and integrate findings from qualitative and mixed-methods research on EPAs. The process includes a purposive literature search, assessment of evidence quality, data extraction, and synthesis to combine descriptive and analytical themes.
Discussion:
This study aims to provide insights into the use of EPAs for competency-based education, reflecting diverse contexts and viewpoints, and identifying literature gaps. The outcomes will guide curriculum and policy development, improve educational practices, and set future research directions, ultimately aligning CBME with clinical realities.
Trial Registration:
Not required
Balancing Mental Health: Predictive Modeling for Healthcare Workers During Public Health Crises
Authors: Wang Jiana , Feng Lin , Meng Nana , Yang Cong , Cai Fanfan , Huang Xin , Sun Yihang , Zhang Lu , Yao Pin , Sznajder Kristin K
Published: November 2024

Background
During public health emergencies such as SARS, Ebola, and COVID-19, healthcare workers (HCWs) are often required to confront these crises, potentially leading to adverse mental health outcomes. Consequently, they are at a heightened risk of experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is widely recognized that psychological disorders can lead to severe consequences. Despite this, there remains a scarcity of research focused on developing predictive models to forecast the depression and anxiety levels of healthcare workers under these challenging conditions.
Methods
A total of 349 HCWs were selected from a Class-A tertiary hospital in the city of Shenyang, Liaoning Province in China. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, respectively. This study employed a random forest classifier(RFC) to predict the depression and anxiety levels of HCWs from three perspectives: individual, interpersonal, and institutional. Moreover, we employed The Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) to address the issue of imabalanced data distribution.
Results
The prevalence of depression and anxiety among HCWs were 28.37% and 33.52%, respectively. The prediction model was developed using a training dataset (70%) and a test dataset (30%). The area under the curve (AUC) for depression and anxiety were 0.88 and 0.72, respectively. Additionally, the mean values of the 10-fold cross-validation results were 0.77 for the depression prediction model and 0.79 for the anxiety prediction model. For the depression prediction model, the top ten most significant predictive factors were: burnout, resilience, emotional labor, adaptability, working experience( < = 1year), physician, social support, average work time last week(9–11 hours), age(28–30 years), age(31–35 years old). For the anxiety prediction model, the top ten most significant predictive factors were: burnout, adaptability, emotional labor, age(31–35), average work time last week(9–11 hours), resilience, physician, social support, working experience( < = 1 year), female.
Conclusions
It is essential to develop multiple interventions that provide support both before and after a public health emergency, aiming at mitigating symptoms of depression and anxiety. SMOTE is a practical method for addressing imbalances in datasets. Mitigating burnout among HCWs, bolstering their resilience and adaptability, and ensuring reasonable work hours are crucial steps to prevent adverse mental health problems.
Burden of COVID-19 infection control among parents with adolescents in relation to healthcare factors
Authors: TANAKA Shiho
Published: November 2024

Although the pandemic was adequately managed in Japan, mental health problems, such as school refusal and obesity, continue to increase among adolescents in Japan. This study focuses on how health locus of control (HLOC) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and dietary style may have impacted COVID-19 infection control and their role in the continuation of psychological burden and exhaustion. Specifically, it looks at how pre-pandemic healthcare and parenting styles influenced the burden of COVID-19 infection control through diet and were associated with depressed mood and overeating tendencies in parents of adolescents and young adults. In December 2022, this study was focused on pre-pandemic dietary habits, health management, and parent–child communication and a web survey was conducted among 908 parents with children in junior to senior high school living in metropolitan areas with a population of more than 1 million to determine their depressive mood and tendency to overeat. The results revealed that mothers had a higher burden of COVID-19 infection control than fathers in all three periods, although the fathers’ burden of infection control was more strongly associated with their depressive mood and tendency to overeat from 2020 to 2022. With regard to the HLOC, internal attribution type was negatively associated with infection control fatigue in both fathers and mothers. The attribution style “family” was associated with increased family bonding during the pandemic, whereas both fathers and mothers were more sensitive to food safety, increasing the burden of infection control.
SV40 stain-positive muscle invasive bladder cancer with BK virus infection after kidney transplantation： a case report and literature review
Authors: Todaka Masahiro , Ando Tadasuke , Fujinami Hiroyuki , Sejiyama Shinya , Hata Shinro , Inoue Toru , Shin Toshitaka
Published: November 2024

Background
Due to the immortalization gene (SV40) carried by the BK virus, its infection (reactivation) has been reported to be a risk for high-grade bladder cancer in immunosuppressed kidney transplant patients. We report a kidney transplant case in which SV40 stain-positive-muscle invasive bladder cancer.
Case presentation
The patient is a 74-year-old woman who received a kidney transplant in China 17 years ago. Although decoy cells were sometimes detected in urine cytology about once a year, there was no gross hematuria or urinary tract abnormality, and her graft kidney function was stable.
However, at the age of 73, urine cytology was suspicious for malignancy, and cystoscopy revealed a bladder tumor. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor was performed, and pathology revealed high-grade muscle invasive bladder cancer with various variants and SV40-stained cells in the lesion.
Radical cystectomy was performed immediately, and pathology revealed invasive urothelial carcinoma pT3aN0M0 with positive ureteral resection margins.
Three weeks after cystectomy, FDG-PET/CT showed peritoneal dissemination not detected by contrast-enhanced CT.
Four courses of systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine-cisplatin (GC) were administered, but the patient died of cancer 6 months after the diagnosis of bladder cancer.
Conclusion
Proactive screening of kidney transplant patients with BK virus infection is important because of the possibility of high-grade urothelial carcinoma even in the absence of hematuria; FDG-PET/CT is also useful for accurate staging of high-grade urothelial carcinoma.
Increasing Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration in Women With a Body Mass Index ≥30KG/M2: Developing an Intervention From Theory to Acceptability
Authors: Lyons Stephanie , Currie Sinead , Peters Sarah , Lavender Dame Tina , Turnbull Emilie , Bhatia Ria , Khan Zaynab , Smith Debbie
Published: November 2024

Background
Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mother and child, but rates of initiation and duration amongst women with a BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 are low. Few interventions aiming to increase breastfeeding in this group have been successful; likely because existing interventions do not target psychological factors. Therefore, this study aimed to design and explore the acceptability of a newly developed psychological intervention to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration in women with a BMI ≥ 30kg/m2.
Methods
The Medical Research Council’s Complex Intervention Development Framework was followed to design the intervention. A ‘breastfeeding workbook’ was developed, based on literature and psychological theory, and filled with tailored information and activities. A Patient and Public Involvement group of women with a BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 who had breastfed, health professionals and researchers were consulted throughout the process, selecting the intervention content, format and delivery methods. Thirteen women with a BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 then reviewed the workbook and took part in in-depth qualitative interviews to assess its acceptability. Thematic analysis was conducted, informed by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability version 2 (TFAv2).
Results
The findings reveal the intervention is acceptable to the target population; women believe the intervention shows promise for increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration, is representative of their experiences, is accessible, and aligns with their belief system. They valued that the intervention provided realistic expectations of breastfeeding, options to overcome the challenges of breastfeeding in the real-world and supported them to breastfeed without inducing stigma or shame regarding their weight or infant feeding practices. Suggestions for improvement are also included, such as incorporating audio and video content as alternatives to written text and translation options.
Conclusions
An acceptable, psychological intervention was developed to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration in women with BMIs ≥ 30kg/m2. These findings can inform maternity and breastfeeding care, future research directions and intervention development.
Effect of Porosity on Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and In Vivo Test of TiNbSn Alloy Produced via Powder Metallurgy Route
Authors: Çakmak Ömer , Kaya Mehmet , Karakurt Eyyüp Murat , Annaç Ebru Elibol , Köm Mustafa
Published: November 2024

Ti6Al4V alloy are widely utilized as load-bearing implant due to its acceptable strength properties and good corrosion resistance, including a relatively low young modulus. However, concerns about its use in certain clinical applications arise from the known toxicity of aluminium nickel and vanadium. To address this issue, a new type of porous Ti16Nb4Sn (at. %) alloys, which possess a relatively low Young's modulus and good cytotoxicity properties, was developed by using a powder metallurgy process combined with a spacer. Microstructure examination of test alloys was done via scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray spectra. A uniaxial compression test was conducted for assessing the biomechanical performances of the alloys. Lastly, in vivo test was analysed by using rats. Summarizing all the results, randomly distributed micro and macropores with sharp corner were observed in the microstructures, which led to a significant reduction in Young's modulus from 91 GPa to 20 GPa. In addition, no toxic or allergic interaction between the alloys and bone tissue was observed, which revealed that Ti16Nb4Sn alloys achieved in this work may be considered as a promising load-bearing implant.
Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis identifies biomarkers for cardiovascular risk in end-stage renal diseases
Authors: Lu Fangfang
Published: November 2024

Objective
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CV). We aimed to investigate the pathways and mechanisms associated with potential protective genes linked to CV (CVP).
Methods
We conducted a systematic bioinformatics analysis using publicly available datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in patients with ESRD with and without arrhythmia using stringent statistical criteria. Functional enrichment analyses were performed using the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways to elucidate the biological roles of these DEGs. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the identified biomarkers for CV risk prediction.
Results
Our analysis revealed a distinct set of DEGs in ESRD patients with arrhythmia compared to those without arrhythmia. GO and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that these DEGs were involved in key biological processes and pathways relevant to cardiovascular disorders and renal function, including wound healing, platelet activation, and fluid-level regulation. Moreover, this study identified four downregulated genes (ABLIM3, TREML1, VCL, and AVPR1A) and two upregulated genes (BHLHA15 and FZD8), which exhibited significant alterations in expression levels, with some showing robust discriminatory power, as evidenced by high Area Under the Curve (AUC) values in ROC analysis for predicting patients without CV risks.
Conclusion
This study identified a panel of genes (including a miRNA and an unknown gene) in the plasma that may serve as promising biomarkers for predicting arrhythmia risk in ESRD patients. These findings provide a foundation for future validation studies aimed at integrating plasma biomarkers into clinical practice to improve risk stratification and management of CV in patients with ESRD.
Stachys tibetica derived silver nanoparticles: A robust multifunctional material for enhanced biological activity and photocatalytic properties
Authors: Dar Naseer Ahmad , Dar Parvaiz A , Qadir Mahpara , Shah Wajaht Amin
Published: November 2024

Stachys tibetica, a significant medicinal plant was collected from Ladakh (India) and subjected to extraction. The extract was titrated with AgNO3 at 50ºC to obtain silver nanoparticles with plant extract acts as a reducing and capping agent. The eco-friendly synthetic procedure utilizes the phytochemicals in Stachys tibetica, ensuring a sustainable and non-toxic approach to nanoparticle production. The characterization of the silver nanoparticles was conducted using various techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was utilized to examine the surface morphology, revealing the irregular and rugged spherical shape of the synthesized nanoparticles. Stachys tibetica-derived silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) act as a versatile and robust multifunctional material with proficient bioactivity and catalytic properties. The synthesized silver nanoparticles displayed effective antioxidant and antimicrobial properties against Bacillus Cereus, Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, and S.Aeureus. Additionally, the green nanoparticles degraded Rhodamine-B under sunlight irradiation within 1 hour at a rate constant of 0.066 min− 1.
Development and validation of an in-hospital mortality prediction scoring system for patients with intra-abdominal sepsis: data from two large cohorts
Authors: Zhang Jianjun , Chen Yuhong , Zhao Congcong , Wang Jinrong , Hu Zhenjie
Published: November 2024

Object:
Intra-abdominal infection is often the first or second source of sepsis. This study aims to develop and validate a practical predictive tool to assess the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with intra-abdominal sepsis.
Methods
This study used structured query language to extract clinical data of patients with abdominal sepsis from the MIMIC-IV (Intensive Care Medicine Information Marketplace IV) and the eICU Collaborative Research Database, which served as the development cohort and external validation cohort. Model screening was performed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and a prediction model was constructed by logistic regression. Internal and external validation were used to evaluate the model.
Results
The prediction model based on six predictors (lactate, age, partial thromboplastin time, urea nitrogen, total bilirubin, platelets) showed good predictive performance, such as a C-index of 0.795 in the development cohort, a C-index of 0.767 in the internal validation cohort,,and a C-index of 0.846 in the external validation cohort.
Conclusions
We built a predictive model and developed a nomogram of in-hospital deaths from abdominal sepsis based on baseline characteristics. The predictive model shows good performance and can be used by clinicians as a tool to predict patient outcomes.
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Novel [18F]AlF-H3RESCA-FAPI Radiotracer Targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein.
Authors: Zhang Qingyu , Hu Zhoumi , Zhao Haitao , Du Fuqiang , Lv Chun , Peng Tukang , Zhang Yukai , Zhang Bowu , Liu Jianjun , Wang Cheng
Published: November 2024

Background
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), critical in tumor progression, overexpress fibroblast activation protein (FAP), presenting it as a promising target for tumor imaging and therapy. Our objective was to develop a novel radiotracer, [18F]AlF-H3RESCA-FAPI, that achieves high labeling efficiency at room temperature for PET imaging of FAP-expressing tumors.
Results
The structure's feasibility was confirmed through molecular docking and ADMET prediction. H3RESCA-FAPI was synthesized and radiolabeled with [18F]AlF2+. Optimal labeling conditions were identified as pH 5.0, a molar ratio of aluminum chloride to precursor of 0.58, and a precursor mass of 50 µg. The radiotracer demonstrated high binding affinity to FAP (KD < 10.09 pM), favorable radiochemical yield (52.0 ± 3.0%), and radiochemical purity exceeding 95%. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed good stability and rapid clearance from non-target tissues. PET imaging in U87MG tumor-bearing mice showed substantial tumor uptake, which was specifically blocked by co-injection with unlabeled DOTA-FAPI-04, confirming tumor-specific uptake.
Conclusions
[18F]AlF-H3RESCA-FAPI is a promising radiotracer for PET imaging of FAP-expressing tumors, exhibiting high tumor-specific uptake. With further structural modifications to enhance pharmacokinetic properties, it could become a potential candidate for clinical translation, providing a readily accessible new tool for future non-invasive tumor imaging research.
Early Detection and Prevention of Occupational Diseases Related to 'Excessive Workload': Analyzing of Scientific Researchers' Data in Universities Utilizing Deep Learning Models
Authors: Yang Xinyi , Yu Lu , Wei Hengjian , Xue Le , Shen Wenjing , Wei Huanping , Fang Yiping
Published: November 2024

As a typical representative of a high-stress occupational group, university researchers are exposed to significant risks associated with ‘excessive workload’. Continuous engagement in intense mental labor leads to the accumulation of physical and mental fatigue, which ultimately increases the susceptibility to cardiovascular and heart diseases. Identifying and monitoring sensitive physiological indicators associated with ‘excessive workload’ is considered an effective strategy to reduce the risks. In this study, an experiment was conducted to build a dataset for researchers using a selection of physiologically sensitive indicators. The dataset including photoplethysmography (PPG) signals, facial behavioral attributes and head posture feature parameters. Six deep learning models and three machine learning models were used in this study for analysis. The results show that all constructed models exhibit excellent performance. Notably, the PSO-CNN-LSTM and MFO-CNN-BiLSTM models show unrivalled accuracy and robustness in the classification task, with prediction accuracies of 99.62% and 99.76%. Respectively, along with a stable AUC value of over 0.99. This highlights their ability to accurately predict the risk of ‘excessive workload’ related diseases in humans. This study provides new insights into the prevention and management of occupational diseases, enhancing occupational health management.
Microclimate and dry years interfere with landscape structure effects on intraspecific trait variation
Authors: Jacome Santiago Fernando Ordonez , Deák Balázs , Valkó Orsolya , Szász Vivien , Neumann Krisztina Verbényiné , Csergő Anna Mária
Published: November 2024

Predicting how changes in weather patterns and land use jointly impact populations is a pressing task in ecology. Microclimate may play a key role in species’ local persistence by modulating regional weather effects. We lack sufficient empirical evidence to understand the relative effects of landscape structure and habitat conditions on intraspecific trait variation.
Using a spatially and temporally replicated demographic dataset, we tested the relative effect of landscape structure (area and connectivity of remnant habitat fragments), microclimate (heat load), and fluctuation in weather conditions (study year) on intraspecific plant trait variation, and we investigated whether the local heat load modulated the weather effects on the studied traits.
We performed repeated measurements of stem height, leaf area, number of stems, main inflorescence length and number of primary side inflorescencesof 569 permanently marked individuals of the grassland specialist Salvia nemorosa L. We sampled 13 populations encompassing microhabitats exposed to different heat load levels, over three consecutive years.
Mature individuals had fewer stems in isolated, and taller stems in small habitat fragments. High levels of heat load and dry years affected negatively all measured traits, and the negative effects of exposure to high heat load were generally exacerbated in dry years.
Exposure to strong environmental stressors could ultimately obscure the real effect of human impact on plant populations. Landscape planning for conservation of dry grassland species should ensure not only improved habitat connectivity but also high-quality habitats with heterogeneous microclimates able to buffer weather extremes.
Mini-scale Traffic Flow Optimization: An Iterative QUBOs Approach Converting from Hybrid Solver to Pure Quantum Processing Unit
Authors: Salloum Hadi , Zhanalin Sanzhar , Badr Amer Al , Kholodov Yaroslav
Published: November 2024

Traffic congestion continues to pose a significant challenge in urban environments, necessitating innovative approaches to traffic management. This paper explores the application of Quantum Annealing (QA) for real-world traffic optimization, expanding on the pioneering work of Volkswagen and D-Wave. In 2017, a collaborative team demonstrated the potential of QA to optimize traffic flow by solving a complex Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problem involving 418 cars, which required 1,254 qubits. Later, this research culminated in a pilot project at the Web Summit conference in Lisbon, one of Europe’s largest technology events, showcasing quantum computing-based traffic optimization. Since the QPU alone could not directly handle the full problem size, the team employed a hybrid classical-quantum approach, leading to significant improvements in traffic distribution. This paper builds on that foundation by investigating potential speedups using a purely quantum approach, particularly by utilizing the QPU for smaller QUBO problems. The proposed method (MTF) enhances traffic management by decomposing the overall optimization problem into smaller, more manageable subproblems. This decomposition enables us to harness the advantages of the QPU while tackling more complex traffic scenarios that previous approaches struggled to manage. By breaking the problem into smaller parts, we mitigate the challenges associated with embedding large-scale problems into the QPU, which often presents computational difficulties. To evaluate our approach, we conducted experiments involving 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 cars on a complex traffic map featuring multiple start and end points. We successfully embedded the problem into the D-Wave Advantage Quantum Processing Unit, utilizing the "Pegasus" topology, which resulted in a significant acceleration of the solution process. The experiment results show improved speed and effectiveness in real-world scenarios by leveraging the QPU for better traffic optimization.
Efficacy of Arthroscopic Assisted Lower Trapezius Tendon Transfer versus Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty in Patients with Posterosuperior Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tear without Arthritis: Propensity score Matching Study
Authors: Baek Chang Hee , Lim Chaemoon , Kim Jung Gon , Kim Bo Taek , Kim Seung Jin
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Shoulder dysfunction, including loss of active forward elevation (FE) and external rotation (ER), is challenging in posterosuperior irreparable rotator cuff tears (PSIRCTs). We compared the clinical outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) and arthroscopy-assisted lower trapezius tendon transfer (aLTT) in PSIRCTs patients without arthritis.
Material and Methods: Approximately 29 patients were included in each group(RSA group and aLTT group), using propensity score matching based on demographic variables with a minimum 2-year follow-up period. Clinical results were compared with the visual analogue scale score, Constant shoulder score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, University of California Los Angeles shoulder score, and activities of daily living requiring active external rotation (ADLER) score, active range of motion and rotational strength between the two groups. Subsequently, the arthritic change of shoulder joint was evaluated using the acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and Hamada grade.
Results: The clinical outcomes were significantly improved in both groups. However, ADLER score (20.6 ± 4.0 vs. 27.3 ± 3.7, p <.001), ER at 0˚ of abduction (34.2 ± 13.2 vs. 47.5 ± 11.1, p < .001), ER at 90˚ of abduction (49.6 ± 15.4 vs. 66.5 ± 19.5, p <.001) and ER strength (16.4 ± 4.0 vs. 24.1 ± 9.1, p < .001) of aLTT group were significantly better than that of RSA group. No significant increase of AHD and no significant progression of arthritis change were observed in aLTT group.
Conclusions: Although both RSA and aLLT improved overall patient outcomes postoperatively, aLTT was superior inclinical scores, notably the ADLER score, active ER, and ER strength in PSIRCTs patients without arthritis. These findings suggest that aLTT could be a first-line joint-preserving treatment option for PSIRCTs patients without arthritis, given the longevity and related complications associated with arthroplasty.
Enhanced YOLOv8 with Lightweight and Efficient Detection Head for for Detecting Rice Leaf Diseases
Authors: Gan Bo , Pu Guolin , Xing Weiyin , Wang Lianfang , Liang Shu
Published: November 2024

Detecting rice leaf diseases is essential for agricultural stability and crop health. However, the diversity of these diseases, their uneven distribution, and complex field environments create challenges for precise, multi-scale detection. While YOLO object detection algorithms show strong performance in automated detection, further optimization is needed. This paper presents G-YOLO, a novel architecture that combines a Lightweight and Efficient Detection Head (LEDH) with Multi-scale Spatial Pyramid Pooling Fast (MSPPF). The LEDH enhances detection speed by simplifying the network structure while maintaining accuracy, reducing computational demands. The MSPPF improves the model’s ability to capture intricate details of rice leaf diseases at various scales by fusing multi-level feature maps. On the RiceDisease dataset, G-YOLO surpasses YOLOv8n with 4.4% higher mAP@0.5, 3.9% higher mAP@0.75, and a 13.1% increase in FPS, making it well-suited for resource-constrained devices due to its efficient design.