bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oral-only antibiotics for bone and joint infections in children: study protocol for a nationwide randomised open-label non-inferiority trial
Authors: Bybeck Nielsen Allan , Borch Luise , Damkjaer Mads , Glenthøj Jonathan Peter , Hartling Ulla , Hoffmann Thomas Ulrik , Holm Mette , Helleskov Rasmussen Annett , Schmidt Lisbeth Samsø , Schmiegelow Kjeld , Stensballe Lone Graff , Nygaard Ulrikka
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Children with bone and joint infections are traditionally treated with intravenous antibiotics for 3–10 days, followed by oral antibiotics. Oral-only treatment has not been tested in randomised trials.

Methods and analysis

Children (3 months to 18 years) will be randomised 1:1 with the experimental group receiving high-dose oral antibiotics and the control group receiving intravenous antibiotics with a shift in both groups to standard oral antibiotics after clinical and paraclinical improvement. Children in need of acute surgery or systemic features requiring intravenous therapy, including septic shock, are excluded. The primary outcome is defined as a normal blinded standardised clinical assessment 6 months after end of treatment. Secondary outcomes are non-acute treatment failure and recurrent infection. Outcomes will be compared by a non-inferiority assumption with an inferiority margin of 5%.

Ethics and dissemination

The trial has the potential to reduce unnecessary hospitalisation and use of intravenous antibiotics in children with bone or joint infections. Due to the close follow-up, exclusion of severely ill children and predefined criteria for discontinuation of the allocated therapy, we expect the risk of treatment failure to be minimal.

Trial registration number

NCT04563325.
Burden of disease and barriers to comprehensive care for rheumatic heart disease in South Africa: an updated systematic review protocol
Authors: Murugasen Serini , Abdullahi Leyla H , Moloi Hlengiwe , Wyber Rosemary , Abrams Jessica , Watkins David A , Engel Mark E , Zühlke Liesl Joanna
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is responsible for a significant burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and remains the most common cause of acquired heart disease among children and young adults in low-income and middle-income countries. Additionally, the global COVID-19 pandemic has forced the emergency restructuring of many health systems, which has had a broad impact on health in general, including cardiovascular disease. Despite significant cost to the health system and estimates from 2015 indicating both high incidence and prevalence of RHD in South Africa, no cohesive national strategy exists. An updated review of national burden of disease estimates, as well as literature on barriers to care for patients with RHD, will provide crucial information to assist in the development of a national RHD programme.

Methods and analysis

Using predefined search terms that capture relevant disease processes from Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infection through to the sequelae of RHD, a search of PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Sabinet African Journals, SA Heart and Current and Completed Research databases will be performed. All eligible studies on RHD, acute rheumatic fever and GAS infection published from April 2014 to December 2022 will be included. Vital registration data for the same period from Statistics South Africa will also be collected. A standardised data extraction form will be used to capture results for both quantitative and qualitative analyses. All studies included in burden of disease estimates will undergo quality assessment using standardised tools. Updated estimates on mortality and morbidity as well as a synthesis of work on primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of RHD will be reported.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethics clearance is required for this study. Findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and submitted to national stakeholders in RHD.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023392782.
Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) monitoring within primary care: a quality improvement project
Authors: McFadzean Isobel Joy , Francis Rhian , Fischetti Catrin , Morton Vanessa , Goodfellow Susan
Published: June 2023

Background

Poor monitoring of anticoagulants is a significant area of patient safety. It can lead to the dichotomous risk of haemorrhage/clotting without appropriate counselling and monitoring. While healthcare professionals may be familiar with the anticoagulant warfarin and the international normalised ratio, they might be unaware of the monitoring requirements of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), despite DOACs making up 62% of anticoagulants prescribed. The goal of this quality improvement (QI) project was to increase the compliance of monitoring of DOACs within general practice (GP) to improve patient safety and reduce the risk of an adverse outcome for patients.

Local problem

In 2019, the GP surgery had 318 patients prescribed a DOAC and their medication reviews took place opportunistically. While initially, monitoring levels were nearly 100%, by December 2018 this had dropped significantly, and clinicians stated they were unfamiliar with this medication.

Methods and interventions

This project aimed to resolve this by using QI methodology and Plan–Do–Study–Act (PSDA) cycles to create new sustainable processes with DOAC monitoring and aimed to increase DOAC monitoring by 20% within 6 months.

Results

Within 6 months, the project improved the rate of monitoring, and 49% of all patients prescribed a DOAC were seen in a DOAC clinic (n=156) and 78% (n=230/294) had DOAC counselling; 97% (n=295/304) had appropriate blood tests and 72% (n=216/298) had a recent weight recorded within their medical records. Three years on, 600 patients within the practice are prescribed DOACs and 74% (n=445) have had an annual review adhering to the gold standards set within the project.

Conclusion

This QI project confirms that monitoring of DOACs can be improved within primary care by using QI methodology and improving patient safety, using PDSA cycles, stakeholder engagement and the introduction of the anticoagulant domains within the nationwide Quality Assurance and Improvement Framework.
Phenotyping of atrial fibrillation with cluster analysis and external validation
Authors: Saito Yuki , Omae Yuto , Nagashima Koichi , Miyauchi Katsumi , Nishizaki Yuji , Miyazaki Sakiko , Hayashi Hidemori , Nojiri Shuko , Daida Hiroyuki , Minamino Tohru , Okumura Yasuo
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heterogeneous condition. We performed a cluster analysis in a cohort of patients with AF and assessed the prognostic implication of the identified cluster phenotypes.

Methods

We used two multicentre, prospective, observational registries of AF: the SAKURA AF registry (Real World Survey of Atrial Fibrillation Patients Treated with Warfarin and Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants) (n=3055, derivation cohort) and the RAFFINE registry (Registry of Japanese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Focused on anticoagulant therapy in New Era) (n=3852, validation cohort). Cluster analysis was performed by the K-prototype method with 14 clinical variables. The endpoints were all-cause mortality and composite cardiovascular events.

Results

The analysis subclassified derivation cohort patients into five clusters. Cluster 1 (n=414, 13.6%) was characterised by younger men with a low prevalence of comorbidities; cluster 2 (n=1003, 32.8%) by a high prevalence of hypertension; cluster 3 (n=517, 16.9%) by older patients without hypertension; cluster 4 (n=652, 21.3%) by the oldest patients, who were mainly female and with a high prevalence of heart failure history; and cluster 5 (n=469, 15.3%) by older patients with high prevalence of diabetes and ischaemic heart disease. During follow-up, the risk of all-cause mortality and composite cardiovascular events increased across clusters (log-rank p<0.001, p<0.001). Similar results were found in the external validation cohort.

Conclusions

Machine learning-based cluster analysis identified five different phenotypes of AF with unique clinical characteristics and different clinical outcomes. The use of these phenotypes may help identify high-risk patients with AF.
Supportive interventions for carers of men with prostate cancer: systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Winter Natalie , Jongebloed Hannah , Green Anna , Ugalde Anna , Livingston Patricia M
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The objective of this study was to summarise the literature on current interventions available for carers of men with prostate cancer and analyse the outcomes of these interventions in supporting carers’ needs.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted, searching databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus and Cochrane, using terms related to prostate cancer, carers and interventions. Randomised controlled trials and non-randomised controlled trials of interventions for informal carers with or without patients were included. Data were analysed using descriptive and frequency statistics; interventions and their impact on carers’ outcomes were reported on narratively. The SwiM guidelines were applied to guide data synthesis.

Results

Overall, 24 articles were included in the review. On average, participants were spouses (92%) and women (97%). Interventions largely rwere delivered face-to-face (42%) or used a combination of face to face and online modalities (38%). Two-thirds (63%) showed a significant improvement in carer’s outcomes including psychological, sexual, physical and relationship/marital. The majority of studies (79%) tailored contents to carers’ circumstances, most within a couples counselling format. Over one-third (42%) of studies focused on a range of supportive care needs, most commonly were psychological (58%), sexual (42%) and informational (25%).

Conclusions

Interventions for carers of men with prostate cancer were largely face to face, patient–spouse focused and two-thirds had some measurable impact on carer’s outcomes. Research continues to underserve other patient–carer roles, including non-spousal carers. Interventions delivered solely for carers are required to meet gaps in care, and determine the impact on carer outcomes. Further research and more targeted interventions are needed.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021249870
Terrestrial geosystems, ecosystems, and human systems in the fast-changing Arctic: research themes and connections to the Arctic Ocean
Authors: Vincent Warwick F. , Boike Julia , Buschman Victoria R. , Bouchard Frédéric , Zolkos Scott , Henry Greg H. R. , Wolfe Brent B. , Canário João
Published: June 2023

In parallel to rapid sea-ice loss and other climate impacts in the Arctic Ocean, large-scale changes are now apparent in northern landscapes and associated ecosystems. Arctic communities are increasingly vulnerable to these changes, including effects on food security, water quality, and land-based transport. The project “Terrestrial Multidisciplinary distributed Observatories for the Study of Arctic Connections” (T-MOSAiC) was conducted under the auspices of the International Arctic Science Committee over the period 2017–2022. The aim was to generate multiauthored syntheses, protocols, and observations toward an improved understanding of Arctic terrestrial change, and to identify priorities for northern research, monitoring, and policy development. This special collection of Arctic Science covers a broad range of these themes, including limnological insights into northern lakes and rivers, a set of protocols for permafrost and vegetation monitoring, an integrated perspective on Arctic roads and railways to bridge the social and natural sciences, snow and ice studies at the coastal margin of the Last Ice Area, and Indigenous perspectives on Arctic and global conservation. The contributions summarized in this introductory article to the T-MOSAiC special collection include recommendations for the future, and they illustrate the immense value of Arctic collaborations that bring together researchers across disciplines, nations, and cultures.
Wet–dry cycles influence methylmercury concentrations in water in seasonal prairie wetland ponds
Authors: Hall Britt D. , Liu Sichen , Hoggarth Cameron G.J. , Bates Lara M. , Boczulak Stacy A. , Schmidt Jamie D. , Ireson Andrew M.
Published: June 2023

Methylmercury concentrations [MeHg] in whole water were measured in 28 prairie wetland ponds in central Saskatchewan between 2006 and 2012. Ponds fell into four land use categories (established grass, recent grass, traditional cultivated, and certified organic cultivated) and two water level patterns (“Mainly Wet” ponds stayed wet at least until October and “Mainly Dry” ponds dried up each summer). Despite similar atmospheric Hg deposition, average [MeHg] and proportion of total Hg that was MeHg (%MeHg) were higher in water from ponds surrounded with established grass or organic farming; this trend may be driven by high [MeHg] at one Organic site. A stronger relationship was observed with water level patterns. Average [MeHg] and %MeHg were significantly higher in Mainly Wet ponds compared to Mainly Dry ponds. Higher [MeHg] in Mainly Wet ponds were correlated with much higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and sulfate (SO4−2) concentrations and higher specific UV absorbance of DOC. We suggest that prairie wetland ponds may not fit the accepted paradigm that wetlands with high [SO4−2] show inhibition of Hg methylation. Our work suggests controls such as the chemical nature of DOC or redox fluctuations in hydrologically dynamic systems may be important in determining net [MeHg] in these sites.
Advanced Predictive Tile Selection Using Dynamic Tiling for Prioritized 360° Video VR Streaming
Authors: Yaqoob Abid , Muntean Gabriel-Miro
Published: June 2023

The widespread availability of smart computing and display devices such as mobile phones, gaming consoles, laptops, and tethered/untethered head-mounted displays has fueled an increase in demand for omnidirectional (360°) videos. 360° video applications enable users to change their viewing angles while interacting with the video during playback. This allows users to have a more personalized and interactive viewing experience. Unfortunately, these applications require substantial network and computational resources that the conventional infrastructure and end devices cannot support. Recently proposed viewport adaptive fixed tiling solutions stream only relevant video tiles based on user interaction with the virtual reality (VR) space to use existing transmission resources more efficiently. However, achieving real-time accurate viewport extraction and transmission in response to both head movements and bandwidth dynamics can be challenging, which can impact the user’s Quality of Experience (QoE). This article proposes innovative dynamic tiling-based adaptive 360° video streaming solutions in order to achieve high viewer QoE. First, novel and easy-to-scale tiling layout selection methods are introduced, and the best tiling layouts are employed in each adaptation interval based on the prediction-assisted visual quality metric and the observed viewport divergence. Second, a novel proactive tile selection approach is presented, which adaptively extracts tiles for each selected tiling layout based on two low-complex viewport prediction mechanisms. Finally, a practical dynamic tile priority-oriented bitrate adaptation scheme is introduced, which uniformly distributes the bitrate budget among different tiles during 360° video streaming. Extensive trace-driven experiments are conducted to evaluate the proposed solutions using head motion traces from 48 VR users for five 360° videos with tiling layouts of 4 × 3, 6 × 4, and 8 × 6 and segment durations of 1s, 1.5s, and 2s. The experimental evaluations show that the dynamic video tiling solutions achieve up to 11.2% more viewport matches and an average improvement in QoE of 9.7% to 18% compared to state-of-the-art 360° streaming approaches.
Toward Identification of Functional Sequences and Variants in Noncoding DNA
Authors: Monti Remo , Ohler Uwe
Published: June 2023

Understanding the noncoding part of the genome, which encodes gene regulation, is necessary to identify genetic mechanisms of disease and translate findings from genome-wide association studies into actionable results for treatments and personalized care. Here we provide an overview of the computational analysis of noncoding regions, starting from gene-regulatory mechanisms and their representation in data. Deep learning methods, when applied to these data, highlight important regulatory sequence elements and predict the functional effects of genetic variants. These and other algorithms are used to predict damaging sequence variants. Finally, we introduce rare-variant association tests that incorporate functional annotations and predictions in order to increase interpretability and statistical power.
Non-Aqueous Zn-Ion Hybrid Supercapacitors: Acetonitrile vs Propylene Carbonate Based Electrolyte
Authors: Põder K.-S. , Eskusson J. , Lust E. , Jänes A.
Published: June 2023

The development of high efficiency energy storage systems is increasingly important as these systems enable utilize energy from renewable sources and reduce greenhouse gas evolution caused by fuel combustion technologies at the same time. Electrochemical characteristics of Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitor (ZIHS) cells based on 1 M acetonitrile and propylene carbonate electrolytes in zinc tetrafluoroborate (Zn(BF4)2), zinc di[bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide] (Zn(TFSI)2) and zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (Zn(OTf)2) have been studied using cyclic voltammetry, constant current charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance methods. The Ragone plots have been calculated from constant power measurement data. Very high energy and power densities (80 Wh kg−1 and 21.2 kW kg−1) have been calculated for 1 M Zn(BF4)2/AN based Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitor. Some assembled ZIHSs had shown excellent cycling and energy stability over 20000 cycles.
Redox regulation in diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Daehn Ilse S. , Ekperikpe Ubong S. , Stadler Krisztian
Published: June 2023

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most devastating complications of diabetes mellitus, where currently there is no cure available. Several important mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of this complication, with oxidative stress being one of the key factors. The past decades have seen a large number of publications with various aspects of this topic; however, the specific details of redox regulation in DKD are still unclear. This is partly because redox biology is very complex, coupled with a complex and heterogeneous organ with numerous cell types. Furthermore, often times terms such as “oxidative stress” or reactive oxygen species are used as a general term to cover a wide and rich variety of reactive species and their differing reactions. However, no reactive species are the same, and not all of them are capable of biologically relevant reactions or “redox signaling.” The goal of this review is to provide a biochemical background for an array of specific reactive oxygen species types with varying reactivity and specificity in the kidney as well as highlight some of the advances in redox biology that are paving the way to a better understanding of DKD development and risk.
Hematological, skeletal muscle fiber, and exercise performance adaptations to heat training in elite female and male cyclists
Authors: Lundby Carsten , Hamarsland Håvard , Hansen Joar , Bjørndal Hege , Berge Simen Næss , Hammarstöm Daniel , Rønnestad Bent R.
Published: June 2023

We demonstrate in elite female and male cyclists that heat exercise training (5 × 50 min sessions/wk for 5 wk) facilities Hbmass and other hematological parameters more than control exercise training, whereas skeletal muscle properties remain unaltered. Collectively, this coincided with improvements in lactate threshold, V̇o2max, and 15-min all-out cycling performance.
Increasing muscle contractility through low-frequency stimulation alters tibial bone geometry and reduces bone strength in mdx and dko dystrophic mice
Authors: Chan Audrey S. , Hardee Justin P. , Blank Martha , Cho Ellie H.-J. , McGregor Narelle E. , Sims Natalie A. , Lynch Gordon S.
Published: June 2023

Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) develop bone fragility because of muscle weakness and immobilization. We investigated whether increasing muscle contractile activity through low-frequency stimulation (LFS) could alter bone architecture in dystrophin-deficient ( mdx) or dystrophin- and utrophin-deficient ( dko) mouse models of DMD. Chronic LFS reduced tibial diaphysis cross sections in mdx and dko mice, without affecting bone shape in healthy mice. LFS affected the distribution of bone mineral density across all phenotypes, with the magnitude of effect being dependent on disease severity.
Effects of Clostridium butyricum on Growth Performance, Intestinal Health, and Disease Resistance of Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus
♀
× E. lanceolatus
♂
) Fed with Cottonseed Protein Concentrate (CPC) Replacement of Fishmeal
Authors: Pan Ling , Li Weikang , Xie Ruitao , Liu Hongyu , Tan Beiping , Dong Xiaohui , Yang Qihui , Chi Shuyan , Zhang Shuang
Published: June 2023

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of C. butyricum on the growth performance, microbiota, immunity response, and disease resistance in hybrid grouper fed with cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) replacement of fishmeal. Six groups of isonitrogenous and isolipid diets were formulated including a positive control group (50% fishmeal, PC), a negative control group (CPC replaced 50% of fishmeal protein, NC), and Clostridium butyricum supplemented with 0.05% (C1,

5
×

10

8

 CFU/kg), 0.2% (C2,

2
×

10

9

 CFU/kg), 0.8% (C3,

8
×

10

9

 CFU/kg), and 3.2% (C4,

3.2
×

10

10

 CFU/kg), respectively, to the NC group. The results showed that weight gain rate and specific growth rate were significantly higher in the C4 group than that in the NC group (

P
<
0.05

). After supplementation with C. butyricum, the amylase, lipase, and trypsin activities were significantly higher than the NC group (

P
<
0.05

; except group C1), and the same results were obtained for intestinal morphometry. The intestinal proinflammatory factors were significantly downregulated, and the anti-inflammatory factors were significantly upregulated in the C3 and C4 groups compared with the NC group after supplementation with 0.8%-3.2% C. butyricum (

P
<
0.05

). At the phylum level, the PC, NC, and C4 groups were dominated by the Firmicutes and the Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Bacillus in the NC group was lower than that in the PC and C4 groups. After supplementation with C. butyricum, grouper in the C4 group showed significantly higher resistance to V. harveyi than the NC group (

P
<
0.05

). Above all, taking into account the effects of immunity and disease resistance, it was recommended to supplement 3.2% C. butyricum in the diet of grouper fed the replacement of 50% fishmeal protein by CPC.
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance, Attitude, Hesitancy, and Its Associated Factors among Wolaita Sodo University Students: A Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Lombebo Afework Alemu , Wolde Getahun Dendir , Shomoro Bezabish Taffese , Efa Amelework Gonfa , Bscho Mebratu Tila , Suleiman Elias Habtu , Temesgen Ashagrie Sintayhu , Arega Mahlet Zerfu , Obsa Mohammed Suleiman
Published: June 2023

Background. Countries in the world have been experiencing the ongoing impact and spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) virus pandemic. The health and financial burden of the pandemic has prompted the need for timely and effective vaccination to be considered as the best strategy for controlling disease transmission. However, vaccine acceptability remains an area of concern in developing countries like Ethiopia. Objective. To assess attitude, hesitancy in the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, and associated factors among health science students at Wolaita Sodo University. Methods. A triangulated mixed-method study was conducted. Quantitative data were entered into SPSS Windows version 25 for analysis, and the qualitative data were transcribed using open code version 4.3. A binary logistic regression model was used to establish the association between dependent and independent variables. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to measure the strengths of the association. Thematic approach was used for qualitative data analysis. Results. A total of 352 students participated in this study. Having family members who were infected with COVID-19, information about COVID-19 vaccine, the need for a vaccine with the level of concern, intention to take COVID-19 vaccine, and academic year were strongly associated with vaccine acceptability. Graduating class and other senior students were about 4 and 2 times more likely to accept vaccination as compared to freshman-year students (AOR = 4.128; 95% CI: 1.351–12.610;

P
=
0.012

) and (AOR = 2.195; 95% CI: 1.182–4.077;

P

value = 0.013), respectively. Even if 67% of students had a good attitude towards the vaccine, 56% of the students hesitated to take the vaccine. Conclusion. The majority of respondents had a constructive attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine, and only a few of them were vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. It is of utmost importance to design an evidence-based strategy to increase the uptake of vaccination for healthcare students and other nonhealth science students in universities.
Application of Intelligent Robot Palletizer Technology in the Optimization of High-Speed Train Operation and Simulation Verification
Authors: Zhang Xiaoling
Published: June 2023

With the continuous development of society and economy, energy consumption and exhaust emissions of high-speed trains have also gained more and more attention from the industry. Hence, optimizing the operation of high-speed trains is of pivotal significance to achieve optimization as required. On the basis of the intelligent robot palletizer technology, a spatial construction method and intelligent robot palletizer capable of operating through the dispatching of high-speed trains are put forward in this paper on the basis of the situation of high-speed trains assigned. The method of changing the arrival time of the trains and the order of departure are adopted to control the operation of the high-speed trains in an efficient and intelligent manner. With regard to the intervals of departure time, the overtaking of trains and other issues, a three-dimensional spatial travel route is established and used for processing. The intelligent robot palletizer is used to implement the dispatching of trains in the aspect of height. Subsequently, the minimum value method and secure network technology are used to verify that the technology of the intelligent robot palletizer is mature and reliable. Finally, a practical case analysis is carried out in this paper on some sections of the Harbin–Dalian high-speed railway to verify the accuracy and effectiveness of the method proposed in this paper. Through the comparative analysis with other methods, the advantages of the algorithm put forward in this paper can be observed.
Enhanced Thermoelectric Transport Properties of
n
-Type SnSe2 Polycrystalline Alloys by Te Doping
Authors: Lee Se Woong , Park Okmin , Kim Sang-il
Published: June 2023

SnSe2, a layered posttransition metal chalcogenide, has attracted attention as a high-efficiency thermoelectric material owing to the intrinsic low thermal conductivity. Herein, a series of

Sn

S

e

1
−
x

T

e

x

2

(

x
=
0

, 0.025, 0.0375, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.125) samples was synthesized to examine the influence of Te doping on electrical, thermal, and thermoelectric properties of

n

-type SnSe2 alloys. Interestingly, carrier concentration and mobility were simultaneously increased for

x
=
0.025

and 0.0375. Therefore, electrical conductivity is increased for

x
=
0.025

and 0.0375 compared to that for the pristine sample, resulting in power factor increase to 0.25 mW/mK2 for

x
=
0.025

by 12% at 790 K. However, reductions in the electrical conductivity were observed for the samples with

x
>
0.0375

due to the decrease in carrier mobility for

x
>
0.0375

, resulting in the decrease of power factor. The lattice thermal conductivity slightly reduced for the doped samples owing to point defects of Te and vacancies originating from Te doping. Consequently, the thermoelectric figure of merit (

z
T

) was increased to 0.45 and 0.49 for Sn(Se1.975Te0.025)2 (

x
=
0.025

) and Sn(Se1.9625Te0.0375)2 (

x
=
0.0375

) samples at 790 K, respectively, which was enhanced by 40% and 53% compared to that for undoped SnSe2. The enhanced electrical transport properties were validated by weighted mobility, density-of-state effective mass, and quality factor, and the reduction of the lattice thermal conductivity is analyzed by the Debye-Callaway model.
A Dynamic Image Encryption Scheme Based on Quantum Walk and Chaos-Induced DNA
Authors: Hua Nan , Liu Han-Yang , Xiong Xiao-Yun , Wang Jin-Long , Liang Jun-Qing
Published: June 2023

The development of quantum information technology and increasing attention of people to the secure transmission of image information in the Internet have put forward higher requirements for traditional image encryption algorithms that not only take advantage of the exponential acceleration ability of quantum computing compared with classical computing but also reduce the risk of encryption algorithms being cracked. Therefore, in order to seek the combination of the advantages of quantum computing and classical image encryption algorithms, this paper proposes a new dynamic encryption image scheme of quantum walk and chaos-induced DNA. Firstly, the RGB three-channel pixels of the color image are extracted and combined into a one-dimensional array, and a random sequence is generated by quantum walk to reorder it to obtain a preliminary scrambled image; secondly, the color image is processed by the SHA-256 algorithm and divided into the generated message digest as the initial condition of the chaotic model. The random sequence was generated by the high-dimensional chaotic model which encodes each pixel independently and disorderly as DNA bases. The difference of the chaotic sequence ensures the dynamic selection of random DNA encoding and decoding rules during encryption. At the same time, the number of times of DNA encryption of the encoded pixel value is also controlled by the dynamic induction of the chaotic sequence, and ultimately, the DNA coding sequence is replaced with the decimal pixel value to obtain the encrypted image. The simulation results show that the information entropy of the encrypted image is above 7.99, and the correlation of each channel is close to 0, which can effectively resist brute force attacks, plaintext attacks, statistical analysis attacks, noise attacks, etc. In addition, in this paper, extracting the watermark embedded in the encrypted image to judge whether image information is tampered or forged further improves the security of the image information.
Predicting Micro-TESE among Heterogeneous Nonobstructive Azoospermic Patients: The Impact on Surgical Decision and ICSI
Authors: Tian Ruhui , Zhang Jing , Xu Yuan , Liu Shiwei , Deng Cunzhong , Chen Huixing , Li Peng , Huang Yuhua , Zhi Erlei , Liu Guihua , Sun Guihua , Liang Xiaoyan , Zhao Fujun , Wu Yu , Yao Chencheng , Zhang Weituo , Li Zheng
Published: June 2023

Background. Previously published predictive models for microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) were generally assumed patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) a homogenous population, i.e., the laboratory predictors were associated with sperm retrieval rate (SRR) in a similar way among different subpopulations. In addition, previous studies primarily regarded the success of sperm retrieval as the sole endpoint, although live birth is the ultimate goal for the couples. Objectives. The main objective is to develop and evaluate the clinical benefit of a model predicting the clinical outcome of micro-TESE in heterogeneous population with NOA. The outcome of pregnancy was taken into account via assessing the association between the predicted outcome of micro-TESE and pregnancy. Materials and Methods. A development cohort of 1,292 patients with NOA and an external validation cohort of 530 patients were included. Sperm retrieval was performed using micro-TESE. Clinical outcomes, including sperm retrieval, clinical pregnancy, and live birth, were collected. We developed a model using the machine learning method random forest and provided a web-based calculator. Results. The SRR was 38.1% (492/1,292) in the development cohort and 48.5% (257/530) in the validation cohort. The final model includes etiology, AMH, sperm retrieval surgical history, testicular volume, FSH, LH, and age as predictors (ordered by variable importance). The area under the curve of our model was 0.76 (0.74–0.79) in the development cohort and 0.75 (0.71–0.79) in the external validation cohort. The decision curve analysis showed that personalized model-based surgical decision provides additional clinical benefit. The clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) were 45.3% (405/895) and 57.6% (338/587), respectively, in the overall population. For patients of different SRR, the CPR and CLBR of whom had successful sperm retrieval were similar. Discussion and Conclusion. Our model predicting the SRR of micro-TESE was generalizable and easy to use. Predicted pregnancy outcomes like CPR and CLBR could also be derived from predicted SRR. A model-based surgical decision after personalized consultation would be beneficial to patients with NOA.
Data-Driven Damage State Assessment of RC Shear Walls with Experimental Validation
Authors: Zhang Hanqing , Shi Weixing , Shan Jiazeng , Chatzi Eleni
Published: June 2023

This paper introduces a probability-based damage state evaluation methodology for shear walls deriving from a data-driven calculation. A previously proposed damage quantification index, formulated in the time domain, which is capable of tracking damage progression based on the availability of structural monitoring data, is adopted here for the quantification of structural hysteresis damages. The probability of the structure lying in a specific damage state is determined on the basis of the derived damage index and the limit state definitions, yielding valuable information for postearthquake decisions. In this study, a database of the hysteretic behavior of 1,000 shear walls, considering different structural parameters, is generated utilizing OpenSees. Four limit states of seismic performance are defined based on material properties and in relation to the simulated stress and strain data. Accordingly, the exceeding probabilities of damage can be estimated by fitting statistical models to the damage index values grouped in terms of the axial load ratio. Followingly, an informative mapping, between the monitoring-derived damage index and postearthquake damage levels, is established considering structural uncertainty. Illustrative examples, including two shear walls subjected to cyclic loading and a seven-story shear wall slice subjected to a shaking table test, are investigated to show the capability and feasibility of the proposed performance evaluation method on damage state evaluation.
Role of Huangqin Decoction in Intestinal Homeostasis and Colon Carcinogenesis Based on “SREBP1 Cholesterol Metabolism Treg Cell Differentiation”
Authors: Zhou Junde , Lu Nannan , Lv Xinxin , Wang Xin , Li Jing , Ke Lixia
Published: June 2023

Objective. To explore the role of Huangqin Decoction in intestinal homeostasis maintenance and colon carcinogenesis based on “sterol regulatory element binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1)‐cholesterol metabolism regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation.” Methods. It was decided to utilize a total of 50 healthy Wistar rats for the study, 20 of which were chosen at random to serve as controls, and 30 of which were used to create an intestinal homeostasis imbalance model. It was determined whether or not the modeling was successful by killing 10 rats from each of the two groups. The remaining 10 rats in the normal group were then employed as the control group for the experiment. The random number table method was used to split the rats into two groups: the Huangqin Decoction (n = 10) and the Natural Recovery (n = 10) groups. For seven days, participants in the Huangqin Decoction group received the herb, whereas those in the natural healing group received normal saline. The relative density of SREBP1, the levels of cholesterol ester (CE), free cholesterol (FC), total cholesterol (TC), and Treg cells were detected and compared. Results. When compared to the control group, the relative density of SREBP1 increased significantly before administration in the Huangqin Decoction group and the natural recovery group, but decreased significantly after administration, with statistical significance (P < 0.05) in the Huangqin Decoction group and the natural recovery group; the Huangqin Decoction group and natural recovery group had significantly higher levels of CE, FC, and TC than the control group before to administration, and these levels increased significantly after administration. CE, FC, and TC levels in Huangqin Decoction and natural recovery groups were much lower than those in natural recovery groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), according to the results; Prior to administration, Treg cell levels in Huangqin Decoction group and the natural recovery group were significantly higher, and Treg cell levels in the Huangqin Decoction group and natural recovery group were significantly lower after administration; the decrease in the Huangqin Decoction group was significantly greater than that in natural recovery group. P < 0.05 indicated that the difference was significant. Conclusion. Using Huangqin Decoction, one may efficiently regulate SREBP1, cholesterol metabolism, and Treg cell development, all of which play an important role in maintaining intestinal stability and minimizing the incidence of colon cancer.
Automatic Detection of Surface Defects on Underwater Pile-Pier of Bridges Based on Image Fusion and Deep Learning
Authors: Jiang Shaofei , Wang Wei , Su Zhenheng , Wang Shengxian
Published: June 2023

As an important part of the bridge structure system, the underwater pile-pier structure usually occurs various defects on its surfaces due to its complex hydrological environment. The existing conventional defect detection approaches exist two aspects of problems: (1) insufficient definition and color distortion of the underwater images, and (2) low efficiency and error-prone. To solve these problems, this paper proposed the target defect detection model by integrating the image-fusion enhancement algorithm and the deep learning algorithm. Firstly, by analyzing the reasons for the degradation of the underwater images, the ACE (automatic color equalization) and CLAHE (contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization) algorithms are selected to enhance the image, respectively. Secondly, the two enhanced images are fused based on the point sharpness weight, and then the fusion results are further sharpened by the USM (unsharp mask) algorithm, thus obtaining the final fused images. Thirdly, 3,200 fused images are taken as the training set, by adopting the YOLOv3 algorithm to train the detection model, and then the training model is validated and tested by the other each 400 fused images, thus building up the target automatic detection model of underwater pile-pier surface defects. Finally, a series of comparison and discussion were conducted to validate the effectiveness of image-fusion and the robustness and effectiveness of the target detection model. The results found that the target detection model has excellent robustness against noise and effectiveness in the surface defect detection. This indicates that the image-fusion approach proposed in this paper can effectively enhance the image features, and the target detection model is feasible, robust, and effective in the automatic detection of surface defects on underwater pile-pier structures.
Difficult Preoperative Diagnosis of Suspected Metal Hypersensitivity in a Case with Early Failure of Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty
Authors: Shimmyo Airi , Takeda Yu , Fukunishi Shigeo
Published: June 2023

Background. Metal hypersensitivity is a rare complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA), and no reliable diagnostic method for metal hypersensitivity to orthopedic metal implants has yet been established. Case report. A 57-year-old woman underwent hemiarthroplasty using a metal implant despite a skin allergy to metal jewelry. Two years after surgery, the patient developed early hemiarthroplasty failure and refractory erythema. Although the patient was clinically suspected to have a hypersensitivity to metal, the preoperative screening test was negative, and patient underwent revision surgery with cemented THA. Postoperatively, the erythema as well as her hip pain disappeared completely. Conclusion. Patients with clinically suspected metal hypersensitivity should undergo primary and revision total hip arthroplasty using hypoallergenic implants regardless of preoperative screening results.
Antimicrobial Properties of Nanofiber Membrane and Commercial Micromembrane by Modification with Diethylenetriamine (DETA) and Attachment of Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Gallus Izabela J. , Boyraz Evren , Maryška Jiří
Published: June 2023

Water demand is steadily increasing, and usable water supply is constantly decreasing. It is urgent to find a cheap and efficient way to recycle water. Currently, membrane technologies are getting promising results, but some factors drastically reduce their effectiveness. In membrane filtration, biofouling is one of the most limiting factors, reducing filtration efficiency. In this work, the micro- and nanofibres-composed membranes were modified with diethylenetriamine (DETA), and silver nanoparticles were attached to a modified surface to minimize biofouling risk during filtration. Different conditions were tested for reaction with DETA and attachment of nanoparticles. Antimicrobial tests were performed, and the leaching of nanoparticles over time was checked. The modified membranes (Nadir® MV020T and PA PVDF) containing silver nanoparticles ranging in size from 20 to 50 nm showed antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli in the form of 3–4 mm inhibitory zones. The percentage of released AgNPs was 0.47% and 2.12% for Nadir® MV020T and PA PVDF membrane after 21 days, respectively. Polyvinylpyrrolidone was used to increase the stability of the nanoparticles, and the results were compared.
KIF22 in the Prognosis and Immune Biomarking of Pan-Cancer
Authors: Guo Xiuhong , Cao Huayue , Hu Mei , Wu Yuening , Li Jingxiang
Published: June 2023

KIF22, also known as kinesin-like DNA-binding protein (Kid), is a member of the Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs). Available evidence indicated that KIF22 was associated with cancer occurrence and development. However, the functions and underlying mechanisms of KIF22 in carcinogenesis and cancer progression remain largely unknown. In this study, we examined the expression profile and methylation status of KIF22 in different cancers, as well as its associations with prognosis, tumor stemness, genomic heterogeneity, immune evasion, immune infiltration, and therapeutic response in various tumor types. The results demonstrated that the expression level of KIF22 was higher in tumors than nontumor tissues and had strong relationships with prognosis, genomic heterogeneity, tumor stemness, neoantigen, ESTIMATE, and immune infiltration. KIF22 methylation status showed strong relationships with immunomodulators and chemokines. KIF22 had a significant relevance with drug susceptibility and could be a useful biomarker for forecasting survival probability and therapeutic reaction. Furthermore, KIF22 interaction and coexpression networks were mainly involved in cell division, cell cycle, DNA repair, and antigen processing and presentation. KIF22 could be used as a pan-cancer biomarker for clinical diagnosis, therapeutic schedule, prognosis, and cancer monitoring.
Data from Additional Oncogenic Alterations in RAS-Driven Differentiated Thyroid Cancers Associate with Worse Clinicopathologic Outcomes
Authors: Bikas Athanasios , Ahmadi Sara , Pappa Theodora , Marqusee Ellen , Wong Kristine , Nehs Matthew A. , Cho Nancy L. , Haase Jacob , Doherty Gerard M. , Sehgal Kartik , Barletta Justine A. , Alexander Erik K. , Landa Iñigo
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Purpose: RAS mutations occur across the spectrum of thyroid neoplasms, and more tools are needed for better prognostication. The objective of this study was to evaluate how additional genetic events affecting key genes modify prognosis in patients with RAS-mutant thyroid cancers, and specifically differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC). Experimental Design: We performed a clinical–genomic analysis of consecutive patients with DTC, poorly differentiated (PDTC), or anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) between January 2014 and December 2021, in whom a custom-targeted next generation sequencing assay was performed. Patients harboring RAS mutations were included, and we compared their clinical features and outcomes based upon the presence of additional oncogenic alterations. Results: Seventy-eight patients were identified, with 22% (17/78) harboring a driver RAS mutation plus an additional oncogenic alteration. All six (100%) ATCs had an additional mutation. Compared to DTCs harboring a solitary RAS mutation, DTC patients with RAS and additional mutation(s) were more likely to be classified as American Thyroid Association high-risk of recurrence (77% vs. 12%; P<0.001), have larger primary tumors (4.7 vs. 2.5 cm; P=0.002) and advanced stage (III or IV) at presentation (67% vs. 3%; P<0.001). Importantly, over an average 65-month follow-up, DTC-specific-mortality was more than 10-fold higher (20% vs. 1.8%, P=0.011) when additional mutations were identified. Conclusions: Identification of key additional mutations in patients with RAS-mutant thyroid cancers confers a more aggressive phenotype, increases mortality risk in DTC, and can explain the diversity of RAS-mutated thyroid neoplasia. These data support genomic profiling of DTCs to inform prognosis and clinical decision making.
Figure S1-S5 and Table S1 from Activating an Adaptive Immune Response with a Telomerase-Mediated Telomere Targeting Therapeutic in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Mender Ilgen , Siteni Silvia , Barron Summer , Flusche Ann Marie , Kubota Naoto , Yu Chunhua , Cornelius Crystal , Tedone Enzo , Maziveyi Mazvita , Grichuk Anthony , Venkateswaran Niranjan , Conacci-Sorrell Maralice , Hoshida Yujin , Kang Rui , Tang Daolin , Gryaznov Sergei , Shay Jerry W.
Published: June 2023

Supplementary Figure Legends