bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants to Assess Nutritional Status: Breakthroughs and Insights
Authors: Núñez-Ramos Raquel , Escuder-Vieco Diana , Rico Cruz Carolina , Diego-Poncela Cristina De , Vázquez-Román Sara , Germán-Díaz Marta , García-Lara Nadia Raquel , Pallás-Alonso Carmen
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: To obtain bioelectrical data to assess nutritional status for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants upon reaching term corrected age. Methods: A descriptive, observational, prospective and single-center study which included ELBW preterm infants was performed. The study variables collected were: gestational age, sex and anthropometry at birth and at term corrected age. Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) was performed by a phase sensitive device (BIA 101 BIVA PRO AKERN srl, Pisa, Italy). The components of the impedance vector –resistance (R) and reactance (Xc)– were normalized for body height (H). For each subject, the measurement was taken between the 36 th and 44 th week of postmenstrual age (PMA). A semi-quantitative analysis of body composition was performed using the vector modality of the BIA. Using the RXc graph method, the bivariate 95% confidence intervals of the mean vectors were constructed. From the bivariate normal distribution of R/H and Xc/H, the bivariate 95%, 75%, and 50% tolerance intervals for this cohort were drawn. The individual impedance vectors were compared with the distribution of the vectors from other populations. Results: 85 ELBW infants (40 male, 45 female) were included, with a mean gestational age at birth of 26+6 weeks (± 1.76). Mean R/H was 870.33 (±143.21) Ohm/m and Xc/H was 86.84 (± 19.05) Ohm/m. We found differences in the bioelectrical data with regard to gender, with resistance values being significantly higher in females. Our ellipses align closely with those from other term neonatal cohorts. Conclusions: Bioelectrical data and the confidence and tolerance ellipses of an ELBW infant cohort are presented and can be used as a reference standard for nutritional assessment at discharge.
Leveraging the McGeer criteria to Estimate Frequency of Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing for Urinary and Respiratory Tract Infections Relative to the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Skilled Nursing Facility
Authors: Colombo Paulina M. , Ramadan Ferris A. , Kaur Dilsharan , Armenta Darunee , Patterson Peter P. , Ellingson Katherine D.
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic affected antimicrobial stewardship in healthcare, including Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). This study aimed to (1) assess the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and respiratory tract infections (RTIs), and identify predictors of inappropriate use, and (2) analyze changes in prescribing practices relative to the pandemic’s onset. Methods: A retrospective review of electronic medical records from a 300-bed SNF (March 2019 - March 2021) identified suspected UTIs and RTIs based on laboratory tests and antibiotic requests. Antibiotic prescription appropriateness was defined by clinical and microbiological alignment with the McGeer criteria, which are standardized infection definitions for long-term care residents, for UTI and RTI. Logistic regression models identified predictors of inappropriate prescribing, and an interrupted time-series analysis (ITS) examined trends relative to the pandemic onset (March 11, 2020) in Arizona. Results: Among 370 antibiotic prescriptions, 77% of UTI and 61% of RTI prescriptions were inappropriate per the McGeer criteria. Acute dysuria and increased urgency were associated with lower odds of inappropriate UTI prescribing. For RTIs, a positive COVID-19 test increased odds of inappropriate prescribing, while fever and acute functional decline lowered them. UTI prescriptions and inappropriateness overall increased during the pandemic, but no significant ITS trends emerged. For RTIs, no significant changes in prescribing or inappropriateness relative to the pandemic were observed. Conclusions: Over two-thirds of antibiotics prescribed for UTI and RTI were inappropriate, with these trends persisting during the pandemic. Findings emphasize the need for robust antimicrobial stewardship during and after public health emergencies.
Ancient DNA Reveals the Earliest Evidence of Sheep Flocks During the Late Fourth and Third Millennia BC in Southern Iberia
Authors: Anaya Gabriel , Garrido Juan Manuel , Riquelme José Antonio , Martínez Rafael M. , Membrillo Alberto , Caro José Antonio , Pajuelo Ana , Ruiz Adrián , Martín José Clemente , Molina Antonio
Published: November 2024

The Spanish Merino is the most significant sheep breed globally due to its economic and cultural importance in human history. It has also had a substantial influence on the development of other Merino and Merino-derived breeds. Historical sources indicate that crossbreeding to produce finer, higher-quality wool was already taking place in the south of the Iberian Peninsula during the Roman era. This evidence suggests that individuals with a racial pattern very similar to that of the modern Merino may have already existed on the peninsula. The presence of skeletal remains of these animals at various human settlements dated to the late fourth and third millennia BC could provide insights into the genomics of these ancestral sheep. This study analyzes ancient DNA extracted from nine skeletal remains from three archaeological sites in southern Iberia, dated to the third millennium BC. The samples were sequenced and aligned with the ovine genome. The genetic distances observed among the samples indicate a closer relationship between several animals from the Marinaleda (Seville) and Grañena Baja (Jaén) sites, suggesting possible shared livestock practices among these communities, while this was not evident at the La Minilla site (La Rambla, Córdoba). The varying ages of sacrifice or death identified in the faunal studies of the sites producing the samples suggest a focus on meat exploitation at La Minilla (La Rambla, Córdoba), while in Grañena Baja (Jaén) and Marinaleda (Sevilla), the emphasis appears to have been on the use of secondary products. The genomic results of the nine Ovis aries individuals support this hypothesis.
Electroacupuncture Attenuates Hyperalgesia in Fibromyalgia Mice Model by Upregulating Cerebellum Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Expression and Signaling
Authors: Lin Huan-Chin , Liao Hsien-Yin , Hsu Hsin-Cheng , Chuang Kai-Ting , Lin Huan-Chin
Published: November 2024

Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, and insomnia. The precise underlying mechanisms remain uncertain, hampering the development of specific curative therapies. Electroacupuncture (EA) has documented efficacy against FM-associated pain, while cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) plays a critical role in endogenous analgesia. Herein, we examined whether pain relief induced by EA is associated with altered cerebellar CB1 expression levels and signaling in the intermittent cold stress (ICS) mouse model of FM. Fibromyalgia-like pain and recovery were assessed by measuring mechanical and thermal pain thresholds. Compared to control mice, ICS-induced FM model mice exhibited a significantly reduced mechanical withdrawal threshold (2.29 0.13 g) and shorter thermal withdrawal latency (4.01 0.47 s), indicative of mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Both conditions were reversed by 2-Hz EA but not sham EA. Hyperalgesia was associated with reduced CB1 receptor expression and enhanced activity of multiple nociceptive signaling pathways (PKA, PI3K, Akt, mTOR, ERK, and NF-kB) in the mice cerebellum. 2-Hz EA but not sham EA reliably reversed these abnormalities. Intracerebroventricular injection of the CB1 agonist Anandamide (AEA) recapitulated the effects of EA on pain thresholds, while the analgesic effects of EA were blocked by the CB1 antagonist AM251. Our findings suggest that dysregulation of CB1 expression and aberrant hyperactivity of nociceptive signaling pathways in the cerebellum contribute to FM etiology and that upregulation of CB1 signaling mediates the analgesic efficacy of EA.
Improving Soil Heavy Metal Lead Inversion: Combining WOA with Other Band Selection Methods
Authors: He Ping , Cheng Xianfeng , Wen Xingping , Cao Yi , Zou Yue , Chen Yu
Published: November 2024

Hyperspectral technology has become increasingly important in monitoring soil heavy metal pollution, yet hyperspectral data often contain substantial band redundancy, and band selection methods are typically limited to single algorithms or simple combinations. Multi-algorithm combinations for band selection remain underutilized. To address this gap, this study, conducted in Gejiu, Yunnan Province, China, proposes a multi-algorithm band selection method to enable rapid prediction of lead (Pb) contamination levels in soil. To construct a preliminary Pb content prediction model, initial selection of spectral bands utilized methods including CARS (Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling), GA (Genetic Algorithm), MI (Mutual Information), SPA (Successive Projections Algorithm), and WOA (Whale Optimization Algorithm). Results indicated that WOA achieved the highest modeling accuracy. Building on this, a combined WOA-based band selection method was developed, including combinations such as WOA-CARS, WOA-GA, WOA-MI, and WOA-SPA, with multi-level band optimization further refined by MI (e.g., WOA-GA-MI, WOA-CARS-MI, WOA-SPA-MI). Results showed that the WOA-GA-MI model exhibited optimal performance, achieving an average R² of 0.75, with improvements of 0.32, 0.11, and 0.02 over the full-spectrum model, the WOA-selected spectral model, and the WOA-GA model, respectively. Additionally, spectral response analysis identified 22 common bands essential for Pb content inversion. The proposed multi-level combined model not only significantly enhances prediction accuracy but also provides new insights into optimizing hyperspectral band selection, serving as a valuable scientific foundation for assessing soil heavy metal contamination.
Temperature: An Influencing Factor on the Rheological and Energetic Parameters of Acid Pressure Technology Operations
Authors: Hernández-Ramírez Gabriel , Martínez-Rojas Rodney , Pérez-García Liudmila , Fernández-Santiesteban Eduardo , Garcell-Puyáns Leonel , Álvarez-de-Prado Laura , Menéndez Javier , Fernández-Ordás José , BERNARDO SÁNCHEZ ANTONIO
Published: November 2024

In this work, a study was carried out on the effect of temperature as the main influencing factor of the rheological behavior of lateritic suspensions, raw material for the operations of pressurized acid technology (HPAL) used to obtain nickel and cobalt from of oxidized ores. From studies of X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, particle size analyzer and mathematical modeling, the behavior of the interactions and rheological characteristics of the analyzed samples were obtained. In this study it was concluded that the use of mathematical models that relate the temperature up to 90 °C and the energy parameters of the pumping system of flows, loads, hydraulic losses, power and efficiency, will allow finding ways to increase and stabilize the flow of fed hydromixture with a flow rate of 1600 m3/h and a solids concentration of 48% (w/w) and guarantee the efficiency of the technological process.
Wearables in Chronomedicine and Interpretation of Circadian Health
Authors: Gubin Denis , Weinert Dietmar , Stefani Oliver , Otsuka Kuniaki , Borisenkov Mikhail F. , Cornelissen Germaine
Published: November 2024

Wearable devices gain increasing attention for use in multifunctional applications related to health monitoring, particularly in research of the circadian rhythms of cognitive functions and metabolic processes. In this comprehensive review, we encompass how wearables can be used to study circadian rhythms in health and disease. We highlight the importance of these rhythms as markers of health and well-being, and as potential predictors for health outcomes. We focus on the use of wearable technologies in sleep research, circadian medicine, and chronomedicine beyond the -ircadian domain, with an emphasis on actigraphy as a validated tool for monitoring sleep, activity, and light exposure. We discuss various mathematical methods currently used to analyze actigraphic data, such as parametric and non-parametric approaches, applied to quantify circadian and non-circadian variability. We also introduce novel actigraphy-derived markers, which can be used as personalized proxies of health status, assisting in discriminating between health and disease, offering insights into neurobehavioral and metabolic status. We discuss how lifestyle factors such as physical activity and light exposure can modulate brain functions and metabolic health. We emphasize the importance of establishing reference standards for actigraphic measures to further refine data interpretation and improve clinical and research outcomes. The review calls for further research to refine existing tools and methods, deepen our understanding of circadian health, and develop personalized healthcare strategies.
Impact of Cement Distribution on the Efficacy of Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation for Osteoporotic Fractures
Authors: Jia Ruigang , Li Dong , He Peng , Wang Xin-Qiang , Zhang Yunpeng , Bai Jianling , Tian Jiwei
Published: November 2024

Background:

No studies have evaluated the impact of the cement distribution as classified on the basis of the fracture bone marrow edema area (FBMEA) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the efficacy of percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) for acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Methods:

The clinical data of patients with acute, painful, single-level thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures were retrospectively analyzed. The bone cement distribution on the postoperative radiograph was divided into 4 types according to the distribution of the FBMEA on the preoperative MRI. The primary outcomes were the postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores. Cement leakage, adjacent vertebral fractures (an important concern in complications after vertebroplasty and a subset of new fractures), and recollapse of the treated vertebra were also evaluated.

Results:

A total of 128 patients, 80.5% of whom were female, were included and had follow-up for 24 months. The mean patient age (and standard deviation) was 74.2 ± 8.6 years. The cement distribution was classified as Type I in 18 patients, Type II in 26, Type III in 46, and Type IV in 38. At the primary time point (6 months), there was a significant difference in the ODI score favoring the Type-III and Type-IV groups compared with the Type-I and Type-II groups (adjusted 95% confidence interval [CI]: Type I versus Type II, −2.40 to 4.50; Type I versus Type III, 1.35 to 7.63; Type I versus Type IV, 1.27 to 7.92; Type II versus Type III, 0.67 to 6.21; Type II versus Type IV, 0.63 to 6.46; adjusted p < 0.0083), whereas no significant differences were found between the 4 groups in the VAS pain score. The Type-II and Type-IV groups had a higher incidence of cement leakage, and the Type-III and Type-IV groups had a lower incidence of vertebral recollapse.

Conclusions:

An adequate distribution of bone cement is advantageous for functional improvement, short-term pain relief, and a lower rate of vertebral recollapse. The FBMEA appears to be a feasible reference marker for evaluating the performance of the PVA procedure.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Nonoperative Care Versus Surgery for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
Authors: Pahuta Markian , Sarraj Mohamed , Busse Jason , Guha Daipayan , Bhandari Mohit
Published: November 2024

Background:

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) occurs when spondylotic changes compress the spinal cord and cause neurologic dysfunction. Because of a lack of comparative data on nonoperative care versus surgery for DCM, it has been difficult to support patients through the shared decision-making process regarding treatment options. Our objective was to synthesize the best available data in a manner that helps clinicians and patients to weigh the differences between nonoperative care and surgery at different ages and disease severity. The 2 patient-centered questions we sought to answer were (1) “am I more likely to experience worsening myelopathy with nonoperative care, or need more surgery if I have my myelopathy treated operatively?” and (2) “how much better will my quality of life be with nonoperative care versus surgery?”

Methods:

We used a health economic technique, microsimulation, to model head-to-head comparisons of nonoperative care versus surgery for DCM. We incorporated the best available data, modeled patients over a lifetime horizon, used direct comparators, and incorporated uncertainty in both natural history and treatment effect.

Results:

Patients with mild DCM at baseline who were ≥75 years of age were less likely to neurologically decline under nonoperative care than to undergo a second surgery if the index surgery was an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), cervical disc arthroplasty (ADR), or posterior cervical decompression and instrumented fusion (PDIF). Using quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), our results suggest that surgery for DCM may be superior to nonoperative care. However, for all patients except those with severe DCM who are of middle age or younger (depending on the procedure, ≤50 to ≤60 years of age), the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval for the estimated difference in QALYs was <0.

Conclusions:

In most patient groups, neurologic progression with nonoperative management is more likely than the need for additional cervical surgery following operative management, with the exception of patients 75 to 80 years of age and older with mild DCM. Furthermore, on average, surgery for DCM tends to improve quality of life. However, patients with DCM who are older than middle age should be aware that the estimates of the quality-of-life benefit are highly uncertain, with a lower bound of <0.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Gossypol, a natural product has good antimalarial activity of against Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates
Authors: Chirawurah Jersley D. , Ansah Felix , Amenga-Etego Lucas , Awandare Gordon A. , Aniweh Yaw , Blankson Samuel , Adikah Bridget
Published: November 2024

Gossypol is known to have good antimalarial activities against chloroquine-resistant and susceptible Plasmodium falciparum parasites. However, there is limited data on its potency in clinical isolates of P. falciparum. Therefore, this study evaluated the potency of gossypol against six laboratory strains and twenty-one clinical isolates of P. falciparum using optimized growth inhibitory assays. Additionally, to study the mechanism of resistance, gossypol-resistant parasites with P. falciparum Dd2 background (Dd2_3.5 µM) were selected and screened against chloroquine, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and three Malaria box compounds (MMV006087, MMV085203 and MMV008956). On average gossypol was twice more potent against the laboratory strains compared to the clinical isolates (IC50 value of 6.490 µM and 11.670 µM, respectively). We also observed the Dd2_3.5 µM parasites to be more sensitive after three months and then resistant after six months. Furthermore, the Dd2_3.5 µM parasites showed no cross-resistance to chloroquine, DHA and the three Malaria box compounds. The results from this study suggest gossypol might possess an interesting mechanism of resistance and potentially new targets in P. falciparum, which is different from the compounds tested. The data from this study could be important for the discovery of novel antimalarial compounds against drug-resistant malaria parasites.
Introgression of Desirable Alien Chromatin from Wild Avena Species into Cultivated Oat (Avena sativa L.) and Its Identification through Agro-Morphological and Molecular Techniques
Authors: Kumar Sawan , Sood VK , Sanadya Sanjay Kumar , Sharma Gaurav , Rachappanavar Vinaykumar , Kaushal Ritesh
Published: November 2024

The genetic enhancement of polyploid oats poses a significant challenge for crop production improvement. This study aimed to introgress desirable agronomic and quality traits from wild ‘Avena’ species into cultivated A. sativa L. We utilized three diploid species (A. strigosa L., A. longiglumis L., and A. orientalis L.), one tetraploid species (A. barbata L.), and three hexaploid species (A. sterilis L., A. byzantina L., and A. sativa L.) for interspecific and interploidy crosses. Interspecific crosses were advanced to BC1F1 and BC2F1 generations over three Rabi seasons at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, India. Phytohormone application, embryo culture, and colchicine treatment facilitated interploidy crosses, while intraploidy crosses were performed without manipulation. We developed 41 embryos from A. strigosa × A. sativa, 18 from A. longiglumis × A. sativa, and 14 from A. orientalis × A. sativa, with 15 plants surviving colchicine treatment (34.88% survival rate). SSR primers confirmed hybridity, and molecular screening of BC1F1 and BC2F1 generations showed donor alleles in 16 of 26 BC2F1 plants. The BC2F1 derivatives exhibited significant improvements over the recurrent parent, including up to 75% higher beta-glucan content, 41% higher protein content, 11.28% reduced maturity days, and 70.96% higher seed yield. These advancements underscore the potential of BC2F1 derivatives in oat breeding programs for trait introgression and crop improvement.
Coping mechanisms of community psychiatric nurses against stigma in Ghana's Greater Accra Region
Authors: Buertey Abigail Ansere , Puplampu Gideon Lawer , Ani-Amponsah Mary , Jibril Mohammad Amin Ibrahim , Attiogbe Alexander
Published: November 2024

Background
Community mental health professionals deliver services to people with mental illness. They offer in-home services, delivering personalized care in clients' residences. Yet, there is a stigma around mental illness in these communities. It makes it hard to provide these services. The study aimed to find how community mental health experts cope with stigma.
Methods
We chose twelve participants for this study through a purposeful selection process. The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analysed via thematic analysis.
Results
Community mental health nurses use several coping methods to deal with stigma. They avoid and ignore its sources. They also confront it, hold supportive peer discussions, and publicly educate others.
Conclusion
Experts recommended that the best way to reduce this stigma is through massive education. Thus, we need the media's help. District hospital managers should include community mental health nurses in the logistics sharing. This will enable effective work.
Flexible and lead-free polymer compositesfor X-ray shielding: A polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix filled with nanoparticles of tungsten oxides
Authors: Rabiei Negar , Gholamzadeh Leila , KhajehAminian Mohsen , Sharghi Hamed
Published: November 2024

Polymer nanocomposites have been investigated as one of the light and suitable alternatives to lead clothing for protection against X-rays. The present study aims to fabricate flexible, lead-free, X-ray-shielding composites using a polyvinyl chloride matrix and different nanostructures. Four different nanostructures containing impure tungsten oxide, tungsten oxide (WO3), barium tungstate (BaWO4), and bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) were synthesized through various methods. Subsequently, their morphological characteristics were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two different weight ratios of these nanostructures (20% wt & 50% wt) were used to produce PVC composites. To investigate attenuation parameters, the prepared composites were subjected to X-ray irradiation at voltages of 40, 80, and 120 kV. The results showed that the PVC composites containing 20% wt Bi2WO6 had the highest linear attenuation coefficient (µ) at all three voltages. The incorporation of nanostructures would increase the attenuation coefficients. The Bi2WO6 composites with a weight ratio of 20% had the lowest half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL), and 0.5 mm equivalent lead thickness values at each of the three voltages. The PVC composites containing 50% wt Bi2WO6 had attenuation coefficients greater than those reported for PbO at each X-ray voltage. Therefore, this type of PVC composite is a suitable option for lead shields. Among the studied tungsten nanostructures, bismuth tungstate has good attenuation performance for X-ray protection. This material is also light, flexible, and non-toxic and can be suggested as an alternative to lead aprons.
AI-based Medical Imagery Diagnosis for COVID-19 Disease Examination and Remedy
Authors: Aboshosha Ashraf
Published: November 2024

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has spread to more than 200 countries, affecting millions, costing billions, and claiming nearly 2 million lives since late 2019. This highly contagious disease can easily overwhelm healthcare systems if not managed promptly. The current diagnostic method, Molecular diagnosis, is slow and has low sensitivity. CXR, an initial imaging tool, provides rapid results, but is less sensitive compared to CT scans. This article focuses on using AI for two main objectives: classifying the severity of COVID-19 and determining the appropriate treatment. Highlights key factors in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, addressing questions such as: 1. For COVID-19 is innate immunity more important or acquired immunity? 2. Is the COVID-19 an immunity disorder or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome(ARDS)? 3. Is the cross mortality due to aging more dangerous than COVID-19? 4. Is COVID-19 a seasonal disease due to the deficiency of vitamin D in winter? 5. Is it better to treat COVID-19 as an epidemic or a pandemic?
Comparative Assessment of Electrical Activity of the Brain and Cardiorespiratory Response During Normobaric and Hypobaric Hypoxia
Authors: Karapetyan Marietta Armenak , Adamyan Nona Yura , Gevorkyan Emma Sergey , Karapetyan Anna Felix
Published: November 2024

Providing the body with oxygen is one of the most pressing problems of modern physiology and theoretical medicine, since hypoxia underlies the pathogenesis of most diseases, and an in-depth study of these processes is of great practical importance.
For the normal functioning of the mechanisms for maintaining the body’s energy balance, it is necessary to preserve the parameters that characterize the functional abilities of oxygen transport systems. Disruption of this process leads to disruption of oxygen homeostasis and the occurrence of hypoxia, i.e. to a discrepancy between O2 delivery and the metabolic demand of an organ or cell. The main universal indicator of oxygen homeostasis, reflecting the adequacy of oxygen delivery and consumption, is the oxygen tension in the blood (PaO2).
During hypoxia, PO2 changes either due to a decrease in barometric pressure (hypobaric hypoxia -HH), or due to a decrease in the O2 fraction in the inspired air under normal atmospheric pressure conditions (760 mmHg) (normobaric hypoxia -NН). It has been established that in both hypobaric and normobaric hypoxia, the observed changes in functional indicators are a consequence of a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen in the environment (PO2).
Investigating the Relationship Between Social Stigma and Treatment Adherence in Type 2 Diabetes Patients at Healthcare Centers in Northwest Iran
Authors: Sedaei Maryam , Mohamadi Mohammad Ail , Dadkhah Behrouz
Published: November 2024

Background: The social stigma associated with type 2 diabetes is a significant global mental and social health issue that can hinder treatment adherence among patients. To address this concern, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between social stigma and treatment adherence levels in type 2 diabetes patients attending healthcare centers in northwest Iran.
Methods: In this descriptive-correlation study, 432 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to Ardabil city health service centers were selected by simple random and multi-stage cluster method. The data collection tools included the personal-social profile form, type 2 diabetes stigma assessment scale (DSAS-2), and treatment adherence questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS26 software with descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, analysis of variance, and logistic linear regression model.
Results: The results indicated that the average score for the total social stigma of type 2 diabetes among the studied samples was 59.27 ± 15.52. A high level of perceived social stigma was observed in 55.6% of the patients. The average score for treatment adherence was 97.46 ± 28.79, with an adherence situation at an average level (59.7%). An inverse relationship was identified between the social stigma of diabetes and adherence to treatment (r = -0.29, p < 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant relationship between the average score of social stigma of diabetes and variables such as gender and marital status, as well as between the average score of treatment adherence and the gender of patients. The stepwise multiple linear regression model revealed that 15.1% of the variance in treatment adherence could be explained by age, duration of the disease, and social stigma of diabetes.
Conclusion: Considering the significant inverse relationship between social stigma and treatment adherence, it is concluded that to enhance treatment adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes, necessary measures and interventions should be implemented to reduce social stigma. By addressing social stigma, health field decision-makers can consequently increase treatment adherence in these patients.
Study on the bearing performance of extra-long pile group foundation in accumulation slope under landslide effect
Authors: Wei Zhaolan , Zhang Chuanjiang , Hu Kai , Yang Bowen , Jia Shaomin
Published: November 2024

The stress state of extra-long pile group foundation in accumulation slope under the action of sliding horizontal load is unknown, and the overall stability analysis is insufficient, which leads to the overall collapse of the bridge. Based on MIDAS GTS software, the influence of pile foundation stress and deformation under the condition of superstructure load and anti-slide pile in typical slope accumulation body is established and analyzed. The findings indicate that:(1) Under the action of landslide, the load of the rear pile foundation is the most unfavorable, and the maximum internal force appears near the pile top or sliding surface, which should be considered in the design;(2) The superstructure load has a limited effect on the improvement of bending moment and horizontal displacement of pile foundation, but has a great influence on shear force;(3) When using anti-slide pile reinforcement, only the back row anti-slide pile reinforcement effect is the best, and the best setting distance is 2–4 times the length of anti-slide pile section. These findings are critical to the design and construction of slope pile foundations and help to analyze their response to sliding loads.
Mendelian Randomization Study of Serum Uric Acid Levels and Urate-Lowering Drugs on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Outcomes
Authors: Yao Xiaoling , Cai Xin , Zhang Shaoqin , Yang Yuzheng , Yang Xiangyan , Ma Wukai , Jiang Zong
Published: November 2024

Objective
This study aims to explore the causal relationships between serum uric acid level and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) using the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, and to assess the therapeutic impacts of urate-lowering drugs on PAH.
Methods
Utilizing published genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we applied MR and colocalization analysis to assess the link between serum uric acid level and PAH across four GWAS datasets from two distinct European populations. The validity and reliability of these findings were confirmed through multiple statistical methods, alongside an MR analysis of urate-lowering drug targets to investigate their potential effects on PAH treatment.
Results
MR analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between serum uric acid levels and PAH (odds ratio (OR) = 1.106, 95%confidence intervals (CI) 1.021-1.200, P = 0.014), corroborated by a replication MR analysis (OR = 1.859, 95%CI 1.130–3.057, P = 0.015). No significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was found in the sensitivity analyses. However, urate-lowering drugs did not demonstrate a significant direct therapeutic effect on PAH.
Conclusions
This study is establishing a genetic basis for a causal link between serum uric acid levels and PAH. However, urate-lowering drugs do not appear to have a direct causal effect on PAH improvement. These findings provide a novel reference point for developing future therapeutic strategies for PAH.
New perspective of arthropods' pesonality: diverse personality-plasticity association and complex neurophysiological mechanisms in predatory aggression
Authors: Li Yi-Chi , Yen Yi-Chun , Hsu Yuan-Hao , Tso I-Min
Published: November 2024

Although personality has been popularly studied for decades, the relationship between plasticity and personality remains unverified, and the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we addressed such gap by comprehensively integrating field surveys, behavioral tests, transcriptome, and biochemical analyses to study the predatory aggressiveness personality of a wolf spider, Hippasa holmerae. A total of 103 H. holmerae were collected from a field population and their attacking willingness toward a dangerous East Indian harvest ant prey (Carebara diversa) was each evaluated. We found that nearly half of the individuals exhibited high behavioral plasticity while the others exhibited apparent personality, and results of GLM analyses demonstrated that proactive personality could indeed limit adaptive plasticity. The brains of individuals displaying apparent high or low aggression were subjected to transcriptome analyses. The results showed that 19 physiological systems had more than 20% of their associated genes exhibiting differential expression patterns between the high and low aggressive groups. Furthermore, almost all of these differences were due to genes being significantly upregulated in the former. Results of biochemical analyses further showed that the concentration of tryptophan in the brains of highly aggressive individuals was significantly lower than that of low aggressive ones. These gene expression and amine variation patterns were congruent with the characteristics of big and small engine individuals proposed by the pace of life syndrome theory and energy management models. Here we show the personality-plasticity association within a population and empirically demonstrate that personality differences might be caused by the differences in multiple physiological systems. These results highlight the importance of clarifying personality and plasticity in behavioral tests and the importance of comprehensively examining multiple systems while conducting personality mechanistic studies.
Spatiotemporal visualization of SnRK1 activity unveils its multifaceted role during plant growth and development
Authors: Smagghe Wouter , Persyn Freya , Mertens Toon , Smorscek Thomas , De Winne Nancy , De Slijke Eveline Van , Persiau Geert , Eeckhout Dominique , Vanneste Steffen , De Jaeger Geert , Leene Jelle Van
Published: November 2024

Plants are able to endure fluctuating environments through complex signaling networks, meticulously balancing growth decisions based on internal and external cues. Central to these networks, Sucrose non-fermenting-1 related kinase 1 (SnRK1) acts as a molecular fuel gauge that promotes survival by restraining growth and favoring catabolism under restrictive conditions. However, the detailed spatiotemporal dynamics of SnRK1's regulation of plant growth remain poorly understood given the lack of adequate tools that can capture these dynamics at cellular resolution. In this study, we employed a separation of phase-based activity reporter of kinase (SPARK)-based sensor to monitor SnRK1 activity at cellular resolution during the plant life cycle. Our findings unveiled a dual role for SnRK1: a constitutive one, tightly linked to meristematic and vascular tissues, and a dynamic one, steering growth according to energy and nutrient availability. Real-time visualization of a growing Arabidopsis root corroborated this dual role, showing SnRK1’s essential role in maintaining the apical root meristem, while also dynamically steering circadian root growth. Applying CRISPR-based tissue-specific knockout (CRISPR-TSKO) of SnRK1, confirmed SnRK1’s pivotal function in root growth and development. Our results highlight the power of ASP-SPARK for real-time, in vivo analysis of SnRK1 activity, advancing our understanding of this key metabolic regulator and paving the way for detailed insights into its relationship with plant growth and stress responses.
Aqueous Asymmetric Pseudocapacitor Featuring High Areal Energy and Power Using Conjugated Polyelectrolytes and Ti3C2Tx MXene
Authors: Wang Xuehang , Yip Benjamin , Chen Chaofan , Jiang Yan , Ohayon David , Bazan Guillermo
Published: November 2024

Despite the development of various pseudocapacitive materials, full-cell pseudocapacitors have yet to surpass the power density of conventional electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs), primarily due to the lack of high-rate pseudocapacitive materials for positive electrodes. This work reports a solid-state conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE), namely CPE-K, that achieves ultrahigh-rate charge storage as a positive electrode, facilitated by a co-ion desorption mechanism. Used without additives or binders, CPE-K retains 70% of its capacitance at 100 A g− 1 with a mass loading of 2.8 mg cm− 2 and exhibits an ultra-long cycling life of 100,000 cycles. Increasing the electrode thickness fourfold has minimal impact on ion diffusivity and accessibility, yielding a high areal capacitance of 915 mF cm− 2. When paired with Ti3C2Tx, a well-known high-rate pseudocapacitive negative electrode, the device leverages the redox-active potentials of both materials, achieves a device voltage of 1.5 V and supports operation rates up to 10 V s⁻¹ or 50 A g⁻¹. This configuration enables the pseudocapacitor to deliver an areal power of 160 mW cm− 2, exceeding the previously unparalleled power of EDLCs, while significantly increasing the areal energy (up to 71 µWh cm− 2). The high areal performance, combined with the additive-free and water-based fabrication process, makes micro-pseudocapacitors promising for on-chip and wearable energy storage applications.
LGR-CE: Encrypted Traffic Classification EncoderBased on Lightweight Graph Representation
Authors: Chen Zhenwei , Wei Xiaoxu , Wang Yongsheng
Published: November 2024

In recent years, traffic encryption technology has been widely used in user information protection, and the amount of encryptedtraffic in communication networks has increased dramatically. In view of the problems of unclear local key features and lowclassification accuracy in traditional malicious traffic detection and normal application classification, this paper proposes anencrypted traffic classification encoder based on lightweight graph representation. By converting the byte sequence of datapackets into a graph, a byte-level traffic graph is constructed. It is proposed to construct a weighted output of a weight matrix tolightweight the model. The lightweight graph representation is used as the network input. The embedding layer, the trafficencoder layer based on the graph neural network, and the time information extraction layer are mainly designed. The headerand the payload can be embedded separately. It is proposed to use GraphSAGE with sampling averaging to encode eachbyte-level traffic graph into the overall representation vector of each data packet. For end-to-end training, this paper adopts theimproved Transformer model of relative position encoding time series to obtain the final classification results of downstreamtasks. In order to evaluate the reliability of the method, the proposed method was used to classify network encrypted trafficand conduct ablation experiments on two application classification datasets, WWT and ISCX-2012, and finally compared withmore than a dozen other baseline models. The test results show that the F1 score can reach 0.9938. Through lightweightexperiments, it is found that its parameter volume is reduced by 18.2% compared with the original model TFE-GNN. Therefore,the results show that the proposed improved method can improve the accuracy of network traffic application and abnormalbehavior detection when the model parameters are reduced. Considering the two dimensions of model parameters andaccuracy, this paper proposes an encrypted traffic classification encoder based on lightweight graph representation, which isbetter than many existing models.
Comparing real-world Type 2 diabetes management with the Francophone Diabetes Society’s recommendations: using comprehensive geriatric assessment-guided medication reviews of frail older adults living with comorbid diabetes and cancer
Authors: Guerra Clémence , Correard Florian , Montegut Coline , Nakache Jérémie , Mascio Thomas Di , Villani Patrick , Honoré Stéphane , Daumas Aurélie , Couderc Anne-Laure , Bérard Charlotte
Published: November 2024

Purpose: Substantial clinical heterogeneity in older adults with diabetes makes therapeutic management challenging. This study compared real-world type 2 diabetes management of older outpatients who had comorbid cancer with published guidelines in order to identify the circumstances in which antidiabetic treatment de-intensification might be appropriate.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from comprehensive geriatric assessment-guided medication reviews of all outpatients with comorbid diabetes referred to our geriatric oncology day hospital unit in 2022-2023.
Results: Of the 738 outpatients who had a medication review, 190 had comorbid diabetes; mean age was 79.5 ± 5.6 years. Despite the high prevalence of frailties and geriatric syndromes observed, the mean HbA1c level was low (6.89% ± 1.03%). Two-thirds (63.5%) of participants had an HbA1c outside the recommended individual target range. Of these, 80% had an HbA1c below the range, suggesting overtreatment. Sulfonylureas and glinides accounted for 18.4% and 11.6% of antidiabetic prescriptions, respectively. A total of 170 diabetes-related therapeutic issues were identified in 67.9% of patients. Having an HbA1c below the individual target range (p < 0.001) and receiving at least three prescribed antidiabetic drugs (p< 0.05) were both significantly associated with having at least one diabetes-related therapeutic issue.
Conclusion: Our study revealed overly aggressive glycaemic control in this frail older population of patients with comorbid cancer and diabetes and highlights poor clinical adherence to official guidelines. Geriatrician-pharmacist collaborations could provide a more comprehensive understanding of patients’ health status and functional category profiles and improve the therapeutic management of older patients with diabetes.
Targeting epigenetic regulators to overcome drug resistance in the emerging human fungal pathogen Candida auris
Authors: Chen Changbin , Zhang Yuping , Zeng Lingbing , HUANG XINHUA , Wang Yuanyuan , Chen Guangsheng , Moses Munika , Zou Yun , Xiong Sichu , Xue Wenwen , Tian Yueru , Guan Ming , Hu Lingfei , Yin Zhe , Zhou Dongsheng , Huang Xiaotian , Dong Yanmei
Published: November 2024

The frequent use of antifungal agents has contributed to the emergence of previously rare or unidentified drug-resistant fungal species, such as Candida auris, which presents mortality rates exceeding 40% and antifungal resistance rates surpassing 90%. The rise of life-threatening infections caused by these increasingly drug-resistant fungal pathogens, coupled with the limited arsenal of effective antifungal agents, necessitates the urgent development of novel strategies to combat multidrug resistance. In this study, we systematically evaluated the role of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histone H3 in drug resistance in C. auris, focusing on acetylation mediated by the acetyltransferases Gcn5 and Rtt109, as well as methylation by the methyltransferases Set1, Set2, and Dot1. Mutants deficient in these enzymes exhibited varying degrees of antifungal drug sensitivity. Notably, we discovered that the loss of GCN5 and subsequent histone H3 acetylation downregulates key genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis and drug efflux, resulting in increased susceptibility to major antifungal classes such as azoles and polyenes. Additionally, Gcn5 regulates cell wall integrity and echinocandin resistance through modulation of the calcineurin signaling pathway and the transcription factor Cas5. In invasive infection models using Galleria mellonella and immunocompromised mice, the deletion of GCN5 significantly reduced the virulence of C. auris. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the Gcn5 inhibitor CPTH2, when combined with the antifungal drug caspofungin (CAS), exhibits a synergistic effect against C. auris in both in vitro and in vivo models without significant toxicity to human cells or mice. In conclusion, these findings highlight the critical role of Gcn5 in the resistance and pathogenicity of C. auris, positioning it as a promising therapeutic target for combating invasive fungal infections.
Are Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries Explained by Known Risk Factors?
Authors: Manske Mary Claire , Wilson Machelle , Wise Barton , Hedriana Herman , Melnikow Joy , Tancredi Daniel
Published: November 2024

Objective
To investigate the association of maternal race/ethnicity with risk factors for brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) and quantify the proportion of excess BPBI risk due to these factors.
Study design
This retrospective cohort study of all livebirths occurring in California-licensed hospitals from 1996–2012 included 6,278,562 maternal-livebirth infant pairs with 7,762 BPBI diagnoses. Multiple logistic regression and causal mediation analyses were used to evaluate the relationship of race/ethnicity and BPBI risk factors.
Results
Black and Hispanic birthing-individuals were at increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and limited prenatal care utilization but decreased risk of many BPBI risk factors (shoulder dystocia, macrosomia, prolonged second stage of labor, and vaginal delivery).
Conclusions
Black and Hispanic birthing-individuals were at lower risk of many strongly associated risk factors for BPBI, and these factors mediate only a small proportion of their excess BPBI risk, underscoring the importance of identifying alternative risk factors, especially drivers of demographic disparities.
Application of the Analytical Hierarchy Process for Comprehensive Flood Susceptibility Mapping in a Rapidly Developing Industrial Zone of Bangladesh
Authors: Sultana Niger , Habib Muhammad Enamul , Mahmud Abdullah al
Published: November 2024

This study presents a flood susceptibility model for the Meghna River basin, specifically targeting five unions in Narayanganj and Munshiganj districts, using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The model incorporates ten key flood causative factors: Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), elevation, slope, precipitation, land use and land cover (LULC), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), proximity to rivers and roads, stream density, and soil type. High-resolution spatial data from USGS, CHIRPS, and Landsat 8 were utilized to generate the necessary layers. The relative importance of each factor was determined through AHP, and the model was validated with historical flood records. The flood susceptibility map reveals that 35.48% of the study area falls under high and very high susceptibility zones, concentrated in low-lying areas with poor drainage. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers and urban planners, enabling informed decisions on flood risk management, infrastructure development, and disaster preparedness in the rapidly growing industrial areas along the Meghna River.