bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychological-Emotional Aspect and Lifestyle in Professional Rugby Athletes
Authors: Palazzo Roberto , Bevilacqua Riccardo , Corsi Marco , Falconi Edoardo , Rosa Sara , Stefani Laura
Published: December 2024

Background: Recent research emphasizes the importance of integrating psychological-emotional factors with nutrition and body composition in athletes. This study investigates the correlations between these aspects in 36 professional rugby players, aiming to identify relationships that could optimize sports performance and overall well-being. Methods: The study sample included 36 male athletes (mean age: 24.4 ± 2.1 years, weight: 86.5 ± 7.1 kg, height: 181.8 ± 5.7 cm). Four as-sessment tools were used: SF-36 (quality of life), MEDI-LITE (Mediterranean diet adherence), IPAQ (physical activity), and body composition measures (stadiometer and BIVA). Statistical analyses, including Shapiro-Wilk test, Pearson, and Spearman correlations, were conducted to explore relationships between the variables. Results: The athletes’ mental and physical health was comparable to the general population (mean MCS = 50.5 ± 7.4, PCS = 49.6 ± 9.6). Mediterra-nean diet adherence was low (mean MEDI-LITE = 8.6 ± 2.6), while physical activity levels were high (mean IPAQ = 2560.5 ± 950.1). Body composition indicated overweight status (mean BMI = 26.15 ± 1.62 kg/m², body fat = 22 ± 4.3%). Positive correlations were observed between mental health, diet adherence, and physical activity, with a stronger link between physical activity and body composition. Conclusions: This study confirms a relationship between psychologi-cal-emotional factors, nutrition, and body composition in athletes, suggesting an integrated ap-proach to optimize performance. However, causality remains unconfirmed, and the small sample size limits generalizability. Future research should include larger, more diverse samples to expand these findings.
MVSAPNet: A Multivariate Data-Driven Method for Detecting Disc Cutters Wear States in Composite Strata Shield Tunneling
Authors: Xiong Yewei , Gao Xinwen , Ye Dahua
Published: December 2024

Disc cutters are essential for shield tunnel construction, and monitoring their wear is vital for safety and efficiency. Due to their position in the soil silo, it is more challenging to observe the wear of disc cutters directly, making accurate and efficient detection a technical challenge. However, the existing detection methods have problems such as higher costs, more difficulty explaining the model, and low prediction accuracy. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a new disc cutter wear state detection method, called multivariate selection attention prototype network(MVSAPNet). The method introduces an attention prototype network for variable selection, which selects important features from many input parameters by a specialized variable selection network. To address the problem of imbalance in the wear data, a prototype network is used to learn the centers of the normal and wear state classes, and the detection of the wear state is achieved by detecting high-dimensional features and comparing their distances to the class centers. The method performs better on the data collected from the Ma Wan Cross-Sea Tunnel project in Shenzhen, China, with an accuracy of 0.9187 and an F1 score of 0.8978, higher than the experimental results of other classification models.
Teaching Communication and Functional Life Skills in Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Costa Juliana Ribeiro Rabelo , Matos Daniel Carvalho de
Published: December 2024

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly show difficulty in communication and daily functional skills. The use of scripts may help establish these repertoires. Scripts may be visual, textual or auditory. Background/Objectives: The purpose was to assess the efficacy of script fading in establishing the vocal verbal emission of sentences under the control of pictures representing actions from four behavioral sequences (e.g., brushing teeth) in three children with ASD. The effects of the intervention on the emergence of related non-verbal repertoires were evaluated. During intervention, the scripts were textual for one participant, who initially read the sentences. For the remaining two participants, scripts were dictated to them so they could repeat. Across sessions, scripts were faded out by gradually omitting the words from the sentences. Results: Script fading produced the emission of sentences solely in the presence of pictures. Related non-verbal actions emerged. Conclusions: The data were interpreted as indicating correspondence between verbal and non-verbal behavior or “say-do” correspondence. The data were discussed in the sense that script fading, for some learners, may improve communication with sentences that impact the acquisition of related non-verbal behavioral chains. Limitations of the research were discussed.
Discrimination of the Skin Cells From Cellularresolution Optical Coherence Tomography Images by Deep Learning
Authors: Yi Jui-Yun , Huang Sheng-Lung , Li Shiun , Yen Yu-You , Chen Chun-Yeh
Published: December 2024

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a cellular-resolution imaging technique that can be used as non-invasive and real-time imaging and is useful for detecting early stages of diseases. Five in vitro skin cells were measured by the Mirau-based full-field OCT, including keratinocyte (HaCaT cell line), melanocyte, squamous cell carcinoma cell line (A431), and 2 melanoma cell lines, i.e., A375 and A2058. Deep learning algorithms (particularly convolutional neural networks, CNN) that extract features from images efficiently process the OCT’s complex images. We used four models to classify the images of five types of 2D-OCT skin cells. Based on ResNet-15 model, the mean accuracy (average accuracy of 10-fold cross-validation) reaches 98.47%, and the standard deviation is only 0.28% with the data augmentation method. Interestingly, while two normal skin cell images mix and the other three cancer skin cell images mix, the model still works to identify normal and cancer cell features. The mean accuracy reaches 96.77%. Furthermore, we used k-fold analysis to detect the model reliability and adopt the Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (GRAD-CAM) to explain the discrimination results. The deep learning algorithm is successfully and efficiently applied to discriminate the OCT skin cell images.
Advancing Immunotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer: A Brief Review of Emerging Adoptive Cell Therapies
Authors: Sherpally Deepak , Manne Ashish
Published: December 2024

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest 5-year survival rate (13%) among major cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The high lethality of this cancer is attributed to its insidious onset, late-stage diagnosis, rapid progression, and limited treatment options. Addressing these challenges requires a deeper understanding of the complex tumor microenvironment to identify novel therapeutic targets. Newer approaches like adoptive cell therapy have shown remarkable success in treating hematological malignancies but their application in solid tumors particularly pancreatic cancer is still in the early stages of development. ACT broadly involves isolating immune cells (T lymphocytes, Natural Killer cells, and macrophages) from the patient followed by genetic engineering to enhance and mount a specific anti-tumor response. Various ACT modalities are under investigation for pancreatic cancer, including chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), chimeric antigen receptor NK cells (CAR-NK), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), T cell receptor (TCR) engineered T cells, cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK). Major hurdles have been identifying actionable tumor antigens and delivering focused cellular therapies to overcome the immunosuppressive and dense fibrotic stroma surrounding the pancreatic cancer. Further studies are needed to explore the limitations faced by cellular therapy in pancreatic cancer and identify novel combination treatment approaches in order to improve clinical outcomes.
An Examination of Pedestrian Crossing Behaviors at Signalized Intersections with Bus Priority Routes
Authors: Gitelman Victoria , Sharon Assaf
Published: December 2024

Public transport is an integral part of sustainable urban development when its use is promoted by setting bus priority routes (BPRs). BPRs provide clear mobility benefits, but raise pedestrian safety concerns. In this study, observations were conducted at signalized intersections with two types of BPRs, a centre-lane and a curbside, aiming to characterize pedestrian crossing behaviors, with a particular focus on red-light crossings. We found that at intersections with centre-lane BPRs, 30% of pedestrians crossed at least one crosswalk on red, while at another type, 11% crossed on red. Multivariate analyses showed that the risk of crossing on red was substantially higher at intersections with centre-lane vs. curbside BPRs; it was also higher among pedestrians crossing to/from the bus stop, males and young people but lower under the presence of other waiting pedestrians. Furthermore, among pedestrians crossing on red at centre-lane BPRs, over 10% did not check the traffic before crossing and another 10% checked the traffic in the wrong direction, thus further increasing the risk. At centre-lane BPRs, infrastructure solutions are needed to reduce pedestrian intention to cross on red. Additionally, education and awareness programs for pedestrians should be promoted to emphasize the heightened risk of red-light crossing at intersections with BPRs.
TVEMamba: Enhanced Thermal Video for Better Object
Authors: Hovhannisyan Sargis , Agaian Sos , Panetta Karen , Grigoryan Artyom
Published: December 2024

Object tracking in thermal video is challenging due to noise, blur, and low contrast. We present TVEMamba, a Mamba-based enhancement framework with near-linear complexity that improves tracking in these conditions. Our approach uses a State Space 2D (SS2D) module integrated with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to filter, sharpen, and highlight important details. Key components include (i) a denoising module to reduce background noise and enhance image clarity, (ii) an optical flow attention module to handle complex motion and reduce blur, and (iii) entropy-based labeling to create a fully labeled thermal dataset for training and evaluation. TVEMamba outperforms existing methods (DCRGC, RLBHE, IECGAN, BBCNN) across multiple datasets (BIRDSAI, FLIR, CAMEL, Autonomous Vehicles, Solar Panels) and achieves higher scores on standard quality metrics (EME, BDIM, DMTE, MDIMTE, LGTA). Extensive tests, including ablation studies and convergence analysis, confirm its robustness. Real-world examples, such as tracking humans, animals, and moving objects for self-driving vehicles and remote sensing, demonstrate the practical value of TVEMamba.
Field Testing and Numerical Modeling of Vehicle-Induced Vibrations on an Ancient Seawall via an Approach Slab
Authors: Lin Wei , Chen Qiang , Hu Min , Xu Yangyang , Liu Benyong
Published: December 2024

The Yanguan Ancient Seawall, located at the Qiantang River estuary, is a nationally protected cultural heritage site and an in-service vital flood defense structure. Construction activities, including vehicle crossings, pose risks of vibration-induced damage. This study developed a three-dimensional finite element model to evaluate the vibration effects of moving vehicles on the Yanguan Ancient Seawall. The model captured the seawall's unique discrete-continuum structural characteristics by representing rubble stones with solid elements and sticky rice mortar with cohesive zone elements. Additionally, a Vehicle-Road Interaction element, capable of modeling vertical and tangential wheel-road contact forces, was implemented via the ABAQUS User Element interface. Field vibration tests validated the proposed methodology, demonstrating its reliability and accuracy. The validated model was applied to predict and analyze vibration responses under varying approach slab inclination angles, which contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage structures by providing scientific evidence to guide vibration protection measures.
The Superficial Fascia: A Narrative Review
Authors: Fede Caterina , Clair Claudia , Pirri Carmelo , Petrelli Lucia , Zhao Xiaoxiao , Sun Yunfeng , Macchi Veronica , Stecco Carla
Published: December 2024

In recent years, the interest in the comprehension of the fasciae has significantly grown, together with the necessity to find a consensus for a terminology of the fasciae in the research and clinical fields. Furthermore, it is becoming necessary to categorize the various types of fascia (superficial, deep, visceral, neural) since they possess different anatomical characteristics, and are implicated in different pathophysiological pathways. While in the past we have described the deep/muscular fascia, the aim of this work is to summarize and catalogue the information relating to the superficial fascia (thickness, cellular end extracellular matrix component, innervation, vascularization).
Func-bagging: An Ensemble Learning Strategy for Improving the Performance of Heterogeneous Anomaly Detection Models
Authors: Qiu Ruinan , Yin Yongfeng , Su Qingran , Guan Tianyi
Published: December 2024

In the field of ensemble learning, bagging and stacking are two widely used ensemble strategies. Bagging enhances model robustness through repeated sampling and weighted averaging of homogeneous classifiers, while stacking improves classification performance by integrating multiple models using meta-learning strategies, taking advantage of the diversity of heterogeneous classifiers. However, the fixed weight distribution strategy in traditional bagging methods often has limitations when handling complex or imbalanced datasets. This paper combines the concept of heterogeneous classifier integration in stacking with the weighted averaging strategy of bagging, proposing a new adaptive weight distribution approach to enhance bagging's performance in heterogeneous ensemble settings. Specifically, we propose three weight generation functions with "high at both ends, low in the middle" curve shapes, and demonstrate the superiority of this strategy over fixed weight methods on two datasets. Additionally, we design a specialized neural network, and by training it adequately, validate the rationality of the proposed adaptive weight distribution strategy, further improving the model's robustness. Experimental results show that this method is particularly effective in scenarios with class imbalance and is applicable to classification tasks with imbalanced classes, such as anomaly detection.
Effects of Supplementation with Moringa oleifera Leaf Powder on Athletic Performance and Cardiorespiratory Responses During an Endurance Test
Authors: Gbedinhessi Dona Géraud Enock , St-Pierre David H. , Comtois Alain Steve , Danialou Gawiyou
Published: December 2024

Moringa Oleifera (MO) is a tropical plant with roots, seeds, and bark used as food and in traditional medicine. MO has already been shown to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. On the other hand, the ergogenic properties of MO remain unclear. Our study aimed to compare the energy and the time necessary for the participants to carry out the required work (cycling 20 km) before and after taking an infusion of the MO leaf. The performance achieved by 34 participants (19 M, 15 W, Age: 25.9 ± 4.5 years, Weight: 71.4 ± 16.5 kg, Height: 170.4 ± 10.0 cm, VO2max: 40.1 ± 8.4 ml/kg/min) at the end of a 20 km time trial cycling time trial was recorded. During the protocol, the load was set at a power of 114.1 ± 42.8 Watts (corresponding to the ventilatory threshold 1+10%: SV1+10% of the participants). At baseline, heart rate (HR; resting, effort, and recovery) reached during the test; the rate of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate levels, and muscle oxygenation were also measured. Total work (Δ 293.6 ± 75.3vs 290.1 ± 77.4 KJ, p=0.012, d=0.5) and time (Δ 50.0 ± 22.3 vs 49.33 ± 21.9 min, p=0.021, d=0.4) were significantly different. HR (Δ 172.4 ± 22.5 vs 175.9 ± 23.1 beats per minute (bpm), p=0.002, d=-0.9) and RPM (Δ 87.6 ± 18.5 vs 93.3 ± 15.8, p=0.008, d= -0.5) were also significantly different. The present results show that Moringa Oleifera leaf infusions improved endurance performance.
Navigating the Path to Food Security in China: Challenges, Policies, and Future Directions
Authors: Du Mingyuan , Lei Jiaqiang , Li Shengyu
Published: December 2024

This paper provides a comprehensive review and an in-depth analysis of the multifaceted issues surrounding food security in China, exploring historical trends, current challenges, and future strategies. Drawing upon a wide range of sources including government reports, academic literature, and expert analyses, it examines the complex interplay of factors influencing food production, distribution, and consumption in China. The paper highlights the importance of addressing environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and social equity in shaping China's food security agenda. By synthesizing key findings and proposing actionable recommendations, this paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on food security in China and offers insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners alike.
Improved Detecting and Locating Organ Level Small Agricultural Objects by Fusion Ortho Maps and UAV Raw Images
Authors: Liu Huaiyang , Li Huibin , Wang Haozhou , Liu Chuanghai , Qian Jianping , Wang Zhanbiao , Geng Changxing
Published: December 2024

Extracting the quantity and geolocations of small objects at organ level by large-scale aerial drone monitoring both is essential and challenging for precision agriculture. The quality of reconstructed digital ortho maps (DOM) often suffers from seamline distortion and ghost effects, making it difficult to meet the requirements for organ level detection. while raw images do not exhibit these issues, they pose challenges in accurately obtaining geolocations of detected small objects. This study improved the detection of small objects by fusing ortho maps with raw images by EasyIDP tool, thereby establishing a mapping relationship from raw images to geolocations. The small object detection was conducted by Slicing-Aided Hyper Inference (SAHI) framework and YOLOv10n on raw images to accelerate inferencing speed for large scale farmland. As results, comparing detection directly on DOM, it accelerated speed of detection and improved accuracy. The proposed SAHI-YOLOv10n achieved precision and mean Average Precision (mAP) scores of 0.825 and 0.864, respectively. It also achieved a processing latency of 1.84 milliseconds on 640×640 resolution frames for large-scale application. Subsequently, a novel crop canopy organ level object detection dataset (https://huggingface.co/datasets/Nirvana123/CCOD-Dataset) was created by interactive annotation with SAHI-YOLOv10n, featuring 3,986 images and 410,910 annotated boxes. The proposed fusion method demonstrated feasibility for detecting small objects at the organ level in three large-scale in-field farmlands, potentially benefiting future wide-range applications.
Environmental Variables Influencing the Distribution of Penaeus Shrimp (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in a Subtropical Estuary of the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Ayala-Cruz Ayla Marisol , Pérez-Castañeda Roberto , Blanco-Martínez Zeferino , Sánchez-Martínez Jesús Genaro , Vázquez-Sauceda María de la Luz , Benavides-González Flaviano , Rábago-Castro Jaime Luis
Published: December 2024

Habitat characteristics preferred by Penaeus shrimp inhabiting positive estuaries (freshwater-dominated) in North America have been little investigated. Identifying the main environmental factors within the estuary that affect shrimp abundance is relevant to understanding habitat utilization within this particular nursery habitat. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of penaeid shrimp species along the Soto la Marina River estuary (northeastern, Mexico), analyzing the influence of abiotic factors and submerged aquatic vegetation biomass on shrimp populations. A total of 1,069 shrimp belonging to four penaeid species (Penaeus aztecus, P. duorarum, P. brasiliensis, and P. setiferus) were collected. For most species, except P. setiferus, the highest shrimp abundance was noted near the mouth of the estuary, where the highest salinity and seagrass biomass (Halodule wrightii) were recorded. Salinity and seagrass biomass were the main factors influencing penaeid spatial preferences along the estuary, showing significant positive relationships with shrimp abundance in most cases examined. Penaeus setiferus was the only species exhibiting peak abundance in an estuarine area devoid of aquatic vegetation (without seagrass or macroalgae) and with significantly lower salinities (ca. 22 ppt) than those recorded near the river mouth (ca. 28–32 ppt). Differences in osmotic capacity among species, the protective function of seagrasses against currents, and their role as feeding and refuge habitats could explain the observed spatial distribution along the estuary.
Cavitation Erosion of the Surface of Protective Coating Based on Cordierite Filler and Epoxy Matrix
Authors: Pavlović Marko , Dojčinović Marina , Nikolić Jasmina , Aleksić Stanko , Tucović Nedeljko , Čeganjac Zoran , Drmanić Saša
Published: December 2024

The goal of this study was to investigate the surface morphology changes induced by cavitation erosion of a coating based on cordierite with epoxy matrix for aluminium substrate. The literature review shows a certain gap in knowledge regarding coating's resistance to wearing induced by water flow, which is a highly important property of the material immersed in or in contact with water streams. The main idea behind the investigation is that such protective coating will also improve the cavitation erosion resistance of metal substrates. The protective coatings were based on cordierite filler (88 wt.%) and epoxy resin (7 wt.%). The filler made of mixture of kaolin, alumina, and talc is obtained by a sintering procedure that took place at 1350°C. X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy were employed in the characterization of the produced filler. Adherence of the obtained epoxy-based protective coating and resistance to water flow were tested by the ultrasonic vibration method (i.e., cavitation erosion testing). Scanning electron microscopy was used for analysis of the coating's morphology upon cavitation erosion. Based on the value of the cavitation erosion rate and the analyzed final surface damage, it was assessed that the investigated protective coating is resistant to cavitation erosion.
Functional Properties of Exopolysaccharides of Bacillus thuringiensis and Effects on Gut Microbiota from Ulcerative Colitis In Vitro
Authors: Gao Zexin , Tang Jie , Wu Chuanchao , Ding Wenping , Wang Xianyi , Long Yaohang , Wang Yaping , Liu Hongmei
Published: December 2024

We previously reported the immune-activating effect of BPS-2, an enriched exopolysaccharide of Bacillus thuringiensis IX-01, on RAW 264.7 cells and on resolving its chemical structure. In the present study, the apparent morphology and spatial conformation of BPS-2 were analyzed further, and several functional properties were investigated. The results showed that BPS-2 was a poly-meric straight-chain polysaccharide with good thermal stability, exhibiting non-Newtonian prop-erties and good antioxidant and anticancer activities. Notably, we investigated the effect of BPS-2 on the intestinal flora of ulcerative colitis patients by in vitro fermentation of fecal bacteria collected from six volunteers and found that BPS-2 had a positive effect on the intestinal flora of ulcerative colitis patients, increasing the secretion of short-chain fatty acids and helping increase the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium. These results suggest that BPS-2 has the potential to be a food addi-tive for suppressing ulcerative colitis and for other medically related applications.
Bacteria Elimination of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycine and Improvement of Viability of Soybean Seeds Through a Combination of Temperature and Duration of Dry Heat Treatment
Authors: Savitri Aprilia Diandra , Milaros Imelda , Hannyvone Irene Patria , Ramdan Evan Purnama
Published: December 2024

Soybean is the main food crop in Indonesia, besides rice and corn, and its need continues to increase. X. axonopodis pv. glycine (Xag) is a pathogen that causes bacterial pustule disease in soybeans, which can cause soybean productivity to decrease by 57.61%. Xag is also a seed-borne pathogen that spreads through seeds, reaching 8%. Therefore, this study aims to determine the optimum combination of dry heat treatment techniques to eliminate Xag and increase seed viability and vigor. The study was arranged in a randomized complete factorial design consisting of 2 factors: the temperature factor of control, 25 and 45°C, and the duration factor of 6, 12, and 18 hours. Soybean seeds inoculated with Xag were then given a dry heat treatment (DHT) treatment of 100 seeds each. Then, the population of Xag bacteria, germination, vigor index, and seed viability were calculated. The results showed that DHT with a temperature of 45 °C was the best in suppressing the Xag population but reduced soybean seed viability. Therefore, the optimal combination of DHT to eliminate and maintain seed viability is at 25 °C for 12 hours.
A Pressure- and Frequency-Dependent Multiscale Model for Describing the Wave Propagation Characteristics of Fluid-Saturated Porous Media
Authors: Yang Jingyang , Zhang Fanchang , Wu Jun
Published: December 2024

The mechanism of wave propagation in fluid-saturated porous media is influenced by pressure and frequency. Pressure dependence is mainly dominated by the opening and closing of compliant and stiff pores in rocks, as well as nonlinear deformation respect to high-order elastic constants. Frequency dependence is mainly reflected in the dispersion and attenuation caused by wave-induced fluid flow (WIFF). Therefore, the propagation characteristics of seismic waves in subsurface rocks when pressure and frequency are coupled have broad practical significance, such as geofluid discrimination and in situ stress detection. A new equivalent elastic modulus applicable to fluid-saturated porous media has been established, which simultaneously considers the effects of pressure and WIFF. First, the dual-porosity model is incorporated to account for the changes in rock porosity under pressure and corresponding linear and nonlinear deformations. Then, based on the heterogeneity of rock at the mesocale and microscale, a unified pressure- and frequency-dependent elastic modulus over a wide frequency band is established using the Zener model. The wave equation of fluid-saturated porous media is constructed using the new model, and the pressure- and frequency-dependent phase velocities are derived. Rock physics and digital simulation experiments are applied to analyze the variation of elastic parameters and velocity with pressure and frequency. Comparison with experimental measurement data shows that the new model has higher accuracy than traditional models, especially in the low effective pressure region and the frequency band respect to seismic exploration.
Role of Intraplate Strike-Slip Earthquakes in Accommodating Convergence Across the Eastern Himalayan Plate Boundary System
Authors: Chaudhuri Dibyajyoti , Banerjee Rupak , Kumar Ajay , Sharma Shubham , Mitra Supriyo
Published: December 2024

North-East India, at the eastern extremity of the Himalaya, is one of the most rapidly deforming intraplate regions. The tectonics of this region is shaped by oblique convergence between two nearly perpendicular plate boundaries of the Eastern Himalaya and the Indo-Burman convergence zone. This region of distributed deformation is associated with intraplate strike-slip and oblique-slip earthquakes. We model the source mechanisms of six recent moderate-to-strong intraplate earthquakes (5.0≤ Mw ≤6.7) using teleseismic P- and SH-waveform inversion and use source directivity and rupture back-projection, for the largest event, to isolate the fault plane. We combine these mechanisms with previous earthquake source studies, GPS-geodetic-velocity vectors, and GPS-derived strain-rate field, to build a kinematic model. Majority of the earthquakes have strike-slip to oblique-slip (thrust) motion and originate in the middle-to-lower crust. These reveal that the entire NE-Indian crust is seismogenic. The oblique-thrust earthquakes occur due to high in-plane compressive stresses in the flexed Indian Plate. The region north of the Dawki Fault, in the vicinity of the Kopili and Dhubri-Chungthang Fault Zones, deforms through dextral strike-slip faulting and anticlockwise rotation of blocks along NW-SE trending transverse structures. The transitional crust of the Bengal Basin has several NE-SW trending paleo-rifts which are reactivated as sinistral strike-slip faults and the intervening blocks undergo clockwise rotation. The oblique convergence between the Indian and Eurasian Plates is partitioned into dextral and sinistral strike-slip motions across NE-India. The GPS velocity vectors and the strain-rate field indicate that the region north of the Dawki Fault has strong coupling between the surface deformation and the earthquake faulting. However, in the region south of the Dawki Fault, the coupling is weaker. The strike-slip earthquakes beneath Indo-Burma probably occur due to a complex interplay between the trench-normal slab-pull forces and lateral-shear forces set up by the strike-parallel components of the interplate-coupling resistance and the mantle-drag forces.
Focus Group Discussions on Enhancing Laboratory-based Surveillance Capabilities for Emerging Infectious Disease Response
Authors: Jorduela Leodymar , Marayag Nette , Ramones Richard , Duazo Alvin , Tandoc III Amado , Okada Kosuke
Published: December 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted critical gaps in the Philippine health laboratory system, including limited testing capacities, insufficient trained personnel, and inadequate resource distribution. To address these issues, the Philippine government established the Office for Health Laboratories (OHL) and sought technical assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the Project for Strengthening the Philippine National Health Laboratory Network for Infectious Diseases (PHeLNIDs). This project aims to enhance the National Health Laboratory Network's (NHLN) capacity for infectious disease surveillance and response. Phase 1 of the PHeLNIDs project included focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted across 17 regions to assess challenges and develop recommendations for a tier-based laboratory network. Key findings revealed logistical, workforce, transportation, and data management challenges that hinder the effectiveness of specimen referral workflows. Recommendations emphasized decentralizing diagnostic capabilities through subnational reference laboratories, strengthening logistics, and implementing an Integrated Laboratory Information Management System (ILIMS). This article underscores the importance of laboratory decentralization, capacity building, and improved resource management to enhance laboratory-based surveillance and response to emerging infectious diseases. The proposed interventions aim to bolster the Philippine laboratory network, reduce turnaround times, and improve public health outcomes.
Uso de tecnologías en la formación académica y el nivel de conocimientos de las internas de Enfermería de universidades privadas, Lima - 2023
Authors:   , Elias Chaqquere Alithu Lucia , Garcia Lazaro Araceli Magdalena
Published: December 2024

Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre el uso de tecnologías en la formación académica y el nivel de conocimientos de las internas de enfermería de universidades privadas en Lima durante el año 2023. Metodología: La investigación viene a ser de tipo aplicado, con un enfoque cuantitativo, de nivel correlacional y un diseño no experimental de corte transversal. Resultados: La mayor parte de la población estudiada consiste en mujeres (89%), principalmente en el rango de 20 a 24 años (74%), con una edad promedio de 24.1. Durante el periodo 2020-2021, la mayoría optó por utilizar laptops y computadoras para las clases virtuales, siendo comunes las plataformas Zoom y Teams; un 90.4% experimentó dificultades en ambas plataformas, mientras que un 97% no recibió apoyo por sus casas universitarias. El 78.9% indicó que su formación académica se vio afectada en múltiples aspectos, en cuanto al nivel de conocimientos, se clasificó mayormente como bajo, con un 77.9% obteniendo una puntuación entre 0 y 10 puntos. Con respecto, al análisis estadístico no se evidenció una conexión estadísticamente relevante entre el uso de tecnologías y el nivel de conocimientos, llevando al rechazo de la hipótesis general. Conclusiones: A pesar de la adopción de recursos y dispositivos tecnológicos en la formación académica entre 2020 y 2021, y se identificaron aspectos afectados y un nivel de conocimientos bajo, estas variables no demostraron una asociación. Se sugiere seguir investigando, tomando en cuenta otras variables.
Efecto del extracto obtenido del ají limo (Capsicum chinense Jacquin) sobre la deposición de ácidos grasos en la yema de huevo e índices productivos en gallinas de postura
Authors:   , Ortiz Sanchez Andrea Miryam
Published: December 2024

La presente investigación se realizó con el objetivo de evaluar los efectos de la suplementación de dietas de gallinas de postura con pulverizado de ají limo (Capsicum chinense Jacquin) al 0.2% sobre los índices productivos, calidad interna y externa de huevo, enzimas hepáticas, deposición de triglicéridos, colesterol y ácidos grasos en la yema de huevo. Se empleó 112 ºgallinas Dekalb Brown de 21 semanas de edad hasta la semana 29, las aves fueron asignadas en 4 tratamientos dietéticos: Dieta estándar (DE), Dieta hipercalórica (HIP), Dieta hipercalórica con ají limo al 0.2% (HIP + AL) y Dieta estándar con ají limo al 0.2% (DE + AL). Se distribuyó a las gallinas en 7 repeticiones por tratamiento y 4 gallinas por repetición. No se observaron diferencias estadísticas (p>0.05) en la ganancia de peso corporal entre los tratamientos; sin embargo, se evidencia que la DE + AL tuvo diferencias estadísticas (p<0.05) en cuanto al grupo control respecto a las siguientes variables: índice de conversión alimenticia (ICA), peso de huevo, huevos producidos y porcentaje de producción. La puntuación del color de yema de huevo tuvo diferencias estadísticas (p<0.05) ya que fue mayor en la DE + AL, seguida por la HIP + AL. Las unidades Haugh y los defectos de cáscara también presentaron diferencias estadísticas (p<0.05) en la DE + AL seguida por la DE, en comparación a las demás dietas. Con respecto a los ácidos grasos insaturados, los resultados evidenciaron diferencias estadísticas (p<0.05) en la dieta DE + AL, seguida por la HIP + AL. Por otro lado, la HIP tuvo diferencias estadísticas (p<0.05) a nivel de las enzimas hepáticas ALT y AST; mientras que, a nivel de la yema de huevo se evidenció aumento en la concentración de malondialdehído (MDA), colesterol, triglicéridos, 7-cetocolesterol (7-ceto) y 25-hidroxicolesterol (25-OH)...
Nitrophenyl-group-containing Heterocycles. 3. New Isoquinolines, as antiprolifative agents against MCF7and HEGP2 Cell lines. Synthesis, characterization and biological Evaluation.
Authors: Bakhite Etify A. , Hassanien Reda , Farhan Nasser , Sayed Eman M. , Sharaky Marwa
Published: December 2024

In this study, new tetrahydrosoquinoline compounds were synthesized by reacted with methyl iodide, chloro acetonitrile, ethyl chloroacetate, N-arylchloroacetamides N-and (benzthiazol-2-yl)-2-chloroacetamide reagents to gave tetrahydroiso-quinolin-3-ylthio) acetamides (5a-c) which can cyclized to tetrahydroiso-quinolin-3-ylthio) acetamides (6a-c) in excellent yields. The structures of all newly synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental and spectral analyses. Also, most of the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anticancer activity in MCF7 and HEPG2 cell lines. From the result we found that the most potent compound against the MCF7 cell lines was compound 9b, and the most active against HEPG2 cell lines was compound 3. Then the effects of compound 3 on the HEPG2 cell line was investigated using an apoptotic Annexin V-FITC test and flow cytometry. Compound 3 induced a 59-fold increase in HEPG2 cell line apoptosis and cell cycle arrested at the G0-G1, G2/M phases. Moreover, the molecular docking study was applied and the result showed that compounds 9b bind to the RET enzyme with binding energies of -6.8 kcal/mol in comparison with standard alectinib, which exhibits a binding energy of -7.2 kcal/mol. Compound 3 can bind with HSP 90 with a binding energy (ΔG) of -6.8 kcal/mol, which is comparable to the standard Onalespib (-7.1 kcal/mol).
Gray and White Matter Microstructural Alterations in Major Depressive Disorder: A Multi-Center Diffusion Imaging Study
Authors: Murai Toshiya , Takahashi Kento , Suwa Taro , Yoshihara Yujiro , Kyuragi Yusuke , Oishi Naoya , Takano Harumasa , Noda Takamasa , Hirano Jinichi , Hatakoshi Momoko , Ishikawa Yuzuki , Miyata Jun , Igarashi Hiroyuki , Kanno Hiroyuki , Murakami Shingo , Mimura Masaru , Nakagome Kazuyuki
Published: December 2024

Alterations in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) microstructure have been implicated in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). While previous neuroimaging studies have primarily focused on WM microstructural changes, limited attention has been given to GM alterations. Additionally, many of these studies concentrate on region-specific associations with symptoms rather than a comprehensive assessment of broader microstructural changes. In this study, we employed neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate GM and WM microstructural changes at both whole-brain and regional levels. Data were collected from 159 MDD patients and 112 healthy controls across multiple centers. Our findings revealed significantly increased mean free water fraction (FWF) in GM, elevated mean orientation dispersion index (ODI) in WM, and decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in WM among MDD patients compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, the mean FA of WM exhibited a negative correlation, and the mean ODI of WM showed a positive correlation with illness duration. No significant correlations were observed between diffusion indices and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) scores. Gray matter-based spatial statistics demonstrated increased FWF in several GM regions, including the frontal lobes, temporal lobes, and limbic system. Tract-based spatial statistics revealed widespread reductions in FA across WM in MDD patients. These findings suggest that neuroinflammation and myelin abnormalities may underlie the observed microstructural changes, emphasizing the need for future research to link neuroimaging findings with underlying biological mechanisms of MDD.
Translation and validation of the meat attachment questionnaire (MAQ) in a French General Practice Population
Authors: Delaunay Bruno , Tudrej Benoit , Bernard Augustin , Dupuy Alexandra , Malavergne Claire , Bacon Trystan , Sebo Paul , Maisonneuve Hubert
Published: December 2024

Background
Meat consumption has significant implications for both individual health and the environment. Understanding individuals' attachment to meat is crucial for designing effective interventions to reduce consumption. The MAQ is a tool developed to assess individuals' attachment to meat.
Objective
This study aims to translate and validate the MAQ into French for use in a general practice population in France.
Methods
The study was conducted in three phases: translation, pretesting through cognitive interviews, and testing through a cross-sectional study of general practice patients. Descriptive, factorial, and internal consistency analyses were performed to validate the French version of the MAQ.
Results
The French version of the MAQ consists of 17 items in four dimensions: Hedonism, Affinity, Entitlement, and Dependence. Face validity was confirmed by cognitive interviews. The RMSEA and CFI were 0.06 and 0.92 respectively, showing acceptable goodness-of-fit. Internal consistency was demonstrated with Cronbach's alpha and Loevinger's H coefficients exceeding 0.7 and 0.3, respectively.
Conclusions
The French version of the MAQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing individuals' attachment to meat in a general practice population. Its application shows promise for the design of targeted interventions to reduce meat consumption, benefiting both individual health and environmental sustainability.
Impact of Social Exclusion on salivary Progesterone and Estradiol in Women with Borderline Personality Disorder
Authors: Barthauer Marie , Graumann Livia , Cho An Bin , Kulakova Eugenia , Deuter Christian Eric , Wolf Oliver T. , Hellmann-Regen Julian , Roepke Stefan , Otte Christian , Wingenfeld Katja
Published: December 2024

Background
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships and fear of abandonment, which intensify during stress. Social stressors seem to activate the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis in healthy controls (HC), but this has not been investigated in patients with BPD. This study aimed to investigate the effects of social stress, i.e. social exclusion on progesterone and estradiol levels in women with BPD compared to HC.
Methods
82 women with BPD and 82 HC were randomly assigned to either an exclusion or overinclusion condition of the Cyberball paradigm. Saliva samples were collected at baseline and 15 minutes after the task to measure progesterone and estradiol. Two 2 × 2 factorial ANOVAs were conducted with group and condition as the independent variables and Δ-progesterone and Δ-estradiol as dependent variables.
Results
On progesterone, the analysis revealed no significant main effects of group or condition, but a significant group × condition interaction. Post-hoc tests showed that progesterone responses within the BPD group significantly differed between exclusion and overinclusion, while no significant differences were observed in HC. Descriptively, progesterone levels increased following social exclusion, whereas they decreased after overinclusion in BPD. For estradiol levels no significant main effects for group, condition, or their interaction were found.
Discussion
This study provides initial evidence that women with BPD exhibit distinct progesterone responses to social exclusion versus overinclusion. BPD participants showed a descriptive decrease in progesterone after overinclusion and a small increase after exclusion. These findings might be interpreted as perhaps a lack of assumed protective effects of progesterone (e.g. calming). Further research is needed to better understand this hormonal pattern and its implications for social functioning in BPD.
Clinical Efficacy, Safety, and Success Factors of Botulinum Toxin Type A in the Treatment of Acute Acquired Comitant Esotropia
Authors: Ui Makiko , Goseki Toshiaki , Watanabe Ayumi , Fueki Kinue , Komiya Yuko , Yamamoto Risako , Tsutsumi Noriko , Yoshida Hiroki
Published: December 2024

Acute acquired comitant esotropia (AACE) is an increasingly reported form of esotropia, possibly linked to the rising use of digital devices. Botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment alternative to surgery, particularly for patients who present with diplopia. This study retrospectively evaluated 228 patients with AACE who received BTXA injections at a single center. Treatment outcomes, adverse events, and factors influencing success were analyzed. The average patient age was 30.9 years, and 57% achieved successful outcomes, with 46% being cured and 11% showing improvement. Transient adverse events, including ptosis (24%) and hypertropia (16%), were observed. The study found that shorter duration from onset to treatment (P = 0.024) and post-treatment overcorrection (P = 0.001) were associated with higher success rates. Although some patients required additional treatments or surgery due to recurrence, BTXA proved to be an effective intervention for AACE, with a significant improvement in eye alignment and stereopsis. These findings suggest that early intervention with BTXA is crucial for successful outcomes and offers a safe, less invasive alternative to traditional strabismus surgery.
Unraveling the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly triple-negative breast cancer: Insights from competing risk analysis using SEER data
Authors: Ziqiang Wang , Tingting Wang , Yangyang Xie , Xiaowen Li , Danwei Du , Rongguo Li
Published: December 2024

Background
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with poor outcomes, particularly in elderly patients. Chemotherapy remains the primary systemic treatment, but its effectiveness in TNBC patients aged 70 years and older remains controversial due to comorbidities and poor treatment tolerance. This study evaluates the survival impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in this population using a competing risk analysis.
Methods
A retrospective cohort of 4,855 elderly TNBC patients (≥70 years) was extracted from the SEER database (1995–2016). Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance baseline characteristics between chemotherapy and non-chemotherapy groups. Overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and competing risks of cancer-specific death (CSD) and other-cause death (OCD) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Fine-Gray subdistribution proportional hazards models. A competing risk-based nomogram was developed to predict individualized survival outcomes.
Results
After PSM, the chemotherapy group showed significantly improved OS (p < 0.05), but no significant difference in 5-year CSD (16.88% vs. 19.01%, p = 0.1664). However, chemotherapy reduced the 5-year cumulative incidence of OCD (8.93% vs. 18.55%, p < 0.001). Multivariate competing risk analysis identified marital status, tumor grade, receipt of radiation therapy, T stage, and N stage as independent predictors of CSD. The nomogram incorporating these factors demonstrated high predictive accuracy (AUC: 1-year = 0.788, 3-year = 0.768, 5-year = 0.747) and excellent calibration.
Conclusion
Adjuvant chemotherapy provides limited direct benefit in reducing CSD but significantly decreases OCD in elderly TNBC patients, improving OS. The competing risk analysis offers a comprehensive understanding of mortality risks and underscores the value of individualized treatment. The validated nomogram supports precision medicine approaches for this high-risk population. Future studies should address underlying biological mechanisms and validate findings in multi-regional cohorts.