bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetics, Pathophysiology, and Current Challenges in Von Hippel-Lindau Disease Therapeutics
Authors: Gómez-Virgilio Laura , Velazquez-Paniagua Mireya , Cuazozon-Ferrer Lucero , Silva-Lucero Maria-del Carmen , Padilla-Mendoza Juan-Ramón , Borbolla-Vázquez Jessica , Díaz-Hernández Job-Alí , Jiménez-Orozco Fausto-Alejandro , Cardenas-Aguayo Maria-del-Carmen
Published: June 2024

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a multiple organ neoplastic syndrome with autosomal dominant transmission, complete penetrance, and variable expression caused by mutations in the VHL gene. Although VHL disease is hereditary in many cases, new mutations cause up to 20 % of the incidence. Mutations in VHL may cause the development of cysts and tumors in many organs, including brain and spinal cord hemangioblastoma, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), retinal heman-gioblastoma (RH), pheochromocytoma, epididymal and broad ligament cystadenomas, endo-lymphatic sac tumor, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and renal and pancreatic cysts. VHL is a syndrome associated with functional inactivation of the Von Hippel–Lindau protein (pVHL). pVHL is a tumor suppressor mainly known for its role as a regulator of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activity. The prevalence of VHL disease is between 1 in 39 000 and 1 in 91 000 individuals in different regional populations. Here, we review the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, genetics, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and current treatments, as well as the molecular aspects of this disease. We also discuss the animal models used to study this disease, VHL biomarkers, and current VHL clinical trials for VHL according to NIH.
An Ontology-Based Booking Application for Personalized Packages in the Health Tourism Industry
Authors: Gkevreki Sofia , Fiska Vasiliki , Nikolopoulos Spiros , Kompatsiaris Ioannis
Published: June 2024

Currently, health tourists primarily rely on independent facilitators to manage and book their medical appointments and vacation plans. There is a notable absence of dedicated booking applications for health tourism packages. This paper proposes HealthTourismHub, an application designed to provide personalized packages that include medical appointments, accommodation options and recommended tourism activities. It also serves as a platform for medical experts and accommodation providers, allowing health tourists to discover and connect with them. To incorporate personalization, HealthTourismHub uses an ontology that organizes medical and tourism data, along with a reasoner that generates new knowledge. This approach enables the application to offer customized packages and identify the most suitable providers for each user. Providers are strategically paired and located in close proximity, with the package also including personalized tourism recommendations. A survey was conducted to assess the usability of the application and general perspectives towards health tourism, including motivations, concerns, and preferences. The results revealed an above-average SUS score, indicating that users found the application user-friendly and effective. Some areas for improvement were identified, such as error handling and additional functionalities. Nonetheless, HealthTourismHub shows great potential as a pioneer in the field of health tourism applications.
A Surrogate-Assisted Symbolic Time-Series Discretization Using Multi-breakpoints and a Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm
Authors: Márquez-Grajales Aldo , Mezura-Montes Efrén , Acosta-Mesa Héctor-Gabriel , Salas-Martínez Fernando
Published: June 2024

The enhanced multi-objective symbolic discretization for time series (eMODiTS) method employs a flexible discretization scheme using different value cuts for each non-equal time interval, which requires a computational cost for evaluating each objective function. Therefore, surrogate models were implemented to minimize this disadvantage. Nevertheless, each solution found by eMODiTS is a different-sized vector, so the surrogate model must be able to handle data sets under this characteristic. Consequently, this work's contribution lies in analyzing the surrogate models' implementation on the time series discretization, where each potential scheme is a real-number different-sized vector. For this reason, the surrogate model proposed was k-nearest Neighbors for regression with Dynamic Time Warping as a distance measure. Results suggest our proposal finds a suitable approximation to the final eMODiTS solutions with a functions evaluation reduction rate between 15% and 95%. However, according to Pareto front performance measures, the proposal Pareto front is competitive compared to the eMODiTS Pareto front, reaching an average Generational Distance (GD) between 0.0447 and 0.0536. Moreover, the average Hypervolume Ratio (HVR) ranges between 0.334 and 0.3891. Finally, our proposal compared against SAX-based methods presents a similar behavior regarding classification tasks and statistical tests.
ANALYSIS OF THE ABBOTT-FIRESTONE CURVE ON A DIAMOND-BURNISHED SURFACE
Authors: Smolnicki Szilárd , Varga Gyula
Published: June 2024

In the research we provide a brief overview of the context of the topic, starting from the issues of energy efficiency and environmental awareness and sustainable development, through the positive properties of alternative forms of processing such as diamond burnishing, to the examination of the surface finish, which plays a key role in the relationship between surface quality and diamond burnishing. In the first chapter of this paper, the science of sustainable development, industrial ecology and its different systems models are presented, leading to the three pillars of sustainable development. In the same chapter, we touch on the relationship between energy- and eco-efficiency, their characteristics, recent research results and impacts. We present the dimensions and material quality of the test piece on which the tests were carried out. This will be followed by a description of the technological characteristics of the turning and diamond-burnishing processes. The characteristics and usefulness of the Abbott-Firestone curve are listed, and the improvement factors and K-coefficients are calculated. In the third section, experimental results are presented by examining the data of the Abbott-Firestone surface curves, which are presented using both the improvement factors and the K-coefficients to draw conclusions by examining the different technological parameters. We conclude our study by summarizing the results of our research.
Observational constraints on future climate-driven changes in carbon uptake in the Amazon
Authors: Melnikova Irina , Yokohata Tokuta , Ito Akihiko , Nishina Kazuya , Tachiiri Kaoru , Shiogama Hideo
Published: June 2024

The Amazon tropical forest is a vital component of the global carbon cycle and climate systems due to its large biomass, photosynthetic productivity and profound influence on atmospheric dynamics and circulation patterns1–4. Reducing uncertainty in its response to future climate change is crucial for refining future climate projections. Although many emergent constraints (ECs) have been proposed for uncertainties in climate change projections from Earth system models (ESMs), limited research has focused on the ECs for the carbon cycle5–7. Here, we propose a novel EC to constrain the uncertainty in the future response of the Amazon tropical forest carbon cycle to climate change across the ESM ensemble that contributed to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6. We show that ESMs with larger recent past global mean temperature trends project hotter and drier future conditions in the Amazon tropical forest, resulting in a greater climate-driven loss of carbon uptake. The proposed EC lowers the upper bound of the carbon uptake loss from 0.6 GtC year-1 to 0.4 GtC year-1 and reduces the variance of the future climate-driven carbon loss projections by 34%. The proposed EC for the first time relates carbon and water cycles, clarifying the mechanism of the potential drying of the Amazon under future warming.
Carbon Pricing Drives Critical Transition to Green Growth
Authors: Mengesha Isaak , Roy Debraj
Published: June 2024

Carbon pricing is a crucial tool in the efforts to address and mitigate climate change. In 2014, only 12% of carbon emissions fell under carbon pricing at USD7 per tonne; now, about 23% of greenhouse gas emissions are priced at USD32 per tonne. However, the regressive nature of carbon pricing can disproportionately affect low-income populations and potentially reduce political support and public awareness. This raises questions about the dynamics of increasing carbon pricing rates and the optimal balance between inequality, emissions, and economic growth. We find that a critical level of carbon pricing can induce tipping points; incentivizing technological adoption and fuel-switching behavior of energy producers. By combining carbon pricing with redistributive measures at these tipping points, we demonstrate that emissions can be rapidly reduced while maintaining economic growth and decreasing inequality. We also introduce real-time metrics for detecting sector-specific tipping points, without requiring counterfactual analysis. Our research has important implications for the ongoing debate around the relationship between economic growth, inequality, and environmental sustainability.
The Causal Relationship between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Arterial Thrombotic Diseases: Role of Systemic Inflammation and NF- κB/COX-2 Pathway
Authors: Wu You , Zhang Houwen , Yu Jialin , Liang Yu , Cai Wanru
Published: June 2024

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a significant global health issue that often coexists with arterial thrombotic diseases. This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between COPD and these diseases, focusing on the role of systemic inflammation and the NF-κB/COX-2 pathway.
Methods: The Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization (TSMR) approach was used to analyze the genetic correlation between COPD and the risks of ischemic stroke (IS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using data from several large biobanks. Additionally, in vivo experiments with ApoE knockout mice and in vitro assays with primary mouse aorta endothelial cells were conducted to explore the role of the NF-κB/COX-2 pathway in COPD-related systemic inflammation.
Results: The MR analysis revealed a significant association between COPD and increased risks of IS (OR: 1.152) and AMI (OR: 1.001). In vivo findings showed exacerbated pulmonary dysfunction and atherogenesis in mice with both COPD and high-fat diet (HFD), with notable histological changes in lung and aortic tissues. Inflammatory markers and lipid profiles were significantly altered in these models. In vitro studies demonstrated that COPD-induced systemic inflammation impaired endothelial cell function. These changes were mitigated by inhibiting the NF-κB/COX-2 pathway.
Conclusions: This study provides strong evidence of a causal link between COPD and an elevated risk of arterial thrombotic diseases, mediated by systemic inflammation and the NF-κB/COX-2 pathway. These findings highlight the importance of addressing arteriosclerosis and thrombosis formation risks in COPD management and suggest that the NF-κB/COX-2 pathway could be a potential therapeutic target for reducing comorbidity in COPD patients.
Trends, Patterns and Cause-Specific Determinant Of Perinatal Mortality at Geita Regional Referral Hospital In Tanzania: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Study
Authors: Kibwana Mfaume , Mathias Sadock P. , Sukari Omary
Published: June 2024

Background
Perinatal mortality is a sensitive issue that concerns the lives of newborn babies. In Tanzania, the perinatal mortality rate is high, accounting for 38/1000 live births.
Objective
A study titled "Patterns, Trends, and Specific Determinants of Perinatal Mortality" was conducted at Geita Regional Referral Hospital in 2023/24.
Results
The study found that several factors were significantly associated with perinatal deaths, including premature complication, severe birth asphyxia, unknown factors, neonatal sepsis, and aspiration pneumonia, anemia in pregnancy, eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, and malaria in pregnancy.
Recommendation:
The study recommended several measures, including using Community Health Care workers and FHCWs to offer health education on focused antenatal care and safe motherhood, improving ANC clinics, providing proper and increased allocation of human resources, and allowing trained nurses or anesthetists to perform caesarian sections. Pregnant women should also be alerted about their subsequent visit/appointment. Motivations, coating folic acid tablets and combining them with antiemetics to become user-friendly, additionally, traditional medicine labs should take samples of local herbs used by pregnant mothers to detect their chemical compositions and provide advice accordingly.
In conclusion
Reducing perinatal mortality in the Geita region requires a multisectoral approach and more investment we can make save the lives of many newborn babies
Elevation Gradients and Soil Characteristics Shapes Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal in Indian mid-Himalaya
Authors: Parihar Manoj , Mishra Pankaj Kumar , Paschapur Amit , Singh Ashish Kumar , Khati Priyanka , Bisht Jaideep Kumar , Kant Lakshmi
Published: June 2024

Indian mid-Himalayan Region as mountain ecosystem with range of biotic and abiotic condition provides unique opportunity to study the AMF diversity. In the present study, soil samples were collected from diverse land use system of four districts of Uttarakhand Himalayas ranging from ~ 1200 to 3100m height. AMF species were identified using morphological and molecular study of spores isolated from collected soil samples. Total six species were identified belonging to 4 genera and 2 families of Glomeromycota. Unlike spore density, AMF diversity and community composition were positively associated with altitude. Across the sampling sites, the most widely distributed species at Chamoli and Bageshwar was Gigaspora margarita (~ 40 and 37%) while at Almora and Nainital, Funneliformis mosseae (~ 28 and 31%) was the dominate species. In correlation study, AMF spore density was significantly (p < 0.01) and positively associated with organic carbon, urease, acid phosphatase and root colonization percentage while negatively with phosphorus, potassium and alkaline phosphatase. Overall, the present study suggested that pattern and distribution of AMF community in Himalayan region is strongly driven by altitude and soil characteristics.
The long non-coding RNA lncRNA-DRNR targets the JMJD6 to enhance replication of infectious bronchitis virus（IBV） by influencing the ISG expression pathway through the JAK-STAT signaling pathway
Authors: Yan Wenjun , Fu Xue , Lei Cangwei , Wang Hongning , yang xin
Published: June 2024

Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) is the causative agent of Infectious Bronchitis (IB), a severe disease that primarily affects young chickens and poses a significant challenge to the global poultry industry. Gaining an understanding of the intricate interplay between the virus and its host is crucial for developing novel antiviral strategies. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has emerged as a pivotal regulator of host antiviral immune responses, and our previous studies have indicated that IBV infection disrupts lncRNA stability in host cells, suggesting an unknown regulatory role for lncRNA in IBV pathogenesis. However, it remains unclear how lncRNA precisely modulates IBV replication. In this study, we observed down-regulation ofMSTRG.26120.58 (named lncRNA-DRNR) expression in various chicken cell lines upon IBV infection and demonstrated that silencing lncRNA-DRNR using siRNA enhances intracellular replication of IBV. Through exploration of genes encoding proteins upstream and downstream of lncRNA-DRNR within a 100kb range, we identified JMJD6 as a potential target gene negatively regulated by lncRNA-DRNR expression levels. Moreover, JMJD6 inhibits STAT1 methylation, thereby influencing induction of Interferon-Stimulated Genes (ISGs) through IFN-β-mediated JAK-STAT signaling pathway activation and ultimately promoting intracellular replication of IBV. In summary, our findings unveil the critical role played by lncRNA-DRNR during IBV infection while providing novel insights into mechanisms underlying coronavirus-induced disruption in lncRNA stability.
Association between Hydroxychloroquine Intake and Damage to the Outer Nuclear Layer in Eyes Without Manifest Retinal Toxicity
Authors: Salameh Nagib , Doumit Carla Abi , Jalkh Edmond , Nehme Joseph
Published: June 2024

Background
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is widely used to treat various autoimmune diseases but carries a risk of retinal toxicity, particularly with prolonged use. Despite advancements, uncertainty persists regarding optimal screening methods. Recent advances in OCT have enabled early detection of retinal damage, with studies suggesting that thinning of specific retinal layers may be an early indicator of toxicity. However, there is a gap in research on outer nuclear layer (ONL) thinning in HCQ users without apparent retinal toxicity. This information is crucial for improving screening and identifying the ONL as a reliable biomarker for screening. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between HCQ intake and ONL damage in eyes without manifest retinal toxicity.
Methods
A case‒control study was conducted at the ophthalmology department of Eye and Ear Hospital International from July 2022 to June 2023. The study included 20 individuals on HCQ and 20 age-matched controls. The data were obtained through chart reviews, and participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic assessments.
Results
A total of 80 eyes were analyzed. Patients on HCQ exhibited significantly thinner perifoveal, parafoveal, and overall ONL compared to controls (P < .001, P < .012, and P < 0.004, respectively). Similarly, this association was found in regions 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 of the ETDRS cube (P < .01, P < .001, P < .03, P < .04, P < .001, and P < .02, respectively), most pronounced in the inferior regions: 4 and 8. The cumulative dose was weakly associated with decreased ONL thickness only in region 3 (P < .047). Correlation analysis of the initial and most recent OCT scans in the same individuals revealed a weak association with ONL thinning in the central region (region 1) (P < .0048).
Conclusion
The thickness of the ONL can significantly decrease in patients taking HCQ, even if they don't show signs of retinal toxicity. This study is the first to evaluate this association in eyes with negative screening and diagnostic tests for HCQ retinopathy. The findings suggest that ONL thickness could serve as an early diagnostic indicator for HCQ retinal toxicity.
Association between hematocrit-to-albumin ratio and acute kidney injury in patients with acute pancreatitis: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wu Wen , Zhang Yupei , Qu Xingguang , Zhang Chunzhen , Zhang Zhaohui
Published: June 2024

Acute pancreatitis (AP) can result in acute kidney injury (AKI), which is linked to poor outcomes. We aimed to assess the relationship between the hematocrit-to-albumin ratio (HAR) and AKI in this population. This retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients diagnosed with AP and admitted to hospital. Data were systematically extracted from electronic medical records, covering baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Total 1,514 AP patients were enrolled, with 17% (257/1,514) developing AKI. Multivariable-adjusted regression analysis, curve fitting, threshold effects analyses, and subgroup analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between HAR and AKI incidence in AP patients. Compared to the reference tertile of HAR, the adjusted OR values for the lower and higher tertiles of HAR were 1.25 (95% CI: 0.82-1.91, P = 0.297) and 1.50 (95% CI: 1.03-2.20, P = 0.037), respectively, after adjusting for covariates. The curve fitting results showed a J-shaped relationship between HAR and AKI (non-linear, p = 0.001), with an inflection point of 8.969. Furthermore, validation using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database AP population revealed a similar relationship with an inflection point at 10.257. Our findings suggest a J-shaped relationship between HAR and AKI in AP patients, indicating higher risk of AKI when HAR exceeds 8.969.
Clinical utility of rapid on-site evaluation of brush cytology during bronchoscopy using endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath
Authors: Nishiyama Kazuhiro , Morikawa Kei , Kaneko Shotaro , Nishida Makoto , Matsushima Aya , Nishi Yoshihiro , Numata Yu , Shinozaki Yusuke , Tsuruoka Hajime , Kida Hirotaka , Handa Hiroshi , Shimada Naoki , Okawa Chie , Oike Nobuyuki , Koike Junki , Mineshita Masamichi
Published: June 2024

Previous studies have shown that rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) improves the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy using endobronchial ultrasonography with guided sheath (EBUS-GS) for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL). There are many reports on the ROSE of imprint cytology of forceps biopsy; however, there are few reports on the ROSE of brush cytology. We investigated the utility of ROSE in brushing PPL specimens during bronchoscopy. We retrospectively analyzed 214 patients who underwent bronchoscopy with EBUS-GS for PPL. Sensitivity to bronchoscopy was significantly higher in the ROSE group than in the non-ROSE group (96.8% vs. 83.3%, P = 0.002), wherein the sensitivity to brushing also significantly improved (92.9% vs. 75.0%, P < 0.001). Conversion of ROSE results from negative to positive was observed in 79.5% of first-time ROSE-negative cases. We also found that brush specimens containing high tumor cell counts increase with repeated ROSE (42.1–69.0%). This study suggests that ROSE of brush cytology improves bronchoscopy sensitivity and increases the collected tumor cell counts.
The dural attachment length predict prognosis in patients with recurrent meningiomas
Authors: Ye Gengzhao , Lin Qingqing , Wu Xiyue , You Honghai
Published: June 2024

Objective
To investigate the prognostic factors of recurrent meningioma patients who underwent reoperation, so as to make relevant recommendations for the treatment.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was performed on 73 patients with recurrent meningioma. Patients' clinical data were obtained from their medical records. Progression-free Survival (PFS) was defined as the interval from the date of surgery to the date of tumor recurrence, or to the date of the last imaging review. Overall survival (OS) was defined as the time from the date of surgery to death from any cause, or to the date of the last follow-up.
Results
The multivariate COX regression showed that dural attachment length (HR = 1.238, 95%CI1.011-1.516, P = 0.039) and WHO grade (HR = 2.184, 95%CI1.135-4.203, P = 0.019) were independent risk factors for tumor progression. The factors associated with survival in multivariate regression analysis were preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) (HR = 0.951, 95%CI0.923-0.979, P = 0.001), dural attachment length (HR = 1.520, 95%CI1.124-2.057, P = 0.007) and WHO grade (HR = 4.829, 95%CI1.891-12.331, P = 0.001). The dural attachment length (OR = 1.843, 95%CI1.236-2.748, P = 0.003) was the only risk factor associated with postoperative pulmonary infection. No correlation was observed between Simpson's grade and either PFS or OS.
Conclusion
The dural attachment length of meningioma is closely related to prognosis. In the follow-up of recurrent meningiomas, early surgical intervention should be performed when the dural attachment length grows progressively.
Changes in the Treatment and Outcomes of Different Severities of Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy in California: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Fall Carolyn , Baer Rebecca , Lee Henry , Chambers Christina , Bandoli Gretchen
Published: June 2024

Objective:
Evaluate the changes in management and outcomes of Californian infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
Study Design:
Infants with HIE were identified from a California administrative birth cohort using ICD codes and divided into two epochs, Epoch 1 (2010–2015) and Epoch 2 (2016–2019). Risk ratios (RR) for therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in each epoch and their outcomes were calculated using log-linear regression.
Results:
In this cohort, 4779 infants with HIE were identified. Incidence of HIE in California increased yearly from 0.5/1,000 California births to a peak of 1.5/1,000 births in 2018. The use of TH in infants with mild HIE increased in Epoch 2 compared to Epoch 1. There was no significant difference in outcomes between epochs for infants with mild HIE that received TH.
Conclusion:
Significantly more infants with mild HIE received TH since 2015 in California, but no difference in outcomes was found for these patients.
Food Insecurity is Increasing and is More Common Among Persons with Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Leung Cindy W. , Tapper Elliot B.
Published: June 2024

Background: Effective interventions for metabolic liver disease include optimized nutritional intake. It is increasingly clear, however, that many patients with metabolic liver disease lack the resources to execute nutritional advice. Data on the trends of food insecurity are needed to prioritize public health strategies to address the burden of liver disease.
Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of six waves of data from the 2007-2018, 24,847 subjects aged >20 years from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Food security was measured using the US Department of Agriculture’s Core Food Security Module. Liver disease was defined as elevated liver enzymes and a risk factor: elevated BMI, diabetes, and/or excess alcohol consumption. Models were adjusted using age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, poverty-income ratio, smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, sugary beverage intake, Healthy Eating Inex-2015 score. Advanced liver disease was estimated using FIB-4 >2.67.
Results: The overall prevalence of liver disease was 24.6%, ranging from 21.1% (2017-2018) to 28.3% (2015-2016) (P-trend=0.85). 3.4% of participants had possible advanced liver disease, ranging from 1.9% (2007-2008) to 4.2% (2015-2016)(P-trend=0.07). Among those with liver disease, the prevalence of food insecurity was 13.6% in 2007-2008, which rose steadily to 21.6% in 2015-2016, before declining to 18.0% in 2017-2018 (P-trend=0.0004). Food insecurity rose more sharply for adults aged <50 years (2007-2008: 17.6%, 2015-2016: 28.0%, P-trend=0.004) compared to adults aged ≥50 years (2007-2008: 9.5%, 2015-2016: 16.5%, P-trend<0.0001). Food insecurity was more common among women, those with high BMI, and those with diabetes
Conclusion : Food insecurity is increasingly common among those with liver disease.
Reidentification of hybridization events with transcriptomic data and phylogenomic study in seabuckthorn
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wang Zhiqi , Su Xue , Han Dong , Yang Lujie , Zhang Ying , Fang Jing , Wang Jingyuan , Sun Kun
Published: June 2024

The natural hybridization of sea buckthorn is widely observed by researchers. While studies have identified the parents of these hybrid offspring, distinguishing between F1 and Fn generations is challenging for natural hybrids. As a result, the genetic composition of these hybrid offspring remains underexplored. In this study, we propose a novel method for identifying hybrid F1 generations using transcriptome data and reference genomes. We successfully identified eight individuals from two natural hybrid populations of sea buckthorn, all of which were confirmed to be hybrid F1 generations. Additionally, we first noted limitations in detecting heterozygous sites during SNP calling in transcriptome data, where allele-specific expression and low expression of genes or transcripts can lead to heterozygous SNPs being incorrectly identified as homozygous. Furthermore, we constructed a phylogenomic tree of the sea buckthorn genus using transcriptome data and compared the relationships among various sea buckthorn species using SNP and indel molecular markers obtained through transcriptome data.
Long-term outcome followed for more than 5 years after revascularization surgery for the treatment of atherosclerotic steno-occlusive disease: poor outcome prediction using machine learning and analysis of the results
Authors: Choi June Ho , Kim Minwoo , Park Jung Cheol , Ahn Jae Sung , Kwun Byung Duk , Park Wonhyoung
Published: June 2024

PURPOSE
Cerebral revascularization for the treatment of atherosclerotic steno-occlusive disease (ASOD) was found to have no benefit compared with medical treatment. However, there is also criticism that with sufficiently long-term follow-up, a crossover might emerge demonstrating the advantages of surgery. Therefore, we examined the long-term outcome of cerebral revascularization performed on patients with carefully selected ASOD at our center.
METHODS
Patients undergoing bypass surgery for non-moyamoya ischemic disease were retrospectively identified. The inclusion criteria were symptomatic ASOD with hemodynamic insufficiency, follow-up of more than 5 years, and stroke or surgical complications during follow-up. The clinical course and radiological findings were investigated. Poor outcomes were predicted using machine learning (ML) models, and Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) values and feature importance of each model were analyzed.
RESULTS
A total of 109 patients were included from 2007 to 2018. The 30-day risk of any stroke or death was 6.4% (7/109). The risk of ipsilateral ischemic stroke during median follow-up of 116 months was 7.3% (8/109). The SHAP values showed that previously and empirically known stroke risk factors exert a relatively consistent effect on the prediction of models. The number of lesions with stenosis > 50% (odds ratio [OR] 5.77), age (OR 1.13), and coronary artery disease (OR 5.73) were consistent risk factors for poor outcome.
CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated an acceptable long-term outcome of cerebral revascularization surgery for patients with hemodynamically insufficient and symptomatic ASOD. Multicenter studies are encouraged to predict poor outcomes and suitable patients with large numbers of quantitative and qualitative data.
Network Pharmacology Unveils Potential Targets of Madhuca longifolia in Treating Alzheimer’s Disease: An Advanced Strategy in Drug Discovery
Authors: Khare Noopur , Barot Megha , Singh Sachidanand , Jain Tanvi
Published: June 2024

Madhuca longifolia, also known to as the butternut tree or Mahua, is an evergreen species that belongs to the Sapotaceae family. Its remarkable height is roughly 17 metres. This tree, which is native to Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India, is well-known for having a wide range of chemical components, which are responsible for its numerous therapeutic benefits. In order to address Alzheimer's disease (AD), this study uses a network pharmacology technique to identify the active ingredients and molecular mechanisms of Madhuca longifolia. By applying prescreening of active constituents, target prediction, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, our study found that Madhuca longifolia is related with eight active ingredients and 272 common gene targets. Network analysis demonstrated how Madhuca longifolia can prevent AD by modifying important signalling networks, which may be one of the molecular mechanisms driving the plant's effectiveness against the disease. This thorough investigation provides a strong basis for future research and development efforts by advancing our understanding of Madhuca longifolia's medicinal potential in Alzheimer's disease.
Multi-view Learning for Camouflaged Object Detection with PVTv2
Authors: Yan Pu , Ruan Kang , Wang Lili , Zhao Yang , Wang Xu
Published: June 2024

Recently, with the continuous development in the field of camouflage object detection(COD), effectively separating objects highly similar to the background has become a focal point of research. Due to the high similarity between camouflage objects and backgrounds, traditional single visual branch often perform poorly in such scenarios. To address this issue, We propose a multi-view learning detection network based on the Pyramid Vision Transformer, named Multi-view Learning for Camouflaged Object Detection with PVTv2(MVLNet). By utilizing the information from RGB and noise views, our method can provide a more comprehensive description of the relationship between objects and backgrounds to improve the accuracy and robustness for COD. Inspired by human visual attention during observation, we design a Global Context Aggregation Module by using a U-shaped structure and progressively increasing dilation rates to simulate the human behavior of zooming in and out. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed MVLNet outperforms 22 other representative models on three public datasets.
Differential gene expression analysis of Withania somnifera in response to salinity stress
Authors: Nicolis Vittorio F , Burger N Francois V , Parshoham Rajiv , Bierman Anandi , Rai Padmalatha S , Muthusamy Annamalai , Botha Anna-Maria
Published: June 2024

Withania somnifera, commonly referred to as Indian Ginseng, is a medicinally important plant that can be found in many regions of the world, such as South Africa and India. Withanolides are key secondary metabolites responsible for conferring the plant its unique medicinal properties. The reaction of W. somnifera to salt stress, in particular the possible effects on its withanolide production, have yet to be explored. Under salt stress, germination efficiency dropped by 17.8% and caused physiological damage to emerging roots. A transcriptome analysis of salt stressed leaves revealed the differential regulation of 3 048 transcripts, with gene ontology analysis indicating an increased detoxification response concomitant with reduced growth, energy metabolism and protein modification. Notably, 26 transcription factor families, particularly AP2/ERF, NAC, GRAS and HB-WOX members as well as 10 Late Embryogenesis-Abundant members, predominantly dehydrins, were significantly differentially regulated, suggesting their potential involvement in the salt stress response of W. somnifera. Although the withanolide pathway genes showed limited response to the salt treatment, three genes in the pathway (HMGS, FPPS and WsCYP98A) were significantly downregulated. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular responses of W. somnifera to salt stress, highlighting potential targets for future research and subsequently for withanolide production which has vast potential in pharmaceutical industry.
Pre-column Derivative HPLC and LC-Orbitrap-MS Analysis of Monosaccharides and Non-Polysaccharides in Polygonati Rhizoma
Authors: Liang Ling , Li Yu , Peng Caiyun , Ning Luyun , Wang Wei , Yi Gangqiang , Yuan Hanwen , Liu Pingan
Published: June 2024

Polygonati Rhizoma, as a traditional medicinal herb, possesses pharmacological effects enhancing physical strength and immunity. In this study, a systematic analysis of the monosaccharide and non-polysaccharides components in Polygonati Rhizoma was conducted using pre-column derivatization high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) and liquid chromatography coupled to electrostatic orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-Orbitrap-MS) techniques. The polysaccharides from Polygonati Rhizoma were initially extracted, hydrolyzed, and derivatized with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP), resulting in the successful detection of five monosaccharides. The high sensitivity and specificity of the HPLC-DAD method were confirmed. Furthermore, by comparing the external standard method (ESM) and the quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker (QAMS) revealed that D-mannose is the most abundant monosaccharide in Polygonati Rhizoma. The LC-Orbitrap-MS analysis of Polygonati Rhizoma led to the identification of 53 compounds, including organic acids, amino acids, amides, saponins, alkaloids, esters, and others. This research provided significant data for the chemical composition analysis and the pharmacological basis study of Polygonati Rhizoma.
A qualitative approach to assess the opinion of physicians about the challenges and future prospects of pharmacogenomic testing implementation in clinical practice.
Authors: Koufaki Margarita-Ioanna , Patrinos George P. , Vasileiou Konstantinos Z.
Published: June 2024

Background:
Pharmacogenomics (PGx) constitutes an important part of personalized medicine and has several clinical applications. PGx role in clinical practice is known, however, it hasn’t been widely adopted yet. In this study, we aim to investigate the perspectives of Greek physicians regarding the implementation of PGx testing in clinical practice and the key issues associated with it via one-to-one interviews. Fourteen semi-structured interviews, mostly online, were conducted. Transcripts were coded independently and compared by two members of the research team. Descriptive statistics were generated using Excel.
Results:
Six main themes emerged: awareness and use of PGx testing; source of information; key stakeholders of the PGx supply chain, their interactions and change agents; clinical benefit and significance of PGx testing; barriers and lack of reimbursement; and recommendations to boost the PGx adoption rate. Most of the respondents were aware of PGx applications but only three of them had already recommended a PGx testing. Peer-reviewed journals along with clinical guidelines were regarded as the most used source of information while stakeholders of the PGx supply chain were discussed. PGx was considered that will promote patient-centered care, can enhance medication clinical effectiveness, decrease the risk of side effects and reduce healthcare costs. Lack of reimbursement, scarcity of resources, and high PGx cost were the foremost barriers affecting PGx adoption.
Conclusions:
It was concluded that if case PGx testing is reimbursed and physicians’ training is reinforced, PGx implementation will be boosted and improved shortly.
Blue light-triggered click reactions of betulin and lignin nanoparticles and their emulsions
Authors: Sipponen Mika , Pylypchuk Ievgen , Morsali Mohammad
Published: June 2024

Activating and controlling chemical reactions by the use of light is becoming increasingly important for the synthesis of nanomaterials. A key challenge is the lack of reactive bio-based particles that can replace fossil-based nano- and microparticles, which are currently essential for creating supraparticle materials. Here we show nanoparticle dispersions of propargylated lignin and betulin azide as bio-based substances that absorb light in a broad wavelength range and show their thermal, catalytic, and photochemical click reactions. We use energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) technology to initiate click reactions in water at room temperature. This method enables controlled inter-particle reactions, demonstrated by confined click reactions at oil-in-water interfaces of Pickering emulsions to crosslink particles. These results illuminate the emerging field of click reactions of wood-derived building blocks, revealing controlled nanoparticle aggregation for advanced material development.
On techniques to compute surface singular integrals for formulating the matrix-vector equation of the moment method when solving antenna problems
Authors:   Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics (TUSUR), Klyukin Dmitry V. , Mochalov Dmitry M. ,   Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics (TUSUR), Kuksenko Sergey P.
Published: June 2024

This paper compares the efficiency of different ways to compute singular integrals for solving antenna problems using moment method matrix-vector equations. We use a biconical antenna as an example to assess the accuracy of different singular integral computation approaches. We also evaluate the computational complexity of the examined approaches and provide recommendations for the selection of the most optimal approach.
Opposite polarity pulse pair generator with increased power using adder on suspended striplines
Authors:   Institute of High Current Electronics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Shevchenko Gleb M. , Pozdnyakov Vladislav S. ,   , Institute of High Current Electronics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Semyonov Edward V. ,   Institute of High Current Electronics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Berezin Andrey A. ,   Institute of High Current Electronics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: June 2024

A pulse pair generator with a subnanosecond front is considered, in which pulses of opposite polarity are created by separate generators, and then supplied to the bridge combiner of the original design (on suspended striplines). For the first time in devices of this type, an output power of 18 watts was achieved. A distinctive feature of this structure is that a half of the power of the generators is dissipated on the ballast resistor (due to the alternating appearance of pulses at the inputs of the combiner). To partially compensate for this effect, a half-standard (25 ohms) input resistance of the adder is selected. In the current circuit of generators it leads to an increase in power takeoff from them. The generators themselves are made on step recovery diodes (SRD) according to a scheme close to the traditional one, but differ by a diode circuit at the output, which eliminates penetration of parasitic lobes of a pulse of opposite polarity to the output and protects the SRD from the action of the pulse of the neighboring generator. The shaper is used in experiments to study nonlinear scattering.
Optimization of optical flow algorithms of a technical chain control system
Authors:   Voronezh State Technical University, Gusev Pavel Y. , Sokolnikov Viktor V. ,   Voronezh State Technical University, Vetohin Valery V. ,   Voronezh State Technical University, Ageev Andrey A. ,   Voronezh State Technical University
Published: June 2024

This paper examines the use of optical flow algorithms in the problem of calculating image displacement when using an underlying surface. The existing approaches to solving the problem are considered, and the goal of the work and tasks to achieve the goal are set. A description of the most well-known and common optical flow algorithms is given. The requirements for the algorithm are formulated. A description of a software to simulate flight on the underlying surface is given. The results of experiments experiments determining the optimal parameters of the optical flow algorithm are presented in graphical form.
Arte e Ciência: Convergências Renascentistas a partir de Giotto
Authors: Caruso Francisco
Published: June 2024

Considera-se um erro, do ponto de vista da Cultura, admitir que Arte e Ciência sejam atividades sem nada em comum. A origem desse equívoco tradicional vem de uma tendência de associar exclusivamente a primeira à emoção e a segunda, à razão. Esse reducionismo extremo encobre a característica basilar, comum às duas áreas, de serem ambas fruto de processos criativos. Como em Bachelard, reconhece-se que o pensamento criativo alinhava o fazer poético e artístico com o científico. Buscou-se, na História, um momento particular em que as duas atividades estiveram tão integradas na nova sociedade que se estava construindo, que foi possível existir um Leonardo da Vinci, gênio nas Artes e na Ciência. Trata-se do período de construção do Renascimento, no qual o pintor Giotto teve um papel essencial ao abordar desafios inerentes à pintura muito parecidos com os que Galileu enfrentará mais tarde na Física e Astronomia. Espera-se, com isso, oferecer ao professor do ensino de segundo grau subsídios e estímulo para trabalhar as relações entre Arte e Ciência com seus estudantes. Isso seria muito bem-vindo em um momento de negacionismo.
 
Palavras-chave: Arte; Ciência; Giotto; Galileu; Renascimento Italiano.
Correlation between higher education support and future sustainable ecopreneurship drive among Javanese-centric students
Authors: Megawati Suci , Machmud Amir , Herdiansyah Herdis , Alfarizi Muhammad
Published: June 2024

The environmental crisis has triggered green markets and eco-consciousness. Java is facing severe ecological stress. Ecopreneurship is then seen as a job creator and conservation tool. However, obstacles such as scarce resources remain among entrepreneurs. Universities play a crucial role in promoting eco-awareness and nurturing aspiring ecopreneurs. This study aims to analyze the role of three pillars of external support for education, government, and technology in self-efficacy and ecopreneurship intentions among Java Island students. This study involved 309 undergraduate (S1) students from state and private universities in Java in different specialization programs, based on the criteria, who attended and passed the entrepreneurship course program. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results showed that eco-educational support was found to significantly enhance ecopreneurial self-efficacy, aligning with prior research emphasizing the importance of recognition, curriculum, industry collaboration, and business ecosystem in fostering self-efficacy. Similarly, eco-educational support positively influences ecopreneurial intention, reinforcing the significance of educational initiatives in promoting green business ventures. Governmental assistance, including financial aid and pro-environment policies, was identified as crucial in bolstering both self-efficacy and intention for ecopreneurship. Moreover, the support of information technology positively affects self-efficacy and intention, indicating its role in facilitating access to resources and fostering confidence among aspiring ecopreneurs. The study also highlighted the mediating role of self-efficacy, suggesting its importance in bridging external support with entrepreneurial intentions. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of holistic support systems in cultivating a generation of environmentally conscious entrepreneurs.
AcknowledgmentThis study is funded by the Riset Kolaborasi Indonesia (Grant No. 38248/UN38.15/LK.04.00/2023) Universitas Negeri Surabaya.
Optimizing Landslide Susceptibility Model Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Approach in Sawla-Laska Road Corridor and Surroundings, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Unkuse Tsegaye Chalo , Dagnew Belew , Kebede Tsion Ayalew , Suryabhagavan Karuturi Venkata , Otieno Vincent O.
Published: June 2024

Natural disasters such as landslides have potential to jeopardize human life and seriously harm ecosystems. Ethiopia is among the countries most susceptible to landslides because of its mountainous terrain, strong and sustained rainfall, and dense development near steep hillsides. This study aimed to produce a landslide susceptibility map for the Sawla-Laska road corridor and its surroundings in Ethiopia using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. The QGIS model builder module was used to intersect 195 landslide polygons and 12 thematic raster pixels for the topographic, hydrological, proximity, geological, and environmental elements. The Generalized Weight (GW) results revealed strong correlations between proximity variables, slope, plane curvature, humicalisols, agricultural areas, settlements, scant vegetation, and barren terrain. In contrast, other factors exhibited negative and neutral interactions. The Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve showed acceptable results. The accuracy of the model ranges from 88% to 94%. Data were assorted into low, medium, and highly vulnerable zones representing 183.85 (75%), 14.55 (6%), and 47.6 (19.34%). The model performances demonstrate that the model can accurately predict the current situation in the future. Therefore, adequate land-use planning and environmental protection should be implemented based on the findings of this study and landslide susceptibility map.