bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the pathogenesis of hSOD1 mice by SHH through FAK/ERK pathway
Authors: Qi Yan , Xu Jin , Wang Ying , Gao Yi , Sun Zhitang , Deng Zhanjin , Shao Yixin , Li Pengcui , Nieland John Dirk Vestergaard
Published: August 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease that involves the spinal cord and then causes reduced function of the extremities, and eventually often involves respiratory muscles and leads to death, 10% of cases are related to family inheritance, and the most frequent gene mutation is SOD1. In hSOD1G93A transgenic mice using Western Blot and immunohistochemistry techniques we found that the expression of SHH, FAK, ERK, p-FAK, and p-ERK was progressively decreased in the spinal cord tissue of hSOD1 mice over time. By stimulating SHH with an agonist, the SHH, FAK, ERK, p-FAK, p-ERK protein levels increased, while SHH, FAK, p-FAK protein decreased significantly by inhibiting SHH compared to the hSOD1 control group. The HE staining results of mouse gastrocnemius muscle showed that the agonist group had an increased muscle morphology and more muscle fibers than the hSOD1 control group, while the inhibitor group had an atrophied muscle morphology and fewer muscle fibers than the hSOD1 control group. Our experiments confirmed that SHH, FAK and ERK may have an upstream and downstream relationship in the spinal cord tissue of hSOD1 mice, and that PUR can activate SHH protein and enhance the function of FAK/ERK. SHH is suggested to play a protective role in the muscle tissue of hSOD1 mice through the FAK/ERK pathway.
Climate change causes an evolutionary change in seasonal timing of a long-distance migrant bird
Authors: Both Christiaan , Nicolaus Marion , Ubels Richard , Ouwehand Janne , Tomotani Barbara , Visser Marcel
Published: August 2023

Climate change alters ecological interactions, and, because observed phenotypic responses are often insufficient1,2, evolutionary responses are required3. However, these have rarely been reported, and species seem to either adapt through plasticity4 or suffer population declines5. Earlier work suggested that especially long-distance migrants cannot adjust their complex annual cycle by phenotypic plasticity, because they lack predictable cues at their distant wintering grounds6,7. Here we show that the ongoing advance in spring arrival and laying dates in a pied flycatcher population results from cross-generational processes. Using a 51-year time-series we show that during the 25-year period with a strong increase in spring temperature, the population advance in laying dates could only be partly explained by phenotypic plasticity, and primarily resulted from an evolutionary change. Spring arrival from the African wintering grounds advanced simultaneously, and this was unrelated to conditions at the breeding grounds. Individual plasticity of laying date to temperature resulted from shortening the interval between arrival date and laying date, whereas the cross-generational effect was caused by advancing the arrival date. This observed evolution of migration timing can only proceed with ongoing climate change if conditions at the wintering grounds or during migration will not constrain earlier arrival in spring.
Bioactive compounds and pharmacological activities of enzymatic extracts of cardoon flowers (Cynara cardunculus L.) used as coagulants in cheese production
Authors: Saci Fairouz , Zikiou Abdellah , Fiala Samah , Bensouici Chawki
Published: August 2023

In the current study, the enzymatic flower extracts ofCynara cardunculusL. var.sylvestrisandCynara cardunculusL. var.altilisused as coagulants in cheese production were phytochemically and biologically analysed. Chemical composition analysis of these extracts revealed appreciable quantities of proteins, free amino acids, sugars, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and condensed tannins. The antioxidant potential of the twoCynara cardunculusL. (C.cardunculus) varieties extracts was evidenced in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, ferric and cupric reducing capacity, ferrous and copper chelating capacity and ß carotene–linoleic acid bleaching inhibition assays. In addition, the two extracts also displayed an interesting anti-enzymatic effects, as assessed in angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory (588.72–619.20 µg/mL) and α-amylase inhibitory (468.19-567.28 µg/mL) activities. Overall, the results of our study indicate that the twoC. cardunculusvarieties could be regarded as a rich source of biologically active compounds, opening thus the perspectives for their future large scale cultivation and valorization as vegetable rennet and bio-functional ingredients with putative antioxidant and anti-enzymatic effects.
Increased Case-Load of Malaria in an Epidemic Prone Zone that had been Masked by Insufficient Surveillance Data Reveled during Yellow Fever Outbreak Investigation in Kenya, 2022
Authors: Nchoko Serah , Ndunge Dorcas , Githinji Geoffrey , Mwanyalu Nassoro , Stephine Aricha , Owiny Maurice , Odhiambo Fredrick , Oyugi Elvis
Published: August 2023

Background: Early detection is key to the control of malaria infection. Over 70% of the population in Kenya is constantly at risk of infection. In March 2022, several samples were collected from yellow fever suspects, during a yellow fever outbreak investigation in Isiolo County, with malaria being detected in more than 92% of them. This prompted further investigations to, find more cases characterizing them, conduct data quality audits, assess health facilities malaria surveillance, and establish possible factors associated with malaria infection in Isiolo County.
Methods: This was a retrospective review of data from sixteen purposively selected health facilities. Outpatient, inpatient, pharmacy and parasitology laboratory registers were reviewed from 1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022, line listed suspected malaria cases in Excel, abstracted sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory information. Plotted epidemic curve to illustrate distribution of cases. We interviewed clinicians, pharmacists, and laboratory officers to assess malaria surveillance. For Data Quality Audit (DQA), we used a standardized tool and automatically score data quality at various service delivery points, summarised continuous variables into frequencies and proportions using STATA 15. Bivariate analysis was applied to generate odds ratios and logistic regression to identify factors associated with malaria. Data were presented in tables, map, and figures.
Results: Of the 5527 records analyzed, 54.9% (3453/5527) were females. Median age was 15 years (IQR 5-30). Participants with laboratory results were 89.6% (4957/5527), of these 11.5% (572/4957) were malaria positive. Exposure to malaria infection was two times more likely among participants ≥5 years, OR=1.85(95% CI 1.46, 2.35; p=0.00), males OR=1.45(95% CI 1.22,1.73; p=0.00), and residents in Garbatula Sub County OR=1.50(95% CI 1.07,2.10; p=0.01).
In adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis, ≥5 years aOR=1.5(95% CI 1.16,2.06; p=0.000), Males aOR=1.45(95% CI 1.223,1.732; p=0.000), and residents in Garbatula Sub County aOR=1.51(95% CI 1.078,2.105; p=0.016) were significantly associated with malaria infection. Data completeness was 83%, and timeliness 71%. Stock-outs of malaria commodities in 25% (4/16) of the facilities.
Conclusions: malaria case load surpassed the alert threshold not depicted by the routine surveillance data. Incompleteness of data, untimeliness reporting and poor inventory may have attributed to the observed under-reporting. Interventions aimed at improving malaria data and inventory management would improve malaria surveillance indicators in the County.
Overall survival benefit of patients with biliary tract cancer receiving molecular profiling: a real-world multicenter retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Doleschal Bernhard , Taghizadeh Hossein , Webersinke Gerald , Piringer Gudrun , Schreil Georg , Decker Jörn , Aichberger Karl J. , Kirchweger Patrick , Thaler Josef , Petzer Andreas , Schmitt Clemens A. , Prager Gerald , Rumpold Holger
Published: August 2023

Biliary tract cancers are rare cancers with poor prognosis due to a lack of therapeutic options, especially after the failure of first-line systemic treatment. Targeted treatments for this clinical situation are promising and have entered clinical practice. We aimed to describe the overall survival of matched targeted treatment after first-line treatment in patients with biliary tract cancers in an Austrian real-world multicenter cohort. We performed a multicenter retrospective chart review of patients with biliary tract cancer between September 2015 and January 2022. Data, including comprehensive molecular characteristics (NGS and IHC), clinical history, surgical procedures, ablative treatments, patient history, and systemic chemotherapy, were extracted from the records of the participating institutions. Targeted treatment was matched according to the ESMO scale for the clinical actionability of molecular targets (ESCAT). We identified 159 patients with the available molecular characteristics. A total of 79 patients underwent second-line treatment. Of these, 36 patients received matched targeted treatment beyond the first-line and were compared with 43 patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy in terms of efficacy outcomes. For Tier I/II alterations, we observed a longitudinal PFS ratio (PFStargeted/PFSpre−chemotherapy) of 1.86, p = 0.059. The median overall survival for patients receiving at least two lines of systemic treatment significantly favored the targeted approach, with an overall survival of 22,3 months (95% CI 14.7–29.3) vs. 17.5 months (95% CI 1.7–19.8; p = 0.048). Our results underscore the value of targeted treatment approaches based on extended molecular characterization of biliary tract cancer to improve clinical outcomes.
Zero-Shot Transfer for Wildlife Bioacoustics Detection
Authors: Miao Zhongqi , Elizalde Benjamin , Deshmukh Soham , Kitzes Justin , Wang Huaming , Dodhia Rahul , Ferres Juan M. Lavista
Published: August 2023

Automatically detecting sound events with Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become increasingly popular in the field of bioacoustics, particularly for wildlife monitoring and conservation. Conventional methods predominantly employ supervised learning techniques that depend on substantial amounts of manually annotated bioacoustics data. However, manual annotation in bioacoustics is tremendously resource-intensive, both in terms of human labor and financial resources, and requires considerable domain expertise. This consequently undermines the validity of crowdsourcing annotation methods, such as Amazon Mechanical Turk. Additionally, the supervised learning framework restricts application scope to predefined categories within a closed setting. To address these challenges, we present a novel approach leveraging a multi-modal contrastive learning technique called Contrastive Language-Audio Pretraining (CLAP). CLAP allows for flexible class definition during inference through the use of descriptive text prompts and is capable of performing Zero-Shot Transfer on previously unencountered datasets. In this study, we demonstrate that without specific fine-tuning or additional training, an out-of-the-box CLAP model can effectively generalize across 9 bioacoustics benchmarks, covering a wide variety of sounds that are unfamiliar to the model. We show that CLAP achieves comparable, if not superior, recognition performance compared to supervised learning baselines that are fine-tuned on the training data of these benchmarks. Our experiments also indicate that CLAP holds the potential to perform tasks previously unachievable in supervised bioacoustics approaches, such as foreground / background sound separation and the discovery of unknown animals. Consequently, CLAP offers a promising foundational alternative to traditional supervised learning methods for bioacoustics tasks, facilitating more versatile applications within the field.
Association between sarcopenia and risk of osteoarthritis among the US adults
Authors: Peng Peng , Wu Jiawei , Fang Weiuhua , Tian Jiaqing , He Mincong , Xiao Fangjun , Lin Kun , Xu Xuemeng , He Wei , Liu Wengang , Wei Qiushi
Published: August 2023

Background: The association between sarcopenia and the risk of OA still presents many uncertainties. We aimed to assess whether sarcopenia is associated with a higher risk of OA in US adults.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study consisting of 11,456 participants from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2006. Sarcopenia was defined by a low muscle mass. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated as the appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by body mass indexes (BMI) or body weight (Wt). OA status was assessed by using self-reported questionnaire. We evaluated the association between sarcopenia and the risk of OA using multivariate regression models. In addition, subgroup and interaction analysis were performed.
Results: Sarcopenia was associated with an increased risk of OA when it was defined by the BMI-adjusted SMI (OR = 1.23 [95% CI,1.01, 1.51]; P = 0.038) and defined by the weight-adjusted SMI (OR = 1.30 [95% CI,1.10, 1.55]; P = 0.003). Subgroup and interaction analysis found that the strongest positive association mainly exists in smoker (OR = 1.54 [95% CI, 1.21, 1.95], Pint = 0.006), and this association is not significant in other groups.
Conclusions: In conclusion, we found that sarcopenia was associated with an increased risk of OA. Subgroup analysis revealed that the association between sarcopenia and risk of OA was more pronounced in smoker. Further well-designed prospective cohort studies are needed to assess our results.
Design and validation of a multi-epitope vaccine candidate against Acinetobacter baumannii using advanced computational methods
Authors: Heidarinia Hana , Tajbakhsh Elahe , Rostamian Mosayeb , Momtaz Hassan
Published: August 2023

Acinetobacter baumannii is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections and is often resistant to multiple antibiotics. In this study, we designed a multi-epitope vaccine candidate using the outer membrane protein K (OmpK) of A. baumannii. T-cell and B-cell epitopes were predicted, and the best epitopes were selected for multi-epitope design. For selecting the best epitopes, many in silico studies, as well as molecular docking of epitope-HLAs, were performed. The multi-epitope was designed using β-defensin as an adjuvant, PADRE sequence as an immunogenicity enhancer, and appropriate linkers. The tertiary structure of the multi-epitope was obtained using modeling and several molecular dynamics (MD)-based refinements. The sequence and/or 3D model of the multi-epitope was investigated for physicochemical, structural, in silico cloning, conformational B epitope prediction, immune response simulation, molecular docking for assay binding to toll-like receptors (TLRs), and deformability studies. The results showed that the multi-epitope construct is favorable in the case of immunogenicity, physicochemical properties, structure, binding to TLRs, solubility, stability, toxicity, allergenicity, and cross-reactivity. This multi-epitope vaccine candidate has the potential to elicit multiple immune responses against A. baumannii. However, in vitro and in vivo experimental tests are needed to validate its efficacy as a potential vaccine candidate.
Alternative Strategy of Mophorlogy and Vocal Behavior in Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus nepalensis)
Authors: Hwang Wenbe , Li Yingqi , Yang Yi-Lin
Published: August 2023

Competition for reproductive resources is a popular topic in behavioral ecology. Burying beetles’ body size determines the victory in the competition for breeding resources1,2. The small male beetles who usually lose in the competion could adpot alternative strategy by being satellite males to reproduce offspring3. It has been observed in male Nicrophorus spp. that there is an obviour secondary sexual characteristic on their clypeus, and secondary sexual characteristic degeneration has been found on some small males. This study investigate the relationship between secondary sexual characteristic degeneration and body size in males and compare the strategies used by different types of male beetles in competition in term of vocalization structure and vocal behavior. We reveal small inferior males would disguise as females with degenerative secondary sexual characteristic and being silent to avoid attacks from dominant males. Males’ size and development of secondary sexual characteristic are impacted by the acquired food intake instead of gene. And we found the difference of vocal behavior between genders when they encounter different individuals. This research highlights satelite males would employ mixed strategy based on developmental plasticity to lower the attention of dominant males and beetles would adopt conditional strategy with vocal behavior in competion.
Combinations of HDAC inhibitor and PPAR agonist induce ferroptosis of leukemia stem and progenitor cells in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Zha Jie , Zhou Hui , Qin Dongmei , Xie Chendi , Zhou Jie , Li Wenjuan , Jia Shuman , Zhou Ziwei , Qiu Yi , Xu Bing
Published: August 2023

Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are responsible for leukemia initiation, relapse, and therapeutic resistance. Therefore, the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting LSCs is urgently needed for patients with AML. Here, we report that the histone deacetylase inhibitor chidamide (CS055), in combination with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pan agonist (chiglitazar), synergistically targets leukemia stem-like cells from leukemia cell lines and patient samples, while sparing normal hematopoietic progenitor cells. Mechanistically, chiglitazar enhances the inhibitory effect of CS055 on HDAC3 and induces ferroptosis in leukemia stem-like cells by down-regulating the expression of ferroptosis suppressor SLC7A11. In fact, the inhibition of HDAC3 increases H3K27AC levels in the promoter region of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a transcriptional repressor of the SLC7A11 gene, and upregulates the expression of ATF3. In contrast, ATF4, a SLC7A11 activator, is suppressed by HDAC3 inhibition. Thus, our findings suggest that treatment with CS055 combined with chiglitazar, will target LSCs by inducing ferroptosis and may confer an effective approach for the treatment of AML.
RETRACTED: Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential of Thymol from Nigella sativa L Seed: Selective Anticancer Action against Human Breast Cancer Cells (MCF-7) through Down-Regulation of Cyclin D1 and Proliferative Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) Expressions
Authors: Vahitha V. , Lail Growther , Prasad Saradh , Rajasulochana P. , AlSalhi Mohamad S.
Published: August 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Intelligent identification system of gastric stromal tumors based on blood biopsy indicators
Authors: Han Shangjun , Song Meijuan , Wang Jiarui , Huang Yalong , Li Zuxi , Yang Aijia , Sui Changsheng , Zhang Zeping , Qiao Jilin , Yang Jing
Published: August 2023

Background
The most prevalent mesenchymal-derived gastrointestinal cancers are gastric stromal tumors (GSTs), which have the highest incidence (60–70%) of all gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). However, simple and effective diagnostic and screening methods for GST remain a great challenge at home and abroad. This study aimed to build a GST early warning system based on a combination of machine learning algorithms and routine blood, biochemical and tumour marker indicators.
Methods
In total, 697 complete samples were collected from four hospitals in Gansu Province, including 42 blood indicators from 318 pretreatment GST patients, 180 samples of gastric polyps and 199 healthy individuals. In this study, three algorithms, gradient boosting machine (GBM), random forest (RF), and logistic regression (LR), were chosen to build GST prediction models for comparison. The performance and stability of the models were evaluated using two different validation techniques: 5-fold cross-validation and external validation. The DeLong test assesses significant differences in AUC values by comparing different ROC curves, the variance and covariance of the AUC value.
Results
The AUC values of both the GBM and RF models were higher than those of the LR model, and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The GBM model was considered to be the optimal model, as a larger area was enclosed by the ROC curve, and the axes indicated robust model classification performance according to the accepted model discriminant. Finally, the integration of 8 top-ranked blood indices was proven to be able to distinguish GST from gastric polyps and healthy people with sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve of 0.941, 0.807 and 0.951 for the cross-validation set, respectively.
Conclusion
The GBM demonstrated powerful classification performance and was able to rapidly distinguish GST patients from gastric polyps and healthy individuals. This identification system not only provides an innovative strategy for the diagnosis of GST but also enables the exploration of hidden associations between blood parameters and GST for subsequent studies on the prevention and disease surveillance management of GST. The GST discrimination system is available online for free testing of doctors and high-risk groups at https://jzlyc.gsyy.cn/bear/mobile/index.html.
Intentional Intoxication with Monkshood Plant Leading to Atrioventricular Dissociation and Ventricular Ectopy in a 17-Year-Old Female: A Case Report
Authors: Klokman V.W. , Tempelaar S. , Kuipers B.C.W. , Dijk I.A.G. van , Moviat M.A.M.
Published: August 2023

Background: Monkshood, a toxic plant containing a potent cardio- and neurotoxin called aconitine, can lead to a range of symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, seizures, and cardiac arrhythmias. Mortality associated with this intoxication are due to ventricular tachyarrhythmias which are difficult to treat and often refractory in nature.
Case Presentation: We present a case of a 17-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency department after intentionally ingesting a monkshood plant and developed atrioventricular dissociation and frequent ventricular ectopy. The patient was successfully treated with activated charcoal, supportive care and cardiac monitoring.
Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of early recognition of aconitine poisoning and the need for prompt supportive care, cardiac rhythm monitoring and preemptive antiarrhythmic treatment planning.
Classifying stages in the gonotrophic cycle of mosquitoes from images using computer vision techniques
Authors: Azam Farhat Binte , Carney Ryan M. , Kariev Sherzod , Nallan Krishnamoorthy , Subramanian Muthukumaravel , Sampath Gopalakrishnan , Kumar Ashwani , Chellappan Sriram
Published: August 2023

The ability to distinguish between the abdominal conditions of adult female mosquitoes has important utility for the surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases. However, doing so requires entomological training and time-consuming manual effort. Here, we design computer vision techniques to determine stages in the gonotrophic cycle of female mosquitoes from images. Our dataset was collected from 139 adult female mosquitoes across three medically important species – Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus – and all four gonotrophic stages of the cycle (unfed, fully fed, semi-gravid and gravid). From these mosquitoes and stages, a total of 1,959 images were captured on a plain background via multiple smartphones. We then trained and validated an EfficientNet-B0-based model. With unseen data, the overall classification accuracy achieved by the model was 93.59%. Furthermore, we also assessed the explainability of our AI model, by implementing Grad-CAMs - a technique that highlights pixels in an image that were prioritized for classification. We observe that the highest significance was for those pixels representing the mosquito abdomen, demonstrating that our AI model has indeed learned correctly. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to use computer vision techniques to identify the stages of the gonotrophic cycle of mosquitoes, and we discuss some potential practical applications of our techniques.
WITHDRAWN: Performance assessment of multiple precipitation and temperature products for hydro- climatic applications over Pakistan
Authors: Munir Iqra , Lu Jianzhong , Chen Xiaoling , Waqas Hassan
Published: August 2023

Due to limited gauge network, Pakistan presents a challenge for cryosphere, hydrological, and ecological studies. Thus, before using precipitation and temperature products for hydro-climatic applications, they must be properly assessed. This study compared six satellite-based precipitation products (SBPPs), one satellite-based temperature product (SBTP), and three temperature reanalysis products (TRPs) to in-situ gauge data to assess their accuracy using ground gauge-based rainfall measurements for the period (2000–2020). The evaluation investigated point-to-pixel data on daily, monthly, seasonal (winter, spring, summer, and fall), and yearly timescales. All products were assessed using four continuous indices (RMSE, CC, bias, and rBias) and four categorical indices (false alarm ratio, probability of detection, success ratio, and crucial success index). According to the evaluation findings, CHIRPS and IMERG outperformed soil moisture family products in daily spatial-temporal capabilities. In terms of accuracy, ERA5 outperformed other temperature products. Monthly satellite-based temperature and precipitation data and temperature reanalysis products performed better than daily estimates (CC < 0.7 and rBIAS within ± 10). On a seasonal scale, IMERG precipitation estimates and ERA5 temperature estimates agreed well with in-situ gauge estimates. In areas with moderate topography, SM2Rain-GPM and ASCAT performed effectively. The evaluation of temperature reanalysis products on the ground demonstrated higher capabilities than AMSR2 LPRM. In terms of detection probability, the ground validation of IMERG beat other SBPPs, whereas ERA5 fared best among SBT and TRPs. The probability density function (PDF) showed that all satellite-based precipitation products captured light precipitation occurrences (> 2mm/day). In general, MEERA-2 and GEOS-5 FP demonstrated moderate performance in low elevated regions, whereas ERA5 and AMSR2 LPRM demonstrated performance comparable to that of gauge estimations across the entire country. The ground evaluation suggests using IMERG's daily and monthly precipitation estimates and ERA5 monthly temperature estimates for hydroclimatic applications in Pakistan's subtropical climates.
Anteromedial cannulated screw fixation for Hawkins Ⅱ/Ⅲ talus fractures in children: a retrospective study
Authors: Huang Xincheng , Ruan Siyuan , Lei Zhuolin , Cao Hong
Published: August 2023

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of the anteromedial cannulated screw approach in the treatment of Hawkins II/III talus fractures in children.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 20 children with talar fractures admitted to Renmin Hospital from September 2018 to February 2022. The fracture healing and functional recovery of the affected limb were strictly followed up after the operation. There were 14 males and 6 females. The average age was 9 years (range, 6-12 years). According to the Hawkins classification, there were 12 cases of talar neck fracture type Ⅱ and 8 cases of type Ⅲ. All patients were fixed with cannulated compression screws via an anteromedial approach. According to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot function scoring system, limb function was evaluated before and after the operation. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the degree of postoperative pain.
Results: All 20 children were followed up for 12 months to 30 months, with an average of 15 months. We found that there was no significant difference in the excellent and good rate (76.9%) and necrosis rate (30.8%) between male children and female children (71.4%) and necrosis rate (28.6%) (P>0.05). The excellent and good rates (92.9%) of children younger than 9 years old at the time of injury were higher than those of children older than 9 years old (33.3%), and the incidence of avascular necrosis of the talus was lower. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The average prognosis score of children who underwent surgery within 5 days after injury was 89.2±6.4, which was significantly higher than that of children who underwent surgery after 5 days (72.9±13.1), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between patients who underwent surgery within 5 days after injury (15.4%) and those who underwent surgery after 5 days (51.7%) (P>0.05). The excellent and good rates of talar neck fracture type II and talar neck fracture type III were 90.1% and 55.6%, respectively.
Conclusion: The anteromedial approach combined with cannulated compression screws for the treatment of Hawkins II/III talus fractures in children not only has a clear surgical field, but the fracture can also be reduced and fixed under direct vision using this technique. It does not affect the stability of the ankle joint and is conducive to the recovery of ankle function. It can be used as a surgical scheme for the treatment of talar fractures in children.
Spatial Distribution and Health Risk Evaluation of some Potentially Hazardous Elements in Akure Urban Topsoil, Nigeria
Authors: Tomori Wasiu Bolaji , Oladejo Sunday Olukayode , Orija Damilola , Olawale Tola Elizebeth
Published: August 2023

Indiscriminate solid waste disposal among the urban population has a new wave of metal pollution. This study was therefore carried out to understand the spatial distribution of selected potentially hazardous elements (Cd, Pb, Ni, Mn) in Akure metropolis, and their possible associated potential risk among the urban population. The whole metropolis was divided into grids from which fifty two (52) surface composite soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected. The samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties using standard procedures while PHEs was extracted with aqua regia and the extracts analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) (Buck Scientific model 210) after appropriate sample preparation. The results showed that the Metropolis top soil has slightly alkaline pH averaging 7.79 with electrical conductivity of 307.89 µS/cm. Soil type is sandy clay loam with average composition of sand, clay and silt of 61.90%, 28.16% and 7.94% respectively with mean percentage organic content of 2.11%. The mean concentrations of selected PHEs in mg/kg are: Cd (0.18); Pb (21.48); Ni (20.96) and Mn (242.78). Environmental contamination indicators reveals that the top soils is uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Pb, and Mn but highly contaminated with Cd in agroforest zone and with Ni where there is high vehicular activities. The health risk observed for Cd in the metropolis should be further investigated since Cd is known to be neurotoxic and its entrance into the food chain should be of concern.
Bacterial community in sardines condemned for histamine contamination: a case study in the canned fish industry
Authors: Frondana Luca , Farias Daniel da Rosa , Schleder Delano Dias
Published: August 2023

In some fish species, such as tuna, mackerel, and sardines, improper handling after fishing promotes the growth of histamine-forming bacteria. If consumed, histamine-contaminated fish can cause various symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, erythema, urticaria, and even anaphylaxis in severe cases. Understanding the main bacteria responsible for histamine production is crucial for public health. This study utilized next-generation sequencing to analyze the bacterial community in histamine-contaminated sardines. For this study, 1000 g of muscle samples were collected from 40–45 sardines per batch, all obtained from the same supplier, fishing area, and time period, for histamine analysis. Samples from five different batches with ≥ 200 ppm of histamine (contaminated) and five with < 1 ppm (non-contaminated) underwent microbial analysis. Histamine-contaminated sardines exhibited lower microbial diversity and a higher abundance of the genera Photobacteria and Shewanellae. These bacteria thrive under mild temperatures and indicate fish spoilage and the production of biogenic amines. In contrast, Psychobacter and Pseudoalteromonas, known to withstand harsh conditions, including low temperatures, were more prevalent in non-contaminated sardines. Our findings suggest that contaminated sardines experienced inadequate refrigeration during transportation and processing, indicating the potential use of Psychobacter and Pseudoalteromonas as quality indicators for fish.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hypotension in Patients Undergoing Cesarean Section with Spinal Anesthesia at Muhimbili National Hospital
Authors: Samji Sunil , Kyejo Willbroad , Lugazia Edwin
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Spinal anesthesia is a common regional anaesthesia for cesarean sections, causing 80% of patients to develop hypotension. Preventing hypotension involves intravenous fluid preloading, left uterine displacement, gravity, compression stocking, and vasopressors. This study aimed to determine the proportion of patients developing hypotension and the risk factors for hypotension during spinal anesthesia in pregnant patients undergoing cesarean section at Muhimbili National hospital.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital's Obstetric theatre, involving patients who received spinal anaesthesia during cesarean section from August 2021 to January 2022. The study excluded patients with sedation, anti-hypertensive, pregnancy-induced hypertension, modified Bromage score, or combination anesthesia. Data was collected, analyzed using SPSS version 20.
Results: A study of 300 pregnant patients found that 33.3% of them underwent elective cesarean sections, while 66.7% experienced emergency cesarean sections. 92% received 0.5% hyperbaric Bupivacaine, while 8% received 5% heavy Lidocaine. Hypotension was the most common symptom during cesarean sections under spinal anaesthesia, with risk factors including preload of crystalloids less than 10 mls/kg and absence of wedge and sensory height block levels.
Conclusion: Hypotension is a common complication in pregnant patients with spinal anesthesia, requiring proactive management strategies considering factors like local anesthetic choice, sensory block, and preload volume.
Mechanisms of acclimation to chronic intermittent hypoxia in the gills of Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Authors: Liu Qiao , Wang Hong , Ge Jiayu , Guo Lipeng , Tahir Rabia , Luo Jie , He Kuo , Yan Haoxiao , Zhang Xin , Cao Quanquan , Cheng Zhang , Zhao Liulan , Yang Song
Published: August 2023

Anthropogenically induced hypoxia in water bodies has been a stressor for fish for many years and is expected to persist in the future. In order to investigate the acclimation response of fish gills to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) stress, we conducted a study using largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) exposed to intermittent hypoxia (dissolved oxygen level: 2.0 mg·L− 1) for either one or three hours per day, over a period of 8 weeks. Our findings indicate that exposure to CIH induced remodeling of the gills and an increase in gill surface area. We also observed significant up-regulation of genes related to glycolysis (fba, pgam1, pepck, atp-pfk, pfk-2, g6pi, gapd-1, and pk), while genes associated with cholesterol synthesis (3β-hsd, cyp51, dsdr-x1, dsdr, and dhcr7) were down-regulated following CIH exposure. Furthermore, we observed the presence of elongated megamitochondria in mitochondria-rich cells within the gills of fish exposed to hypoxia. Additionally, numerous genes involved in calcium signaling pathways were up-regulated in the gills of largemouth bass, suggesting an enhanced sensitivity of gills to environmental cues in hypoxia conditions. However, the expression levels of certain genes related to innate and adaptive immune responses were inhibited following CIH exposure. Moreover, the number of mucous cells decreased, potentially making the gills more susceptible to pathogen infections. These findings highlight the potential vulnerability of gills to pathogenic organisms in the presence of CIH. Overall, our study contributes to a better understanding of how fish acclimate to CIH.
Bilateral thalamic and brainstem anaplastic astrocytoma: a case report
Authors: Zhang Hong , Zhang Ping , Nie Hongbing , Zhang Ji , Li Jie , Lu Xiaoqing , Shen Yaoyao
Published: August 2023

Background: Anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) is a diffusely infiltrating, high-grade glioma belonging to the primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasm. Bilateral thalamic glioma (BTG) is extremely rare and characterized by strictly limited involvement of bilateral thalami. Here, we report a rare case of AA (WHO grade III astrocytoma) involving both thalami and the brainstem.
Case presentation: A-33-year-old Chinese woman was referred to our department owing to persistent headache and nausea and vomiting. Neurological examination showed mild cognitive impairment and positive Kernig’s sign. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated asymmetrical and swollen lesions involving both thalami, midbrain and pontine tegmentum, without restricted diffusion or enhancement. She was administrated with mannitol and glycerin fructose for decreasing intracranial pressure. In consideration of possible CNS tumor, the patient was transferred to the department of neurosurgery and underwent a stereotactic biopsy on day 7 after admission. Histopathological features and immunohistochemistry were consistent with AA, IDH wild-type, WHO grade III. In spite of receiving chemotherapy, she died on two-month after her initial diagnosis.
Conclusions: AA involving in both thalami and brainstem is rare entity with poor prognosis. The clinicians and radiologists should deepen their awareness of the specific MRI feature of bilateral thalamic involvement. When MRI alone is insufficient, the utility of stereotactic biopsy is essential for making a definitive diagnosis.
CFD-Based Comparison of Flutter Effect in Supersonic Wing Designs at Steady Aerodynamic Condition
Authors: S VARUNKUMAR K , GANGAMKOTE NIKHIL N
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a numerical methodology and analysis to study the flutter, a self-exciting oscillation that generally occurs on wings at high speeds; Simply termed as twist along its axis of stiffness. The study focuses to understand the interaction between aerodynamic forces and the structural flexibility of the wing, which can lead to the flutter. After conducting a detailed study of flutter, an unstable aeroelastic phenomenon. Fluttering under steady aerodynamic conditions are similar to the conventional results of unsteady aerodynamics. This phenomenon is possible if the wing is designed to correspond with thin air-foil theory, which involves a minimal thickness of the wing. For investigation, Design and High-precision CFD simulations were conducted using ANSYS(FLUENT) to analyse the effects of lift and drag for various AOAs, flowlines, vortices and shock wave propagation. Analysis was also performed to observe the static deformation of the design due to the aerodynamic loading (Fluid-Structure interaction).
RETRACTED: Impact of Water Distribution Network Characteristics on Detectable Leak Sizes
Authors: Jun Sanghoon , Jung Donghwi
Published: August 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Neurofilament Light Chain in Spinal Fluid and Plasma in Multiple System Atrophy – A Prospective, Longitudinal Biomarker Study
Authors: Singer Wolfgang , Schmeichel Ann M. , Sletten David M. , Gehrking Tonette L. , Gehrking Jade A. , Trejo-Lopez Jorge , Suarez Mariana D. , Anderson Jennifer K. , Bass Pamela H. , Lesnick Timothy G. , Low Phillip A.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

There is a critical need for reliable diagnostic biomarkers as well as surrogate markers of disease progression in multiple system atrophy (MSA). Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has been reported to potentially meet those needs. We therefore sought to explore the value of NfL in plasma (NfL-p) in contrast to CSF (NfL-c) as diagnostic marker of MSA, and to assess NfL-p and NfL-c as markers of clinical disease progression.

Methods

Well-characterized patients with early MSA (n=32), Parkinson’s disease (PD, n=21), and matched controls (CON, n=15) were enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal study of synucleinopathies with serial annual evaluations. NfL was measured using a high sensitivity immunoassay, and findings were assessed by disease category and relationship with clinical measures of disease progression.

Results

Measurements of NfL-c were highly reproducible across immunoassay platforms (Pearson,r=0.99), while correlation between NfL-c and -p was only moderate (r=0.66). NfL was significantly higher in MSA compared to CON and PD; the separation was essentially perfect for NfL-c, but there was overlap, particularly with PD, for NfL-p. While clinical measures of disease severity progressively increased over time, NfL-c and -p remained at stable elevated levels within subjects across serial measurements. Neither change in NfL nor baseline NfL were significantly associated with changes in clinical markers of disease severity.

Conclusions

These findings confirm NfL-c as faithful diagnostic marker of MSA, while NfL-p showed less robust diagnostic value. The significant NfL elevation in MSA was found to be remarkably stable over time and was not predictive of clinical disease progression.
Optimization of Methane production from Cowpea Hull Anaerobic Co-Digestion: Moisture Content Reduction and Nanobubble Water Addition
Authors: Ogbonna Christian Toochukwu , Richards Delmaria , Helmut Yabar
Published: August 2023

Cowpea hull (CH) is a by-product of cowpea food processing; its conventional use as animal feed hay declined due to flatulence characteristics. Therefore, sustainable utilization of CH for biogas production was investigated. Specifically, the effects of thermal pretreatment and nanobubble water (NBW) addition were examined during CH's co-digestion with waste-activated sludge for methane production. Oven-dried CH at 105 ℃ for 3 hours or 48 hours resulted in 83% moisture content reduction (MCR) or 100% MCR, respectively, and untreated CH at 81% moisture content was simultaneously set up as a control experiment. After 16 days of mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD), The 100% MCR enhanced biogas production by 11% (219.14 mL/g−VS) compared to the untreated (197.93 mL/g−VS). In addition, 104.26, 114.41, and 116.15 mL/g−VS methane were produced from the untreated CH and two portions of thermally treated samples, correspondingly. Similarly, by adding N2-NBW, biogas production increased progressively, reaching the maximum daily value of 64.51 mL/d on day 3. As a result, the total accumulated biogas production from the N2-NBW reactor was 242.7 mL/g−VS, approximately 9.7 mL/g−VS more biogas and 10% increased methane production compared to 100% MCR when deionized water was applied. On the contrary, Air-NBW decreased methane production. Furthermore, the results reveal that 47.13 to 68.90 million m3 of biogas generated by co-fermentation of untreated and thermally treated CH with WAS can be converted to 75.36 GWh, which displaces 0.27% of the total fossil fuel-based electricity capacity generated in 2020. Besides, the green energy generated can mitigate methane emissions by recycling organic waste that would otherwise be landfilled.
Alpha, beta and gamma radiation assessment along the Northeast Coast of Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Sathish V. , Chandrasekaran A. , Musthafa M. Saiyad
Published: August 2023

In this study, 21 sediment samples were collected from twenty-one locations along the Northeast coastal area of Tamil Nadu, India to estimate the activity concentration of gross α, gross β, and primordial radionuclides (238U, 232Th, and 40K) using alpha & beta counters, and NaI (Tl) γ-ray detector respectively. Mean activity concentrations were measured as 32 Bq kg− 1 for gross α, 621 Bq kg− 1 for gross β, 60 Bq kg− 1 for 238U, 70 Bq kg− 1 for 232Th, and 573 Bq kg− 1 for 40K. The different radiological parameters are calculated for all samples and compared to assess the complete radiological profile of the sediments. The average activities of 238U, 232Th, and 40K are higher than the world average values of UNSCEAR reports. Gamma dose rate and annual effective dose equivalent in the sediment samples are more than the recommended safety levels. eU/eTh ratio applied for the paleo-oxygenation state of the coastal sediments.
IL-17A and PA synergistically promote the progression of melanoma by accelerating pATF2-CPT1A-mediated β-oxidation
Authors: Zhang Xuedan , Shen Baoyu , Li Xiaoyu , Xiong Guohang , Yang Lijuan , Yi Zihan , Gai Yanlong , Li Enjiang , Zhang Qiao , Yang Zhe , Kuang Yingmin , Sai Buqing , Zhu Yuechun
Published: August 2023

Palmitic acid (PA) is a critical signal that regulates the metastasis of melanoma. Cytokines play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of tumors. IL-17A promotes fatty acid intake, but its impact on fatty acid metabolism has not yet been elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of IL-17A and PA on the expression of CPT1A. The results showed that IL-17A cooperates with PA to increase the p-ATF2(T71), which can target the transcription of CPT1A. These findings indicated that IL-17A cooperates with PA to participate in developing pATF2 (T71)-CPT1A-mediated melanoma.