bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of physics learning in elementary schools and the need for professional development: Is STEM education training necessary for elementary school teachers?
Authors: Ardianto Didit , Windiyani Tustiyana , Suwarma Irma Rahma , Karmilasari Karmilasari , Nurul Najla
Published: February 2024

This study aims to explore pedagogical approaches and students’ engagement during STEM teaching. As many as 215 elementary school teachers in West Java were involved in this research. Those involved consisted of 161 women and 49 men. The majority of teachers have an elementary school teacher education background (87%), 7% have other educational backgrounds (Science Education/Mathematics Education/Social Education/Language Education), and the remaining 6% are in the sciences. The instrument used in this study was a closed questionnaire with 20 items from a Likert scale survey. The results of the study show that 50% of elementary school teachers very rarely use experimental approaches and problem-based learning when teaching STEM content. More than 60% of teachers also very rarely use the inquiry approach in teaching the four contents. The approach that is often used by teachers in teaching STEM is a collaborative and integrated approach. In addition, the survey results also show that more than 50% of students are very rarely involved in inquiry and engineering practice activities when learning about STEM content. The analysis of professional development needs showed that the majority of elementary school teachers have never received a professional development program regarding STEM education. In fact, the majority of teachers have a positive attitude towards the coaching program, which has an impact on increasing their competence. Apart from that, the results of this research also show that there is a lack of external support (from universities, educational practitioners, and researchers) for teachers in coaching programs. These findings provide evidence that teachers still need to receive training on pedagogical approaches that are relevant to integrated STEM education. The existence of training on STEM education is expected to improve the quality of STEM learning in the classroom. Thus, students' involvement in scientific and engineering practice when learning STEM becomes more dominant.
PISA science framework 2018 vs 2025 and its impact in physics education: Literature review
Authors: Deta Utama Alan , Ayun Septy Kurrota , Laila Luthfiyaul , Prahani Binar Kurnia , Suprapto Nadi
Published: February 2024

Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) evaluates education systems in participating countries. Junior high school students are tested in math, science, and reading for the PISA Scientific Literacy test. This study contrasts the PISA Science Framework 2018 and 2025. This literature research uses systematic Literature Review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis. The method finds, reviews, evaluates, and interprets all research related to scientific literacy, PISA Framework 2018 and 2025, and its impact on Physics Education. The research used the Scopus database to find PISA Science Framework-related scientific articles. Results showed that PISA Framework 2025 evolves science literacy and scientific information function. The language is simplified to be more coherent by emphasizing the main idea of science. Procedural and epistemic knowledge are expanded and clarified. The finding is also supported by VOSviewer visualization of data results. This framework implies that physics education will assess students' understanding of fundamental physics principles and their rationality in applying them, including decision-making. In conclusion, the PISA Science Framework 2018 needs to be updated to the PISA Framework 2025 by the OECD to accommodate the students' needs in this era.
A Planning Purchasing Policies for Raw Material Welding Wire Using Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) Method to Reduce Overstock
Authors: Vidiasari Mike , Jakaria Ribangun Bamban
Published: February 2024

This study aims to determine the optimal order quantity of K71T welding wire for PT BMI's boiler production process to reduce storage and inventory costs. The Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) method is applied to calculate the optimal amount of material to be ordered in one period. The results show that the total inventory cost using the EOQ method is Rp. 89,060,000,- compared to the company policy of Rp. 290,840,000,-. The optimal number of orders is 407 boxes with a purchase frequency of 4 times per year and a safety stock of 181 boxes. The findings of this study can be used as a reference for other manufacturing companies that face similar procurement challenges to optimize their inventory management and reduce costs. Highlight : The study determines the optimal order quantity of K71T welding wire, reducing storage and inventory costs. The Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) method is applied, resulting in a total inventory cost of Rp. 89,060,000,- compared to the company policy of Rp. 290,840,000,-. The findings can be used as a reference for other manufacturing companies facing similar procurement challenges to optimize their inventory management and reduce costs. Keywords: welding wire, optimal order quantity, inventory management, procurement challenges, manufacturing companies
Black Spot Syndrome in ocean surgeonfish: using video-based surveillance to quantify disease severity and test environmental drivers on Curacao reefs
Authors: de Wit Cheyenna D. G. , Johnson Pieter
Published: February 2024

Observations of Black Spot Syndrome (BSS), a pigmented dermatopathy in marine fishes, have been increasingly reported in important grazers such as surgeonfish and parrotfish in the Caribbean. This condition has been linked to infection by the trematode parasite, Scaphanocephalus spp., although relatively little is known about the environmental drivers of infection and how they vary spatially. This study introduces a non-invasive, video-based method to survey BSS presence and severity in ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus tractus). We then apply the approach across 35 coastal sites in Curaçao to evaluate the influence of environmental factors on BSS, including longitude, herbivorous fish density, wave energy, depth, nutrient pollution, and inhabited surface area. Of the 5,123 fish surveyed, 70% exhibited visible signs of BSS, and the average number of spots per fish increased by ~5-fold from eastern to western sites along the leeward coastline. Within a site, estimates of BSS severity were broadly consistent between different divers, reviewers of video footage, and date of sampling, emphasizing robustness of the surveillance approach. Analyses of environmental factors indicated that BSS decreased with wave intensity while increasing in association with higher nutrient runoff and fishing pressure. This study provides insight into environmental correlates of BSS severity while highlighting the use of video-based surveillance as a non-invasive survey method. The precise mechanisms linking environmental factors with BSS remain unknown, emphasizing the need for long-term and experimental studies in this system.
Accurate battery lifetime prediction across diverse aging conditions with deep learning
Authors: Zheng Shun , Zhang Han , Li Yuqi , Lu Ziheng , Gui Xiaofan , Xu Wei , Bian Jiang
Published: February 2024

Accurately predicting the lifetime of battery cells in early cycles holds tremendous value for battery research and development as well as numerous downstream applications. This task is rather challenging because diverse conditions, such as electrode materials, operating conditions, and working environments, collectively determine complex capacity-degradation behaviors. However, current prediction methods are developed and validated under limited aging conditions, resulting in questionable adaptability to varied aging conditions and an inability to fully benefit from historical data collected under different conditions. Here we introduce a universal deep learning approach that is capable of accommodating various aging conditions and facilitating effective learning under low-resource conditions by leveraging data from rich conditions. Our key finding is that incorporating inter-cell feature differences, rather than solely considering single-cell characteristics, significantly increases the accuracy of battery lifetime prediction and its cross-condition robustness. Accordingly, we develop a holistic learning framework accommodating both single-cell and inter-cell modeling. A comprehensive benchmark is built for evaluation, encompassing 401 battery cells utilizing 5 prevalent electrode materials across 168 cycling conditions. We demonstrate remarkable capabilities in learning across diverse aging conditions, exclusively achieving 10\% prediction error using the first 100 cycles, and in facilitating low-resource learning, almost halving the error of single-cell modeling in many cases.
More broadly, by breaking the learning boundaries among different aging conditions, our approach could significantly accelerate the development and optimization of lithium-ion batteries.
The Post-Stroke Checklist: longitudinal use in routine clinical practice during first year after stroke
Authors: Månsson Kristina , Söderholm  , Berhin Ida , Pessah-Rasmussen  , Ullberg
Published: February 2024

Background
Few studies describe the use of the Post-Stroke Checklist (PSC) as a tool for longitudinal stroke follow-up in clinical practice. We mapped the prevalence of stroke-related health problems and targeted interventions at 3 and 12 months post-stroke by using the PSC.
Methods
Patients with acute stroke discharged home in 2018–2019 at Skåne University Hospital, Sweden, were invited to participate in a comprehensive nurse-led follow-up based on a 14-item PSC 3 and 12 months post-stroke. We measured time consumption, screened for stroke-related health problems, compared the findings, and recorded targeted healthcare interventions. Problems at 12 months were grouped into new, persistent, or none compared to the 3-month evaluation.
Results
Of 200 consecutively included patients, 146 (77%) completed both the 3- and 12-month follow-ups. At 12-month follow-up, 36% of patients reported no stroke-related health problems, 24% reported persistent problems, and 40% reported new problems since the 3-month evaluation. New problems at 12 months were most common within the domains: secondary prevention (23%) and life after stroke (10%). Stroke recurrence rate was 7.5%, 43% had high blood pressure, and few smokers had quit smoking. At 12 months, 53% received at least one new healthcare intervention, compared to 84% at 3 months.
Conclusions
Stroke-related health problems decreased beyond 3 months but were still present in two-thirds of patients at 1 year. This emphasizes the relevance of continuous structured follow-up using the PCS. However, the follow-up alone was insufficient to adequately achieve treatment targets for secondary prevention, which require intensified focus.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04295226, (04/03/2020)
Environmental impact due to the presence of polluting leachate in landfills in the State of Mexico
Authors: Espino Xenia Mena , Cortes María Elena Tavera , Hernández Yolanda Donají Ortiz , Espino María Esther Mena
Published: February 2024

Leachate is a byproduct of regular landfill operations, which can contain a wide variety of contaminants, including highly toxic biological and chemical substances that cause harm to human health and the environment. Its environmental impact is associated with the contamination of surface and underground water sources. In this work, an analysis of the different chemical and biological substances present in the leachate from two landfills was carried out. However, its leachate lagoons continue to be sources of contaminants as they have not been treated. For this study, a physicochemical analysis was carried out considering the methodologies and tolerance levels of contaminants within Mexican safety standards. The results determined high levels of Nitrates, Phosphorus, and Lead. It is essential to highlight that when Urban Solid Waste (USW) enters the landfill, it is not separated, so the leachate goes to collection lagoons. Therefore, the leachate must be characterized by the most significant number of variables, such as inorganic material and specific contaminants, since the contaminants follow the characteristics and origin of the solid waste deposited in landfills. Even when biological processes are low due to the time in the studied landfills, there are still inorganic compounds present that act as pollutants. Consequently, the restoration of these sites must be carried out to minimize environmental impact.
Comparison of the analgesic efficacy of transversus abdominis plane block and posterior approach quadratus lumborum block after open radical retropubic prostatectomy: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yasar Eylem , Altiparmak Basak , Pinarbasi Ahmet , Akarken Ilker , Ugur Bakiye
Published: February 2024

Backgroundː Open radical prostatectomy has been found to be related to moderate pain in the early postoperative period. However, postoperative pain, which is not controlled by surgery, can prolong the length of hospital stay. The transversus abdominis plane block technique has been shown to be a safe and effective postoperative analgesic method for urological surgeries. Moreover, it has been reported that a posterior approach involving a Quadratus lumborum block can extend more easily into the thoracic paravertebral space or thoracolumbar plane and provide analgesia from T7 to L1. Methodsː A total of 62 patients with a mean age of 63.2 ± 4 years and a mean body mass index of 24.0 ± 1.6 kg/m² were included in our study. After surgery, the patients were divided into two groups: the first group (Transversus Abdominis Plane) and the second group (Quadratus Lumborum Block) before anaesthesia was terminated. Resultsː The time to postoperative analgesic need, opioid use, opioid dose, and patient satisfaction score were similar for the TAP and QLB block groups. A total of eighteen (29%) patients in both groups needed opioids, for a mean dose of 100 mg. Conclusionsː In conclusion, there was a significant relationship between the opioid dose and the two groups.
Can radioactive waste escape? Novel use of deuterium μ-MRI to track fluid migration through barrier materials.
Authors: Pavlovskaya Galina , Rigby Sean , Daniels Katherine , Scotti Frank , Harrington Jon , Milodowski Antoni , Meersmann Thomas
Published: February 2024

Nuclear energy currently contributes about 10% of the world’s electricity supply but, at present, there are only interim storage facilities for the accumulated 2.6 x 108 kg of spent nuclear fuel. Geological storage is the universally favoured option for permanent removal of this highly radioactive waste from the biosphere with the first purpose-designed and constructed permanent disposal site, the Onkalo facility in Finland, expected to become operational in the next few years. Envisioned and planned geological disposal facilities for high-level radioactive waste will commonly include a bentonite clay buffer called the Engineered Barrier System (EBS); this flow barrier both surrounds the waste cannisters and backfills the disposal galleries. However, questions are being raised about the long-term performance of bentonite for waste containment due to specific issues associated with inhomogeneous fluid-rock interaction occurring within the material. We apply a novel combination of μ-MRI methods and 2H labels to monitor flow in barrier materials in unprecedented detail and resolution to reveal micro-scale fluid-flow variations caused by nano- and microheterogeneities not possible via other techniques. We demonstrate the fluid penetration front becomes fragmented, and that fragmentation is governed by heterogeneities in the clay’s pore structure; both must be considered in host rock characterisation and long-term EBS design, manufacture, and performance.
Performance Analysis of Machine Learning Techniques in Detecting Multi-intrusion Attacks
Authors: Fodja Christel Herlin Djaha , Islam Muhammad F
Published: February 2024

The sophistication of network intrusion techniques presents significant challenges as to timeliness and accuracy of detection. Building on The University of Nevada Reno (UNR) Intrusion Detection Dataset (IDD), we explore the efficacy of Machine Learning (ML) techniques. The Light Gradient-Boosting Machine (LightGBM) model has an accuracy score of 0.992 and a precision of 0.99. The Extra Gradient Boost (XGBoost) and the Extremely Randomized Trees (Extra Tree) models obtain an accuracy of 0.985 and precision of 0.99. The CatBoost model (a version of Gradient Boosted Decision Trees or GBDT) has an accuracy of 0.975 and a precision of 0.98. These results are better than those of previous studies using the same data set. We also find that attacks of the type "Overflow" and "PortScan" are more likely to be detected by ML techniques than "TCP-SYN" type. Our results show the promise of using ML techniques in the realm of cybersecurity management.
Lateral lamina V projection neuron axon collaterals connect sensory processing across the dorsal horn of the mouse spinal cord
Authors: Browne Tyler J. , Smith Kelly M , Gradwell Mark A , Dayas Christopher V , Callister Robert J , Hughes David I , Graham Brett A
Published: February 2024

Spinal projection neurons (PNs) are defined by long axons that travel from their origin in the spinal cord to the brain where they relay sensory information from the body. The existence and function of a substantial axon collateral network, also arising from PNs and remaining within the spinal cord, is less well appreciated. Here we use a retrograde viral transduction strategy to characterise a novel subpopulation of deep dorsal horn spinoparabrachial neurons. Brainbow assisted analysis confirmed that virally labelled PN cell bodies formed a discrete cell column in the lateral part of Lamina V (LV lat) and the adjoining white matter. These PNs exhibited large dendritic territories biased to regions lateral and ventral to the cell body column and extending considerable rostrocaudal distances. Optogenetic activation of LV Lat PNs confirmed this population mediates widespread signalling throughout spinal cord circuits, including activation in the superficial dorsal horn. This signalling was also demonstrated with patch clamp recordings during LV Lat PN photostimulation, with a range of direct and indirect connections identified and evidence of a postsynaptic population of inhibitory interneurons. Together, these findings confirm a substantial role for PNs in local spinal sensory processing, as well as relay of sensory signals to the brain.
Experimental and Numerical Studies on the Energy Absorption Characteristics of Al/CFRP Corrugated Web Beams
Authors: Yu Jian , Liang Qianduo , Wang Xinfeng , Wu Jiawei
Published: February 2024

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is widely used in aircraft crashworthiness structures, but its unstable failure modes limit its energy absorption capability. This study proposes a hybrid aluminum/CFRP (Al/CFRP) corrugated web beam to enhance the energy absorption and progressive collapse under axial impact. Quasi-static crushing experiments were performed on CFRP and Al/CFRP corrugated web beams with 45° crushing triggers. Results revealed that the initial peak load and the total energy absorption of the Al/CFRP corrugated web beam increased by 16.68% and 34.62%, respectively, compared to those of the CFRP corrugated web beam. The specific energy absorption and the crushing force efficiency also improved by 13.22% and 1.51%, respectively. The CFRP corrugated web beam underwent transverse shearing, brittle fracture, and bending failures during crushing, resulting in a decline in energy absorption after a 40 mm displacement due to crack propagation. In contrast, the Al/CFRP corrugated web beam exhibited stable progressive collapse with sustained energy absorption up to a 60 mm displacement, benefiting from the plasticity of the aluminum layer. Detailed finite element models were validated against the experimental results, with the simulated failure morphologies and the energy absorption being consistent with the measured results. The proposed Al/CFRP corrugated web beam demonstrated superior crashworthiness, progressive collapse, and energy absorption capabilities under impact.
Association Between Thyroid Dysfunction and Hyperglycemia is More Significant in Females Younger Than 65 years old
Authors: Gao Xiaotong , Liu Shengyu , Wang Youmin , Wang Xichang , Zhang Jinan , Zhang Qiao , Zhao Jiajun , Li Yongze , Teng Weiping , Shan Zhongyan
Published: February 2024

Background
The significant association between different levels of thyroid dysfunction and hyperglycemia has been well-established. The purpose of our research is to provide new relevant evidence while verifying the preexisting views.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional analysis based on 31 provinces in mainland China. We excluded subjects with a personal history of thyroid diseases or diabetes. The diagnostic criteria of different types of hyperglycemia referred to the 2018 American Diabetes Association guidelines. We explored the trend of hyperglycemia prevalence with different levels of thyroid function in the general population (N = 56,700) and analyzed the potential association between them. In addition, we explored the relationship in subgroups with different demographics and anthropometrics.
Results
In the overall population, overt hyperthyroidism could be regarded as a significant risk factor for impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and prediabetes. Additionally, both overt hypothyroidism and severe subclinical hypothyroidism (thyrotropin > 7.04 mU/L) could be regarded as a significant risk factor for prediabetes and diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes significantly increased, and IGT showed a significant U-shaped distribution with thyrotropin. But we did not find the distribution of IFG and prediabetes prevalence with the increase of serum thyrotropin. Further subgroup analysis revealed that the abovementioned associations also had specific distribution rules in some particular population.
Conclusions
Thyroid dysfunction and hyperglycemia are significantly related. For particular subgroups with thyroid dysfunction, we should pay more attention to the association between the hyperglycemia and thyroid diseases.
Mitochondrial division inhibitor (mdivi-1) induces extracellular matrix (ECM)-detachment of viable breast cancer cells by a DRP1-independent mechanism
Authors: Silva-Pavez Eduardo , Mendoza Elizabeth , Morgado-Cáceres Pablo , Ahumada-Castro Ulises , Bustos Galdo , Cardenas J. Cesar , Kangme-Encalada Matías , de Arbina Amaia Lopez , Puebla-Huerta Andrea , Muñoz Felipe , Cereceda Lucas , Varas-Godoy Manuel , HIdalgo Yessia
Published: February 2024

Increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that cancer progression is under mitochondrial control. Mitochondrial fission plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of cancer cell homeostasis. The inhibition of DRP1, the main regulator of mitochondrial fission, with the mitochondrial division inhibitor (mdivi-1) had been associated with cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutics and decreased proliferation. Here, using breast cancer cells we find that mdivi-1 induces the detachment of the cells, leading to a bulk of floating cells that conserve their viability. Despite a decrease in their proliferative and clonogenic capabilities, these floating cells maintain the capacity to re-adhere upon re-seeding and retain their migratory and invasive potential. Interestingly, the cell detachment induced by mdivi-1 is independent of DRP1 but relies on inhibition of mitochondrial complex I. Furthermore, mdivi-1 induces cell detachment rely on glucose and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Our data evidence a novel DRP1-independent effect of mdivi-1 in the attachment of cancer cells. The generation of floating viable cells restricts the use of mdivi-1 as a therapeutic agent and demonstrates that mdivi-1 effect on cancer cells are more complex than anticipated.
Impaired Macroautophagy in Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells Exacerbates Aging-related Cognitive Deficits via a Senescence Associated Signaling
Authors: Ma Quan-Hong , Chen Hong , Sun Yan-Yun , Li Qi-Fa , Du Yu-Tong , Hu Na-Na , Huang Xin , Zhu Chao , Yang Gang , Tang Yong , Tao Jin , Feng Lei , Kirchhoff Frank , Huang Wenhui , Li Shao
Published: February 2024

Aging drives cognitive decline in the adult brain with unclear mechanisms. Previously, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), the source cells of myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system (CNS), have been linked to brain aging by their compromised differentiation and regeneration capability. Whether a myelination-independent function of OPCs is involved in brain aging remains unknown. In this study, we herein report a novel role of OPCs in brain aging via disrupting neuronal plasticity. Our results demonstrate that macroautophagy influx declines in aged OPCs, which results in the accumulation of senescent OPCs in aged brains. Senescent OPCs impair neuronal plasticity and exacerbate neurodegeneration via CCL3/5-CCR5 signaling, eventually leading to cognitive decline. Our study, for the first time, demonstrates a myelination-independent role of OPCs in brain aging and identifies that a declined autophagy in OPCs is a driver of aging-associated cognitive decline.
A multimodal sentiment model based on causal gating attention mechanism
Authors: Gan Zhiqiang , Sun Xiang-e , Liu Meihua
Published: February 2024

Utilising a cross-modal attention mechanism for multimodal feature integration may engender confounding effects, resulting indetrimental biases during modal interaction, and consequently impacting the outcomes of emotion classification. To addressthis issue, a cross-modal fusion network based on causal gating attention mechanism was proposed. First, a feature-maskingtext embedding module is utilised to enhance the semantic representation capability of both the audio and video modalities.Subsequently, a cross-modal attention fusion module is employed to complementarily merge the audio and video modalities,obtaining the fused audio-video modality features. Next, a causal gating cross-modal fusion network is used to fully integratethe heterogeneous data of text, audio, and video modalities. Finally, the sentiment analysis results are classified using SoftMax.The proposed cross-modal fusion network demonstrated superior performance in sentiment classification when compared tobaseline techniques on the CMU-MOSEI dataset. It effectively associated and combined pertinent multi-modal information.
Theoretical analysis of the effect of isotropy on the effective diffusion coefficient in the porous and agglomerated phase of the electrodes of a PEMFC
Authors: Pacheco Carlos , Barbosa Romeli , Navarro-Montejo Alfonso , Ordoñez Luis Carlos
Published: February 2024

In polymer membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), the pore microstructure and the effective diffusion coefficient (\({D}_{eff}\)) of the catalytic layer have a significant impact on the overall performance of the fuel cell. In this wok, numerical methods to simulate PEMFC catalytic layers were used to study the effect of isotropy (\({I}_{xy}\)) on the \({D}_{eff}\). The proposed methodology studies reconstructed systems by Simulated Annealing (SA) imaging with different surface fractions of microstructures composed by two diffusive phases: agglomerates and pores. The \({D}_{Eff}\) is determined numerically by the Finite Volume Method (FVM) solved for Fick's First Law of Diffusion. The results show that the proposed methodology can effectively quantify the effect of isotropy on the \({D}_{eff}\) for both diffusion phases. Two trends were obtained in the magnitude of the \({D}_{eff}\) concerning the change in isotropy: a) when the surface fraction is more significant than 50%, the \({D}_{eff}\) decreases linearly at the beginning and exponentially at the end of the isotropy change, which indicates that small changes in isotropy in the particulate material modify it drastically. b) When the surface fraction is less than 50%, the \({D}_{eff}\) decreases exponentially at the beginning and linearly at the end of the isotropy change, which shows that small isotropy changes in the bar-aligned material drastically alter it. The proposed methodology can be used as a design tool to improve the mass transport in porous PEMFC electrodes.
Investigation Of Marginal Bone Loss In Implants With Different Surface Properties And Geometric Designs: A Retrospective Clinical Study
Authors: KARABAĞ Mert , GÜMRÜKÇÜ Zeynep , BAYRAK Seval
Published: February 2024

Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of surface characteristics and geometric design on marginal bone loss and bone quality in dental implants.
Materials and Methods
A total of 378 implants from 114 patients were categorized into 19 subgroups according to the upper/lower jaw, implant length/diameter/surface preparation/neck design, type of prosthetic superstructure. Radiological evaluations were conducted on marginal bone loss and fractal analysis of the bone.
Results
Marginal bone loss was significantly higher in the maxilla compared to the mandible when considering the changes between jaws (p < 0.05). Analysis of variations among prosthetic superstructures revealed that implant-supported removable prostheses had the highest marginal bone loss (p < 0.05). Additionally, marginal bone loss was significantly lower in implants with coronal microthreads not exceeding 1 mm compared to those exceeding 1 mm (p < 0.05). Also the increase in fractal values was significantly higher in implants with coronal microthreads 1 mm compared to 3 mm.
Conslusion:
The geometric design of dental implants may have an impact on marginal bone loss, which is a determinant of long-term success. However, considering that marginal bone loss has a multifactorial etiology, further studies are needed to identify other potential factors contributing to marginal bone loss.
Clinical Revelance:
The geometric characteristics of the implant, such as length, diameter, microthread design, and the bone quality in the placement area of ​​the implant are related to the prognosis of the implant. Therefore, implant success can be increased by considering these factors during implant planning.
Association of selenium and selenoprotein-P with markers of systemic inflammation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Khademi Zeinab , Pourreza Sanaz , Hamedi-Shahraki Soudabeh , Amirkhizi Farshad
Published: February 2024

Backgrounds: Although the anti-inflammatory effects of Selenium (Se) have received significant attention, its contribution to systematic inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients has not been studied before. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the correlations between Se and Selenoprotein P (SELENOP) with inflammatory markers in women with PCOS.
Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from 125 females aged 18-45 diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam Consensus Criteria. Relevant questionnaires were used to gather necessary information on socio-demographic factors and physical activity. To assess systemic inflammation, the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and nuclear factor k-B (NF-kB) were measured.
Results: Serum Se levels were found to be inversely correlated with serum levels of IL-6 (r=-228, p=0.010), TNF-α (r=-236, p=0.008), and NF-кB p65 (r=-282, p=0.001). Additionally, there were significant inverse associations between serum SELENOP levels and IL-6 (r=-208, p=0.020), TNF-α (r=-279, p=0.002), and NF-кB p65 (r=-249, p=0.005) serum levels. No significant correlation was found between Se or SELENOP levels and hs-CRP or IL-1β.
Conclusions: In conclusion, serum levels of Se and SELENOP were inversely correlated with inflammatory markers. Future prospective cohort studies are advised to further assess these findings.
Healthy Tissue Metabolism Assessed by [18F]FDG PET/CT as a Marker of Prognosis and Adverse Events in Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients
Authors: Malaih Afnan A. , Kirkwood Amy A. , Johnson Peter , Radhakrishnan Vivek , Barrington Sally F. , Fischer Barbara M.
Published: February 2024

The aim of the study was to assess healthy tissue metabolism (HTM) using [18F]FDG-PET/CT during chemotherapy in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and the association of HTM with baseline metabolic tumour volume (MTV), haematological parameters, adverse events (AEs), early response and progression-free survival (PFS). We retrospectively identified 200 patients with advanced HL from the RATHL trial with PET/CT before (PET0) and following 2 cycles of chemotherapy (PET2). [18F]FDG-uptake was measured in bone marrow (BM), spleen, liver and mediastinal blood pool (MBP). Deauville score (DS)1-3 was used to classify responders and DS 4-5, non-responders. [18F]FDG-uptake decreased significantly in BM and spleen and increased in liver and MBP at PET2 (all p< 0.0001), but was not associated with MTV. BM uptake at PET0 was associated with lower baseline haemoglobin and higher absolute neutrophil counts, platelets and white blood cells. BM, spleen and liver uptake at PET0 was associated with neutropenia after cycles 1-2. BM uptake at PET0 was associated with treatment failure at PET2 and non-responders with higher BM uptake at PET2 had significantly inferior PFS (p = 0.006; hazard ratio = 2.31). Change in HTM during chemotherapy was most likely a direct impact of chemotherapy rather than a change in MTV. BM uptake has a prognostic value in HL.
Modulation of allograft immune responses by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide administration in a rat model of kidney transplantation
Authors: Sato Yu , Noguchi Hiroshi , Kubo Shinsuke , Kaku Keizo , Okabe Yasuhiro , Onishi Hideya , Nakamura Masafumi
Published: February 2024

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the periodontal tissues. Although it is associated with various systemic diseases, the impact of periodontitis on kidney transplantation (KT) outcomes, particularly allograft rejection, remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of periodontitis on transplant immunity, specifically examining Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS-PG). In vitro experiments revealed that LPS-PG increased regulatory T cells (Tregs) in Lewis rat spleen cells. In a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay, concentrations of interferon-γ, indicative of alloreactivity, were lower than controls when LPS-PG was added to the culture and when LPS-PG-administered Lewis rat spleen cells were used as responders. In a rat KT model, LPS-PG administration to recipients promoted mild tubulitis and low serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels 5 days post-KT compared with PBS-administered controls. Furthermore, LPS-PG-administered recipients had an elevated Treg proportion in their peripheral blood and spleen cells, and increased infiltrating Tregs in kidney allografts, compared with controls. The elevated Treg proportion in peripheral blood and spleen cells had a significant negative correlation with serum creatinine, suggesting elevated Tregs modulated allograft rejection. These findings suggest that periodontitis might modulate alloimmune reactivity through LPS-PG and Tregs, offering insights to refine immunosuppressive strategies for KT recipients.
The Main Features of Transformed Seawater Penetration in the Dniester River Mouth at Surges Caused by Storm Winds
Authors: Tuchkovenkо Yurii , Loboda Nataliia , Ovcharuk Valeriya
Published: February 2024

The article considers the possibility of brackish water rising from the Dniester Estuary up the Dniester River mouth, where Station “Dniester” supplies potable water to Odesa City and the intake point of the Lower Dniester Irrigation System is located. The study is topical as the brackish water threatens the quality of drinking and irrigation water at the intake waters. The purpose of the work has been to use hydrodynamic modelling to establish the hydro-meteorological conditions under which the transformed sea water from the Dniester Estuary could enter the mouth part of the Dniester. It has been established that the following conditions are to be met for the transformed marine water to rise into the estuarine arms of the Dniester River: (1) average daily river discharge decrease below 100 m3/sec; (2) domination of surge wind from south or south-east at a speed exceeding 15 m/sec for several days. Under such conditions, the transformed marine water rises from the estuary upstream into the Dniester River mouth through the right arm, the Glybokyi Turunchuk, and then, having reached the place where the main river channel divides into two arms, the estuarine water is driven into the left arm - the Dniester and, by it comes back to the estuary. The case described in the article could be used by experts as an example when identifying effective hydro-engineering measures to prevent transformed sea water penetration in river mouth by building a second estuarine canal (branch).
Host-Guest Complexation-Induced Chirality Switching of Pillararenes by Perylene Diimide-Based Hexagonal Metallacages
Authors: Zhang Mingming , Hou Yali , Mu Chaoqun , Shi Yunzhi , Zhang Zeyuan , Liu Haifei , Zhou Zilin , Chen Wei-Peng , Guo Chenxing , Ling Sanliang , Shi Bingbing , Duan Xianglong , Yang Cheng
Published: February 2024

Chirality in confined nanospaces has brought some new insights on chirality transfer, amplification and chiroptical properties. However, chirality switching, which is a common phenomenon in biological systems, has never been realized in confined environments. Herein, we report a type of hexagonal metallacages which shows good host-guest interactions with ethoxy pillar[5]arene, pillar[6]arene, as confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Importantly, when a chiral pillar[5]arene-based molecular universal joint (MUJ) is used as the guest, the host-guest complexation would drive the alkyl ring of the MUJ flip from outside to inside the cavity of its pillar[5]arene unit, which enables the configuration change along with the chirality inversion of the MUJ. Moreover, the host-guest complexation facilitates the chirality transfer from guests to hosts, giving circularly polarized luminescence for the system. This study provides a unique metallacage-pillararene recognition motif for the chirality switching of planar chiral pillararenes, which will promote the construction of host-guest systems with tunable chirality for advanced applications.
RETRACTED: Investigating the Cytotoxicity and Safety Profile of 9,12- Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z)-, methyl ester: Implications for Potential Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Abulila Hend. I. , Sabry Shadia M.
Published: February 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
A novel homozygous RHOH variant associated with T cell dysfunction and recurrent opportunistic infections
Authors: Zhou Jingyu , Qian Mengqing , Jiang Ning , Wu Jing , Feng Xiaoqian , Yu Meiping , Min Qing , Xu Haoxin , Yang Yixuan , Yang Qingluan , Zhou Feiran , Shao Lingyun , Zhu Haoxiang , Yang Yun , Wang Ji-Yang , Ruan Qiaoling , Zhang Wenhong
Published: February 2024

RHOH, an atypical small GTPase predominantly expressed in hematopoietic cells, plays a vital role in immune function. A deficiency in RHOH has been linked to epidermodysplasia verruciformis, lung disease, Burkitt lymphoma and T cell defects. Here, we report a novel germline homozygous RHOH c.245G > A (p.Cys82Tyr) variant in a 21-year-old male suffering from recurrent, invasive, opportunistic infections affecting the lungs, eyes, and brain. His sister also succumbed to a lung infection during early adulthood. The patient exhibited a persistent decrease in CD4+ T, B, and NK cell counts, and hypoimmunoglobulinemia. Despite normal RHOH mRNA levels in his family, the patient’s T cell showed impaired activation upon in vitro TCR stimulation. In Jurkat T cells transduced with RHOHC82Y, a similar reduction in CD69 activation marker up-regulation was observed. However, ectopic expression of the C82Y variant did not exhibit a negative dominance over wild type RHOH. Furthermore, the C82Y variant showed reduced RHOH protein expression and impaired interaction with the TCR signaling molecule ZAP70. Together, these data suggest that the newly identified autosomal-recessive RHOH variant is associated with T cell dysfunction and recurrent opportunistic infections, functioning as a hypomorph by disrupting ZAP70-mediated TCR signaling.
Safety evaluation of a potential anti-rheumatoid arthritis candidate, levamisole
Authors: Wang Jun-Xiang , Zhang Jia Hui , Guo Mu , Huang Wei Rui , Zheng Han Lu , Liao Yi Qi , Yan Ying Xue , Lin Zhao Long , Qiu Neng Fu , Yu Xiang-Bin , Yu Yue
Published: February 2024

Backgrounds: Levamisole (LVM) is a non-specific immunomodulator with potential for treating skin conditions, tumors, and autoimmune disorders. However, the widespread reports of neurotoxicity caused by LVM as a cutting agent for cocaine have led to public panic and restricted its clinical use.
Methods: To investigate the potential toxicity of LVM and evaluate its effects in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we conducted a 28-day oral administration study in SD rats, and assessed general toxicity and neurotoxicity via serum biochemical indicators, the Morris water maze test, transmission electron microscopy, and H&E staining. Subsequently, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of LVM on RA.
Results: In the LVM toxicity study, there were no significant differences in the histopathological slices, serum biochemical tests, and behavioral experiments of the treatment group compared to the control group; in the study of treating RA, LVM not only significantly improved the bone and joint erosion in rats induced by adjuvant, but also significantly reduced synovial hyperplasia and infiltration of inflammatory cells
Conclusions: This study showed that LVM has promising therapeutic effects in treating RA with negligible toxicity, and offer valuable insights for the clinical use of LVM in treating RA.
The study of variations in groundwater occurrence influencing the migration characteristics of LNAPL
Authors: Suo Kui , Zhao Ming Dong , Liu Yu , Liu Hong Wei
Published: February 2024

LNAPL (Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid) contamination has consistently attracted attention, and understanding its migration characteristics can provide valuable insights for remediating soil pollution.This study employs a combination of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and direct observation to investigate the migration mechanisms and rates of LNAPL under three conditions: unsaturated media, constant groundwater level, and declining groundwater level.The findings indicate that groundwater is a crucial factor influencing the migration of LNAPL.Under unsaturated media conditions, the initial migration rate is the fastest. In the presence of a constant water level, the average migration rate is the slowest, exhibiting a linear decreasing trend. The migration is fastest during declining groundwater levels, and under the influence of three-phase coupling, LNAPL migration rates oscillate.The use of ERT can meet the observational accuracy at the laboratory scale, enabling the visualization of the migration process of LNAPL within the subsurface medium.
Analysis of Solutions for a Class of (p1(x), ..., pn(x))-Laplacian Systems with Hardy potentials
Authors: Hamdani Mohamed Karim , Kefi Khaled , Liu Jian
Published: February 2024

In this current work, we examine a (p1(x), ..., pn(x))-Laplacian system with Hardy potentials. We establish the existence of at least one non-zero critical point and at least three distinct critical points to this system from an abstract critical point result of Bonanno-Candito-D’Agu´ı [Adv. Nonlinear Stud. 14 (4), 915-939 (2014)] and a recent three critical points theorem of Bonanno-Marano [Appl. Anal. 89 1-10 (2010)]. This article represents, as far as we are aware, one of the first efforts towards the study of the (p1(x), ..., pn(x))-Laplacian systems with Hardy potentials, in which the nonlinearity in Ω may change sign. Furthermore, we provide an example to illustrate our main conclusions.
MSI2 regulates NLK-mediated EMT and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to promote pancreatic cancer progression
Authors: Huang Longping , Sun Jian , Ma Yuteng , Chen He , Tian Chen , Dong Ming
Published: February 2024

Background: The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing by years, and the 5-year survival rate is very low. Our team have revealed that Musashi2 (MSI2) could promote aggressive behaviors in pancreatic cancer by downregulating Numb and p53. MSI2 also facilitates EMT in pancreatic cancer induced by EGF through the ZEB1-ERK/MAPK signaling pathway. This study aims to further explore the molecular mechanisms of MSI2-regulated downstream pathways in pancreatic cancer.
Methods: In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to investigate the role and mechanism of MSI2 in promoting malignant behaviors of pancreatic cancer through regulation of NLK.
Results: Genes closely related to MSI2 were screened from the GEPIA and TCGA databases. We found that NLK showed the most significant changes in mRNA levels with consistent changes following MSI2 interference and overexpression. The high correlation between MSI2 and NLK was also observed at the protein level. Multivariate analysis revealed that both MSI2 and NLK were independent adverse indicators of survival in pancreatic cancer patients, as well as join together. In vitro, silencing or overexpressing NLK altered cell invasion and migration, by regulating EMT and the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. Silencing MSI2 reduced protein expression in the EMT and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways, leading to decreased cell invasion and migration abilities, while these effects could be reversed by overexpression of NLK. In vivo, MSI2 silencing inhibited liver metastasis, which could be reversed by overexpressing NLK.
Conclusions: Our findings elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of the MSI2-NLK axis in modulating aggressive behaviors of pancreatic cancer cells, which providing new evidence for therapeutic strategies in pancreatic cancer.
Sexual Dysfunction and Its Impact on Quality of Life among Female Haematological Cancer Patients: A Cross- Sectional Study in Malaysia
Authors: Gan Gin-Gin , Ng Diana-Leh-Ching , Kerishnan Jesinda Pauline , Ng Chong-Guan
Published: February 2024

Background:
Sexual function (SD) and quality of life (QoL) are significantly impacted by cancer and its treatments. However, information on sexual function is scarce, particularly among female patients with underlying haematological malignancies in Asia. This study aims to determine the prevalence of SD in these patients, identify associated factors, and examine their effects on QoL.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study, conducted in Malaysia from 2014–2016, involved female patients with haematological malignancies who were on active treatment or had completed active treatment. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained through patients interviews and medical records. Sexual functions were assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index, psychological aspects with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and health-related QoL using the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 version 3.0 questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS software.
Results:
Of the 89 patients recruited, 82% reported SD. Significant associations were found between SD and menopause (OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 1.60-20.34; p = 0.007) and higher HADS-depression score (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.14–2.21; p = 0.006). Patients with SD exhibited lower median scores in Global Health Status/ QoL (QL2) (66.7 [IQR 33.3] vs. 91.7 [IQR 33.3], p = 0.009), role function (83.3 [IQR 33.3] vs. 100 [IQR 16.7], p = 0.033), cognitive function (83.3 [IQR 25.0] vs. 100 [IQR 16.7]) and pain (33.3 [IQR 33.3] vs. 0 [IQR 16.7]). Weak positive correlations were observed between FSFI score and QL2 (Rs = 0.252, p = 0.018), and cognitive function (Rs = 0.237, p = 0.026), while a moderate positive correlation was found with role function (Rs = 0.315, p = 0.003).
Conclusions:
SD is highly prevalent in female patients with haematological cancers, significantly impacting QoL, and this needs to be addressed accordingly.