bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building A hybrid Time Series Model Using ARDL With LSTM and GRU Models
Authors: Yahya Abd Tabarak , A. Mohammed Almohana Firas
Published: December 2024

Purpose: The aim of the research is to utilize a hybrid model that combines the linear model represented by Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and the nonlinear model represented by deep learning models, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU).
Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework integrates the linear component represented by the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and the nonlinear component represented by deep learning models, namely Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) To create hybrid models.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The research methodology involves the use of EVIEWS 12 for analyzing standard data and integrating the ARDL model, as well as Python programming for building the proposed forecasting models. Weekly data from the Iraqi stock market, specifically from the banking and communications sectors spanning from 2017 to 2021, is utilized. The study compares the performance of the hybrid models ARDL_LSTM and ARDL_GRU with individual models using evaluation metrics such as root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE).
Findings: The results indicate the superiority of the hybrid model ARDL_LSTM over other models due to its high accuracy and lower comparison measurement values.
Originality/Value: The originality of the research lies in its hybrid approach, combining ARDL with deep learning models like LSTM and GRU for time series forecasting. This approach adds value by addressing the limitations of individual models and improving forecasting accuracy in the context of the Iraqi stock market.
Hubungan Tingkat Pengetahuan Terhadap Sikap Orang dengan HIV/AIDS pada Oral Hairy Leukoplakia dan Kandidiasis Oral
Authors: Radithia Desiana , Ernawati Diah Savitri , Surboyo Meircurius Dwi Condro , Ayuningtyas Nurina Febriyanti , Mahdani Fatma Yasmin , Pratiwi Aulya Setyo , Sismiyanti Rossy , Kuntardjo Yuhanna , Puspitasari Yeni
Published: December 2024

Pendahuluan: HIV/AIDS telah menjadi masalah kesehatan masyarakat global. Infeksi HIV dapat menyebabkan gangguan kekebalan tubuh dan bermanifestasi di beberapa tempat baik secara sistemik maupun di rongga mulut. Manifestasi oral yang paling umum terkait dengan HIV/AIDS adalah Kandidiasis Oral dan Oral Hairy Leukoplakia. Sebagai orang yang hidup dengan HIV/AIDS (ODHIV) mungkin menemukan manifestasi tersebut, pengetahuan mereka dapat menentukan sikap mereka terhadap temuan tersebut.Tujuan Penelitian: Mengamati sikap ODHIV di kota Surabaya terhadap dua manifestasi oral HIV yang paling umum ditemukan, yaitu Oral Hairy Leukoplakia dan Kandidiasis Oral, serta menentukan hubungan antara pengetahuan dan sikap mereka terhadap hal tersebut. Bahan dan Metode: Sebanyak 30 responden diberikan kuesioner untuk menilai pengetahuan dan sikap mereka mengenai Oral Hairy Leukoplakia dan Kandidiasis Oral. Pengetahuan didefinisikan dengan kriteria baik, cukup, dan rendah. Sikap didefinisikan sebagai positif, netral, dan negatif. Hasil: Tingkat pengetahuan mengenai Oral Hairy Leukoplakia dan Kandidiasis  Oral menunjukkan hasil tinggi (33%), sedang (54%) dan rendah (13%). Responden menunjukkan sikap positif (30%) dan sikap tidak setuju (27%), sedangkan netral (43%). Terdapat hubungan positif yang signifikan antara tingkat pengetahuan responden dengan sikap mereka (p = 0,46). Kesimpulan: Terdapat hubungan antara pengetahuan yang baik dengan sikap positif pada masyarakat.
PREVALENCE OF FIXED PARTIAL DENTURE COMPLICATIONS: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: Khan Munir , Hussain Tahira , Zaffar Kiran , Uzair Pir
Published: December 2024

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of issues among patients who visit Bacha Khan College of Dentistry in Mardan after receiving fi xed partial dentures.Materials and Methods: The study comprised 157 participants with fixed partial dentures of both sexes. After three months, all patients were evaluated, and problems such as cavities, the need for endodontic therapy, and retention loss were identified. The statistical analysis employed the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality. Results: The study included participants aged 18 to 50, with an average age of 44.337±4.14 years and a procedure time of 38.484±6.88 minutes. 51.6% of the patients were women, while 48.4% were men. 44.6% of patients had cavities, 21% required endodontic treatment, and 34.4% had lost their retainer.Conclusion: This study demonstrates how biological issues often occur with permanent partial dentures, particularly in abutment teeth. It highlights the signifi cance of timely post-treatment intervention and continuous observation. The highlighted concerns can be reduced, and patient outcomes can be improved by implementing enhanced follow-up procedures and patient education on oral hygiene and fixed partial denture care.
Experience Open to Interpretation: US Presidents and Economic Coercion
Authors: Walentek Dawid
Published: December 2024

Research offers a conflicting account of the effect of economic sanctions on the popularity of political leaders. Yet, literature on beliefs formation signals that leaders may be susceptible to confirmation bias in respect to audience effects of sanctions. In this article, I develop a formal model of behaviour of political leaders in respect to sanctions in an environment where signals are open to interpretation. I test the theory using an event study design and data on approval ratings of US presidents. I observe an anticipation effect for US presidents, with lower approval ratings prior to imposition of economic sanctions.
Hydrogel systems for spatiotemporal controlled delivery of immunomodulators: engineering the tumor immune microenvironment for enhanced cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Liu Yanting , Liu Fang , Zeng Yan , Lin Liangbin , Yu Hui , Zhang Sunfu , Yang Wenyong
Published: December 2024

Tumor immunotherapy, modulating innate and adaptive immunity, has become an important therapeutic strategy. However, the tumor immune microenvironment’s (TIME) complexity and heterogeneity challenge tumor immunotherapy. Hydrogel is a hydrophilic three-dimensional (3D) mesh structure with good biocompatibility and drug release control, which is widely used in drug delivery, agriculture, industry, etc. Hydrogels loaded with immune cells, cytokines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and anti-tumor drugs can achieve targeted delivery and ultimately activate the immune response in the TIME. In this review, we will summarize the components of the TIME and their immune effects, the emerging immunomodulatory agents, the characteristics and functions of hydrogels, and how hydrogels regulate innate and adaptive immune cells in the TIME.
Association between “Life's Essential 8” cardiovascular health and apparent treatment-resistant hypertension among US adults from the NHANES, 2005 to 2018
Authors: Xu Zhong-jiao , Shen Ru-ming , Hu Wu-ming , Shen Jia-yi , Wu Xiao-yan , Lv Ling-chun
Published: December 2024

Background

The association between healthy lifestyle and American Heart Association (AHA) Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score and apparent treatment-resistant hypertension(aTRH)remains uncertain. We aimed to explore the association between healthy lifestyle and higher LE8 score and apparent treatment-resistant hypertension in the general population.

Methods

Using NHANES data from 2005 to 2018, we included and analyzed information on 7,474 participants eligible for this study. The association between LE8 and aTRH was explored using logistic regression models, and the association between LE8 and antihypertension drugs uncontrolled hypertension was further explored using logistic regression models.

Results

Participants with higher LE8 scores tended to be non-Hispanic white and married or living with a partner; have low income and higher education; and be without Chronic kidney disease (CKD)(all p-values <0.001). Compared to subjects with low CVH, participants with moderate and high CVH exhibited lower risks of 47% and 76%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, there was no evidence of a nonlinear association between LE8 and aTRH (p for nonlinearity = 0.456). Physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), and blood glucose were associated with aTRH (all p-values < 0.05), while diet, nicotine exposure, sleep, and blood lipids were not significantly associated with aTRH. Compared to the low LE8 group, the ORs for the high LE8 group were 0.46 (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.76) and 0.07 (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.20) for uncontrolled hypertension with 1–2 and 3–4 antihypertensive drugs, respectively. In the sensitivity analysis, subgroup analyses were performed on all covariates, and the results remained stable.

Conclusion

In our study, we found a significant association between higher LE8 scores and a lower risk of aTRH. Our findings suggest that implementing various healthy lifestyle practices and managing known cardiovascular risk factors could be a feasible comprehensive preventive approach to aTRH.
Predicting student self-efficacy in Muslim societies using machine learning algorithms
Authors: Ba-Aoum Mohammed , Alrezq Mohammed , Datta Jyotishka , Triantis Konstantinos P.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Self-efficacy is a critical determinant of students' academic success and overall life outcomes. Despite its recognized importance, research on predictors of self-efficacy using machine learning models remains limited, particularly within Muslim societies. This study addresses this gap by leveraging advanced machine learning techniques to analyze key factors influencing students' self-efficacy.

Methods

An empirical dataset collected was used to examine self-efficacy among secondary school students in Muslim societies. Four machine learning algorithms-Decision Tree, Random Forest, XGBoost, and Neural Network-were employed to predict self-efficacy using two demographic variables and 10 socio-emotional, cognitive, and regulatory factors. The predictors included culturally relevant variables such as religious/spiritual beliefs and collectivist-individualist orientation. Model performance was assessed using root mean square error (RMSE) and r-squared (R2) metrics to ensure reliability and validity.

Results

The results showed that Random Forest outperformed the other models in accuracy, as measured by R2 and RMSE metrics. Among the predictors, self-regulation, problem-solving, and a sense of belonging emerged as the most significant factors, contributing to more than half of the model's predictive power. Other variables such as gratitude, forgiveness, empathy, and meaning-making displayed moderate predictive value, while gender, emotion regulation, and collectivist-individualist orientation had minimal impact. Notably, religious/spiritual beliefs and regional factors showed negligible influence on self-efficacy predictions.

Discussion

This study enhances the understanding of factors influencing self-efficacy among students in Muslim societies and offers a data-driven foundation for developing targeted educational interventions. The findings highlight the utility of machine learning in education research, demonstrating its ability to uncover insights for equitable and effective decision-making. By emphasizing the importance of regulatory and socio-emotional factors, this research provides actionable insights to elevate student performance and well-being in diverse cultural contexts.
The application of machine learning algorithms for predicting length of stay before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from Wuhan-area hospitals
Authors: Liu Yang , Liang Renzhao , Zhang Chengzhi
Published: December 2024

Objective

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented strain on healthcare systems, mainly due to the highly variable and challenging to predict patient length of stay (LOS). This study aims to identify the primary factors impacting LOS for patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This study collected electronic medical record data from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. We employed six machine learning algorithms to predict the probability of LOS.

Results

After implementing variable selection, we identified 35 variables affecting the LOS for COVID-19 patients to establish the model. The top three predictive factors were out-of-pocket amount, medical insurance, and admission deplanement. The experiments conducted showed that XGBoost (XGB) achieved the best performance. The MAE, RMSE, and MAPE errors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic are lower than 3% on average for household registration in Wuhan and non-household registration in Wuhan.

Conclusions

Research finds machine learning is reasonable in predicting LOS before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study offers valuable guidance to hospital administrators for planning resource allocation strategies that can effectively meet the demand. Consequently, these insights contribute to improved quality of care and wiser utilization of scarce resources.
Study on lateral friction resistance of concrete pouring structure in coral reef limestone formation
Authors: Zhang Yongtao , Zhang Ruiyuan , Chen Peishuai , Ji Fuquan , Luo Huiwu , Liu Enlong
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the effects of interface shape and bonding conditions on the side friction resistance of the cast-in-place pile in coral reef limestone stratum of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge area. Large-scale direct shear tests are performed on the coral reef limestone-concrete interface to investigate the exertion mechanism of interfacial strength. A finite-discrete element coupling method (FDEM) is employed to develop a constitutive model for coral reef limestone. A numerical calculation method for the side friction resistance capacity of pile foundations in coral reef limestone strata is proposed based on the bearing characteristics of side friction resistance in pile-coral reef limestone interactions. The shear tests on seven shapes of pile-rock interfaces indicate that bonding condition is the primary factor influencing interface strength, while interface shape has a minimal impact. The cement slurry fills the pores to form an interface reinforcement that possesses a strength greater than that of the coral reef limestone. The computational results from the constitutive model of coral reef limestone match well with the laboratory test results, demonstrating that the FDEM can effectively simulate the effects of high porosity and bonding strength on the mechanical properties of coral reef limestone. The FDEM-based numerical results for the interface strength between cast-in-place pile and coral reef limestone exhibit good consistency with the laboratory shear test results, which validates the effectiveness and accuracy of the numerical calculation method for side friction resistance of cast-in-place pile in coral reef limestone strata. These findings can provide valuable reference for the design and construction of pile foundations in marine island and reef projects.
Effect of behavior-specific praise on student on-task behavior in career and technical education
Authors: Hogg Jennifer A. , Royer David James , Newton Nicholas A. , Priddy Amber
Published: December 2024

Behavior-specific praise (BSP) is a low-intensity strategy used to reinforce positive behaviors, including student academic engagement in school settings. In this study, we leveraged a single training on BSP for a career and technical education (CTE) teacher in a suburban Southeast high school to determine effects on student on-task behavior. Using an A-B-A-B withdrawal design, we observed the teacher’s rate of general praise and BSP statements, and the percentage of 1-min momentary time sampling intervals with on-task behavior of four high school students. The general education CTE teacher increased his rate of BSP, and all four students increased on-task behavior during intervention phases. Social validity questionnaires identified a positive impression from students and teacher about implementing BSP in the classroom. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Predicting nuclear power plant operational parameters using clustering and mutual information for feature selection and Transformer neural network optimized by TPE
Authors: Tuo Yanjie , Liu Xiaojing
Published: December 2024

Introduction

In the domain of nuclear power plant operations, accurately and rapidly predicting future states is crucial for ensuring safety and efficiency. Data-driven methods are becoming increasingly important for nuclear power plant parameter forecasting. While Transformer neural networks have emerged as powerful tools due to their self-attention mechanisms and ability to capture long-range dependencies, their application in the nuclear energy field remains limited and their capabilities largely untested. Additionally, Transformer models are highly sensitive to data complexity, presenting challenges for model development and computational efficiency.

Methods

This study proposes a feature selection method that integrates clustering and mutual information techniques to reduce the dimensionality of training data before applying Transformer models. By identifying key physical quantities from large datasets, we refine the data used for training a Transformer model, which is then optimized using the Tree-structured Parzen Estimator algorithm.

Results

Applying this method to a dataset for predicting a shutdown condition of a nuclear power plant, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed “feature selection + Transformer” approach: (1) The Transformer model achieved high accuracy in predicting nuclear power plant parameters, with key physical quantities such as temperature, pressure, and water level attaining a normalized root mean squared error below 0.009, indicating that the RMSE is below 0.9% of the range of the original data, reflecting a very small prediction error. (2) The feature selection method effectively reduced input data dimensionality with minimal impact on model accuracy.

Discussion

The results demonstrate that the proposed clustering and mutual information-based method provides an effective feature selection strategy that encapsulates operational information of the plant.
Spatial heterogeneity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollution in surface soil of China and its response to regional energy consumption
Authors: Chen Kun , Shen He , Zang Shuying , Sun Li
Published: December 2024

The regional variation of energy structure in China is a significant contributor to the geographic distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils, posing a substantial risk to food safety and human health. However, the precise mechanisms and extent to which energy consumption influences the spatial variability of PAHs remain largely unknown. To address this research gap, PAHs data in surface soils across China screened from 155 literatures between 2003 and 2022, coupled with anthropogenic indicators were used to investigate the concentrations, sources, and spatial heterogeneity of the effects of energy consumption on PAHs. Total PAH concentrations exhibited a range of four orders of magnitude from 1.05 to 6,778 μg kg−1, indicating weak to heavy contamination and exhibiting strong spatial variability influenced by human factors. Furthermore, 3–4-ring PAHs were dominant, accounting for an average of 25.07% and 38.55%, respectively, reflecting the significant role of coal in China energy consumption and the associated coal-smoke pollution as a primary factor in ecological environment destruction. The spatial distributions of mean total PAH concentrations descended in the order of Northeast China > North China > Central China > East China > Northwest China > Southwest China > South China, with different PAH composition profiles among regions affected by energy consumption. The geographical weighted regression (GWR) model was used to explore the spatial heterogeneity of energy factors affecting on PAH concentrations. Natural gas, oil, and coal were identified as energy sources with a significant positive correlation to PAH pollution. This indicated that combustion and traffic sources were the primary contributors to PAHs in surface soil in China, with coal, natural gas combustion, and oil consumption identified as the principal energy factors influencing PAH concentrations. The results of this study provide a foundation for future efforts to prevent and control soil pollution.
Effect of social play deprivation on stress sensitivity in response to social and non-social challenges
Authors: Achterberg E. J. Marijke , Lozeman-van ‘t Klooster Jose G. , Pimentel Tara C. , Aleksić Anastasija , Hendriks Judith C. M. J. , Nijhof Sanne , van der Ent C. Kors , Lesscher Heidi M. B.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Social play behaviour facilitates the development of social, emotional and cognitive capacities, including resilience. Deprivation of social play in rats leads to alterations in anxiety, stress and social behaviour. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of social play deprivation, specifically on the responsivity to social and non-social challenges. We hypothesised that play deprivation leads to impairments in stress resilience later in life, particularly in social contexts.

Methods

To test this, play-deprived rats were compared with undeprived control rats for their responsivity to (1) a novel environment, (2) facing an aggressive male rat in its territory (resident-intruder test) and (3) an encounter with two unfamiliar conspecifics in a neutral, familiar environment (stranger encounter test).

Results

Corticosterone concentrations in response to these different stressors were comparable between play-deprived and control rats. Behavioural analysis revealed that play-deprived rats responded similar to undeprived controls when confronted with an aggressive rat in its territory. In the stranger encounter test, the unfamiliar strangers directed more play behaviour towards play-deprived animals than towards undeprived control animals.

Discussion

Together our results indicate that, except for subtle differences in play behaviour in a social challenging condition, play deprivation did not result in altered corticosterone responses to the different stressors. Our data add to the existing knowledge about the impact of social play for the development of resilient and social behaviour later in life.
Decadal changes in species composition of rare oak Quercus chungii forests with logging history
Authors: Li Wenbin , Zhong Xueer , Li Zhenji , Huang Yonghui , Chen Xinfeng , Huang Lihan , Wang Ya , Chen Yuxin
Published: December 2024

Quercus chungii is a tree species endemic to subtropical areas of China, rare and endangered in Fujian Province. Minqing Huangchulin National Nature Reserve was specifically established to preserve Q. chungii forests with severe logging history. How the composition of Q. chungii communities changed after the initiation of this conservation practice remains unknown. Understanding the successional trajectories of Q. chungii communities is crucial for conserving and restoring Q. chungii forests and similar secondary forests with logging history in subtropical areas. In this study, we assessed how species and phylogenetic composition of Q. chungii communities changed, and whether these temporal trajectories were primarily contributed by stochastic processes. We established two sites composed by Q. chungii adult trees in the nature reserve in 2013, and measured their species composition in 2013 and 2023, respectively. We found that the communities undergone significant species replacement and reordering from 2013 to 2023, thus leading to high temporal β diversity. These temporal changes in community composition were primarily the results of deterministic ecological processes based on the results of null model analyses. A larger contribution from nestedness than turnover to the temporal β diversity suggested that the change in species richness caused by the loss or gain of species was more important than species turnover in driving the compositional change. A larger contribution from balanced abundance variations than abundance gradient to the temporal β diversity suggested that there was no significant consistent increase or decrease in species abundance during this decade. The target species Q. chungii significantly increased in abundance and basal area, making this species rank among one of the most dominant species in the communities after a decade, indicating the effectiveness of the nature reserve in conserving Q. chungii communities. However, the over-reliance on resprouts may reduce the genetic diversity and increase the risks from natural enemies, thus limiting the future development of Q. chungii. We conclude that although Q. chungii communities undergone rapid recovery from logging disturbance, continuing efforts in studying its population structures and dynamics and their driving factors are crucial for restoring and conserving Q. chungii communities.
Population assessment, distributional pattern and ethnomedicinal significance of Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo: an endangered species of the Himalayan region
Authors: Thakar Anil , Dave Deeksha
Published: December 2024

Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo, a perennial medicinal plant found in the sub-alpine and alpine zones of the Himalayas (2800–4,500 m), is critically endangered due its overharvesting and habitat degradation. The present study aimed at quantifying the population status, distribution, impact of anthropogenic disturbances and ethnobotanical applications of D. hatagirea in the Paddar Valley of North-western Himalaya. The research findings indicate the total density and frequency of 0.83 plants m−2 and 29.9%, respectively, which is comparatively lower than its associated 99 species belonging to 37 families. Observed decline in density, frequency, Importance Value Index (IVI) and spatial extent between 2022 and 2024, underscore the impact of habitat loss, over grazing and exploitation on the species. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) shows that the environmental factors like soil type and moisture, slope and aspect influence the distribution of D. hatagirea across the study sites. Correlation analysis reveals a positive relationship between species density and elevation, with optimal growth occurring at 3500–4000 m on moist, northeast facing slopes (r = 0.987). The well-drained, sandy and loamy soil with average moisture content was found to be more suitable for the species growth as compared to clayey soil. Regarding ethnobotanical value the research findings revealed that out of the 102 informants surveyed, 75% were aware of its medicinal properties, primarily using the tuberous roots to treat stomach ailments and enhance libido. However, 45% of respondents identified unsustainable utilization as a major threat, while 27% pointed to additional pressures from immature plant harvesting for its illegal trade and livestock grazing. These findings provide essential insights for decision makers regarding policy development and the involvement of local community for the conservation of D. hatagirea and related medicinal species in this ecologically sensitive region.
Systemic inflammatory regulators and age-related macular degeneration: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Liu Xi , Cao Yu , Wang Ying , Kang Lihua , Zhang Guowei , Zhang Junfang , Qin Bai , Yang Ling , Luo Jiawei , Li Pengfei , Geng Wenjing , Ji Min , Guan Huaijin
Published: December 2024

Introduction

We investigated the relationship between systematic regulators of inflammation and the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), both wet and dry forms, by using bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods

We performed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis using genome-wide study (GWAS) data for 91 plasma proteins from 14,824 individuals of European descent across 11 study groups. Next, we utilized data from the FinnGen consortium to study AMD using the inverse- variance-weighted approach for Mendelian randomization. Additional analyses involved MR-Egger, Weighted median, Weighted mode, MR-PRESSO, and MR- Steiger filtering techniques.

Results

We identified 16 cytokines associated AMD outcomes and post FDR correction, higher levels of fibroblast growth factor 19 and leukemia inhibitory factor receptor were associated with decreased risk for AMD, while higher levels of tumour necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 14 were associated with increased risk for AMD. Additionally, higher levels of interleukin-10 receptor subunit alpha were associated with decreased risk for wet AMD, higher levels of leukemia inhibitory factor receptor were associated with decreased risk for dry AMD, and higher levels of signaling lymphocytic activation molecule were associated with increased risk for dry AMD. Genetic susceptibility to AMD was associated with elevated levels of TNF-related activation-induced cytokines (TNFSF11), and genetic susceptibility to wet AMD was associated with elevated levels of TNFSF11, interleukin-18 receptor 1 (IL18R1), and CUB domain-containing protein 1 (CDCP1).

Discussion

This research enhances our understanding of systemic inflammation in AMD, providing insights into etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AMD and its forms.
Husband involvement in postnatal care services utilization and associated factors in Bishoftu Town, Central Ethiopia; community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Gesisa Hana Israel , Oyato Befekadu Tesfaye , Sileshi Warkitu , Abasimel Husen Zakir , Hussien Dursa
Published: December 2024

Background

Both mothers and newborns go through a critical time in their lives during the postnatal period, and the majority of deaths of mothers and neonates happen during this period. Postnatal care is the care given to women and their neonates, starting from delivery to 42 postnatal days. Although the significance of postnatal care in maternal and child health is acknowledged, the influence of husbands in either facilitating or impeding access to these services has been largely unexplored. So it's important to find out husbands’ involvement in postnatal care service utilization in Bishoftu town.

Objectives

To assess husband involvement in postnatal care services utilization and associated factors in Bishoftu town, Central Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Bishoftu town, central Ethiopia, between April 1 and 27, 2022, among 624 fathers. After being selected through simple random sampling, 610 husbands were interviewed face-to-face. The data was then entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Binary logistic regression was employed for analysis and variables with a p-value ≤0.2 in the bivariate analysis were entered into multivariable logistic regression analysis. In multivariable analysis, statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05.

Results

This study reveals that overall husband involvement in postnatal care utilization was found to be 34.1% with a 95% CI (30.3%–38.0%). Residing in urban areas (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.39–3.82), having good knowledge of neonatal (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI 2.04–4.7) and maternal danger signs and complications during the postnatal period (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.64, 3.63), having history of child illness (AOR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.4–3.3), and accompanying wife in antenatal care services (AOR = 2.73, 95% CI 1.82–4.07) were the factors found to determine husband's involvement in postnatal care service utilization.

Conclusion

The level of husband involvement in their spouse's postnatal care service utilization was relatively low in this study. Encouraging husbands to participate in prenatal care services, availing healthcare facilities to rural communities, and increasing community awareness of maternal and neonatal warning signs might boost husbands’ involvement in postnatal care services utilization.
Single chain fragment variable, a new theranostic approach for cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Zahid Rukhshan , Wang Juncheng , Cai Zecheng , Ishtiaq Ayesha , Liu Meng , Ma Dan , Liang Yan , Xu Yuekang
Published: December 2024

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a significant global health challenge, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite recent advancements in CVD management, pharmaceutical treatments often suffer from poor pharmacokinetics and high toxicity. With the rapid progress of modern molecular biology and immunology, however, single-chain fragment variable (scFv) molecule engineering has emerged as a promising theranostic tool to offer specificity and versatility in targeting CVD-related antigens. To represent the latest development on the potential of scFv in the context of CVDs, this review summarized the new mechanism of action and applications as therapeutic, as well as diagnostic agents. Furthermore, the advantages of scFv, including its small size, ease of modification, and ability to be engineered for enhanced affinity and specificity, are also described. Finally, such challenges as immunogenicity, stability, and scalability, alongside strategies to overcome these hurdles, are deeply scrutinized to provide safer and more effective strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of the incurable CVDs.
The potential therapeutic role of melatonin in organ fibrosis: a comprehensive review
Authors: Huang Wei , Zheng Juan , Wang Ming , Du Ling-Yao , Bai Lang , Tang Hong
Published: December 2024

Organ fibrosis is a pathological process characterized by the inability of normal tissue cells to regenerate sufficiently to meet the dynamic repair demands of chronic injury, resulting in excessive extracellular matrix deposition and ultimately leading to organ dysfunction. Despite the increasing depth of research in the field of organ fibrosis and a more comprehensive understanding of its pathogenesis, effective treatments for fibrosis-related diseases are still lacking. Melatonin, a neuroendocrine hormone synthesized by the pineal gland, plays a crucial role in regulating biological rhythms, sleep, and antioxidant defenses. Recent studies have shown that melatonin may have potential in inhibiting organ fibrosis, possibly due to its functions in anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, remodeling the extracellular matrix (ECM), inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and regulating apoptosis, thereby alleviating fibrosis. This review aims to explore the therapeutic potential of melatonin in fibrosis-related human diseases using findings from various in vivo and in vitro studies. These discoveries should provide important insights for the further development of new drugs to treat fibrosis.
The current status of trauma care for older adults in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Harthi Naif , Goodacre Steve , Sampson Fiona C.
Published: December 2024

The aging population in Saudi Arabia presents unique challenges to the trauma care system, especially in prehospital settings. This narrative review aims to assess the current status of trauma care for older adults in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the implications of aging, gaps in the trauma system, and the role of emergency medical services. The global rise in life expectancy has increased the incidence of injuries among older adults, leading to a greater burden on healthcare systems. The review highlights the complexity of assessing and managing trauma cases in older adults, including the impact of physiological changes on injury outcomes, challenges faced by ambulance workers, and the lack of a robust trauma care infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it identifies gaps in geriatric-specific training and prehospital care pathways that limit effective management. To address these issues, recommendations include enhancing geriatric-specific education for ambulance workers, improving trauma system infrastructure, and conducting further research to explore the impacts of aging on trauma outcomes. These efforts are critical for reducing the healthcare burden and improving trauma care quality for older adults in Saudi Arabia.
Formation of high-quality mixed silage from paper mulberry and wheat bran driven by the characteristics of the microbial community
Authors: Wang Wenbo , Tian Hua , Zhao Yuwei , Nie Yanshun , Li Zibing , Gong Junjie , Jiang Wenjie , Yin Yanjing , Santos Bermudez Ramon , He Wenxing
Published: December 2024

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) is a high-quality silage protein feed material that can help address feed shortages and support livestock development. Although some studies have investigated the relationships between microbial communities and silage quality, these relationships and the underlying community assembly processes remain complex, requiring further research to clarify them. Additionally, limited research has explored the relationship between microbial community fermentation functions and silage quality. In this study, we aimed to explore B. papyrifera and wheat bran mixed silage quality driven by the characteristics of the microbial community. After 50 days of silage fermentation, high-quality and low-quality samples were selected from every mixing ratio (90:10, 80:20, and 65:35). The silage chemical composition, lignocellulose degradation enzyme activity, microbial community composition, and potential functions were used to explore the relevance between silage quality and the characteristics of the microbial community. The contents of hemicellulose, neutral detergent fiber, pH, and the activities of endoglucanase and exoglucanase were significantly affected by mixing ratios and silage quality grade. There were higher crude protein content, lignocellulose degrading enzyme activity, and lower pH, lignin, and acid detergent fiber in the mixing of 65:35 (BP65%) samples. The PERMANOVA results showed that mixing ratios had significant impacts on microbial community composition and bacterial fermentation functions. There was a higher bacterial diversity, lower fungal diversity, and better functional potentials for fermentation and lignocellulose degradation in BP65% high-quality silage. The dominant genera were Lactobacillus, Cladosporium, and Wallemia in all samples. The relative abundance of Clostridium, Rhodococcus, Turicibacter, Ralstonia, and Burkholderia was significantly higher in BP65% high-quality samples. There was a higher abundance of Wallemia in the BP65% samples than in other mixing ratios samples. Notably, silage quality showed a close relationship with Lactobacillus, Turicibacter, Romboutsia, Wallemia, and Pichia. In summary, 65:35 was a suitable mixing ratio for B. papyrifera and wheat bran silage, but high-quality silage still required the participation of multiple specific rare microbial taxa. The higher bacterial diversity and specific microbial taxa abundance could be critical for improving B. papyrifera silage quality. We expect that our findings will provide new insights into silage quality driven by the characteristics of the microbial community.
Identification of virus-rich intermediate cells as crucial players in SARS-CoV-2 infection and differentiation dynamics of human airway epithelium
Authors: Kim Mi Il , Lee Choongho
Published: December 2024

Understanding the early interactions between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human airway epithelial cells is essential for unraveling viral replication and spread mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the early dynamics of airway epithelial cells during SARS-CoV-2 infection using well-differentiated human nasal and tracheal epithelial cell cultures by incorporating three publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing datasets. We identified a previously uncharacterized cell population, termed virus-rich intermediate (VRI) cells, representing an intermediate differentiation stage between basal and ciliated cells. These VRI cells exhibited high viral loads at all infection time points, strong interferon and inflammatory responses, increased mRNA expression of microvilli-related genes (PAK1, PAK4, VIL1), and suppression of apoptosis markers (BAX, CASP3) alongside increased anti-apoptotic gene expression (BCL2). Cell-cell interaction analysis revealed that VRI cells send signals to basal cells via receptor-ligand pathways such as EPHA and VEGF, likely promoting basal cell differentiation and proliferation through MAPK signaling. These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 utilizes VRI cells as a primary site for replication and spread, leveraging these cells’ unique differentiation state to evade host cell death and facilitate viral propagation. This study provides insights into the early cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and highlights potential therapeutic targets to limit viral spread.
Assessment of body composition and prediction of infectious pancreatic necrosis via non-contrast CT radiomics and deep learning
Authors: Huang Bingyao , Gao Yi , Wu Lina
Published: December 2024

Aim

The current study aims to delineate subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), the sacrospinalis muscle, and all abdominal musculature at the L3–L5 vertebral level from non-contrast computed tomography (CT) imagery using deep learning algorithms. Subsequently, radiomic features are collected from these segmented images and subjected to medical interpretation.

Materials and methods

This retrospective analysis includes a cohort of 315 patients diagnosed with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) who had undergone comprehensive whole-abdomen CT scans. The no new net (nnU-Net) architecture was adopted for the imagery segmentation, while Python scripts were employed to derive radiomic features from the segmented non-contrast CT images. In light of the intrinsic medical relevance of specific features, two categories were selected for analysis: first-order statistics and morphological characteristics. A correlation analysis was conducted, and statistically significant features were subjected to medical scrutiny.

Results

With respect to VAT, skewness (p = 0.004) and uniformity (p = 0.036) emerged as statistically significant; for SAT, significant features included skewness (p = 0.023), maximum two-dimensional (2D) diameter slice (p = 0.020), and maximum three-dimensional (3D) diameter (p = 0.044); for the abdominal muscles, statistically significant metrics were the interquartile range (IQR; p = 0.023), mean absolute deviation (p = 0.039), robust mean absolute deviation (p = 0.015), elongation (p = 0.025), sphericity (p = 0.010), and surface volume ratio (p = 0.014); and for the sacrospinalis muscle, significant indices comprised the IQR (p = 0.018), mean absolute deviation (p = 0.049), robust mean absolute deviation (p = 0.025), skewness (p = 0.008), maximum 2D diameter slice (p = 0.008), maximum 3D diameter (p = 0.005), sphericity (p = 0.011), and surface volume ratio (p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Diminished localized deposition of VAT and SAT, homogeneity in the VAT and SAT density, augmented SAT volume, and a dispersed and heterogeneous distribution of abdominal muscle density are identified as risk factors for infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN).
Neurological manifestations of encephalitic alphaviruses, traumatic brain injuries, and organophosphorus nerve agent exposure
Authors: VanderGiessen Morgen , de Jager Caroline , Leighton Julia , Xie Hehuang , Theus Michelle , Johnson Erik , Kehn-Hall Kylene
Published: December 2024

Encephalitic alphaviruses (EEVs), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), and organophosphorus nerve agents (NAs) are three diverse biological, physical, and chemical injuries that can lead to long-term neurological deficits in humans. EEVs include Venezuelan, eastern, and western equine encephalitis viruses. This review describes the current understanding of neurological pathology during these three conditions, provides a comparative review of case studies vs. animal models, and summarizes current therapeutics. While epidemiological data on clinical and pathological manifestations of these conditions are known in humans, much of our current mechanistic understanding relies upon animal models. Here we review the animal models findings for EEVs, TBIs, and NAs and compare these with what is known from human case studies. Additionally, research on NAs and EEVs is limited due to their classification as high-risk pathogens (BSL-3) and/or select agents; therefore, we leverage commonalities with TBI to develop a further understanding of the mechanisms of neurological damage. Furthermore, we discuss overlapping neurological damage mechanisms between TBI, NAs, and EEVs that highlight novel medical countermeasure opportunities. We describe current treatment methods for reducing neurological damage induced by individual conditions and general neuroprotective treatment options. Finally, we discuss perspectives on the future of neuroprotective drug development against long-term neurological sequelae of EEVs, TBIs, and NAs.
Temperature affects major fatty acid biosynthesis in noug (Guizotia abyssinica) self-compatible lines
Authors: Gebeyehu Adane , Hammenhag Cecilia , Tesfaye Kassahun , Ortiz Rodomiro , Geleta Mulatu
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Noug (Guizotia abyssinica) is an economically important edible oilseed crop in Ethiopia with a large variation in seed set, seed oil content, and fatty acid composition among populations. Although noug is generally strictly self-incompatible (SI), self-compatible (SC) lines were recently developed. This study was conducted to investigate the levels of variation in seed setting and oleic acid content among the self-compatible lines.

Methods

The starting materials for the seed setting study were 200 genotypes selected from 100 inbred lines and having, on average, 57 seeds per capitulum, which is higher than that of the SI populations. The SC genotypes were analyzed for their oleic acid content using the half-seed technique.

Results

The analysis of 20 SC lines revealed a high variation in oleic acid content with 70% of the SC lines having 20% or more oleic acid after they were grown under 25°C/21°C day/night temperatures (high-temperature treatment). The oleic acid content increased from 8.2% before to 22.5%, on average, after the high-temperature experiment in the greenhouse. In contrast, the percentage of oleic acid in these lines grown at 21°C/18°C day/night temperatures decreased from 8.2% to 4.4% on average. There was a highly significant positive correlation between oleic acid content and temperature in SC lines.

Conclusion

The study suggests a significant contribution of genotype to the variation in seed setting and environmental factors (mostly temperature) to the oleic acid content. The noug SC-lines showed highly significant variation in seed setting and oleic acid content, which could be used for improving the crop’s seed yield and oil quality.