bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Process Parameters on Joint Characteristics in Friction Stir Welding of Al/Cu Dissimilar Materials for Lithium-ion Battery
Authors: Go Bum-Su , Park Dong-Min , Bang Han-Sur , Bang Hee-Seon
Published: January 2023

The dissimilar lap joining of 1050 Al alloy with thickness of 0.5 mm and commercial pure copper with thickness of 1.0 mm has been carried out by Friction Stir Welding (FSW). The influence of process parameters on Al-Cu dissimilar joint characteristics was investigated. The tensile-shear test results indicated that a higher heat input with increasing rotational speed and decreasing travel speed contributed to a higher tensile-shear load. The maximum tensile-shear load of the Al-Cu dissimilar joint was 913 N when obtained under a rotational speed of 600 rpm and a travel speed of 60 mm/min. According to the Al-Cu joint electrical resistance test, the minimum electrical resistance value was about 70 µΩ, which corresponded with the maximum tensile shear load. It can be inferred that the defect-free welded joint and sufficient joining area contributed to smooth current flow.
Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on PEM Fellowship Training
Authors: Ngo Thuy L. , Caglar Derya , Yanek Lisa , Baghdassarian Aline , Eckerle Michelle , Fang Andrea , Nagler Joshua , Rose Jerri A. , Tavarez Melissa M. , Benedict Frances Turcotte , Langhan Melissa
Published: January 2023

Background The COVID-19 pandemic led to training programs abruptly stopping in-person learning and redesigning curricula. Trainees had decreased patient contact time and use of telehealth visits became more prominent. Trainee well-being became even more vital with social isolation and fears of infecting loved ones increased. Our study evaluated impacts of COVID-19 on pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellowship programs, including effects on fellows’ clinical, didactic, and research experiences, and effects on fellows’ well-being. Methods Two surveys were developed using an iterative process, 1 for program leadership and 1 for fellows. Survey questions reflected the objectives of this study. Surveys were distributed a total of 3 times in 2-week intervals. Program directors (PDs) were asked to forward the fellow survey to their fellows. Survey responses were anonymous. Surveys were completed online using Qualtrics software between March 17, 2021 and April 19, 2021. Results PDs had a 56.8% (50/88) response rate, fellows 34.6% (144/416). All PDs reported a decrease in pediatric patient volumes during the height of the pandemic. Most common responses included change in rotations and block schedules, didactics moving to a virtual platform, increased frequency of speakers from outside the institution, fellows being able to participate in COVID-related research, and additional mental health services for providers. PDs and trainees report being required to provide service to COVID patients outside of a pediatric ED, commonly the adult ED and medical intensive care units. Conclusion The impact of COVID-19 on fellowship training remains unclear. Decreases in pediatric patient volumes, canceled electives, taking care of adults, and altering didactics/conferences in accordance to CDC guidelines may have adversely affected training. Future research might assess pandemic-related differences on in-training exam scores or how prepared fellows feel for unsupervised practice.
UBE4B Phosphorylation is Essential to Stabilize p53 in Response to DNA Damage
Authors: Abuetabh Yasser , Wu H. Helena , Yousef Habib Al , Persad Sujata , Eisenstat David D. , Sergi Consolato M. , Leng Roger
Published: January 2023

The tumor suppressor p53 plays a fundamental role in the detection and eradication of different oncogenic insults by promoting cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, senescence, and apoptosis. UBE4B is crucial for negatively regulating p53 during homeostasis and after DNA damage. We previously demonstrated that UBE4B targets phosphorylated p53 for degradation in response to DNA damage. However, the regulation of UBE4B in response to DNA damage in cancer is unknown. Here, we show that the UBE4B protein is regulated through a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism in response to DNA damage. The phosphorylation of UBE4B decreased its affinity binding to p53 and led to the accumulation of p53. Furthermore, Wip1 dephosphorylation of UBE4B stabilizes the activity of the UBE4B protein in response to DNA damage. UBE4B is predominantly phosphorylated by upstream ATR-mediated signaling, which decreasesaffinity binding of UBE4B-p53 and leads to the accumulation and activation of p53. Inhibition of Wip1 led to a significant increase in UBE4B phosphorylation, accumulation of p53, and inhibition of cell growth. Understanding how UBE4B is regulated in cancer cells in response to DNA-damaging agents may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies to improve the prognosis of cancer patients.
Climate Migrants or Climate Refugees? Danes’ Attitudes to Whether Climate Migrants Should Have the Right to Apply for Asylum
Authors: Hedegaard Troels Fage
Published: January 2023

As climate changes increase in rate and intensity so will the number of people displaced from their homelands by climate events. This will in inevitably lead to the question of whether European countries should allow this group to apply for asylum. This will matter significantly for their chances of being granted a temporary or permanent stay. Despite sometimes being referred to as ‘climate refugees’ then people who are displaced by weather events are not protected under UN rules about asylum. Therefore, it would require public support to change policies towards this group. Using Denmark as a case for this I show that there is no support for giving climate migrants the right to apply for asylum. I also show that the resistance towards this is biggest among Danes with climate sceptic values, who vote for more right-leaning parties, and who worry about the number of climate migrants.
Energy recovery optimization by means of a turbine in a pressure regulation node of a real water network through a data-driven digital twin
Authors: Sinagra Marco , Creaco Enrico , Morreale Gabriele , Tucciarelli Tullio
Published: January 2023

In recent years, various devices have been proposed for pressure regulation and energy recovery in water distribution and transport networks. To provide a real net benefit, they require a dedicated long-distance management system in order to carry on both hydraulic regulation and electricity production without direct human manual operations. This work presents a new proposal for the management of a pressure regulation system based on the PRS turbine. The proposal is applied to a real water distribution network, named Montescuro Ovest pipeline, at the San Giovannello station. The real time control (RTC) logic currently applied at San Giovannello station is first presented and discussed. A new advanced real time control (ARTC) logic is then proposed, based on direct configuration of the turbine and the surrounding valves as computed by the solution of an optimization problem. In ARTC a digital twin, including the hydraulic model of the surrounding network, provides a one-to-one relationship between the configuration parameters and the state variables, i.e. flow rates and pressures. The digital twin model equations are continuously updated on the basis of the recorded measures. Besides providing almost identical performance to the current RTC logic in the current operational scenario, the improved ARTC is more robust, in that it guarantees better hydropower generation in modified operational scenarios, as shown in specific tests.
A rising tide that lifts all boats: Long-term effects of the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend on poverty
Authors: Berman Matthew
Published: January 2023

Although not designed as a social program to redistribute income, the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) program has been reducing relative income inequality for the past 40 years by providing equal annual payments to nearly all state residents. We examine specifically the direct effects of the PFD on Alaska poverty rates over the past several decades, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations: children, elders, and Indigenous peoples. Since children of all ages may receive a PFD, accurate measurement of the effect of the PFD requires adjusting for the under-reporting of income of children in government surveys generating official poverty statistics. After adjusting individual incomes of US Census and American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) households, we find that the PFD reduced Alaska poverty rates from 2.1 to 4.2 percentage points from 1990 through 2019. The effect of the PFD on ameliorating poverty has been even larger for vulnerable Alaska populations. The PFD has reduced poverty rates of rural Indigenous Alaskans from 28 percent to less than 22 percent. The PFD has also played an important role in alleviating of poverty among seniors and children. Aside from the special case of 2020, as much as 50 percent more Alaska children – 15 percent instead of 10 percent – would be living in poor families without PFD income. The poverty-ameliorating effects of the PFD have lessened somewhat since 2000, as the dividend amount adjusted for inflation has been falling.
The YAP-TEAD complex promotes senescent cell survival by lowering endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Anerillas Carlos , Mazan-Mamczarz Krystyna , Herman Allison , Munk Rachel , Lam Gabriel , Calvo-Rubio Miguel , Garrido Amanda , Tsitsipatis Dimitrios , Martindale Jennifer , Altes Gisela , Rossi Martina , Piao Yulan , Fan Jinshui , Cui Chang-Yi , De Supriyo , Abdelmohsen Kotb , de Cabo Rafael , Gorospe Myriam
Published: January 2023

Sublethal cell damage can trigger a complex adaptive program known as senescence, characterized by growth arrest, resistance to apoptosis, and a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). As senescent cells accumulating in aging organs are linked to many age-associated diseases, senotherapeutic strategies are actively sought to eliminate them. Here, a whole-genome CRISPR knockout screen revealed that proteins in the YAP-TEAD pathway influenced senescent cell viability. Accordingly, treating senescent cells with a drug that inhibited this pathway, Verteporfin (VPF), selectively triggered apoptotic cell death and derepressed DDIT4, in turn inhibiting mTOR. Reducing mTOR function in senescent cells diminished endoplasmic reticulum (ER) biogenesis, causing ER stress and apoptosis due to high demands on ER function by the SASP. Importantly, VPF treatment decreased senescent cell numbers in the organs of old mice and mice exhibiting doxorubicin-induced senescence. We present a novel senolytic strategy that eliminates senescent cells by hindering ER activity required for SASP production.
Sepsis in the nonhospital setting
Authors: Araújo Giovanna Colantuono , Pardini Andrea , Lima Camila
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Sepsis is a disease with high mortality and morbidity. Despite advances in diagnosis and therapeutic packages, many gaps remain. This study aimed to evaluate the profile and outcomes of out-of-hospital sepsis.

Methods

This was a retrospective study, multicenter study including five basic health Unit. The study period was from January 2018 to December 2021.Patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock according to the Sepsis 3.0 criterion.

Results

A total 2630 patients were included with a diagnosis of sepsis 68.4% (1800) or septic shock 31.6% (830) in the emergency care units. The comorbidities that were independent predictors of septic shock were chronic kidney disease on dialysis (CKD-d), bone marrow transplantation and neoplasia; CKD and neoplasia were also independent predictors of mortality, with ORs of 2.00 (CI 1.10–3.68) p = 0.023 and 1.74 (CI 1.319–2.298) p = < 0.0001, respectively. Mortality according to the focus of primary infection was as follows: pulmonary 40.1%; COVID-19 35.7%; abdominal 8.1% and urinary 6.2%. Mortality due to the COVID-19 outbreak had an OR of 4.94 (CI 3.08–8.13) p ≤ 0.0001.

Conclusions

The following are risk factors associated with mortality in nonhospitalized sepsis: comorbidities (d-CKD and neoplasia) and the primary focus of COVID-19 infection.
Extended Procedure Has No Oncological Benefits over Segmental Resection in the Treatment of Non-metastatic Splenic Flexure Colon Cancer, a Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Wang Xiaojie , Zheng Zhifang , Chen Zhiping , Xie Zhongdong , Lu Xingrong , Huang Shenghui , Huang Ying , Chi Pan
Published: January 2023

AIM:
To compare the oncological survival outcome between extended resections and segmental resection for non-metastatic splenic flexure tumors.
METHODS:
A total of 10063 splenic flexure colon cancers patients who underwent extended resection (n=5546) or segmental resection (n=4517) from 2010 to 2018 were included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-registered database. Survival rates were compared between groups. To reduce the inherent bias of retrospective studies, propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed.
RESULTS:
Patients from the extended resection group had higher pT stage, pN stage, larger tumor size, and higher rates of elevated CEA level, perineural invasion, and tumor deposits than those from the segmental resection group (each P<0.05). The 5-year CSS rate was slightly lower in extended resection patients than that in segmental resection patients (79.2% vs. 81.6%, P =0.002), while the 5-year OS were comparable between groups (66.2% vs. 66.9%, P =0.513). After the PSM performed, both the 5-year CSS and 5-year OS rates in extended resection group and segmental resection group were comparable (5-year CSS: 84.9% vs. 83.0%, P =0.577; 5-year OS: 70.6% vs. 66.0%, P =0.415). These findings were similar in the subgroup analysis that included only patients with stage III disease or with tumor size ≥ 7 cm. In addition, although the number of harvested lymph nodes was larger in the extended resection group compared to the segmental resection group (12.7 vs. 14.4, P<0.001), the numbers of invaded lymph nodes remained similar between groups (0.5 vs. 0.5, P=0.90).
CONCLUSION:
Extended procedures have no significant oncological benefits over segmental resection in the treatment of non-metastatic splenic flexure colon cancer, even for locally advanced cases. The larger number of harvested lymph nodes in the extended resection group did not confer any advantage relative to segmental resection with regard to CSS, since it was not associated with an increase in the number of invaded lymph nodes harvested.
Initial experience with 3D laparoscopic choledochal cyst (CDC) excision and hepatico-duodenostomy (HD) in 21 children
Authors: Parelkar Sandesh , Makhija Deepa , Sanghvi Beejal , Gupta Rahul , Mudkhedkar Kedar , Shah Rujuta , Kumar Abhijit , Rangnekar Aditi , Shah Nehal
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Minimal access surgery has gradually become the standard of care in the management of choledochal cysts (CDC). Laparoscopic management of CDC is a technically challenging procedure that requires advanced intracorporeal suturing skills, and hence, has a steep learning curve. Robotic surgery has advantages of 3D vision, articulating hand instruments making suturing easy and thus is ideal. However, the non-availability, high costs and necessity for large size ports are the major limiting factors for robotic procedures in Paediatric population. Use of 3D laparoscopy incorporates the advantage of 3D vision and at the same time allows the use of small sized conventional laparoscopic instruments. With this background, we discuss our initial experience with the use of 3D laparoscopy using conventional hand instruments in CDC management. Aim: To study our initial experience in management of CDC in paediatric patients with 3D laparoscopy in terms of feasibility and peri-operative details.
Materials & Method: All patients under 12 years of age treated for choledochal cyst in a period of initial 2 years were retrospectively analysed. Demographic parameters, clinical presentation, intra-operative time, blood loss, post-operative events and follow-up were studied.
Results: The total number of patients were 21. The mean age was 5.3 years with female preponderance. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom. All patients could be completed laparoscopically. No patient needed conversion to open procedure or re-exploration. The average blood loss was 26.67 ml. None of the patients required blood transfusion. One patient developed minor leak postoperatively and was managed conservatively.
Conclusion: 3D laparoscopic management of CDC in paediatric age group is safe and feasible. It offers the advantages of depth perception aiding intracorporeal suturing, with use of small sized instruments. It is thus a ‘bridging the gap’ asset between conventional laparoscopy and robotic surgery.
Level of Evidence-Treatment Study level IV
Faecal prevalence and histopathological evaluation of coccidiosis in bovine calves
Authors: Jaiswal Vikas , sandhu Bhupinder singh , brar Apminderpal singh , Singla Lachhman Das
Published: January 2023

Bovine coccidiois, caused by Eimeria spp. is widely prevalent around the globe and responsible for huge economic losses by causing morbidity and mortality among young calves.The present study was designed to evaluate the prevalence as well as to evaluate histopathological alteration associated with it. The faecal samples were collected from 700 bovine calves uptotwo month of age from August 2019 to July 2021 and screened for Eimeria oocycts. The intestinal tissue samples of 37 calves were also collected which died during the study period after showing symptoms of diarrhea and examined for histological lesions.The faecal prevalence of Eimeria observed in our study was 2.29% (16/700) while in tissue samples only two out of 37 were foundpositive for Eimeria infection. Tissue sections reveled various stages of Eimeria gametogony, variable congestion, haemorrhage, and necrosis along with cryptic dilatation and mononuclear cell infiltration.Coccidia was not found to be associated with season, age and sex of calf. Bovine coccidiosiswas found to be endemic with low prevalence but severe onset characterized by moderate to severe congestion and inflammatory reaction mainly in the ileum and caecum.
Genetic Prediction of Antiglycemic Drug Targets and Risk of Epilepsy: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Zhou Kaiping , Wu Shilun , Yang Huan , Xie Zhihao , Wang Weiping , Qu Zhenzhen
Published: January 2023

Diabetes has been linked to an increased risk of epilepsy in observational studies. The antiglycemic drugs have been shown in animal studies to improve seizures. However, whether the associations between antiglycemic drugs and epilepsy in human is not known. In this study, we conducted a Mendelian randomization investigation to assess the potential causal role of antiglycemic drug targets in epilepsy.We used the International League Against Epilepsy Data as the discovery set and FinnGen Data as the replication set .Three antidiabetic drug target genes, including ETFDH, CYP21A2, and CYP2D6 were discovered to be involved in epilepsy. ETFDH predicted as a target gene in the discovery set (IVW, OR = 1.018, 95% CI, 1.004–1.033, p = 0.009), replication set (IVW, OR = 1.074, 95% CI, 1.034–1.114, p = 0.00016) and CYP21A2 gene in the discovery set (IVW, OR = 1.029, 95% CI, 1.005– 1.053, p = 0.016) and replication set (IVW, OR = 1.057, 95% CI, 1.001–1.116, p = 0.045) showed a causal association with an increased risk of epilepsy. In contrast, the CYP2D6 gene was found to be a protective factor for epilepsy in both the discovery set (IVW, OR = 0.0984, 95% CI, 0.969–0.998, p = 0.025) and the replication set (IVW, OR = 0.977, 95% CI, 0.955–1.000, p = 0.046). By searching the pharmacological effects of anti-glucose drug target gene related drugs and binding drugs in DrguBank, Metformin was found to be ETFDH gene inhibitor, showing a potential therapeutic effect on epilepsy.
Levothyroxine may not adequately prepare hypothyroid women for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation
Authors: Bradbury Rachel , Byth Karen , Smith Howard
Published: January 2023

Purpose:
Compare differences in serum and follicular fluid thyroid hormone levels in euthyroid versus levothyroxine-replaced women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.
Methods:
Prospective cohort study involving 46 euthyroid (anti-TPO antibody negative) and 16 levothyroxine-replaced women with baseline TSH < 2.5 mIU/L attending a university-based reproductive medical centre. TSH, free T3 and T4 measurements (serum and follicular fluid) were measured at various time points across controlled ovarian stimulation and numbers of mature oocytes retrieved, fertilisation and pregnancy rates were compared between groups.
Results:
Median TSH levels were similar at baseline, 1.76 vs 1.24 mIU/L (p=0.053), but free T3 levels were lower (4.5 vs 4.8 pmol/L, p=0.029) in levothyroxine-replaced compared with euthyroid (anti-TPO antibody) women. Serum TSH levels in levothyroxine-replaced women increased across controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (p=0.006) and remained significantly higher than baseline (p=0.030) at pregnancy testing. Follicular fluid free T3 levels were lower in levothyroxine-replaced (median 4.3 vs 4.6 pmol/L, p=0.032) and fertilisation rates fewer (52% vs 71%, p=0.043). Numbers of mature oocytes retrieved, early pregnancy loss and live birth rates did not differ.
Conclusion:
Levothyroxine women, with baseline TSH levels < 2.5 mIU/L, have lower serum and follicular fluid free T3 levels and poorer fertilisation rates than euthyroid women undergoing a cycle of controlled ovarian stimulation.
Encephalartos villosus relies on atmospheric nitrogen than soil derived nitrogen to maintain growth in nutrient-deficient and acidic soils
Authors: Motsomane Nqobile , Suinyuy Terence Nkwanwir , Magadlela Anathi
Published: January 2023

BackgroundEncephalartos villosusis a forest understory dwarf cycad growing in nutrient-deficient and acidic soils due to their association with plant growth promoting bacteria. This study investigated the effects of soil characteristics (pH, nutrition, total cation, and exchange acidity) on cycad-microbe symbiosis and the nitrogen (N) source preference ofE. villosusgrowing in Rhebu and Oceanview, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods Coralloid roots and leaf material from targetedE. villosusindividuals in both locations were analysed for N isotope, total plant N, and total plant phosphorus (P). Results Plant growth promoting bacteria were associated withE. villosusgrowing in Rhebu and Oceanview. The culturable bacteria strains isolated from the coralloid roots ofE. villosusgrowing in Rhebu and Oceanview with N-fixing traits wereLysinibacillus fusiformis, Rhizobium huautlense, Stenotrophomonas sp., Enterobacter cloacae, andPaenibacillus polymyxa.Encephalartos villosusgrowing in Rhebu and Oceanview effectively fixed more than 70% of its total N from the atmosphere. Less than 25% of the total N utilized byE. villosuswas derived from the soil. There were no significant variations in the leaf number, length, total N, and P inE. villosusgrowing in Rhebu and Oceanview. Conclusions The findings of this study revealed thatE. villosusmaintains growth and plant nutrition in nutrient-deficient and acidic soils by establishing symbiotic associations with plant growth-promoting bacteria and relying mostly in atmospheric N.
Residual Drift Control Strategies: extension and application to MDOF Systems
Authors: Montuori Rosario , NASTRI ELIDE , Tagliafierro Bonaventura
Published: January 2023

The paper proposes a new methodology for the control of residual displacements in multi-storey steel structure frames. The work starts from the validation and extension of a mechanical model based on single degree of freedom systems, already proposed in previous work, following with analyses performed on a set of natural accelerograms. The same model is applied to multi-degree of freedom (MDOF) systems through an anlaytical design procedure. The procedure is used to dimension study cases composed of concentrically braced frames that are analysed through nonlinear dynamic analyses with earthquake records excerpted from the previous dataset. The results confirm the effectiveness and suitability of the proposed procedure for MDOF systems. ……
An Auto-ML Framework for social media domain feature construction to detect Sarcasm
Authors: imtiaz Sharjeel , Birmicombe Allan J , Li Yang
Published: January 2023

Recently, Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) has shown considerable growth and industry application in the domain of Machine Learning. AutoML main purpose is to improve the learning task by saving time and effort for tasks like preprocessing, feature engineering, model selection, hyperparameters, and model architecture. Generally, AutoML lacks the ability to produce the generalized features for specific or general tasks like sentiment and sarcasm classification, therefore, to overcome the shortcoming of general feature. We proposed generalized feature extraction algorithms Implicit Incongruity (IIA) and Explicit Incongruity (EIA), the main aim is to observe the newly extracted incongruity feature and integrated into AutoML DeepConcat model at search pipeline. Additionally, proposed model will be evaluate using the preprocessing plan with various levels, where each level represents a single preprocessing task like cleaning, the model performance varies with from level to level. BiLSTM is the best model, which is the outcome of the framework, it was selected among five deep learning models during search pipeline. The AutoML DeepConcat framework automates the model selection by concatenating these features at hidden layers of the models. Further, the performance was optimized by evaluating the models with hyperparameters like dropout and learning rate. The proposed framework all-features method outperformed other features methods like pragmatic and incongruity.
Machine Learning Models Based on Hippocampal T2-Weighted-Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Radiomics for Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Zheng Shilei , Zhao Xuekai , Wang Han , Sun Yu , Sun Jufeng , Zhang Fan , Zhang Xianglin , Zang Li-e , Zhang Lili
Published: January 2023

Background
Radiomics is characterized by high-throughput extraction of texture features from medical images for deep mining and analysis to establish meaningful associations between image texture data and specific diseases. Radiomics has demonstrated significant advantages and potential in the diagnosis and evaluation of numerous neurological and psychiatric diseases. However, few studies on its use in the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been reported. This study investigated the feasibility of machine learning models based on hippocampal T2-weighted-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2-FLAIR) radiomics for the diagnosis of PTSD.
Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of the demographic, clinical, and magnetic resonance imaging data of 94 patients with a history of road traffic accident. Regions of interest were manually selected at the bilateral hippocampus on the slices showing the largest respective sizes of the hippocampus. Additionally, the 524 texture features on T2-FLAIR images were extracted. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to screen for the optimal texture features. Thereafter, logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) machine learning models were constructed using the R language for PTSD diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of each machine learning model.
Results
No statistically significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics were observed between PTSD and non-PTSD cases after road traffic accident (P > 0.05). However, statistically significant differences in the simplified coping style questionnaire positive/-negative coping scores and PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version scores existed between PTSD and non-PTSD cases at 3 months after road traffic accident (P < 0.01). The performance of three machine learning models in distinguishing PTSD cases from non-PTSD cases was good. In the training and test groups, the area under curves (AUCs) of the LR were 0.829 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.717–0.911) and 0.779 (95% CI: 0.584–0.913), with sensitivities and specificities of 74.19% and 77.13%, 76.92% and 80.00%, respectively. The AUCs of the SVM were 0.899 (95% CI: 0.801–0.960) and 0.810 (95% CI: 0.618–0.933), with sensitivities and specificities of 96.77% and 74.29%, 61.54% and 86.67%, respectively. The AUCs of the RF were 0.865 (95% CI: 0.758–0.936) and 0.728 (95% CI: 0.537–0.878), with sensitivities and specificities of 87.10% and 77.14%, 92.31% and 53.33%, respectively.
Conclusions
Machine learning models based on hippocampal T2-FLAIR radiomics have good diagnostic performance for PTSD and can be used as novel neuroimaging biomarkers for the clinical diagnosis of PTSD.
A Simple Agarose Gel Staining Method to Reduce Contamination in the Laboratory and Environment
Authors: CHENG Xiao-Wen , Mueller James , Ramon Paul , Hitchler Ashley
Published: January 2023

Electrophoresis is a standard technique in separating DNA. DNA must be stained before it can be imaged for documentation. In this report, we developed an intuitive method to stain DNA in the laboratory and potentially in industry due to its simplicity. In this improved staining method, a researcher simply elevates the tray by inserting a used cell culture flask underneath the tray so that the staining solution will flow to one end and leave the other end of the tray with minimum staining liquid. Therefore, to prevent gel sliding, we improved this staining method by placing a sticker in the middle of the tray to stop the gel fromsliding down into the staining solution. This method will allow inexperienced students and also experienced scientists to use a spatula to scoop up the gel with ease and then transfer it to the destaining tray before imaging and documentation.
Characteristics of nonunion after arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis: A multi-center retrospective cohort study
Authors: Takahashi Katsunori , Teramoto Atsushi , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Amaha Kentaro , Saiga Kenta , Noguchi Koji , Watanabe Kota
Published: January 2023

Background
Nonunion is a major complication of arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis. However, the characteristics and risk factors of nonunion are not well understood. This retrospective multi-center observational study aimed to clarify the characteristics of nonunion after arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis.
Methods
We included 154 patients who underwent arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis at one of five institutions. Patients were divided into two groups: union and nonunion, and the groups were compared. Age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, smoking, corticosteroid use, diagnosis, treatment information, treatment protocol, radiographic evaluation, and patient-reported outcomes were recorded and analyzed.
Results
On radiographs, bony union was observed in 142 ankles (91.0%) but not in 12 ankles (9.0%). Postoperative radiographic tibial bony gap (mm) was significantly larger in the nonunion group (medial = 1.98, center = 1.65, anterior = 2.21, middle = 1.72, posterior = 3.01) (mm) compared to the union group (medial = 1.35, center = 1.13, anterior = 1.28, middle = 1.03, posterior = 2.03) (mm). Furthermore, the visual analog score (VAS) of pain and pain-related self-administered foot evaluation questionnaire (SAFE-Q) subscale score significantly worsened in the nonunion group (VAS = 3.83, SAFE-Q subscale score = 69.8) than in the union group (VAS = 1.35, SAFE-Q subscale score = 76.6).
Conclusion
A larger radiographic tibiotalar bony gap was observed in the nonunion group. Other measurement outcomes were not associated with nonunion. Additionally, patient-reported outcomes markedly worsened in the nonunion group.
Application of eDNA metabarcoding for assessment of the eukaryotic diversity of three hypersaline lakes in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh
Authors: Dolma Phuntsog , Chauhan Archana
Published: January 2023

Oligotrophic, high-mountain saline lakes possess a diverse eukaryotic taxon and are among the most productive ecosystems in the world.However, observational limitations of micro eukaryotes owing to their small size, color and squishy anatomy have hindered their estimation. The present work involves the study of the composition and diversity of lower eukaryotes in the three most prominent and famous hypersaline lakes situated in the Trans -Himalayan region of Ladakh in the Tibetan plateau. Illumina sequencing of V4 region of 18S rRNA gene revealed the presence of approximately. 270 eukaryotic Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) in the samples. The top ten Phyla included Ciliophora, Cercozoa, Bacillariophyta, Arthropoda, Gastrotricha, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Apicomplexa, Rotifera and Tubulinea. Various species ofNitzschiathat are cold-tolerant, psychrophilic and alkaliphilic were detected in the samples. ICPMS analysis of the water samples showed high concentrations of Na, Mg, K and Ca in all the lakes. This study is the first attempt involving the use of non-invasive eDNA based analysis of eukaryotic diversity in hypersaline lakes of the Ladakh region. The outcome of this study will augment the present literature/ database of eukaryotic biodiversity in the lakes under study, thereby creating a reference database for future studies.
Online Ad-Sales Analysis and Understanding Customer Behavior Towards Online Ads
Authors: Mishra Anyaa , Mategaonkar Meenal
Published: January 2023

In the 21st century, the world is completely dependent on technology. Technology is used in every domain. One such domain is the marketing and sales domain. After the Covid pandemic, the reliance on internet for convenience has increased substantially. This is where E-commerce companies and their online advertisements come into picture. The U.S. online advertising had increased from $8.1 billion in 2000 to $21.2 billion in 2007 and from 3.2 percent of all advertising to 8.8 percent over that time period. Considering how important online ads have become for revenue increment in different companies, it has become a domain that requires analysis. This study aims to analyse the online ad sales revenue generated by Meta and Google using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) method. It will also analyse how different groups of customers respond to online ads and draw a significant inference based on this.
Clinical feasibility of duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection for neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreatic head as intermediate procedure between enucleation and pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Shimura Masahiro , Kato Hiroyuki , Asano Yukio , Ito Masahiro , Arakawa Satoshi , Koike Daisuke , Ochi Takayuki , Yasuoka Hironobu , Kawai Toki , Higashiguchi Takahiko , Tani Hiroki , Kunimura Yoshiki , Kondo Yuka , Nagata Hidetoshi , Sato Harunobu , Kamio Kenshiro , Horiguchi Akihiko
Published: January 2023

Background
This study aimed to demonstrate the clinical application of duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) as a surgical treatment for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) in terms of both curability and maintenance of postoperative quality of life.
Methods
A total of seven patients diagnosed with PNET underwent DPPHR between January 2011 and December 2021 at our institution. We investigated the clinical relevance of DPPHR based on clinicopathological findings in patients who underwent the surgery.
Results
Median operative time was 492 min, and blood loss was 302 g. In terms of postoperative complications according to Clavien-Dindo classification, postoperative intraabdominal bleeding was seen in one patient. Pathological examination revealed WHO classification of G1 in 6 cases and G2 in one case. Microvascular invasion (MVI) was observed in two cases (29%), however, no lymph node metastasis or recurrence occurred during the follow-up period. A daughter lesion was observed near the primary tumor in one case. All patients achieved curative resection, and none of the cases showed positive margins.
Conclusions
DPPHR allows anatomical resection of the pancreatic head in patients with PNETs, and also facilitates detailed pathological evaluation of the resected specimen. Therefore, this surgical procedure is an acceptable alternative to pancreaticoduodenectomy or enucleation for patients with PNETs.
Nonlinear topology optimization design and gripping tests of
a novel origami chomper-based flexible gripper
Authors: Liu Jie , Chen Zijie , Wen Guilin , He Junfeng , Wang Hongxin , Xue Liang , Long Kai , Xie Yi Min
Published: January 2023

Although the flexible origami gripper can handle a wide range of objects, there is a need for significant further improvement in its gripping performance. This study develops a novel nonlinear topology optimization (NTO) method to enhance the gripping performance of an origami chomper-based flexible gripper. The proposed NTO method incorporates the additive hyperelasticity technique and multi-resolution design (MRD) strategy with the advantages of being computationally efficient, having excellent convergence, and enabling refined design. The effectiveness of the proposed NTO method is validated by two compliant mechanism benchmark examples, i.e., the displacement inverter and gripper mechanisms. We apply the NTO method to the origami chomper-based flexible gripper to redistribute the material at the creases to obtain the optimized origami chomper-based flexible gripper. Several optimized origami chomper-based flexible gripper prototypes are fabricated by using laser cutter, followed by a series of experiments to test the gripping performances, including gripping range capability under an identical input load, maximum gripping ratio, gripping adaptability, and achieving richer gripping characteristics by size scaling. Results demonstrate that the optimized origami chomper-based flexible gripper can handle a wide range of objects irregularities in textures and uneven shapes;and the gripping range capability can be significantly enhanced by the NTO method. We also show that the optimized origami chomper-based flexible gripper can enable effective gripping of objects across scales from millimeters to centimeters to decimeters through size scaling.
Climate Labels and the restaurant industry: A qualitative study
Authors: Gay Anne-Sophie , Lane Hakan
Published: January 2023

Purpose
As the food industry accounts for more than one-third of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, it is one of the single largest contributors to climate change. Strategies for reductions of CO2e (equivalent) emissions must be put in place to regulate the impact the food systems have on the climate Environmental communication using climate labels sharing information on carbon footprints can help reduce GHGs emissions from restaurant purchases on a systemic scale.
Aim
The aim is to gain insights and study how a carbon label influences the concept of what is a climate-friendly restaurant and its capacity to bridge the gap between knowledge, awareness, and action. What are the motivations for restaurants’ employees to adopt climate-friendly behaviour? How does the use of the label influence the decision for restaurants to track their carbon footprint overtime, communicate the carbon footprint of dishes, and adapt menus to be more climate friendly?
Method
The data was collected with semi-structured interviews made with video communication with three restaurant chains all using the labels.
Analysis
The data collected via the interviews were examined using an inductive thematic analysis to identify key themes. The transcending transmission approach to communication was used to gain insights into both instrumental and constitutive communication dynamics. A s the theoretical framework, ‘symbolic interactionism’ helps untangle constitutive aspects of environmental communication surrounding climate labels to analyse the process of conceptualisation through usage, co-creation and interpretation.
Results and discussion
The analysis brought forward three main themes; First, the interactions between the scientific data accessible in the tool and the restaurants. Second, the diverse implications of sustainability marketing for motivating climate actions and what they look like. And finally, climate actions and how they are being apprehended and implemented by the restaurants. The promise of climate labels was discussed by both elaborating on sociocultural dynamics, sustainability marketing and activism forces and impulses influencing the motivations for restaurants. We then discussed the capacity to transcend information into action through collaboration, and inclusiveness to avoid greenwashing.
Conclusions
Restaurants have both a commercial interest to implement climate labels in their business as well as an intrinsic desire to be a company that take actions for the planet because of the restaurants’ employees’ convictions. However, restaurants find themselves in a tricky situation where they can be damned if they take ‘wrong’ actions that can be considered greenwashing, and damned if they do nothing. the software enables restaurants to legitimise their actions and communicate them to make them resilient and evolving.
Green fruit visitor insects of Annona senegalensis Pers. (Magnoliales: Annonaceae) and their potential role in the plant fruiting
Authors: DAO Zezouma Anselme , ROMBA Rahim , PEÑALVER-CRUZ Ainara , SATOUR Pascale , JALOUX Bruno , OUIEDRAOGO Amadé , GNANKINE Olivier
Published: January 2023

Annona senegalensisPers. (Annonaceae) is a wild shrub used multipurposely in food and traditional medicine by local people in African tropical countries. During its fruiting period, especially at the green fruit stage, this plant harbors an important community of insects such as the planthopperHilda undata(Tettigometridae) and various ant species (Formicidae). This study aimed at understanding the interactions between ants,Hilda undataand the plantAnnona senegalensis. Green fruit insect visitors ofA. senegalensiswere collected randomly from 30 green fruits of 30 plants per site, at four sites across the Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian climatic zones of Burkina Faso during the green fruit stage of the plant, from June to July. The behavior of green fruit visiting insects was observed in the field. In addition, ants andHilda undatawere collected and their whole body sugars were analyzed. Ants were the most recorded visiting insect group, representing up to 95% of the insects observed on the fruit. The orders of insects recorded were Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera and the most frequently encountered species wereTrichomyrmex abyssinicus,Crematogastersp (Formicidae),Messor galla(Formicidae),Brachyponera sennaarensis(Formicidae) andH. undata. Behavioural observations showed that ants consume extrafloral nectar from green fruits and honeydew fromH. undata. The ants would protect the green fruits from their pests andH.undatafrom its natural enemies. This study is the first report highlighting mutualistic interactions betweenA. senegalensis, ants andH. undata.
Proteomic analysis of sialoliths from calcified, lipid and mixed groups as a source of potential biomarkers of deposit formation in the salivary glands
Authors: Musiał Natalia , Bogucka Aleksandra , Tretiakow Dmitry , Skorek Andrzej , Ryl Jacek , Czaplewska Paulina
Published: January 2023

Salivary stones, also known as sialoliths, are formed in a pathological situation in the salivary glands. So far, neither the mechanism of their formation nor the factors predisposing to their formation are known despite several hypotheses. While they do not directly threaten human life, they significantly deteriorate the patient's quality of life. Although this is not a typical research material, attempts are made to apply various analytical tools to characterise sialoliths and search for the biomarkers in their proteomes. In this work, we used mass spectrometry and SWATH-MS qualitative and quantitative analysis to investigate the composition and select proteins that may contribute to solid deposits in the salivary glands. Twenty sialoliths, previously characterized spectroscopically and divided into the following groups: calcified (CAL), lipid (LIP) and mixed (MIX), were used for the study. Proteins unique for each of the groups were found, including: for the CAL group among them, e.g. proteins from the S100 group (S100 A8/A12 and P), mucin 7 (MUC7), keratins (KRT1/2/4/5/13), elastase (ELANE) or stomatin (STOM); proteins for the LIP group - transthyretin (TTR), lactotransferrin (LTF), matrix Gla protein (MPG), submandibular gland androgen-regulated protein 3 (SMR3A); mixed stones had the fewest unique proteins. Bacterial proteins present in sialoliths have also been identified. The analysis of the results indicates the possible role of bacterial infections, disturbances in calcium metabolism and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the formation of sialoliths.
Care Quality from the Perspective of Human Rights as Perceived by Mental Health Professionals in Gran Canaria: a qualitative study.
Authors: Arévalo Cira Febles , Domínguez Jose Juan Martín , Montesdeoca Rafael García , Quevedo Rocío Hidalgo , Vázquez Francisco Navarro
Published: January 2023

Background: Mental health facilities and other medium and long-stay hospital wards have been associated with poor quality care and human rights violations. This idea has led us to do this qualitative research.
Objective: To explore how the health care professionals working at the medium and long-term hospitalisation services of the Network of Mental Health Facilities of Gran Canaria (Red de Salud Mental de Gran Canaria) perceive, from the human rights standpoint, the quality of the care that they provide, identifying the different attitudes, values and knowledge of the professionals involved.
Methods: An exploratory, descriptive qualitative research conducted through 17 semi-structured interviews and 4 focal groups. The areas discussed are based on the QualityRightsassessment toolkit. After collecting the data, the contents of the narratives were analysed.
Results: The respondents identified the lack of health care resources and social support, the predominant paternalism in the care provided and the prevailing biomedical approach as the main causes that erode the respect for human rights. In this context, an improvement in the professionals' training seems to be one of the potential solutions to address this issue.
Conclusions: Analysing and doing research about the provision of human-rights-based care to individuals with mental health conditions in the institutional setting leads professionals to think about the care they provide. If this piece of research has managed to change attitudes, even minimally, it was worth doing it.