bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating The Relationship Between The Mean Heart Doses Received In Left Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy With Pro-BNP And Troponin Values And Left Ventricular Systolic Function Based On Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction (LVEF) And Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) Values In Echocardiography
Authors: Akhavan Ali , Rayegani Amirhosein , Alizadehasl Azin , Parhizgar Seyed Ehsan , Tajmirriahi Marzieh , Golchin Shadi , Roayaei Mahnaz , Abdollahpour Ibrahim
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the mean heart dose received in left breast cancer radiation therapy and cardiac injury as measured by Pro-BNP and Troponin laboratory levels and left ventricular systolic function, as measured by LVEF and GLS levels in echocardiography.
METHOD: This research was carried out at Omid Hospital, Isfahan City, Iran, using the before and after intervention study and single-arm approach on a population of patients diagnosed with cancer of the left breast who received radiation therapy for the left breast between 2021- 2022. Troponin, Pro-BNP, GLS, and LVEF were investigated before and after intervention. The data was analyzed using the t-test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Ultimately, it was examined using version 22 of the SPSS program.
RESULTS: This study showed a statistically significant difference in pro-BNP before and after the intervention (P<0.001). Also, we investigated the relationship between the mean heart dose, mean LAD dose, mean LV dose, radiotherapy protocol, and V25 index with the changes of Troponin, Pro-BNP, GLS, and LVEF, and we observed no statistically significant relationship between them (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION: Left breast radiation therapy does not affect cardiac factors like LVEF and troponin in the short term. Also, we observed Pro-BNP meaningful changes and the effect of V25 on GLS after the radiation. Studies with a larger sample size and a longer follow-up period are suggested.
Safety Evaluation of 177 Lu-TEFAPI-06 with Long-Term Blood Circulation in Rodents
Authors: Wang Liqin , He Chen , Cui Zhencun , Liu Jiangyan
Published: March 2024

Purpose
To evaluate the pharmacological and toxicological safety of TEFAPI-06 in rodents, offering crucial insights for its clinical trial applications.
Methods
For bistribution analysis, SD rats were divided into six groups to study the kinetics of 177Lu-TEFAPI-06 post intravenous administration. Rats were euthanized at predetermined time points (0.5h, 2h, 24h, 48h, 72h, 144h) for radioactivity measurements in blood and various organs. Additionally, tumor uptake in 177Lu-TEFAPI-06 treated mice was monitored using small animal in vivo imaging. For toxicological assessment, SD rats were assigned to high, medium, low-dose, and control groups. A single dose of TEFAPI-06 was administered via the tail vein. Observations included immediate and short-term physiological responses (up to 6h post-dosing), followed by twice-daily general health assessments. Blood samples were collected on days 3 and 15 for comprehensive analysis, including complete blood count, liver and kidney function, glucose and lipid levels, and histopathological evaluations.
Results
177Lu-TEFAPI-06 is mainly metabolized in the liver and excreted through the kidneys, showing effective tumor targeting and prolonging residence time. Post-dose observations showed no significant behavioral or respiratory changes in any of the groups. The body weight and blood biochemical indexes of routine blood parameters in all dose groups were statistically comparable with those in the control group (P > 0.05). Pathological examination revealed no obvious abnormalities.
Conclusion
TEFAPI-06 appears safe in SD rats following a single intravenous injection, with efficient tumor targeting and rapid metabolism in normal tissues. These findings support its potential for further clinical trial considerations.
A Novel Cross-layer Based Modified Support Vector Machine (E-svm) for Detecting Blackhole and Wormhole Attack in Wireless Ad-hoc Networks
Authors: Sriniva Jagadeesan
Published: March 2024

Wireless Ad-hoc Network do not require existing infrastructure .The devices generally that can exist are an access point that connects the end computing devices. Existing approaches suffer from challenges like low detection accuracy, low deviation structure and has more processing time. The paper provides a cross-layer approach by using physical and MAC layer knowledge of the wireless medium that is shared with the higher layer for handling the wormhole and black hole attack. The wormhole attack using tunneling whereas the black hole attack impersonates the source by changing the network traffic. The cross-layer capabilities are provided with three layers Network layer, MAC layer and physical layer and are independent of network protocols. The channel interference is handled by the physical layer, process handling by Network layer. Mac layer works with Network and physical layer by taking care of the Bandwidth information, Number of failed transmissions. The performance estimation for Time interval is in seconds. The proposed E-SVM Algorithm outperforms the SVM algorithm in terms of average consumed energy, average remaining energy, and packets received, packet delivery ratio, Delay, Jitter, Throughput, Normalized Overhead, Dropping ratio, Goodput. To do that E-SVM proposed and simulated in NS2.32 software and the results are demonstrated in terms of various qualities of service parameters and performance is evaluated.
Development and validation a prognostic score for TIPS placement in patients with viral hepatitis cirrhosis-related portal hypertension: a multi-center retrospective study
Authors: Que Zenglong , Wu Mingsong , Lai Shujie , Wang Lei , Mu Zhiyong , Yang Jinhui , Xiong Wei , Hu Hong , Liu Aimin , An xuan , Yu Haodong , Cao qin , Zhang yanmei , Luo wenwen , Wang jun , Chen Dongfeng , Liu Fuquan , Zhang dazhi , Wen Liangzhi
Published: March 2024

Objectives Noninvasive methods are effective and promising way to predict the prognosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). However, there is no established scoring model focus on viral hepatitis including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients to predict the survival of post-TIPS. In this study, we aimed to firstly develop (8 centers in southwestern China) and external validate (1 center in northeastern China) a novel model based on the largest cohort for better prediction of both short-term (1 year) and long-term (3 years) postoperative prognosis after TIPS in viral hepatitis cirrhosis-related portal hypertension patients. Methods A total of 925 viral hepatitis cirrhosis-related portal hypertension patients undergoing TIPS from nine hospitals were divided into the training (8 centers in southwestern China) and external validation (1 center in northeastern China) cohorts. A novel Viral-associated Index of Post-TIPS score (VIPs) model was built after performing cox regression. To verify the performance of novel model, we compared it with five previous models including Child‒Pugh, MELD, ALBI, CCG and FIPS scores. Furthermore, Using X-tile software to stratify patients into low-medium-high risk groups. Results We developed a novel VIP score model including age, ascites, albumin, prothrombin time, total bilirubin, and sodium for post-TIPS prognosis prediction. The novel model demonstrated a satisfying predictive efficiency in both discrimination and calibration, with an area under the curve of 0.781/0.774 (1-year/3-year) in the training cohort and 0.771/0.775 (1-year/3-year) in the external validation cohort, respectively. Using X-tile software, two optimal cutoff values (83 and 115) were generated to divide the entire cohort into three risk groups with significant difference in post-TIPS prognosis: low risk (score < 83), medium risk (score 83–115), and high risk (score > 115). Conclusions We firstly developed and external validated a novel VIPs model for better prediction of both short-term (1 year) and long-term (3 years) postoperative prognosis after TIPS in Chinese patients with viral hepatitis cirrhosis-related portal hypertension.
Characteristics of soliton gas with the strongest pairwise soliton interactions in the focusing Gardner equation
Authors: Zhang Xuefeng , Xu Tao , Yang Yuxin , Li Min
Published: March 2024

For the focusing Gardner equation, we investigate the dynamics of soliton gas (SG) incorporating the strongest pairwise soliton interactions that achieve the maximum attainable amplification AI = 2. In our simulated SG, the interactions of positive solitons overtaking negative ones are dominant because the velocities of most of positive solitons are larger than those of negative ones in the initial distribution. As the number of bipolar soliton pairs with AI = 2 increases, the third moment decrease in absolute while the fourth moment increases. Meanwhile, the maximum values in the global wave field increase significantly while the minimum values exhibit a relatively modest increase, owing to the generation of many high positive transient waves during interactions, as compared to the limited production of high negative transient waves. Also, an obvious elevation in the tails of global probability density functions is observed for positive wave amplitudes, which indicates an increase of the number of extreme events in the wave field. In addition, the rogue wave (RW) occurrence probability does not increase but rather decreases, in contrast to the situation in the integrable turbulence. Our findings may be useful for realizing some controllable experiments of the SGs in water waves.
PACS: 05.45.Yv; 02.30.Ik; 47.35.Fg.
Impact of Dynamic Infection Rate and Self-Isolation Awareness onNetworked Epidemic Propagation
Authors: Yuan Xianglai , Yao Yichao , Li Xiangxi , Feng Minyu
Published: March 2024

In the past decades, numerous models have been proposed in epidemic modeling. However, few of them describe the dynamic variation process of the infection rates, and the impact of infected individuals' safety awareness on epidemic spreading has also been rarely studied. Therefore, we propose a novel epidemic spreading model with dynamic infection rates (DIR) and self-isolation awareness (SIA) in this paper. The DIR describes the variation in infection rates over time, and the SIA denotes the infected individuals' safety awareness. We suggest that both DIR and SIA can suppress the spread of the epidemic, and SIA has a greater impact on the peak infection and the time to peak infection compared with DIR, while DIR plays a critical role in eradicating the epidemic. Additionally, the higher the intensity of SIA, the lower the peak infection and the stationary infection density. As the intensity of SIA increases, its inhibitory effect on the peak infection exhibits a marginal effect. Furthermore, when considering different epidemic models with DIR and SIA, simulation results indicate that the infection density distribution is similar, but the corresponding infection density values vary significantly.
Sonoclot Versus conventional coagulation parameter for assessment of hemostasic abnormalities in children with β- Thalassemia: Egyptian center study
Authors: kamel Inas M , Youssef Mervat A. M. , El-Azeem Hanan G Abd , Zahran Asmaa M. , Elgammal Sahar A. , Abdelaal Azza
Published: March 2024

Background: This study assessed the efficiency of the Sonoclot analyzer and conventional hemostatic parameters in determining the hemostatic status of children with β-thalassemia Major (BTM) who had experienced bleeding or thromboembolic episodes in the past, as well as any potential underlying risk factors.
Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study on 98 children with BTM. Patients are classified into three groups according to the history; bleeders group, thrombotic group and non-complicated group . Coagulation screen, D-dimer, protein C (PC), antithrombin III, ferritin, platelet aggregation response to ADP and arachidonic acid (AA), Sonoclot analysis, CD41 and CD62p by flow cytometry were performed.
Results:
Five patients (4.9%) had thrombosis and 15(15.3%) had bleeding. Significant higher ferritin, and Clot Rate (CR) were found in thrombotic group compared to non-complicated (P=0.04) and bleeder (P= 0.01) groups.
Platelet Function was significantly lower in bleeders compared to non-complicated (P =0.00006) and thrombotic (P=0.002)groups. Protein C, PT, PC, APTT, fibrinogen, D-dimer, and ATIII, showed no significant difference between groups. Although, CD62p expression by flow cytometry showed no significant difference between groups. CR has shown a statistically significant negative correlation with PC and D-dimer. Also, significant positive correlation between platelet function by Sonoclot with ADP & AA by aggregometer.
Conclusion:
Sonoclot analysis may verify as an effective method for evaluating the hemostasis in children with BTM. CR and PF may become a possible future predictors of hyper and hypo -coagulability respectively. Traditional test of coagulation should be used in conjunction with the standard tests to define the hemostatic profile in those patient.
Trial registration
The study is approved by Assiut University's Ethical Committee of Faculty of Medicine (IRB No: 17200439)
Efficacy and Safety of Fentanyl Inhalant for the Treatment of Breakthrough Cancer Pain: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double- blind, Placebo-controlled Trial
Authors: Lin Rongbo , Song Binbin , Li Na , Rong Biaoxue , Bai Jinghui , Liu Yong , Wang Wei , Liu Anwen , Luo Suxia , Liu Bo , Wu Yani , Li Yujie , Yu Xiaohui , Liu Xueying , Dai Xiangrong , Li Xiaoyi , Liu Dongying , Wang Jian , Huang Yan
Published: March 2024

BackgroundBreakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) has a negative impact on patients’ quality of life, general activities, and is related to worse clinical outcomes. Fentanyl inhalant is a hand-held combination drug-device delivery system providing rapid, multi-dose (25μg/dose) administration of fentanyl via inhalation of a thermally generated aerosol. This multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, multiple-crossover, double-blind study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of fentanyl inhalant in treating BTcP in opioid-tolerant patients.
Methods Each patient was treated and observed for 6 episodes of BTcP (4 with fentanyl inhalant, 2 with placebo). During each episode of targeted BTcP, patients were allowed up to six inhalations. Primary outcome was the time-weighted sum of PID (pain intensity difference) scores at 30 minutes (SPID30).
Results A total of 335 BTcP episodes in 59 patients were treated. The mean SPID30 was -97.4 ± 48.43 for fentanyl inhalant-treated episodes, and -64.6 ± 40.25 for placebo-treated episodes (p<0.001). Significant differences in PID for episodes treated with fentanyl inhalant versus placebo was seen as early as 4 minutes and maintained for up to 60 minutes. The percentage of episodes reported PI (pain intensity) scores ≤ 3, a ≥ 33% or ≥ 50% reduction in PI scores at 30 minutes, PR30 (pain relief scores at 30 minutes) and SPID60 favored fentanyl inhalant over placebo. Only 4.4% of BTcP episodes required rescue medication in fentanyl inhalant group. Most AEs were of mild or moderate severity and typical of opioid drugs.
Conclusion Fentanyl inhalant was efficacious, safe, and well tolerated in the management of BTcP.
Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05531422
Rural reality contradicts the ethnographic literature – a nationwide survey on folk beliefs and people's affection for the stork in Poland
Authors: Wuczyński Andrzej , Pieńczak Agnieszka , Krogulec Gabriela
Published: March 2024

Background
Due to early synanthropization and ecological and behavioral features, the White Stork Ciconia ciconia became the most cherished of European birds. Rooted in human culture, the species has been well studied; nevertheless, knowledge of people’s attitudes and stork-related folk beliefs remain descriptive. Here, we attempt to quantify these issues in the world's largest stronghold of the species, Poland, in the 1950s.
Methods
The study is based on recently discovered, original nationwide survey data from the 1958 International White Stork Census. These materials were gathered to assess the population size, but they also included issues belonging to the humanities. We have worked them up in a quantitative manner, which has resulted in an original approach rarely found in ethnological studies. We aim to propose an original typology of stork-related beliefs, their spread and regional diversity in Poland and the relationship with stork abundance.
Results
A sample of 2343 questionnaires revealed that affection towards storks was widespread (91.4% positive responses), more so in eastern Poland. The most frequent beliefs relate to respect for the stork (65%) and prophesies (24%), thereafter parental beliefs (7%) and stork biology (3%). Positive attitudes and the dissemination of beliefs increased with stork densities but were unrelated to the respondents’ sex. Utilitarian beliefs outweighed those prioritized in ethnographic studies (e.g. the stork’s human origins) or popular today (baby-bringing), and expressed the real concerns of country folk.
Conclusions
The discovery of long-lost data bordering on ethnology and nature conservation and their novel work-up highlights a realistic dimension of the human-nature relationship and provides a benchmark for further interdisciplinary research.
Correlation of Lower Limb Alignment with Mensical Meniscal Extrusion in Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: da-hui Shen , shou-kang Sun , yang Song , xiang-jun Xu , chao Wang , zhi-fang Mu , dong-sheng Guo , yue-fu Dong
Published: March 2024

[Objective] This study aims to explore the relationship between Lower limb alignment parameters and the degree of Meniscal Medial Extrusion (MME) in patients with Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA), in hopes of providing new reference data for the prevention and treatment of KOA. [Methods] A retrospective study design was employed, analyzing 623 KOA patients treated at our hospital from 2022 to 2023, with 307 patients' information collected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into mild and severe groups based on the degree of MME, and differences in Lower limb alignment parameters between the two groups were compared, including AMA, JLCA, mLDFA, MPTA, FKJL, FTA, and mHKA. Univariate analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and multivariate stepwise regression analysis were used, along with ROC curve assessment to evaluate the predictive value of Lower limb alignment parameters on the degree of MME. [Results] Univariate analysis showed significant correlations between AMA, JLCA, mLDFA, MPTA, and the degree of MME (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis further confirmed the positive correlations between these parameters and the degree of MME. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis indicated that AMA, JLCA, and mLDFA are significant independent predictors of the severity of MME. ROC analysis suggested that the combination of AMA, JLCA, and mLDFA could better predict severe MME. When the values of AMA, JLCA, and mLDFA exceed 6.33°, 3.55°, and 86.34°, respectively, MME ≥ 0.3cm, significantly increasing the risk of MME. [Conclusion] AMA, JLCA, and mLDFA are closely related to the degree of MME in KOA patients and can serve as important parameters for assessing the severity of MME, holding significant implications for the early prevention and treatment of KOA.
An outcome space branch and bound algorithm for affine multiplicative problems using piecewise linear approximation technique
Authors: Hu Peng , Wu Zhiyou , Gu Hengyang , Liu Jia
Published: March 2024

This paper presents an efficient algorithm for solving a class of affine multiplication programs(AMP). In order to obtain the global optimal solution of the problem, we first transform the problem into an equivalent problem by introducing auxiliary variables. Secondly, we utilize a new piecewise linear approximation technology to systematically transform the problem into a series of linear relaxation programming problems to obtain a reliable lower bound of the optimal value of the problem. Hence, according to the characteristics of the problem and the structure of the branch-and-bound framework, some outer space acceleration techniques are constructed to improve the convergence speed of the algorithm. In addition, by analyzing the computational complexity of the algorithm, an estimate of the maximum number of iterations of the algorithm is given. Finally, numerical results verify the effectiveness and robustness of the algorithm.
Characterizing Parameter Equivalence and Approximation in 1D FEM and ReLU NNs
Authors: Katende Ronald , Oleynik Anna , Kasumba Henry , Kakuba Godwin , Mango John
Published: March 2024

This paper introduces a novel methodology for characterizing parameter equivalence between Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) Neural Networks (NNs) and 1D Finite Element Models (FEMs). By expressing the FEM solution equation in terms of neural networks and employing a hybrid scheme involving partially trained nested neural networks, we bridge the gap between these two computational paradigms. Our approach offers a promising avenue to leverage the flexibility of neural networks while retaining the established principles of FEM. Through extensive numerical experiments, we demonstrate the efficacy of our scheme in function interpolation and solving partial differential equations (PDEs). In function interpolation tasks, our hybrid scheme consistently outperforms fully trainable ReLU NNs, achieving significantly lower error factors across various scenarios. Similarly, in solving PDEs, our approach exhibits superior accuracy compared to fully trainable ReLU NNs, as evidenced by lower L2-error factors. We further extend the application of our hybrid scheme to diverse PDEs including the heat, Poisson, and wave equations, showcasing its versatility and effectiveness across different problem domains. This work not only presents a significant advancement in computational methods but also lays the groundwork for redefining the FEM algorithm within an algorithmic framework. These findings have implications for a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines, and we believe they warrant consideration for publication in high-impact journals.
The impact of economic growth and international economy on income inequality: Evidence from method of moments quantile regression
Authors: TARCHOUN Monaem , Ghraieb Ikram
Published: March 2024

the relationship between inequality and economic growth and international economy is one of the most studied topics and is seen as a major problem to be solved. what is new is that researchers and policy makers have shifted their attention from conventional inequality at a single mean coefficient to divisible inequality at levels of its value. In this context, our article contributes to examine the link between inequality and economic growth by taking into account the international economic relations of three panels of countries grouped according to their income levels during the period 1990 to 2020. The study used an econometric quantile regression model (Method of moments quantile regression) to examine these variables at different levels of inequality. The estimates for quantiles 0.05 to 0.95 in 135 countries yielded the following findings: The empirical results showed heterogeneous effects of the international economy, economic growth and financial development on inequalities between different quantiles in each country of the three panels (HIC, MIC, LIC).Our findings have several implications and offer valuable insights for policy makers to address inequality based on financial development or/and economic growth or/and international economic variables
Attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium carrying the shSTAT3/shPD-L1 recombinant plasmid for colorectal cancer treatment
Authors: Yang Mei , Xu Libo , Wei Xiaodong , Yang Jiaying , Wang Ding , Liu Jixuan , Shi Shuxin , Chen Xuyang , Li Mengxin , Wang Yingtong , Luo Qian , Tian Yong , Zhu Hongquan , Kalvakolanu Dhan V. , Liu Ying , Zhang Ling , Guo Baofeng
Published: March 2024

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract; however, surgical resection and chemoradiotherapy have limited effects, and targeted therapy and immunotherapy have become novel options for prolonging the survival of patients with colorectal cancer. STAT3, a transcription factor, regulates the expression of various proteins and participates in multiple biological processes in tumors, making it a potential target for cancer therapy. PD-L1 are essential immune checkpoint molecules that regulate the tumor microenvironment and immune escape of tumor cells. The increased expression of PD-L1 induce the internal compositional changes of tumor cells, and regulate multiple processes of tumor cell progression. Attenuated Salmonella typhimurium can target tumor tissue to deliver plasmids and preferentially colonize hypoxic areas within the tumor, helping mount an anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, we constructed a double-interfering plasmid shSTAT3/shPD-L1 to reduce the expression of STAT3 and PD-L1 simultaneously and used attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium carrying the plasmid to improve tumor tissue targeting and anti-tumor immune effects to explore the anti-tumor effects of double-interfering RNA at multiple levels in vivo and in vitro and to demonstrate its potential application in the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer.
Design and Fabrication of a Portable App-controlled Mobile Robot for Towing Vehicles
Authors: Muhieitheen Mahmood Khaja , S. Seshaarajesh , S. Shiyam Sankar , S. Chandrasekaran A. , A. Alifia Sabreen , V. Nithish , B. Mohamed Jalaludeen M.
Published: March 2024

With vehicular traffic on the rise and a significant increase in the frequency of breakdowns, comes the need for more efficient and timely towing assistance. The global towing market exceeded USD 7 billion in the year 2021, and, according to forecasts, will hit USD 20 billion by 2030. It is crucial to ensure that vehicles experiencing breakdown are towed away to safety, to reduce chances of accidents and prevent collisions with other vehicles that use the same roads. However, commercial towing services remain prone to human error, delays in arrival, and cost their customers significantly. The aim of this paper is to present the ProTow Bot, a smartphone-controlled portable vehicle tow, which can be operated by vehicle owners with ease. This is a compact and lightweight tank-style robot designed to lift and push forward consumer automobiles, in accordance with the owner’s directions issued via a phone app. This paper details the relevant traction calculations, mechanical and electrical design, programming, assembly, and testing of the ProTow Bot. Applications for the bot include individual ownership, support for supply chain companies relying on road transport, airplane movers, and warehouse inventory management.
Associations Between Phenotypes of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity and Incident Hypertension in Young Adulthood
Authors: Fleur Ruth St , Tanofsky-Kraff Marian , Yanovski Jack , Horton Nicholas , Reich Laura , chavarro Jorge , Hirschhorn Joel , Ziobrowski Hannah , Field Alison
Published: March 2024

Objectives
We investigated whether empirically derived childhood obesity phenotypes were differentially associated with risk of hypertension in young adulthood, and whether these associations differed by sex.
Methods
Data came from 11,404 participants in the Growing Up Today Study, a prospective cohort study in the US established in 1996. We used a childhood obesity phenotype variable that was previously empirically derived using latent class analysis. The childhood obesity phenotypes included an early puberty phenotype (females only), a mothers with obesity phenotype, a high weight concerns phenotype, and a mixed phenotype. Participants without overweight or obesity in childhood or adolescence were the reference group. We then used logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations to examine associations of childhood obesity phenotypes with incident hypertension between ages 20–35 years. All analyses were stratified by sex.
Results
Among females, participants in all of the empirically derived childhood obesity phenotypes were more likely than their peers without childhood overweight/obesity to develop hypertension in young adulthood (early puberty subtype odds ratio (OR) = 2.52; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.75, 3.62; mothers with obesity (MO) subtype OR = 2.98; 95% CI = 1.93, 4.59; high weight concerns (WC) subtype OR = 2.33; 95% CI = 1.65, 3.28; mixed subtype OR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.25, 2.20). Among males, the childhood obesity phenotypes were associated with a higher risk of developing hypertension, although males in the MO (OR = 2.65; 95% CI = 1.82, 3.87) and WC phenotypes (OR = 3.52; 95% CI = 2.38, 5.20) had a greater risk of developing hypertension than the mixed subtype (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.23, 1.86) (p = 0.004).
Conclusion
Risk for incident hypertension in young adulthood varied by childhood obesity phenotypes, as well as by biological sex. If replicated, these results may suggest that increased surveillance of specific childhood obesity phenotypes might help in targeting those at highest risk for hypertension.
Efficacy and safety of different oral prednisone tapering course in adult anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A multicenter prospective cohort study
Authors: Cai Linjun , Li Gaowei , Abdulaziz Ammar T. , Gong Xue , Liu Xu , Guo Kundian , Li Aiqing , Kong Xueying , Li Jinmei , Zhou Dong , Hong Zhen
Published: March 2024

Background In adult N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis, corticosteroids are commonly used as first-line treatment. However, the optimal oral prednisone tapering (OPT) following intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy remains unclear. We aim to compare the efficacy and safety of different OPT course in NMDAR encephalitis. Methods The CHASE study, a multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study, enrolled patients diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis from October 2011 to March 2023. Patients were divided into three groups based on the duration of oral prednisone tapering: ≤3 months (Group ≤ 3 mo), 3–6 months (Group 3–6 mo), and > 6 months (Group>6 mo). Kaplan-Meier plots were generated for time-to-event endpoints, including the first relapse within 2 years and total recovery within 2 years, with sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses conducted to assess estimate robustness. Results Among 666 screened patients, 171 (median [IQR] age was 27 [21.0-36.5] years, 55.0% were female) met selection criteria. The proportion of responders at 3 months was higher in Group ≤ 3 mo (OR, 9.404 [95% CI 2.741 to 32.257]) and Group 3–6 mo (OR, 5.360 [95% CI 1.477–19.453]) than in Group > 6 mo. Clinical Assessment Scale for Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE) scores at 12 months after treatment were higher in Group >6 mo than in Group ≤ 3 mo and Group 3–6 mo (2.5 [IQR: 1.0–4.0] vs. 1 [IQR: 0.0–2.0] vs 1 [IQR: 0.0–2.0]). However, after propensity score matching, these differences disappeared. Weight gain was more frequent in the Group > 6 months than in Group ≤ 3 months (80.0% [95% CI 61.6–98.4%] vs. 33.3% [95% CI 14.1–52.6%]). No significant differences were found in modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores, relapse rates within 2 years, full recovery within 2 years, time to recovery, impact of residual symptoms, or CASE score changes. Conclusions Extending oral prednisone beyond 3 months did not significantly improve outcomes but increased the risk of adverse events, particularly weight gain. This recommends evaluating the possibility of shortening the duration of oral prednisone after a thorough patient assessment. Trial Registration: The trial was registered on Cinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800019762).
Eltrombopag in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia With Severe Thrombocytopenia. A Gfm Study
Authors: Itzykson Raphael , Rabian Florence , Chevret Sylvie , Gruson Bérengère , Thepot Sylvain , Walter-Petrich Anouk , Braun Thorsten , Vey Norbert , Diaz Jose Miguel Torregrosa , Peterlin Pierre , TOMA Andrea , D'Aveni Maud , Delaunay Jacques , Legros Laurence , Droin Nathalie , Chermat Fatiha , Adès Lionel , Sapena Rosa , Solary Eric , Fenaux Pierre , Lusina Daniel
Published: March 2024

We conducted a multicenter single-arm phase II trial evaluating the oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist eltrombopag in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) patients without blast excess and with platelets < 50 x109/L. CMML patients naïve of hypomethylating agents, with bone marrow blasts ≤ 5%, platelets < 50 x109/L and with lower-risk disease received eltrombopag for at least 12 weeks including an 8-week titration. The primary endpoint was platelet response at 12 weeks (IWG 2006 criteria). Twenty-nine patients were enrolled (median age 78 years). Median platelet count was 29 x109/L. CPSS risk was low or intermediate-1 in 55% and 31% of patients respectively.RUNX1was mutated in 56% of patients. Eight patients dropped out the trial before 12 weeks (including 3 for early progression). A platelet response was achieved in 14 (48.3%, 95% CI 29.4–67.5) patients at 12 weeks, and in 21 (72.4%) at any time on study. Median response duration was 2.6 months, with 10 (34.5%) patients experiencing responses lasting ≥ 6 months. Grade 3 hepatobiliary adverse events occurred in 3 (10%) patients. Two-year progression-free and overall survival were 23% and 47%, respectively. Carefully escalated eltrombopag induces frequent but transient platelet responses in CMML patients with thrombocytopenia.
Enhancing Broiler Chicken Growth and Carcass With Cassava Leaf Meal (Manihot esculenta)
Authors: Valdez Marco Felix Sangco , Rafon Glesia Kresta O. , Samlero Wezel A. , Nicdao Eden C. , Jose Willy A. San , Bonagua Edwin D. , Daoa Romuel A. , Mendoza Fernando D.
Published: March 2024

Poultry meat production, particularly broiler chicken, plays a vital role in the Asian region. However, increasing feed costs pose significant challenges to the broiler chicken industry. The search for locally available and affordable feed ingredients becomes crucial to address this issue. Cassava, a versatile and abundant crop in the region, holds great promise as a potential alternative. Cassava leaves, in particular, possess high nutritional value, including protein, minerals, and vitamins. However, they also contain hydrocyanic acid (HCN), which can be toxic. Sun drying is an effective method for reducing the cyanide content in cassava leaves. Previous studies have shown that supplementing cassava leaf meal (CLM) in broiler diets improves growth performance without adverse effects. This study investigated the impact of different levels of CLM as a supplemental feed on broiler growth parameters, carcass yield, and meat cut-up yield. It found out that including 3% and 5% CLM positively influences growth parameters, feed efficiency, carcass yield, and meat cut-up yield. These findings highlight the potential of CLM as a sustainable and locally available feed resource for broiler production in the Asian region. Further research is needed to determine the optimal level of CLM inclusion and evaluate its economic feasibility and environmental impact.
Iatrogenic Dislocation of the Temporomandibular Joint due to General Anaesthesia
Authors: Alam Munir
Published: March 2024

Background: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a modified hinge joint with the condyle of the mandible resting in a shallow glenoid fossa, predisposing it to be easily dislocated without extreme force. Anterior dislocation of TMJ is the most common type of dislocation. It can occur due to excessive opening of the mouth, trauma, or seizures. Iatrogenic cases of TMJ dislocation have been reported with 5% incidence during anaesthesia induction, intubation, and upper endoscopic procedures (1,2). However, it has not been reported while the surgeon working around the head & neck area. In this case report while the surgeon operating on facial nerve, the dislocation of TMJ was missed or not identified in the immediate post operative period, may be due to the patient symptoms of previous facial nerve branches damage.
Case Presentation: This is a case report of 23 years old female in which post-intubation complication of TMJ dislocation occurred while the patient had facial surgery.
Conclusion: Early diagnosis of iatrogenic TMJ dislocation is required to prevent delays in treatment, whether the surgery in the head & neck region or remote area.
Room-temperature power generation of Ge-sensitized thermal cells with interdigitated array electrodes
Authors: Matsushita Sachiko , Kohata Haruki , Obinata Mitsugu , Isobe Toshihiro , Nakajima Akira
Published: March 2024

A semiconductor-sensitized thermal cell (STC) is a new thermal energy conversion technology that generates electricity using the redox reactions of electrolyte ions with thermally excited carriers in semiconductors. A characteristic feature of STC is the restoration phenomena of battery characteristics in heat due to the electrolyte ion diffusion. This study employed interdigitated array electrodes with extremely narrow electrode distances (several micro m) to clarify the role of ion diffusion, leading to electric power generation at an ambient temperature of 30℃.
Influences of Policy, School, Family, and Community Environmental Factors on Physical Activity and Fitness Among Children and Adolescents: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis
Authors: Wang Junyu , Wu Shengyong , Chen Xuhui , Yang Yong , Ruan Weiqi , Xu Bingjie , Xie Ting , Wang Jianfeng , Wu Jun , Zhuang Jie
Published: March 2024

Background: Investigating environmental factors' impact on youth physical activity (PA) and fitness (PF) is crucial for healthy lifestyle promotion. This study examines policy, school, family, and community influences on Chinese children and adolescents' PA and PF.
Methods: In a cross-sectional analysis involving 2,747 Chinese children and adolescents (mean age 12.90 ± 2.49; 48.2% male) from 17 schools, environmental factors—policy, school, family, and community—were assessed through questionnaires, while PA levels were gauged using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. PF metrics—BMI, waist-to-height ratio, grip strength, vertical jump, and 20-mSRT—were measured onsite. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) explored relationships between environmental influences and PA/PF outcomes.
Results: School environment ranked highest (78.0±9.5), with community environment lowest (38.7±18.0). Family environment significantly positively influenced low-intensity PA (LPA) (β=0.102, P<0.001) but negative effect on moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (β=-0.055, P=0.035). Community and policy environment positively impacted MVPA (β=0.216, P<0.001; β=0.072, P=0.009, respectively). Family environment positively affected BMI reduction (β=-0.103, P<0.001) but negatively grip strength (β=-0.063, P=0.018). Community environment significantly improved grip strength and 20-mSRT performance (β=0.088, P=0.002; β=0.065, P=0.027).
Conclusions: This study reveals that policy environment directly and positively influence MVPA among Chinese youth. Although school environment score highest, they show no significant association with PA or PF. Family environment is conducive to LPA but inversely related to MVPA, while positively impacting BMI reduction and negatively affecting grip strength development. In contrast, community environment, despite scoring the lowest, positively affect MVPA, grip strength, and 20-mSRT outcomes. This study emphasizes the importance of policy, family, and community environments in influencing youth PA and PF, advocating for the improvement of community sports infrastructure and the promotion of MVPA benefits within families.
Triglyceride glucose index for the detection of diabetic kidney disease and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in hospitalized patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Tu Zhihui , Du Juan , Ge Xiaoxu , Peng Wengfang , Shen Lisha , Xia Lili , Jiang Xiaohong , Hu Fan , Huang Shan
Published: March 2024

Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the potential of TyG in forecasting the onset of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).
Methods: A total of 2048 patients were enrolled in this study. The primiary outcomes are DKD and DPN. Quantile regression analysis was employed to investigate the implicit factors of TyG quartiles. Subsequently, based on the implicit factors, logistic regression models were constructed to further examine the relationship between TyG and DKD and DPN.
Results:In the baseline, TyG exhibited higher values across patients with DKD, DPN, and co-existence of DKD and DPN (DKD+DPN) in T2DM. Univariate logistic regressions demonstrated a significant association between an elevated TyG and an increased risk of DKD (OR = 1.842, [95% CI] 1.317–2.578, P for trend < 0.01), DPN (OR = 1.516, [95% CI] 1.114–2.288, P for trend < 0.05), DKD+DPN (OR = 2.088, [95% CI] 1.429–3.052, P for trend < 0.05) . Multivariable logistic regression models suggested a statistically significant increase in the risk of DKD (OR = 1.581, [95% CI] 1.031–2.424, p<0.05) DKD+DPN (OR = 1.779, [95% CI] 1.091–2.903, p<0.05 ) after adjusting the implicit factors of TyG quartiles. However, no significant relationship was observed between TyG and DPN in the multivariable regression analysis.
Conclusion: Elevated TyG was significantly associated with an increased risk of DKD in T2DM, but no significant relationship was showed with DPN. This finding provided further evidence for the clinical significance of integrating the TyG index into the initial assessment of diabetic microvascular complications.
Identification of the Molecular Subtypes of Acute Ischemic Stroke Using Bioinformatics and Machine Learning
Authors: Wu Zongkai , Fan Hongzhen , Qin Lu , Niu Xiaoli , Chu Bao , Zhang Kaihua , Gao Yaran , Wang Hebo
Published: March 2024

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a severe disorder characterized by complex pathophysiological processes, which can lead to disability and death. This study aimed to determine necroptosis-associated genes in Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to investigate their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for AIS. Expression profiling data were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and necroptosis-associated genes were retrieved from GeneCards. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and necroptosis-related genes were intersected to obtain the necroptosis-related DEGs (NRDEGs) in AIS. In AIS, a total of 76 genes associated with necroptosis (referred to as NRDEGs) were identified. Enrichment analysis of these genes revealed that they were primarily enriched in pathways known to induce necroptosis. Using Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), five co-expression modules consisting of NRDEGs were identified, along with two modules that exhibited a strong correlation with AIS. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis resulted in the identification of 20 hub genes. The Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model demonstrated promising potential for diagnostic prediction. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve validated the diagnostic model and selected nine characteristic genes that exhibited statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). By employing consensus clustering, distinct patterns of necroptosis were identified using these nine signature genes. The results were verified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in HT22 cells and an external data set. Furthermore, the analyzed ceRNA network included nine lncRNAs, six miRNAs, and three mRNAs. Overall, this study offers novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying NRDEGs in AIS. The findings provide valuable evidence and contribute to our understanding of the disease.
Assessment of the Color Effect on Cadmium and Lead Contents in the Most Popular Cosmetics in the Saudi Market
Authors: Albugami Mashael M. , Buzaid Alyah , Shah Faheem , Ahmed Amel Y.
Published: March 2024

This study focused on determining the concentrations of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in four types of coloured cosmetic products (lipstick, blusher, eyeshadow, and hair dye) available at local markets in Saudi Arabia. Forty-eight cosmetic samples were analysed via inductively coupled plasma‒optical emission spectrometry (ICP‒OES) to measure the contents of Pb and Cd.Quality control of the data was achieved by the analysis of Hay Powder, an IAEA-V-10 standard reference material from IAEA. The concentrations of Pb in the lipstick, blusher, eyeshadow, and hair dye samples ranged from 0.052–2.823, 0.204–1.097, 1.100-2.519 and 0.142–0.187 ppm, respectively, while the concentrations of Cd ranged from 0.001–0.071, 0.003–0.019, 0.022 − 0.0061 and 0.000-0.001 ppm, respectively. The effect of color on concentration was also investigated. The results of this study were compared with those of previous studies. According to the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), the concentrations of Pb and Cd in all samples that were examined were within permissible limits. The results derived from the utilization of hazard quotient (HQ) indices show that Pb had the highest HQ, while Cd had the lowest HQ in all cosmetics studied. In addition, the hazard indices (HIs) for lipstick, blusher, eyeshadow, and hair days ranged from 0.02–1.179, 0.08–0.457, 0.459–1.375, and 0.059–0.077, respectively.
An exploratory analysis on the association between suicidal ideation and the microbiome in patients with or without major depressive disorder
Authors: Chen Vincent Chin-Hung , Wu Shu-I
Published: March 2024

Background
Scarce research has investigated associations between suicidal ideation and the gut microbiota. We aimed to explore variations in the gut microbiome associated with suicidal ideation and major depressive disorder (MDD).
Results
Among the 140 participants, significant differences in Beta diversity were found between MDD patients with (n=43) or without suicidal ideation (n=34), and healthy volunteers (n=42) (all p<0.001). The strain of g-Phascolarctobacteriumwas found to have significant positive associations with scores of BSSI and BSSI Part 1 (suicidal ideation), particularly in MDD patients with suicidal ideation, after controlling for demographic and mood covariates.
Conclusion
We found different compositions and diversities of the gut microbiome associated with suicidal ideations. Potential mechanisms need further investigation to establish whether this reflects a biological process that might be the focus for intervention development.
RETRACTED: DX-MOCCII Based Electronically Tunable Resistor-less Fully Cascadable First-Order Current mode Universal-Filter
Authors: Makhdoomi Basit Shafat , Kumar Ashok
Published: March 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.