bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High myoglobin level as an independent risk factor for death in patients with critical COVID-19 infection：A retrospective case-control study
Authors: Sun Xiaoxiao , Zhang Hui , Zhang Meixian , Fei Miaomiao , Xiong Lize , Li Cheng
Published: March 2024

Aim
This study aimed to discover risk factors for death in patients with critical COVID-19 infection in order to identify patients with a higher risk of death at an early stage.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with critical COVID-19 infection from April 2022 to June 2022. Data were collected from the electronic medical records. Propensity matching scores were used to reduce the effect of confounding factors, such as patient baseline variables. Independent risk factors affecting patient prognosis were assessed using univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Restricted cubic spline curves were used to assess the relationship between independent and dependent variables.
Results
The data of 137 patients with critical COVID-19 infection were collected. Of the 137 patients, 84 survived and 53 died. Among laboratory indicators, patients who died had higher proportions of abnormalities in RDW SD, procalcitonin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, potassium, cardiac troponin I, and myoglobin. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses suggested that abnormal AST (OR = 3.26, P = 0.044), creatinine (OR = 4.49, P = 0.037), and myoglobin (OR = 9.88, P = 0.025) were independent risk factors for death. After correction for AST and creatinine, a linear relationship between myoglobin and risk of death in patients was found using restricted cubic splines.
Conclusion
High myoglobin level is an independent risk factor for death and is therefore a prognostic marker in patients with severe COVID-19 infection.
Development of atmospheric pressure air dielectric barrier glow discharge in large gaps through modulation of pulsed power supply upon AC
Authors: Haghani Saeedeh Faghih , Seyfi Pourya , Ghomi Hamid
Published: March 2024

The development of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in glow mode in large gaps in air at atmospheric pressure, due to providing diffuse, uniform, safe, and economic treatments for a wide range of substrates and for many applications, could be a beneficial way to enhance cold plasma applications in various industries. Here, we generated a glow DBD that has a volume-surface coupling geometrical structure in a 1mm gap distance by a pulsed power supply and expanded the gap distance up to 2 cm by modulating the pulsed power supply on an AC one. The resulting glow discharges were studied by voltage-current waveform and atomic emission spectroscopy.
ncRNAs-mediated high expression of ITGB1 correlates with poor prognosis and tumor immune infiltration in gastric cancer
Authors: Sun Jingxian , Su Wei , Wang Zhiqiang , Wang Xiao , Ma Xiaoguang , Zhao Rui
Published: March 2024

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly heterogeneous and complex disease. Recent evidence has shown that members of the Integrin β superfamily (ITGBs) play crucial roles in the initiation and progression of various types of human cancer. However, the specific role and mechanism of ITGB1, one of the representative factors within the integrin family, in GC have not been fully elucidated.
Methods: The study systematically analysed the expression and prognostic significance of ITGBs in pan-cancer using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx). Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify the key factors that influence the prognosis of GC. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that contribute to ITGB1 expression were subsequently identified through a combination of in silico analyses, including expression, correlation, and survival analysis. The relationship between ITGB1 and its lncRNA MIR99AHG expression with tumor immune cell infiltration, biomarkers of immune cells, and immune checkpoint expression in GC was then elucidated.
Results: Compared to the adjacent normal tissue, the results show a significant increase in ITGB1-2 and ITGB4-8 mRNA levels in GC. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses indicate that elevated expression of ITGB1 is associated with a poor prognosis and can serve as an independent prognostic factor in GC patients. The MIR99AHG/hsa-mir-17-5p axis has been identified as the most promising upstream ncRNA-related pathway involved in regulating ITGB1 expression in GC through comprehensive expression analysis, correlation analysis, and survival analysis. Additionally, the expressions of both ITGB1 and MIR99AHG have been validated through immunohistochemical analysis using our collection of GC tissues. Finally, our study shows a positive correlation between the levels of infiltrating CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, and the expression of ITGB1. High levels of macrophages are particularly indicative of a better prognosis in GC.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ncRNAs-mediated ITGB1 expression is associated with poor prognosis and tumor immune infiltration in GC. However, it is necessary to conduct further validation through extensive basic experiments and large-scale clinical trials in the future.
Effect of additional energy supplement of roasted soybean, soybean oil, bypass fat and extra concentrate on biochemical and metabolic profile in lactating Murrah buffaloes
Authors: Yadav Danveer Singh , Lakhani Gandhi Prasad , Choudhary Rashmi , Roy Biswajit , Mishra Aditya , Jamra Mohabbat Singh , Rawat Nawal Singh
Published: March 2024

The study was conducted to see the effects of additional energy supplementation on the biochemical and metabolic profile in lactating Murrah buffaloes. The study was conducted at Livestock Farm, Adhartal, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandary, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P.) for a period of one year (July, 2018 to June, 2019). A total of 30 lactating Murrah buffaloes were selected and randomly distributed to six groups. The study was carried up to 90 days post-partum. Animals of the group-1 (T1) received only basal diet as per ICAR (2013) requirements. Whereas group-2 (T2), 3 (T3), 4 (T4) and 5 (T5) were supplemented with 5% additional concentrate (T2) or 100 ml soybean oil (T3) or 100 g bypass fat (T4) or 100 g roasted soybean (T5) per animal/day. Other than feed, all the animals were maintained under same managemental conditions. The experimental animals were fed as per their body weight and production following ICAR (2013) requirements. They were fed twice daily according to schedule at 5:30 am and 3:00 pm and water was kept available to animals round the clock. The data recorded during the study were analysed statistically using descriptive statistics, one way ANOVA. Non-significant differences were observed among groups for blood glucose and BUN level. The higher NEFA concentration (mmol/l) was observed in groupT1 (0.47). The blood sodium concentration (mEq /L) had significantly decreased among the groups from initial day to 90th day of lactation and was higher in T3 (143.54) as compared to T1 (140.94) group. Significant findings were observed among groups about blood potassium, chloride and calcium concentration while phosphorus concentration was non-significant. Conversely, the blood alkaline phosphatase concentration had decreased significantly due to additional energy supplementation in different groups. Hence, based on the findings of study, it has been concluded that supplementation of 100g soybean oil was most economical followed by 100g of roasted soybean. It was followed by 5% additional concentration feeding and 100g bypass fat.
Phosphorus-Modified Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Effective Removal of Thorium from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Zhuang Yinghao , Sun Shuai , Jia Kai , Wang Shao , Shi Lei , Yang Xiangshan
Published: March 2024

Thorium (Th), as a promising nuclear fuel, can cause serious radioactive contamination even in a small amount in nuclear wastewater. Therefore, it is urgent to develop effective adsorbents for the removal of thorium. Herein, phytic acid modification of carboxylated zirconium based on metal-organic framework (UIO-66-COOH-PA) was obtained by rapid high-temperature carbonization, which exhibited excellent performance in removing Th (IV) in acidic solutions. The maximum adsorption capacity of UIO-COOH-PA-2 (with phytic acid mass ratio of 40%) reached 315.5 mg/g at pH of 4, which was more than twice that of the unmodified Zr-based MOF material (151.2 mg/g). The thorium adsorption process reached dynamic equilibrium quickly at different temperatures. Freundlich model fitted the thorium adsorption kinetics of UIO-COOH-PA better and its adsorption dynamics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The excellent adsorption performance of UIO-COOH-PA-2 at low pH values indicated that the adsorption materials containing phosphorus were suitable for the removal of thorium especially in acidic systems. It also exhibited excellent selectivity (up to 90.2%) for Th (IV) adsorption in the presence of many coexisting rare-earth ions. These results will provide a new strategy for the design of adsorbents for efficient removal of thorium from radioactive acidic wastewater environments.
A Unified Approach for Time and Frequency Domain Finite Element Model Updating
Authors: Li Dan , Zhou Jiajun , He Xinhao
Published: March 2024

Reliable finite element (FE) models play a vital role in accurately predicting structural behaviors under various loading conditions in structural engineering applications. This paper presents a unified approach for solving both time and frequency domain FE model updating problems. In this approach, both types of problems are formulated as stochastic dynamic systems with embedded parameter-to-data maps, enabling the estimation of unknown model parameters. The unscented Kalman method is employed as an effective tool to solve these dynamic systems and update the parameters. Additionally, this study addresses specific settings within FE model updating, including constraints implementation, covariance inflation, and sparsity regularization. Constraints on estimated parameters are effectively incorporated, ensuring adherence to predefined bounds. Covariance inflation techniques are applied to account for uncertainties not accurately captured by assumed covariance matrices. Moreover, sparsity regularization techniques are introduced to promote sparsity in estimated parameters, facilitating more accurate and interpretable results for special applications such as damage identification. The proposed unified approach is numerically verified through extensive simulations. The results demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the approach in accurately estimating the unknown parameters of FE models for structural engineering applications.
Lenvatinib Improves the Relative Abundance of Probiotics in Intestinal Flora of Patients with Primary Liver Cancer
Authors: Chai Xin , Tang Yue , Li Ximeng , Zou Shansi , Guan Xutao , Zang Wenqiao , Wang Tao
Published: March 2024

Background
Lenvatinibis commonly used systemic therapeutic drugs for patients with advanced Primary Liver Cancer (PLC). Recent studies have found that gut microbiota can regulate the efficacy of anti-tumor drugs. However, the relationship between antiangiogenic drugs and intestinal flora is not clear, and there is no relevant clinical research.
Methods
We investigated Lenvatinib's impact on PLC patients' intestinal flora. Fecal samples from pre- and post-treatment PLC patients were analyzed via 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing.
Results
Notably, Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus, and other genera varied between groups at the genus level. The relative abundance of probiotics (Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus) significantly rose post-treatment. The Lefse analysis revealed significant differences. Following Lenvatinib treatment, PLC patients exhibited 12 biomarkers, including Clostridia, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacteriaceae, Bifidobacteriales, Faecalibacterium, Butyricicoccus, Butyricicoccaceae, Ruminococcaceae-uncultured, Ruminococcaceae-Incertae_Sedis, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae_UCG_010.
Conclusions
Lenvatinib increased the relative abundance of probiotics in PLC patients' intestinal flora, suggesting therapeutic implications.
Multi-scale analysis method for crack damage in 8Cr4Mo4V alloys
Authors: Cao Hongrui , Ma Tianyu , Gong Gu , Shi Jianghai , Wei Xunkai , Zhang Lijun
Published: March 2024

8Cr4Mo4V, as an ideal choice for aeroengines bearing materials, involves multi-scale damage mechanisms of the fatigue crack failures. Herein, we propose a multi-scale analysis method to analyze the crack initiation and propagation damage mechanisms of 8Cr4Mo4V alloy. We find that different crystal orientations produce distinctly different damage mechanisms. The second phase doping also has different strengthening effects on the matrix following bypass and cut-through mechanisms. Meanwhile, the study of the polycrystalline model verified the micro-scale inverse Hall-Petch relation, where material strength decreases with grain refinement. Phase transitions caused by dislocations lead to stress concentration at specific grain boundaries, becoming the main inducer for the nucleation of initial voids. To address micro-to-macroscale-crossing issues, we constructed a large-scale mesoscopic molecular dynamics simulation and proposed an analytical formula to predict the relationship between average grain size and yield stress. Finally, we combine macroscopic experiments, crystallographic analyses, and atomic-scale characterization, verifying the combined action of dislocations and stacking faults leads to the failure of the material.
Investigation of Humidity and Electrostatic Charge on Anticholinergic Molecules in Dry Powder Inhalations
Authors: Yalçın Duygu Orak , Çıtak Şevval , Civan Didem , Özparlak Nur , Erdoğan Ünnügülsüm , Işık Enis , İçin Hayriye , Aldeniz Emre Erol , Kayar Gül Gönül , Dude Udaya
Published: March 2024

Background: Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are commonly used for respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DPIs have many advantages for patients, such as ease of use or rapid delivery to the patient’s lungs. However, they can be very sensitive to environmental conditions such as ambient relative humidity (RH) and electrostatic charge, and therefore the manufacturing process and storage conditions of these pharmaceutical products must be carefully determined.
Method: In this study, two different active substances belonging to the anticholinergic family were studied and it was examined how the active substances of the same family might be affected by changing humidity conditions. The change in the amount of delivered active substance to the patient’s lungs as the electric charge accumulated in the capsules was determined. Additionally, the effect of electrical charge of the inhaler device on fine particle dose (FPD) was studied in capsules manufactured with Active Substance-1.
Results and Conclusion: This study demonstrated that, with the increase in ambient humidity and aging of the capsule and powder, the FPD of Active Substance-1 and the total mass increased in parallelly. While Active Substance-2 was not affected by the aging of the capsules, it was observed that the FPD value increased with the increase in ambient RH during the manufacturing process.
Bio-distribution and Toxicity Potential of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cynomolgus Monkeys
Authors: Huang Ying , Hao Xiaofang , Lin Zhi , Li Lulu , Jiang Hua , Zhang Hezhan , Geng Xingchao , Zhu Hao , Wen Hairuo
Published: March 2024

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated promising advantages in the therapies of many diseases, while its multi-directional differentiation potential and immunotoxicity are the major concerns hindered their clinical translation. In this study, human umbilical Mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSCs) were labeled with a near-infrared fluorescent dye DiR before infused into Cynomolgus monkeys, and the amount of hUC-MSCs in the peripheral blood were dynamically estimated from 5 min to 28 days post a single administration at 3 × 106 cells/kg and 2 × 107 cells/kg intravenously. As results, some hUC-MSCs distributed to the whole body within 5 minutes, while most of the cells accumulate in the lungs along with the systemic blood circulation, and subsequently released into the blood. The toxicity potentials of hUC-MSCs were investigated in another 30 Cynomolgus monkeys, and the cells were repeatedly administrated at doses of 3 × 106 cells/kg and 2 × 107 cells/kg for 5 times on a weekly basis, with a recovery period of 1 months. hUC-MSCs showed no obvious toxic effects in cynomolgus monkeys, except xenogeneic immune rejection to human stem cells. Low level of hUC-MSCs gene at were detected in the peripheral blood of a few animals administered 2 × 107 cells/kg at 30 minutes after the first and last administration, indicating that the hUC-MSCs was not significantly amplified in vivo, indicating itssafety in non-human primate. Our study for the first time verified the safety of long-term use of hUC-MSCs in primates. We have pioneered a technology for the real-time detection of hUC-MSCs in peripheral blood and provide dynamic and rapid monitoring of the distribution characteristics of hUC-MSCs in vivo. Here, we provide data supporting the application of such products for clinical treatment and the application of stem cells in major refractory diseases and regenerative medicine.
Platelet-rich plasma treatment for large joint osteoarthritis : Retrospective study highlighting a possible treatment protocol with long-lasting stimulation of the joint with an adequate dose of platelets
Authors: Schwitzguébel Adrien , Corzo Alfredo Hernandez , Theodoridou Efstathia , ARTIERES Clémence , Roy-Camille David , Bogoev Mitko , Grange Matthieu , Boudabbous Sana , Benaim Charles
Published: March 2024

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has emerged as a potential treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA) due to its ability to promote tissue healing and anti-inflammatory effects. More evidences are needed to establish the optimal therapy protocol. We present here a retrospective analysis of 252 patients treated with PRP for big joints OA between 2020 and 2022. We aimed to evaluate the benefits of PRP combined with rehabilitation on pain and function as well as the potential prognosis factors. We observed clinically significant improvements in pain (VAS improvement 49% at 6 months, 45% at 12 months) and function (Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation i.e. SANE score improvement 44% at 6 months, 39% at 12 months). Multiple PRP shoots and high sports activity, especially competition level, were found as favorable prognosis factors. The authors would suggest offering systematically PRP therapy for competition sports practitioners. Moreover, authors suggest that multiple PRP shoots, spaced from 3–4 weeks, with a total platelet count not exceeding 3*109 platlets per shoot could be a viable treatment option for OA.
Machine Learning–Based Predictive Model for Post-Stroke Dementia
Authors: Wei Zemin , Li Mengqi , Zhang Chenghui , Miao Jinli , Wang Wenmin , Fan Hong
Published: March 2024

Backgound: Post-stroke dementia (PSD), a common complication, diminishes rehabilitation efficacy and affects disease prognosis in stroke patients. Many factors may be related to PSD, including demographic, comorbidities, and examination characteristics. However, most existing methods are qualitative evaluations of independent factors, which ignore the interaction amongst various factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the applicability of machine learning methods for predicting PSD.
Methods: 9 acceptable features were screened out by the Spearman correlation analysis and Boruta algorithm. We developed and evaluated 8 machine learning (ML) models: logistic regression, elastic net, k-nearest neighbors, decision tree, extreme gradient boosting, support vector machine, random forest, and multilayer perceptron.
Results: A total of 539 stroke patients were included in this study. Among the 8 models used to predict PSD, extreme gradient boosting and random forest showed the highest area under the curve (AUC), with values of 0.7287 and 0.7285, respectively. The most important features for predicting PSD included age, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, stroke side and location, and the occurrence of cerebral hemorrhage.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ML models, especially extreme gradient boosting, can best predict the risk of PSD.
Runx3 and Brn3a interplay orchestrates the transcriptional program in the early stages of proprioceptive neuron development
Authors: Orlovsky Kira , Appel Elena , Hantisteanu Shay , Olender Tsviya , Lotem Joseph , Levanon Ditsa , Groner Yoram
Published: March 2024

The development and diversification of proprioceptive neurons, which reside in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and express the tropomyosin receptor kinase C (TrkC), depend on the transcription factor (TF) Runx3. As one of the major functions of TrkC neurons is to coordinate limb movements, Runx3-deficient mice develop severe limb ataxia due to TrkC neuron cell death. In TrkC neurons Runx3 expression is driven by the gene proximal P2 promoter. Accordingly, P2-/- mice develop severe ataxia. Heterozygous (P2+/-) vs. homozygous (P2-/-) TrkC neuron transcriptome highlighted a repertoire of differentially expressed genes (DEG). The Intersection of Runx3 genomic occupancy-associated genes and DEG data discovered 244 high-confidence Runx3 target genes (HCT). We also analyzed the genomic occupancy of two additional TFs, Brn3a and Isl1, that play a role in sensory neuron development and determined the landscape of histone H3 acetylated lysine 27 (H3K27Ac) and transpoase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq)-marked chromatin regions in E11.5 TrkC neurons. These analyses shed new light on the interplay of Runx3, Brn3a, Isl1, and open chromatin regions in regulating the HCT genes in the early developmental stages of TrkC neurons.
Large-scale network analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid proteome identifies molecular signatures of frontotemporal lobar degeneration
Authors: Saloner Rowan , Staffaroni Adam , Dammer Eric , Johnson Erik C.B. , Paolillo Emily , Wise Amy , Heuer Hilary , Forsberg Leah , Lago Argentina Lario , Webb Julia , Vogel Jacob , Santillo Alexander , Hansson Oskar , Kramer Joel , Miller Bruce , Li Jingyao , Loureiro Joseph , Sivasankaran Rajeev , Worringer Kathleen , Seyfried Nicholas , Yokoyama Jennifer , Seeley William , Spina Salvatore , Grinberg Lea , VandeVrede Lawren , Ljubenkov Peter , Bayram Ece , Bozoki Andrea , Brushaber Danielle , Considine Ciaran , Day Gregory , Dickerson Bradford , Domoto-Reilly Kimiko , Faber Kelley , Galasko Douglas , Geschwind Daniel , Ghoshal Nupur , Graff-Radford Neill , Hales Chadwick , Honig Lawrence , Hsiung Ging-Yuek , Huey Edward , Kornak John , Kremers Walter , Lapid Maria , Lee Suzee , Litvan Irene , McMillan Corey , Mendez Mario , Miyagawa Toji , Pantelyat Alexander , Pascual Belen , Paulson Henry , Petrucelli Leonard , Pressman Peter , Ramos Eliana , Rascovsky Katya , Roberson Erik , Savica Rodolfo , Snyder Allison , Sullivan A. Campbell , Tartaglia Carmela , Vandebergh Marijne , Boeve Bradley , Rosen Howie , Rojas Julio , Boxer Adam , Casaletto Kaitlin
Published: March 2024

The pathophysiological mechanisms driving disease progression of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and corresponding biomarkers are not fully understood. We leveraged aptamer-based proteomics (> 4,000 proteins) to identify dysregulated communities of co-expressed cerebrospinal fluid proteins in 116 adults carrying autosomal dominant FTLD mutations (C9orf72, GRN, MAPT) compared to 39 noncarrier controls. Network analysis identified 31 protein co-expression modules. Proteomic signatures of genetic FTLD clinical severity included increased abundance of RNA splicing (particularly in C9orf72 and GRN) and extracellular matrix (particularly in MAPT) modules, as well as decreased abundance of synaptic/neuronal and autophagy modules. The generalizability of genetic FTLD proteomic signatures was tested and confirmed in independent cohorts of 1) sporadic progressive supranuclear palsy-Richardson syndrome and 2) frontotemporal dementia spectrum syndromes. Network-based proteomics hold promise for identifying replicable molecular pathways in adults living with FTLD. ‘Hub’ proteins driving co-expression of affected modules warrant further attention as candidate biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
An Empirical Study of the Optimal Piezoelectric Patch Positioning for Voltage Generation on the Cantilever Beam
Authors: Sasikumar M
Published: March 2024

The ideal location for piezoelectric patches on a cantilever beam to capture electrical energy from vibration is presented in this research. Harnessing vibrations for energy generation through piezoelectric patches on cantilever beams holds great promise for powering small devices. A piezoelectric patch on a cantilever beam with a tip mass is typically used in energy harvesting devices. The majority of these gadgets employ a rectangular piezoelectric patch that covers the entire beam or just a portion of it. The position on the cantilever beam determines the voltage produced by the piezoelectric patches. The output voltage was determined experimentally in this work using a prototype harvester developed in accordance with the previously specified structure. The resultant ac output voltage was measured after the piezoelectric patches were positioned at various points along the rectangular cantilever beam. Additionally, we investigate the appearance of various solutions by varying the tip mass. Finding the best location for the energy harvester's patches and tip mass on the vibrating structure is crucial since different solutions may provide varying amounts of ac output voltage. Once this optimal position is identified, it provides a clear path to enhance the energy harvesting system's performance.
Sedentary Behaviour Associated with Frailty and Depressive Symptoms in Community- Dwelling Older Adults: a cross sectional study
Authors: Alhwoaimel Norah A , Alqahtani Bader A , Alshehri Mohammed M , Alhowimel Ahmed S
Published: March 2024

Background The association between the level physical activity with frailty and depressive symptoms is not yet clear in the literature. The analysis of physical activity level may provide evidence of the factors that contribute to frailty and depressive symptoms among older adults. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the association between physical activity level (including sedentary behaviours) and both frailty and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults. Methods a cross-sectional study was conducted among 428 community-dwelling older adults aged 50 and above. Physical activity level and sedentary behaviour were assessed with the Arabic version of Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Frailty was evaluated using the Arabic version of the FRAIL scale, and depressive symptoms was assessed using the Arabic version of the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample. To examine the the association between physical activity level and both physical frailty and depressive symptoms, multinomial logistic regression model was used. Statistical significance was defined as p ≤ 0.05. Results The prevalence of sedentary behaviour was 24.9% (n = 106), with higher prevalence observed in frail and pre-frail individuals. Sedentary physical activity level was associated pre-frailty and frailty (OR: 2.78; 95% CI [1.47,5.25],p = 0.002), (OR: 4.58; 95% CI [1.94,10.80],p = 0.001), respectively. Further, sedentary physical activity level was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (OR: 2.42; 95% CI [1.22,4.81],p = 0.011). Conclusion Sedentary physical activity level is more prevalent among older adults who have frailty symptoms. Both frailty and depressive symptoms is significantly associated with sedentary level of physical activity. Promoting physical activity should be considered to prevent frailty and reduce depressive symptoms in older adults.
Study of the floral phenology of Dacryodes edulis in the Republic of Congo
Authors: Ossibi Grace Jokael Etou , Chrichina Mbon Nguékou , Mouekouba Dalcantara Liana Ongouya , Makoundou Alaric , Mpika Joseph , Attibayeba Paul
Published: March 2024

Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) HJ Lam. is a fruit tree producing edible fruits called safou. Floral phenology is described while situating it in time, in relation to temperature. And illumination. For this, 10 feet are selected in the surroundings of the city of Brazzaville. The qualitative and quantitative characters of the flowers are observed, in order to identify their phenophases. There Flowering lasts 38 days and includes three stages, the initiated flower, the flower bud and the bloomed flower which have lengths respectively 3.52 mm ; 4.742 mm and 5.569 mm. Temperature and lighting positively influence the elongation of the flower. Geographic orientation in relation to sunset and at sunrise does not influence the elongation of the flower.
High Temperature Heat Flux Sensor With ITO/In2O3 Thermopile for Extreme Environment Sensing
Authors: Tan Qiulin , Dong Helei , Lu Meimei , Wang Weifeng
Published: March 2024

Hypersonic vehicles and aircraft engine blades face complex and harsh environments such as high heat flow density and high temperature, and they are generally narrow curved spaces, making it impossible to actually install them for testing. Thin-film heat flux sensors(HFSs) have the advantages of small size, fast response, and in-situ fabrication, but they are prone to reach thermal equilibrium and thus fail during testing. In our manuscript, an ITO-In2O3 thick film HFS is designed and a high-temperature heat flux test system is built to simulate the working condition of a blade subjected to heat flow impact. The simulation and test results show that the test performance of the thick-film HFS is improved by optimizing the structure and parameters. Under the condition of no water cooling, the designed HFS can work under the extremely high temperature environment of 1450°C, with the maximum output thermopotential of 17.8 mV, and the average test sensitivity of 0.035 mV/(kW/m2), which has a superior high temperature resistance performance, which cannot be achieved by other existing thin (thick) film HFSs. Therefore, designed HFS has a great potential for application in harsh environments such as aerospace, weaponry, and industrial metallurgy.
RESTQ-Sport 77 Athlete Self-Report Measure for Soccer Players :The Revisit using Item Response Theory
Authors: Khusaini Nurul Syuhadah , Azidin Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja , Ramli Mohd Hanif Mohd , Aziz Norheliena , Hemdi Abdul Rahman , Mohamed Zulkifli
Published: March 2024

Monitoring athletes’ well-being by using subjective or objective approach is oneof the important aspects to ensure optimum performance for both technical andphysical during match or training. Athlete Self Report Measure (ASRM) is one ofthe subjective approaches and it is used widely at the global level. However, mostASRM are still printed on paper RESTQ-Sport is one of the well-known ASRM andit is established using Classical Test Theory (CTT). This study aims to re-validateRESTQ-Sport via a different approach; by implementing Item Response Theory(IRT) which will convert ordinal data to interval data for a sound and prudentobjective measurement. A total of 45 respondents volunteer to participate in thepilot study; and based on the interaction between respondents (person) and items, areliability index of 0.95 and 0.93 is recorded for both person and item. The responsefor this pilot study yields an explained variance by measures of 53.2%, while 9.2%is the unexplained variance. Further scrutiny is made for improvement, and thetest is re-analyzed. It is evident that the explained variance by measures improvetremendously to 56.9%; whilst the unexplained variance is reduced to 5.4%.
Cooperative colonization of the host and pathogen dissemination involves stochastic and spatially structured expression of virulence traits
Authors: Beuzon Carmen , Lopez-Pagan Nieves , Rufian Jose , Luneau Julien , Sanchez-Romero Maria-Antonia , Aussel Laurent , Vliet Simon van , Ruiz-Albert Javier
Published: March 2024

Bacteria respond to changing environments by altering gene expression. Some responses display probabilistic cell-to-cell variation within isogenic populations. A few paradigmatic examples in animal pathogens have demonstrated that this phenotypic heterogeneity has biological relevance for virulence. We investigate single-cell flagellar expression in relation to type III secretion expression in the model plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae and describe that both systems undergo phenotypic heterogeneity throughout plant colonization. We establish that high expression of these system carries growth penalties. Stochastic, spatial and time factors shape dynamics of a phenotypically diverse population which displays division of labor during colonization: T3SSON bacteria effectors act as ‘common goods` to suppress immunity, allowing the increase of motile bacteria that actively leave the infected tissue before necrosis. This study provides a comprehensive view of how processes underlying bacterial specialization play out in the context of complex and changing environments of biological and applied relevance such as host colonization.
To check the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation and mirror therapy on neonatal motor development and mental health in children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy-Study protocol for randomized clinical trial
Authors: Waqas Shoaib , Ahmad Ashfaq , Goulardins Juliana Barbosa , Hanif Asif , Tariq Muhammad , Niamat Atiqa , Ali Aadil Amir
Published: March 2024

Background:
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive disorder resulting from undeveloped brain function leading to delays in motor, sensory, speech, and social interaction when compared to a normal, developed child. These structural and bodily insults prompt the infant towards disability (1). Transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) and mirror therapy (MT) work on the concept of neuroplasity to enhance the neuromuscular development of CP children. The response of this group to the mentioned therapies has never been investigated with a large sample size, which can mimic the concept of generalizability. The goal of this study is to compare the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and mirror therapy on neuromuscular growth and mental well-being of the spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy population.
Methods:
This is a single-centered, double blinded, and randomized clinical trial comprised of 105 CP patients aged 3–7 years. Sampling will be done by simple random, and allocation will be done by a random number table. The assessment will be taken at baseline (Pre-I), after two weeks (Post-I), and again after ten weeks of standard of care Physical Therapy treatment (Post-II), which is routine Physical Therapy. Study variables will be age, gender, height, weight, socioeconomic status, education, and severity of symptoms. The self-constructed Shoaib motor development tool will assess motor development, motor control by the Fugal Mayer assessment tool, and muscle performance by an isokinetic dynamometer, anthropometry by scales and measuring tape, and mental health by the SDQ questionnaire.
Discussion:
Researchers anticipate that TDCS and MT will stimulate neuromuscular development in terms of motor development and influence motor control, muscle performance, anthropometric factors, and hormonal change. This, in turn, is expected to uplift the mental wellbeing of CP children under the umbrella of neuroplasity. Ultimately, the child's entire developmental curve is positively impacted, therefore improving functional capability and participation across the short-term, mid-term, and long-term activity contexts.
Registration of trial:
On January 26, 2024, the trial was registered under the reference number IRCT20231227060542N1 on the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT).
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease with Initial Typical Parkinsonism Precipitated by COVID-19? A Case Report
Authors: Kuang Yaoyun , Mao Hengxu , Sun Hui , Dai Wei , Gan Tingting , Wang Xinlu , Liu Qin , Xu Ping-Yi
Published: March 2024

Background
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the accumulation of PrPSc. While COVID-19-induced sporadic CJD (sCJD) with parkinsonism as the initial symptom is extremely uncommon, this report aims to raise awareness of sCJD cases that present with parkinsonism that are not associated with genetic mutations or pathological α-synuclein (α-Syn) accumulation.
Case presentation
This report presents the case of a 72-year-old man with probable sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) who initially showed symptoms of parkinsonism, which worsened rapidly after contracting COVID-19. Despite a history of responsive tremor and bradykinesia, his condition deteriorated following the viral infection, leading to rapid consciousness decline and diffuse myoclonus. Diagnostic tests, including brain MRI, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and EEG, pointed towards prion disease. PrPSc, a marker for CJD, was detected in both the cerebrospinal fluid and skin samples using RT-QuIC, further confirming the diagnosis. Notably, skin analysis revealed PrPSc but no pathological α-synuclein deposits, ruling out typical Parkinson's disease.
Conclussion
This case underscores the importance of considering sCJD in patients with parkinsonism, especially if they experience sudden neuropsychiatric symptoms, especially if they do not exhibit pathological α-Syn accumulation or have genetic mutations.
Monetary Policy Implications of Electronic Money Adoption: Evidence from Nigeria
Authors: Kelikume Ikechukwu , Otonne Adewumi
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the monetary policy implications of electronic money adoption in Nigeria; that is, whether the electronic money adoption that began since the introduction of the cashless policy in Nigeria has disrupted the long-run stability of demand for money function. The findings reveal substantial growth in the Nigerian financial sector concerning the development and usage of electronic money, encompassing the expansion of banks and bank branches, Automated Teller Machines, mobile payments, Point-of-sale systems, web payments, and transaction volumes and values. Results from the study obtained through the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model (ARDL) show a substantial likelihood of an unstable and unpredictable demand function over time, potentially undermining the long-term effectiveness of monetary policy. The study underscores that electronic money transactions exert linear and non-linear effects on money demand and the velocity of money in circulation exhibits some form of instability during the study period. Consequently, the monetary authority should remain vigilant in monitoring evolving payment patterns and trends to discern the shifting dynamics of cash demand. A grasp of emerging payment technologies and transaction patterns will empower policymakers to proactively adjust monetary policies and regulatory frameworks, aligning them with the requirements of a digital economy. This approach ensures a balanced interplay with the demand for cash, which is essential for transactional activities within the economy.
JEL: G21, E41, E52, C22, N17
Computational modeling of the Nb4-O chemisorption process
Authors: Costa Caio Vínícius Souza , Barbosa Leonardo de Souza , Gargano Ricardo , Azevedo David Lima
Published: March 2024

Context: The transition metal Niobium (Nb) has attracted considerable attention from the scientific community due to its intriguing electronic properties and applications in catalysts suitable for chemical reactions. Thus, this work investigates the adsorption of the atmospheric polluting gas carbon monoxide (CO) by the niobium cluster (Nb4), to describe the reactive nature of Nb4. This entire study was carried out by applying the Coupled-Cluster method and Density Functional Theory (through the HSE06 functional) and the def2-QZVP plus Def2-TZVP/C auxiliary basis set functions. The results of electronic structure calculations and IR vibrational spectra suggest that both Nb4 and the Nb4-CO clusters can be considered stable. Furthermore, the obtained results also indicate that there is a chemisorption of carbon monoxide by the Nb4 niobium cluster. This feature can serve as motivation for future theoretical-experimental studies, as it suggests that the Nb4 cluster may have possible technological applications in automotive catalytic processes. Methods: Initial three-dimensional structures were constructed. Complete optimization of the geometry was performed in Coupled Cluster and Density Functional Theory methods. From the optimization configuration, it was possible to investigate the stability, Chemisorption process, binding energies, charge analysis, Molecular orbital energies, and IR vibrational spectra of the systems.
Methods: Initial three-dimensional structures were constructed. Complete optimization of the geometry was performed in Coupled Cluster and Density Functional Theory methods. From the optimization configuration, it was possible to investigate the stability, Chemisorption process, binding energies, charge analysis, Molecular orbital energies, and IR vibrational spectra of the systems.
The dynamic alternation of monocytes phenotypes and gene signature-related biomarkers in the airways and blood reveals myeloid subset-driven inflammation and lung fibrosis in hypercapnia following pulmonary sepsis- associated ARDS
Authors: Zhao Jie , Ji Yuanyuan , Xiao Ming , Yang ke , Sun Qi , Xie keliang , Ma Tao
Published: March 2024

Background
ARDS, a severe complication of sepsis, often exhibits hypercapnia, whose immunological mechanisms remain elusive. Our study aimed to investigate the pathogenesis of hypercapnia in pulmonary sepsis-associated ARDS and identify potential therapeutic targets.
Methods
Between December 2022 and April 2023, we conducted a single-center, prospective study with sixty-one severe pneumonia patients. Eleven patients without sepsis served as controls based on Sepsis-3 criteria. The remaining fifty patients with pulmonary sepsis met ESICM criteria for ARDS, with twenty-six developing hypercapnia. We comprehensively collected clinical data, respiratory parameters, and serial specimens of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) at early (within 24 hours) and late (Day 7) time points post-intubation. These specimens were analyzed using flow cytometry and a cytokine panel. Additionally, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on blood samples from four ARDS patients to characterize immunological and cellular profiles following pneumonia sepsis.
Results
Compared with non-hypercapnia ARDS patients and non-sepsis controls, septic associated-ARDS patients with hypercapnia exhibit poor prognosis and high mortality. To investigate their immunological response, we conducted scRNA-seq on PBMCs from four ARDS patients (one without hypercapnia and three with hypercapnia). Results showed a significant increase in monocytes, particularly classical monocytes (CD14+CD16−, CM), in hypercapnia patients. Flow cytometry analysis revealed a similar increase in CM throughout sepsis stages. This underscores the role of monocytes in hypercapnia ARDS. ScRNA-seq analysis also revealed elevated expression of cytokine storm-related genes, including IL-1β signaling, and genes linked to myeloid cell activation and recruitment. Elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-12p40, and IL-23 were observed in both blood and alveolar lavage fluid. Additionally, hypercapnia patients exhibited enrichment of profibrotic genes in monocytes and accumulation of monocyte-derived macrophages in airways, supported by clinical parameters, specifically the increased driving pressure and decreased static respiratory lung compliance, indicating pulmonary fibrosis.
Conclusions
We offer novel perspectives on monocyte-centered clusters and associated biomarkers, which play a pivotal role in driving hypercapnia-induced lung fibrosis. Our study provides fresh insights into the immunological mechanisms underlying hypercapnia in pulmonary sepsis-associated ARDS, laying the foundation for future therapeutic interventions to improve patient outcomes.
Development of intelligent nanogels by gamma radiation as theranostic agents for diagnosis and therapy of cancer
Authors: Srisaw Narudee , Rattanawongwiboon Thitirat , Laksee Sakchai , Lertsarawut Pattra , Thamrongsiripak Nuatawan , Hemvichian Kasinee
Published: March 2024

Nowadays, it is well known that cancer cause the most disease of human death. Chemotherapy or direct uptake of anticancer drugs was generally employed for cancer treatment. To ease the risk of normal cells and side effects of patient, nanocarrier contained anticancer drug and contrast agent is continuously developed to increase the survival rate. Theranostic agent is a multifunctional molecule, which is well-designed for more specificity to disease area or targeting area by combination of diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities into one single molecule. Based on this reason, researchers are interesting to develop a theranostic agent from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers for cancer treatement. In this research, the proton-donating polyacrylic acid (PAA) and the proton-accepting polyethylene oxide (PEO) were used as the starting materials, PAA and PEO were mixed with 1:1 molar stoichiometric ratio in 25% (v/v) acetone/water mixture to form the inter-polymer complexe (IPC) through cooperative H-bonding interaction. Subsequently, IPC solution was irradiated to create a strong covalent bond between polymer chains as IPC nanogels. The effects of dose, pH and temperature on size and stability of IPC nanogel were studied, comparing with IPC. After irradiation only at 3 kGy, IPC nanogel exhibited suitable size for drug delivery (87.01 ± 9.04 nm) and stable size over a period of 1 month at ambient temperature. Furthermore, Berberine (BBR) as a model anticancer drug was encapsulated into the IPC nanogel. The particle size, number of particle and surface area as well as surface charge of IPC nanogel before and after encapsulation was observed by dynamic light scattering, zetasizer and transmission electron microscopy. Drug release study revealed that the BBR drug was slowly released from IPC nanogels into PBS buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 °C over a period of 54 hrs. IPC nanogels not only encapsulate anticancer drug but also chelate metal ion as a contrast agent. The results of this research indicated that IPC nanogel prepared by radiation processing has the potential to be used as theranostic agents.
Strategy-Proof Mechanism for Time-Varying Fair Multi-resource Allocation with Placement Constraints in Clouds
Authors: Li Jie , Wang Wenbo , Fu Xiaodong
Published: March 2024

Current cloud computing systems are committed to providing quality of service to users. However, one main problem is fairly and efficiently allocating resources to users with time-varying demands. This is mainly due to the mismatch between the heterogeneous hardware and software demands of users and the heterogeneity of resource deployment. This restricts users from running their jobs on servers that can match their demands. In this paper, we design a lexicographically max-min multiresource fair allocation mechanism called cumulative task share fairness (CTSF) based on historical allocations to ensure long-term fairness and efficiency. With CTSF, each user prefers their own allocation over that of another user; no user can increase their allocation without decreasing the allocation of others; the allocation of no user will decrease by sharing resources; and importantly, no user can benefit by misreporting their demands and/or placement constraints. We design a simple heuristic for implementing CTSF in real-world cloud computing systems, prototype CTSF in a 50-node simulation and demonstrate its service guarantees. Large-scale simulations driven by Alibaba cluster traces show that CTSF reduces the user's waiting, job queuing and job completion times.