bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
To Assess the Role of Biomarkers in Evaluation of Anastomotic Leak Following Planned Colorectal Surgeries To Facilitate Early Removal Of Drain (Controlled Clinical Trial)
Authors: Sankaran Arrjun , Agrawal Sushrut , Patni Sanjeev , Saini Shashikant
Published: November 2024

PURPOSE
There is a need of parameters to predict Anatomotic leak (AL), allay apprehension for early drain removal and facilitate ERAS in patients with colorectal anastomosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of biomarkers in the evaluation of anastomotic leak after colorectal surgery, and facilitate early removal of abdominal drain.
METHODS
It was a Randomised Case Control study with duration of 2 years (April 2021 to March 2023). Patients were followed up for 30 days post-surgery which was conducted in a Tertiary care cancer centre in India. It included a total of 90 patients with biopsy proven Colorectal Carcinoma undergoing elective surgery. They were subjected to 1:1 randomization to case and control group with each arm having 45 patients. Assessment of serum C-Reactive protein, serum Procalcitonin and drain fluid Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level done on postoperative day (POD) 3 and POD 5. USG Whole abdomen screening was done on POD 3 and 5 if all were normal. Drain removed early if all parameters were normal in Cases and as per institutional protocol in controls.
RESULTS
Mean age of patients was 54.1 years. Two groups were similar with respect to histologic subtypes, rate of lymphovascular/ perineural invasion, rates of lymph-node involvement, tumor grade. Most common pT staging was noted to be pT3 and pN staging was pN0. Both POD 3 and 5 measurements of CEA, POD 5 measurements of CRP and PCT were found to be significantly elevated in patients who manifested an AL.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
The primary outcome was the ability of the said biomarkers in early prediction of leak leading to early drain removal in patients with a lower chance of AL.
Drain tube CEA measurements on POD 3 and 5 were noted to be most accurate in prediction of early anastomotic leak as compared to Serum CRP and PCT and led to earlier drain removal in those patients in whom anastomotic leak had been ruled out.
Functional and Structural Connectivity of the subregions of the Amygdala in ADHD children with or without ODD
Authors: Wu Zhao-Min , Wang Peng , Liu Xue-Chun , Zhou Qing-Chao , Cao Xiao-Lan , Liu Juan , Sun Li , Liu Lu , Cao Qing-Jiu , Yang Li , Qian Ying , Wang Yu-Feng , Yang Bin-Rang
Published: November 2024

Objectives
The current study aimed to investigate the structural and functional connectivity of the subregions of the amygdala in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) only or comorbid with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
Methods
A total of 354 children with ADHD-only, 161 children with ADHD and ODD (ADHD + ODD) and 100 healthy controls were enrolled. Several rating scales were filled out by caregivers. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to test group-wise differences in these behavioral measures. A subsample comprising 209 participants went through a resting-state functional MRI scan and a Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) scan. Functional connectivity and structural connectivity were calculated using bilateral subregions of the Amygdala as seeds. Between-group voxel-wise comparisons were conducted.
Results
The ADHD + ODD group had more anxious/depressed moods, more delinquent and aggressive behaviors, more emotional control problems, and more inhibition deficits than the ADHD-only group (all PBonferroni−corrected < 0.05). Compared with the control and ADHD + ODD groups, the ADHD-only group displayed increased FC strength between the amygdala subregions and the left caudate, left putamen, and frontal cortex. Regarding structural connectivity (SC), the ADHD-only group demonstrated higher streamline density in the left internal capsule, corpus callosum, and the right superior corona radiata. The altered SC was associated with emotional problems in children with ADHD, while the altered FC was associated with other ADHD-related clinical features.
Conclusions
Altered structural and functional connectivity of the subregions of the amygdala in children with ADHD compared with their healthy counterparts were respectively associated with ADHD-related behavioral and emotional problems.
Clinical trial number
not applicable
A method using multi-direction temporary Kapandji pinning technique and volar locking plate fixation for type C of distal radius fractures
Authors: Zhao Wei , Song Kun-xiu , Liu Yong-tao , Ma Bing-dong
Published: November 2024

Purpose
It may be difficult to achieve satisfactory and maintenance of good reduction in partially or completely displaced intra-articular fracture of the type C distal radius fractures. The purpose of this study is to retrospect and summarize a method using multi-direction temporary Kapandji pinning technique and volar locking plate fixation for type C of distal radius fractures.
Method
15 patients with type C of distal radius fractures who underwent an operation between January 2024 and April 2024 in this study. The operation involved multi-direction temporary Kapandji pinning technique followed by stable osteosynthesis using a locked plate system. We present a multi-direction temporary Kapandji pinning technique to fixation followed by rigid fixation with distal radial volar locking compression plate. After 2–3 months of follow-up, evaluated the treatment effect of wrist function by the modified Mayo wrist scoring system.
Results
According to the modified Mayo wrist scoring (MMWS) system, the functional assessment revealed good to excellent results in most cases.
Conclusion
This reduction technique was not only easy to perform but also reproducible. Satisfactory reduction alignment was achieved with minimal leverage force. Rigid and stable fixation is achieved with the volar locked plate system.
Does the handsome man trap work? A study on the impact of male anchors’ reverse gender traits on female consumers’ purchasing intention
Authors: Shen Xiangdong , Jiao Chunlan , Gu Yixian , Zhang Tingxuan
Published: November 2024

This study aims to explore how the reverse gender characteristics of male anchors in the live streaming consumption field attract female consumers and influence their purchasing behavior. Based on the interpersonal attraction theory and the PAD three-dimensional emotion model, the male anchor's physical attractiveness, verbal attractiveness, femininity and masculinity are taken as independent variables, female consumers’ sense of pleasure, arousal and dominance are taken as mediating variables, social presence is taken as a moderating variable, and female consumers' purchase intention is taken as the dependent variable, thus proposing research hypotheses and models. The study used structural equation modeling (SEM) to verify the hypotheses using empirical data from 443 female consumers. Research results show that the reverse gender characteristics of male anchors not only have a significant positive impact directly on the PAD three-dimensional emotion model, but also affect female consumers' purchase intention through the mediating effect of the PAD model. Social presence plays a positive moderating role in the relationship between female consumers' sense of arousal and purchase intention. The study expands the application of gender reverse marketing related theories in live e-commerce scenarios and provides targeted reference suggestions for e-commerce anchors, MCN agencies and merchants.
Optimization of cathode flow field of tri-snake PEMFC based on enhanced mass transfer and water management
Authors: Li Hongen , Ren Hongjuan , Li Cong , Yan Yecui
Published: November 2024

The flow field structure of the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is an important factor in determining its performance. In order to improve the performance of PEMFC from the flow field structure, a trapezoidal baffle is arranged in the channel, and the influence law of the structural height and arrangement of the trapezoidal baffle on the performance of PEMFC is numerically investigated. The results show that the addition of trapezoidal baffles in the cathode flow channel enhances the mass transfer effect of the reaction gas from the inlet flow channel to the GDL compared with the conventional channel, and the limiting current density is increased by 14.49% compared with that of the conventional tri-snake flow channel without baffles. The maximum power density can be obtained at a baffle height of 0.7 mm with better water management effect, and the maximum power density can be increased by 34.85% at the same operating current compared with the conventional flow channel. When the baffle arrangement density is 75%, its enhanced mass transfer and water management effect is basically the same as when the baffle arrangement density is 100%.
Effects of tourism on well-being from the perspective of key actors: a scoping review
Authors: Vásquez David Esteban Garzón , Rincón Alfredo Guzmán , Vitery Favio Cala
Published: November 2024

Tourism generates both positive and negative impacts, affecting the well-being of various stakeholders such as tourists, residents, workers and governments. The effects include economic growth, infrastructure and employment, but also environmental and social problems. Related literature reviews are scarce and have concentrated on separately identifying the relationship between tourism and the well-being of tourists or residents. This study seeks to examine the link between tourism activities, their effects and the well-being of the different actors involved in the production or consumption of tourism goods and services. Through an inductive methodological approach, a scoping review was conducted based on 89 studies published between 2014 and 2024. Articles were selected that assessed well-being from quantitative, qualitative and mixed perspectives, focusing on key actors in the tourism system. Significant well-being effects were identified for tourists, who experience temporary improvements in life satisfaction due to tourism experiences. Residents show both positive and negative impacts on their quality of life, while workers and governments have been less studied. Tourism well-being should be understood as a multidimensional phenomenon that affects various stakeholders in an interrelated manner. It is recommended to design public policies that integrate the interests of all key stakeholders to maximize the benefits of tourism and minimize its negative externalities.
Integrated analysis of Single-cell RNA-seq,Mendelian randomization and eQTL reveals immune cell-related nomogram model and subtypes in periodontitis Running title: Immune Cell Subtypes and Nomogram Model in Periodontitis
Authors: Qiu Xuedi , Yang Fan , Li Chenxi , Wang Jian , Yuan Yawen , Guo Chao
Published: November 2024

Background
Periodontitis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease characterized by immune cell dysregulation and tissue destruction. This study integrates single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), Mendelian randomization (MR), and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses to uncover immune cell subtypes, causal genes, and develop a predictive nomogram model for periodontitis.
Methods
We analyzed scRNA-seq data to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and immune cell subtypes in periodontitis. MR analysis was conducted to determine causal relationships between immune cell gene expression and periodontitis risk, utilizing eQTL data. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses were performed to understand functional implications. Additionally, CellChat trajectory analysis explored intercellular communication. A nomogram model was constructed to predict periodontitis risk based on immune-related DEGs.
Results
The integrated analysis identified 23 distinct immune cell clusters and seven hub genes (ANXA1, ARL4C, CD79B, LRRC25, NKG7, SLC11A1, and VIM) that were causally linked to periodontitis. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed their involvement in key immune regulatory mechanisms. A robust nomogram model based on these DEGs was developed and validated, demonstrating high predictive accuracy for periodontitis risk. Immune subtypes were further characterized, revealing distinct roles in disease progression.
Conclusion
This study highlights the crucial role of immune cell subpopulations and hub genes in the pathophysiology of periodontitis. The nomogram model offers a novel tool for predicting periodontitis risk and identifying potential therapeutic targets. These findings provide valuable insights into immune-related mechanisms and potential interventions for periodontitis.
CCR4a promotes metastasis and invasion of ovarian cancer by downregulating LRRC4 via PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway Activation
Authors: Wen Fang , yu hang , zhang jingkaiwen , Yang Hanlin , Dan Zixuan , Luo Hao , zi dan
Published: November 2024

Background
It has been established that CCR4-NOT transcription complex subunit 6 (CCR4a) can promote the growth of some malignancies. Its role and clinical significance in ovarian cancer, however, have not been documented. This article examined the spread of cancer following CCR4a modulation.
Methods
Bioinformatics was used to analyze the prognosis of CCR4a using the KM plot dataset. The CCR4a protein was identified by immunohistochemistry investigation in ovarian cancer tissues. Cellular responses were noted following both up-and-down-regulation of CCR4a. The mechanism was validated using Western blotting and RNA sequencing.
Results
Ovarian cancer metastases were positively correlated with CCR4a expression, and a shorter survival period was linked to higher expression. In contrast, down-regulation of CCR4a inhibits LRRC4 (leucine-rich repeat containing 4), which in turn activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which in turn promotes cell invasion and migration. In vivo, CCR4a up-regulation increased carcinogenic potential while down-regulation reduced it.
Conclusions
In ovarian cancer tissues, high CCR4a expression suggested reduced survival. In ovarian cancer cells, CCR4a facilitated migration and invasion by downregulating LRRC4 through the stimulation of PI3K/AKT signaling. It may be a useful target for prognostic and diagnostic purposes.
Accurate Cell Instance Segmentation Using a one-shot Generalized segmentation model and Energy Gradient Fields
Authors: Zhao Xinzhuo , Liu Bing , Zheng Lin , Bao Yanqing , Tong Guiyuan , Xue Zhaofeng
Published: November 2024

Cell instance segmentation stands as a pivotal endeavor in genomics research and disease diagnosis. However, achieving precise segmentation poses a significant challenge due to the diverse characteristics of cells, encompassing varied contour shapes, adhesions, and overlapping scenarios. In this paper, we introduce a novel cell segmentation framework that integrates a generalized segmentation model with an energy gradient field to accomplish cell instance segmentation. The architecture comprises two primary components: (1) semantic segmentation of cells using a generalized segmentation model, (2) instance segmentation based on an improved energy gradient field algorithm for addressing overlapping cells. Instead of directly aligning with the object's edge profile as the objective, the energy gradient field method aligns with the gradient field within the object. This approach offers a more refined and nuanced representation of the object's internal structure, enhancing the accuracy and robustness of segmentation outcomes. Our approach presents two key advantages. (1) A one-shot generalized segmentation model was introduced to address the challenge of false-positive cell segmentation, (2)An improved energy gradient field algorithm was utilized to effectively reduce cell over-segmentation. The experimental results show that the proposed method has a mean accuracy (mAP) of 87.48%, F1 Score of 82.57%, and Recall of 76.64%, which are better than other state-of-the-art methods in the cell instance segmentation.
Behavioral and Pathological Characteristics of 5xFAD female mice in the early stage
Authors: Zhu Chenlu , Liu Xuejiao
Published: November 2024

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a central nervous system degenerative disease with insidious onset and gradual development caused by selective and progressive loss of neurons. The 5xFAD mouse is a relatively mature disease model of AD. However, the behavioral research on 5xFAD female mouse is more focused on the changes of late memory function, and the exploration of its early behavioral and pathological changes is still incomplete. This research aims to explore the changes in memory function, emotional function (including anxiety and depression), motor ability, amyloid plaques, glial cell response and neurogenesis in the hippocampus of female 5xFAD mice in the early stage, laying a foundation for a comprehensive exploration of the disease mechanism of AD. The results of this study found that early 4-month-old female 5xFAD mice mainly showed a decline in memory function without other dysfunction. Accompanied by a large amount of amyloid protein plaques deposited in the hippocampus, it induced the response of microglia and astrocytes, and neurogenesis decreased significantly with age, especially in early female 5xFAD mice, which resulted in a decrease in the number of new neurons. This may be an important reason for the decline in memory function of female 5xFAD mice in the early stage.
Suppression of carpogenic germination and viability of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia by biofumigation, biological control and Perlka
Authors: Dassanayaka Madhavi P. , Casonato Seona G. , Jones Eirian
Published: November 2024

Sclerotia play an important role in the disease cycle of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Traditional control measures do not effectively suppress germination and viability of sclerotia. This study performed a series of in-vivo bioassays to investigate the effect of biofumigants produced by Brassica juncea ‘Caliente 199’, biological control by Coniothyrium minitans, and Perlkaâ on carpogenic germination and sclerotial viability. Coniothyrium minitans alone or in combination with Perlkaâ resulted in complete inhibition of carpogenic germination and high sclerotial mortality. Perlkaâ treatment in quantities equivalent to field rates of 400 and 300 kg ha-1 resulted in 100% and 77% reduction in sclerotial germination, respectively compared with the untreated control, but viability remained high (³97.5%). Treating the potting mix with plant tissue of ‘Caliente 199’ in quantities equivalent to the field rate of 100 and 75 t ha-1 reduced carpogenic germination by about 46% compared to unamended control but did not result in significant reduction in sclerotial viability. Coniothyrium minitans and Perlkaâ were effective in suppressing carpogenic germination but the suppression achieved with biofumigation was much lower. Coniothyrium minitans with Perlkaâ resulted in high sclerotial mortality, which was not achieved with the Perlkaâ only treatment. These results showed that of the treatments tested, C. minitans able to reduce the carpogenic germination and the viable inoculum. Further studies are needed to assess the effectiveness and potential of integrating with non-pesticide methods to achieve better control of S. sclerotiorum in the field.
The Simulation of the “production-living-ecological” space and ecological effect assessment in the Gansu-Qinghai Contiguous Region of the upper Yellow River
Authors: Tong Huali , Zou Pingju , Zhang Xuan , Li Yijing , Wang Quanwen
Published: November 2024

This study explores changes in production-living-ecological space (PLES) and evaluate its ecological impacts in the Gansu-Qinghai contiguous region of the upper Yellow River. The research aims to clarify the historical trends in PLES transformations by analyzing land use data from 2000 to 2020. Using 2020 land use data as a baseline, we employ the FLUS model to estimate the evolution of the PLES within the study region under the SSP1, SSP2, and SSP5 scenarios from 2030 to 2060, as well as the ecological environmental quality (EEQ) in 2035 for these scenarios. The results of this study show that, (1) Under all the three scenarios, living space within the study area shows an expansionary trend, while ecological space decreases. In the SSP5 scenario, production space area increases, while it diminishes in the other two scenarios. (2) PLES evolution patterns are relatively consistent across the three scenarios. Forest and meadow ecological land predominant, agricultural production and urban living land primarily cluster in the northeastern part, and water ecological land is interspersed throughout the central and southwestern regions. (3) By 2035, the ecological environmental quality index (EEQI) within the research area improves compared to the 2020 baseline of 0.41297, with the projected values of 0.41805(SSP1), 0.41398(SSP2), and 0.41562(SSP5). The study’s conclusions provide valuable insights for the natural environment conservation and land development in the upper Yellow River Basin.
Does manager with E-leadership inspire employee creativity?—A Study on moderating role of promoting regulatory focus and preventing regulatory focus.
Authors: Zhao Liang , Chen Hao , Sun Yichao , Luo Maya , Gao Peng
Published: November 2024

Purpose —
This paper examines the mediating effects of emotional exhaustion and the moderating role of promoting regulatory focus and preventing regulatory focus. Exploring the relationship between emotional exhaustion and the personal trait of regulatory focus in E-Leadership and employee creativity.
Design/methodology/approach
— This study adopted a questionnaire survey method and collected 366 samples. Hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrap method were performed using SPSS 27.0 to test the research hypotheses.
Findings—
The findings showed that:1.E-leadership negatively affects employees' emotional exhaustion.2.E-leadership positively influences employees' creativity. 3.Emotional exhaustion negatively affects employees' creativity. 4.Promoting regulatory focus moderates the negative relationship between E-leadership and Emotional exhaustion.5.Prevention regulatory focus moderates the negative relationship between emotional exhaustion and employee creativity.
Originality/value—
This study enriches the research on the influence mechsanism between E-leadership and employee creativity, and also provides references for leadership practices in the digital age. However, the research has some limitations such as using only cross-sectional data and limited representativeness of the sample. Future studies could consider collecting multi-wave data, expanding the sample size, incorporating other influencing factors, etc. to enhance the rigor of the research.
Genome-wide association study identifies key chromosomal regions in rice promoting the enrichment of diazotrophic iron-reducing bacteria in paddy soil
Authors: Lin Li-Yen , Feng Zhihang , Asano Hikaru , Ohmori Yoshihiro , Ohba Hirotomo , Masuda Yoko , Senoo Keishi , Fujiwara Toru
Published: November 2024

Background and Aim
Overuse of nitrogen fertilizers has led to significant environmental issues. Diazotrophic iron-reducing bacteria (IRB), particularly Anaeromyxobacter and Geobacter, are abundant in paddy soils and may enhance nitrogen fixation when ferric compounds are present. This study investigates the effects of rice cultivation on the abundance of IRB and identifies genetic regions in rice that regulate this process.
Methods
We set up a microcosm system using cups filled with paddy soil, separated by nylon mesh to differentiate rhizosphere and bulk soil. The abundance of IRB in the rhizosphere of 143 japonica rice varieties was evaluated. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) with a unified mixed-model was conducted to identify genomic regions associated with IRB abundance.
Results
Our experiments revealed a weak but significant correlation (r= 0.19, p = 0.022) between rice varieties and IRB abundance. GWAS identified peaks on chromosomes (Chr) 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11. Linkage disequilibrium analysis highlighted regions on Chr3, Chr4, Chr9, Chr10, and Chr11 linked to higher IRB abundance. Notably, chromosome segment substitution line SL609, which incorporates fragments from Nipponbare into Koshihikari, showed increased IRB abundance, confirming the genetic influence from Chr3.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates genetic variation in IRB abundance among japonica rice cultivars and identifies associated genomic regions. These findings enhance our understanding of the genetic factors influencing IRB and offer insights for improving nitrogen acquisition in rice production.
Energy Analysis Approach for Detecting Bolt Loosening
Authors: xingjun wang , wei wang , yongbin shao
Published: November 2024

Bolt connections are integral to civil infrastructure and mechanical assemblies, where bolt loosening poses risks of structural instability and safety issues, potentially causing injuries and financial losses. Monitoring the loosening of bolts can mitigate accident risks, enhance safety, and prevent disasters. Consequently, understanding and identifying bolt connection integrity is a critical aspect of structural research. This study introduces a quantitative approach for detecting bolt loosening through controlled small-ball impacts. By adjusting the bolt torque within a defined range to simulate varying levels of tightness or looseness, a small ball is released from a consistent height to strike the bolt. PZT sensors, mounted on the back of the flange, capture the impact signals, with multiple measurements taken across bolts. Experimental and simulation outcomes show that, under specific conditions, the vibration energy captured increases with higher bolt torque. This method of small-ball impact combined with signal analysis effectively and accurately identifies bolt loosening. The approach provides straightforward data processing, making it well-suited for complex structures with low energy requirements. It is compatible with single or multiple sensors, cost-efficient, fast, and accessible to operators with minimal experience, enabling rapid and extensive detection within confined spaces. This technique, therefore, holds substantial research potential.
Assessing Pain Levels and Quality of Life in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Bdair Amjad , Tamimi Rami , Shratih Ahmad , Abuhalima Dania , Abdalla Mazen , Sarsour Alaa , Jebreen Kamel , Hamdan Zakaria , Nazzal Zaher
Published: November 2024

Background
End-stage renal disease is a significant global health issue, with Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) being a vital treatment modality. The study aims to assess the Quality of Life (QoL) and pain levels in PD patients, exploring potential influencing factors.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 involving 76 PD patients at referral tertiary dialysis center in Palestine. The study evaluated patient demographics, clinical data, laboratory measures, quality of life as assessed by the KDQOL-SF36, and pain levels as determined by the Brief Pain Inventory. Statistical analyses, including multivariate linear regression, were employed to identify relevant associations.
Results
This study included 76 PD disease patients, with 68.4% being under the age of 60 and 53.9% being female. Almost one-thirds of the participants (34.0%) reported mild to severe pain, and 23.7% reported low to high interference levels. Pain severity was negatively correlated with supplement doses for both vitamin D3 (p = 0.049) and calcium (p < 0.01). Female patients reported higher pain severity (p = 0.001) and interference (p < 0.007) levels. The study revealed relatively higher QoL in PD patients than other dialysis populations. Factors such as age, comorbid conditions, and duration of dialysis influenced QoL (p < 0.05). Pain severity and interference were negatively correlated with QoL (p = 0.01).
Conclusion
This study provides valuable insights into the QoL and pain experiences of PD patients in Palestine. It underscores the importance of effective pain management strategies and holistic care to improve QoL in this patient population. Addressing psychological and emotional well-being is vital for optimizing treatment adherence and long-term outcomes.
Integrative multi-ethnic Mendelian randomisation identifies tissue- specific causal genes for Coronary Artery Disease and interactions with post-acute Covid
Authors: Jaros Rachel , O’Sullivan Justin M.
Published: November 2024

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is highly heritable and remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Understanding the genetic and mechanistic underpinnings of CAD is crucial for early risk assessment and intervention. We conducted a transcriptome-wide Mendelian randomisation (MR) study, utilising unbiased tissue-specific gene regulatory networks, to identify genes causally associated with CAD in European and East Asian populations. We identified 291 tissue and ancestry-specific genes implicated in CAD, including 98 novel protein-coding genes across coronary artery, whole blood, and lung tissues. Genes involved in epigenetic processes (eg PAXBP and KIAA0232) causally associated with CAD. Moreover, we identified genes related to the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the coronary artery and kinase signalling in the lung, as being causally related to CAD. The integration of protein interaction networks identified causal connections between CAD and HDL cholesterol levels, providing novel insights into CAD mechanisms, and potential actionable targets for people with this risk profile. The results also provide intriguing insights into the link between SARS-CoV-2 and CAD, unveiling mechanisms that may underlie the increased risk of cardiovascular disease following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The causal mechanisms we identified emphasise the tissue-agnostic and ancestrally unique pathways that underscore the complex interplay between CAD development, metabolic disturbances, and the immune system. Collectively, our results provide valuable insights into CAD pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.
Inactive ryanodine receptors sustain lysosomal availability for autophagy by promoting ER-lysosomal contact site formation
Authors: Vervliet Tim , Loncke Jens , Sever Marko , Ahuja Karan , Haute Chris Van den , Verfaillie Catherine , Tomasic Tihomir , Bultynck Geert
Published: November 2024

Lysosomal and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ release mutually influence each other’s functions. Recent work revealed that ER-located ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca2+ release channels suppress autophagosome turnover by the lysosomes. In familial Alzheimer’s disease, in which excessive RyR activity and lysosomal dysfunction are early hallmarks, inhibiting RyR restored autophagic flux by normalizing lysosomal vacuolar H+-ATPase (vATPase) levels. However, the mechanisms by which RyR control lysosomal function and how it involves the vATPase remain unknown. In this work we demonstrate for the first time that, RyR directly interact with the ATP6v0a1 subunit of the vATPase, contributing to ER-lysosomal contact site formation. This interaction suppresses RyR-mediated Ca²⁺ release, which impacts the handling of lysosomal cargo. Pharmacological inhibition of RyR activity was sufficient to mimic these effects on lysosomal cargo handling. Further investigation identified endogenous RyR activity in cortical neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells to promote lysosomal exocytosis. Inhibiting this spontaneous RyR activity limits lysosomal exocytosis, thus retaining lysosomes inside cells. The latter increases ER-lysosomal contact site formation, rendering lysosomes more available for autophagic flux. In summary, these findings establish RyRs/ATP6v0a1 complexes as novel ER-lysosomal tethers that dynamically/Ca2+ dependently regulate the intracellular availability of lysosomes to participate in autophagic flux.
The Impact of Composite Laminates: Modelling the Effect of a Round-nosed versus a Flat-ended Impactor at High Impact Energies
Authors: Ding Yuzhe , Johnson Michael S. , Liu Jun , Dear James , Li Jiaqi , Liu Haibao , Kinloch Anthony J. , Dear John P.
Published: November 2024

The present study investigates the effect of the impactor geometry on the impact performance, at relatively high impact energies, of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates with a cross-ply configuration of [02/902], which were manufactured using unidirectional (UD) carbon-fibre epoxy-matrix plies. Drop-weight impact tests were performed using both round-nosed and flat-ended rigid impactors. White light interferometry (WLI), ultrasonic C-scan and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to assess the relationship between the indentation profile, the delamination footprint and the fracture morphology along the fracture plane. This study focusses on the coupling between the extent of indentation, the loading responses and the associated damage caused in the CFRP. This damage involved both intralaminar damage, including matrix cracking and fibre-kinking and fracture, and interlaminar, i.e. delamination, damage. A major finding was that the flat-ended impactor only caused significant damage to the CFRP panel at the relatively high impact energy of 25 J. At these high impact energies, a compressive kink-band fracture plane occurred around the periphery of the flat-ended impactor near the front surface of the laminate. A previously published numerical model has been extended to account for these experimental observations.
CD19 on CD20- immune cell causes aortic valve calcification by affecting levels of the plasma metabolite 1-(1-enyl-palmitoyl)-2-arachidonoyl-gpc (p-16:0/20:4): a Mendelian Randomization study
Authors: Zhou Qiang , Yi Shuoshuo , Liu Sheng , Wei Wei , Zhou Zhiming , Yang Bin
Published: November 2024

Background
Immune cells play a significant role in the process of aortic valve calcification (AVC). However, the interactions between AVC and specific immune cell types have yet to be demonstrated. The aim of this study was to investigate the causal relationship between immune cells and AVC, as well as to determine the mediating role of potential plasma metabolites.
Methods
In this study, publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics were employed to ascertain the correlation between 731 immune cells and 1400 plasma metabolites with AVC. Firstly, two-sample and reverse Mendelian Randomisation Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to ascertain the causal relationship between immune cells and AVC. Subsequently, a two-step MR analysis demonstrated that the relationship between immune cells and AVC was mediated by plasma metabolites. The robustness of the findings was confirmed by several sensitivity analyses.
Results
Our study indicate that 42 out of 731 immune cells were correlated with AVC. Among these, immune cell CD19 on CD20- demonstrated a positive correlation with AVC (OR_IVW = 1.0629, OR 95% CI = 1.0259–1.1012, P = 0.0007). Furthermore, immune cell CD19 on CD20- correlated with 47 metabolites, including a positive correlation with plasma 1-(1-alkenyl-palmitoyl)-2-propenoyl-GPC (P-16:0/20:4) levels (OR_IVW = 1.0535, OR 95% CI = 1.0079–1.1010, P = 0.0209). Additionally, 47 metabolites were found to be correlated with AVC. Notably, plasma 1-(1-enyl-palmitoyl)-2-arachidonoyl-GPC (P-16:0/20:4) levels exhibited a positive correlation with aortic calcification (OR_IVW = 1.0079, OR 95% CI = 1.0221–1.1383, P = 0.0058). Plasma 1-(1-enyl-palmitoyl)-2-arachidonoyl-GPC (P-16:0/20:4) levels acted as a mediator between CD19 on CD20- and AVC, with a mediation effect size of 0.0039, constituting 6.47% of the total effect.
Conclusion
The present study is based on a mediated MR analysis, which demonstrates that CD19 on CD20-immune cell cause AVC by affecting plasma 1-(1-enyl-palmitoyl)-2-arachidonoyl-GPC (p-16:0/20:4) levels. This provides a new perspective on the mechanism of the development of AVC and offers a potential therapeutic target for metabolic intervention.
Chiseling the Graph: An Edge-Sculpting Method for Explaining Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Wang Tianchun , Shirani Farhad , Zheng Xu , Cheng Wei , Chen Haifeng , Luo Dongsheng , Zhang Xiang
Published: November 2024

Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) leverage the structural properties of the graph to inform the architecture of the neural network, thus achieving improved accuracy in graph learning tasks. However, like many neural network models, GNNs face a significant challenge with interpretability. To mitigate this issue, recent works have developed post-hoc instance-level explanation methods that focus on identifying minimal and sufficient subgraphs which strongly influence GNN predictions. Approaches that build on the graph information bottleneck principle (GIB) to quantify minimality and sufficiency have received particular attention, and have been used in several state-of-the-art explanation mechanisms. This work identifies several fundamental issues in such quantifications, particularly a signaling issue in the sufficiency, and a redundancy issue in the minimality quantifications. These may lead to explanations that do not accurately reflect the rationale behind GNN decisions. To overcome these challenges, we propose a new objective function and explainer architecture, dubbed the SculptEdgeX. The SculptEdgeX framework assesses the sufficiency of an input subgraph by generating an in-distribution supergraph and evaluating its prediction accuracy when processed by the GNN. This involves an initial densification process that adds edges to the input graph, followed by a selective edge removal step — called edge sculpting — to produce an in-distribution supergraph. To ensure the in-distribution property, we pre-train a calibrator network that parametrizes the underlying distribution of a given graph, hence enabling us to compare the distribution parameters with those of the original input distribution. We validate our method through extensive experiments on both synthetic and real-world datasets, demonstrating the effectiveness of SculptEdgeX in producing informative explanations.
State Hospital Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Medication Counselling: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Study in Sri Lanka
Authors: Buddhika Rathnaweera Bopage Janani , Jayasekera Rana Weerasinghe Mudiyanselage Jayanthi Priyadarshani , Wickramasinghe Nadeesha Dilmi Dias
Published: November 2024

Background
Medication counselling is an essential element of health care, particularly in pharmacy practice, as it promotes adherence to medications and minimizes adverse effects. Hospital pharmacists play a crucial role in pharmaceutical care by ensuring that patients use medications safely and effectively. In Sri Lanka, the role of hospital pharmacists is largely restricted to dispensing medications, providing limited drug information, managing pharmaceutical inventories, and compounding extemporaneous preparations within hospital settings. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacists regarding medication counselling in government hospitals in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2022 across six state hospitals in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. A validated self-administered questionnaire was given to 160 hospital pharmacists to gather demographic details and assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to medication counselling. The collected data were analysed via IBM SPSS software (version 25), and descriptive statistical methods were applied.
Results
Of the 160 pharmacists, 119 responded to the questionnaire. A majority (99.2%) affirmed that medication counselling is a core responsibility, with 97.5% reporting their active involvement in this task. Notably, 92% were engaged in counselling activities, and 68.9% had more than a decade of experience. While most respondents acknowledged the importance of providing complete medication information, more than 80% routinely discussed essential details such as medication names, indications, administration routes, dosages, frequencies, treatment durations, and storage guidelines. The identified barriers to effective counselling included time constraints (87%), limited knowledge (67%), lack of updated drug information (67%), and heavy patient loads (82%). Online training was preferred for professional development.
Conclusion
State hospital pharmacists actively participated in medication counselling and exhibited positive attitudes towards it. Many were open to seeking further knowledge to improve service quality. However, significant obstacles remain, such as time limitations, a lack of updated knowledge, and high patient demand. To address these issues, it is recommended that policymakers, hospital administrators, and pharmacists collaborate on strategies to strengthen medication counselling services, including the establishment of standard guidelines and patient education initiatives.
A search-based scheduling algorithm in DVDS-enabled heterogeneous cloud computing environments
Authors: gorgini Farzin , Naji Hamid Reza
Published: November 2024

Despite the rapid growth of technology and the rise of heavy computing, the need for using distributed systems such as cloud computing has become particularly important. Moreover, energy efficiency is considered to be a major issue in both distributed systems and data centers. Consequently, minimizing the total energy consumption is one of the most important concerns of cloud service providers and also observing the time limit of applications is one of the most important needs for the quality of services provided by these services. In this study four appropriate methods of energy-conscious scheduling for heterogeneous distributed systems in the cloud environment are presented with the aim of reducing the total energy consumption by observing the time limit of programs. Moreover, 1000 random graphs were used to evaluate the proposed methods. The simulation results using workflow graphs indicate that the proposed methods make a significant improvement in reducing the total energy consumption, while complying with time constraints compared to other previously studied algorithms.
Mechanical properties of a polyurethane-based composite modified with boron nitride
Authors: Mehrabova Matanat , Safarova Sevinj , Hasanov Niyazi , Kerimov Farhad
Published: November 2024

Polyurethane based composite formulation is developed, characterized by a significantly low amount of additives and their technological compatibility. It is shown that content of 0,05 mass% boron nitride in the polyurethane composition is optimal, as it leads to an increase in the mechanical strength of the film. This study presents temperature-time dependence of the mechanical strength of polyurethane films and the influence of BN additives on these characteristics. İt was defined that the observed increase in film strength at incorporating 0,05% by mass of BN to its content, associated with changes in the supramolecular structure, specifically the formation of spherulitic microstructure of supramolecular polyurethane. In the mechanical field, the bond rupture process is accelerated, thus the role of the load involves reducing bond energy, altering the distance between kinetic units, and fixing their movements, particularly difficulty of recombination of radicals. The structure of the formula in the durability equation suggests that the contribution of the load to bond rupture is represented by the term ασ mechanical field work. Throughout the entire range of applied loads, the product of ασ was significantly lower than activation energy. Therefore, the thermal fluctuations are the main factor causing breakdown, meaning the energy for body rupture is largely derived from thermal energy reserves rather than external work. Initial activation energy for mechanical failure of PU films and its optimally modified state remains unchanged. However, the additive influences to the magnitude of the structural sensitivity coefficient and the mechanical strength, so rupture occurs through chemical bonds.
Global Burden of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis and HIV Co-Infection and Its Attributable Risk Factors, 1990 to 2021, with Projections to 2031
Authors: Feng Liting , Wang Yubao , Li Li , Wang Xing , Feng Jing
Published: November 2024

Background
The continuous spread of HIV and drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) co-infection is a significant challenge and threatens global tuberculosis (TB) control. The objective of this study was to analyze the global burden of HIV and drug-resistant tuberculosis co-infection across different age groups, genders, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions and attributable risk factors.
Methods
Data from the GBD 2021 and joinpoint regression analysis were utilized to examine trends from 1990 to 2021 across different genders and SDI regions. The A BAPC model was employed to forecast trends up to 2031.
Results
Co-infection of HIV with Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) shows no gender difference, while extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is more prevalent in men (all P < 0.01). The burden varies by SDI, with low SDI regions having more MDR-TB and high-middle SDI regions more XDR-TB. Unsafe sex was the primary risk factor for HIV co-infection with DR-TB, with drug use being the second major contributor in men and intimate partner violence in women. Projections of DR-TB by HIV status indicate a gradual decline from 2019 to 2031.
Conclusion
Despite declining trends, the burden remains substantial, especially in resource-limited areas. To combat co-infections of HIV and XDR-TB, in addition to reducing unsafe sexual practices, it is necessary to implement measures to curb drug abuse among men and protect women from intimate partner violence.
Clinical trial number: not applicable.
The Effect of Staple Line Reinforcement on Leakage and Bleeding Rates Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Multi-Center Study
Authors: Toolabi Karamollah , Gandominejad Ali , Delfan Sina Eskandari , Mohammadzadeh Narjes , Mirzaee Sahar
Published: November 2024

Introduction:
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is the most common bariatric procedure performed globally. LSG results in substantial body weight reduction and has a favorable impact on comorbidities associated with obesity. However, it has a risk of complications. The most prevalent complications after LSG are leakage, bleeding in the staple line, gastric pouch stenosis, mediastinal pouch migration, wound infection, and nutrient deficiencies. The objective of this study was to investigate the leakage and bleeding rates following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in morbidly obese patients after improving the surgical technique.
Materials and Methods
This interventional study was conducted on 107 morbidly obese patients aged > 18 years old who underwent LSG at two hospitals in Tehran (an academic hospital and a private hospital) from December 2021 to November 2022. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m² who did not have any comorbidities and patients with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m² who had at least one comorbidity were included in the study. The patients had no previous history of systemic disease of the digestive system. All morbidly obese patients underwent surgery by an expert bariatric surgeon. To ensure consistency and accuracy, the laparoscopic technique and the surgeon were the same for all patients. The staple line was reinforced by polyglyconate and polydioxanone sutures. After surgery, the patients were meticulously examined to check for bleeding and acute or early anastomotic leakage.
Results
A total of 107 patients underwent LSG with staple line reinforcement using polyglyconate and polydioxanone sutures. The leakage rate was 0%, the bleeding rate was 0.9%, and the mean ± SD of the duration of surgery was 69.39 ± 12.56.
Conclusion
Reinforcing the staple line with polyglyconate and polydioxanone sutures during a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, while potentially prolonging the surgical length, is advantageous due to the substantial decrease in serious complications including leakage and bleeding.