bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Ability of Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Variants to Downregulate ACE2
Authors: Maeda Yosuke , Toyoda Mako , Kuwata Takeo , Terasawa Hiromi , Tokugawa Umiru , Monde Kazuaki , Sawa Tomohiro , Ueno Takamasa , Matsushita Shuzo
Published: January 2024

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and employs angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the receptor. Although the expression of ACE2 is crucial for cellular entry, we found that the interaction between ACE2 and the Spike (S) protein in the same cells led to its downregulation through degradation in the lysosomal compartment via the endocytic pathway. Interestingly, the ability of the S protein from previous variants of concern (VOCs) to downregulate ACE2 was variant-dependent and correlated with disease severity. The S protein from the Omicron variant, associated with milder disease, exhibited a lower capacity to downregulate ACE2 than that of the Delta variant, which is linked to a higher risk of hospitalization. Chimeric studies between the S proteins from the Delta and Omicron variants revealed that both the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and the S2 subunit played crucial roles in the reduced ACE2 downregulation activity observed in the Omicron variant. In contrast, three mutations (L452R/P681R/D950N) located in the RBD, S1/S2 cleavage site, and HR1 domain were identified as essential for the higher ACE2 downregulation activity observed in the Delta variant compared to that in the other VOCs. Our results suggested that dysregulation of the renin–angiotensin system due to the ACE2 downregulation activity of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 may play a key role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.
Genetic Analysis of Partially Resistant and Susceptible Chickpea Cultivars in Response to Ascochyta rabiei Infection
Authors: Deokar Amit A. , Sagi Mandeep , Tar’an Bunyamin
Published: January 2024

The molecular mechanism involved in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) resistance to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Ascochyta rabiei is not well documented. A. rabiei infection can cause severe damage in chickpea, resulting in significant economic losses. Understanding the resistance mechanism against ascochyta blight can help to define strategies to develop resistant cultivars. In this study, differentially expressed genes from two partially resistant cultivars (CDC Corinne and CDC Luna) and a susceptible cultivar (ICCV 96029) to ascochyta blight were identified in the early stages (24, 48 and 72 h) of A. rabiei infection using RNA-seq. Altogether, 3073 genes were differentially expressed in response to A. rabiei infection across different time points and cultivars. A larger number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in CDC Corinne and CDC Luna than in ICCV 96029. Various transcription factors including ERF, WRKY, bHLH and MYB were differentially expressed in response to A. rabiei infection. Genes involved in pathogen detection and immune signalings such as receptor-like kinases (RLKs), Leucine-Rich Repeat (LRR)-RLKs, and genes associated with the post-infection defence response were differentially expressed among the cultivars. GO functional enrichment and pathway analysis of the DEGs suggested that the biological processes such as metabolic process, response to stimulus and catalytic activity were overrepresented in both resistant and susceptible chickpea cultivars. The expression patterns of eight randomly selected genes revealed by RNA-seq were confirmed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis. The results provide insights into the complex molecular mechanism of the chickpea defence in response to the A. rabiei infection.
The Impact of Frailty on Outcomes of Proximal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery: A Nationwide Analysis
Authors: Percy Edward D. , Faggion Vinholo Thais , Newell Paige , Singh Supreet , Hirji Sameer , Awtry Jake , Semco Robert , Chowdhury Muntasir , Reed Alexander K. , Asokan Sainath , Malarczyk Alexandra , Okoh Alexis , Harloff Morgan , Yazdchi Farhang , Kaneko Tsuyoshi , Sabe Ashraf A.
Published: January 2024

(1) Background: This study examines frailty’s impact on proximal aortic surgery outcomes. (2) Methods: All patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm who underwent aortic root, ascending aorta, or arch surgery from the 2016–2017 National Inpatient Sample were included. Frailty was defined by the Adjusted Clinical Groups Frailty Indicator. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality and a composite of death, stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), and major bleeding (MACE). (3) Results: Among 5745 patients, 405 (7.0%) met frailty criteria. Frail patients were older, with higher rates of chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. There was no difference in in-hospital death (4.9% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.169); however, the frail group exhibited higher rates of stroke and AKI. Frail patients had a longer length of stay (17 vs. 8 days), and higher rates of non-home discharge (74.1% vs. 54.3%) than non-frail patients (both p < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis confirmed increased morbidity and mortality in frail individuals. After adjusting for patient comorbidities and hospital characteristics, frailty independently predicted MACE (OR 4.29 [1.88–9.78], p = 0.001), while age alone did not (OR 1.00 [0.99–1.02], p = 0.568). Urban teaching center status predicted a lower risk of MACE (OR 0.27 [0.08–0.94], p = 0.039). (4) Conclusions: Frailty is associated with increased morbidity in proximal aortic surgery and is a more significant predictor of mortality than age. Coordinated treatment in urban institutions may enhance outcomes for this high-risk group.
Time Trend Analysis of Comorbidities in Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Population-Based Study from 53,142 Hospitalizations in Poland
Authors: Helon Katarzyna , Wisłowska Małgorzata , Kanecki Krzysztof , Goryński Paweł , Nitsch-Osuch Aneta , Bonek Krzysztof
Published: January 2024

Background: (1) Influence of comorbidities on life expectancy and treatment outcomes is one of the main concerns of modern rheumatology, due to their rising prevalence and increasing impact on mortality and disability. The main objective of our study was to analyze the time trends and shifts in the comorbidity profile and mortality over 10 years in the Polish population with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). (2) Data from 2011–2020 years were acquired from the General Hospital Morbidity Study in the National Institute of Public Health—National Institute of Hygiene (NIH-PIB) as ICD-10 codes. Based on ICD10 codes, we calculated the percentage shares for comorbidities, with the relative risk ratios and odds ratios. We analyzed the hospitalization rates and mortality from the overlapping conditions. Also, we analyzed age and sex related differences in the clinical manifestations of AS patients. (3) Results: From 53,142 hospitalizations of patients with AS, we found that the male population presented higher rates of cardiovascular (2.7% vs. 1.3% p < 0.001) and pulmonary conditions (1.2% vs. 0.8% p < 0.025). Inflammatory bowel diseases were more common in the female population than in males (2.3% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.001). In the years 2011–2020, we observed a decline in the number of hospitalized patients due to cardiovascular (p < 0.001) and respiratory system conditions (p < 0.001), yet the relative risk and odd ratios remained high. In the years 2011–2020, 4056 patients received biological treatment (7%). The number of initiated biological therapies correlated negatively with the number of reported hospitalizations due to ischemic heart diseases (IHD) (p < 0.031, r = −0.8). Furthermore, in the logistic regression model, we found strong collinearity between cardiovascular and pulmonary comorbidities (VIF = 14; tolerance = 0.1); also, the number of reported IHD’s correlated positively with the number of pulmonary infections (p < 0.031, r = 0.7) (4). Conclusions: Cardiopulmonary comorbidities are a main factor associated with increased mortality in patients with AS, especially in hospitalized patients. The mortality rates among patients with AS admitted to hospital due to other conditions other than movement disorders exceed the populational risk. The number of biologically treated patients correlated negatively with hospital admissions due to IHD.
Cementless Primary Stems in Revision Hip Arthroplasty: A Narrative Review
Authors: Castagnini Francesco , Pardo Francesco , Lucchini Stefano , Rotini Marco , Cavalieri Bruno , Dalla Rosa Mattia , Vitacca Stefano , Di Martino Alberto , Faldini Cesare , Traina Francesco
Published: January 2024

Cementless primary stems in revision hip arthroplasties may be conservative options to preserve bone stock and provide adequate reconstruction of the hip biomechanics. However, there is still little evidence about indications, limitations, and outcomes. This narrative review showed that conventional standard stems were adopted in different revision settings, up to Paprosky IIIA grade bone defects. In cases of acceptable metaphyseal bone stock, when a scratch fit of at least 4 cm can be achieved, a conventional cementless stem may be an adequate solution. Mid-term clinical and radiographic outcomes and survival rates were similar to long revision stems, whereas complications, surgical time, and costs were lower among conventional stems. However, unsuitable contexts for conventional stems included canal diameters larger than 18 mm and failed revision stems with cortical weakening. Even short stems can be considered in revisions, in order to preserve bone stock and stay proximal to femoral remodeling zones and bone/cement plugs. Short stems were successfully adopted up to Paprosky IIIA bone defects, achieving mid-term survival rates not inferior to long revision stems. Ageing, osteoporosis, and intraoperative femoral fractures were the main negative prognostic factors. In very select cases, a downsizing technique (from longer to shorter stems) may be adopted to simplify the procedure and reduce complications.
The Association between Embryo Development and Chromosomal Results from PGT-A in Women of Advanced Age: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Santamonkunrot Pornchanit , Samutchinda Sonsiri , Niransuk Pornsri , Satirapod Chonthicha , Sukprasert Matchuporn
Published: January 2024

Embryo morphology and morphokinetics have been studied for their association with euploid embryos. However, the results are controversial, especially in the advanced-aged women group, when the risk of aneuploidy increases significantly. This prospective cohort study evaluated the association between embryo development between day-3 cleavage and day-5 blastocyst stages and euploidy rates, determined using preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). Embryos from women aged 35 years and above who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injections and PGT-A were studied. Day-3 cleavage-stage embryos were evaluated for their cell number, and day-5 blastocyst-stage embryos were evaluated for their morphological grade. Embryo development from day 3 to day 5 was categorized as either good or poor development and evaluated for its association with the PGT-A results. We evaluated 325 embryos from 101 infertile couples. It was found that 55.17% of blastocysts with good development and 29.83% with poor development were euploid. A significant association was found between embryo development and euploidy rates in advanced-aged women (p < 0.001). Also, there were significantly higher rates of euploid embryos with good blastocyst morphological grades, especially blastocyst expansion grades and trophectoderm grades. In conclusion, embryo morphokinetics shows promising results in predicting euploidy in advanced female age.
The Ross Procedure: Imaging, Outcomes and Future Directions in Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Galzerano Domenico , Kholaif Naji , Al Amro Bandar , Al Admawi Mohammed , Eltayeb Abdalla , Alshammari Amal , Di Salvo Giovanni , Al-Halees Zohair Y.
Published: January 2024

The Ross procedure is gaining recognition as a significant option for aortic valve replacement (AVR), and is particularly beneficial in specific patient groups. Although categorized as a class IIb recommendation in the 2020 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA), and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) management guidelines on valvular heart disease, recent studies bolster its credibility. Research, including a propensity-matched study, underlines the Ross procedure’s association with enhanced long-term survival and reduced adverse valve-related events compared to other AVR types. This positions the Ross procedure as a primary option for AVR in young and middle-aged adults within specialized centers, and potentially the only choice for children and infants requiring AVR. This review meticulously examines the Ross procedure, covering historical perspectives, surgical techniques, imaging, and outcomes, including hemodynamic performance and quality of life, especially focusing on pediatric and young adult patients. It explores contemporary techniques and innovations like minimally invasive approaches and tissue engineering, underscoring ongoing research and future directions. A summarization of comparative studies and meta-analyses reiterates the Ross procedure’s superior long-term outcomes, valve durability, and preservation of the left ventricular function, accentuating the crucial role of patient selection and risk stratification, and pinpointing areas for future research.
YOLOv7-Ship: A Lightweight Algorithm for Ship Object Detection in Complex Marine Environments
Authors: Jiang Zhikai , Su Li , Sun Yuxin
Published: January 2024

Accurate ship object detection ensures navigation safety and effective maritime traffic management. Existing ship target detection models often have the problem of missed detection in complex marine environments, and it is hard to achieve high accuracy and real-time performance simultaneously. To address these issues, this paper proposes a lightweight ship object detection model called YOLOv7-Ship to perform end-to-end ship detection in complex marine environments. At first, we insert the improved “coordinate attention mechanism” (CA-M) in the backbone of the YOLOv7-Tiny model at the appropriate location. Then, the feature extraction capability of the convolution module is enhanced by embedding omnidimensional dynamic convolution (ODconv) into the efficient layer aggregation network (ELAN). Furthermore, content-aware feature reorganization (CARAFE) and SIoU are introduced into the model to improve its convergence speed and detection precision for small targets. Finally, to handle the scarcity of ship data in complex marine environments, we build the ship dataset, which contains 5100 real ship images. Experimental results show that, compared with the baseline YOLOv7-Tiny model, YOLOv7-Ship improves the mean average precision (mAP) by 2.2% on the self-built dataset. The model also has a lightweight feature with a detection speed of 75 frames per second, which can meet the need for real-time detection in complex marine environments to a certain extent, highlighting its advantages for the safety of maritime navigation.
Design and Performance Evaluation of an Enclosed Inertial Wave Energy Converter with a Nonlinear Stiffness Mechanism
Authors: Qin Jian , Zhang Zhenquan , Song Xuening , Huang Shuting , Liu Yanjun , Xue Gang
Published: January 2024

In order to enhance the power generation efficiency and reliability of wave energy converters (WECs), an enclosed inertial WEC with a magnetic nonlinear stiffness mechanism (nonlinear EIWEC) is proposed in this paper. A mathematical model of the nonlinear EIWEC was established based on the Cummins equation and the equivalent magnetic charge method, and the joint simulations were carried out using MATLAB/Simulink 2020 and AMESim 2020 softwares. The effect of the magnetic nonlinear stiffness mechanism (NSM) on the performance of the EIWEC system was investigated. The results show that the nonlinear negative stiffness property of NSM can significantly improve the motion response and output power of EIWEC under low-frequency waves. Compared to EIWEC without NSM (linear EIWEC), nonlinear EIWEC has a higher generation efficiency and wider frequency bandwidth. Additionally, the effects of linear spring, internal mass body, and hydraulic power take-off (PTO) system parameters on the energy conversion capability of the system were analyzed to provide a reference for the design of nonlinear EIWECs. In general, the proposed nonlinear EIWEC could provide good development potential for the scale utilization of wave energy resources.
Comparative Analysis of Rhizosphere and Endosphere Fungal Communities in Healthy and Diseased Faba Bean Plants
Authors: Li Juan , Hou Lu , Zhang Gui , Cheng Liang , Liu Yujiao
Published: January 2024

This study used the ITS approach based on Illumina MiSeq sequencing to assess the endosphere and rhizosphere fungal communities in healthy and diseased faba bean plants. The findings indicate that the most predominant phyla in all samples were Ascomycota (49.89–99.56%) and Basidiomycota (0.33–25.78%). In healthy endosphere samples, Glomeromycota (0.08–1.17%) was the only predominant phylum. In diseased endosphere samples, Olpidiomycota (0.04–1.75%) was the only predominant phylum. At the genus level, Penicillium (0.47–35.21%) was more abundant in rhizosphere soil, while Paraphoma (3.48–91.16%) was predominant in the endosphere roots of faba bean plants. Significant differences were observed in the alpha diversity of rhizosphere samples from different germplasm resources (p < 0.05). The fungal community structures were clearly distinguished between rhizosphere and endosphere samples and between healthy and diseased endosphere samples (p < 0.05). Saccharomyces was significantly enriched in diseased endosphere samples, whereas Apiotrichum was enriched in healthy endosphere samples. Vishniacozyma and Phialophora were enriched in diseased rhizosphere samples, while Pseudogymnoascus was enriched in healthy rhizosphere samples. Diseased samples displayed more strongly correlated genera than healthy samples. Saprotrophs accounted for a larger proportion of the fungal microbes in rhizosphere soil than in endosphere roots. This study provides a better understanding of the composition and diversity of fungal communities in the rhizosphere and endosphere of faba bean plants as well as a theoretical guidance for future research on the prevention or control of faba bean root rot disease.
Transcriptomic Screening of Alternaria oxytropis Isolated from Locoweed Plants for Genes Involved in Mycotoxin Swaisonine Production
Authors: Yuan Shuangjie , Zhao Qingmei , Yu Kun , Gao Ying , Ma Zhengbing , Li Huanyu , Yu Yongtao
Published: January 2024

Locoweed is a collective name for a variety of plants, such as Oxytropis and Astragalus L. When these plants are infected by some fungi or endophytes, they will produce an alkaloid (swainsonine) that is harmful to livestock. Chronic toxicity characterized by neurological disorders occurs in livestock overfed on locoweed, and swainsonine (SW) is considered a major toxic component. The mechanism of the SW synthesis of endophytic fungi from locoweed remains unknown. In order to further discover the possible synthetic pathway of SW, in this study, a mycotoxin (SW) producer, Alternaria oxytropis isolate, UA003, isolated from Locoweed plants, and its mutant were subjected to transcriptomic analyses to ascertain the genes involved in the synthesis of this toxin. Mutant strain A. oxytropis E02 was obtained by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis treatment, and the strains were sequenced with different culture times for transcriptomic analysis and screening of differentially expressed genes. The results show a highly significant (p < 0.01) increase in SW yield in the A. oxytropis E02 strain obtained by EMS mutagenesis treatment compared to A. oxytropis UA003. A total of 637 differentially expressed genes were screened by transcriptome sequencing analysis, including 11 genes potentially associated with SW biosynthesis. These genes were screened using GO and KEGG data annotation and analysis. Among the differential genes, evm.TU.Contig4.409, evm.TU.Contig19.10, and evm.TU.Contig50.48 were associated with L-lysine biosynthesis, the L-pipecolic acid pathway, and the α-aminoadipic acid synthesis pathway. This study provides new insights to elucidate the mechanism of SW synthesis of endophytic fungi in locoweed and provides data support for further exploration of A. oxytropis genomics studies.
The Reciprocal Relationship between Sleep and Epilepsy
Authors: Krutoshinskaya Yana , Coulehan Kelly , Pushchinska Galyna , Spiegel Rebecca
Published: January 2024

The relationship between sleep and epilepsy is bidirectional. Certain epilepsy syndromes predominantly or exclusively manifest during sleep, with seizures frequently originating from non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Interictal epileptiform discharges observed on electroencephalograms are most likely to be activated during the deep NREM sleep stage known as N3. Conversely, epileptiform discharges, anti-seizure medications (ASMs), as well as other anti-seizure therapies can exert detrimental effects on sleep architecture. Moreover, the co-occurrence of sleep disorders has the potential to exacerbate seizure control. Understating the relationship between sleep and epilepsy is crucial for healthcare providers. Addressing and managing sleep-related problems in individuals with epilepsy can potentially contribute to improved seizure control and overall well-being. At the same time, improving seizure control can improve sleep quality and quantity, thus further improving the health of individuals with epilepsy.
The Effectiveness of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mixed with Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Healing of Inflammatory Bowel Anastomoses: A Pre-Clinical Study in Rats
Authors: Geropoulos Georgios , Psarras Kyriakos , Papaioannou Maria , Geropoulos Vasileios , Niti Argyri , Nikolaidou Christina , Koimtzis Georgios , Symeonidis Nikolaos , Pavlidis Efstathios T. , Koliakos Georgios , Pavlidis Theodoros E. , Galanis Ioannis
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Multiple factors have been linked with increased risk of anastomotic leak in bowel surgery, including infections, inflammatory bowel disease, patient comorbidities and poor surgical technique. The aim of this study was to investigate the positive effect, if any, of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) mixed with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the healing of bowel anastomoses, in an inflammatory environment after establishment of experimental colitis. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of seven animals: normal controls, colitis controls, PRP, MSCs, and PRP+MSCs. All groups underwent laparotomy, one-cm segmental colectomy and anastomosis in situ. In the colitis group, colectomy was performed at the affected area. Colitis was previously established by transrectal administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) except for the normal controls. Post-mortem histopathological, tissue hydroxyproline and anastomotic bursting pressure (ABP) assessments were performed. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to assess statistical significance differences between groups. Results: No perioperative mortality was noted. Tissue hydroxyproline and ABP were significantly increased in the group of PRP+MSCs compared to colitis controls (p = 0.0151 and p = 0.0104, respectively). Inflammatory cell infiltration was lower and fibroblast activity higher in PRP+MSCs group, but not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Neoangiogenesis (p = 0.0073) and anastomotic area epithelialization (p = 0.0182) were significantly higher in PRP + MSCs group compared to colitis controls. Discussion: The synergistic effect of the PRP and MSCs is apparently responsible for the improved healing markers in bowel anastomoses even on inflammatory bowel. This gives hope for primary anastomoses and stoma saving in many emergency and/or elective circumstances, especially in immunocompromised or malnourished patients, even in cases with inflammation or peritonitis. Clinical studies should follow in order to support the clinical application of PRP+MSCs in gastrointestinal anastomoses.
Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Organic Nitrates in Mortality Reduction Following Acute Myocardial Infarction in Hyperlipidemia Patients: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Lee An-Sheng , Hung Chung-Lieh , Lai Thung-Shen , Chung Ching-Hu
Published: January 2024

Background: Dyslipidemia is a known risk factor for cardiac dysfunction, and lipid-lowering therapy with statins reduces symptoms and reduces hospitalization related to left ventricular heart failure. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this study, we aimed to determine the real-world AMI treatment drug combination used in Taiwan by using the NHI database to understand the treatment outcomes of current clinical medications prescribed for hyperlipidemia patients with AMI. Methods: Using the NHI Research Database (NHIRD), we conducted a retrospective cohort study that compared different treatments for AMI in hyperlipidemia patients in the period from 2016 to 2018. We compared the survival outcomes between those treated with and without organic nitrates in this cohort. Results: We determined that most hyperlipidemia patients were aged 61–70 y (29.95–31.46% from 2016 to 2018), and the annual AMI risk in these patients was <1% (0.42–0.68% from 2016 to 2018). The majority of hyperlipidemia patients with AMI were women, and 25.64% were aged 61–70 y. Receiving organic nitrates was associated with lower all-cause mortality rates (HR, 95% CI, p-value = 0.714, 0.674–0.756, p < 0.0001). After multivariate analysis, the overall survival in four groups (beta-blockers, beta-blocker + diuretics, diuretics, and others) receiving an organic nitrate treatment was significantly higher than in the groups that were not treated with organic nitrates (beta-blockers HR = 0.536, beta-blocker + diuretics HR = 0.620, diuretics HR = 0.715, and others HR = 0.690). Conclusions: The survival benefit was significantly greater in patients treated with organic nitrates than in those treated without organic nitrates, especially when combined with diuretics. A combination of organic nitrates could be a better treatment option for hyperlipidemia patients with AMI.
The Impact of Endometriosis on Pregnancy
Authors: Tsikouras Panagiotis , Oikonomou Efthimios , Bothou Anastasia , Chaitidou Penelopi , Kyriakou Dimitrios , Nikolettos Konstantinos , Andreou Sotirios , Gaitatzi Foteini , Nalbanti Theopi , Peitsidis Panagiotis , Michalopoulos Spyridon , Zervoudis Stefanos , Iatrakis George , Nikolettos Nikolaos
Published: January 2024

Despite the increased frequency of endometriosis, it remains one of the most enigmatic disorders regarding its effects on pregnancy. Endometriosis adversely affects both natural and assisted conception. Impaired folliculogenesis, which causes follicular dysfunction and low egg quality, as well as luteal phase problems, reduced fertilization, and abnormal embryogenesis, are some of the mechanisms advocated to explain reproductive dysfunction. There is a rising need for a comprehensive study of the potential negative consequences of this condition on pregnancy outcomes, including the postpartum period, as more women with a medical history of endometriosis become pregnant. Obstetrical complications (small for gestational age [SGA], cesarean section [CS], miscarriage, hemorrhage, low placental adhesion, and preterm delivery) are statistically elevated in women with endometriosis. Furthermore, ruptured ovarian endometrioma, appendicitis, intestinal perforation, and hemoperitoneum have been described in pregnancy. Obstetricians are largely unfamiliar with these complications, as they have not been thoroughly investigated. The development and pathogenesis of endometriosis is an important field of study and has not yet been fully elucidated. Finding these mechanisms is crucial for the development of new and more effective strategies to treat this condition. Endometriosis can have an impact on obstetric and neonatal outcomes of pregnancy, in addition to its potential effects on conception. To date, no additional monitoring is recommended for pregnancies with a history of endometriosis. However, more studies are urgently needed to assess the need for the tailored pregnancy monitoring of women with endometriosis.
A Survey of Literature on the Interlinkage between Petroleum Prices and Equity Markets
Authors: Bagirov Miramir , Mateus Cesario
Published: January 2024

The multifaceted interrelationship between petroleum prices and equity markets has been a subject of immense interest. The current paper offers an extensive review of a plethora of empirical studies in this strand of literature. By scrutinising over 190 papers published from 1983 to 2023, our survey reveals various research themes and points to diverse findings that are sector- and country-specific and contingent on employed methodologies, data frequencies, and time horizons. More precisely, petroleum price changes and shocks exert direct or indirect effects dictated by the level of petroleum dependency across sectors and the country’s position as a net petroleum exporter or importer. The interlinkages tend to display a time-varying nature and sensitivity to major market events. In addition, volatility is not solely spilled from petroleum to equity markets; it is also observed to transmit in the reverse direction. The importance of incorporating asymmetries is documented. Lastly, the summarised findings can serve as the basis for further research and reveal valuable insights to market participants.
A Proposed Methodology for Determining the Economically Optimal Number of Sample Points for Carbon Stock Estimation in the Canadian Prairies
Authors: Sorenson Preston Thomas , Kiss Jeremy , Bedard-Haughn Angela
Published: January 2024

Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration assessment requires accurate and effective tools for measuring baseline SOC stocks. An emerging technique for estimating baseline SOC stocks is predictive soil mapping (PSM). A key challenge for PSM is determining sampling density requirements, specifically, determining the economically optimal number of samples for predictive soil mapping for SOC stocks. In an attempt to answer this question, data were used from 3861 soil organic carbon samples collected as part of routine agronomic soil testing from a 4702 ha farming operation in Saskatchewan, Canada. A predictive soil map was built using all the soil data to calculate the total carbon stock for the entire study area. The dataset was then subset using conditioned Latin hypercube sampling (cLHS), both conventional and stratified by slope position, to determine the total carbon stocks with the following sampling densities (points per ha): 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, and 0.8. A nonlinear error function was then fit to the data, and the optimal number of samples was determined based on the number of samples that minimized soil data costs and the value of the soil carbon stock prediction error. The stratified cLHS required fewer samples to achieve the same level of accuracy compared to conventional cLHS, and the optimal number of samples was more sensitive to carbon price than sampling costs. Overall, the optimal sampling density ranged from 0.025 to 0.075 samples per hectare.
FIKA: A Conformal Geometric Algebra Approach to a Fast Inverse Kinematics Algorithm for an Anthropomorphic Robotic Arm
Authors: Carbajal-Espinosa Oscar , Campos-Macías Leobardo , Díaz-Rodriguez Miriam
Published: January 2024

This paper presents a geometric approach to solve the inverse kinematics for an anthropomorphic robotic arm with seven degrees of freedom (DoF). The proposal is based on conformal geometric algebra (CGA), by which many geometric primitives can be operated naturally and directly. CGA allows for the intersection of geometric entities such as two or more spheres or a plane’s projection over a sphere. Rigid transformations of such geometric entities are performed using only one operation through another geometric entity called a motor. CGA imposes geometric restrictions on the inverse kinematics solution, which avoids computation of the forward kinematics or other numerical solutions, unlike traditional approaches. Comparisons with state-of-the-art algorithms are included to prove our algorithm’s superior performance: such as decreased execution time and errors of the end-effector for a series of desired poses.
Joint-Module Health Status Recognition for an Unmanned Platform: A Time–Frequency Representation and Extraction Network-Based Approach
Authors: Zhu Songbai , Yang Guolai , Song Sumian , Du Ruilong , Yuan Haihui
Published: January 2024

Due to the complex structure of the joint module and harsh working conditions of unmanned platforms, the fault information is often overwhelmed by noise. Moreover, traditional mechanical health state recognition methods usually require a large amount of labeled data in advance, which is difficult to obtain for specific fault data in engineering applications. This limited amount of fault data restricts the diagnostic performance. Additionally, the characteristics of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) limit their ability to capture the relative positional information of fault features. In order to obtain more comprehensive fault information, this paper proposes an intelligent health state recognition method for unmanned platform joint modules based on feature modal decomposition (FMD) and the enhanced capsule network. Firstly, the collected vibration signals are decomposed into a series of feature modal components using FMD. Then, time–frequency maps containing significant fault features are generated based on the continuous wavelet transform (CWT). Finally, a multi-scale feature enhancement (MLFE) module and an efficient channel attention (ECA) module are proposed to enhance the feature extraction capability of the capsule network, extracting more comprehensive global and local feature information from the time–frequency maps to achieve the intelligent state recognition of joint modules. This approach enhances fault features while reducing the impact of redundant features, significantly improving the feature extraction capability without increasing the model’s computational complexity. The effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method are validated through experiments on an unmanned platform joint-module testbed. An ablation experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of the MLFE and ECA modules, and a comparison with other advanced network models proves the superiority of the proposed method for health status recognition.
Exploring a Material-Focused Design Methodology: An Innovative Approach to Pressure Vessel Design
Authors: Gómez Edgar Adhair Montes , Osorio Samantha Ixtepan , Soriano Luis Arturo , Paredes Guadalupe Juliana Gutiérrez , Rubio José de Jesús
Published: January 2024

The design of components and elements comprising industrial machinery, as well as those that are part of an industrial system, has been carried out in recent years using various design methodologies. Currently, the products demanded by customers, as well as the needs of different companies, governments, and individuals, require considerations beyond traditional design, including multidisciplinary aspects such as sustainability, environmental friendliness, and circular economy. The design methodologies considered for this study are the quality function deployment (QFD) methodology, the theory of inventive problem-solving methodology, Ashby’s Materials Selection methodology, and the systematic approach methodology, which are currently the main design methodologies. These methodologies present some disadvantages, such as multidisciplinary requirements not being considered directly, the selection of materials based on standards is not well established, and obtaining technical requirements is ambiguous for the technical purposes of the design or manufacturing, and the designer’s experience in these examples is important to the design process and the development of the product. For these reasons, the traditional design methodologies are presented, next, a new design methodology is proposed and described, then a case study is performed in order to compare the proposed methodology with traditional design methodologies. Finally, the results show advantages over the traditional design methodologies.
Research on the Influence of Disc–Drum Connection Bolt Preloading Rotor Assembly Modal Characteristics and Diagnosis Technology
Authors: Wang Haijun , Xue Pu , Zhang Yonghong , Jiang Liang , Wang Shengxu
Published: January 2024

The drum rotor of an aero-engine is connected by one or multiple mounting edges through bolts, and their dynamics are significantly influenced by the preload state of the bolts. Long working hours in challenging environments can result in the deterioration of bolt pre-tightening during assembly or service, which impacts the rotor’s dynamic stability and overall performance. Currently, there are no available methods for detecting the dynamic characteristics of the drum connection components. This paper analyzes the impact of the natural characteristics of the drum composite structure of a high-pressure aero-engine turbine based on the refined finite element method when the preloading state changes. Two conditions of deviation and uneven stiffness distribution were applied to the connected components of the drum. The analysis focused on the impact of the pre-tightening state on its natural frequency. After analyzing the feasibility of identifying the pre-tightening state, two methods are proposed. These methods focus on changes in natural frequency and mode shape, specifically the sensitive natural frequency change method and the mode step change method. The methods proposed in this paper can serve as a reference for evaluating the quality of assembling complex disc–drum structures with multiple bolt connections.
A Magnet Splicing Method for Constructing a Three-Dimensional Self-Decoupled Magnetic Tactile Sensor
Authors: Dai Huangzhe , Wu Zheyan , Meng Chenxian , Zhang Chengqian , Zhao Peng
Published: January 2024

Tactile sensory organs for three-dimensional (3D) force perception are essential for most living organisms and enable them to perform complex and sophisticated tasks to survive and evolve. Magnetic-based tactile sensors have been developed rapidly in recent years due to the exploitability of 3D force decoupling. Here, a method of magnet splicing is introduced, which can be applied to a magnetic tactile sensor to realize 3D self-decoupling of magnets’ displacements. This method enables the magnets to produce a completely consistent magnetic field distribution as the ideal magnetization model within a certain working range, eliminating the compensation and correction of the 3D magnetic flux density signal. This method carves out a new way for the practical application of 3D decoupling theory, showcasing the great potential in the fields of magnetic sensors and magnetic actuators.
A Formalization of Multilabel Classification in Terms of Lattice Theory and Information Theory: Concerning Datasets
Authors: Valverde-Albacete Francisco J. , Peláez-Moreno Carmen
Published: January 2024

Multilabel classification is a recently conceptualized task in machine learning. Contrary to most of the research that has so far focused on classification machinery, we take a data-centric approach and provide an integrative framework that blends qualitative and quantitative descriptions of multilabel data sources. By combining lattice theory, in the form of formal concept analysis, and entropy triangles, obtained from information theory, we explain from first principles the fundamental issues of multilabel datasets such as the dependencies of the labels, their imbalances, or the effects of the presence of hapaxes. This allows us to provide guidelines for resampling and new data collection and their relationship with broad modelling approaches. We have empirically validated our framework using 56 open datasets, challenging previous characterizations that prove that our formalization brings useful insights into the task of multilabel classification. Further work will consider the extension of this formalization to understand the relationship between the data sources, the classification methods, and ways to assess their performance.
The Impact of Thermal Radiation on Mixed Convective Unsteady Nanofluid Flow in a Revolving Vertical Cone
Authors: Mishra Shweta , Mondal Hiranmoy , Behl Ramandeep , Salimi Mehdi
Published: January 2024

This study investigates the effects of an unsteady mixed convection nanofluid flow in a rotating vertical cone submerged in spinning nanofluid. Our analysis considered the impacts of heat flux, chemical reactions, and thermal radiation, with the thermal and concentration Biot numbers serving as constraints at the boundary. The governing unsteady and coupled partial differential equations were solved through appropriate similarity transformations, addressing the nonlinear terms inherent in these equations. The spectral quasi-linearisation method (SQLM) was employed to solve the higher-order nonlinear differential equations. This study elucidates and assesses the impact of diverse physical constraints and parameters through the use of graphical representations. Notably, the temperature distribution of the liquefied substance was intensified as the thermal and solutal Biot numbers increased.
A Copula-Based Bivariate Composite Model for Modelling Claim Costs
Authors: Aradhye Girish , Tzougas George , Bhati Deepesh
Published: January 2024

This paper aims to develop a new family of bivariate distributions for modelling different types of claims and their associated costs jointly in a flexible manner. The proposed bivariate distributions can be viewed as a continuous copula distribution paired with two marginals based on composite distributions. For expository purposes, the details of one of the proposed bivarite composite distributions is provided. The dependence measures for the resulting bivariate copula-based composite distribution are studied, and its fitting is compared with other bivariate composite distributions and existing bivariate distributions. The parameters of the proposed bivariate composite model are estimated via the inference functions for margins (IFM) method. The suitability of the proposed bivariate distribution is examined using two real-world insurance datasets, namely the motor third-party liability (MTPL) insurance dataset and Danish fire insurance dataset.
Mastery of “Monthly Effects”: Big Data Insights into Contrarian Strategies for DJI 30 and NDX 100 Stocks over a Two-Decade Period
Authors: Chiu Chien-Liang , Huang Paoyu , Day Min-Yuh , Ni Yensen , Chen Yuhsin
Published: January 2024

In contrast to finding better monthly performance shown in a specific month, such as the January effect (i.e., better stock price performance in January as opposed to other months), which has been extensively studied, the goal of this study is to determine whether investors would obtain better subsequent performance as technical trading signals emitted in a specific month because, from the investment perspective, investors purchasing stocks now would not know their performance until later. We contend that our analysis emphasizes its critical role in steering investment decisions and enhancing profitability; nonetheless, this issue appears to be overlooked in the relevant literature. As such, utilizing big data to analyze the constituent stocks of the DJI 30 and NDX 100 indices from 2003 to 2022 (i.e., two-decade data), this study investigates whether trading these stocks as trading signals emitted via contrarian regulation of stochastic oscillator indicators (SOIs) and the relative strength index (RSI) in specific months would result in superior subsequent performance (hereafter referred to as “monthly effects”). This study discovers that the oversold signals generated by these two contrarian regulations in March were associated with higher subsequent performance for holding 100 to 250 trading days (roughly one year) than other months. These findings highlight the importance of the trading time and the superiority of the RSI over SOIs in generating profits. This study sheds light on the significance of oversold trading signals and suggests that the “monthly effect” is crucial for achieving higher returns.
Oreo Cookie Treatment Lowers LDL Cholesterol More Than High-Intensity Statin therapy in a Lean Mass Hyper-Responder on a Ketogenic Diet: A Curious Crossover Experiment
Authors: Norwitz Nicholas G. , Cromwell William C.
Published: January 2024

Recent research has identified a unique population of ‘Lean Mass Hyper-Responders’ (LMHR) who exhibit increases in LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in response to carbohydrate-restricted diets to levels ≥ 200 mg/dL, in association with HDL cholesterol ≥ 80 mg/dL and triglycerides ≤ 70 mg/dL. This triad of markers occurs primarily in lean metabolically healthy subjects, with the magnitude of increase in LDL-C inversely associated with body mass index. The lipid energy model has been proposed as one explanation for LMHR phenotype and posits that there is increased export and subsequent turnover of VLDL to LDL particles to meet systemic energy needs in the setting of hepatic glycogen depletion and low body fat. This single subject crossover experiment aimed to test the hypothesis that adding carbohydrates, in the form of Oreo cookies, to an LMHR subject on a ketogenic diet would reduce LDL-C levels by a similar, or greater, magnitude than high-intensity statin therapy. The study was designed as follows: after a 2-week run-in period on a standardized ketogenic diet, study arm 1 consisted of supplementation with 12 regular Oreo cookies, providing 100 g/d of additional carbohydrates for 16 days. Throughout this arm, ketosis was monitored and maintained at levels similar to the subject’s standard ketogenic diet using supplemental exogenous d-β-hydroxybutyrate supplementation four times daily. Following the discontinuation of Oreo supplementation, the subject maintained a stable ketogenic diet for 3 months and documented a return to baseline weight and hypercholesterolemic status. During study arm 2, the subject received rosuvastatin 20 mg daily for 6 weeks. Lipid panels were drawn water-only fasted and weekly throughout the study. Baseline LDL-C was 384 mg/dL and reduced to 111 mg/dL (71% reduction) after Oreo supplementation. Following the washout period, LDL-C returned to 421 mg/dL, and was reduced to a nadir of 284 mg/dL with 20 mg rosuvastatin therapy (32.5% reduction). In conclusion, in this case study experiment, short-term Oreo supplementation lowered LDL-C more than 6 weeks of high-intensity statin therapy in an LMHR subject on a ketogenic diet. This dramatic metabolic demonstration, consistent with the lipid energy model, should provoke further research and not be seen as health advice.