bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mendelian randomization to evaluate the causal relationship between household income status and the risk of knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Weng Mingjie , Zhang Min
Published: November 2023

Objective
To explore the causal relationship between household income status and knee osteoarthritis (KOA) risk using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.
Methods
In order to assess the causal relationship between household income status and knee osteoarthritis (KOA), we utilized the Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data. Our selection process involved identifying the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables (IVs). Among these SNPs, we specifically chose the significant ones for the MR analysis. To determine the causal relationship, we employed three methods of MR analysis, namely inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median (WM), and MR-Egger regression. This analysis allowed us to calculate Odds Ratios (OR) for the relationship between household income status and KOA. Additionally, we also conducted heterogeneity and pleiotropy analyses to further validate the MR results.
Results
Higher household income tended to reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.85, p < 0.001), while reverse MR studies showed no causal association between knee osteoarthritis and household income status. The intercept of MR-Egger regression was 0.014 (P = 0.1), indicating that the causal estimation results were unaffected by pleiotropy.
Conclusion
The findings showed that individuals with higher household incomes had a decreased risk of knee osteoarthritis.
The effect of online point of care ultrasound training coupled with 1:1 sessions on medical learner comfort level and intended use
Authors: Mikhail Pierre , Leung Deborah , Belanger Jacob , Hogenbirk John , Allen Lisa
Published: November 2023

Background
Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is gaining popularity in the clinical setting as it provides important bedside clinical information in real-time. There are numerous barriers in POCUS training that impede access, training, and subsequent use. This study was developed to introduce and evaluate the use of a novel course, the Huntsville Integrated Simulation Program (HIP-Sim). The study objective was to investigate the feasibility and clinical relevance of the HIP-Sim program, to learn if completing modules coupled with select 1:1 sessions will improve confidence in ultrasound skills and potential incorporation of POCUS into practice.
Method
Participants included physicians, undergraduate and graduate medical learners in rural northern Ontario. Pre-and post-interventional responses were collected from participants. Data was assessed using descriptive analyses and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests. Laurentian University research ethics board, certificate number #2020-02-01.
Results
There were 40 unique respondents, twenty completing both the pre-and post-intervention surveys. Respondents reported a significant increase in comfort level for Abdomen FAST, IVC/ volume assessment, POCUS in general, and Basic Cardiac assessment, which increased by 1.13 points or more. Respondents strongly agreed that “the HIP-SIM course was an effective use of my time” (18/27 = 66.7%) or that “the training was appropriate to my learning needs” (20/27 = 74.1%). Almost 90% (24/27) would recommend the HIP SIM training program to others. Many respondents indicated that they would “recommend the HIP-Sim program to their colleagues and medical learners” and that it was “an excellent mix of self-directed learning and learning from the experts”.
Conclusion
The HIP-Sim program increased comfort in numerous POCUS scans. The hybrid format of electronic self-directed learning and in-person teaching was appreciated by physicians and medical learners alike. This study demonstrates preliminary evidence that HIP-Sim is a feasible and clinically relevant POCUS learning course.
The Hidden Oases: Unveiling Trophic Dynamics in Namib's Fog Plant Ecosystem
Authors: Gan Huei Ying , Hohberg Karin , Schneider Clément , Ebner Martin , Marais Eugene , Miranda Tatiana , Lehmitz Ricarda , Maggs-Kölling Gillian , Bocherens Hervé
Published: November 2023

The Namib Desert is a hyperarid coastal desert where fog is a major moisture source. We hypothesized that the fog-harvesting grass Stipagrostis sabulicola establishes an important ecological niche in the extreme Namib Sand Sea ecosystem, referred to as "Fog-Plant-Oases (FPO)". Using a combination of extraction methods, we collected and described the above- and belowground FPO invertebrate communities and inferred their trophic feedings based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values. Our findings revealed a complex trophic structure and a unique food web, all of which revolve around a single fog plant as the primary producer. We demonstrated that S. sabulicola serves as the primary energy source for the aboveground food web, encompassing a diverse range of trophic levels. Nevertheless, the distinctive stable isotope values of bacterial- and fungal-feeding nematodes indicated the separation of the aboveground niche, which is primarily sustained by S. sabulicola, from the belowground niche, where wind-blown sediments serve as the main energy source. These findings further accentuate the role of S. sabulicola not only as a primary producer but also as a source of moisture and habitat provider for belowground invertebrates.
Huei Ying Gan, Karin Hohberg, and Clément Schneider contributed equally to this work.
Antibacterial activity of Streptomyces sp. strain NELs-60 against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Rajaofera Mamy Jayne Nelly , Wang Yanshuang , Chen Chuizhe , Li Xuemiao , Kang Xun , Zhang Nan , Kuang Dai , Xia Qianfeng
Published: November 2023

Streptomyces sp. strain NELs-60 isolated from the coastal city Dongfang in Hainan province of China was investigated for its antibacterial potential. The isolate showed strong activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300. Using the Plackett Burman design, the culture condition was optimized to achieve the maximum production. Five variables and 12 run experiment were adopted, and the result evinced pH, inoculum time, and agitation speed highly influenced bioactive compound production. Solvent extraction method was applied for taking out of bioactive metabolites from the strain and highest activity was obtained from ethyl acetate. The active metabolites had obvious inhibitory effect, with MIC and MBC of 125 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL, respectively. Based on GC–MS, the active metabolites of NELs-60 were preliminarily analyzed. Different compounds were detected, suggesting their contribution towards the anti-MRSA activities. Ethyl acetate extract was found fully stable and showed decreases in biofilm formation, lower virulence and less toxicity when comparing on non-treated ones. The results of this study indicate the potential of NELs-60 as a promising source of anti-MRSA and antibiofilm compounds and warrants further study.
AAC: An anomaly aware time series compression algorithm towards green computing
Authors: Meng Jingwen , Liu Liang , Liu Yulei , Wang Ning
Published: November 2023

The storage of time series big data in Internet of Things (IoT) requires a lot of environmentally unfriendly servers that generate a large amount of energy consumption. Reducing the number of storage servers with efficient time series compression techniques is one of the available solutions to decrease energy consumption to realize green computing. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an Anomaly Aware Compression algorithm (AAC) aiming to achieve green storage by obtaining higher compression ratios. Anomalies appear frequently in time series data in scenarios such as IoT, but no compression algorithm has been designed for them. AAC realizes better compression results by dividing and compressing abnormal and normal data separately. For the two types of data, we present Window Delta encoding and Dispersion Tolerant encoding to efficiently compress them. Our experimental results demonstrate that the approach achieves about 5% - 120% improvement in compression ratio compared to the state of art.
A Study on the Association Between Vaginal Microecology Imbalances During Pregnancy and the Risk of Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ren Siling , Liu Liping , Xiao Xuejuan , He Tingde , Guo Quanyi , Ling Ting , Li Tingting , Jiang Lingling
Published: November 2023

Background
Spontaneous preterm birth remains a paramount challenge in obstetrics with potential adverse implications for maternal and neonatal health. The vaginal microecology during pregnancy plays a pivotal role in orchestrating normal parturition, and its dysbiosis is associated with an escalated risk of Spontaneous preterm birth.
Methods
A prospective study encompassing 79 pregnant women was conducted to elucidate the nexus between gestational vaginal microecology imbalances and the susceptibility to preterm birth. Based on pregnancy outcomes, participants were stratified into preterm and term groups. At the 24th gestational week and close to parturition, vaginal secretions from the pregnant women were both qualitatively and semi-quantitatively assessed in accordance with the clinical consensus on vaginal microbiota evaluation.
Results
Significant disparities were discerned between the preterm and term cohorts, notably regarding the lactobacillus proportion and the Nugent score and Aerobic Vaginitis score. By the 24th gestational week, the preterm group exhibited a pronounced decrement in lactobacillus proportion coupled with elevated Nugent score and Aerobic Vaginitis score. Despite interventions at the 24th gestational week for those with detrimental vaginal environments, which significantly improved Nugent score and Aerobic Vaginitis score by term, the lactobacillus proportion did not show corresponding recovery.
Conclusions
The study underscores a tangible association between diminished lactobacillus proportion, heightened Nugent score, and Aerobic Vaginitis score at 24 weeks of gestation, and an augmented Spontaneous preterm birth risk. These metrics offer pivotal insights for clinical practice concerning preterm birth susceptibility and emphasize the importance of preserving a healthy vaginal microbiota milieu.
A complete mass spectrometry-based immunopeptidomics pipeline for neoantigen identification and validation
Authors: Li Ming , Tran Ngoc Hieu , Peng Chao , Lei Qingyang , Xin Lei , Lang Jingxiang , Zhang Qing , Li Wenting , Qiao Rui , Qin Haiming , Bu Dongbo , Zhang Haicang , Yu Chungong , Liu Xiaolong , Shan Baozhen , Wu Ping , Miao Haofei , Zhang Yi
Published: November 2023

Here we proposed DeepImmu, a complete pipeline for neoantigen identification and validation that was based solely on mass spectrometry (MS) immunopeptidomics. In particular, a new enrichment kit was developed for HLA peptide purification from a small amount of biopsied tissue as low as 18mg. To identify candidate neoantigens from such a small amount of sample, we built DeepNovo Peptidome, a highly sensitive de novo sequencing-based workflow for HLA peptide identification. Furthermore, we developed DeepSelf, a personalized model for immunogenicity prediction based on the central tolerance of T cells, which could be used to prioritize candidate neoantigens from de novo HLA peptides for in vitro validation. Finally, we presented a new MS-based immunopeptidomics study of native tumor tissues from five patients with cervical cancer. We applied DeepImmu pipeline to identify and prioritize candidate neoantigens from low amounts of tumor tissues, and then performed in vitro validation of autologous neoantigen-specific T cell responses to confirm our results. Our MS-based de novo sequencing approach provides an unbiased solution for neoantigen discovery, because it does not depend on prior knowledge of protein databases, RNA sequencing data, or the source of neoantigens. By reducing the amount of sample to biopsy size, our DeepImmu pipeline can be easily performed in routine clinical applications.
Biogenic synthesis of selenium nanoparticles by moderate halophilic bacteria and evaluation of its anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activity
Authors: Selvaraj Bharathi , A Kishore Kumar , S Kumaran , G Suresh
Published: November 2023

In the present investigation, the selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were biosynthesized from moderate halophilic bacteria (that can grow optimally at 3–15% NaCl) isolated from Pichavaram mangrove sediments. The bacterial strain S8 was found to be efficient for SeNPs synthesis and hence identified by 16s r RNA sequencing as Shewanella sp. In UV- spectral analysis the SeNPs displayed peak at 320 nm due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The cell free extract of Shewanella sp. and SeNPs clearly indicate that the various functional groups in the cell free extract were mainly involved in synthesis and stabilisation of SeNPs. The SeNPs had a spherical form and a 20 nm size, according to the FESEM analysis. The EDX show the distinctive peaks of selenium at 1.37, 11.22.12.49 Kev. In agar well diffusion method the SeNPs shows inhibitory activity against all the test pathogens with the highest activity was noted against P. aeruginosa with zone of inhibition of 23 ± 0.5mm. In the micro broth dilution method, lowest minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value was recorded against P. aeruginosa with 8µg/200µl and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 16 µg/100µl. SeNPs at concentrations of more than 50 µg/ml were found to inhibit P. aeruginosa biofilm by 85% in the anti-biofilm study.
Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveals anthocyanin biosynthesis in leaf coloration of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)
Authors: Zhang Min , Wang Hongxia , Yang Xinlei , Wang Mei , Wang Junling , Li Yueyou , Lu Chuan , Sun Xinbo , Liu Xiaoqing , Lv Wei , Mu Guojun
Published: November 2023

Quinoa leaves demonstrate a diverse array of colors, offering a potential enhancement to landscape aesthetics and the development of leisure-oriented sightseeing agriculture in semi-arid regions. This study utilized combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate the mechanisms underlying anthocyanin synthesis in both emerald green and pink quinoa leaves. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were analyzed between two different germplasms at different periods. Several key genes, including 4CL, C3'H, HCT, CHS, CHI, ANR, CYP75B1, UGT79B1, FG3, FG2, CYP73A, MYC2, bHLH14, HY5, and TGA, were identified in anthocyanin biosynthesis using DEG analysis. GO enrichment analysis revealed seven closely related GO Terms. KEGG enrichment analysis identified six metabolic pathways that were significantly associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis, with flavonoid biosynthesis (ko00941) emerging as the most pivotal. Metabolomic analysis confirmed cyanidin 3-O-(3'',6''-O-dimalonyl glucoside) and naringenin as key DAMs in pink leaves. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that both the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway (ko00941) and anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway (ko00942) were involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. Ten DEGs, including PAL, CHI, CYP75B1, F3H, FG3, CYP73A, HCT, C3'H, 4CL, and CHS, were verified through qRT-PCR, with the results across the nine comparison groups consistent with that from transcriptomic sequencing. These findings provide a foundation for elucidating the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing flavonoid synthesis in quinoa leaves.
Rapid evaluation of the implementation of a disinfectant spray in hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods qualitative study.
Authors: Saman Razan , Pini Simon , Higham Ruchi , Helliwell Jack , Jayne David , Kowal Mikolaj , Lewthwaite Penny , Moriarty Catherine , Stocken Deborah , Young Nicola , Rousseau Nikki , Quyn Aaron
Published: November 2023

Background
A spray-based disinfectant (VIRUSENDTM) was developed in collaboration with the British Army to provide protection for its service-people from COVID-19. The Critical evaluation of the implementation of VIRUSENDTM in clinical settings (CLEAN) study sought to assess the potential utility of the spray-based disinfectant to enhance infection prevention and control (IPC) in hospital settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a study of the rapid evaluation of a novel product in a high-pressure environment.
Methods
We conducted a single centre, prospective, rapid mixed-methods, implementation study. Participants were recruited to use the spray as part of their routine IPC practice and data collection followed. Initial observations and pre-implementation survey informed the framework for the post-implementation survey and interviews. Rapid qualitative analysis methodology was used.
The study was conducted at a major tertiary referral teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. One hundred and eighty-two staff participants were recruited from ten different clinical environments, selected to represent a diverse level of COVID-19 infection risk.
Results
One hundred and two participants completed the first survey, 66 completed the second survey and 23 participated in interviews. The interviews with staff regarding their views and experiences of the spray-based disinfectant illuminated the survey responses. Five themes were identified: Is there a need for a spray-based disinfectant? integration of the spray into IPC processes; issues of cleaning vs disinfection; design and functionality; negative consequences of spray use.
Conclusions
Most people liked using VIRUSENDTM and said that they would continue to use it at work if it was available to them. A key barrier was that VIRUSENDTM whilst being a multi-organism disinfectant, was marketed specifically at COVID-19. In hospitals cleaning and disinfection needs to address a range of infectious organisms. Furthermore, economic evaluation will be required prior to any wider uptake. A rapid evaluation approach identified key issues related to feasibility and acceptability of a novel product in a high-pressure environment. This approach could be usefully applied to the assessment of other potential healthcare interventions where timely information is needed.
Comprehensive Computational Analysis of Differentially Expressed miRNAs and Their Target Genes in Breast Cancer: Implications for Diagnostic and Prognostic Insights
Authors: Phoebe Grace Lydia , Christy.H Jemmy
Published: November 2023

Breast cancer, known for its complex and multifaceted nature, presents formidable challenges in both diagnosis and treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising biomarkers due to their distinctive expression patterns in tumor tissues and their stability in various biological fluids. This stability makes them valuable for early detection and precise prognostication. In this research endeavor, we conducted an exhaustive analysis to pinpoint differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in breast tumor samples compared to their normal counterparts. To achieve this, we meticulously examined four microarray datasets (GSE45666, GSE2665, GSE44124, and GSE59247) acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. Our analytical approach consistently unveiled eight DE-miRNAs (miR-21, miR-99a, miR-100, miR-125b, miR-130b, miR-195, miR-451, and miR-497) across all datasets. Subsequently, we delved into the interactions between these DE-miRNAs and identified a network of 387 target genes. This comprehensive network offers a visual representation of the intricate miRNA-target interactions. Furthermore, we embarked on a functional enrichment analysis rooted in gene ontology terms. This analysis illuminated several pivotal biological processes, including epithelial to mesenchymal transition, positive regulation of nuclear-transcribed mRNA poly(A) tail shortening, protein K27-linked deubiquitination, peptidyl-threonine phosphorylation, regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase, gene silencing by RNA, phosphorylation, negative regulation of nitrogen compound metabolic processes, and the cellular response to transforming growth factor beta. These processes are characterized by their diverse roles in cancer biology, influencing gene expression, protein activity, cellular signaling, and metabolic pathways. Dysregulation of these processes can indeed lead to uncontrolled cell growth, invasive behavior, and metastasis, all of which are hallmarks of cancer development and progression. In conclusion, our extensive computational analysis provides valuable insights into the potential use of miRNAs as markers for early breast cancer diagnosis and ongoing monitoring. By identifying DE-miRNAs and unraveling their interactions and associated biological processes, this study enhances our comprehension of the molecular intricacies of breast cancer and the potential for improved diagnostic and prognostic approaches.
Insilico screening to identify MAO-B inhibitor as Anti Alzheimer potential from natural compounds using ZINC database.
Authors: Chaudhari Somdatta Y. , Anawade Geeta , Borude Snehal Tukaram , Gaikwad Nikita , Bedse Anjali Prashant , Dhage Azad N. , Uttekar Pravin S. , Nemade Lalita S. , Banu S. Shakila , Sharma Prince
Published: November 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neuron degenerative disorder. The MAO enzymes are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurological illnesses because of their crucial role in the breakdown of neurotransmitters that results in the formation of some hazardous compounds. Because MAO inhibition reduces the oxidative stress brought on the MAO enzymes, it has a significant anti-Alzheimer impact. Consequently, the purpose of this investigation was to find out potent natural compounds that could be used as a medication to treat AD without causing any side effects. In the study of MAO-B action on Alzheimer’s disease a database of the natural compounds of ZINC15 was used for virtually screened using computational methods. In computation methods we screened ZINC15 database. This database contained lakh of molecules which were screened using different parameters such as BBB (Blood brain Barrier), Log B, Toxicity and some more. After this we were left with 4210 compounds on which using Binding energy and MPO score we selected top 5 compounds, then Molecular Dynamics simulations of the top five compounds were performed using the software. Through Molecular dynamics study we found the RMSD, RMSF, Hydrogen bonding, Hydrophobic Interaction and other parameters, this were studied. According to overall studied we found one of the top 5 compound showed best activity and can be proceed for further studies for Alzheimer’s disease and can lead for a better treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Fabrication of SnO2/TiO2 composite by a chemical co-precipitation method for efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zhang Man , Wang Hui , XU Jiasheng
Published: November 2023

In the present research, the Tin dioxide/Titanium dioxide (SnO2/TiO2) composite has been successfully fabricated by a chemical co-precipitation method. SnO2/TiO2 composite precursors were calcined at different temperatures (400 °C, 500 °C 600 °C, 700 °C). The as-prepared composite has been characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM, EDX, TEM, FTIR, and EIS. The SnO2/TiO2 composite, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and acetylene black were fully ground (8:1:1), which were covered on the foam nickel, and then vacuum dried to form the work electrode. The degradation experiment of methylene blue dye using SnO2/TiO2 composite material was conducted to analyze the electrocatalytic performance. The degradation efficiency of the composite material can reach 96.6% (calcination at 500 °C). The process of electrocatalytic degradation of methylene blue follows a quasi-first order reaction kinetics. The composite material electrode calcinated at 500 °C has the fastest electrocatalytic decolorization reaction rate and the highest catalytic capacity, which is consistent with the results of degradation efficiency.
Fermented biofertilizer from banana fruit waste: It’s role in the Integrated Nutrient Management System for Abelmoschus esculentus (Ladies Finger) vegetative growth
Authors: Hepsibha B. Thendral , B Lavanya , P Jayanthi
Published: November 2023

Agronomic practices using organic manure to restore soil fertility and increase crop yield are the need of the hour. Recycling organic wastes into biofertilizers is a nutrient recovery strategy in waste management. Banana waste (peels and pulp) was converted into biofertilizer using cow’s urine and cow dung. The inclusion of organic biofertilizer along with chemical fertilizer forms the Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) concept, which aids in the increment of crop yield and the quality of soil properties. Taking the aforementioned information into consideration, a pot research was carried out to evaluate the impact of the nutrient management system on the growth ofAbelmoschus esculentus(Ladies finger), a vegetable of economic importance and the NPK status of the soil. Four treatments were included in the experimental design: Group 1- water control; Group 2 - Recommended dose of Chemical Fertilizer (RDCF) -NPK (120–60–80 kg ha–1); Group 3 − 1:100 diluted Fermented Biofertilizer made from Banana Fruit Waste (FB-BW); and Group 4–50% (RDCF + FB-BW) integrated nutrient management (INM). Among the different treatments, the ladies finger plant height, leaf area, stem girth and lateral root growth have increased and well developed when FB-BW and chemical fertilizer are combined. Along with soil macronutrients,Abelmoschus esculentusleaf photosynthetic pigment levels and protein content improved in Group 4. Thus, the combined application of chemical fertilizer and fermented banana fruit waste could enhance the soil quality and productivity ofAbelmoschus esculentus(ladies finger).
Reproducibility and relative validity of a flavonoid-focused food frequency questionnaire for Chinese adults
Authors: Zeng Jing , Zhang Wanyi , Meng Chengji , Chao Hong , Liu Jinghua , Dong Zheng , Cheng Yu , Liu Jicheng
Published: November 2023

Background: In recent years, an increasing amount of evidence from nutritional epidemiological studies has revealed an association between flavonoid intake and noncommunicable diseases. The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is the most cost-effective method of assessing the dietaryflavonoidintake of both groups and individuals. However, only a few studies in China have developed tailored FFQs to describe dietary flavonoid intake. Therefore, this study aims to develop a flavonoid-focused FFQ for Chinese adults and to assess its relative validity and reproducibility.
Method: We assessed the intake of representativefoods of the Chinese diet using the flavonoid-focused FFQ, which includes 12 food categories and 147 items. We invited 100 healthy adults to complete the flavonoid-focused FFQ twice (at a one-month interval) to assess the reproducibility of the tool. To assess the validity of the questionnaire, we asked 85 adults to complete the flavonoid-focused FFQ once and to complete three 24-hour dietary recall (24HDR) questionnaires for one week.
Results: The reproducibility assessment showed that except for pelargonidin, there were no significant differences in flavonoid intakes between the two FFQ administrations. The Spearman correlation coefficients for nutrients, flavonoid subclasses, and their primary compounds ranged from 0.501 to 0.910, indicating excellent/moderate correlations. The energy-adjusted correlations were within the recommended range for all items. The ICCs ranged from 0.780 to 0.953, and the mean kappa coefficient (Kw) was 0.539. Validity assessment showed that 8 of 19 primary flavonoid compounds had higher intake levels on the FFQ than on the 24HDR. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that almost all flavonoid subclasses and primary flavonoid compounds had excellent/moderate correlation coefficients, with the exception of delphinidin, malvidin, pelargonidin, and apigenin. The energy-adjusted intakes showed slightly stronger agreement between the two tools, but this difference did not change the conclusions. The level of agreement (the same tertile) between the flavonoid-focused FFQ and the 24HDR ranged from 41.18% (pelargonidin and apigenin) to 77.65% (total flavonoids). Kw displayed substantial/moderate concordance of nutrients and flavonoid subclass intake and a fair to moderate concordance in almost all primary flavonoid compounds. Only malvidin, pelargonidin, and apigenin had weak concordance.
Conclusion: The flavonoid-focused FFQ developed herein exhibited satisfactory reliability and validity for assessing the intake of most flavonoid subclasses and their primary compounds among Chinese adults. It can be used as a tool to investigate the relationship of flavonoid intake with health- and disease-related outcomes.
Fetal growth restriction exhibits various mTOR signaling in different regions of mouse placentas with altered lipid metabolism
Authors: Dong Jie , Xu Qian , Qian Chen , Wang Lu , DiSciullo Alison , Lei Jun , Lei Hui , Yan Song , Wang Jingjing , Jin Ni , Xiong Yujing , Zhang Jianhua , Burd Irina , Wang Xiaohong
Published: November 2023

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common complication of pregnancy and can have significant impact on obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Increasing evidence has shown that the inhibited mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in placenta is associated with FGR. However, interpretation of existing research is limited due to inconsistent methodologies and varying understanding of the mechanism by which mTOR activity contributes to FGR. Hereby, we have demonstrated that different anatomic zones of human and mouse placentas exhibited different levels of mTOR activity in normal compared to FGR pregnancies. When using the rapamycin-induced FGR mouse model, we found that placentas of FGR pregnancies exhibited abnormal morphological changes and reduced mTOR activity in the decidual-junctional zone. Using transcriptomics and lipidomics, we revealed that lipid and energy metabolism was significantly disrupted in the placentas of FGR mice. Finally, we demonstrated that maternal physical exercise during gestation in our FGR mouse model was associated with increased fetal and placental weight as well as increased placental mTOR activity and lipid metabolism. Collectively, our data indicate that the inhibited placental mTOR signaling contributes to FGR by disrupting lipid metabolism in different anatomical regions of mouse placentas, and maternal exercise could be an effective method to reduce the occurrence of FGR or alleviate the adverse outcomes associated with FGR.
Influence of different factors on coseismic deformation of the 2015 Mw7.8 earthquake in Nepal
Authors: Wu Rui , Dong Xibin , Xia Bo , Wang Weisi , She Xiayu , Chu Ziming
Published: November 2023

In Geophysics, topographic factors are observations that can be directly measured, but they are often ignored to simplify the model. Studying the coseismic deformation caused by earthquakes is helps to accurately determining the parameterization of the epicenter and providing a reference for the reasonable layout of coseismic observation stations and GNSS observation stations. After the Mw7.8 earthquake in Nepal in 2015, GCMT, USGS, GFZ, CPPT, and other institutions released their epicenter parameter. However, according to their parameters, the coseismic displacements simulated by the spectral-element method are quite different from the GNSS observations. Firstly, this paper inverts the geometric parameters of the seismogenic fault with Nepal’s coseismic GNSS displacement. The spectral-element method determines the source's location and depth under the heterogeneous terrain and outputs the source parameters. Among the results of many studies, the surface source is more consistent with the generation mechanism of large earthquakes. Secondly, this paper calculates the fault slip distribution of this earthquake using SDM(Steepest Descent Method) based on GNSS and InSAR data, which is divided into 1500 subfaults and the moment tensor of each subfault is calculated. This paper studies the distribution characteristics of the coseismic deformation field of the Mw7.8 earthquake in Nepal in 2015 under homogeneous terrain, and heterogeneous terrain. The results show that the influence of only homogeneous terrain factors is ~ 20%. This paper believes that the influence of the undulating terrain on the calculation of coseismic deformation cannot be ignored.
Using Moment Tensor Inversions for Rapid Seismic Source Detection and Characterization: Application to the North Korean Nuclear Tests
Authors: TRILLA Aurélie GUILHEM , CANO Yoann
Published: November 2023

The rapid detection and source characterization of any type of seismic events including nuclear explosions is one of the major objectives for national data centres (NDC) and seismological laboratories. Most often, the used techniques are based on phase picking and amplitude measurements for detecting and locating events, and for estimating magnitudes. From these parameters, event screening is then done empirically, and this may lead to misinterpretations of the source nature. However, it is known that seismic waveform inversion for the determination of the moment tensor has been proven as a reliable source physics-based method for event characterization. Here, we present a technique already used for earthquake monitoring in tectonically active regions, and we test it on the seismicity recorded in the vicinity of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and in particular on the DPRK nuclear explosions. From a grid of potential locations and by scanning continuous seismic waveforms, it is possible to implement a rapid detector of seismic events providing the full information of the sources (origin time, location, magnitude, mechanism). We show its overall performances on all past DPRK nuclear tests and regional earthquakes. From such approach fast event screening is achieved and source uncertainties can be estimated.
The Effect of Tax Rate Change on Inversions by Multinational Enterprises in the United States
Authors: Taklalsingh Ravi
Published: November 2023

Inversions are major international tax issues for tax administrators and multinational enterprises (MNEs) as MNEs shift profit from high-tax to low-tax countries to minimize their global effective tax rate. These inversions determine the residency and consequent withholding tax (WHT) liabilities and reporting of income of associated enterprises in different tax jurisdictions. This study addressed five research questions with the first examining the difference in the reporting of WHT and the next four examined the difference in the reporting of total U.S.-Source income as well as its components including dividends, interest, and rent/royalties in respect of WHT collections, before and after the 2017 U.S. CIT tax rate reduction. Analyzing data from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service suggest that after the updated legislation, the WHT collections increases on payment to non-residents in respect to all countries other than tax havens. Also, there were significant increases in total U.S.-Source Income as well as the dividends and rent/royalties components but a significant decrease in the interest component in respect of WHT collections on payment to non-residents for all countries other than tax havens. Alternatively, there was a significant increase in the interest component in respect of WHT collections on payment to non-residents for tax havens. These results do not support shifting of residency back to the US but increased residency and transactions’ value to countries other than tax havens as well as the shifting of the value of loans from countries other than tax havens to tax havens.
A Machine Learning Model for Predicting Phishing Websites
Authors: Boussi Grace Odette , Gupta Himanshu , Hossain Syed Akhter
Published: November 2023

There are various types of cybercrime, and hackers often target specific ones for different reasons, such as financial gain, recognition, or even revenge. Cybercrimes can occur anywhere in the world, as the location of both the victim and the criminal is not a limiting factor. Different countries may have different common types of cybercrime, influenced by factors such as the country's economic situation, level of internet activity, and overall development. Phishing is a prevalent type of cybercrime in the financial sector, regardless of the country's circumstances. While the phishing techniques used in developed countries may differ from those in developing countries, the impact remains the same, resulting in financial losses. In our work, a dataset consisting of 48 features extracted from 5,000 phishing webpages and 5,000 legitimate webpages was used to predict whether a website is phishing or not, achieving an accuracy of 98%.
A Computational Framework to Model Tissue Response During Subcutaneous Injections
Authors: Sharma Paramveer , Gajula Kishore , Dingari Naga Neehar , Gupta Rakesh , Gopal Sharath , Rai Beena , Iacocca Ronald G.
Published: November 2023

Subcutaneous injections are commonly used to deliver drugs such as insulin and hormones. However, drug absorption shows significant inter-patient variability and intra-patient variability (with injection-site). Animal models, which are used to characterize this variability, have limitations due to differences between the structural and mechanical properties of human and animal skin. A robust in-silico framework that can predict the response of human tissue to subcutaneous injections can overcome these limitations. We present a finite element (FE) modelling framework to model subcutaneous drug delivery, that consists of two parts a) damage mechanics of skin due to needle insertion and b) coupled fluid flow and deformation of the subcutaneous space during drug delivery. An anisotropic and viscoelastic constitutive model for subcutaneous tissue was implemented and model parameters were estimated from bench-top testing of cadaveric human skin. The framework considers anisotropy in the mechanical and poroelastic transport properties to mimic the properties of human skin. In addition, our model also considers mechanical damage due to fluid-pressure during drug delivery. Deformation and stress state from needle insertion model are imported as an initial conditions into the poroelastic model. This integration of an anisotropic-viscoelastic constitutive model, damage mechanics and pore fracture represent a novel approach to capture the complex physics of subcutaneous injection. This model was used to investigate the influence of various subcutaneous injection parameters (flowrate, viscosity etc) on the subcutaneous drug transport. This model can be used to inform the design of novel delivery systems such as large volume injectors.
Particle Swarm Optimization-based Inversion of HVSR Measurement for Estimating Sediment Thickness in Paleovolcanoes around Bakauheni
Authors: Zaenudin Ahmad , Fajriyanto Fajriyanto , Farduwin Alhada , Darmawan I Gede Boy , Karyanto Karyanto
Published: November 2023

In the geotechnical field, determining the thickness of the sediment layer is very important. The thickness of the sediment layer can provide invaluable information in the planning and design of building structures, infrastructure, and other construction projects. Bakauheni is an area that has many calderas and ancient volcanic deposits from the Pliocene - Holocene era. It is fascinating to study how thick the sediment layers are in the area. We used 64 Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) measurement points to determine the thickness of the sediment layer and how it correlates with the presence of an ancient caldera in the Bakauheni area. Next, to obtain a 1D shear wave velocity model (Vs), an inversion process was carried out using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. The inversion results show that the average Vs value in the study area is around ~ 600 m/s. This value is relatively high for a sedimentary layer, which indicates that the sedimentary layer has started to become dense and compact or consists of a layer of weathered bedrock. Based on the results of calculating the average HVSR curve, a natural frequency (fo) value of 15.12 Hz was obtained. Assuming an average Vs of the sediment layer of 600 m/s, the sediment thickness is estimated at 9.92 meters. This result shows an excellent correlation with the median value of sediment thickness calculated at 64 measurement points, which is 10.55 meters. The minimum and maximum sediment thickness in the study area was 4.39 and 103.57 meters, with an average sediment thickness reaching 18.22 meters. From these results, we conclude that the thickness of the sediment layer in the Bakauheni area ranges from 10–18 meters. The thickest sediment layers (> 30 meters) are associated with the presence of calderas and low topography. It shows that a relatively thick layer of sediment covered the ancient caldera. Based on the results obtained, the HVSR method provides quite good results in determining sediment thickness to identify the presence of a caldera. However, it should be noted that Vs values may vary throughout the study area, depending on the nature and composition of the sedimentary rocks present. Therefore, further interpretation and research are needed to understand more deeply the nature and characteristics of the sediment layers in the study area.
Tidal calibration of the Gladwin Tensor Strain Monitor (GTSM) array in Taiwan
Authors: Mandler Eugenio , Canitano Alexandre , Belardinelli Maria Elina , Nespoli Massimo , Serpelloni Enrico , Linde Alan
Published: November 2023

To ensure the accuracy and reliability of crustal strain measures, sensors require a thorough calibration. In Taiwan, the complicated dynamics of surface and subsurface hydrological processes under semi-tropical climate conditions conjugated with the rough surface topography could have impacted strainmeter deployment, pushing the installation conditions astray from the optimal ones. Here, we analyze the complex response of 11 Gladwin Strain Monitor (GTSM) strainmeter type deployed in north and central Taiwan and we propose a novel calibration methodology which relies on waveform modeling of Earth and ocean tidal strain-related deformations. The approach is completely data-driven, starting from a simple calibration framework and progressively adding complexity in the model depending on the quality of the data. However, we show that a simple quasi-isotropic model (3 calibration factors) is generally suitable to resolve the orientation and calibration of 8 instruments out of 11. We also highlight the difficulty of clearly defining the behavior of instruments that are highly affected by hydrological forcing. Overall, despite the efforts required for their installation and calibration, we believe that borehole strainmeters can benefit research in a wide range of geophysical processes in Taiwan and in other active regions.
Survey on the plastic biliary stent in the management of large or multiple common bile duct stone
Authors: Ebrahimi Pouyan , Kamrani Ali , Pakdaman Kimia , Kamrani Ghodsieh , Shirvani Javad Shokri , Abedi Seyed Hassan
Published: November 2023

Introduction: One of the common treatments for patients with multiple or large gallstones is ERCP and biliary stent placement. In some of these patients, the biliary stent loses its function. Therefore, we designed this study to identify practical factors in treatment failure with the plastic biliary stent.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2018-2019 on patients undergoing ERCP in Rouhani Babol Hospital. The information was obtained before the procedure, and the patients were monitored in the hospital for 24 hours afterward. After discharge, they were followed up twice (6-8 weeks and 12-16 weeks later) to check the need for ERCP and possible complications.
Results: Among the 70 examined patients, the success rate of the plastic biliary stent was 88.6 percent. Stent failure was more in patients with larger stone sizes (P=0.001) and longer duration of ERCP (P=0.04). In regression analysis, body mass index (BMI) (P=0.02) and stone size (P=0.04) were identified as risk factors for the probability of stenting failure.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the common bile duct stenting method has a high success rate. Also, the plastic biliary stent failed more in patients with larger stone sizes and high BMI.
Solar Soft X-ray Irradiance Variability, III: MagneticField Variations of Coronal X-ray Features
Authors: Kariyappa Rangaiah , Adithya H.N. , Masuda Satoshi , Kusano Kanya , Imada Shinsuke , Zender Joe , Dame Luc , DeLuca Edward , Weber Mark
Published: November 2023

The magnetic field changes the radiative output of the Sun and is the mainsource for all the solar surface features. To study the role of the underlyingphotospheric magnetic field in relation to emission features observed in thesolar corona, we have used the full-disk soft X-ray images from Hinode/X-RayTelescope (Hinode/XRT) and the magnetograms obtained from Helioseismic andMagnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) for aperiod of about 13 years (May 2010 – June 2023), which covers the Solar Cycle24. A sophisticated and established algorithm developed in Python is appliedto the X-ray observations from Hinode/XRT to segment the different coronal
Identification of somatic mutational landscape across Indian breast cancer cases by whole exome sequencing.
Authors: Tanwar Pranay , Kumar Rahul , Awasthi Supriya , Pradhan Dibyabhaba , Kumar Rakesh , Goel Harsh , Singh Jay , Haider Imran , Agrawal Usha , Deo SVS , Kumar Chitresh , Srivast Anurag , Bhatnagar Amar , Kumar Rakesh , Mathew Aleyamma , S Lakshmi , Augustine Paul , Gogia Ajay , Mathur Sandeep , Ranjan Amar , Chopra Anita , Gandhi Tanvir , Rath Goura Kishor , Hussain Showket , Batra Atul
Published: November 2023

Breast cancer (BC) has emerged as the most common malignancy among females. The genomic profile of BC is diverse in nature and complex due to heterogeneity among various geographically different ethnic groups. The primary objective of this study was to carry out a comprehensive mutational analysis of Indian BC cases by performing whole exome sequencing (WES). The cohort included patients with a median age of 48 years. TTN, TP53, MUC16, SYNE1 and OBSCN were the frequently altered genes found in our cohort. The PIK3CA and KLC3 genes are driver genes implicated in various cellular functions and cargo transportation through microtubules, respectively. Except for CCDC168 and PIK3CA, several gene pairings were found to be significantly linked with co-occurrence. Irrespective of their hormonal receptor status, RTK/RAS was observed with frequently altered signaling pathways. Further analysis of the mutational signature revealed that SBS13, SBS6, and SBS29 were mainly observed in our cohort. This study supplements the discovery of diagnostic biomarkers and provides new therapeutic options for the improved management of BC.