bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-cell atlas comparison across vertebrates reveals evolution of auditory cell types and mechanisms for hair cell regeneration
Authors: Li Jun
Published: June 2024

The loss of auditory hair cell in mammals including humans results in permanent hearing impairment, as they lack the inherent capacity for regeneration. In contrast, the lower vertebrates exhibit remarkable capacity for hair cell regeneration and hearing restoration, however, the mechanisms remain unclear. In this work, we characterized the first single-cell atlas of inner ear from the high regenerative species Xenopus laevis and further performed a comprehensive comparison with mouse model. An exceptionally conserved inner ear neuronal cell type was discovered and confirmed across species. Comprehensive characterization of the auditory hair cell across species revealed that the outer hair cells (OHCs) represent a newly evolved subtype, existing exclusively in mammals. Importantly, our analyses revealed an orchestrated gene expression program of the highly regenerative capacity in Xenopus, characterized by upregulation of genes associated with hair cell regeneration, coupled with downregulation of proliferation inhibitory genes. These findings unveil a natural feature of the highly regenerative capacity in Xenopus, and provide molecular and evolutionary evidences for the regulatory mechanisms for differential regenerative capacities across vertebrates. This work offers novel insights from amphibian into developing strategies to solve the challenges of hair cell regeneration and hearing repair in humans.
The guilt experiences of post-caregivers bereaved by cancer: a scoping review
Authors: Reis Hugo , Marques Marina , Deodato Sérgio
Published: June 2024

Background
According to preliminary research, little is known about the experiences of post-caregivers. In order to study this specific area of knowledge, it is necessary to identify the various phenomena inherent to the bereavement experience. One of these phenomena, repeatedly described in the narratives of this population, concerns the experience of guilt. The purpose of this study is to map the guilt experiences of post-caregivers bereaved by cancer. In addition, this study aims to map the motives, characteristics, predisposing factors and consequences of guilt. Considerations on how to overcome feelings of guilt will also be considered.
Methods
Review of the literature following the Scoping Review protocol of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The research included published and unpublished studies and it was performed in Portuguese and English at CINAHL Complete (by EBSCOHost), MEDLINE Complete (by EBSCOHost), Nursing and Allied Health Collection: Comprehensive (by EBSCOHost), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (by EBSCOHost), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (by EBSCOHost), Cochrane Methodology Register (by EBSCOHost), Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (by EBSCOHost), Mediclatina (by EBSCOHost) Cochrane Clinical Answers(by EBSCOHost); PubMed (NLM); SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online and PROSPERO- International prospective register of systematic reviews and RCAAP - Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal. The search was conducted by title and abstract. All studies in Portuguese, Spanish and English were considered. No time limits were applied. 4 studies were selected as eligible.
Results
It was possible to identify 9 experiences of guilt, 13 motives that trigger it, 9 characteristics about the phenomenon, 7 predisposing factors, 4 possible consequences of its experience, and 4 considerations on how to overcome it.
Conclusions
It was possible to extract data and answer the predefined questions. However, the lack of a specific article on the present topic confirms that this is an area of knowledge to be explored. Conducting future phenomenological studies based on the experiences of guilt of post-caregivers bereaved by cancer is needed to develop new knowledge in this specific area of research.
Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria rather than arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi drive maize/faba bean intercropping advantages
Authors: Liu Yalin , Ma Chenyu , Lakshmanan Prakash , Wang Guangzhou , Li Chunjie
Published: June 2024

Background and Aims
Cereal/legume intercropping can enhance phosphorus (P) uptake compared with monocultures. However, the mechanisms through which arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) contribute to the advantages in biomass and P uptake by cereal/legume intercropping remain elusive.
Methods
We first analyzed P cycling-related soil microbiome and the associated genes in a long-term low P (LP) and high P (HP) input field experiment. Then we conducted two mesocosm experiments by establishing with two root compartments with the planting patterns of maize monoculture and maize/faba bean intercropping. One compartment of monocultured maize and intercropped faba bean was inoculated with AMF (donor), and the suspensions of LP or HP soils or water was added to the other compartment (receiver) in experiment I to test the legacy effect of soil microbiome conditioned by different field P fertilization, and the following experiment was to detect the effect of specific organic or inorganic PSB on intercropping interactions and advantages.
Main results
The abundance and structure of total P cycling-related microbe and genes were comparable between LP and HP soils. The addition of bacterial suspensions significantly enhanced shoot biomass but not P content of receiver maize regardless of the AMF presence or not. Single inorganic PSB and the mixed inorganic and organic PSB increased the shoot biomass and P content of receiver maize than single organic PSB regardless of monocultured or intercropped receiver maize. However, only the mixed inorganic and organic PSB established intercropping advantages in shoot biomass and P content of receiver maize.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the hyphae from faba bean stimulate the cooperation between organic and inorganic PSB to improve the growth and P content of maize in maize/faba bean mixture. Our study emphasized that maintaining the diversity of AMF and PSB communities in soil is important for the overyielding and P uptake by intercropping.
A Comprehensive Methodology for CNN Based Fault Identification in Induction Motors – A Case Study for EV’s
Authors: Ahmad Sohail , Qi Jie
Published: June 2024

This paper introduces an advanced methodology employing Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for fault detection in induction motors, with a special focus on electric vehicles (EVs). Induction motors are critical to the operational efficiency of EVs, where their performance directly affects vehicle safety, reliability, and range. Traditional fault detection methods often fail to keep pace with the demands of real-time diagnostics in the increasingly competitive EV market. To address this, this paper proposes a novel CNN-based fault detection system that leverages machine learning to perform non-invasive fault analysis through comprehensive feature extraction and classification from motor signal data. The model uses a combination of spatial and temporal data, processed through a hybrid architecture integrating CNNs with Temporal Convolutional Networks (TCNs) for enhanced fault identification accuracy. The testing and analysis of the model was performed on datasets generated from various EV models under different fault conditions, achieving an average accuracy of 92% in detecting and classifying motor faults, significantly outperforming traditional methods. The results highlight the effectiveness of the approach in early fault detection and its potential in reducing maintenance costs and downtime. This study not only contributes to the robust diagnostics of EV induction motors but also aligns with the broader objectives of Industry 4.0 by enhancing the integration of smart technologies in automotive diagnostics.
Adiposity modifies the association between heart failure risk and glucose metabolic disorder in older individuals: A community-based prospective cohort study
Authors: Hou Liming , Wang Xin , Li Peilin , Zhang Hua , Yao Yanli , Liu Zhendong , Wang Juan , Liu Weike
Published: June 2024

Background: Glucose metabolic disorder is associated with the risk of heart failure (HF). Adiposity is a comorbidity that is inextricably linked with abnormal glucose metabolism in older individuals. However, the effect of adiposity on the association between glucose metabolic disorder and HF risk, and the underlying mechanism remain unclear.
Methods: A total of 13,251 participants aged ≥60 years from a cohort study were categorized into euglycemia, prediabetes, uncontrolled diabetes, and well-controlled diabetes. Adiposity was assessed using body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and visceral fat area (VFA). Adiposity-associated metabolic activities were evaluated using adiponectin-to-leptin ratio (ALR), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and triglyceride-glucose index (TyG). The first occurrence of HF served as the outcome during the follow-up period.
Results: A total of 1,138 participants developed HF over the course of an average follow-up period of 10.9 years. The rate of incident HF occurrence was higher in prediabetes, uncontrolled diabetes, and well-controlled diabetes participants compared to that in euglycemia participants. However, the high rates were significantly attenuated by BMI, VFA, and WHR. For WHR in particular, the hazard ratio for incident HF was 1.14 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99, 1.31, Padj.=0.056) in prediabetes, 1.59 (95% CI: 1.34, 1.90, Padj.<0.001) in uncontrolled diabetes, and 1.06 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.14, Padj.=0.076) in well-controlled diabetes. The population attributable risk percentage for central obesity classified by WHR for incident HF was 30.3% in euglycemia, 50.0% in prediabetes, 48.5% in uncontrolled diabetes, and 54.4% in well-controlled diabetes. Adiposity measures, especially WHR, showed a significant interaction with glucose metabolic disorder in incident HF (all Padj.<0.001). ALR was negatively associated and HOMA-IR and TyG were positively associated with BMI, WHR, VFA, and incident HF (all Padj.<0.05). ALR, HOMA-IR, and TyG mediated the associations for WHR and VFA with incident HF (all Padj.<0.05).
Conclusions: Adiposity attenuated the association of glucose metabolic disorder with incident HF. The results also showed that WHR may be an appropriate indicator for evaluating adiposity in older individuals. Adiposity-associated metabolic activities may have a bridging role in the process of adiposity attenuating the association between glucose metabolic disorder and incident HF.
Trial registration: retrospectively registered number: ChiCTR-EOC-17013598
Unraveling the interplay of temperature, plant genotype, and plant-growth-promoting bacteria inoculation on cowpea nodulation with native soil bradyrhizobia
Authors: Oliveira Crislaine Soares , Barros Juliane Rafaele Alves , Silva Viviane Siqueira Lima , Ribeiro Paula Rose de Almeida , Angelotti Francislene , Fernandes-Júnior Paulo Ivan
Published: June 2024

Background and Aims
Climatic changes are impacting crop production worldwide. Among changes that will occur in future climatic scenarios, increasing temperatures by 4.8º C by the end of this century would be one of the most impactful situations for plants and their interaction with ecological partners. This study aimed to assess the impact of different temperatures and plant-growth-promoting bacteria inoculants on cowpea growth and the diversity of rhizobia associated with its root nodules.
Methods
Two cowpea genotypes were assessed at lower (min = 20º C and max = 33 ºC) and higher temperature regimes (min = 24.8º C and max = 37.8 ºC). Plants also were inoculated or not with Bacillus sp. ESA 402, a plant growth-promoting bacterium. The plants were assessed in terms of plant growth and the associated molecular diversity of bradyrhizobia.
Results
Higher temperatures reduced BRS Itaim nodulation. Two-hundred-thirty bradyrhizobial-like strains were obtained, and 186 were positive for amplifying nifH and nodC genes. Box-PCR genotyping clustered the collection into 47 groups. The higher temperatures reduced the number of the groups, but this negative influence was canceled by ESA 204 inoculation. Alpha-diversity metrics showed little influence on the experimental interactions however, this influence was evident for all factors and triple interaction when beta diversity was assessed. recA gene sequencing identified all strains as Bradyrhizobium spp. massively within the B. japonicum supercluster.
Conclusions
The diversity of the cowpea-Bradyrhizobium association is multifactorial under different temperature regimes, as is the presence/absence of Bacillus sp. ESA 402 as a plant-growth-promoting bacteria.
Merlin: A Vision Language Foundation Model for 3D Computed Tomography
Authors: Blankemeier Louis , Cohen Joseph Paul , Kumar Ashwin , Veen Dave Van , Gardezi Syed , Paschali Magda , Chen Zhihong , Delbrouck Jean-Benoit , Reis Eduardo , Truyts Cesar , Bluethgen Christian , Jensen Malte , Ostmeier Sophie , Varma Maya , Valanarasu Jeya , Fang Zhongnan , Huo Zepeng , Nabulsi Zaid , Ardila Diego , Weng Wei-Hung , Junior Edson Amaro , Ahuja Neera , Fries Jason , Shah Nigam , Johnston Andrew , Boutin Robert , Wentland Andrew , Langlotz Curtis , Hom Jason , Gatidis Sergios , Chaudhari Akshay
Published: June 2024

Over 85 million computed tomography (CT) scans are performed annually in the US, of which approximately one quarter focus on the abdomen. Given the current shortage of both general and specialized radiologists, there is a large impetus to use artificial intelligence to alleviate the burden of interpreting these complex imaging studies while simultaneously using the images to extract novel physiological insights. Prior state-of-the-art approaches for automated medical image interpretation leverage vision language models (VLMs) that utilize both the image and the corresponding textual radiology reports. However, current medical VLMs are generally limited to 2D images and short reports. To overcome these shortcomings for abdominal CT interpretation, we introduce Merlin - a 3D VLM that leverages both structured electronic health records (EHR) and unstructured radiology reports for pretraining without requiring additional manual annotations. We train Merlin using a high-quality clinical dataset of paired CT scans (6+ million images from 15,331 CTs), EHR diagnosis codes (1.8+ million codes), and radiology reports (6+ million tokens) for training. We comprehensively evaluate Merlin on 6 task types and 752 individual tasks. The non-adapted (off-the-shelf) tasks include zero-shot findings classification (31 findings), phenotype classification (692 phenotypes), and zero-shot cross-modal retrieval (image to findings and image to impressions), while model adapted tasks include 5-year chronic disease prediction (6 diseases), radiology report generation, and 3D semantic segmentation (20 organs). We perform internal validation on a test set of 5,137 CTs, and external validation on 7,000 clinical CTs and on two public CT datasets (VerSe, TotalSegmentator). Beyond these clinically-relevant evaluations, we assess the efficacy of various network architectures and training strategies to depict that Merlin has favorable performance to existing task-specific baselines. We derive data scaling laws to empirically assess training data needs for requisite downstream task performance. Furthermore, unlike conventional VLMs that require hundreds of GPUs for training, we perform all training on a single GPU. This computationally efficient design can help democratize foundation model training, especially for health systems with compute constraints. We plan to release our trained models, code, and dataset, pending manual removal of all protected health information.
Using neural network interpretability to understand outcomes in women’s 3 x 3 basketball
Authors: Dong Li , Zhang Mingyi
Published: June 2024

Despite the inclusion of 3x3 basketball in the Olympic Games, research on this topic remains sparse, especially concerning women's 3x3 basketball. This study aimed to understand game outcomes in the FIBA 3x3 women's professional circuit. Data was sourced from the official FIBA 3x3 website, encompassing 15 indicators and 2 contextual variables from 987 matches across four seasons. All games were classified into balanced and unbalanced categories. The Multilayer Perceptron neural network outperformed discriminant analysis in both balanced and unbalanced games, achieving classification accuracy exceeding 85%. To interpret the neural network's predictions, we calculated SHAP values, revealing that one-point field goal made and defensive rebounds were the key performance indicators. In balanced games, free-throw made and ball possession contributed significantly to the classification of winning and losing teams, while team fouls and turnovers were instrumental in distinguishing outcomes in unbalanced games. This study provides valuable insights into game outcomes in women's 3x3 basketball.
Concept-Based and Embedding-Based Models in Lifelog Retrieval: An Empirical Comparison of Performance
Authors: Nguyen Manh-Duy , Nguyen Binh T. , Gurrin Cathal
Published: June 2024

Many lifelog retrieval systems have been introduced that apply various approaches to their search engines. The traditional method was to match concepts, which are visual objects detected in images and semantic queries. This concept-based approach has been applied in many retrieval systems, achieving the top performance in lifelog search challenges. Many novel embedding-based cross-modality retrieval models, such as CLIP, BLIP, or HADA, have been developed recently and obtained state-of-the-art (SOTA) results in the image-text retrieval task. These models have recently been applied in several lifelog search challenges. However, there is no comprehensive comparison between them since many benchmarking evaluations contain bias factors such as different user interfaces of participated lifelog retrieval systems. In this paper, we conducted non-biased experiments in both automatic (non-interactive) and interactive configurations to evaluate the performance of many SOTA retrieval models, including the traditional concept-based approach, in the lifelog retrieval task. Furthermore, we retrained the models in a lifelog Q&A dataset to assess whether retraining on a small lifelog dataset could improve the performance. The result showed that embedding-based search engines outperformed the concept-based approach by a large margin in both settings. The finding opens the opportunity to apply the embedding-based models as a new generation of lifelog retrieval models instead of the conventional concept-based approach. The source code will be available soon for reproducibility.
Metagenomic analysis of the epiphytic and endophytic microbiota of plum fruits at different storage temperatures
Authors: Wang Yu-Ru , Zeng Shi-Xian , Leng Jing-Song , Huang Bo-Ying , Chen Hong , Wang Yong , Liu Jia
Published: June 2024

Background: Fungal decays are one of the primary causes of postharvest losses in fruit, whose onset and development are partially determined by the interactions that occur between the fruit and its resident microbiota. Harvested plums are susceptible to decay pathogens but limited research has been conducted on the microbiota of plums in storage. Therefore, in the present study the composition, diversity, and potential function of the epiphytic and endophytic microbiota of plums during storage at 25 °C and 0 °C was investigated using metagenomic sequencing.
Results: Our study indicated that the diversity of the endophytic microbial community remains relatively stable in storage, while the epiphytic community undergoes a notable decline in diversity. Additionally, known pathogens, such as Lasiodiplodia, Diaporthe, Botryosphaeria, Macrophomina, Fusarium, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea, were enriched in decaying fruit, while the reported biocontrol microorganisms Pseudoalteromonas and Aureobasidium were enriched in healthy fruit stored at 25 °C. A negative association was observed between potential biocontrol species and known pathogens within the microbial community network. Notably, decay promoting Filobasidium was specifically found in decayed plums stored at 0 °C, while the beneficial microbes Novosphingobium and Bradyrhizobium were specifically found in healthy fruit. The metagenomic analysis also revealed the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in both endophytic and epiphytic microbial communities in plum, and were primarily associated with members of the phylum Pseudomonadota as determined by host tracking analysis.
Conclusions: Findings of the study provide insight on the community dynamics that occur in the endophytic and epiphytic microbiome in plums during storage at different temperatures (25 °C and 0 °C) which can be used to develop a comprehensive strategy for the management of postharvest diseases in plum and potentially other stone fruit crops (peaches, apricots, and cherries).
Evaluation and Comparison of Four Types of Bio-Ceramic Materials AGM MTA, Ortho MTA, Pro root MTA and Cem cement in Oral and Dental Health
Authors: yalin Fatemeh Asadi , Tabibi Maryam , Majidi Alireza , kabiri faezeh , Rasouli Alireza , jafari Gholamali
Published: June 2024

Background and Objectives: Trioxide mineral mixture (MTA) is one of the main retrograde filling materials that is used today as a root end filling material and perforation repair material. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the antibacterial and antifungal properties of four types of bio-ceramic materials, AGM MTA, Ortho MTA, Pro root MTA and Cem cement for oral and dental health.
Methods: In this study, the antibacterial activity of four types of bio-ceramic materials against two bacterial strains of Enterococcus faecalis(ATTC 29212), Escherichia coli (ATTC 35318) and antifungal activity against Candida albicans (ATTC 10231) were investigated using the well diffusion method.
Results: In the context of the relationship between the type of microorganism and the diameter of the growth inhibitory zone for each type of bio-ceramic material, there was no significant difference for Enterococcus faecalis, and a significant difference was observed for Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.
Conclusion: The results show that each of the bio-ceramic materials AGM, Pro root, Cem cement and Ortho have antibacterial and antifungal properties. AGM MTA bio-ceramic material on Candida albicans fungus and Ortho MTA bio-ceramic material had the most effect on Escherichia colibacteria. Therefore, the mentioned bio-ceramic materials can play a significant role in oral and dental health by providing a suitable material for restoration.
Microfacies and depositional environments from the Upper Cretaceous of Bourzal Formation (Zab Mounts, Biskra, Eastern Saharan Atlas, Algeria)
Authors: Bougoffa Mohammed Ilyas , Chellat Smaine , Cherif Amine , Benkhedda Abdelhakim
Published: June 2024

The new introduced Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) Bourzal Formation is about 235-m thick, made of carbonate, marl, and gypsum alternation, and is cropping in the section of the Zab Mounts (Biskra, eastern Algerian Saharan Atlas). It is subdivided into two informal units: (1) unit A, which is composed of 125 m thin to thick bedded limestone with interbedded marls and gypsum beds. (2) Unit B, consisting of 110 m fossiliferous marl–limestone-dolostone alternations. The field inspections, along with detailed microscopic examination, have led to the identification of eight microscopic standard facies, regrouped in three facies belts: tidal flat, lagoon, and shoal environments. They represent a homoclinal ramp (inner ramp), suggesting also changes in depositional depth.
The diagnostic accuracy of triphasic abdominal CT in detecting esophageal varices
Authors: Lukoo Suzana , Musa Balowa , Salingwa Lilian , Mpemba Gerard , Jusabani Ahmed
Published: June 2024

Background
In Tanzania, triphasic abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) is a more accessible and non-invasive alternative for diagnosing esophageal varices, though its accuracy has not been thoroughly evaluated, therefore this study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of triphasic abdominal CT in detecting esophageal varices using esophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) as the gold standard among patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH).
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted at MNH from January 2021 to May 2023. We sampled upper gastrointestinal bleeding patients who underwent both OGD and triphasic abdominal CT using non-probability consecutive sampling. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), and accuracy of triphasic abdominal CT were assessed against OGD findings.
Results
In a study of 200 participants, esophageal varices were detected in 54% by OGD and 53.5% by CT. We observed 105 true positives, 2 false positives, 90 true negatives, and 3 false negatives. Triphasic abdominal CT demonstrated a sensitivity of 97.2%, specificity of 97.8%, PPV of 98.1%, NPV of 96.8%, and an accuracy of 97.5%. Extraluminal findings included splenic collaterals, ascites, hepatocellular carcinoma, and periportal fibrosis.
Conclusion
Triphasic abdominal CT is a reliable and non-invasive modality for diagnosing and screening esophageal varices in resource-limited settings.
Is it possible for parents to endure a stillbirth diagnosis? Initially experiences, perceptions and internal strategies: Individual in-depth interviews in Sweden 2021-2023
Authors: Höglund Berit , Hildingsson Ingegerd
Published: June 2024

Background: Stillbirth occurs 3.0 per thousand in Sweden, and in-depth thoughts, feelings and worries among affected parents in a longitudinal study is rather unknown. The aim of this qualitative in-depth study is to deepen and widely explore parents’ initially experiences and perceptions and internal processes and strategies from awareness and suspicion of stillbirth until one month after stillbirth in Sweden.
Methods: Ten individual in-depth interviews were conducted in 2021-2023 and data were evaluated in thematic network analysis.
Results: Two organizing themes ‘Pregnancy, Awareness, Information, Reactions and Reflections at Tragical Stillbirth Diagnosis’ and ‘Support and Structured Activities and Internal Processes at Stillbirth’ captured significant deepen consequenses of sudden unexpected and devastating end of the pregnancy. The suspicion of and the stillbirth diagnosis was initially associated with sudden discomfort and fears and bottomless grief and intensive pain, but a vaginal birth became in total the optimal method both for the body and soul. Caring for the stillborn baby with physical proximity for an extended period of time facilitated understanding and coping with the grieving process and embracing parenthood.
Conclusions: Parents experiencing stillbirth were exposed to an unimaginable and irreversible life-changing event, but almost all developed coping strategies during the first intensive and painful month after the stillbirth in order to move on in the grieving process.
Prognostic Nutritional Index is a valuable prognostic marker in Mexican patients operated on and not on gastrointestinal stromal tumors. A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Herrera-Goepfert Roberto , Soca-Chafre Giovanny , Oñate-Ocaña Luis F. , Montiel-Dávalos Angélica , Rodríguez-Maldonado Emma , Castro-Martínez Elvira
Published: June 2024

Purpose.
The immune-nutritional status of patients with cancer has a profound impact on their lifespan. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) has been used to evaluate, among others, the prognosis in operated patients harboring neoplastic as well as non-neoplastic conditions. This study estimates the survival of Mexican patients suffering from gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) operated on or not based on PNI.
Methods.
The immune-nutritional status was retrospectively analyzed in a cohort of 146 patients with GIST. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to estimate optimal cutoff point and to predict overall survival (OS) for prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Survival curves were obtained with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests. A Multivariate analysis of survival was performed with Cox regression.
Results.
PNI cutoff was 36.5 and the only independent prognostic score (0.007); the PNI-high group had better survival (p = 0.001). High PNI was correlated with surgical intervention and low mitotic index.
Conclusions.
PNI < 36.5 entails a worse prognosis for Mexican patients suffering from GIST. PNI has a high ability to predict survival, even in patients for whom surgery is not a feasible option. The PNI is a simple and reliable calculation tool, as well as an inexpensive, reproducible, and powerful factor to predict patient prognosis, besides the pathological approach.
Pharmacokinetics of matrine and amoxicillin in pigs after gavage administration of each drug alone and in combination
Authors: Li RuoNan , Zhou DanNa , Hu HuiYu , Wang FuHao , Lv XiaoLing , Sun Lei , Sun XueYan , Yu DaoJin , Yang Bo
Published: June 2024

Background Matrine (MT) exhibits antibiotic resistance reversal and antiviral activities in vitro. However, the in vivo efficacies of MT and amoxicillin (AMO)-MT combination cannot be accurately evaluated due to the lack of pharmacokinetics (PK) data. The aim of this study was to investigate the PKs of MT and AMO in pigs after gavage administration of each drug alone and in combination.Results Twenty-four pigs were randomly distributed to three treatments, namely group A (MT, 50 mg/kg), group B (AMO, 50 mg/kg), and group C (MT, 50 mg/kg + AMO, 50 mg/kg). The maximum concentration (Cmax), area under the curve from time 0 to 36 h (AUC0 → 36 h), apparent volume of distribution (Vd) and total body clearance (ClB) for group A were 1389.73 ± 320.05 µg/L, 4138.16 ± 1245.23 h*µg/L, 63.08 ± 22.24 L/kg and 12.98 ± 3.71 L/h/kg, respectively, versus 21153.92 ± 16967.88 µg/L (P < 0.01), 40239.83 ± 22044.18 h*µg/L (P < 0.01), 9.93 ± 3.86 L/kg (P < 0.01), and 1.61 ± 0.81 L/h/kg (P < 0.01) for group B. Significantly greater Tmax, ClB, Vd (P < 0.05) and lower Cmax, AUC0 → 36 h (P < 0.05) were observed in group A compared to those in group C.Conclusions Compared with AMO, MT was poorly absorbed, extensively distributed and rapid eliminated in pigs. The PK profiles of MT and AMO changed significantly after the combined administration of these two drugs, indicating the occurrence of PK drug-drug interaction between MT and AMO.
Microwaves activate immune response and promote lymphocytes proliferation of Wistar rats
Authors: Ma Lizhen , Cao Shu hua , Zou Yong , Zhi Weijia , Zhao Xuelong , Zhang Mingzhao , Yan Zhifeng , Hu Xiangjun , Wang lifeng
Published: June 2024

Objective
The potential effects of microwave radiation on human health have been increasingly emphasized with its widespread application in human production and daily life. This study aimed to investigate microwave radiation effects on rat spleen tissue structure and immune function.
Methods
Male Wistar rats weighed approximately 320 to 350 g were subjected to S band (2.856 GHz) microwave radiation for 20 minutes at an average power density of 50 mW/cm2. At 0 and 7 days after exposure, the concentration of IL-1, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ in rat serum were detected by ELISA. HE staining was used to observe the structure of rat spleen. Western blotting was used to assess the expression of HSP70 and CRT in rat spleen. Additionally, mixed lymphocytes from rat spleens were isolated, and the morphology and proliferation of rat spleen mixed lymphocytes was observed after 24 hours of culture, and their proliferation was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay.
Results
After exposure to 50 mW/cm2 for 20 minutes, rats showed an increased secretion of inflammatory factors in their serum. This was observed both in the immediately irradiated group (R-0d) and in the irradiated group observed after 7 days (R-7d). The R-0d group exhibited lower levels of IL-1 and IL-8 than the control group (C-0d), while IL-2 and IL-10 secretion was elevated. Conversely, in the R-7d group, levels of IL-1, IL-2, and IL-10 were lower than those in the C-0d group, and IL-8 levels were lower compared to the control group. TNF-α and IFN-γ levels were elevated. Structural examination of rat spleen tissue revealed no significant damage. However, compared to the control group, the irradiated groups (R-0d and R-7d) showed a significant increase and thickening of the white pulp. Additionally, the boundary between the red and white medulla in the R-7d group appeared blurred. Western blotting showed no significant difference in the expression of HSP70 and CRT between the exposed and control groups. In addition, the splenic mixed lymphocytes in the irradiated group showed a significant proliferation of cell colonies. The results of the CCK-8 assay showed that the cell viability and proliferation capacity of the irradiated group were significantly increased compared to the control group.
Conclusion
The immune system of rats was activated, the pattern of cytokine secretion in rat serum was altered, splenocytes proliferation was promoted, potentially triggering an inflammatory immune response after exposure to 50 mW/cm² of microwave for 20 minutes.
Characterization of hydrological response of the Dawen River Basin under land use change
Authors: Luo Yanling , Qiao Xinhe , Dong Yunlong , Feng Zhonglun , Zhang Jie , Wang Gang
Published: June 2024

Land use change is one of the dominant drivers of hydrological change in the basin. Assessing the hydrological responses to land use changes is crucial for sustainable water resource management. We focused on the Dawen River Basin to analyze land use dynamics from 1985 to 2021. Using the SWAT model, we assessed hydrological responses under various land use scenarios, quantified impacts on hydrological elements, and employed the Random Forest Method to evaluate the impact of different land use types on runoff. Results show that from 1985 to 2021, cropland and grassland in the watershed decreased by 11.57% and 52.04%, respectively, while forest land and construction land increased by 11.45% and 103.85%, respectively; other land types showed no significant changes. These land use changes resulted in an increase in watershed evapotranspiration by 26.53 mm, a decrease in groundwater recharge by 19.64 mm, and an increase in surface runoff depth by 18.94 mm. Cultivated land, forest land, and grassland were identified as the major influencers on watershed runoff, with importance weights of 1.0729, 0.9607, and 0.8305, respectively. The variations in hydrological elements within the Dawen River watershed during the study period were primarily associated with the reduction in cultivated land and grassland area, coupled with an increase in constructed land area.
Utilize Data Augmentation and Flexi Corner Block for Road Damage Detection
Authors: Wu Zhaohui , Li Zhaojia , Sun XingLiang , Zhao Runjing , Bai Yingduo , Na Jiang
Published: June 2024

Road damage detection involves identifying cracks, potholes, and other surface irregularities from collected images. This technology is crucial for road maintenance and ensuring traffic safety. Despite significant progress in object detection algorithms, challenges such as weather-induced variability, dispersed key features, and diverse forms of damage persist. To address these issues, this paper proposes a road damage detection algorithm named Flexi-Weather Hard Detection, which integrates data augmentation based on AIGC and corner point feature aggregation. One of the modules, named Weather Trim Augment, utilizes stable diffusion technology to generate road damage data under various weather conditions. This enhancement expands the training dataset and reduces the negative impact of weather on detection accuracy. The Flexi Corner Block Block, utilizes deformable convolutions and combines a lightweight MLP with a learnable visual center mechanism to leverage corner points, enhancing local feature learning and improving the detection of subtle and dispersed features in a multi-scale context. Additionally, the HXIOU loss function is designed, employing weighted calculations and multiple metrics to effectively mine hard examples with significant variability, thus enhancing the detection accuracy of difficult cases such as blurred potholes and fine cracks. Comprehensive experiments on the RDD2020 and CNRDD datasets demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly improves performance, achieving 64.9% in the Test1 metric and 40.6% in the F1-Score. Notably, the algorithm achieves robust detection in unannotated, adverse weather conditions such as snow and rain, showcasing excellent eneralization capabilities.
The Crucial Role of Polysomnography and Capnography in Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Kalyoncu Mine Yüksel , Gökdemir Yasemin , Yeğit Cansu Yılmaz , Yanaz Muruvvet , Gulieva Aynur , Selçuk Merve , Karabulut Şeyda , Çakar Neval Metin , Ergenekon Almala Pınar , Gündoğdu Yavuz , Sabancı Meltem , Lale Kadir , Eralp Ela Erdem , Öztürk Gülten , Ünver Olcay , Yumuşakhuylu Ali Cemal , Türkdoğan Dilşad , Karakoç Fazilet , Karadağ Bülent
Published: June 2024

Purpose Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, progressive condition characterized by muscle degeneration and weakness, significantly affecting respiratory function. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children with DMD and investigate the relationships between sleep and respiratory function using spirometry, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP), and polysomnography (PSG) along with capnography.Research Question: Can low SNIP be a guide for detecting respiratory muscle involvement early and determining the right time to perform early PSG and capnography in DMD?Study Design: Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study.Methods This study included DMD patients aged < 18 years. Pulmonary function tests were conducted using spirometry and SNIP, and maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure were measured. PSG and capnography were performed within two weeks after the pulmonary function tests, and their relationships with each other were investigated.Results The study included 44 children. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) was present in 70.5% of patients, while nocturnal hypoventilation was observed in 4.5%. SNIP values were significantly lower in patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS than in those without OSAS. An SNIP value below 40 cm H2O was associated with a 92.8% prevalence of OSAS.Conclusion SNIP is a valuable, noninvasive marker for the early detection of respiratory muscle involvement and SDB in patients with DMD. This study highlights the need for early and regular respiratory monitoring in children with DMD to enhance care and quality of life.
Enhancing Traffic Flow Monitoring with Machine Learning Integration on Cloud Data Warehousing
Authors: Peiyuan  , Zhou  , Zuwei  , Han  , Baoming
Published: June 2024

With urbanization and rising vehicle ownership rates, global traffic congestion and accidents have become pressing issues. This paper delves into leveraging cloud data warehousing and machine learning to tackle traffic flow monitoring and prediction, along with their potential in intelligent transportation systems. Through comprehensive analysis and case studies, it highlights how modern technology can enhance urban traffic management and services. Initially, the paper underscores the importance of traffic monitoring and prediction, identifying shortcomings in traditional approaches and advocating for machine learning solutions. It then reviews traditional traffic monitoring methods and explores machine learning's role in traffic flow prediction, illustrating its widespread application and evolving trends. Subsequently, the paper delves into the pivotal role of data warehousing in machine learning, encompassing data integration, management, cleaning, and multidimensional analysis. Additionally, it discusses the significance of relation matrices in graph convolution and presents experimental designs and model results for traffic flow prediction. Finally, the paper summarizes research findings, emphasizing the significance and future prospects of machine learning model design and cloud data warehousing in intelligent transportation systems.
Construction Disputes Causes and Resolution Methods: A Case Study from a Developing Country
Authors:   Department of Civil Engineering, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, JORDAN, Matarneh Sandra
Published: June 2024

The increasing complexity of the construction industry, characterised by diverse multidisciplinary project teams, various stakeholders, distinctive site conditions and uncertainties, can contribute to an antagonistic environment, which may result in disputes arising between the contractual parties. Identifying the most common causes of disputes is important for an efficient contract management process. This study aims to help project stakeholders incorporate consolidative contract management strategies before commencing a new project by identifying the most common causes of construction disputes in Jordanian construction projects. Key causative factors of disputes were analysed through a literature review, a questionnaire survey and a case study analysis of construction projects in Jordan. The results revealed that the main factors leading to disputes in Jordan are incomplete technical drawings/specifications, variations initiated by the owner/consultant (additive/ deductive) and errors and omissions in the contract documents. Moreover, the results show that the most popular methods of dispute resolution in the Jordanian construction industry are negotiation and arbitration. The findings can enable local and international construction stakeholders to initiate contract management strategies before commencing projects. More effective planning can help to reduce the negative impacts of known causes of disputes.
Estigma internalizado en un grupo LGBT
Authors: Joya-Ramírez Nohora Estella , Mendieta-Izquierdo Giovane , Pérez-Hernández Elizabeth Aurora
Published: June 2024

El objetivo de este artículo es describir el estigma internalizado en un grupo LGBT de Bogotá, Colombia. Se reconocen relaciones de poder y predomina el pensamiento heteronormativo, bicategorial, que configura el estigma sociocultural decantando en un estigma internalizado.  Este afecta el desarrollo de sus capacidades y autonomía, limitando un mejor desarrollo humano.
Juventudes rurales en América Latina: evidencias desde la literatura académica
Authors: Giraldo Calderón Patricia Elena , Becerra Romero América Tonantzin
Published: June 2024

Estudiosos del tema plantean la imposibilidad de definir a la juventud de manera homogénea. Ante su diversidad, este artículo se centra analizar las dinámicas políticas, sociales, culturales y económicas de las juventudes rurales en América Latina en el período 2000-2021. Para ello, se desarrolló una revisión documental en la base de datos Scielo a través de las investigaciones que abordan a esta población en el siglo XXI. Los resultados exponen cuatro principales ejes de análisis: identidades y representaciones; la preocupación por el envejecimiento del campo; el territorio y las estrategias de vida; y por último las violencias. Se concluye que analizar las juventudes rurales pasa por reflexionar sobre su invisibilidad en los estudios, a la vez que evidencia las grandes problemáticas/ potencialidades que involucran a las juventudes en América Latina.
En el cincuentenario del DUOC: Una acción concreta para acortar las brechas educacionales y laborales. Chile
Authors: Caiceo Escudero Jaime
Published: June 2024

A finales del año 2018 se recordaron 50 años de la fundación del Departamento Universitario Obrero Campesino -DUOC- en la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, organización surgida a partir de la acción decidida de tres dirigentes estudiantiles del Instituto Pedagógico, alumnos de Pedagogía en Filosofía, de esa universidad. La labor inicial del DUOC iba en favor de los más desposeídos y que se deseaba entregarles herramientas para su crecimiento personal y laboral. Esta acción obedecía a la Reforma Universitaria iniciada el 11 de agosto de 1967 en esa organización perteneciente a la Iglesia Católica. Aún hoy subsiste esta institución, aunque ha variado en su objetivo inicial.
Análisis de las actitudes de maestros en ejercicio hacia la educación inclusiva
Authors: Tello-Zuluaga Jefferson , Ochoa Londoño Efraín Darío , Herrera Pérez Jhan Carlos
Published: June 2024

Es así como los resultados permitieron analizar investigaciones referentes a las actitudes de los maestros frente a la inclusión de estudiantes con discapacidad, originadas en diferentes latitudes y bajo condiciones contextuales particulares, posibilitando la visualización de tendencias tanto en aspectos metodológicos como logísticos, al tiempo que se evidenciaba una inclinación representativa hacia las actitudes positivas, lo que constituye un aporte significativo para el establecimiento de futuros procesos de investigación. Por otra parte, se observa una falta de conocimiento relacionado con la normatividad que rodea los procesos de atención a la diversidad en las instituciones educativas, lo que representa un desafío para los entes gubernamentales.
Liderazgos comunitarios de mujeres y expresiones de la incidencia política en la subregión de Urabá
Authors: Castañeda Gómez Mónica María , Dávila Cañas Lucas , Correa González Andrea Juliana , Correa Restrepo Argemira , Usuga Guisao Olga
Published: June 2024

Los liderazgos comunitarios son expresiones de incidencia política en sí misma. Este artículo propone reconocer los liderazgos comunitarios de mujeres de la Red Juntas Somos Más, sus logros y expresiones de incidencia política en la subregión de Urabá. Adoptamos un enfoque cualitativo y paradigma socio-crítico, que permite develar las estructuras del orden social sobre las que se ponen en riesgo las garantías de los derechos. Se realizaron entrevistas, grupos focales y talleres. En los principales hallazgos tenemos la caracterización de las mujeres lideresas de la Red, las expresiones sobre incidencia política, la relación contradictoria con el Estado y la reivindicación por lo cotidiano y búsqueda por lo común.
Prácticas de cuidado de madres comunitarias que ayudan a la formación de emociones políticas en los niños y las niñas. Medellín
Authors: Builes Cédula Cristian Fabián , Díaz Alzate Magda Victoria
Published: June 2024

La reivindicación del lugar de las madres comunitarias en la formación de emociones políticas de los niños y las niñas es un paso necesario para fortalecer las prácticas de cuidado que se viven en los hogares comunitarios en el barrio Nueva Villa de la Iguaná, de la ciudad de Medellín (Colombia). Asimismo, se reconoce que las madres comunitarias, a través de las prácticas de cuidado, no solo favorecen el desarrollo y el crecimiento de los niños y niñas, sino que también se ubican como formadoras de sujetos para la ciudadanía.