bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction Surgeries approach for laparoscopic Jinling Procedure in refractory mixed constipation (with video)
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Li Ruicheng , Kang Jiaqi , Li Mingsen , Li Yuwei , Zhang Xipeng
Published: July 2024

As science and technology have advanced, the field of surgery is developing in the direction of “minimally invasive” and “noninvasive” procedures. Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery has emerged as a rising star in the field of minimally invasive surgery. It has increased rapidly, and it has become a hot topic inrecent years. Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery has shown advantages in alleviating postoperative pain,improving bowel movements, providing a cosmetic effect, and improving psychological state without adversely affecting cancer outcomes. This technique has been reported more in colorectal tumors, but less in laparoscopic total colectomy for refractory mixed constipation.
The treatment of intractable constipation is still a difficult problem for colorectal surgeons.Jinling procedure is considered to be an ideal method. Jinling procedure with Natural orifice specimen extraction is a new surgery procedure, and intracavitary anastomosis were used which can reduce postoperative wound pain and accelerate patients' recovery.This surgical video will completely introduce the whole surgical procedure.
Revolutionizing Air Quality Forecasting with Cutting-Edge Machine Learning and Optimization Techniques
Authors: Dubey Krati , Dubey Rishav , Pandey Saroj , Sinha Anurag , Rahhore Yogesh
Published: July 2024

Air quality prediction is a critical component in environmental monitoring and public health management. Traditional forecasting methods often fall short in capturing the complex, non-linear interactions among various atmospheric factors. This paper introduces a novel approach to air quality prediction that leverages a combination of advanced machine learning techniques, including Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, and other deep learning models alongside robust optimization strategies. By integrating statistical models, deep learning, and machine learning algorithms, we aim to significantly enhance the accuracy and reliability of air quality forecasts. Our methodology employs an ensemble of models, such as LSTM, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and gradient boosting machines (GBMs), to capture both temporal and spatial dependencies in air quality metrics. To further refine predictions, we incorporate various optimization techniques that improve the performance and efficiency of the learning process. Comparative analysis with traditional methods demonstrates the superiority of our approach in terms of prediction accuracy and computational efficiency. The results indicate a marked improvement in forecasting capabilities, which can be instrumental in devising timely interventions and mitigating adverse health effects associated with poor air quality. This research not only advances the state-of-the-art in air quality prediction but also provides a scalable framework applicable to other environmental monitoring applications.
A Novel Metaheuristic Approach: Spiral Cloud Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Shafieenejad Iman , Pour Mohammadamin Nourian
Published: July 2024

This study introduces a novel meta-heuristic algorithm named Spiral Cloud Optimization Algorithm (SCOA), inspired by the movement patterns of clouds. SCOA is mathematically modeled based on the optimal motion of clouds in nature to perform optimization across a wide range of search spaces. The core concept of this algorithm is derived from the spiral behavior of clouds and the Fibonacci sequence. This algorithm is distinguished by its high-speed performance, simplicity of implementation, and impressive convergence. Moreover, the golden ratio, a mathematical principle, is incorporated into the algorithm. The efficiency of SCOA is attributed to its streamlined processes, making it particularly suitable for tasks that require rapid execution and reliable convergence. The combination of speed and simplicity makes it an appealing choice for scenarios with limited computational resources or a need for quick results. The proposed algorithm is evaluated using 68 benchmark functions and two engineering problems. The results demonstrate that SCOA provides superior performance in terms of precision and convergence speed when solving complex optimization problems, outperforming other algorithms such as Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Fire Hawks Optimizer (FHO), and Flying Fox Optimization (FFO), among others.
Study on the law of failure and instability of overburden rock under multiple mining movements of extra-thick coal seam and the transformation mechanism of bearing structure
Authors: Lai Xingping , Wang Hao , Cui Feng , Jia Chong , Lu Changliang
Published: July 2024

In order to further explore the motion instability and structural evolution of overburden rock in strata fully mechanized caving mining of super thick coal seam, taking the mining of super thick coal seam in Zhundong mining area of Xinjiang as the research background, the research method combining physical simulation, numerical simulation, theoretical analysis and engineering case verification is adopted. This paper studies the characteristics of overburden structure shape change, rock size distribution and force chain network distribution in the process of stratified mining, analyzes the influence of multiple mining actions on the bearing structure stability of key layers, and reveals the bearing structure transformation mechanism of overburden rock in stratified mining of huge thick coal seams. The results show that with the increase of slicing mining times, the near-field overlying rock gradually transforms from block to bulk, and the overlying rock presents a structural transformation process of "masonry beam-short masonry beam-extrusion balance arch". In the initial stage of stratified mining, the overlying rock is bounded by high and low key layers to form a multi-zone distribution feature of rock block and force chain network. Multiple mining disturbances make the low bearing area degenerate into caving area. In the lower stratified mining, the overlying rock distribution evolves from three zones to two zones. The load bearing characteristics of the force chain can be well characterized by defining the average contact force intensity ƒ0 and the anisotropy coefficient an. The strength of the force chain in the low bearing area gradually decreases with the increase of slicing mining times, while the strength of the force chain in the high bearing area in the lower slicing mining suddenly increases, which proves that the bearing capacity of the arch structure is greater than that of the beam structure. Under the influence of multiple mining movements, the length of rock blocks decreases, the load transfer of overlying rock increases, and the internal damage of rock mass worsens, all of which lead to the instability of the bearing structure of the key layer. The loss of bearing capacity of the lower key layer leads to the upward movement of the bearing structure of the overlying rock, and the bearing form changes from "beam type" to "arch type". The field measurement results of support pressure verify the accuracy of the above research, and the research results can provide theoretical basis and scientific guidance for the safety mining of thick coal seam.
Global patterns of the burden of zoonotic infectious diseases of poverty based on GBD 2021
Authors: lv chao , Chen Yiwen , Cheng Zile , Zhu Yongzhang , Chen Weiye , Zhou Nan , Chen Yiming , Li Yinlong , Deng Wangping , Guo Xiaokui , Li Min , Xu Jing
Published: July 2024

Background
The zoonotic infectious diseases of poverty (zIDPs) continue to be a significant factor contributing to global poverty, with a broad distribution and a significant impact on a substantial population. We aimed to assess the global, regional, and national burden and trends of zIDPs utilizing Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, providing scientific support for policy making and resource allocating.
Methods
We retrieved data from GBD 2021 on the prevalence, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of zIDPs (schistosomiasis, cystic echinococcosis [CE], cysticercosis, foodborne trematodiases particularly referring to opisthochiais, clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis, fascioliasis, fasciolopsis) in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. Estimated annual percentage changes in the age-standardized prevalence and DALY rates of zIDPs by age, sex, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), were calculated to quantify the temporal trends. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between age-standardized rates and SDI.
Results
Globally, there are an estimated 151 376 744 schistosomiasis cases (95% Uncertainty Interval (UI) 109 062 891 to 198 666 395), 633 404 CE cases (95% UI 517 477 to 782 468), 4 357 190 cysticercosis cases (95% UI 3 150 315 to 5 716 430), and 44 466 329 (95% UI 40 017 218 to 50 034 921) foodborne trematodiases cases, respectively. The number of DALYs due to schistosomiasis, CE, cysticercosis and foodborne trematodiases worldwide in 2021 was 1 746 333 (95% UI 1038122 to 2984204), 105 072 (95% UI 78 967 to 133 309), 1 235 939 (95% UI 787 769 to 1 808 363) and 998 029 (95% UI 569 766-1 638 112), respectively. The age-standardized prevalence rate and DALYs of schistosomiasis, cysticercosis and foodborne trematodiases decreased year by year significantly globally during 1990 to 2019. The highest number of cases and DALYs occurred in: Sub-Saharan Africa for schistosomiasis; South Asia, East Asia (only cases), North Africa and Middle East, Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (only DALYs) for CE; South Asia (only cases), East Asia and Central Latin America for cysticercosis; East Asia, Southeast Asia (only cases), High-income Asia Pacific (only cases) for foodborne trematodiases. The age-standardized prevalence rates of the zIDPs exhibited three different patterns with the increases of SDI, whereas the age-standardized DALY of the zIDPs (excluding foodborne trematodiases) decreased with the rise of SDI.
Conclusion
The prevalence and DALYs of zIDPs presented decrease trends in most endemic regions globally by year. The regions and countries with low SDI should prioritize reducing the burden of zIDPs in light of the WHO's aim to control or eliminate NTDs.
Bismuth-gold nanohybrid conjugated with a HEX-bound oligonucleotide; a novel nano photosensitizer to combat antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Nomani Atiyeh , Nosrati Hamed , Faraji Naser , Charmi Jalil , Javani Siamak
Published: July 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) leads to a decrease in the adequacy of antimicrobial agents and an increase in the rate of adverse effects and mortality. The main objective of this project is to investigate the synergistic effect of BiAu@NCLin-T1 and its substructures as an antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) agent to combat microbial resistance. In addition, the effect of photothermal therapy (PTT) on some of the designed nanostructures at a temperature of 40°C was also tested. The antimicrobial test was carried out using the growth curve method against E. coli and S. aureus as Gram-negative and positive model bacteria. Computational methods were used to investigate the stability and entropy of oligonucleotide sequence structures. Various analyses were performed to identify the nanostructures, including Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) and fluorescence analysis. The BiAu@NCLin-T1 appeared the significant aPDT impact against the gram-negative E.coli strain at two distinctive oligonucleotide concentrations (1, and 1.5 µM). Based on the results, the outlined nanostructures can act as a photosensitizer (PS), a photothermal treatment agent (PTT), and an antimicrobial agent to combat resistant bacteria.
Club cell secretory protein 16 up-regulates cell proliferation, inhibits inflammation and pyroptosis against particular matter 2.5 -induced epithelium damage in asthmatic mice
Authors: Lin Jinle , Chen Xiaowen , Chen Yuehua , Zeng Xiaobing , Yao Jie , Miao Yuyang , Wang Fang , Luo Shaohua , Jiang Lei , Hu Wenxue , Liu Xiaolong , Zhang Jing , Zhang Wenwu , Dou Qingli , Li Zhongpeng , Zhou Siping , Wu Jian
Published: July 2024

Introduction
: Club cell secretory protein (CC16) is reported to have multiple protective functions in airway diseases, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antioxidant. This study aims to determine whether CC16 can repair lung injury caused by particular matter 2.5(PM2.5) exposure in asthmatic mice.
Methods
In the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma murine study, 6-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were primary exposed to PM2.5 for 24 hours and following treated with CC16, Artery blood gas, lung function,histopathology and immunohistochemical staining were detected. The BEAS-2B cell line was primary exposed to PM2.5 for 24 hours and then treated with CC16 subsequently, fluorescence and electron microscopy, protein and RNA of inflammation and pyroptosis, and RNA Sequencing were detected.
Results
In the OVA-induced asthmatic mice after exposure of PM2.5 treatment with CC16 ameliorated PM2.5-induced lung tissue damage, respiratory acidosis and restore the increased airway resistance after PM2.5-exposed group, accompanied with the inhibition in the protein of inflammation and pyroptosis.Moreover, CC16 increased cell proliferation, ameliorated pyroptotic cell death induced by PM2.5 and inhibited the expression on the protein and RNA of inflammation and pyroptosis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CC16 down-regulate genes associated with inflammatory adhesion, while up-regulating proliferation genes,like E-Twenty-Six-1.
Conclusions
CC16 could repair airway epithelium PM2.5-induced damage in asthma mice by up-regulating cell proliferation,inhibiting pyroptosis and imflammation, which it will been used as a novel therapeutic agent to alleviate the health risks of PM2.5 exposure in future.
Quantum-Classical Synergy: Enhancing De Novo Genome Assembly with Hybridized QUBO Optimization
Authors: Mukherjee Anshit , Mallik Biswadip Basu
Published: July 2024

The difficult computational task of de novo genome assembly is to piece together the original DNA sequence from a collection of overlapping pieces. The issue can be expressed as an NP-hard quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) problem. To solve QUBO problems more effectively than conventional techniques, quantum computing presents a viable alternative. This is because quantum annealers and gate-based quantum algorithms may take advantage of quantum effects like superposition and entanglement. But there are drawbacks to quantum computing as well, such scalability, noise, and decoherence. In this work, we present a hybrid quantum-classical optimization algorithm that solves the QUBO problem of de novo genome assembly by utilizing the advantages of both paradigms. To find near-optimal solutions in the presence of defects and noise, our technique combines a classical local search heuristic with a quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA). We assess our algorithm's performance against current quantum and conventional approaches using both artificial and actual data sets. We demonstrate that our algorithm can outperform the state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy and computing cost, and it has the potential to solve intricate and large-scale genome assembly challenges.
City-level drug policies in Portugal: the COVID-19 pandemic as an analyser of harm reduction intervention responsiveness in Porto and Lisbon
Authors: Pires Cristiana Vale , Curado Adriana , Fuertes Ricardo , Carvalho Maria Carmo , Valente Helena
Published: July 2024

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic health crisis and its potential implications for people who use drugs (PWUD) created permissive conditions toward social innovation and experimentation. Still, it also exposed gaps in harm reduction approaches. The local level situations informed the harm reduction responsiveness, so it was not applied uniformly in different regions. This paper intends to contribute to the analysis of harm reduction responsiveness during the COVID-19 outbreak by comparing the adaptations and implementation of harm reduction and municipal services to support street-involved PWUD in two Portuguese cities – Porto and Lisbon. This study aims to shed light on the city-level implementation of drug policies in Portugal.
Methods
This study is based on a comparative qualitative analysis based on the experiences of PWUD and HR professionals regarding the implementation of harm reduction responses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Porto and Lisbon. The study is based
on interviews with street-involved (SI) PWUD (n=22, 12 in Porto and 10 in Lisbon) and online focus groups with harm reduction professionals (N=12, 6 in Porto and 6 in Lisbon).
Results
Harm reduction teams in Porto and Lisbon implemented contingency plans and proactive adaptations to respond to the pandemic-related emerging needs. However, the study revealed contrasting experiences in the city-level support to harm reduction and responsiveness to the impacts of COVID-19 among SI PWUD in Porto and Lisbon. There were relevant differences in the support they received from the City Council and the city-level responses implemented to support street-involved (SI) PWUD. While the approach in Porto was described as restrictive and zero-tolerance towards drug use, in Lisbon, the responses were harm reduction-focused. The harm reduction-focused approach implemented in Lisbon revealed better results regarding the harm reduction responsiveness to the pandemic health crisis and adherence of SI PWUD to services, mostly because of their inclusive approaches.
Conclusion
The pandemic constraints and adaptations must be contextualized in an overall process of disinvestment in harm reduction in Portugal. Moreover, beyond the Portuguese drug policy model, city-level drug policies are crucial in the design and implementation of local drug policies.
Structural, optoelectronic, thermoelectric, and thermodynamic properties of novel copper-based halide double perovskites Cs 2 CuXCl 6 (X = Sb, As, Bi): First principles insights
Authors: Azze Siham El , Ziati Meryem , Baz Morad El , Faqir Mustapha , Ez-Zahraouy Hamid
Published: July 2024

In the present investigation, a complete physical study of electronic structure, optical, thermoelectric and thermodynamic properties have been done on a set of three lead-free double halide perovskite materials, Cs2CuXCl6; using the first principle calculation on the basis of Density Functional Theory and the theory of Boltzmann transport applied in the WIEN2K simulator program. When substituting the X with As, Sb and Bi cation in the double perovskite structure Cs2CuXCl6, interesting electronic and optical properties have been shown, namely low indirect band gap of 0.78, 1.21 and 1.51 eV for Cs2CuAsCl6, Cs2CuSbCl6 and Cs2CuBiCl6 respectively, as well as high absorption in the UV-Visible region. Among the three studied compounds, Cs2CuAsCl6 exhibits an excellent structural stability regarding its high bulk modulus and maximum tolerance factor. It is noticeable from the thermoelectric study that Seebeck coefficient decreases with increasing temperature, while the figure of merit is proportional with temperature enhancement, such a behavior makes of the investigated materials promising candidates for visible-light solar cell device applications, especially that our theoretical results match perfectly with previous works [1].
Cesarean hysterectomy in pregnancies complicated with placenta previa accreta: A retrospective hospital-based study
Authors: Zhan Yongchi , Lu Enfan , Xu Tingting , Huang Guiqiong , Deng Chunyan , Chen Tiantian , Ren Yuxin , Wu Xia , Yu Haiyan , Wang Xiaodong
Published: July 2024

Background
Placenta previa accreta (PPA) is a severe obstetric condition that can cause massive postpartum hemorrhage and transfusion. Cesarean hysterectomy is necessary in some severe cases of PPA to stop the life-threatening bleeding, but cesarean hysterectomy can be associated with significant surgical blood loss and major complications. The current study is conducted to investigate the potential risk factors of excessive blood loss during cesarean hysterectomy in women with PPA.
Methods
This is a retrospective study including singleton pregnancies after 28 weeks of gestation in women with placenta previa and pathologically confirmed placenta accreta spectrum who received hysterectomy during cesarean sections. A total of 199 women from January 2012 to August 2023 were included in this study and were divided into Group 1 (estimated surgical blood loss (EBL) ≤ 3500 mL, n=103) and Group 2 (EBL > 3500 mL, n=96). The primary outcome was defined as an EBL over 3500 mL. Baseline characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to find potential risk factors of the primary outcome.
Results
Massive surgical blood loss was prevalent in our study group, with a median EBL of 3500 mL. The multivariate logistic analysis showed that emergency surgery (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.08-4.41, p = 0.029), cervical invasion of the placenta (OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.43-5.10, p = 0.002), and intraoperative bladder injury (OR 5.18, 95% CI 2.02-13.28, p = 0.001) were all associated with the primary outcome. Bilateral internal iliac arteries balloon occlusion (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.34-0.97) and abdominal aortic balloon occlusion (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.19-0.56) were negatively associated with the primary outcome.
Conclusions
Emergency surgery, cervical invasion of the placenta, and intraoperative bladder injury were potential risk factors for additional EBL during cesarean hysterectomy in women with PPA. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm the effect of intra-arterial balloon occlusion in cesarean hysterectomy of PPA.
Identification of shared gene signatures for diagnosing Systemic lupus erythematosus with osteonecrosis of the femoral head through bioinformatics analysis and machine learning
Authors: Lu Fei-Long , Zhang Wen-Bin , Ma Yu-Lin , Song Hao , Hu Yi-Mei
Published: July 2024

Background: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although there is a characteristic disease spectrum between SLE and ONFH, the exact pathogenesis remains unclear. Furthermore, the lack of early diagnostic criteria complicates the diagnosis of SLE-ONFH. This study aimed to identify key diagnostic candidate genes in patients with SLE and ONFH.
Methods: SLE and ONFH datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and module genes were identified using Limma and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. A protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and machine learning algorithms—extreme gradient boosting (XGB), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and generalized linear models (GLMs)—were applied to identify candidate hub genes for diagnosing SLE combined with ONFH. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and nomograms were generated.
Results: The SLE dataset included 493 DEGs and 1,171 module genes. The ONFH dataset included 384 DEGs and 525 module genes. By intersecting the DEGs and module genes, a total of 74 genes were obtained, which were mainly enriched in the "chemokine signaling pathway" and "cytokine‒cytokine receptor interaction pathway." By constructing the PPI network, 22 node genes were identified. Using machine learning, the five candidate hub genes with the highest scores were selected for nomogram construction and diagnostic value evaluation. The nomogram and all five candidate key genes demonstrated high diagnostic value.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that ELANE, LTF, ALAS2, MX1, and CA1 are the selected candidate key genes. The construction of a nomogram provides a new direction for the clinical prediction of SLE combined with ONFH.
Bidirectional Relationships between Phonological Processing and Basic Number Knowledge in Kindergarten Children: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Chen Xin , Ma Chi , Yang Xiujie
Published: July 2024

An ongoing debate on the association of phonological processing and number knowledge concerns the extent to which they influence each other when children were at young ages. The current study aims at establishing the direction of the developmental relationship between these two kinds of abilities at an early age. Eighty-two Chinese kindergarten children were followed from 5 to 6 years old with a one-year interval. We investigated three phonological processing skills (phonological awareness, phonological memory, and rapid automatized naming) and two kinds of basic number knowledge (number identification and number comparison) at time 1 and time 2. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed that the association between phonological awareness and number comparison was bidirectional. Specifically, early phonological awareness at time 1 could predict later number identification, and early number comparison at time 1 was a significant predictor of later phonological memory. In contrast, rapid automatized naming had no such predictive relations with other variables. The present findings are among the first to provide evidence that basic number knowledge could predict later phonological processing in kindergarten children.
Genetics, age, and diet influence gut bacterial communities and performance of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens)
Authors: Silvaraju Shaktheeshwari , Zhang Qi-hui , Kittelmann Sandra , Puniamoorthy Nalini
Published: July 2024

Background
The gut microbiota of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens) play a crucial role in recycling various organic waste streams. This capability is linked to the presence of a potential common core microbiota in BSFL. However, subjective thresholds for defining core taxa and the difficulty of separating genetic and environmental influences have prevented a clear consensus in the literature. We analysed the gut bacterial communities of two genetically distinct BSF lines (wild type (WT) and lab-adapted line (LD)) raised on ten different diets based on common agricultural by-products and food waste in Southeast Asia.
Results
High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that gut bacterial communities were significantly influenced by genetics (p = 0.001), diet (plant/meat-based; p = 0.001), larval age (p = 0.001), and their interactions (p = 0.002). This led us to investigate both common core taxa and lineage-specific core taxa. At a strict > 97% prevalence threshold, four core taxa were identified: Providencia_A_732258, an unclassified genus within the family Enterococcaceae, Morganella, and Enterococcus_H_360604. A relaxed threshold (> 80% prevalence) extended the core to include other potential common core taxa such as Klebsiella, Proteus, and Scrofimicrobium. Our data suggest that Proteus, Scrofimicrobium, Corynebacterium, Vagococcus_B, Lysinibacillus_304693 (all LD), and Paenibacillus_J_366884 (WT) are lineage-specific core members rather than a common core (> 90% prevalence in either LD or WT, with prevalence significantly different between lines (p ≤ 0.05)). Positive correlations were observed between several core genera and larval performance in LD, typical of a highly optimized lab-adapted line. Interestingly, only members of the genus Providencia appeared to play a crucial role in most aspects of larval performance in both genetic lineages.
Conclusion
Our study demonstrates that the gut microbiota of black soldier fly larvae is influenced by genetic factors, diet composition, larval age, and their interactions. We identified a distinct lineage-specific core microbiota, emphasizing genetic background's role. Future studies should apply a standardized high prevalence threshold of at least > 90% unless there is a valid reason for relaxation or sample exclusion. The consistent association of Providencia spp. with larval performance across both genetic lines highlights their crucial role in the BSFL gut ecosystem.
Combined analysis of entosis and disulfidptosis to predict the prognosis and tumor microenvironment (TME) landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: hu shuai , Huang Kai , Zhang Guangquan , He Yongfei , Xu Junming , Zhai Hang , Wang Jicai , Hong Shengjie , Wu Fenfang , Shi Xianjie
Published: July 2024

Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant digestive tract tumor worldwide. Disulfidptosis and entosis are two special cell death mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic and clinical applicability of these two cell death-related genes in HCC.
Methods
The R package "Deseq2" was used to conduct differential expression analysis, 22 disulfidptosis-related genes and 25 entosis-related genes were screened out to 15 differential genes, and 8 key genes were subsequently screened out by single-factor Cox regression analysis using the R package “survival”. Finally, LASSO regression analysis was performed with the R package “glment” to screen 2 prognostic genes. A prognostic prediction model was constructed based on this scoring system. Then, immunoinfiltration analysis was performed with the R packages “IBOR” and “estimate”. Drug sensitivity analysis was performed with the R package “OncoPredict” to screen for liver cancer-sensitive drugs.
Results
A hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis prediction model based on the KIF2C and SLC7A11 scoring system was constructed with good predictive ability, and the KIF2C and SLC7A11 scoring systems were applied to screen immunotherapy targets and sensitive drugs related to HCC.
Semantic Segmentation in Autonomous Driving using Multi-scale Feature Fusion and Graph Network
Authors: Li Yajing , Zhang Yong , Zhang Yuqing , Piao Xinglin , Pei Huimin , Hu Yongli
Published: July 2024

Semantic segmentation in urban scenes is an important task in computer vision. However, there are many challenges in urban road scenes, such as category imbalance and complex backgrounds. These problems lead to unclear edge segmentation and fuzzy categorization of occluded objects in existing semantic segmentation methods in urban scenes, which limits the accuracy and robustness in practical applications. In this paper, we propose a model that recursively enhances edge feature representation combined with local spatial context. We address the problem of unclear edge segmentation by introducing Multi-scale Central Difference Convolution (MS-CDC) to fuse multi-scale edge features. The FeedBack Connection (FBC) module based on feature pyramid fuses the multi-scale features while recursively augmenting the original network to make the occluded objects more robust. Meanwhile, we design a Local Feature Extraction (LFE) module to capture pixel-wise relationships by constructing local pixel graph and center pixel graph. It can learn local contextual information to extract finer pixel features. Experimental results on the Cityscapes and Mapillary Vista dataset validate the effectiveness of our proposed model. Our model can achieve new results by 80.67 \(%\) and 45.5$%$ mIoU on the Cityscapes and Mapillary Vista val set. We open-source our code at \href{https://github.com/sanmanaa/segmentation-autodriving-graph-centralconv}{https://github.com/sanmanaa/segmentation-autodriving-graph-centralconv}
Epigenetic Modulation by PRC2: Implications for Immune Regulation and Prognostic Outcomes in Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhang Yi , Wang Tongbo , Chen Xiaoqi , Song Jiarui , Yang Man , Jiang Hongnan , Kong Xiangyi , Wang Yipeng , Gao Jidong
Published: July 2024

Purpose
Overexpression of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is commonly expressed in various malignancies, often correlating with unfavorable prognoses and indicating its potential as a therapeutic target.This study aimed to elucidate the comprehensive role of PRC2, especially in the context of breast cancer (BRCA), examining its association with the cell cycle and its implications within the tumor immune microenvironment.
Methods
Utilizing a comprehensive approach, we evaluated the levels of the primary components of PRC2, composed of EZH2, SUZ12, and EED. By employing Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), we integrated these expression profiles. We introduced a cumulative representation known as the PRC2 complex score to assess the collective impact of these proteins in BRCA.
Results
Analysis revealed a pronounced increase in PRC2 expression in BRCA tissues compared to their normal counterparts. Intriguingly, this heightened expression was not uniform across all BRCA subtypes, hinting at subtype-specific or regulatory patterns for PRC2. Additionally, a pivotal role for the PRC2 complex in cell cycle advancement was observed, suggesting its involvement in promoting cell proliferation. A noteworthy association was also discerned between the PRC2 complex and immune cell dynamics, highlighting its potential in shaping the immunological landscape within BRCA.
Conclusion
Our findings underscore the potential of the PRC2 complex as a pivotal biomarker in the progression of BRCA. The intricate role it plays in the tumor immune microenvironment, particularly its influence on Th2 cell regulation, opens new avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies.
An improved bit-plane representation of quantum image
Authors: Mu Jiale , Li Xiao-Fei , Zhang Xiang-Hua , Wang Pinghe
Published: July 2024

The quantum image representation based on bit-planes (BRQI) is a widely used model in quantum image processing. It utilizes both the superposition and entanglement properties to store the position and color information of an image effectively, but the time complexity is still high(O(2qn22n)). Here, we propose an improved BRQI model, which still uses log2 q + 1 qubits to represent the color information, and has a low time complexity(O(qn22n)). When storing the value of bit-plane, it can use only one controlled operation to store the values of two adjacent bit-planes at the same time, makes the time and space complexity significantly reduced. Moreover, we design a corresponding quantum image compression algorithm. Simulation experimental results show that the compression efficiency of this model is also better than that of the widely used models NEQR and BRQI, and the time complexity of quantum image representation is further reduced. Hence, our findings will be helpful for further developing the quantum image representation and compression algorithm.
Analysis of clinical characteristics of central nervous system varicella-zoster virus infection: A Single-Center Cases Series Study
Authors: Li Yi , Yu Xiujun , Fan Xiaoming , Liu Yakun , Zhang Jingyi , He JunYing , Bu Hui , Zou# Yueli
Published: July 2024

Backgroud: To retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics, laboratory examination, electroencephalogram, imaging findings, treatment and prognosis of central nervous system varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), and to improve the early recognition of the disease.
Methods: Patients with VZVencephalitis/meningitis or spinal meningitis diagnosed by mNGS of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the Department of Neurology of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from July 2018 to June 2021 were enrolled. The clinical characteristics, laboratory examination, electroencephalogram, imaging examination, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis were collected and analyzed.
Results: All the 29 patients had acute onset, and the main clinical manifestations were headache, fever, cranial nerve damage, disturbance of consciousness, limb numbness and weakness, convulsion, etc. There were 8 cases of meningitis, 18 cases of meningoencephalitis, 2 cases of cerebrospinal meningitis and 1 case of myelomeningitis. The pressure of lumbar puncture was normal in most cases. The white blood cell count and protein content in CSF were increased remarkable. The abnormal rate of electroencephalogram (EEG) was low, and abnormal imaging could be found in severe cases. Most of the patients can obtain a good prognosis, but those with cranial nerve involvement, vasculitis or spinal cord injury often have poor prognosis.
Conclusions: The clinical manifestations of VZV infection in central nervous system are nonspecific, and cranial nerves are prone to be involved. CSF parameters are diverse, which is easy to be misdiagnosed. CSF cytology can provide valuable clue for clinical diagnosis.
Electric vehicle ownership dynamics at household level: A stated adaptation experiment on the effects of pricing and incentive policies
Authors: Gutjar Margarita , Calastri Chiara , Kowald Matthias
Published: July 2024

A reduction of diesel and petrol vehicles and a shift from conventional to electric vehicles (EV) is part of many governments’ plans towards transport decarbonization. To encourage such a shift, governments need to implement effective policies. In a stated adaptation experiment, 444 respondents were presented with four scenarios with hypothetical pricing strategies concerning EV purchase subsidies, and prices for fuel, electricity, and public transport. The scenarios involved the presentation of values specifically calculated depending on the cost and composition of actual mobility tools in the household, and respondents were asked to adapt their household fleet in response. For example, they could remove current or add new vehicles or public transport (PT) passes. The effect of such cost-related interventions on their decisions was modelled in an integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) model. Our results suggest that the decision to remove a conventional vehicle and/or replace it with an electric vehicle can be effectively promoted by increasing fuel prices, lowering electricity prices, and lowering PT fares. Providing subsidies for the purchase of EVs was found to be ineffective. An analysis of attitudes revealed that people with greater intention to buy an EV are less affected by any pricing strategies. Incentives for removing a conventional vehicle are only effective for people who are more concerned about the environment.
The influence and reason analysis of the vanishing twin on noninvasive prenatal testing
Authors: Hu Shuang , Sun Gege , Kong Xiangdong
Published: July 2024

Objective To investigate the influence and reason analysis of the vanishing twin on noninvasive prenatal testing.
Methods Clinical data of the pregnant women with vanishing twin syndrome (VTS) who came to our department for NIPT from January 2019 to December 2023 were collected, and their general conditions, NIPT results and prenatal diagnosis results as well as the causes of test failure were analyzed. The effects of gestational week of VTS and re-sampling time slot on the positive rate of NIPT were also discussed.
Results Of the 102 cases, 5 cases were NIPT positive (4.9%), among them 4 cases were sex chromosome abnormality (SCA), and 1 case was ChrX-(Z=-7.38), that is, X chromosome reduction. The karyotype and CNV-seq results were all normal after amniocentesis. Namely, all the 5 cases were false positive, and the rate was 100% (5/5). The positive rate of VT < 10 weeks (3/73) was lower than that of VT ≥10 weeks (2/29). There was no significant difference in positive rate between the two groups. (P > 0.05)
Conclusion NIPT could be applied on VT pregnancy, prolong the time interval of fetal demise and NIPT sampling. Once established, unnecessary invasive procedures could be avoided, mitigating negative emotional impact on future mothers.
Efficacy and Safety of Transarterial Chemoembolization and Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy Combined with Lenvatinib in Treating Massive Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zheng Youbing , Xiao Zhengfang , Lu Ligong
Published: July 2024

Objective
Current strategies for treating massive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often involve interventional procedures, yet their effectiveness is frequently constrained, and extensive clinical data are still limited. This research aims to assess the safety and efficacy of using lenvatinib in combination with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) for treating massive HCC.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective review of patients who received TACE-HAIC -lenvatinib between January 2022 and January 2023. The study included 31 eligible patients. Lenvatinib therapy commenced within one week post-TACE, with a dosage of either 8 or 12 mg per day based on body weight. Follow-up assessments were carried out 3–4 weeks after the initial intervention. Using dynamic contrast-enhanced CT or MRI, treatment response was assessed following the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). Patients who achieved complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease (SD) continued lenvatinib therapy, while those with progressive disease (PD) underwent additional TACE and HAIC. The progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events (AEs) were all calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results
At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months following treatment, the objective response rates (ORR) were 38.71% (12/31), 51.61% (16/31), 32.26% (10/31), and 25.81% (8/31), respectively. The corresponding disease control rates (DCR) were 90.32% (28/31), 74.19% (23/31), 58.06% (18/31), and 45.16% (14/31). The median PFS was 8.0 months (95% CI,6.4–9.6 months), while the median OS was 15.0 months (95% CI,13.8–16.2 months). Adverse events (AEs) were noted in 90.3% of patients, with hypothyroidism being the most prevalent at 74.2%.
Conclusion
The results of our study suggest that the TACE-HAIC-lenvatinib sequential treatment regimen demonstrates good safety and tolerable levels for the treatment of massive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with the potential to enhance progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). This therapeutic approach provides an alternative for such patients, but additional multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are necessary to confirm its effectiveness and safety.
Hypermultiplexed Integrated-Photonics-based Tensor Optical Processor
Authors: Chen Zaijun , Ou Shaoyuan , Xue Kaiwen , Zhou Lian , Sludds Alexander , Hamerly Ryan , Zhang Ke , Feng Hanke , Kopparapu Reshma , Lee Chunho , Zhong Eric , Wang Cheng , Englund Dirk , Yu Mengjie
Published: July 2024

The escalating data volume and complexity resulting from the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT) and 5G/6G mobile networks is creating an urgent need for energy-efficient, scalable computing hardware. Here we demonstrate a hypermultiplexed integrated-photonics-based tensor optical processor (HITOP) that performs trillions of operations per second (TeraOPS) at the energy cost of 25 femtojoule per operation (25 fJ/OP). Based on space-time-wavelength three-dimensional (3D) data streaming, HITOP is built with arrays of wafer-fabricated III/V-based micron-scale lasers (spanning ~1 THz) incorporating thin-film Lithium-Niobate electro-optic (EO) photonics. Multidimensional parallelism allows matrix-matrix multiplications (N3 operations) using O(N) encoding devices, facilitating scalable on-chip integration with O(N2) computations per clockcycle. With each device activating 10 billion parameters per second, the HITOP scalability is validated in machine learning models with 405,000 parameters, which is 25,000 times more than previous integrated optical systems. A combination of high clockrates (10 GS/s), parallel processing and real-time reprogrammability unlocks the full potential of light for next-generation AI accelerators in applications ranging from training with trillions of parameters, real-time decision making in autonomous vehicles and robotics, dynamic optimization in smart manufacturing, to complex simulation for climate modeling and drug discovery.
Treatise “Discourses on the Migration of Barbarians” as a Source of Information on the Migration Crisis of the Western Jin Era (265–317 AD)
Authors: Tsyrenov Chingis Ts. ,   Institute of Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: July 2024

The relevance of the issues raised in the article is due to the fact that the analysis of the content of the treatise of the dignitary Jiang Tong (unknown – 310 AD) will allow us to reconstruct the features of the early stages of the evolution of the approaches of the Chinese bureaucracy to the problem of the overgrown “barbarian” enclaves. The novelty of the study is in in-depth analysis of the cause-and-effect relationships of the general historical events of the Western Jin era in the context of studying the migration policy of the central and regional Jin authorities in relation to barbarian peoples. The purpose of the article is to identify the peculiarities of the approach to the problem of the overgrown “barbarian enclaves” in the all-Chinese Western Jin empire, reflected in the work of the dignitary Jiang Tong “Xi rong lun” (“Discourses on the resettlement of barbarians”). This treatise has survived to this day as part of the official dynastic history of the Jin Shu (collective biographical chapter 56). Three complex, important and little-studied problems related to the Jin migration crisis and the historical and political process of the Troubled Western Jin era are briefly reviewed and analyzed. First, it is a problem of the fragmentation of the historical and cultural aspects of the general outline of the historical events of the Western Jin era, which is characteristic of the troubled periods of history. Second, it is a problem of the historical and geographical reconstruction of the area of residence of ethnical minorities of the Northern China. Third, it is a problem of reconstructing the Jin methods of weakening and Sinification of the ethnical minorities of the Northern China and adjacent territories. We draw a conclusion that the view on the problem of ethnic enclaves presented in the treatise was distinguished by a detailed analysis of the history of the issue, as well as detailed calculations of the proposed resettlement of “barbarian” peoples.