bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-time quality control of dripping pill’s weight based on laser detection technology
Authors: Wang Xiaoping , Chen Hang , Tian Ying , Qu Haibin
Published: April 2023

The present work reports developing the first process analytical technology (PAT)-based real-time feedback control system for maintaining the Ginkgo biloba leaf dripping pills weight during manufacturing. The opening degree of the drop valve and the weight of dripping pills were chosen as the manipulated variable and as the controlled variable, respectively. A proportional-integral controller was programmed to automatically reach the desired dripping pills weight by adjusting the opening degree of the drop valve. The closed-loop feedback control system could automatically compensate for the disturbances and ensure a predefined weight of the dripping pills with excellent robustness, high accuracy, and high efficiency during manufacturing. Furthermore, the closed-loop feedback control system improved the process capability of the dripping process, and the process capability index was > 1.67. This study provides a new approach to real-time control of the weight of dripping pills and improves the process capability during Ginkgo biloba leaf dripping pills manufacturing.
Neurocomputational mechanisms of food and physical activity decision-making in male adolescents
Authors: Lim Seung-Lark , Bruce Amanda S. , Shook Robin P.
Published: April 2023

We examined the neurocomputational mechanisms in which male adolescents make food and physical activity decisions and how those processes are influenced by body weight and physical activity levels. After physical activity and dietary assessments, thirty-eight males ages 14–18 completed the behavioral rating and fMRI decision tasks for food and physical activity items. The food and physical activity self-control decisions were significantly correlated with each other. In both, taste- or enjoyment-oriented processes were negatively associated with successful self-control decisions, while health-oriented processes were positively associated. The correlation between taste/enjoyment and healthy attribute ratings predicted actual laboratory food intake and physical activities (2-week activity monitoring). fMRI data showed the decision values of both food and activity are encoded in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, suggesting both decisions share common reward value-related circuits at the time of choice. Compared to the group with overweight/obese, the group with normal weight showed stronger brain activations in the cognitive control, multisensory integration, and motor control regions during physical activity decisions. For both food and physical activity, self-controlled decisions utilize similar computational and neurobiological mechanisms, which may provide insights into how to promote healthy food and physical activity decisions.
GIS-based risk assessment of flood disaster in the Lijiang River Basin
Authors: Ziwei Li , Xiangling Tang , Liju Li , Yanqi Chu , Xingming Wang , Dishan Yang
Published: April 2023

This study is designed to provide a scientific reference for the establishment of rainstorm and flood disaster prevention system in Guilin region and improve the risk assessment of rainstorm and flood disasters. To realize the goal, a flood risk evaluation model is established by weight analysis methods including the entropy weight method and the analytic hierarchy process from 3 aspects, i.e., risk of disaster causing factors, sensitivity of disaster-pregnant environment and vulnerability of disaster bearing body. For the model, the daily precipitation 1980–2020 of 6 representative national meteorological stations in the Lijiang River Basin was used as reference data of disaster causing factors; six indicators, i.e., NDVI, river network density, geological hazard, slope, slope aspect and terrain undulation were selected as the sensitivity of disaster-pregnant environment; NPP, potential of farmland production, and population density were taken as the criteria for determining the vulnerability of disaster bearing capacity. Meanwhile, ArcGIS was used for analysis and calculation to complete the risk assessment of flood disaster in Lijiang River Basin, Guangxi. The results indicate that: (1) the hazard level of flood disaster causing factors in Lijiang River Basin shows a decreasing distribution pattern from north to south, and high-risk areas cover 3108.47 km2, accounting for 21.29%; (2) the stability grade of disaster-pregnant environment shows a decreasing trend from the surrounding mountains to the plains, and the low-stability and lower-stability areas are mostly found in the low-lying areas around Lijiang River, with an area of 4218.63 km2, accounting for 28.69%; (3) the vulnerability of the disaster bearing body is generally at a low level, and the areas with high level cover 246.96 km2, accounting for only 1.69%; (4) under the combined effect of the above factors, the northern part of Guilin City in the Lijiang River Basin has a high risk of flood disaster.
Low maternal education increases the risk of Type 1 Diabetes, but not other autoimmune diseases: a mediating role of childhood BMI and exposure to serious life events
Authors: White Pär Andersson , Faresjö Tomas , Jones Michael P. , Ludvigsson Johnny
Published: April 2023

The objective of this paper was to investigate if socioeconomic status (SES), measured by maternal education and household income, influenced the risk of developing autoimmune disease (Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac disease, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, and autoimmune thyroid disease), or age at diagnosis, and to analyse pathways between SES and autoimmune disease. We used data from the All Babies in Southeast Sweden (ABIS) study, a population-based prospective birth cohort, which included children born 1997–1999. Diagnoses of autoimmune disease was collected from the Swedish National Patient Register Dec 2020. In 16,365 individuals, low maternal education, but not household income, was associated with increased risk of Type 1 Diabetes; middle education RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.06, 2.23; P 0.02, low education RR 1.81, 95% CI 1.04, 3.18; P 0.04. Maternal education and household income was not associated with any other autoimmune disease and did not influence the age at diagnosis. Part of the increased risk of Type 1 Diabetes by lower maternal education was mediated by the indirect pathway of higher BMI and higher risk of Serious Life Events (SLE) at 5 years of age. The risk of developing Type 1 Diabetes associated to low maternal education might be reduced by decreasing BMI and SLE during childhood.
Partial differential equations modeling of bio-convective sutterby nanofluid flow through paraboloid surface
Authors: Abdul Basit Muhammad , Imran Muhammad , Khan Shan Ali , Alhushaybari Abdullah , Sadat R. , Ali Mohamed R.
Published: April 2023

In this research article, the behavior of 2D non-Newtonian Sutterby nanofluid flow over the parabolic surface is discussed. In boundary region of surface buoyancy-driven flow occurred due to considerable temperature differences produced by the reaction happen between Sutterby nanofluid and catalyst at the surface. Free convection which is sighted easily on the parabolic surface is initiated by reaction on the catalyst surface modeled the 1st order activation energy. Applications of parabolic surfaces are upper cover of bullet, car bonnet, and air crafts. Under discussion flow is modelled mathematically by implementing law of conservation of microorganism’s concentration, momentum, mass and heat. The governing equations of the system is of the form of non-linear PDE’s. By the use of similarity transform, the governing PDE`s transformed as non-dimensional ODE’s. The resultant system of non-dimensional ODE’s are numerically solved by built-in function MATLAB package named as ‘bvp4c’. Graphical representation shows the influence of different parameters in the concentration, velocity, microorganisms and temperature profiles of the system. In temperature profile, we examined the impact of thermophoresis coefficient Nt (0.1, 0.5, 1.0), Prandtl number Pr (2.0, 3.0, 4.0), and Brownian motion variable Nb (0.1, 0.3, 0.5). Velocity profile depends on the non-dimensional parameters i.e. (Deborah number De & Hartmann number Ha) and found that these numbers (De, Ha) cause downfall in profile. Furthermore, mass transfer, skin friction, and heat transfer rates are numerically computed. The purpose of the study is to enumerate the significance of parabolic surfaces for the transport of heat and mass through the flow of bio-convective Sutterby nanofluid.
The critical importance of timing of retrieval practice for the fate of nonretrieved memories
Authors: Kriechbaum Verena M. , Bäuml Karl-Heinz T.
Published: April 2023

Retrieval practice performed shortly upon the encoding of information benefits recall of the retrieved information but causes forgetting of nonretrieved information. Here, we show that the forgetting effect on the nonretrieved information can quickly evolve into recall enhancement when retrieval practice is delayed. During a time window of twenty minutes upon the encoding of information, the forgetting effect observed shortly after encoding first disappeared and then turned into recall enhancement when the temporal lag between encoding and retrieval practice was prolonged. Strikingly, recall enhancement continued to emerge when retrieval practice was postponed up to one week. The results illustrate a fast transition from the forgetting of nonretrieved information to recall enhancement. This fast transition is of relevance for daily life, in which retrieval is often selective and delayed.
Trends in SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold values in the Czech Republic from April 2020 to April 2022
Authors: Musalkova Dita , Piherova Lenka , Kwasny Ondrej , Dindova Zuzana , Stancik Lubor , Hartmannova Hana , Slama Otomar , Peckova Petra , Pargac Josef , Minarik Gabriel , Zima Tomas , Bleyer Anthony J. , Radina Martin , Pohludka Michal , Kmoch Stanislav
Published: April 2023

The inability to predict the evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic hampered abilities to respond to the crisis effectively. The cycle threshold (Ct) from the standard SARS-CoV-2 quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) clinical assay is inversely proportional to the amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the sample. We were interested to see if population Ct values could predict future increases in COVID-19 cases as well as subgroups that would be more likely to be affected. This information would have been extremely helpful early in the COVID-19 epidemic. We therefore conducted a retrospective analysis of demographic data and Ct values from 2,076,887 nasopharyngeal swab RT-qPCR tests that were performed at a single diagnostic laboratory in the Czech Republic from April 2020 to April 2022 and from 221,671 tests that were performed as a part of a mandatory school surveillance testing program from March 2021 to March 2022. We found that Ct values could be helpful predictive tools in the real-time management of viral epidemics. First, early measurement of Ct values would have indicated the low viral load in children, equivalent viral load in males and females, and higher viral load in older individuals. Second, rising or falling median Ct values and differences in Ct distribution indicated changes in the transmission in the population. Third, monitoring Ct values and positivity rates would have provided early evidence as to whether prevention measures are effective. Health system authorities should thus consider collecting weekly median Ct values of positively tested samples from major diagnostic laboratories for regional epidemic surveillance.
Attraction, mobility, and preference by Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) to microbially-mediated volatile emissions by two species of fungi in stored grain
Authors: Ponce Marco A. , Sierra Petra , Maille Jacqueline M. , Kim Tania N. , Scully Erin D. , Morrison William R.
Published: April 2023

Insects and microbes are known to interact in a variety of ways at food facilities, compounding damage. However, little research has explicated how specific common fungal species affect the behavior of the cosmopolitan secondary stored product pest,Lasioderma serricorne. Enhanced knowledge about attraction to microbially-produced volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) may be used to manipulate insect behavior.Aspergillus flavusandFusarium verticillioidesare two common, widespread pre- and postharvest fungi on small cereals that produce aflatoxins and fumonisins, respectively, while directly competing with each other for nutrients. Our goals were to (1) characterize the volatile emissions from grain inoculated byA. flavusorF. verticillioidesderived from the cuticle ofL. serricornecompared to uninoculated and sanitized grain, and (2) understand how MVOCs from each fungal species affects mobility, attraction, and preference byL. serricorne. Headspace collection revealed that theF. verticillioides- andA. flavus-inoculated grain produced significantly different volatiles compared to sanitized grain or the positive control. Changes in MVOC emissions affected close-range foraging during an Ethovision movement assay, with a greater frequency of entering and spending time in a small zone with kernels inoculated withA. flavuscompared to other treatments. In the release-recapture assay, MVOCs were found to be attractive toL. serricorneat longer distances in commercial pitfall traps. There was no preference shown among semiochemical stimuli in a still-air, four-way olfactometer. Overall, our study suggests that MVOCs are important for close- and long-range orientation ofL. serricorneduring foraging, and that MVOCs may have the potential for inclusion in behaviorally-based tactics for this species.
The impact of alertness vs. fatigue on interrogators in an actigraphic study of field investigations
Authors: Krizan Zlatan , Miller Anthony J. , Meissner Christian A. , Jones Matthew
Published: April 2023

Investigative interviews (e.g., interrogations) are a critical component of criminal, military, and civil investigations. However, how levels of alertness (vs. sleepiness) of the interviewer impact outcomes of actual interviews is unknown. To this end, the current study tracked daily fluctuations in alertness among professional criminal investigators to predict their daily experiences with actual field interviews. Fifty law-enforcement investigators wore a sleep-activity tracker for two weeks while keeping a daily-diary of investigative interviews conducted in the field. For each interview, the investigators indicated how well they established rapport with the subject, how much resistance they encountered, how well they maintained their own focus and composure, and the overall utility of intelligence obtained. Daily alertness was biomathematically modeled from actigraphic sleep duration and continuity estimates and used to predict interview characteristics. Investigators consistently reported more difficulties maintaining their focus and composure as well as encountering more subject resistance during interviews on days with lower alertness. Better interview outcomes were also reported on days with subjectively better sleep, while findings were generally robust to inclusion of covariates. The findings implicate adequate sleep as a modifiable fitness factor for collectors of human intelligence.
Lifetime prevalence and treatment of mental disorders in Saudi youth and adolescents
Authors: Altwaijri Yasmin , Kazdin Alan E. , Al-Subaie Abdullah , Al-Habeeb Abdulhameed , Hyder Sanaa , Bilal Lisa , Naseem Mohammad Talal , De Vol Edward
Published: April 2023

Previous global and regional studies indicate that adolescents and young adults (i.e., youth) are affected by various mental disorders with lifelong consequences. However, there are no national estimates of mental disorders prevalent among Saudi youth. Using data from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS), we examined the lifetime prevalence, treatment, and socio-demographic correlates of mental disorders among Saudi youth (aged 15–30). A total of 4004 interviews were conducted using the adapted Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0). Cross tabulations and logistic regression were used to generate estimates for the SNMHS youth sample (n = 1881). The prevalence of a mental disorder among Saudi youth was 40.10%, where anxiety disorders affected 26.84% of the sample, followed by disruptive behavior disorders (15.44%), mood disorders (9.67%), substance use disorders (4%) and eating disorders (7.06%). Sex, education, parental education, income, marital status, region, and family history of disorders were significant correlates of various classes of mental disorders. Only 14.47% of Saudi youth with any mental disorder received treatment for a lifetime disorder. Age, parental education, and family history of disorders emerged as significant correlates of mental health treatment. Lifetime mental disorders are highly prevalent among Saudi youth. There is an unmet need for culturally sensitive and age-appropriate treatment of lifetime mental disorders among youth in Saudi Arabia.
Effective CO2 capture by using poly (acrylonitrile) nanofibers based on the radiation grafting procedure in fixed-bed adsorption column
Authors: Tourzani Ali Ahmadizadeh , Hormozi Faramarz , Asadollahzadeh Mehdi , Torkaman Rezvan
Published: April 2023

In this study, a new adsorbent was investigated for CO2 adsorption in the fixed-bed column. Poly (acrylonitrile) nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning, then grafting under gamma irradiation with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). Then, the nanofibers were modified with ethanolamine (EA), diethylamine (DEA) and triethylamine (TEA) to adsorb carbon dioxide molecules. Dynamic adsorption experiments were performed with a mixture of CH4, CO2 in a constant bed column at ambient pressure and temperature and CO2 feed concentration (5%). The maximum adsorption capacity is 2.84 mmol/g for samples with 172.26% degree of grafting (DG) in 10 kGy. Also, the degree of amination with ethanolamine was achieved equal to 170.83%. In addition, the reduction of the regeneration temperature and the stability of this adsorbent after four cycles indicated the high performance of this adsorbent for CO2 adsorption.
Time domain double slit interference of electron produced by XUV synchrotron radiation
Authors: Kaneyasu T. , Hikosaka Y. , Wada S. , Fujimoto M. , Ota H. , Iwayama H. , Katoh M.
Published: April 2023

We present a new realization of the time-domain double-slit experiment with photoelectrons, demonstrating that spontaneous radiation from a bunch of relativistic electrons can be used to control the quantum interference of single-particles. The double-slit arrangement is realized by a pair of light wave packets with attosecond-controlled spacing, which is naturally included in the spontaneous radiation from two undulators in series. Photoelectrons emitted from helium atoms are observed in the energy-domain under the condition of detecting them one by one, and the stochastic buildup of the quantum interference pattern on a detector plane is recorded.
Modulation of the executive control network by anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex improves task shielding in dual tasking
Authors: Mahesan Devu , Antonenko Daria , Flöel Agnes , Fischer Rico
Published: April 2023

Task shielding is an important executive control demand in dual-task performance enabling the segregation of stimulus–response translation processes in each task to minimize between-task interference. Although neuroimaging studies have shown activity in left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) during various multitasking performances, the specific role of dlPFC in task shielding, and whether non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) may facilitate task shielding remains unclear. We therefore applied a single-blind, crossover sham-controlled design in which 34 participants performed a dual-task experiment with either anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS, 1 mA, 20 min) or sham tDCS (1 mA, 30 s) over left dlPFC. Task shielding was assessed by the backward-crosstalk effect, indicating the extent of between-task interference in dual tasks. Between-task interference was largest at high temporal overlap between tasks, i.e., at short stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA). Most importantly, in these conditions of highest multitasking demands, atDCS compared to sham stimulation significantly reduced between-task interference in error rates. These findings extend previous neuroimaging evidence and support modulation of successful task shielding through a conventional tDCS setup with anodal electrode over the left dlPFC. Moreover, our results demonstrate that NIBS can improve shielding of the prioritized task processing, especially in conditions of highest vulnerability to between-task interference.
Quantification of bulk lipid species in human platelets and their thrombin-induced release
Authors: Heimerl Susanne , Höring Marcus , Kopczynski Dominik , Sigruener Alexander , Hart Christina , Burkhardt Ralph , Black Anne , Ahrends Robert , Liebisch Gerhard
Published: April 2023

Lipids play a central role in platelet physiology. Changes in the lipidome have already been described for basal and activated platelets. However, quantitative lipidomic data of platelet activation, including the released complex lipids, are unavailable. Here we describe an easy-to-use protocol based on flow-injection mass spectrometry for the quantitative analysis of bulk lipid species in basal and activated human platelets and their lipid release after thrombin activation. We provide lipid species concentrations of 12 healthy human donors, including cholesteryl ester (CE), ceramide (Cer), free cholesterol (FC), hexosylceramide (HexCer), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), sphingomyelin (SM) and triglycerides (TG). The assay exhibited good technical repeatability (CVs < 5% for major lipid species in platelets). Except for CE and TG, the inter-donor variability of the majority of lipid species concentrations in platelets was < 30% CV. Balancing of concentrations revealed the generation of LPC and loss of TG. Changes in lipid species concentrations indicate phospholipase-mediated release of arachidonic acid mainly from PC, PI, and PE but not from PS. Thrombin induced lipid release was mainly composed of FC, PS, PC, LPC, CE, and TG. The similarity of the released lipidome with that of plasma implicates that lipid release may originate from the open-canalicular system (OCS). The repository of lipid species concentrations determined with this standardized platelet release assay contribute to elucidating the physiological role of platelet lipids and provide a basis for investigating the platelet lipidome in patients with hemorrhagic or thrombotic disorders.
Longitudinal lung cancer prediction convolutional neural network model improves the classification of indeterminate pulmonary nodules
Authors: Paez Rafael , Kammer Michael N. , Balar Aneri , Lakhani Dhairya A. , Knight Michael , Rowe Dianna , Xiao David , Heideman Brent E. , Antic Sanja L. , Chen Heidi , Chen Sheau-Chiann , Peikert Tobias , Sandler Kim L. , Landman Bennett A. , Deppen Stephen A. , Grogan Eric L. , Maldonado Fabien
Published: April 2023

A deep learning model (LCP CNN) for the stratification of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs) demonstrated better discrimination than commonly used clinical prediction models. However, the LCP CNN score is based on a single timepoint that ignores longitudinal information when prior imaging studies are available. Clinically, IPNs are often followed over time and temporal trends in nodule size or morphology inform management. In this study we investigated whether the change in LCP CNN scores over time was different between benign and malignant nodules. This study used a prospective-specimen collection, retrospective-blinded-evaluation (PRoBE) design. Subjects with incidentally or screening detected IPNs 6–30 mm in diameter with at least 3 consecutive CT scans prior to diagnosis (slice thickness ≤ 1.5 mm) with the same nodule present were included. Disease outcome was adjudicated by biopsy-proven malignancy, biopsy-proven benign disease and absence of growth on at least 2-year imaging follow-up. Lung nodules were analyzed using the Optellum LCP CNN model. Investigators performing image analysis were blinded to all clinical data. The LCP CNN score was determined for 48 benign and 32 malignant nodules. There was no significant difference in the initial LCP CNN score between benign and malignant nodules. Overall, the LCP CNN scores of benign nodules remained relatively stable over time while that of malignant nodules continued to increase over time. The difference in these two trends was statistically significant. We also developed a joint model that incorporates longitudinal LCP CNN scores to predict future probability of cancer. Malignant and benign nodules appear to have distinctive trends in LCP CNN score over time. This suggests that longitudinal modeling may improve radiomic prediction of lung cancer over current models. Additional studies are needed to validate these early findings.
A proof-of-concept assay for quantitative and optical assessment of drug-induced toxicity in renal organoids
Authors: Dilz Jasmin , Auge Isabel , Groeneveld Kathrin , Reuter Stefanie , Mrowka Ralf
Published: April 2023

Kidneys are complex organs, and reproducing their function and physiology in a laboratory setting remains difficult. During drug development, potential compounds may exhibit unexpected nephrotoxic effects, which imposes a significant financial burden on pharmaceutical companies. As a result, there is an ongoing need for more accurate model systems. The use of renal organoids to simulate responses to nephrotoxic insults has the potential to bridge the gap between preclinical drug efficacy studies in cell cultures and animal models, and the stages of clinical trials in humans. Here we established an accessible fluorescent whole-mount approach for nuclear and membrane staining to first provide an overview of the organoid histology. Furthermore, we investigated the potential of renal organoids to model responses to drug toxicity. For this purpose, organoids were treated with the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin for 48 h. When cell viability was assessed biochemically, the organoids demonstrated a significant, dose-dependent decline in response to the treatment. Confocal microscopy revealed visible tubular disintegration and a loss of cellular boundaries at high drug concentrations. This observation was further reinforced by a dose-dependent decrease of the nuclear area in the analyzed images. In contrast to other approaches, in this study, we provide a straightforward experimental framework for drug toxicity assessment in renal organoids that may be used in early research stages to assist screen for potential adverse effects of compounds.
Predicting a kidney transplant patient’s pre-transplant functional status based on information from waitlist registration
Authors: Mark Ethan , Goldsman David , Gurbaxani Brian , Keskinocak Pinar , Sokol Joel
Published: April 2023

With over 100,000 patients on the kidney transplant waitlist in 2019, it is important to understand if and how the functional status of a patient may change while on the waitlist. Recorded both at registration and just prior to transplantation, the Karnofsky Performance Score measures a patient’s functional status and takes on values ranging from 0 to 100 in increments of 10. Using machine learning techniques, we built a gradient boosting regression model to predict a patient’s pre-transplant functional status based on information known at the time of waitlist registration. The model’s predictions result in an average root mean squared error of 12.99 based on 5 rolling origin cross validations and 12.94 in a separate out-of-time test. In comparison, predicting that the pre-transplant functional status remains the same as the status at registration, results in average root mean squared errors of 14.50 and 14.11 respectively. The analysis is based on 118,401 transplant records from 2007 to 2019. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previously published research on building a model to predict kidney pre-transplant functional status. We also find that functional status at registration and total serum albumin, have the most impact in predicting the pre-transplant functional status.
A new data integration framework for Covid-19 social media information
Authors: Ansell Lauren , Dalla Valle Luciana
Published: April 2023

The Covid-19 pandemic presents a serious threat to people’s health, resulting in over 250 million confirmed cases and over 5 million deaths globally. To reduce the burden on national health care systems and to mitigate the effects of the outbreak, accurate modelling and forecasting methods for short- and long-term health demand are needed to inform government interventions aiming at curbing the pandemic. Current research on Covid-19 is typically based on a single source of information, specifically on structured historical pandemic data. Other studies are exclusively focused on unstructured online retrieved insights, such as data available from social media. However, the combined use of structured and unstructured information is still uncharted. This paper aims at filling this gap, by leveraging historical and social media information with a novel data integration methodology. The proposed approach is based on vine copulas, which allow us to exploit the dependencies between different sources of information. We apply the methodology to combine structured datasets retrieved from official sources and a big unstructured dataset of information collected from social media. The results show that the combined use of official and online generated information contributes to yield a more accurate assessment of the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic, compared to the sole use of official data.
The role of Klotho and FGF23 in cardiovascular outcomes of diabetic patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia: a prospective study
Authors: Biscetti Federico , Rando Maria Margherita , Cecchini Andrea Leonardo , Nicolazzi Maria Anna , Rossini Enrica , Angelini Flavia , Iezzi Roberto , Eraso Luis H. , Dimuzio Paul J. , Pitocco Dario , Gasbarrini Antonio , Massetti Massimo , Flex Andrea
Published: April 2023

Cardiovascular complications after lower extremity revascularization (LER) are common in diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). The Klotho-fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) axis is associated with endothelial injury and cardiovascular risk. We aimed to analyze the relationship between Klotho and FGF23 serum levels and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major adverse limb events (MALE) after LER in diabetic patients with PAD and CLTI. Baseline levels of Klotho and FGF23, and their association with subsequent incidence of MACE and MALE were analyzed in a prospective, non-randomized study in a population of diabetic patients with PAD and CLTI requiring LER. A total of 220 patients were followed for 12 months after LER. Sixty-three MACE and 122 MALE were recorded during follow-up period. Baseline lower Klotho serum levels (295.3 ± 151.3 pg/mL vs. 446.4 ± 171.7 pg/mL, p < 0.01), whereas increased serum levels FGF23 (75.0 ± 11.8 pg/mL vs. 53.2 ± 15.4 pg/mL, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with the development of MACE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis confirmed the predictive power of Klotho and FGF23 baseline levels. Furthermore, decreased Klotho levels were associated with the occurrence of MALE after LER (329.1 ± 136.8 pg/mL vs 495.4 ± 183.9 pg/mL, p < 0.01). We found that Klotho and FGF23 baseline levels are a potential biomarker for increased cardiovascular risk after LER in diabetic patients with PAD and CLTI.
Investigating the physicochemical properties, structural attributes, and molecular dynamics of organic–inorganic hybrid [NH3(CH2)2NH3]2CdBr4·2Br crystals
Authors: Lim Ae Ran
Published: April 2023

An in-depth understanding of the physicochemical properties of the organic–inorganic hybrid [NH3(CH2)2NH3]2CdBr6 whose structure corresponds to the formulation [NH3(CH2)2NH3]2CdBr4· 2Br is essential for its application in batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the crystal structure, phase transition, structural geometry, and molecular dynamics of these complexes. Considering its importance, a single crystal of [NH3(CH2)2NH3]2CdBr6 was grown; the crystal structure was found to be monoclinic. The phase transition temperatures were determined to be 443, 487, 517, and 529 K, and the crystal was thermally stable up to 580 K. Furthermore, the 1H, 13C, 14N, and 113Cd NMR chemical shifts caused by the local field surrounding the resonating nucleus of the cation and anion varied with increasing temperature, along with the surrounding environments of their atoms. In addition, 1H spin–lattice relaxation time T1ρ and 13C T1ρ, which represent the energy transfer around the 1H and 13C atoms of the cation, respectively, varied significantly with temperature. Consequently, changes in the coordination geometry of Br around Cd in the CdBr6 anion and the coordination environment around N (in the cation) were associated with changes in the N–H···Br hydrogen bond. The structural geometry revealed critical information regarding their basic mechanism of organic–inorganic hybrid compounds.
The impact of Charlson Comorbidity Index on surgical complications and reoperations following simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Lee Kun-Han , Chang Wei-Lin , Tsai Shang-Wen , Chen Cheng-Fong , Wu Po-Kuei , Chen Wei-Ming
Published: April 2023

Simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) might be associated with higher postoperative morbidity and mortality rates compared with staged bilateral TKA. However, risk factors for surgical complications and reoperations following simultaneous bilateral TKA remain elusive. We conducted this retrospective, single-surgeon case series from 2010 through 2019. A total of 1561 patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA procedures were included. The outcome domains included 30-day and 90-day readmission events for medical or surgical complications and 1-year reoperation events. We performed logistic regression analysis and backward stepwise selection to identify possible risk factors, including age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus (DM), rheumatoid arthritis, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) classification, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), receiving venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, or blood transfusion. The overall 30-day, 90-day readmission, and 1-year reoperation rates were 2.11%, 2.88%, and 1.41%, respectively. Higher CCI score (CCI = 4+) was a risk factor for 90-day readmission (aOR: 2.783; 95% CI 0.621–12.465), 90 day readmission for surgical complications (aOR: 10.779; 95% CI 1.444–80.458), and 1 year reoperation (aOR: 4.890; 95% CI 0.846–28.260). Other risk factors included older age, higher ASA level, DM, and receiving VTE prophylaxis. In conclusion, high CCI scores were associated with increased risks of surgical complications and reoperations following simultaneous bilateral TKA procedures.
Larger left hippocampal presubiculum is associated with lower risk of antisocial behavior in healthy adults with childhood conduct history
Authors: Abdolalizadeh AmirHussein , Moradi Kamyar , Dabbagh Ohadi Mohammad Amin , Mirfazeli Fatemeh Sadat , Rajimehr Reza
Published: April 2023

Conduct Disorder (CD) is defined as aggressive, antisocial, and rule-breaking behavior during childhood. It is a major risk factor for developing antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in adulthood. However, nearly half the CDs do not develop ASPD. Identification of reversion factors seems crucial for proper interventions. We identified 40 subjects with childhood history of CD (CC) and 1166 control subjects (HC) from Human Connectome Project. Their psychiatric, emotional, impulsivity, and personality traits were extracted. An emotion recognition task-fMRI analysis was done. We also did subregion analysis of hippocampus and amygdala in 35 CC and 69 demographically matched HCs. CC subjects scored significantly higher in antisocial-related evaluations. No differences in task-fMRI activation of amygdala and hippocampus were observed. CCs had larger subfields of the left hippocampus: presubiculum, CA3, CA4, and dentate gyrus. Further, an interaction model revealed a significant presubiculum volume × group association with antisocial, aggression, and agreeableness scores. Our study shows that healthy young adults with a prior history of CD still exhibit some forms of antisocial-like behavior with larger left hippocampal subfields, including presubiculum that also explains the variability in antisocial behavior. These larger left hippocampal subfield volumes may play a protective role against CD to ASPD conversion.
Method-comparison study between a watch-like sensor and a cuff-based device for 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Authors: Proença Martin , Ambühl Jeremias , Bonnier Guillaume , Meister Théo A. , Valentin Jérémy , Soria Rodrigo , Ferrario Damien , Lemay Mathieu , Rexhaj Emrush
Published: April 2023

The use of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has been continuously increasing over the last decades. However, cuff-based devices may cause discomfort, particularly at night, leading to potentially non-representative blood pressure (BP) values. We investigated the feasibility of a cuff-less BP monitoring solution in 67 subjects undergoing conventional 24-h ABPM. A watch-like optical sensor was attached at the upper arm or wrist at the contralateral side of the cuff. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) values were estimated from the measured optical signals by pulse wave analysis. Average 24-h, daytime and nighttime BP values were compared between the conventional monitor and the cuff-less sensor. The differences between both methods—expressed as mean ± standard deviation (95% limits of agreement)—were of − 1.8 ± 6.2 mmHg (− 13.9, 10.3) on SBP and − 2.3 ± 5.4 mmHg (− 13.0, 8.3) on DBP for 24-h averages, of − 1.5 ± 6.6 mmHg (− 14.4, 11.4) on SBP and − 1.8 ± 5.9 mmHg (− 13.4, 9.9) on DBP for daytime averages, and of 0.4 ± 7.5 mmHg (− 14.4, 15.1) on SBP and − 1.3 ± 6.8 mmHg (− 14.7, 12.0) on DBP for nighttime averages. These results encouragingly suggest that cuff-less 24-h ABPM may soon become a clinical possibility.
Predictive factors for dissection-free sentinel node micrometastases in early oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Matsuzuka Takashi , Tsukahara Kiyoaki , Yoshimoto Seiichi , Chikamatsu Kazuaki , Shiotani Akihiro , Oze Isao , Murakami Yoshiko , Shinozaki Takeshi , Enoki Yuichiro , Ohba Shinichi , Kawakita Daisuke , Hanai Nobuhiro , Koide Yusuke , Sawabe Michi , Nakata Yusuke , Fukuda Yujiro , Nishikawa Daisuke , Takano Gaku , Kimura Takahiro , Oguri Keisuke , Hirakawa Hitoshi , Hasegawa Yasuhisa
Published: April 2023

This sentinel node (SN) biopsy trial aimed to assess its effectiveness in identifying predictive factors of micrometastases and to determine whether elective neck dissection is necessary in oral squamous cell carcinoma. This retrospective study included 55 patients from three previous trials, with positive SNs. The relationship between the sizes of the metastatic focus and metastasis in non-sentinel node (NSN) was investigated. Four of the 55 largest metastatic focus were isolated tumor cells, and the remaining 51 were ranged from 0.2 to 15 mm, with a median of 2.6 mm. The difference of prevalence between 46 negative- and 9 positive-NSN was statistically significant with regard to age, long diameter of primary site and number of cases with regional recurrence. In comparing the size of largest metastatic focus dividing the number of positive SN, with metastaic focus range of < 3.0 mm in one-positive SN group, there were 18 (33%) negative-NSN and no positive-NSN. Regarding prognosis, 3-year overall survival rate of this group (n = 18) and other (n = 37) were 94% and 73% (p = 0.04), and 3-year recurrence free survival rate of this group and other were 94% and 51% (p = 0.03), respectively. Absolutely a further prospective clinical trial would be needed, micrometastases may be defined as solitary SN metastasis with < 3.0 mm of metastatic focus, and approximately 33% of neck dissections could be avoided using these criteria.
Triclustering-based classification of longitudinal data for prognostic prediction: targeting relevant clinical endpoints in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Soares Diogo F. , Henriques Rui , Gromicho Marta , de Carvalho Mamede , Madeira Sara C.
Published: April 2023

This work proposes a new class of explainable prognostic models for longitudinal data classification using triclusters. A new temporally constrained triclustering algorithm, termed TCtriCluster, is proposed to comprehensively find informative temporal patterns common to a subset of patients in a subset of features (triclusters), and use them as discriminative features within a state-of-the-art classifier with guarantees of interpretability. The proposed approach further enhances prediction with the potentialities of model explainability by revealing clinically relevant disease progression patterns underlying prognostics, describing features used for classification. The proposed methodology is used in the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Portuguese cohort (N = 1321), providing the first comprehensive assessment of the prognostic limits of five notable clinical endpoints: need for non-invasive ventilation (NIV); need for an auxiliary communication device; need for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG); need for a caregiver; and need for a wheelchair. Triclustering-based predictors outperform state-of-the-art alternatives, being able to predict the need for auxiliary communication device (within 180 days) and the need for PEG (within 90 days) with an AUC above 90%. The approach was validated in clinical practice, supporting healthcare professionals in understanding the link between the highly heterogeneous patterns of ALS disease progression and the prognosis.
Optimum scavenger concentrations for sonochemical nanoparticle synthesis
Authors: Hansen Henrik E. , Seland Frode , Sunde Svein , Burheim Odne S. , Pollet Bruno G.
Published: April 2023

Maintaining nanoparticle properties when scaling up a chemical synthesis is challenging due to the complex interplay between reducing agents and precursors. A sonochemical synthesis route does not require the addition of reducing agents as they are instead being continuously generated in-situ by ultrasonic cavitation throughout the reactor volume. To optimize the sonochemical synthesis of nanoparticles, understanding the role of radical scavengers is paramount. In this work we demonstrate that optimum scavenger concentrations exist at which the rate of Ag-nanoparticle formation is maximized. Titanyl dosimetry experiments were used in conjunction with Ag-nanoparticle formation rates to determine these optimum scavenger concentrations. It was found that more hydrophobic scavengers require lower optimum concentrations with 1-butanol < 2-propanol < ethanol < methanol < ethylene glycol. However, the optimum concentration is shifted by an order of magnitude towards higher concentrations when pyrolytic decomposition products contribute to the reduction. The reduction rate is also enhanced considerably.
High specific surface area γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles synthesized by facile and low-cost co-precipitation method
Authors: Gholizadeh Zahra , Aliannezhadi Maryam , Ghominejad Mehrdad , Tehrani Fatemeh Shariatmadar
Published: April 2023

Alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) are particularly adsorbent NPs with a high specific surface area (SSA) that may well be utilized to clean water. In this study, pure γ-alumina NPs are successfully synthesized by the co-precipitation method, and the effect of ammonium bicarbonate concentration on the synthesized NPs is studied to find the optimum concentration to provide the highest capacity of copper ions removal from water. The results declare that spherical alumina NPs with average diameters in the range of 19–23 nm are formed with different concentrations of precipitation agent, and the concentration has no significant effect on the morphology of NPs. Furthermore, the precipitating agent concentration influences the optical characteristics of the produced alumina NPs, and the bandgap energies of the samples vary between 4.24 and 5.05 eV. The most important impact of precipitating agent concentrations reflects in their SSA and capacity for copper ion removal Ultra-high SSA = 317 m2/g, and the highest copper removal at the adsorbate concentration of 184 mg/L is achieved in an alkalis solution followed by a neutral solution. However, admirable copper removal of 98.2% is even achieved in acidic solutions with 0.9 g/L of the alumina NPs synthesized at a given concentration of ammonium bicarbonate, so this sample can be a good candidate for Cu ions removal from acidic wastewater.
SYNDEEP: a deep learning approach for the prediction of cancer drugs synergy
Authors: Torkamannia Anna , Omidi Yadollah , Ferdousi Reza
Published: April 2023

Drug combinations can be the prime strategy for increasing the initial treatment options in cancer therapy. However, identifying the combinations through experimental approaches is very laborious and costly. Notably, in vitro and/or in vivo examination of all the possible combinations might not be plausible. This study presented a novel computational approach to predicting synergistic drug combinations. Specifically, the deep neural network-based binary classification was utilized to develop the model. Various physicochemical, genomic, protein–protein interaction and protein-metabolite interaction information were used to predict the synergy effects of the combinations of different drugs. The performance of the constructed model was compared with shallow neural network (SNN), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVMs), and gradient boosting classifiers (GBC). Based on our findings, the proposed deep neural network model was found to be capable of predicting synergistic drug combinations with high accuracy. The prediction accuracy and AUC metrics for this model were 92.21% and 97.32% in tenfold cross-validation. According to the results, the integration of different types of physicochemical and genomics features leads to more accurate prediction of synergy in cancer drugs.