bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends of Hypertension Stages among Iranian Adults from 2005 to 2025 using WHO STEPS studies: A Comparison among 2017 ACC/AHA, JNC7, and 2020 ISH Guidelines
Authors: Golestani Ali , Sheidaei Ali , Khosravi Sepehr , Ostovar Afshin , Heshmat Ramin , Shafiee Gita
Published: March 2024

Reducing the prevalence of hypertension, a major risk factor with significant health and economic implications is a target outlined by The World Health Assembly. This study investigated the prevalence of hypertension stages in Iran from 2005 to a projection for 2025 by three different guidelines. Eight nationally and sub-nationally representative cross-sectional WHO STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS) studies were conducted from 2005 to 2021 in Iran. Staging followed the Joint National Committee's seventh report (JNC7), the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association's 2017 guidelines (ACC/AHA), and the International Society of Hypertension's 2020 guidelines (ISH). Using data from a total of 210,546 participants, ACC/AHA projected higher prevalence in stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension, particularly 35–44 and 45–54 age groups of males, each reaching approximately 35% in 2025. Stage 1 hypertension demonstrated a stable trend (about 17%) for ISH and JNC7, whereas ACC/AHA exhibited a significant decrease from 37.07–30.32% between 2005 and 2025. Conversely, all guidelines indicated a significant decreasing trend for stage 2 hypertension from 2005 to 2025 (ACC/AHA: 26.60–23.27%, JNC7 and ISH: about 9–6.6%). The study indicated that the prevalence of hypertension stages has not remarkably changed based on all guidelines in recent years and is projected to remain stable by 2025. The choice of guidelines should consider cost-effectiveness analyses and the available resources.
Extreme drought threat assessment: ranking analysis and its application to a regional study in central Mexico
Authors: Roca-Flores Elio , Soto-Bernal Soto J. , Rojo-Garibaldi Berenice , Fontanelli Oscar , Gonzalez-Gonzalez Miguel Angel , Fraedrich Klaus , Naumis Gerardo G
Published: March 2024

This work presents a novel method of threat assessment applied to the drought-prone region of Aguascalientes in Mexico. Extreme drought poses a risk to human health, economy, and survival, aside from the ecological effects. A way to study and assess the threat of complex catastrophic events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. is to use ranking statistics. Such a method has not been used to analyze droughts. Here, such a tool is introduced to study an important case example in central Mexico: Aguascalientes City which recently suffered from extreme drought conditions in 2022 and 2023. Therefore, in this work, the ranking of annual precipitations in Aguascalientes City is obtained. This analysis indicates that meteorological droughts can be classified into different phases, which are clearly separated by gaps in the ranking profile on a log-log scale. Thereafter, several ranking laws that fit both tails corresponding to dramatic events were compared to the data using nonlinear regression. It is found that the Weibull function provides a better fit to the data than other twoparameter fitting functions. An empirical analysis of the fitting parameters of such a function for some other nearby communities shows a linear relation between both parameters. Such a relationship has limited spatial validity. This suggests that the ranking fit can be effectively characterized by a single independent parameter within a region. This provides a quantitative measure of the meteorological drought threat that can serve as a climatic index. The ranking analysis presented here aids in the hydrological management of water basins, including the assistance for agricultural producers, and serves to assess the risk associated with extreme drought.
Inhibition of P21-activated kinases 1 and 4 synergistically suppress the growth of pancreatic cancer by stimulating anti-tumour immunity
Authors: Ma Yi , Dumesny Chelsea , Dong Li , Ang Ching-Seng , Asadi Khashayar , Zhan Yifan , Nikfarjam Mehrdad , He Hong
Published: March 2024

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal types of cancer, and KRAS oncogene occurs in over 90% of cases. P21-activated kinases (PAK), containing six members (PAK1 to 6), function downstream of KRAS. PAK1 and PAK4 play important roles in carcinogenesis, but their combinational effect remains unknown. In this study, we have determined the effect of dual inhibition of PAK1 and PAK4 in PDA progression using knockout (KO) cancer cell lines.
Methods: Murine wild-type (WT) and PAK1KO pancreatic cancer cell lines were isolated from PAK1+/+ and PAK1-/- KPC (LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53 R172H/+; Pdx-1-Cre) mice. KPC PAK4KO and KPC PAK1&4 KO cell lines were generated from KPC WT and KPC PAK1KO cell lines respectively using the CRISPR-CAS9 gene knockout technique. PAK WT and KO cell lines were used in mouse models of pancreatic tumours. Cells and tumour tissue were also used in flow cytometry and proteomic studies. A human PDA tissue microarray was stained by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Double knock out of PAK1 and PAK4 caused complete regression of tumour in a syngeneic mouse. PAK4KO inhibited tumour growth by stimulating a rapid increase of cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration. PAK1KO synergistically with PAK4KO increased cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration and stimulated a sustained infiltration of CD8+ T cells at a later phase to overcome the immune evasion in the PAK4KO tumour. The human PDA tissue microarray study showed the important role of PAK1 and PAK4 in intra-tumoral T-cell function.
Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that dual inhibition of PAK1 and PAK4 synergistically suppressed PDA progression by stimulating cytotoxic CD8+ T cell response.
Dynamic performance optimization of five-axis machine tools based on S-specimen and servo dynamics matching degree indexes
Authors: Guan Liwen , Chen Yanyu , Wang Zijian
Published: March 2024

With the advancement of the manufacturing industry, there is a growing need for high-speed five-axis machine tools that offer superior precision. Current research indicates that with the increase in the feed rate of machine tools, the influence of machine tool dynamic performance on precision becomes increasingly significant. In addition to the tracking performance of a single machine axis system, the servo dynamics matching degree (SDMD) between each machine axis system has also been widely recognized as one of the important factors affecting the dynamic performance in recent research. As an ISO standard specimen, the S-specimen has emerged as the frequently utilized specimens for machine tool acceptance testing, owing to its capacity to better reflect the dynamic performance of five-axis machine tools. Nevertheless, the intricate mapping relationship between the factors influencing SDMD and the contour error of the S-specimen constrains the applicability of this standard specimen in error diagnosis and subsequent dynamic performance optimization. Therefore, based on the machining process of the S-specimen, a dynamic performance optimization method by improving SDMD was proposed in this paper. An index of SDMD between two machine axis systems (two-axis SDMDI) was established which clarifies the specific source for error diagnosis. A calculation model of the two-axis SDMDIs of five-axis machine tool was established based on the mapping relationship between the index and the contour error of S-specimen which provided an effective way for optimization of SDMD based on S-specimen machining test. Experiments were carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed optimization method.
Extracting Regulatory Active Chromatin Footprint from Cell-Free DNA
Authors: Lai Kevin , Dilger Katharine , Cunningham Rachael , Lam Kathy , Boquiren Rhea , Troung Khiet , Louie Maggie , Rava Richard , Abdueva Diana
Published: March 2024

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a pivotal player in precision medicine, revolutionizing the diagnostic and therapeutic landscape. While its clinical applications have significantly increased in recent years, current cfDNA assays have limited ability to identify the active transcriptional programs that govern complex disease phenotypes and capture the heterogeneity of the disease. To address these limitations, we have developed a non-invasive platform to enrich and examine the active chromatin fragments (cfDNAac) in peripheral blood. The deconvolution of the cfDNAac signal from traditional nucleosomal chromatin fragments (cfDNAnuc) yields a catalog of features linking these circulating chromatin signals in blood to specific regulatory elements across the genome, including enhancers, promoters, and highly transcribed genes, mirroring the epigenetic data from the ENCODE project. Notably, these cfDNAac counts correlate strongly with RNA polymerase II activity and exhibit distinct expression patterns for known circadian genes. Additionally, cfDNAac signals across gene bodies and promoters show strong correlations with whole blood gene expression levels defined by GTEx. This study illustrates the utility of cfDNAac analysis for investigating epigenomics and gene expression, underscoring its potential for a wide range of clinical applications in precision medicine.
Polish translation, cultural adaptation, and validity confirmation of the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment
Authors: Zabłocka-Słowińska Katarzyna , Pieczyńska Joanna , Prescha Anna , Bladowski Maciej , Gajecki Damian , Kamińska Dorota , Neubauer Katarzyna , Ottery Faith , Jager-Wittenaar Harriët
Published: March 2024

Purpose: The Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA©) is a validated nutritional screening, assessment, monitoring, and triage tool. The aim of this study was to perform translation, cultural adaptation, as well as linguistic and content validation of the translated and culturally adapted version of the PG-SGA for the Polish setting.
Methods: The study was performed in concordance with the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Principles. Patients (n=174) and healthcare professionals (HCPs, n=188) participated in the study. Comprehensibility and difficulty were assessed by patients for the PG-SGA Short Form, and by HCPs for the professional component. Content validity was assessed for the full PG-SGA by HCPs only. Evaluations were operationalized by a 4-point scale. Item and scale indices were calculated using the average item ratings divided by the number of respondents. Item indices <0.78 required further analysis of the item, while scale indices ≥0.90 were defined as excellent and 0.80–0.89 as acceptable.
Results: The PG-SGA Short Form was rated as excellent for content validity (Scale-CVI = 0.90) by HCPs and easy to comprehend (Scale-CI = 0.96) and use (Scale-DI = 0.94) by patients. The professional component of the PG-SGA was perceived as acceptable for content validity (Scale-CVI = 0.80), comprehension (Scale-CI = 0.87) and difficulty (Scale-DI = 0.80). The physical exam was rated the least comprehensible, the most difficult, and with the lowest content validity. We found significant differences in scale indices (p<0.05 for all) between HCPs with different professions and between those being familiar with PG-SGA and not.
Conclusion: Translation and cultural adaptation of the PG-SGA for the Polish setting preserved the purpose and conceptual meaning of the original PG-SGA. Validation revealed that the Polish version of PG-SGA is well understood and easy to complete by patients and professionals, and considered relevant by professionals. However, detailed results indicate the need for appropriate training of the Polish HCPs, especially physicians and nurses, mainly in the worksheets related to the metabolic demand and physical exam.
Evaluation of Machine Learning Algorithms in Tunnel Boring Machine Applications: A Case Study in Mashhad Metro Line 3
Authors: Abbasi Morteza , Namadchi Amir Hossein , Abbasi Mehdi , Abbasi Mohsen , Wang Hongxu
Published: March 2024

This research explores the prediction of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) performance in the excavation of Mashhad Metro Line 3 using machine learning techniques. The study leverages a robust dataset comprising 113 features recorded over 305 working days. Multiple Linear Regression, Decision Trees, and Multi-Layer Perceptron Neural Network models are employed to analyze TBM performance, with a specific focus on the penetration rate. The results reveal comparable performance among the models, indicative of a potentially linear relationship between selected features and the penetration rate. Feature importance analyses provide valuable insights into key parameters, contributing to a better understanding of the excavation process. The discussion addresses the interpretability of the Multiple Linear Regression model and potential overfitting concerns, emphasizing the impact of dataset quality on model consistency. The study contributes to the advancement of accurate predictions in TBM performance during tunneling projects, with a particular application to Mashhad Metro Line 3. The findings and methodologies presented in this research offer insights into the field of tunnel construction and excavation.
Historical Analysis of Urban Dust Generated by the Great Salt Lake Playa
Authors: Hansen Jaron , Flowerday Callum , Stanley Rebekah , Brewster Kaitlyn , Paxton Walter
Published: March 2024

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) has undergone a reduction in size, from 1046.0 miles2 on January 1, 2015, to 940.5 miles2 on January 1, 2022, exposing 105.5 miles2 of playa that was once covered. This emerging playa raises concerns regarding the toxicity of the ensuing dust. While considerable efforts have been made to understand aeolian dust in urban areas along the Wasatch Front, located just east of the GSL, there is still a need to consolidate existing research and conduct a compositional analysis of the dust found in these urban areas. In this study, we investigated the dust reaching urban monitoring sites around the GSL, managed by the Utah Division of Air Quality. By analyzing historical data dating back to 1988, we found no evidence to support the idea that the decrease in the GSL’s surface area has led to an increase in dust events in urban areas. Backwind trajectories align with prior research, indicating that heightened dust levels in urban areas coincide with winds originating from the south or west, passing over identified playas and deserts such as the Milford flats, Sevier Dry Lake, Tule Dry Lake, Great Salt Lake Desert, Dugway Proving Grounds, and the West Desert of Utah. Conducting a compositional analysis of urban dust revealed no concentrations of metals that raise health concerns, with the highest health quotient being four orders of magnitude lower than a level of concern.
Aspirin and NSAIDs are associated with reduced cancer and mortality risk in patients with chronic liver diseases – a Swedish cohort study
Authors: Stokkeland Knut , Villner Pär , Söderberg-Löfdal Karin , Franck Johan
Published: March 2024

Background and aims: We explored the effect of exposure to anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with chronic liver disease with regard to adverse liver events, cancers and mortality.
Methods: A population-based cohort of patients with chronic liver disease 2005-2020 (n=21 439) was studied. All patients were hospitalized in Region Stockholm. Data from the Patient Register, Prescribed Drug Register, Death Certificate Register, Cancer Register, two laboratories and Stockholm Center for Health Data primary care database were combined. We analyzed death, adverse liver events, liver cancers and all cancers in relation to drug exposure.
Results: During follow-up 10 279 patients (47.9%) died. There was a reduced risk for all cancers combined when patients were exposed to aspirin (cHR 0.68; 95%CI 0.63-0.73) and NSAIDs (aHR 0.80; 95%CI 0.75-0.86) and a reduced risk of liver cancer in patients exposed to aspirin (aHR 0.48; 95%CI 0.41-0.57) and to NSAIDs (aHR 0.71; 95% CI 0.62-0.82). There was a reduced risk of mortality for all patients exposed to NSAIDs (aHR 0.68; 95%CI 0.64-0.72) and a reduction of mortality risk for patients exposed to aspirin (aHR 0.86; 95%CI 0.82-0.91) after adjusting for comorbidities and severity of the liver disease. Patients with alcohol-associated liver disease exposed to aspirin had reduced mortality risk (aHR 0.82; 95%CI 0.76-0.89) and exposure to NSAIDs also reduced the mortality risk (aHR 0.74; 95%CI 0.69-080).
Conclusions: Exposure to aspirin or NSAIDs in patients with chronic liver diseases was associated with reduced cancer risks including the risk for liver cancer and decreased mortality risk.
A 15-day biodiversity intervention with horses in a farm system leads to acquisition of health-promoting features in the gut microbiome of 10 urban Italian children
Authors: Candela Marco , Scicchitano Daniel , Foresto Lucia , Laczny Cédric , Cinti Nicoló , Vitagliano Rosalba , Halder Rashi , Morri Gaja , Turroni Silvia , D'Amico Federica , Palladino Giorgia , Fiori Jessica , Wilmes Paul , Rampelli Simone
Published: March 2024

In order to evaluate the possibility to shape the human gut microbiome (GM) through the interaction with natural ecosystems, we explored the impact of a 15-day biodiversity intervention with horses on the GM of 10 urban-living Italian children. The children GM was metagenomically assessed before and after 10hr/day daily interaction with horses in an educational farm. The horses’ skin, oral, and fecal microbiomes were similarly assessed as well. We found that the interaction with horses facilitates the acquisition of health promoting features in the children GM, such as a higher diversity, an enhanced production of butyrate and the increase of several health-promoting species, generally considered as next-generation probiotics. Amongst these, the butyrate producers Facecalibacterium prausnitzii and F. ducaniae and a species belonging to the anti-inflammatory Christensenellales. Moreover, the interaction with horses were also associating with the increase of GM components exerting important roles in the bioconversion of dietary plant polyphenols to health promoting and protective metabolites, as Eggerthella lenta, Gordonibacter pamelae and G. urolithifacens. Supporting the microbiological safety of the interaction process, we did not observe any increases pathogenic features in the children GM following the interaction with horses. Overall, our pilot study provides insights into the existence of possible health-promoting variations in the GM from urban-living children thanks to the interactions with horses. This lays the foundations to explore the full extent of the beneficial interaction process occurring between the human GM and the natural microbiomes.
Harnessing chemical functionality of xylan hemicellulose towards bio-based pH/magnetic dual-responsive nanocomposite hydrogel for drug delivery
Authors: Yong Qiwen , Zhou Guangliang , Yu Xiaomeng , Xu Jiayun , Hu Liqiu , Pranovich Andrey , Long Jilan , Xie Zhihui , Xu Chunlin
Published: March 2024

This study reports for the first time an innovative pH/magnetic dual-responsive hemicellulose-based nanocomposite hydrogel with a nearly 100% bio-based and biodegradable compositions. We synthesized pure Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs) using co-precipitation, then engineering xylan hemicellulose (XH), acrylic acid (AA), polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), and Fe3O4 MNPs to synthesize the pH/magnetic dual-responsive hydrogel (Fe3O4@XH-Gel), through free radical graft polymerization on natural XH with in-situ doping Fe3O4 MNPs initiated by the ammonium persulfate/tetramethylethylenediamine (APS/TMEDA) redox system. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), dynamic light scattering (DLS), swelling gravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were employed to analyze the hydrogel’s chemical structures, surface morphologies, pH-responsive behaviors, and magnetic responsiveness characteristics. The results indicate that the Fe3O4@XH-Gel nanocomposite hydrogel exhibited excellent dual responsiveness to pH and magnetism. Furthermore, an emphasis was placed on the in-depth analysis of the pH response mechanism and drug release control. Finally, we utilized this cutting-edge hydrogel to investigate the controlled-release behavior of two model drugs, Acetylsalicylic acid and Theophylline, within the simulated gastrointestinal tract. The Fe3O4@XH-Gel nanocomposite hydrogel demonstrated exceptional controlled release attributes, positioning it as a potential carrier for targeted drug delivery, particularly to the gastrointestinal conditions.
Plasmon-Driven Chemical Transformation of a Secondary Amide Probed by Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering
Authors: Bald Ilko , Dutta Anushree , Ončák Milan , Izadi Farhad , Arthur-Baidoo Eugene , Ameixa João , Denifl Stephan
Published: March 2024

Plasmon-driven chemical conversion is gaining burgeoning interest in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Herein, we study the reactivity of N-methyl-4-sulfanylbenzamide (NMSB) at the nanocavities of gold and silver nanoparticle aggregates under plasmonic excitation to gain an understanding of the reaction mechanism. NMSB is a secondary amide, which is a frequent binding motive found in peptides and common coupling products of organic and biomolecules. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is used as a two-in-one in-situ spectroscopic tool to initiate the molecular transformation process and simultaneously monitor and analyse the reaction products. Supported by dissociative electron attachment (DEA) studies with the gas phase molecule, a hot electron-mediated conversion of NMSB to p-mercaptobenzamide and p-mercaptobenzonitrile is proposed at the plasmonic nanocavities. Importantly, the reaction rate showed negligible dependence on the external temperature excluding the dominant role of heat in the chemical transformation at the plasmonic interface. This is also reflected by the lack of superlinear dependence of the reaction rate constant on the laser power density. Although DEA studies and the nature of power dependence on the reaction rate reflect the hot-electron mediated pathway, the overall reaction rate is limited by the electron transfer probability to the NMSB molecule generating the reaction products.
Incidental detection of congenital heart disease by neonatologist performed cardiac ultrasound in extreme preterm infants.
Authors: MacDonald Bradley , Yim Deane , Ramsay James , Gill Andrew
Published: March 2024

Objective
We aimed to assess the frequency of neonatologist-performed cardiac ultrasound (NPCU) in detecting de novo congenital heart disease (CHD) in premature infants born at < 30 weeks of gestation.
Study Design
In this cross-sectional study (2004-2023) clinicians completing NPCU flagged de novo suspected CHD. All flagged NPCUs were cross-checked with cardiologists to confirm CHD diagnosis.
Results
There were 2088 out of 3739 infants (56%) with at least one NPCU; 294 (14%) with cardiology referral. CHD was confirmed in 109 of 2088 (5.2%) babies. All major and critical CHD with NPCU were suspected on scans and care promptly taken over by cardiology.
Conclusion
De novo presentation of significant CHD still occurs in the preterm population and needs to be recognized by those performing NPCU. Optimizing NPCU may provide benefits in the early cardiology referral of patients with CHD in centers where services are able to collaborate.
Validation and Optimal Cut-Off Score of the World Health Organization Well- being Index (WHO-5) as a Screening Tool for Depression among Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Fekih-Romdhane Feten , Mouzakzak Fadila Al , Abilmona Ghinwa , Dahdouh Oussama , Hallit Souheil
Published: March 2024

Background
The utility of the World Health Organization Wellbeing Index (WHO-5) as rapid screening tool for depression has not yet been researched in the context of schizophrenia. The goal of this study was twofold: (1) examine the validity and reliability of the WHO-5 in schizophrenia; (2) estimate the optimal cut-off point for the WHO-5 to screen depression in this population.
Methods
Chronic, remitted patients with schizophrenia took part in this study. The Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia was included as index of validity.
Results
The results of CFA supported the originally proposed unidimensional structure of the measure, with good internal consistency reliability (α = .80), concurrent validity, and cross-sex measurement invariance. The WHO-5 showed a sensitivity of 0.81 and a specificity of 0.70 in the detection of depression with a cut-off point of 9.5. The validity of the WHO-5 as a screening tool for depression was supported by the excellent discrimination AUC value of .838. Based on this WHO-5 cut-off value, 42.6% of the patients were screened as having a depression.
Conclusion
The study contributes to the field by showing that the WHO-5 is a concise and convenient self-report measure for quickly screening and monitoring depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
Comparison of Transconjunctival and Transnasal approaches for orbital decompression: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sun Rou , Sun Jing , Song Xuefei , Zhang Shuo , Li Yinwei , Zhou Huifang
Published: March 2024

Purpose
To compare the effectiveness of endoscopic orbital decompression by two surgical approaches for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).
Methods
A prospective, randomized controlled trial was performed on 48 moderate-to-severe or sight-threatening TAO orbits. All patients, who were randomly assigned into transconjunctival group or transnasal group, underwent endoscopic orbital decompression according to the surgical design. Clinical and radiological data were collected at baseline and 3 months after surgery by a masked investigator. The main outcome was the effective rate. If the postoperative proptosis measured by computed tomography (CT) was below 18 mm or the value of proptosis reduction was over 8 mm, it would be defined as effective. The secondary outcomes included surgical accuracy, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ocular motility grade, diplopia grade, and safety.
Results
48 orbits of 41 patients were enrolled in the study, with 24 orbits each in transconjunctival and transnasal group. The effective rate was 87.5% in the transconjunctival group and it was 79.2% in the transnasal group (P = 0.087). The proptosis reduction was 5.38 ± 2.60 mm in the transconjunctival group and 4.40 ± 1.66 mm in the transnasal group (P = 0.435). A significant difference was found between preoperative and postoperative proptosis in both groups (P < 0.01). In the transconjunctival group, a higher surgical accuracy in the medial wall was found (P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in both groups between preoperative and postoperative BCVA and ocular motility grade. Complications showed no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
Both transconjuntival and transnasal endoscopic orbital decompression were feasible, and could be utilized by surgeons.
This study was registered with Chinese clinical trial registry (Trial registration number: ChiCTR-INR-17013268; date of access and registration: November 3, 2017).
First-Year Engineering Student Persistence Amidst COVID-19 Interruptions: Evidence from Two Diverse Institutions
Authors: Amin Syahrul , Rambo-Hernandez Karen E. , Pedersen Blaine , Burnett Camille S. , Nepal Bimal , Diaz Noemi V. Mendoza
Published: March 2024

This study examined first-year engineering students' persistence pre- and mid-COVID-19 interruptions and whether their characteristics (race/ethnicity, financial need status, first-generation status, SAT scores) predicted their persistence at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). We employed logistic regression modeling to compare the persistence of three cohorts (i.e., cohorts 1 and 2: pre-COVID-19 cohorts; cohort 3: mid-COVID-19 cohort) at both institutions. Results revealed that engineering students at the HSI in cohorts 1 and 2 were less likely to exit engineering compared to those in cohort 3. Controlling for other variables, Asian students were more likely to persist compared to their White counterparts in cohort 3, but not in cohort 1. Persistence at the HBCU was not related to cohort, financial need, or first-generation status and these relationships were consistent across cohorts. Additionally, students with higher SAT math scores (HSI) and higher SAT composite scores (HBCU) were less likely to exit engineering.
Ecological status and type of alteration determine the C-balance and climate change mitigation capacity of Mediterranean inland brackish and saline shallow lakes
Authors: Camacho Antonio , Morant Daniel , Rochera Carlos , Picazo Antonio , Miralles-Lorenzo Javier , Camacho-Santamans Alba
Published: March 2024

Understanding the metabolic processes governing carbon biogeochemistry in inland brackish and saline shallow lakes is crucial for assessing their capacity to mitigate climate change. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between carbon biotic processes, metabolic carbon balances, and environmental factors such as salinity, hydroperiod, and ecological status, which can be affected by human activities. We analysed carbon metabolic rates and budgets in 19 sites in the Spanish Mediterranean region, representing diverse ecological conditions. Results revealed that alterations in natural salinity levels, often linked to changes in hydrological regimes and ecological degradation, decreased carbon retention capacity and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Well-preserved or restored lakes exhibited higher carbon retention and mitigation capacities, particularly those with lower salinity levels, indicating higher biological activity. However, higher salinity levels mitigated methane emissions, reducing warming potential risks. The study emphasised the importance of proper wetlands management or restoration to enhance their climate regulation services.
Comparative analysis of adriamycin-induced models of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis nephropathy in rats
Authors: Yang Xingge , Ren Xiangge , Li Bing , Zhai Wensheng
Published: March 2024

Objective Different methods for the establishment of rat models of focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) nephropathy were compared to identify the model that best simulated the human disease to provide a foundation for experimental studies of this disease.
Methods Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to eight groups (A‒H). Of these, group A, the control, received a single tail-vein injection of saline only. The rats in groups B, C, and D were injected with 5, 6, and 7 mg·kg-1 of adriamycin, respectively. Groups A‒D were assessed after three weeks. Groups E, F, and G received two doses of adriamycin, a first dose of 4 mg·kg-1 and second doses of 2, 3, and 4 mg·kg-1, respectively, at intervals of 14 days and were assessed after one week. The left kidneys in group H rats were surgically removed, and adriamycin (3 mg·kg-1) was injected into the tail vein on days 7 and 14 after surgery, with assessment one week later. The levels of 24 h urinary protein, serum creatinine (SCr), urea nitrogen (BUN), serum albumin (ALB), and serum total protein (TP) were measured, and pathological changes in the kidney were examined using HE, PAS, and Masson staining. The ultrastructural changes in the kidney were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy.
Results The biochemical indices showed that compared with group A, the 24 h urinary protein levels in groups B, C, and D were significantly increased at the end of the third week (P<0.05), while levels in groups F and H were significantly increased from the end of the sixth week (P<0.05). The SCr levels in groups G and H were significantly increased (P<0.05), as were BUN levels in groups C and D (P<0.05), while ALB was significantly reduced (P<0.05) in groups C, D, E, F,H, with the most marked reduction in group D. The serum TP contents in groups D, E, F, G, and H were significantly lower (P<0.05), especially in group H. Histological analysis of glomerular, tubular, and renal interstitial lesions showed a higher degree of renal lesions in the single-injection groups than in the double-injection or surgically-treated groups, and the degree of residual renal lesions in group H (surgical group) rats was comparable to that of group F. Electron microscopy showed that renal podocyte damage was greater in the single-injection groups, with a similar level of damage seen in groups H and F.
Conclusion Considering various factors such as survival and mortality, the overall renal damage in rats in Groups F and H (surgical group) were essentially the same, and they were more typical of human FSGS. Therefore, these two modeling methods can be widely used as a model to induce typical FSGS rat nephropathy, and can provide references for the study of FSGS nephropathy.
Targeting ARF4-mediated intracellular transport as broad-spectrum antivirals
Authors: Qin Cheng-Feng , Li Ming-Yuan , Deng Kao , Cheng Xiao-He , Siu Lewis Yu-Lam , Naik Trupti Shivaprasad , Stancheva Viktoriya G , Cheung Peter , Gao Zhuo-Ran , Teo Qi Wen , Leur Sophie Wilhelmina van , Wong Ho-Him , Lan Yun , Zhang Na-Na , Zhang Yue , Cao Tian-Shu , Yang Fan , Deng Yong-Qiang , Sanyal Sumana
Published: March 2024

Host factors that regulate cellular vesicular trafficking also contribute to progeny virions’ destination, thus representing as potential antiviral drug targets. Here we demonstrate that genetic deletion of ARF4, a regulator in vesicle transport, repressed multiple pathogenic RNA viral infections including Zika virus (ZIKV), influenza A virus (IAV), SARS-CoV-2 and Vesicular Stomatitis virus (VSV). ARF4 activation was stimulated upon viral infection, and viral production was rescued when reconstituted with the activated ARF4, but not the inactivated mutants. Mechanically, ARF4 deletion obstructed viral normal translocation into Golgi complex, but led to mis-sorting for lysosomal degradation, consequently caused the blockage of final release. More importantly, ARF4 targeting peptides achieved significant therapeutic efficacy against ZIKV and IAV challenge in mice by blocking ARF4 activation. Hence, we clarify the critical role of ARF4 during viral infection, providing a broad-spectrum antiviral target and the basis for further pharmaceutical development.
Prediction of Split Tensile Strength of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Leveraging Explainable Hybrid XGB with Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Sapkota Sanjog Chhetri , Sapkota Sagar , Saini Gaurav
Published: March 2024

Recycled aggregate-based concrete has been adopted in building construction as it can reduce concrete waste, eventually minimizing the environmental impact. However, using recycled materials can lead to compromised performance of mechanical properties like split tensile strength (STS). Several factors, including density, water absorption, and recycled aggregate proportion, play a vital role in assessments of STS. This study explores the better evaluation of STS using a hybridized machine learning algorithm. Ensemble model XGBoost with five optimization algorithms, namely Random search (RS), Grid search (GS), Bayesian Optimization (BO), Grey Wolf optimization (GWO), and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are considered for the study. The comparison shows that XGB-PSO performed very well with R2 of 0.9988 and 0.9602 in the training and testing sets, respectively. The potential performance of GWO is also seen during the assessments. Further, the 10-fold cross-validation used in this study ensures that the models can predict better without overfitting. The model's explainability is done using Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) analysis. SHAP-based study reveals that Cement, Water, and size of aggregates (M-RCA) are critical elements and may enhance STS if considered. The best cement range is 300 to 500 kg/m3, the M-RCA size is 10 to 20 mm, and the water range is 180 to 200 kg/m3. SHAP interaction graphs confirm the result. This study helps engineers and researchers to understand the critical parameters for making informed decisions, thus promoting sustainable construction practices.
Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index has a Prognostic value for Recovery Outcomes in Elderly Patients with Brain Abscess
Authors: Pei Xu , Zhang Yutu , Jiang Dongfeng , Zhang Meng , Fu Junyan , Niu Yang , Tian Mi , huang shanshan
Published: March 2024

Background: The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a straightforward and objective tool for nutritional screening in elderly patients and has been demonstrated to possess prognostic predictive value in several diseases. Nonetheless, there is a lack of research on the nutritional risk associated with brain abscess in the elderly. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of nutritional risk among these patients by GNRI and to investigate its potential prognostic value for clinical outcomes.
Methods: From August 2019 to April 2023, 100 elderly patients diagnosed with brain abscess were enrolled in the study. The collected data encompassed age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking and alcohol consumption history, number of comorbidities, length of hospital stay (LOS), serum albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at admission and calculated the GNRI, the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score 6 months post-discharge. A GOS score of 5 was considered indicative of a good recovery, whereas scores ranging from 1 to 4 were classified as poor recovery.
Results: The prevalence of malnutrition risk among elderly patients with brain abscesses was found to be 48% according to GNRI. Compared to those without nutritional risk, patients at risk exhibited significantly higher post-admission C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (P=0.017), a greater number of comorbidities (P<0.001), and elevated age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (aCCI) scores (P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between GNRI scores and CRP levels, the number of comorbidities, and aCCI scores (Spearman's ρ=-0.291, -0.284, and -0.310, respectively), and a positive correlation with Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores (Spearman's ρ=0.624, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that lower GNRI values in these patients were associated with reduced GOS levels (OR = 0.826, 95% CI: 0.775-0.880). Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified a GNRI threshold of 97.50 for predicting poor recovery, with a sensitivity of 90.57% and a specificity of 87.23%.
Conclusions: Elderly brain abscess patients exhibited a high malnutrition risk. GNRI showed an important predictive value for recovery in elderly patients, which could be helpful in clinical intervention and rehabilitation.
Clinically active trachoma and its associated factors among one to nine year old children in Tarmaber district, Amhara region, Ethiopia: community based crossectional study design
Authors: Ashine Betsega Nigusu , Tesfahun Esubalew , Sigate Shewaye Gebrekidan , Gebreegziabher Zenebe Abebe , Mekuria Abinet Dagnaw
Published: March 2024

Background:Trachoma is the most common cause of blindness worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Despite Ethiopia's goal of eliminating trachoma by 2020, the disease is worsening, especially in the Amhara Region. Although consistent intervention strategies are being implemented throughout the region, it is unclear why trachoma remains a substantial public health problem. As a result, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of trachoma among one- tonine-year-old children in the Tarmaber district, Amhara region, Ethiopia, in 2022.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1 to August 30, 2022. A three-stage stratified sampling technique was utilized to select 736 one- to nine-year-old children. A structured questionnaire for an interview, a checklist for observation, and a clinical eye examination for both eyes by using a 2.5× binocular magnifying loupe with a penlight torch were used. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses with crosponding odd ratio and 95% CI were carried out to assess the associations between the dependent and independent variables.
Results: In the present study, the overall prevalence of clinically active trachoma was 15.8% (95% CI: 13.2%, 18.3%). A child from a mother or caregiver who could not read and write (AOR = 7.41, 95% CI: 4.09, 13.44), a child from more than five family members (AOR = 7.51, 95% CI: 4.13, 13.64), a child from a family who did not have a latrine in a compound (AOR = 3.79, 95% CI: 2.01–7.13), a child from a family that openly disposes of their solid and liquid waste (AOR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.61–6.67), and a family member's child who owns animals but has no corral (AOR = 5.66, 95% CI: 3.11–10.30) were significantly associated with clinically active trachoma.
Conclusion- The prevalence of clinically active trachoma in this study was high. Thus, public health interventions targeting one- to nine-year-old children with the aforementioned factors are needed to decrease the prevalence of trachoma in this population.
Tuneable power-phase distributions in phonon-magnon coupled nano-patterned heterostructures: Magnon Microwave Antenna for reservoir computing
Authors: Samanta Arindam , Roy Saibal
Published: March 2024

Exploring the power and phase profiles of spin waves not only enhances our fundamental understanding of magnetic materials but also opens up avenues for innovative applications in energy-efficient technologies such as, spintronics, magnonics, and reservoir computing. Here, we present the power-phase distributions and their tuneability of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) driven nano-patterned “Magnon Microwave Antenna” (MMA), comprised of patterned arrays of magnetostrictive nanomagnets embedded in piezoelectric heterostructures. The MMA generates tunable microwave frequencies without any external bias magnetic fields. The phonon-magnon coupling within the patterned array of nanowires and nanodots generates a multimode microwave frequencies with nonvolatile spin textures in both configurations. A comprehensive static magnetic study elucidates various magnetization reversal process within the nanowires/nanodot arrays. The investigation unveils the crucial role of the demagnetization energy distribution (strength of the dipolar magnetic field) rather than its overall magnitude. Additionally, the external bias magnetic field conditions offer the possibility of tuning the domain configuration vis-à-vis power-phase distributions of these MMAs. Notably, the non-volatile nature of the spin textures generated out of the nanowires/nanodots in the MMA, under bias-field free condition is promising for energy-efficient logic and low-power computing applications. Furthermore, given that MMA consists of piezoelectric/magnetostrictive heterostructures, this work introduces a novel alternative approach, paving the way to utilize these MMAs for on-chip reservoir computing, where amplitude varies at the operating frequency.
Rough Sets for Phenotype-Based Prioritization of Causative Variants
Authors: Sharma Jyoti , Hafeez Khadija Sana , Paul Third Sushmita
Published: March 2024

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are essential for understanding the genetic basis of complex traits by identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with phenotypes of interest. GWAS employ statistical methods to identify SNPs associated with phenotypes above a predetermined significance threshold. However, this threshold approach may inadvertently exclude highly significant SNPs, posing a potential limitation. GWAS datasets contain many SNPs, which can lead to ambiguity in association results. To resolve these discrepancies, several feature selection (FS) methods have been implemented prior to association tests. However, these FS methods do not effectively illustrate significant biological relevance of the resulting SNPs.
Our work introduces a pipeline that combines a feature selection strategy based on the Rough Set theory with an association test using a machine learning approach. This innovative approach is applied to identify SNPs associated with blood cholesterol levels, focusing on low-density and high-density lipoprotein (LDL and HDL) cholesterol. The efficiency of the pipeline is evaluated using a cohort dataset from the American population to showcase the comparative efficacy of the pipeline. Our pipeline demonstrates excellent performance on datasets with low sample sizes, outperforming existing PLINK approach.
Moreover, to enhance the biological relevance of selected SNPs, we extend our investigation to closely related SNPs, followed by rigorous enrichment studies annotating genes, biological processes, and pathways. This comprehensive exploration unveils the intricate cellular mechanisms and genetic determinants influencing LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. Our findings not only contribute valuable insights to the understanding of these traits but also suggest potential personalised treatment modalities.
Holistic Review of Colorectal Surgery Residency Applicants
Authors: Khan Saher-Zahra , Stein Sharon L. , Steinhagen Emily
Published: March 2024

Introduction:
Advice regarding application preparation is often anecdotal; there is limited information about how programs evaluate applicants. It is unclear if holistic review is being properly used in an increasingly competitive field. This study aims to describe desirable applicant characteristics and the application review process of CRS programs.
Methods:
A survey was distributed to all United States CRS Program Directors (PD) during the 2022 application cycle. The survey had questions regarding number of applicants received and the review process including which screening parameters were used and which criteria were valued when evaluating applications. Descriptive statistics are reported.
Results:
Thirty-six responses from the 67 CRS residency PD (54%) were received. Most (72%) characterized their review process as “holistic.” The majority (58%) of PD classified their hospital setting as academic. The median number of applications reviewed per program was 100, with a median of 26% (IQR 20-31%) of applicants invited to interview. When deciding who to interview, in-training examination (ABSITE) score (92%), letter of recommendation (LOR) content (89%), LOR writer (83%), and research productivity (83%) were the most commonly considered criteria. The “Top 3 Criteria” cited by PD in choosing applicants to interview were LOR, ABSITE and Publications/Research.
Conclusions:
CRS residencies continue to value traditional metrics such as ABSITE scores, publications, and LOR with both the content and identity writer appearing to be important. Despite many PDs claiming they use a holistic review process, our results indicate otherwise. Increased education providing the rationale behind holistic review should be provided.