bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infections and Associated Factors Among Under-Five Children with Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract in Hospitalized Patients in Addis Ababa
Authors: Tezera Simachew , Abebe Fikrtemariam , Tachbele Erdaw
Published: January 2024

Background: - Among the most prevalent birth defects in newborns are congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in children, and it is more common in kidney and urinary tract abnormalities.
The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of urinary tract infections and its determinants among 0-59-month-old children with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract in Addis Ababa.
Methods: A health institution-based retrospective cross-sectional study was employed on 389 medical records of children with CAKUT at Tikur Anbesa and Menelik II Specialized Hospitals from March 1 to April 10, 2023, among those admitted between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022. The study hospitals were purposively selected, and each study participant was recruited by a systematic random sampling technique. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were reviewed using a structured data extraction sheet. The data were entered and cleaned using Kobo-toolbox statistical software and subsequently transferred to SPSS version 25 for further analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of variables with a P value of 0.05 and a confidence interval of 95%.
Results. The majority of the study participants (336 [86.4%]) were males. A total of 194 (49.8%) children were older than 25 months, with a mean age of 24.2 (±13.4) months. A total of 117 (30.1%) (95% CI=25.4-35.2) study participants were positive for urinary tract infection (UTI).
Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated bacteria followed by Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterobacter spp, and Staphylococci spp. Factors associated with UTI among CAKUT children were found to be being female (AOR = 4.3, 95% CI = (1.4–13.07), children having Posterior Ureteral Valve (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI = (2.32–9.93), duration of hospitalization (>4 days) (AOR = 3.08, 95% CI = (1.52-6.24), and children having fever (AOR = 5.8, 95% CI = (2.81–11.97).
Conclusion In this study, almost 1/3 of the children developed UTIs, and female sex, longer hospitalization, PUV, and fever were found to be independent risk factors for the occurrence of UTIs.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Persian Version of the Oral Health Values Scale
Authors: Mirzaei Kamran , Khalaji Marjan
Published: January 2024

Background
The decisions people make regarding oral health reflect their values. Prioritizing oral and dental health is crucial for public health. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Oral Health Values Questionnaire.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 adults aged 18 years and older in the health centers of Shiraz in 2011. The OHVS questionnaire was translated into Persian and conceptually and operationally equated. Participants completed the Iranian version of the OHVS, which consists of a 12-item scale with a four-factor structure (professional dental care, appearance and health, flossing, and preservation of natural teeth). Test-retest and Cronbach's alpha were used to evaluate the internal consistency of the questionnaire. To determine the adequacy of the sample, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) index with a minimum value of 0.7, Bartlett's test of sphericity, eigenvalues greater than 1, and the Varimax rotation model were used with SPSS Version 24 statistical software.
Results
The findings of the study indicated that all questions had satisfactory Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI), scoring above the expected thresholds of 0.8 and 0.9, respectively. The test-retest correlation results confirmed the questionnaire's reliability, with a correlation coefficient of less than 0.7 for all questions and their sub-areas. Internal consistency was also observed, as Cronbach's alpha exceeded 0.7 in all areas, including the overall assessment. Factor analysis identified four main components with eigenvalues greater than 1, which together explained 58.963% of the total variance.
Conclusions
The Persian version of the OHVS questionnaire has demonstrated excellent levels of validity and reliability. Therefore, it can be considered a reliable and valuable instrument for epidemiological and behavioral dental studies.
Effect of Expressive Writing on the Sexual Self-Concept in Men with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: amini Leila , Sabbaghi Malihe Mohammadzade , Nabavi Seyed Massood , Seyedfatemi Naiemeh , Haghani Hamid
Published: January 2024

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of expressive writing on sexual self-concept in men with multiple sclerosis. It was registered in IRCT with the code IRCT20211028052892N1 on 17/11/2021. The study was a randomized controlled clinical study conducted on 70 men attending an MS clinic in Tehran in 2022. The participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. For two weeks, participants in the intervention group disclosed their emotions and expressed their feelings in writing twice a week. Sexual self-concept was evaluated using the Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire on three occasions. Data analysis was performed using SPSS V22. Based on the results of Generalized Estimating Equations, there was a statistically significant difference only in the area of internal control of sexual issues in the intervention group after the completion of the written intervention (p = 0.046). However, there was an increase in the area of fear of sexual intercourse after the completion of the intervention, in both groups (p = 0.017). Nevertheless, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean of positive and negative sexual self-concept in the two groups (P = 0.756 and P = 0.334). In general, written expression was able to make a significant difference in some subscales of sexual self-concept dimensions.
Low Complexity Cooperative Active and Passive Beamforming multi-RIS assisted Communication Networks
Authors: Elsherbini mostafa Mohy eldin , Omer Osama Ahmed , Salah Mostafa
Published: January 2024

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is a groundbreaking technology that has a significant potential for sixth generation (6G) networks. Its unique capability to control wireless environments makes it an attractive option. However, the spatial diversity increased by assisting users with all deployed RISs, this investigation has two drawbacks the high complexity design and the received signals by the far RISs are severely attenuated. Therefore, we propose a RIS selection strategy to select the proper RISs as a pre-stage before the joint beamforming between the base station (BS) and RISs to reduce the high complexity of joint beamforming optimization. Furthermore, the joint active and passive beamforming problem based on the selection is formulated. Hence, achieving spatial diversity by examining cooperation between passive beamforming of multi-hop RIS, leads to a challenging problem. To tackle this issue, we design an algorithm for the RIS selection scheme. Also, to relax the non-convexity of the proposed problem, we decouple the problem into solvable subproblems by utilizing the fractional programming (FP) and quadratic transform (QT) optimization methods. Simulation results have demonstrated through different user locations the effectiveness of the selection strategy in performance enhancement by 30% in the sum rate. Besides, an obvious reduction in the complexity cost than other techniques.
A community health-coaching referral program following discharge from treatment for chronic low back pain – a qualitative study of the patient’s perspective
Authors: Roberts Katharine , Baysari Melissa , Ho Emma , Beckenkamp Paula , Tian Ye , Jennings Matthew , Amorim Anita , Maka Katherine , Morton Rachael , Ceprnja Dragana , Halliday Mark , Ferreira Manuela , Ferreira Paulo
Published: January 2024

Background:
Global policy and guidelines for low back pain (LBP) management promote physical activity and self-management and yet adherence is poor and a decline in outcomes is common following discharge from treatment. Health coaching has been found to be effective at improving exercise adherence, self-efficacy, and social support in individuals with chronic conditions, and may be an acceptable, cost-effective way to support people in the community following discharge from treatment for LBP.
Aim:
This qualitative study aimed to understand the aspects of a community over-the-phone health-coaching program, that were liked and disliked by patients as well as their perceived outcomes of the service after being discharged from LBP treatment.
Methods:
A purposive sampling approach was used to recruit 12 participants with chronic LBP, from a large randomised controlled trial, who were randomly allocated to receive a health coaching program from the Get Healthy Service® in Australia. Semi structured interviews were conducted, and a general inductive content analysis approach was taken to create a framework from the data.
Results:
Participants discussed positive and negative aspects of the health coaching that they found to be empowering and confidence building or disappointing and frustrating. The main themes uncovered from the interviews included the importance of the health coach, the value of goal setting, the quality of the advice received, the benefits of feeling supported, the format of the coaching service, and LBP specific knowledge. The participants reported the health coach and the coaching relationship to be the primary factor that influenced the program outcomes and the qualities of the coaching relationship they valued most were connection, communication, care, and competence.
Clinical Implications:
In an environment where self-management and self-care are becoming increasingly important, understanding the patient’s experience as part of a coaching program is likely to lead to improved quality of health coaching care, more tailored service delivery and potentially more effective and cost-effective community-based care for individuals with chronic LBP in the community after being discharged from treatment.
Trial Registration:
The GBTH trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620000889954) on 10/9/2020. Ethical approval was prospectively granted by the Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research and Ethics Committee (2020/ETH00115). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The relevant sponsor has reviewed the study protocol and consent form.
Genome-wide identification of ATG genes and their expression profiles under biotic and abiotic stresses in Fenneropenaeus chinensis
Authors: Guan Chenhui , Li Yalun , Wang Qiong , Wang Jiajia , Tian Caijuan , He Yuying , Li Zhaoxia
Published: January 2024

Background
Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process in eukaryotes that contributes to cell survival in response to multiple stresses and is important for organism fitness. Extensive research has shown that autophagy plays a pivotal role in both viral infection and replication processes. Despite the increasing research dedicated to autophagy, investigations into shrimp autophagy are relatively scarce.
Results
Based on three different methods, a total of 20 members of the ATGs were identified from F. chinensis, all of which contained an autophagy domain. These genes were divided into 18 subfamilies based on their different C-terminal domains, and were found to be located on 16 chromosomes. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results showed that ATG genes were extensively distributed in all the tested tissues, with the highest expression levels were detected in muscle and eyestalk. To clarify the comprehensive roles of ATG genes upon biotic and abiotic stresses, we examined their expression patterns. The expression levels of multiple ATGs showed an initial increase followed by a decrease, with the highest expression levels observed at 6 h and/or 24 h after WSSV injection. The expression levels of three genes (ATG1, ATG3, and ATG4B) gradually increased until 60 h after injection. Under low-salt conditions, 12 ATG genes were significantly induced, and their transcription abundance peaked at 96 h after treatment.
Conclusions
These results suggested that ATG genes may have significant roles in responding to various environmental stressors. Overall, this study provides a thorough characterization and expression analysis of ATG genes in F. chinensis, laying a strong foundation for further functional studies and promising potential in innate immunity.
A virtual patient in interpretation of massive pleural effusion impact on hemidiaphragm work and an insignificant influence on blood oxygenation
Authors: Stecka Anna Małgorzata , Grabczak Elżbieta Magdalena , Michnikowski Marcin , Zielińska-Krawczyk Monika , Krenke Rafał , Gólczewski Tomasz
Published: January 2024

Computer modeling, particularly in the form of virtual patients, can be a useful tool for explaining complex phenomena associated with medical procedures. Based on interesting phenomena observed in 8 living patients undergoing large-volume therapeutic thoracentesis (TT) with pleural pressure (Ppl), transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures, and spirometric measurements, we formulated four questions regarding the impact of pleural effusion (PE) and TT on hemidiaphragm function and blood oxygenation. To answer these questions, we simulated right-sided PE in a virtual patient and studied changes in Ppl and lung volume during the respiratory cycle (exemplified by P-V loops, where P is Ppl in the ipsilateral hemithorax and V is the volume of both lungs), alveolar O2 (PAO2) and CO2 partial pressures and airflows in the main bronchi. The simulations suggest that: (a) the mediastinum compliance has a particular meaning for the work of both hemidiaphragms and explaining the 8-shape of P-V loops in hemidiaphragm inversion; (b) PAO2 is higher than normal before TT due to decreased ratio of the tidal volume to the volume of processed air at the end of expiration; and (c) in some patients, the Ppl amplitude related to breathing can be significantly greater before TT than later on.
RETRACTED: Power Quality Monitoring and Analysis for Distribution Network of University Campus
Authors: Kaur Gagandeep , Sharma Ashish , Kaur Jaspreet
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Assessment of landfill groundwater quality and regulating factors: a case study of northern Sichuan
Authors: Liu Guo , Zhang Wen , Tu Yujiao , Zhu Mingtan , He Changlong , Li Yaling , Chen Jiajing , Chen Yudi
Published: January 2024

A total of 31 groundwater samples were obtained and analyzed in this research endeavor from a conventional rural landfill situated in the red-layer region of northern Sichuan. The Chemical characteristics, controlling factors and hydrogeochemical processes of the groundwater in the study area were elucidated through the application of multivariate statistical analysis and ionic ratio analysis. To predict the spreading range and concentration of the contaminants in the landfill, a groundwater flow model and a solute transport model were constructed using groundwater numerical simulation software. The Piper diagram revealed that the majority of the groundwater exhibited a chemical composition of HCO3-Na and SO4·Cl-Na, which is denoting neutral or weakly alkaline groundwater and belonged to the soft-fresh and hard-brackish water types, respectively. The concentrations of NH4-N in groundwater varied from 0.025 to 17.3 mg/L, with 51.61% of samples surpassing the limit of 0.5 mg/L established by the World Health Organization for drinking water. The groundwater chemistry in the studied area was primarily affected by cation exchange, human activities, and the weathering of carbonate rocks, according to the Gibbs plot, ionic ratio analysis, and SI calculations. According to the calculated weighted water quality index (EWQI), the majority of the groundwater quality indicators in the study area were classified as poor or very poor, with NH4-N concentration being the primary determinant. Numerical simulation results showed that the diffusion area of the NH4-N pollution plume in the horizontal plane along the direction of groundwater flow was 5618 m2, 10142 m2, and 11695 m2 for 1, 5, and 10 years of waste leachate leakage, respectively. In conclusion, the findings of this research offer a scientific basis for the remediation of groundwater attributable to the landfill situated in the red-layer region of northern Sichuan.
Induction of Ageing and Apoptosis by Sucrose in Penicillium aurantiogriseum
Authors: Bouhoudan Assia , Chidi Fatima , Khaddor Mustapha
Published: January 2024

This work aims to study the physiological and metabolic responses of P. aurantiogriseum to sucrose-induced stress. Comparative analyses on intra-species (within strains of P. aurantiogriseum), and interspecies (between P. aurantiogriseum and P. camembertii) were conducted to assess the effect of carbon stress on aging phenomena and toxigenesis. Our results revealed a correlation between sucrose concentration and ageing signs. At a sucrose concentration of 500 g/L, the ageing signs of P. aurantiogriseum began to fade, allowing its normal characteristics to resurface. This transformation is believed to be a response to the sucrose and the cells that cannot adapt undergo apoptosis, leaving only the normal cells to thrive. Terrestric acid production was observed during the ageing process and continued even after returning to a normal physiological state, albeit at a reduced level.
The Wired and Wireless Hybrid Access Network Based on Optimized Self-Homodyne and Heterodyne technology
Authors: Shi Xiangyuan , Ji Wei , Liu Pengcheng , Yin Peng
Published: January 2024

A novel wired and wireless hybrid access system based on self-homodyne and heterodyne technology is presented in this paper. With the 16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation(16QAM) and optimized self-homodyne mechanism, the system achieves 224Gbit/s wired access. Through optical heterodyne technology, the 30GHz wireless covering is implemented. The performance of the system is further improved by using the Pre-Compensation module and Post-Compensation module. Self-homodyne system improves the Optical Signal Noise Ratio(OSNR) threshold by 1.7 dB compared to the conventional coherent system, while reducing the system device requirements. The adoption of the Pre-Compensation module will save 1.7dB of OSNR tolerance even further. DSP modules of low computational complexity suitable for self-homodyne system and heterodyne system are redesigned. Quasi-coherent technology provides better transmission performance compared to conventional Radio over Fiber (RoF) technology, but is less complex than coherent systems .
Influence of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Modified Carbon Fiber Material Prepared by Electrophoretic Deposition on the Properties of Chlorobutyl Rubber/Natural Rubber Composite Materials
Authors: Jing Yuan , Zhao Meng , Zhang Su , Lin Guangyi , Xiao Hongmei , Zhu Limeng
Published: January 2024

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a direct current field that enables the deposition of carbon nanotube (CNT) suspensions onto the surface of carbon fibers (CFs). In this study, CFs were modified using EPD to attach multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) onto their surface. The CF@MWCNTs hybrid material was then applied to chlorobutyl rubber/natural rubber (CR/NR) composite materials. The microstructure of the materials was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical property tests were conducted on the composite materials, and the results showed significant improvements compared to composites without the reinforcing agent. The tensile strength, hardness, and thermal conductivity of the composite materials were enhanced, with the thermal conductivity increasing by 33.7%. Additionally, the curing time was reduced by 11.37%, improving the curing efficiency. This provides a method for designing functional polymer composite materials.
Mortality rates in Norwegian HEMS – a retrospective analysis from Central Norway
Authors: Wekre Stian Lande , Uleberg Oddvar , Næss Lars Eide , Haugland Helge
Published: January 2024

Background: Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) provide rapid and specialized care to critically ill or injured patients. Norwegian HEMS in Central Norway serves an important role in pre-hospital emergency medical care. To grade the severity of patients, HEMS uses the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics’ (NACA) severity score. The objective of this study was to analyze mortality rates and corresponding NACA values in patients transported by Trondheim HEMS.
Methods: The study uses a retrospective cohort design, aligning with the STROBE recommendations. Patient data from Trondheim HEMS between 01.01.2017 and 31.12.2019 was analyzed. Kaplan Meier plots and cumulative mortality rates were calculated for each NACA group at day one, day 30, and one year and three years after the incident.
Results: Trondheim HEMS responded to 2224 alarms in the included time period, with 1431 patients meeting inclusion criteria for the study. Overall mortality rates at respective time points were 10.1% at day one, 13.4% at 30 days, 18.5% at one year, and 22.3% at three years. The one-year cumulative mortality rates for each NACA group were as follows: 0% for NACA 1 and 2, 2.9% for NACA 3, 10.1% for NACA 4, 24.7% for NACA 5 and 49.5% for NACA 6. Statistical analysis with a global log-rank test indicated a significant difference in survival outcomes among the groups (p < 2×10-16).
Conclusion: The research identifies elevated short- and long-term mortality among patients transported by Trondheim HEMS, and clearly show an incremental rise in mortality rates with increasing NACA scores. Findings align with previous studies but reveal variations, potentially influenced by interpretation differences, regional disparities, and advancements in medical technology. The study further suggests that a one-year follow-up may be sufficient for future investigations into HEMS outcomes. This paper provides valuable reference points for physicians using the NACA score, and further validates the NACA score as a severity scoring system.
Conceptualisation of health among young people: a protocol for systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies
Authors: Metsis Katrin , Inchley Joanna , Williams Andrew James , Vrahimis Sebastian , Brown Lamorna , Sullivan Frank
Published: January 2024

Background
Self-reported health is a widely used health indicator in surveys and questionnaires. The measure gained attention when research identified its association with mortality in the 1970s and 1980s. The measure is also associated with morbidity and other health outcomes such as the utilisation of health services. Self-reported health is a particularly useful measure for young people because this age group is generally clinically healthy. However, self-reported health starts to decline during early adolescence. It is known that many chronic conditions have long latency periods that are initiated early in life. Despite its widespread use, however, self-reported health remains a poorly understood concept.
Methods
This paper presents the protocol for a systematic review that will identify and synthesise qualitative studies that investigate how young people conceptualise health in the survey context, and overall. The population of the review is young people aged 10–24 years, with or without health conditions. We will search the databases of MEDLINE (Ovid®), PsycINFO (APA PsycNet), ProQuest Sociology Collection, and Web of Science Core Collection™. We will also utilise techniques of reference checking and forward citation searching, as this strategy has been shown to result in a higher number of high-quality studies in social science systematic reviews. Google Scholar and Google Search were used during preliminary searches; Google Scholar is utilised for forward citation searching. We will include studies written in English, German, or Finnish; there will be no lower date limit. One reviewer will screen all citations. A second reviewer will independently screen a sample of 20% of the abstracts. Data will be extracted by one researcher, two other researchers will independently review all data extracted, and quality appraisal completed by the first reviewer. We will utilise the Quality Framework for the appraisal of included articles, and thematic analysis to synthesise selected qualitative studies.
Discussion
The results of this systematic review will improve the understanding of the self-assessments of health and the interpretation of the results of quantitative research. Also, an improved understanding of the conceptualisation of health will inform the development of health policies and interventions that support young people’s health.
Systematic review registration
PROSPERO CRD42022367519
Effects of newer anti-hyperglycemic agents on cardiovascular outcomes in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bilal Anika , Yi Fanchao , Gonzalez Gonzalo Romero , Ali Mehreen , Im KyungAh , Ruff Christian T. , Thethi Tina K. , Pratley Richard E.
Published: January 2024

Background
Older adults have higher prevalence of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease. Newer anti-hyperglycemic agents (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors [DPP-4i], glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists [GLP-1RA], and sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors [SGLT-2i]) demonstrated cardiovascular safety but consistency across older age-groups remains underexplored. In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, we assessed effects of newer anti-hyperglycemic drugs on cardiovascular outcomes in subgroups of older adults.
Methods
PubMed and Cochrane were searched for cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) testing newer agents until August 31, 2022. (PROSPERO ID CRD42021260167) Studies with ≥ 1000 T2D participants enrolled for ≥12 months were included. Random effect models were used to report relative-risk (RR) for three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (3P-MACE) and its components by age subgroups (65 years; 75 years). The p-value
< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
For SGLT-2is, five CVOTs (46,969 patients, 45–50% ≥65 years) were included. SGLT-2is reduced risk of MACE (RR;0.91[CI,0.85 – 0.98]); cardiovascular death (CV-death) (RR;0.84[CI,0.73 – 0.96]); and all-cause mortality (ACM) (RR;0.86[CI,0.79 – 0.93]) with no difference in subgroups <65 or ≥65 years. Similar results were observed for subgroups <75 or ≥75 years with 10%, 18% and 15% reduction in MACE, CV-death and ACM respectively, and no significant difference between the age subgroups (p-interaction for MACE=0.74; CV-death=0.97; ACM=0.68).
For GLP-1RAs, nine CVOTs (n=64,236, 34–75% ≥65 years) were included. GLP-1RAs reduced risk of MACE (RR;0.89[CI,0.83 – 0.95]), stroke (RR;0.86[CI,0.76 – 0.97]) and ACM (RR;0.90[CI,0.83 – 0.97]) with no significant difference in subgroups <65 or ≥65 years. Additionally, GLP-1RAs reduced risk of MACE (10%), ACM (12%) and CV-death (12%) with no significant difference in age subgroups <75 or ≥75 years.
Four CVOTs (n=33,063; 35 – 58% ≥65 years) with DPP-4is were included. There were no significant differences in risk for CV outcomes with DPP-4is compared to placebo in any of the age subgroups.
Conclusion
The overall cardiovascular outcomes of newer anti-hyperglycemic agents are consistent across the older and younger individuals.
Psychiatric Implications of Anti-seizure Medications in Epileptic Population
Authors: Khalid Bushra , Waqar Zaid , khan Soban , Ali Ijaz , Afzal Naheed , Irfan Anum , Malik Waleed , Adil Malik Muhammad , Saddiqa Amina , Khalil Maryam , Munawar Zeeshan
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy is a common neurological complaint that is impacting millions of people worldwide. It's linked with a high frequency of psychiatric comorbidities, which can have a substantial impact on cases' living standards. The objective of this study was to probe the connotation between antiseizure treatments and the risk of psychiatric comorbidities in cases with epilepsy.METHODOLOGY: For this study data was collected from Patients Neurology referral centre in Islamabad, Pakistan. Data was collected from 120 cases with epilepsy using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions about seizure control, anti-seizure drug use, and psychiatric comorbidities. Data was analyzed using the SPSS.RESULTS The results showed that cases who were taking antiseizure drugs had a significantly advanced risk of developing psychiatric comorbidities compared to those who weren't taking these drugs( p = .012). Among the antiseizure drugs, cases taking valproate had an advanced risk of developing psychiatric comorbidities, although this wasn't statistically significant (p = .076). Cases with abnormal MRI findings had an advanced risk of developing psychiatric comorbidities (p = .021).CONCLUSION Our study suggests that cases with epilepsy who are taking antiseizure drugs are at an advanced risk of developing psychiatric comorbidities compared to those who aren't taking these drugs. Thus, close monitoring of cases taking antiseizure drugs for psychiatric comorbidities is recommended.
Analyses of the overlength control region in Metacarcinus magister (Decapoda: Brachyura) and phylogenetic study of Menippidae species
Authors: Wang Zhengfei , Xu Xinyi , Zheng Yuqing , Xu Zhiwen , Li Yunjie , Chen Huohuo
Published: January 2024

The complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) can provide important information for molecular evolution and phylogenetic relationships of marine invertebrates, especially in Brachyura. Menippidae species are representative of typical marine crabs, but only two Menippidae species mitogenomes were sequenced previously, and the phylogenetic relationships of the class Menippidae (Decapoda: Brachyura: Eriphioidea) remain to be resolved. In this research, the mitogenomic characteristics of Metacarcinus magister (Eriphioidea: Menippidae) has been newly studied. The length of M. magister was 48,820 bp, which contained the typical 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. We did a series of analyses surrounding the characteristics of Metacarcinus magister CR. Phylogenetic analysis, life circumstances and selective pressures were all tried to explain the formation of this length, which was emerged approximately three times compared with the normal length of Brachyuran mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the dataset of 132 Decapodan mitogenomes indicated that all the Menippidae crabs clustered together as a group. In the clade, M. magister was related to all the other four Menippidae species, such as Pseudocarcinus gigas and Myomenippe fornasinii. Moreover, the rearrangement mechanism of these four species has been predicted to provide stronger evidence for phylogenetic analysis. In general, the results obtained in this study will contribute to a better understanding of the cause of the unusual length of M. magister, and provide new insights into the phylogeny of Brachyura.
RNA Interference of Sitobion avenae Voltage-gated Sodium Channels for improved grain aphid resistance
Authors: Shafqat Javeria , Afroz Amber
Published: January 2024

Sitobion avenae presents a major challenge, leading to significant reductions in wheat yield per year. This study aimed to explore the potential of targeting Voltage-gated Sodium Channels (VGSCs) in S. avenae through RNA interference as a means to combat this pest. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was conducted to identify RNAi targets in S. avenae. VGSCs were amplified by reverse transcriptase PCR, sequenced, and deposited in Gen Bank. The ID allotted was OR777606. ERNAi was utilized to generate 143 small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences and one double-stranded RNA target. Phylogenetic analysis revealed evolutionary links between the VGSCs gene in grain aphids and related aphid species like peach, potato, pea, and Russian wheat aphids. VGSCs are essential transmembrane proteins crucial for nerve cell action potentials and are common targets in commercial insecticides. While RNAi has traditionally been employed in functional genomics, it is increasingly recognized as a promising tool for agricultural pest control. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed aphid mortality, decreased fecundity, and shortened lifespan; attributable to the down-regulation of VGSCs gene expression (35%), and mortality up to 61% among 3rd instar nymphs. Additionally, adult aphids exposed to dsVGSCs during their nymph stage exhibited reduced reproductive capacity and longevity. The findings suggest VGSCs as a promising RNAi target; having potential applications in agricultural pest management.
Aurora-A Regulating Cervical Cancer Invasion and Metastasis through ARPC4
Authors: Yue Yaqing , Mu Zhaoxia , Wang Xibo , Liu Yan
Published: January 2024

Objective：To investigate the impact of ARPC4 knockdown on cervical cancer cells with Aurora-A overexpression in terms of proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
Methods:Gene expression profiling by RNA-seq, qPCR, and Western blotting were used to identify genes potentially regulated by Aurora-A. The proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of the control and experimental groups were assessed using EDU fluorescence detection, cloning, scratch, and transwell assays. The molecular mechanism underlying ARPC4 regulation by Aurora-A was explored using Western blot analysis.
Results:ARPC4 expression was found to decrease in Aurora-A knockdown cells and increase in Aurora-A overexpression cells. Patients with high ARPC4 expression had significantly shorter overall survival compared to those with low expression. Knockdown of ARPC4 counteracted the proliferation of cervical cancer cells induced by Aurora-A overexpression. Migration and invasion capabilities were suppressed in Aurora-A overexpression cell lines following ARPC4 knockdown. Aurora-A activation of the NF-κB p65 signaling pathway led to an upregulation of ARPC4 expression.
Conclusion:ARPC4 expression is regulated by Aurora-A, and its knockdown mitigates the effects of Aurora-A overexpression on cervical cancer cells. Aurora-A activation of the NF-κB p65 signaling pathway upregulates ARPC4 expression, providing a potential therapeutic target for cervical cancer treatment.
Overexpression of ADAM10 correlates with poor prognosis and immune infiltrates in breast cance
Authors: Lin Lishuang , Sun Renjing , Hu Xiaomu , Du Zunguo , Zhou Zhongwen , Chen Zhongqing , Tang Feng , Cheng Yuanyuan
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Breast cancer is still challenging despite advanced therapies. Disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) is best known for shedding the extracellular domain of transmembrane proteins, such as Notch, EGFR, HER2, E-cadherin, CD44, thus participating in carcinogenesis. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis about the clinicopathological features, predictive value of ADAM10 and immune profiles in breast cancer. Methods: ADAM10 genomic, transcriptome, prognostic data, and immune profiles in breast cancer were retrieved from the Oncomine, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. They were analysed with ggpolt2, survminer, GSVA R packages or online tools. Clinical data of breast cancer patients were collected from Huashan Hospital. ADAM10 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between clinicopathological characteristics and ADAM10 protein expression were analysed by logistic regression, and prognostic value of ADAM10 were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. Results: ADAM10 mRNA was overexpressed in breast cancer compared with normal tissues. Luminal A, luminal B and HER2-enriched subtypes showed higher ADAM10 mRNA levels of than basal-like group. Gene alterations in ADAM10, high mRNA and protein levels of ADAM10 correlate with worse prognosis. HER2-enriched subtype tended to have a favourable OS with low ADAM10 expression. In addition, ADAM10 is associated with specific immune cells (T helper, Tcm, Tem cells, etc) and is positively related to PD-L1. Conclusion: High mRNA and protein expression of ADAM10 is associated with adverse outcome. ADAM10 contributes as an independent prognostic factor and a promising therapeutic target in breast cancer.
Impact of Height-to-Mass Ratio on Physical Fitness of German Third-Grade Children
Authors: Bähr Florian , Wöhrl Toni , Teich Paula , Puta Christian , Kliegl Reinhold
Published: January 2024

Physical fitness (PF) is closely related to body constitution, with either height-to-mass ratio (HMR) or body mass index (BMI) as indicators. We compared these indicators for 24,777 third-grade children from 2017–2022 cohorts in cardiorespiratory endurance (6-min run), coordination (star-run), speed (20-m sprint), lower- (standing long jump) and upper limb (ball-push test) muscle power, and static balance (one-legged-stance test; eyes closed). Quadratic HMR predicts children’s physical fitness better than cubic BMI after adjustment for secular trends and the COVID-19 pandemic effects on PF. Except for powerUP, PF scores decreased with increasing body mass relative to height (low HMRs). Boys outperformed girls in five tests (exception balance), but their performance losses were larger with increasing overweight. Surprisingly, after adjustment for quadratic HMR trends, the main effects of sex favored girls (exception powerUP). We propose children’s motor performance, usually normed with age- and sex-specific categories, should be assessed with body height-to-mass ratio.
Surface ligand-regulated renal clearance of MRI/SPECT dual-modality nanoprobes for tumor imaging
Authors: Chen Can , Huang Baoxing , Zhang Ruru , Sun Chaoping , Chen Lei , Ge Jianxian , Zhou Dandan , Li Yueping , Wu Shuwang , Qian Zhiyuan , Zeng Jianfeng , Gao Mingyuan
Published: January 2024

Background
The general sluggish clearance kinetics of functional inorganic nanoparticles tend to raise potential biosafety concerns for in vivo applications. Renal clearance is a possible elimination pathway for functional inorganic nanoparticles delivered through intravenous injection, but largely depending on the surface physical chemical properties of a given particle apart from its size and shape.
Results
In this study, three small-molecule ligands that bear a diphosphonate (DP) group, but different terminal groups on the other side, i.e., anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic groups, were synthesized and used to modify ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoparticles for evaluating the surface structure-dependent renal clearance behaviors. Systematic studies suggested that the variation of the surface ligands did not significantly increase the hydrodynamic diameter of ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoparticles, nor influence their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement effects. Among the three particle samples, Fe3O4 nanoparticle coated with zwitterionic ligands, i.e., Fe3O4@DMSA, exhibited optimal renal clearance efficiency and reduced reticuloendothelial uptake. Therefore, this sample was further labeled with 99mTc through the DP moieties to achieve a renal-clearable MRI/single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) dual-modality imaging nanoprobe. The resulting nanoprobe showed satisfactory imaging capacities in a 4T1 xenograft tumor mouse model. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of Fe3O4@DMSA was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo through safety assessment experiments.
Conclusions
We believe that the current investigations offer a simple and effective strategy for constructing renal-clearable nanoparticles for precise disease diagnosis.
Unveiling Public Attitudes and Themes Towards Heart Failure in China on Baidu Tieba: A Data Mining Study
Authors: Yuan Qiuchen , Wei Xiaolei , Li Shuping , Gao Rui , Liang Tao
Published: January 2024

Background
The prevalence of heart failure is continually increasing, impacting various regions and populations. The application of online communities in healthcare has emerged as a significant area of research. However, the exploration of Chinese public attitudes and content regarding heart failure from a popular perspective remains uncharted.
Objective
Describing the sentimental attitudes and main themes of Posts by Users on the “Heart Failure Bar” in Baidu Tieba.
Methods
Data were processed using Python programming. Comments from the "Heart Failure Bar" in Baidu Tieba were collected, followed by data cleaning, preprocessing, saving, and analysis.
Findings
A total of 37,495 comments were included, with themes encompassing “symptom and experience sharing”, “concerns about the quality of life”, “seeking advice and providing recommendations”, and “sharing resource”. Of the 22,371 "sentiment sentences" subjected to sentiment analysis, 2,258 were positive, 5,004 moderately positive, 6,765 neutral, 5,316 moderately negative, and 3,028 negative. The average sentiment score of the texts was 0.36, indicating an overall moderately negative public attitude towards heart failure.
Conclusions
Users related to heart failure in China have a strong desire for more professional medical services. Regional disparities in medical standards present a significant issue. Online communities demonstrate potential in bridging gaps in healthcare services.
Hopefulness and hopelessness rate in Iranian society: a cognitive view
Authors: Meshkinfam Mehrdad , Naghzguy-Kohan Mehrdad
Published: January 2024

This paper seeks to demonstrate the rate and cognitive model of hopelessness and hopefulness in the Iranian society over a period of five decades spanning from the 1970s up until the 2010s, in response to the perspective that Iranians are currently experiencing more hopelessness than in the past. The prevailing emotions within a society, including but not limited to hopelessness and hopefulness, could be reflected through language. In fact, these two, alongside others, are encoded in language using cognitive mechanisms such as the conceptual metaphor and linguistic construction. Based on the written and spoken corpus encompassing movies, novels, news broadcasts, official speeches and the models employed, namely Kövecses (2020) and the findings of Construction Grammar, it can be observed that hopefulness and hopelessness have exhibited a fluctuating pattern in every subset of the corpus over the mentioned five decades. The rationale for selecting these five decades is associated with pivotal political and social events, such as the Islamic revolution of Iran, the Iran-Iraq war, the reconstruction period, the reformation decade, and the post-reformation era. The results illustrate that the emotion of hopelessness has significantly and consistently increased in the Iranian society over the fifty-year period. Moreover, regarding the cognitive model of hope, it is worth mentioning that Iranians consider "hopelessness" as ‘inability’ and contrast it with "hopefulness" which is conceptualized by ‘object’ and ‘reliance on another entity’.
Deep Learning based Swapping Generative Framework for Rapid Cloth Retrieval
Authors: P Ajitha Gladis K. , R Srinivasan , S Sangeethapriya , P Jayapriya
Published: January 2024

Modern life is fast-paced, and every people is very busy with their daily routines. The online shopping option in E-commerce is a great time-saver in such a scenario. Moreover, it is crucial to extract accurate product features in order to search, recommend, classify, and retrieve images based on fashion queries.To overcome the forementioned challenges, a novel cloth swapping GAN based fashion retrieval has been introduced for rapid retrieval of relevant fashion based on the user query. Initially, to reduce the computational time, GrabCut is used to remove the background of the cloth images.The Cloth encoding decoding-based parsing Network is introduced to segment the bottom and top of the cloth. Then, the separated cloth region is fed into the GAN based on the user preference. The threshold neural network (TNN) is integrated with gates for efficient feature extraction in a small fraction of time. The feature extraction process is performed based on the feedback of the user. The extracted features such as dress length (long, medium, short), dress sleeve (sleeveless, full sleeve, half sleeve), and dress pattern (designs, dots, straights) are used to retrieve the relevant clothes for the users based on the query from the online shops. The proposed model achieves atotal accuracy of 99.29%. The proposed cloth retrieval system enhances the total accuracy by 14.24%, 8.75%, and 23.55% better than Alexnet, cGAN, and CNN, respectively.
Exploring the Influence of Lifestyle on Aquatic Product Preferences: An Investigation with Brazilian Consumers
Authors: Presenza Leandro , Armelin Danylo Augusto
Published: January 2024

Globally, the consumption of aquatic foods has experienced significant growth in recent decades, primarily propelled by the expansion of the aquaculture sector. This growth can be attributed to adopting more sustainable production practices, increased supply, and greater awareness of the health benefits of these foods. Aquatic foods represent a potential alternative for meeting the dietary needs of future populations, particularly as sources of animal-origin foods. Despite the considerable interest in promoting higher consumption levels of aquatic products, research is scarce on this sector's approaches to consumption and consumer perspectives, and it has been somewhat neglected. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between consumers' lifestyles and their patterns of aquatic foods consumption in Brazil. Various behaviors and consumption profiles related to aquatic foods were identified through a series of 13 questions addressing food preferences and decision-making criteria. These patterns were analyzed based on sociodemographic and cultural factors. It was observed that gender, age, region, and socioeconomic-demographic indicators significantly influenced lifestyle responses, impacting aquatic foods choices and consumption patterns. The results indicate that consumers of aquatic foods are aware of emerging concerns associated with food systems, particularly the balance between sustainability and the consumption of animal-origin products. However, variations were observed in different consumer groupings concerning the relationship between lifestyle and the consumption of aquatic foods.