bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Influencing Students’ Choice of Pursuing Nursing in Central Karachi
Authors:   Department of Nursing, Horizon School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan., Shaikh Muhammad Hasnain , Ali Rizwan ,   Department of Nursing, Horizon School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan., Bibi Afsha ,   Department of Nursing, Horizon School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan., Khan Ismail ,   Department of Nursing, Suvastu School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan., Khan Shamsher Ali ,   Horizon School of Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan., Ahmad Waqar ,   Horizon School of Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan., Islam Dar-l- ,   Horizon School of Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Published: October 2024

Abstract: Background: The choice of pursuing nursing education is influenced by various factors that can vary from individual to individual. Determining these factors is crucial for improving the recruitment and retention of nursing professionals in the region. Objective: This study aimed to determine the factors influencing students’ choice of pursuing nursing education in central Karachi. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional survey was employed, and data were collected from 1st-year nursing students of Generic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (GBSN). Convenient sampling was used to select participants from two Private Schools of Nursing in central Karachi from October 2022 to February 2023. Result: A total of 100 participants were enrolled in the study, comprising 90% males and 10% females. Most of the students 70% strongly agreed that nursing is a profession characterized by caring and helpful attributes, and 50% agreed that it is also distinguished by recognition and respect. However, concerns were raised as 70% of students who disagreed or strongly disagreed that nursing is well-paid, and 52% felt it was too difficult for them. Conclusion: Majority of nursing students viewed nursing as a caring and altruistic profession, which is considered a positive factor influencing their career choice. However, concerns about low pay and nursing as a difficult profession were highlighted.
LA PROTECCIÓN DE ACREEDORES EN LA FUSIÓN INTERNA EN ESPAÑA TRAS EL REAL DECRETO-LEY 5/2023, DE 28 DE JUNIO
Authors: Jordá García Rafael
Published: October 2024

Royal Decree-Law 5/2023, which transposes Directive (EU) 2019/2121 on cross-border structural modifications, which repealed Law 3/2009 of 3 April, introduced amendments to the protection of creditors in domestic mergers between companies domiciled in Spain, including the disappearance of the right of objection, and the introduction of a possible offer of guarantees and their review by an independent expert.
LA RENUNCIA EX ANTE DEL SOCIO A PARTICIPAR EN EL REPARTO DE LAS GANANCIAS SOCIALES: ADMISIBILIDAD Y REQUISITOS
Authors: Clemente Cristóbal Víctor
Published: October 2024

The shareholder's right to participate in the distribution of the company's profits [art. 93 (a) Spanish Companies Act] is one of the most important rights that make up the status of shareholder. For this reason, scholars and case law argue that this right should be considered non-derogable, in the sense that it is beyond the sovereign power of the corporate bodies. However, given that it is granted in favour of the shareholders themselves, they could waive ex ante their right to participate in the distribution of the company's profits.
Activity in occipito-temporal cortex is involved in tool-use planning and contributes to tool-related semantic neural representations
Authors: Thibault Simon , Koun Eric , Salemme Romeo , Roy Alice Catherine , Boulenger Véronique , Brozzoli Claudio
Published: October 2024

Tool use and language are highly refined human abilities which may show neural commonalitiesdue to their potential reciprocal interaction during evolution. Recent work provided evidence for shared neural resources between tool use and syntax. However, whether activity within the tool-use network also contributes to semantic neural representations of tool nouns remains untested. Tothis aim, we identified the tool-use planning network with fMRI while participants used pliers.The very same participants underwent a semantic priming task including two categories, tool nouns and animal nouns, to highlight the respective underlying networks. With multivariateanalyses of the activation neural patterns, we tested whether activity in tool-use brain clusters takespart to the neural representation of tool nouns compared to animal nouns. The results revealed thatword semantic categories were decoded within the left OTC activated by preparing to use a tool, with similar patterns of brain activity for words within the same category. In addition, in the samearea, neural activations for tool nouns were found to be higher than those for animal nouns. Thesefindings suggest that activity in tool-use related brain areas encodes semantic informationseparately for tool nouns and animal nouns, thus supporting the embodiment of tool-noun processing in the tool-use sensorimotor network.
Identification and Characterization of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Peptides from Enzymatic Hydrolysates of Turkish Fermented Sausage (Sucuk)
Authors: YÜCE Figen , GÖKCE Ramazan
Published: October 2024

In this study, in order to examine the effect of fermentation on bioactive peptide (BAP) formation, samples were taken from fermented sucuks produced by the traditional method on days 0, 1, 3, 5 and 10, and peptide extractions were obtained. The extracted samples were enzymatically hydrolyzed using two different enzymes (pepsin and trypsin) and the hydrolysates were injected into HPLC and separated into peptide fractions through a column filled with Sephadex G-25 stationary phase. Lyophilized fractions were subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis to determine peptide profiles. According to LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry data of peptide fractions obtained from sucuk samples during the 10-day fermentation, a total of 10 different peptides were detected, including 6 different dipeptides (KD, LK, EL, KP, HL, IR) and 3 different tripeptides (GPP, GAA, RHA) with antioxidant activity and 1 tetrapeptide (CIRA) with antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of peptide fractions obtained from fermented sucuk samples subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis were investigated under laboratory conditions. Antioxidant activity determinations of peptide fractions were measured by the DPPH radical scavenging capacity method and it was determined that there was no statistical difference between the antioxidant activities of the fractions obtained on the 0th and 10th days of fermentation. It was determined that the fractions did not have sufficient antimicrobial effects against on Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 7644) bacteria, were moderately active on Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 14028), and day 0 fractions were moderately active against Lactobacillus pentosus (ATCC 8041), also day 1, 3, 5 and 10 fractions were active.
Analyzing Adaptation Mechanisms in Artificial Transplantation of Galaxea fascicularis
Authors: Zhao He , Wang Hongmin , Ke Jingzhao , Zhang Junling , Li Yushan , Liu Xiangbo , Zhu Wentao , Wang Aimin , Li Xiubao
Published: October 2024

Coral reefs are among Earth's most biologically diverse and ecologically crucial ecosystems but face severe threats from climate change and human activities. Coral transplantation has become a key strategy for reef restoration. This study focused on transplanting Galaxea fascicularis at northern Wuzhizhou Island, Hainan, assessing physiological characteristics and metabolomic differences between transplanted and parent corals at 1, 6, and 12 months post-transplantation. Findings revealed that transplanted coral survival rates declined rapidly during the first 6 months but then stabilized. An algal bloom in May 2023 increased turbidity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and partial pressure of pCO2, negatively impacting coral photosynthesis and calcification and increasing physiological stress. From months 6 to 12, environmental conditions improved, with temperature and salinity aligning closely with natural conditions, dissolved oxygen levels recovering, turbidity decreasing significantly, and Ωarag reaching moderate levels, facilitating stable coral growth and calcification. By 12 months, transplanted corals reached sexual maturity, with notable increases in protein and lipid content. Metabolomic analysis showed that during the short-term (1 month) and mid-term (6 months) post-transplantation periods, the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway was upregulated while the glycerophosphate metabolic pathway was downregulated, enabling corals to cope with environmental stress and resource redistribution. By 12 months, oxidative phosphorylation was upregulated to meet reproductive energy demands. Results demonstrate that G. fascicularis can adapt well to restoration environments and achieve sexual maturity quickly, making it a suitable candidate for reef restoration.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Dyslipidemia among Patients with Helicobacter Pylori Infection Attending Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda: A crossectional study
Authors: Kagoro François Bisingurege , Amandua Jacinto , Abonga Charles L. , Okurut Emmanuel , Nyenke Godefroy B. , Dana Witmer
Published: October 2024

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide while dyslipidemia is key modifiable risk factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease accounting for 4 million deaths annually worldwide. Few studies assessing the relationship between H. pylori and dyslipidemia show changes in serum levels of lipids. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with dyslipidemia among patients with H. pylori infection.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed between September to December 2022 at Fort Portal regional referral hospital, Uganda on 380 H. pylori infected patients. A validated questionnaire and 5-mL blood specimens were used to obtain data. Correlation analyses, chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression were used to detect correlations and associations, with adjusted odds ratios and p values considered significant at values ≤0.05.
Results: According to the individual lipid profile parameters in this study, decreased HDL-C (24.21%) was the most common dyslipidemia form, followed by elevated LDL-C (16.58%), elevated triglycerides (13.42%), and elevated total cholesterol (11.32%). The prevalence of dyslipidemia among patients with H. pylori infection was 41.58% at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital. In this study, religion and education level were independently associated with dyslipidemia, that is, Muslims had a 5-fold increased risk compared to Pentecostal believers aOR 4.97 (95% CI 1.57-15.73, p 0.006), while primary education level conferred a tripled risk compared to tertiary level education aOR 3.21 (95% CI 1.17-8.78, p= 0.023).
Conclusion: The high prevalence of dyslipidemia among H. pylori patients merits that country-wide awareness programs on dyslipidemia should be carried out, and that patients with H. pylori infection, overweight people, and hypertensive patients should have routine screening for dyslipidemia as they could potentially benefit from lipid-reducing regimens.
Seminal plasma exosome-derived miR-26-5p promotes embryo implantation and development by regulating decidual macrophage polarization via PTEN / PI3K / AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Yan , Chen Xiaolin , Li Jie , Chen Xin , Zhao Jing , Liu Qing , Li Xiaoling , Wang Xinyu , Xiao Zhuoni
Published: October 2024

The immunomodulatory effects of seminal plasma(SP) on the maternal immune system play an important role in the implantation and development of the embryo. Decidual macrophages(dMΦs) are one of the major immune cells in the maternal-fetal immune microenvironment, and their M2-type polarization facilitates the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. However, the role of SP on the polarization of dMΦs is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role and mechanism of SP on the polarization of dMΦs by gene chip sequencing as well as in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results revealed that SP promoted dMΦs M2-type polarization. Gene chip sequencing revealed that miR-26-5p was highly expressed in seminal exosomes(SEs) which could act on PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and significantly promote MΦs M2 polarization. Moreover, SEs supplementation significantly reduced embryo resorption in spontaneously aborted mice. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the SEs derived miR-26-5p in SP promoted the M2 polarization of dMΦs by targeting PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which created an immune-tolerant environment conducive to embryo implantation and development. This study provided new ideas for clinical SP-assisted therapy to improve pregnancy outcomes.
Prevalence, Factors Associated, and Histological Pattern of Incidental Enlarged Mesenteric Lymph Nodes Among Patients Undergoing Laparotomy at Referral Hospitals in Central Tanzania: a Cross-sectional Study
Authors: RWEYEMAMU DEVOTHA , MWASHAMBWA MASUMBUKO Y.
Published: October 2024

Background: There are different causes of incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes found during laparotomy, which most of the time influence the postoperative course. These causes are variable across the globe, but the node pattern in our locality and the factors associated with the incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes are not yet established. Due to the lack of an established protocol in our locality, there have been some mismanaged cases that led to several postoperative complications. Therefore this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, factors associated with, and histological pattern of incidental mesenteric lymphadenopathy.
Methodology: The 885 patients were conveniently recruited in the study. The incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were taken during surgery, processed and histologically analyzed as per pathological protocol. Obtained data were filled and analyzed by SPSS version 27. Binary logistic regression was used to examine clinical data, with a significance level of p < 0.05, to determine the factors linked to lymph node enlargement.
Results: It was seen that 58.08% of the study group, were between the ages of 21 and 40. Male accounted for 71.53% of the total, while 252 individuals were female, making up 28.47%, with M: F ratio being 2.5:1. Pastoral tribes accounted for 5.87% of the total population. A total of 87.40% of patients were operated due to peritonitis. The prevalence of incidental lymphadenopathy was 12.5%. Identified risk factors in this study were HIV [(43.64%), and (p<.0001)], [smoking (71.43%), and (p<.0001)], [nomadic pastoralism (28.85%) (p<.0001)]. Of the incidental lymphadenopathy (N=111), 23.42% had granulomatous Tuberculous lesions, and 9.01% of lymph nodes harbored malignancy. About 47% of patients had histologically confirmed reactive lymph nodes while 20.72% had an inflammatory pattern.
Conclusion and recommendation: The findings in this study indicated that pastoral tribes were prone to getting peritoneal Tuberculosis which predisposes them to getting incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, also, smoking, and immunocompromised patients were also factors associated with incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. Therefore, preoperative counseling and thorough investigations should be done in this patient group in case of incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes during laparotomy to rule out life-threatening conditions and comorbidities that can be treated early to prevent longer hospital stays and dangerous outcomes for patients.
Cloning and assessment of cold resistance in the transcription factor PhIPT5 from Populus hopeiensis
Authors: Zhang Qi , Bi Tiantian , Wang Ning , Dai Jinling , Bai Yue
Published: October 2024

Background:
Populus hopeiensis, a significant afforestation species, faces substantial growth constraints due to cold stress. The IPT gene, a pivotal rate-limiting enzyme in cytokinin synthesis, plays a crucial role in controlling plant reactions to both biotic and abiotic pressures. In this study, we isolated the PhIPT5 gene from Populus hopeiensis and analyzed its biological characteristics and cold tolerance with the aim of providing guidance for the production of cold-resistant poplars.
Results:
The coding sequence (CDS) of the PhIPT5 gene spans 981 bp, encoding 333 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 37.07 kDa. The PhIPT5 protein has alkaline stability and hydrophilicity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Populus hopeiensis IPT5 is closely related to Populus alba. Subcellular localization studies revealed the chloroplastic localization of PhIPT5. We constructed an overexpression vector for PhIPT5 and transformed it into Populus hopeiensis, resulting in improved cold tolerance in transgenic seedlings. Analysis of cytokinin metabolites revealed significantly greater levels in leaves harboring the PhIPT5 gene than in those harboring the CK gene even after exposure to cold. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the PhIPT5 gene primarily regulates the isoamyl pyrophosphate cytokinin metabolism pathway, leading to the synthesis of tZ, iP, and DZ cytokinins.
Conclusion:
Our isolation of PhIPT5 from Populus hopeiensis demonstrated that its overexpression enhances resistance to cold stress in transgenic plants. This work provides a foundation for further elucidating the function of IPT genes and has significant implications for advancing research on enhancing cold tolerance in Populus hopeiensis.
Comparative of Different Interval Training Methods on Athletes' Oxygen Uptake: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Qiushi , Wang Junli
Published: October 2024

Background
This systematic review aimed to 1) investigate the comparative efficacy of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), sprint interval training (SIT), and repetitive sprint training (RST) on athletes' oxygen uptake, 2) examine the effects of program protocols for each training method on enhancing oxygen uptake, 3) provide evidence-based insights to inform future research.
Methods
Data sources, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Medline, and Embase. Eligibility criteria, between-groups controlled experimental studies (2000–present) that investigated the effect of improving athletes' oxygen uptake levels by RST, HIIT, and SIT. Study selection and analysis, sensitivity, and indirectness in the network were assessed by two independent investigators. A frequentist network meta-analysis was performed to examine pre-post intervention differences in oxygen uptake between groups.
Results
32 studies (n=768) with 42 comparisons were included in the network. Compared with MICT, RST significantly increased the oxygen uptake (SMD: 0.87, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.33), whereas HIIT (SMD: 0.81, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.11), and SIT (SMD: 0.43, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.70) significantly elevated the oxygen uptake in athletes. Compared with CON, HIIT (SMD: 0.87, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.90), and RST (SMD: 0.71, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.01). Ranking on the basis of the P-score was consistent with that derived from the SUCRA: RST > HIIT > SIT > CON > MICT. In SIT, the total number of repetitions per session (β: -0.01, 95% CI -0.03 to -0.01), and interval duration (β: -0.01, 95% CI -0.0016 to -0.0002) showed a significant dose‒response relationship.
Conclusions
A 6-week running-based HIIT program with work‒recovery intervals of 2‒3 days per week improved athletes' oxygen uptake levels. With work‒recovery intervals of 30 seconds and 60‒90 seconds, respectively, 3 days/week, SIT with less volume may prove more efficacious.
Systematic review registration
PROSPERO CRD42023435021.
Assessing potential of Perennial Forages on Soil Carbon Sequestration Across Agroecological Zones with Varying Management Practices in Meru County
Authors: Chepkemoi Janeth , Gitau Angela , Bitange Naphis
Published: October 2024

The decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) due to continuous cultivation practices threatens soil productivity and compromises climate change mitigation efforts. This study investigates the effect of agro-ecological zones (AZ), management practices (MP), and specific forages on SOC and its related fractions: particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC). Conducted in Meru County, Eastern Kenya in 2021. Thirty-five predetermined perennial forage fields with Brachiaria (B), Panicum (Panicum maximum) (P), Napier grass (P.P. Schumach) (N), paired with maize (Zea mays) (M) growers, and with two management practices (FYM and inorganic fertilizer application) were selected per agro-ecological zone. A factorial plot design was employed, with zones as the main plots, the management practices as split plots, and the forages as split-split plots. Soil samples were collected from 1 m-by-1 m plots across 35 farms at depths of 0–50 cm, and analyzed for pH, bulk density, SOC content, POC, MAOC, and other micronutrients. Soil samples were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Bulk density ranged from 1.07 to 1.19 g cm^-3, with the highest values under inorganic fertilizers and the lowest under farmyard manure, showing significant differences between paired plots (p = 0.0011). Soil pH ranged from 5.13 to 5.36, and management practices significantly affected all micronutrients, with FYM combined with Panicum having the highest cation exchange capacity (19.45 cmol/kg) and manganese (96.30 ppm), and FYM combined with maize showing the highest available phosphorus (54.08 cmol/kg). Results showed no significant differences in mean values of POC and MAOC across zones, though the Lower Zone (LZ) had higher POC (6.63 g C kg^-1) and MAOC (7.24 g C kg^-1) compared to the Mid Zone (MZ) and Upper Zone (UZ). Different forages exhibited varying levels of MAOC, POC, and SOCs, with Brachiaria showing the highest SOC (15.69 g C kg^-1) and Panicum the lowest (14.84 g C kg^-1). Particulate organic carbon and MAOC content were significantly different across forages and maize (p < 0.05), with Brachiaria having higher MAOC (5.37 g C kg^-1) and POC (5.97 g C kg^-1). FYM combined with Brachiaria resulted in the highest POC (6.09 g C kg^-1) and MAOC (5.44 g C kg^-1). POC and MAOC concentrations varied significantly with soil depth, showing higher values in the top 10 cm. The Mid Zone recorded significantly higher SOC, POC, and MAOC than the UZ and LZ. This study concludes that agro-ecological zones and management practices substantially influence SOC sequestration, with FYM and Brachiaria being most effective in LZ.
A Multi-Scale Feature Fusion Hybrid Convolution Attention Model for Birdsong Recognition
Authors: Li Wei , Lv Danju , Yu Yueyun , Zhang Yan , Gu Lianglian , Wang Ziqian , Zhu Zhicheng
Published: October 2024

Birdsong is a valuable indicator of rich biodiversity and ecological significance. Although feature extraction has demonstrated satisfactory performance in classification, single-scale feature extraction methods may not fully capture the complexity of birdsong, potentially leading to suboptimal classification outcomes. The integration of multi-scale feature extraction and fusion enables the model to better handle scale variations, thereby enhancing its adaptability across different scales. To address this issue, we propose a Multi-Scale Hybird Convolutional Attention Mechanism Model (MUSCA). This method combines depth wise separable convolution and traditional convolution for feature extraction and incorporates self-attention and spatial attention mechanisms to refine spatial and channel features, thereby improving the effectiveness of multi-scale feature extraction. To further enhance multi-scale feature fusion, we have developed a layer-by-layer aligned feature fusion method that establishes deeper correlations, thereby improving classification accuracy and robustness. In our study, we investigated the songs of 20 bird species, extracting wavelet spectrogram, log-Mel spectrogram and log-spectrogram features. The classification accuracies achieved by our proposed method were 93.79%, 96.97% and 95.44% for these respective features. The results indicate that the birdcall recognition method proposed in this paper outperforms recent and state-of-the-art methods.
Assessment of the Relationship Between Stream Velocity and Physicochemical Parameters of Surface Water: a Case Study of Opa Drainage Basin, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Ojo Michael Oluwaseun
Published: October 2024

This study determined the physicochemical properties of surface water in the Opa Drainage Basin, established statistical relationships between stream velocity and the physicochemical properties of the surface water, and evaluated the ecological impact of the observed relationships on water aesthetics, agricultural use, aquatic life and ecosystem health. These were carried out with a view to assess the impact of stream velocity on the physicochemical properties of surface water within the Opa Drainage Basin, Osun State, Nigeria. Twenty (20) surface water samples were collected for both wet and dry seasons using standard procedure. The concentration of the ions and heavy metals in the surface water samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer, while stream velocity, temperature, pH, conductivity and total dissolved solids were determined in situ. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to assess the relationship between stream velocities and each physicochemical parameter with scatter plot to visually confirm the trends in the correlation. For the wet season, positive correlations were observed with parameters such as pH, temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Mg2+, Cd, Co, Pb, HCO3- , SO42- , and PO42-; while for the dry season, positive correlations were observed with Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Temperature, DO, Mg2+, Cu, Mn2+, Pb, SO42-, and PO42-. For the wet season, negative correlations were found with turbidity, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Fe, Cu, Mn2+ and NO3-; while for the dry season, negative correlations were identified with turbidity, pH, BOD, Na+, K+, Ca, Fe, Cd, Cr, Zn, HCO3, Cl-, and NO3-. Ni, As and CO32- show no correlation with stream velocity. DO and turbidity levels in the water affects the water aesthetics, recreational value, crop health, survival of aquatic organisms and general aquatic habitat suitability. Conclusively, the study established that there is variation in the physicochemical parameters of the surface water of the Opa Drainage Basin, resulting from the variation in the stream velocity. These changes in physicochemical parameters impact the water aesthetics, agricultural use, aquatic life and the general ecosystem health within the Opa Drainage Basin.
Comparison of Covariance-Based Structural Equation Model and Partial Least Squares Equality Models
Authors: VARGÖR Duygu , ÖĞRETMEN Tuncay
Published: October 2024

The aim of this research is to compare the differences between the objectives, distribution assumptions, sample sizes, parameters, fit indices, and measurement models of the covariance-based structural equation model (CB-SEM) and the partial and consistent partial least squares structural equation models (PLS-SEM and PLSc-SEM) to contribute to future studies. Data from Turkey's Information and Communication (ICT) scale of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) for the year 2018 was used. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was initially conducted on the data from a sample of 5963 individuals, followed by confirmatory factor Analysis (CFA) using CB-SEM, PLS-SEM, and PLSc-SEM. CFA was performed by obtaining normal and non-normal distributions from the same sample data. The structure validity and reliability, goodness-of-fit indices, item parameters, and latent variable parameters obtained using CB-SEM, PLS-SEM, and PLSc-SEM were compared. The CB-SEM model fit indices provide a better method for explaining how well a hypothetical model fits the experimental data. PLS-SEM and PLSc-SEM, on the other hand, have sufficient reliability and validity parameters for the weight of the items, while the confidence intervals, estimations, and variances of the items are insufficient. This study concludes that it is not appropriate to claim that PLS-SEM is a preferred method when the sample size is small, and the data distributions are non-normal. It is essential for the observed data to be consistent with the hypothesis and theory; otherwise, the analysis results may lead to errors and misconceptions.
Study on Strength Characteristics of Carbon-glass Hybrid Blades under Extreme Conditions
Authors: Jiang Xin , Sun Jiayi , Wen Shidong , Jiang Yiming , Wang Ziyu , Wang Guoyu
Published: October 2024

To study the strength characteristics of carbon-glass hybrid fiber reinforced composite wind turbine blades under extreme operating conditions, a 1.5 MW blade model was chosen as the object of investigation. The research involved selecting different carbon/glass hybrid ratios (2:6, 4:4, 6:2) as blade reinforcement materials. Both finite element simulation and experimental testing were combined to analyze the effects of service temperature and carbon-glass hybrid layer ratio on the static characteristics of composite wind turbine blade samples.Furthermore, the study simulated the impacts of extreme operating conditions on the strength characteristics of carbon-glass hybrid composite wind turbine blades at wind speeds of 12m/s, 22m/s, and 30m/s,respectively.Subsequently, an analysis was conducted to determine the effects of temperature and wind speed on the fatigue life of composite blades with a carbon-glass hybrid layer ratio of 6:2. The findings indicate that the elastic modulus and tensile strength decrease with increasing temperature, with the tensile strength of the 6:2 carbon-glass hybrid composite fiber reinforced wind turbine blade peaking at 45℃, 25℃, and − 35℃. Specifically, at these temperatures, the tensile strength was 44.7%, 41.5%, and 33.5% higher than that of glass fiber composites under equivalent working conditions.Notably, extreme operating conditions caused the fatigue life of carbon-glass hybrid composite wind turbine blades to deviate from the rated operating conditions by 92.6%,with the − 35℃ environment resulting in a deviation of 97.8% from the rated operating conditions.
Comparison of patient satisfaction and function outcomes between restricted kinematic alignment and mechanical alignment: An early follow-up study
Authors: Liu Shiluan , Cao Zhengyu , Lan Saijiao , Zhang Chongjing , Pan Lin , Luo Wenjin , Li Jian
Published: October 2024

Background
Mechanical alignment (MA) is the gold standard for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, MA will inevitably modify the patient's native knee anatomy. Another alignment option is kinematic alignment (KA), which aims to restore the original anatomy of the knee. In recent years, restricted kinematic alignment (rKA), which aims to restore native knee kinematics without reproducing the extreme knee phenotype, has been developed as an alternative to unrestricted KA. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and satisfaction scores between patients who underwent rKA and those who underwent MA during TKA.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 45 patients who were diagnosed with osteoarthritis and underwent MA-TKA and 45 patients who underwent rKA-TKA from January 2022 to January 2023. Demographic, perioperative, and radiological data were collected and compared. Unpaired two-sample t tests for continuous variables and χ2 tests for categorical variables were used to compare various measurements between two groups. The patient-reported outcome measures at baseline(T0) and at 3 (T3), 6 (T6), and 12 (T12) months after surgery were recorded and statistically analyzed.
Result
Forty-five robotic-assisted rKA-TKAs were performed, and 45 conventional MA-TKAs were performed. The changes in the hospital for special surgery score (HSS), visual analogue scale (VAS), forgotten joint score (FJS-12), knee society score (KSS), patient satisfaction, and complications from T0 to T12 for patients who underwent rKA were equal to those who underwent MA (86.58 vs. 86.22, P > 0.05 (KSS-Clinical, T12), 73.40 vs. 75.00, P > 0.05 (KSS-Function, T12), 86.11 vs. 85.28, P > 0.05 (HSS, T12), 0.87 vs. 0.82, P > 0.05 (VAS, T12), 83.29 vs. 83.38, P > 0.05 (FJS-12, T12), and 4.57 vs. 4.43, P > 0.05 (Satisfaction, T12)). The net change in the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) and medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) for the constitutional varus was greater (P < 0.05) than that for the constitutional valgus knee in the rKA group. Both groups have a good range of motion (ROM). No revision was performed in the two groups at the one-year follow-up.
Conclusion
rKA is safe for short-term TKA and is a valid alternative to MA.
Implementation of the Group Antenatal Care Model in Kole district, Uganda: Experiences of pregnant mothers, community health workers, and facility midwives
Authors: Puleh Sean Steven , Immaculate Akech Stella , Okunu Nicholas , Apio Brenda , Anyinge Harriet , Kigongo Eustes , Awio John Peter , Ojok Moses , Ocen Patrick Buchan , Rukundo Gerald
Published: October 2024

Background:
Antenatal care (ANC) plays a vital role in maternal and child health, yet traditional ANC models face challenges in terms of accessibility and utilization, particularly in remote or underserved areas. Group antenatal care (G-ANC) has emerged as a promising alternative, offering increased access to information, social support networks, and patient satisfaction and eventually improving maternal and child health outcomes. However, little is known about the perspectives of community health workers and facility midwives in implementing G-ANC, especially in postwar settings such as Northern Uganda. Therefore, this study assessed the experiences of pregnant mothers, community health workers and facility midwives in providing group ANC services in the Kole district.
Methods:
This qualitative study involved key informant interviews and focus group discussions with community health workers, facility midwives, and pregnant women participating in G-ANC in the Kole district, Uganda. A total of nine key informant interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted using their respective guides. Qualitative data were audio recorded and transcribed. We used ATLAS.ti 23 software to support the subsequent analysis. Thematic analysis was used to examine the qualitative information gathered from focus group discussions and one-on-one interviews.
Results:
A number of issues came to light, such as awareness of and training in G-ANC, perceptions of facility midwives, perceptions of village health teams, and wishes for project continuation. While highlighting G-ANC's success in increasing ANC attendance, participants also mentioned its drawbacks, including inadequate time management, problems with coordination, and logistical limitations. Notwithstanding the benefits, problems, including critical medication shortages and a lack of transportation support, made it difficult to carry out the programme effectively.
Conclusion:
This study provides valuable insights into the implementation of G-ANC at the community level, offering practical recommendations to improve maternal and child health outcomes. By addressing the identified challenges and leveraging the lessons learned, policymakers and healthcare providers can optimize G-ANC delivery and contribute to reducing maternal and perinatal mortality rates in resource-limited settings.
Gallbladder Cancer Detection via Ultrasound Image Analysis: An End-to-End Hierarchical Feature-Fused Model
Authors: Dadjouy Sara , Sajedi Hedieh
Published: October 2024

Gallbladder cancer is a fatal disease, and its early diagnosis can significantly impact patient treatment. Ultrasound imaging is often the initial diagnostic test for gallbladder cancer, making the enhancement of cancer detection accuracy from these images crucial. Despite the promising results of artificial intelligence techniques in disease diagnosis, their black-box nature hinders the reliability of their results and their practical application. Therefore, it is essential not to rely solely on a single model’s output and to further investigate for more reliable outcomes. This study presents a step-by-step structural investigation of forming an end-to-end model, a conjunction of two convolutional neural network based methods, for detecting gallbladder conditions. The final model, leveraging feature fusions and hierarchical classification, achieved a high accuracy of 92.62% for detecting normal, benign, and malignant gallbladders. It also achieved a remarkable accuracy of 98.36% for classifying normal and non-normal instances and 92.22% for classifying benign and malignant cases. Finally, comprehensive post-processing investigations, including cross-validation, temperature scaling, and uncertainty estimation, along with error analysis, are conducted to gain more insights into the model’s output. Among these insights, the model demonstrated resilience of its results to active dropout and augmentation at the inference phase. Furthermore, when applied with Test-Time data Augmentation, uncertainty estimation methods have better distinguishability between the uncertainties of correctly and incorrectly classified instances, which provides additional information about the model’s output. The source code of experiments conducted in this study is available at https://github.com/SaraDadjouy/GBCRet.
Sanggenol L alleviates Rotenone-induced Parkinson’s disease inhibits mitochondrial complex I by apoptotic via P13K/AKT/mTOR signalling
Authors: Zhao Nan , Wu Menghai , Zhang Jianbin
Published: October 2024

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the age-associated, second most advanced neurodegenerative illness. Rotenone is an extensively used pesticide to study PD pathology and inhibits mitochondrial complex I. Reports indicate that rotenone exerts neurotoxicity by its capability to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which eventually leads to neuronal apoptosis. Sanggenol L (SL) is an eminent flavonoid present in the Morus alba root bark, which exhibits neuroprotective, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Hence, we assessed the neuroprotective activity of SL (5 and 10 µM/ml) on rotenone-stimulated SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells and elucidated the effect of the P13K/AKT/mTOR signaling. The anti-PD action of SL on proliferation, oxidative stress (OS), intracellular ROS, apoptosis, Bax, cleaved Caspase-12, 9, 3, and Cyt-c,Bcl-2and P13k/AKT/mTOR signaling was determined by MTT assay, biochemical analysis, DCFDA, AO/EB staining and western blot. It was found that SL (5 and 10 µM/ml) reduced rotenone-triggered OS, ROS levels, and apoptosis in a concentration-related way. SL alleviates Bax, cleaved caspase-12, 9, 3, and Cyt-c, while reducing Bcl-2. Furthermore, SL safer mitochondria by increase MMP and suppresses phosphorylation of P13k/AKT/mTOR pathway, thereby regulating apoptotic signalling. Our findings indicate that SL showed protective effects against rotenone-induced OS, mitochondrial complex I in neuronal cell damage, which suggests that SL might potentially serve as an anti-PD remedial candidate for PD treatment.
A Comparative Analysis of Advanced Modeling Techniques for Global Methane Emission Forecasting Using SARIMA, LSTM, and GRU Models
Authors: ÖNDER Ganime Tuğba
Published: October 2024

Forecast methods are an important aid to the early detection of future levels of pollutant amounts released from global pollutants. This research predicts changes in future global methane gas emissions using SARIMA, LSTM, and GRU models, and also compares the accuracy of these three prediction methods. In the study, a time series analysis was conducted by focusing on the monthly methane (CH4) gas emission amounts recorded between 1984 and 2024. Methane emission data measured between 1984 and 2024 were used as input in the development of the models. By comparing the prediction results and actual values, they were evaluated with performance criteria such as R², RMSE, MAE, and MAPE%. The results revealed that all three methods performed well in estimating global methane gas emissions. The SARIMA model shows the best performance, followed by the LSTM and GRU models. It was determined that the SARIMA model had the lowest error rate with 0.0020 MAPE, 0.0335 MAE, 0.0335 RMSE, and 0.9998 R² values. It has been revealed that estimated global methane emission values may be approximately 1.5 times higher than today's level by 2050.
Research on the Preparation of MIL-68(Fe)/g-C3N4 Materials for the Simultaneous Photocatalytic Removal of Cr(Ⅵ) and Tetracycline
Authors: Liu Fenglei , Chen Kai , Zhu Liang , Xiao Kaijun , Shi Zhaocai
Published: October 2024

Heterostructure composite materials are widely used in environmental remediation due to their excellent photocatalytic activity. This study synthesized MIL-68(Fe) on the surface of g-C3N4 using an in-situ synthesis method to form a composite material with high specific surface area and superior photocatalytic performance. The morphology, crystal structure, chemical composition, and photocatalytic properties of this material were characterized in detail. Experimental results showed that MIL-68(Fe)/g-C3N4 composite material achieved a 99.9% removal rate of Cr(Ⅵ) and a 90% degradation rate of tetracycline within 80 minutes. Compared with MIF-68(Fe) or g-C3N4 alone, the tetracycline degradation rate and Cr(Ⅵ) reduction rate of the composite material increased significantly, which greatly enhanced its photocatalytic activity. This enhancement can be attributed to the composite material exhibiting nearly five times higher specific surface area than MIL-68(Fe) alone. Additionally, after doping with g-C3N4, the UV absorption of MIL-68(Fe)/g-C3N4 composite material decreased, and the absorption edge showed a red shift, indicating that MIL-68(Fe)/g-C3N4-3 may have better visible light response. This work demonstrates that MIL-68(Fe) is an efficient photocatalyst and provides new insights for subsequent research in the field of photocatalytic degradation using MIL-68(Fe).
Temperature analysis of PDC bit in coal and rock drilling by wind circulating weight on drilling
Authors: Han Xiaoming , Yang Kangjian , Xue Liubing
Published: October 2024

In the process of coal rock drilling, the failure of cutting teeth of PDC drill bit is closely related to the cutting temperature, and the theoretical temperature change of cutting teeth has influence on the performance and life of cutting teeth. By constructing the theoretical calculation model of cutting tooth temperature rise of PDC drill bit, the temperature of cutting tooth under the action of heat-fluid-solid coupling was analyzed by numerical simulation, and by changing the drilling pressure parameter in the cutting model, the temperature rise law of the cutting tooth was obtained under the condition of different drilling pressures, so as to validate the correctness of theoretical model and simulation data. By building a coal rock drilling test platform, the drilling test of PDC drill bit under different drilling pressure parameters was carried out. The analysis results show that: with the increase of drilling pressure, the temperature of the cutting teeth of PDC drill bit increases, when the drilling pressure is increased from 1kN to 4kN, the temperature rises by 441%, and when the drilling pressure reaches 5kN, the temperature rises by 49.64%; the use of wind circulation can effectively reduce the temperature of the cutting teeth of the PDC drill bit, and the larger the wind speed, the more obvious the effect of the temperature drop of the drill bit; The error values of cutting teeth simulation temperature and theoretical temperature are within 10%, and the model provides a theoretical basis for improving the working efficiency of PDC drill bit in wind-discharged coal rock drilling.
Discovering Natural Products as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins
Authors: Alqaaf Muhammad , Nasution Ahmad Kamal , Karim Mohammad Bozlul , Islam Rumman Mahfujul , Sedayu Muhammad Hendrick , Supriyanti Retno , Ono Naoaki , Altaf-Ul-Amin Md. , Kanaya Shigehiko
Published: October 2024

The ongoing global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has demanded the urgent search for effective therapeutic interventions. In response, our research aimed at identifying natural products (NPs) with potential inhibitory effects on the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein into host cells. Utilizing the Protein Data Bank Japan (PDBJ) and BindingDB databases, we isolated 204 S-glycoprotein sequences and conducted a clustering analysis to identify similarities and differences among them. We subsequently identified 33,722 binding molecules (BMs) by matching them with the sequences of 204 S-glycoproteins and compared them with 52,107 secondary metabolites (SMs) from the KNApSAcK database to identify potential inhibitors. We conducted docking and drug-likeness property analyses to identify several SMs with potential as drug candidates based on binding energy (BE), no Lipinski’s rule violation (LV), psychochemical properties within the pink area of the bioavailability radar, and a bioavailability score (BAS) not less than 0.55. Fourteen SMs were found to be effective against the three major types of spike proteins. Our study provides a foundation for further experimental validation of these compounds as potential therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2.
Inhibition of Malignant Pleural Effusion by a Physiological Intrapleural Pressure-controlled Piezo-catalytic Nanozyme System
Authors: Shi Hubing , Xu Zihan , Gui Yu , Song Linlin , Xu Tianyue , Chen Meixu , Zhao Yujie , Du Peixin , Wang Xin , Zhao Yuxin , Jing Jing
Published: October 2024

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE), persistently generated thorax tumor cells at advanced stage, remains a major challenge for cancer therapy. Herein, we develop an ultra-sensitive piezoelectric nano-system by doping ytterbium in metal-organic framework (O3P@LPYU), which can be triggered by physiological intrapleural pressures during breath. Under the gently alterative pressure, the piezoelectric nanoparticles produce a burst of reactive oxygen species and induce immunogenic cell death by catalysis of carried ozone as well as peroxide in interstitial fluid. A clear biodistribution is observed in thorax effusion and tumors upon intrapleural administration of particle. Remarkably, due to the abundant substrate in oxygen-rich environment of pleural cavity, O3P@LPYU particle provides a potently reduction of MPE volume and durable inhibition of tumor growth in thorax as well as in the lung parenchyma. In conclusion, our work not only develops a bio-responsive piezoelectric nano system, but also provides a strategy for persistent suppression of MPE in clinics.
eQTL in diseased colon tissue identifies novel target genes associated with IBD
Authors: Furey Terrence , Nishiyama Nina , Silverstein Sophie , Darlington Kimberly , Ng Meaghan Kennedy , Clough Katelyn , Bauer Mikaela , Beasley Caroline , Bharadwaj Akshatha , Ganesan Rajee , Kapadia Muneera , Lau Gwen , Lian Grace , Rahbar Reza , Sadiq Timothy , Schaner Matthew , Stem Jonathan , Friton Jessica , Faubion William , Sheikh Shehzad
Published: October 2024

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 300 loci associated with the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but putative causal genes for most are unknown. We conducted the largest disease-focused expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis using colon tissue from 252 IBD patients to determine genetic effects on gene expression and potential contribution to IBD. Combined with two non-IBD colon eQTL studies, we identified 194 potential target genes for 108 GWAS loci. eQTL in IBD tissue were enriched for IBD GWAS loci colocalizations, provided novel evidence for IBD-associated genes such as ABO and TNFRSF14, and identified additional target genes compared to non-IBD tissue eQTL. IBD-associated eQTL unique to diseased tissue had distinct regulatory and functional characteristics with increased effect sizes. Together, these highlight the importance of eQTL studies in diseased tissue for understanding functional consequences of genetic variants, and elucidating molecular mechanisms and regulation of key genes involved in IBD.