bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Giardia lamblia infection and associated risk factors among patients seeking stool examination at Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital, West Guji Zone, Ethiopia
Authors: Aliyo Alqeer , Taye Nebiyu , Ashenafi Girma
Published: June 2024

Background: Giardiasis is one of the major health problems in our country due to the use of contaminated water for drinking and the lack of awareness practices, such as washing fruits before eating and hand washing after latrine usage. Although few studies have been conducted in different parts of Ethiopia, a varied prevalence and associated factors are reported. Therefore, the current study is updated with information.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of G. lamblia infection and associated risk factors among patients who seek stool examination at Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital, West Guji Zone, Ethiopia, in 2023.
Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study of 137 patients seeking stool examinations was conducted from February 15 to March 15, 2023. A systematic random sampling method was used to select study participants. The stool samples were examined using the wet mount technique. Descriptive and inferential analyzes were performed. The chi-square test was performed. A p value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The results of this study revealed that the prevalence of G. lamblia infection was 18.7% [95% CI 12.1-25.3]. This study revealed that factors such as residency (χ2 = 2.82, P = 0.027), maintaining food hygiene (χ2 = 6.6, P = 0.03), hand washing before a meal (χ2 = 4.25, P = 0.003), source of water for drinking (χ2 = 12.6, P = 0.0001), and patient finger nails (χ2 = 3.47, P = 0.026) were significantly associated with G. lamblia among patients.
Conclusions and recommendations: Giardia lamblia was seen among one-fifth of the patients who sought a stool examination. Health facility managers and health care providers work hard to improve patient quality of stool microscopic examination and health education about ways of transmission of giardiasis to decrease the prevalence of G. lamblia.
Xanthohumol Suppresses Endometrial Cancer Cell Proliferation via Promotion of Smurf1-mediated ACLY Ubiquitination and Degradation
Authors: Hu Chenyu , Yang Mulin , Xu Junying , Tian Jiazhen , Zhang Ting , Abulizi Amier , Zhang Jun , Mi Xiangquan
Published: June 2024

ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is pivotal in de novo fatty acid synthesis. It emerges as a core metabolic enzyme implicated in malignant tumor progression, especially in Endometrial Cancer (EC). The present investigation revealed that Xanthohumol (XN), a naturally prenylated flavonoid, is a novel inactivator of ACLY. XN demonstrates a significant reduction in de novo fatty acid synthesis and concurrent inhibition of cell proliferation in EC. Moreover, XN directly inhibits ACLY enzyme activity and facilitates Smurf1-mediated ACLY ubiquitination and degradation. The research revealed that the knockdown of ACLY reduced fatty acid synthesis, proliferation, and colony formation in EC cells. Conversely, contrasting results were observed upon ACLY overexpression. Additionally, treatment with XN inhibited fatty acid synthesis, cell proliferation, and colony formation, inducing non-apoptotic cell death and G0/G1 cycle arrest by downregulating ACLY expression. The crucial involvement of Smurf1-mediated ACLY ubiquitination in the XN-induced downregulation of ACLY was also highlighted. Notably, the role of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf1 in mediating the ubiquitination of ACLY is reported here for the first time. Furthermore, these findings indicated the potential of ACLY as a prospective drug target for EC. Considering the inhibitory effect of XN on ACLY, it presents encouraging prospects for treating EC.
The Sorption/Desorption of Phenanthrene and Ofloxacin by Microbial Residue-Mineral Composites: Different Substrate-C and Minerals
Authors: Yan Qiuling , Tan Zhicheng , Li Zhongwen , Guo Jiawen , Li Yuxuan , Wang Siyao , Li Fangfang , Wang Lin , Peng Hongbo
Published: June 2024

Microbial residue-mineral composites are important components of stabilizing soil carbon pool, and sorption/desorption of organic contaminants on the composites affects their transport in the soil. Here, we obtained the microbial residue-mineral composites by inoculating the model soil (33% Hematite + 67% Quartz sand (FQ), or 33% Montmorillonite + 67% Quartz sand (MQ), w/w) with natural soil microorganisms and adding different substrate-C (Glycine (G), Glucose (P), or 2, 6-Dimethoxyphenol (B)) for incubation, which were named as GF, PF, BF, GM, BM, PM, respectively. Then performed batch adsorption and desorption experiments of phenanthrene (PHE) and ofloxacin (OFL). Composites cultured with 2,6-dimethoxyphenol had the highest carbon content (0.98% on FQ, 2.11% on MQ), whereas those cultured with glycine had the lowest (0.24% on FQ, 0.64% on MQ). And the carbon content of composites incubated with MQ (0.64%~2.11%) was higher than that with FQ (0.24%~0.98%) at different carbon matrix additions, indicating that more microbial residues were formed on composites incubated with MQ compared to FQ. Perhaps montmorillonite facilitated the accumulation of microbial residues due to its large specific surface area. The sorption of PHE by composites, especially BM, was higher than MQ but lower than FQ. Moreover, the sorption of OFL was related to properties of microbial residues. The release ratio (RR) of PHE adsorbed by composites had positively correlated with the concentration in the solid phase. The RR of OFL is almost zero for both high and low concentrations, indicating that sorption of OFL on composites is stable. Thus, microbial residue-mineral composites can reduce the risk of migration of organic contaminants in soil, especially the ionic organic contaminants.
Cytogenetic identification and molecular marker development of a novel Wheat - Psathyrostachys huashanica 2NsS (2D) fragment disomic substitution line with resistance to stripe rust
Authors: Wang Yuesheng , Ge Dongdong , Deng Pingchuan , Liu Xinlun , Li Tingdong , Wang Changyou , Chen Chunhuan , Zhao Jixin , Ji Wanquan
Published: June 2024

Background
Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng (2n = 2x = 14, NsNs) is a rare and unique species of grass that is native to China. It is a significant genetic resource for wheat breeding because of the multiple beneficial features that can be used in wheat improvement programs.
Results
The study isolated a novel wheat - P. huashanica derived line 18TR61 from the progeny of common wheat 7182 and P. huashanica. Cytological studies revealed that 18TR61 has chromosome karyotype of 2n = 42 = 21II; Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) and non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) experiments confirmed that two 2D chromosomes in line 18TR61 were replaced by two incomplete Ns chromosomes. Meanwhile, it has been observed that 18TR61 exhibits structural variations in chromosomes 2B, 7B, and 5A when compared to its parents. Molecular markers and GenoBaits®WheatplusPh microarray analysis indicated that the alien chromosomes originated from P. huashanica 2Ns. Based on karyotype observations, it was incomplete in length, and contains all of the short arm, centromere, and fragment of the long arm. Assessment of agronomic traits showed that 18TR61 outperformed its parents in terms of stripe rust resistance in the adult plant stage, as well as spike length and grain size.
Conclusions
As a result, 18TR61 was identified as a wheat - P. huashanica 2NsS (2D) fragment disomic substitution. Furthermore, the established 15 specific markers were beneficial for the quick identification of heterologous material containing the 2Ns chromosome in the wheat background. This line offered a possible bridge for wheat genetic improvement on disease resistance to stripe rust and yield.
Forecasting and Analyzing Influenza Activity in Hebei Province, China, Using a CNN-LSTM Hybrid Model
Authors: Li Guofan , Li Yan , Han Guangyue , Jiang Caixiao , Geng Minghao , Guo Nana , Wu Wentao , Liu Shangze , Xing Zhihuai , Han Xu , Li Qi
Published: June 2024

Background
Influenza, an acute infectious respiratory disease, presents a significant global health challenge. Accurate prediction of influenza activity is crucial for reducing its impact. Therefore, this study seeks to develop a hybrid Convolution Neural Network - Long Short Term Memory neural network (CNN-LSTM) model to forecast the percentage of influenza-like-illness (ILI) rate in Hebei Province, China. The aim is to provide more precise guidance for influenza prevention and control measures.
Methods
Using ILI% data from 28 national sentinel hospitals in the Hebei Province, spanning from 2010 to 2022, we employed the Python deep learning framework PyTorch to develop four distinct forecasting prediction models. We assessed each model’s prediction performance using mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE).
Results
The Seasonal Auto-Regressive Indagate Moving Average (SARIMA) model had the highest error among the four forecasting models, with a MAE value of 0.8913 and an RMSE value of 1.2098. The CNN-LSTM model had the lowest error, with MAE and RMSE values of 0.0.3987 and 0.5448, respectively. The CNN-LSTM model thus had a significantly better prediction performance compared to the SARIMA model, with a 55.26% decrease in MAE and a 54.97% decrease in RMSE. When compared to the standalone Convolution Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short Term Memory neural network (LSTM) models, the CNN-LSTM model showed performance enhancements of 32.86% for MAE and 28.60% for RMSE over CNN, and of 11.05% for MAE and 13.07% for RMSE over LSTM.
Conclusion
The hybrid CNN-LSTM model had better prediction performances than the SARIMA, CNN, and LSTM models. This hybrid model could provide more accurate influenza activity projections in the Hebei Province.
Dynamics Behavior of Droplet in Hydrophilic Contraction Microchannel
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Tung
Published: June 2024

The droplet-based microfluidics technology achieves precise control over the behavior of droplets by designing the microchannel, controlling the flow, and managing the interactions of incompatible liquids. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the behavior of droplets in a hydrophilic microchannel. With a hydrophilic microchannel, both wetting characteristics and microchannel geometric play a significant role in influencing the motion and behavior of droplets. The research introduces various droplet behavior regimes influenced by the contact angle (θ), capillary number (Ca), and viscosity ratio (λ), demonstrating that the influence of the hydrophilic microchannel occurs only at low capillary numbers. A predictive model for the critical capillary number to transition between contact and non-contact behaviors with the microchannel surface is proposed, described as follows: \(Ca>f\left(\lambda \right)({a}_{1}C+{a}_{2})\). This research provides valuable insights for liquid-phase system analysis devices that can analyze and manipulate fluids in a hydrophilic microchannel.
The dual actions of host miRNA-16a in restricting bovine coronavirus (BCoV) replication through targeting the host cell Furin and enhancing the host immune response
Authors: Shah Abid Ullah , Hemida Maged Gomaa
Published: June 2024

The roles of host cell miRNAs have not been well studied in the context of BCoV replication and immune regulation. The main aim of this study was to identify miRNA candidates that regulate essential host genes involved in BCoV replication, tissue tropism, and immune regulation. To achieve these goals, we used two isolates of BCoV (enteric and respiratory) to infect bovine endothelial cells (BECs) and Madine Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) cells. This is in addition to the ex vivo model using peripheral bovine blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We determined the miRNA expression profiles of these cells after BCoV infection. The expression of miR-16a is differentially altered during BCoV infection. Our data show that miRNA-16a is a significantly downregulated miRNA in both in vitro and ex vivo models. We confirmed the miRNA-16a expression profile by qRT‒PCR. Overexpression of pre-miRNA-16a in the BEC and MDBK cell lines markedly inhibited BCoV infection, as determined by the viral genome copy numbers measured by qRT‒PCR, viral protein expression (S and N) measured by Western blot, and virus infectivity using a plaque assay. Our bioinformatic prediction showed that Furin is a potential target of miRNA-16a. We compared the Furin protein expression level in pre-miRNA-16a-transfected/BCoV-infected cells to that in pre-miRNA-scrambled-transfected cells. Our qRT‒PCR and Western blot data revealed marked inhibition of Furin expression at the mRNA level and at the protein level, respectively. BCoV-S protein expression was markedly inhibited at both the mRNA and protein levels. To further confirm the impact of the downregulation of the Furin enzyme on the replication of BCoV, we transfected cells with specific Furin-siRNAs parallel to the scrambled siRNA. Marked inhibition of BCoV replication was observed in the Furin-siRNA-treated group. To further validate Furin as a novel target for miRNA-16a, we cloned the 3'UTR of bovine Furin carrying the seed region of miRNA-16a in a dual luciferase vector. Our data showed that luciferase activity in pre-miRNA-16a-transfected cells decreased by more than 50% compared to that in cells transfected with the construct carrying the mutated Furin seed region. Our data confirmed that miRNA-16a inhibits BCoV replication by targeting the host cell line Furin and the BCoV-S glycoprotein. It also enhances the host immune response, which contributes to the inhibition of viral replication. To our knowledge, this is the first study to confirm that Furin is a valid target of miRNA-16a. Our findings highlight the clinical applications of host miRNA-16a as a potential miRNA-based vaccine/antiviral therapy.
Analysis and Optimization Algorithm of Creep Sensitivity for Concrete Section during Shrinkage
Authors: Cui Jianchao , Wu Pengfei
Published: June 2024

Creep is an inherent characteristic of reinforced concrete materials. Over the long-term action of creep, the durability and safety of the structure will undergo significant changes; therefore, creep is an important research content for structural safety analysis. Creep calculation involves numerous parameters, making the calculation tedious and the information storage massive. Among the many factors affecting creep, different parameters have varying degrees of sensitivity to creep. In practical engineering, factors with a significant impact on creep results should be given priority. Currently, there is limited research on creep sensitivity analysis. Most studies have only conducted qualitative sensitivity analysis on some parameters affecting creep, without addressing those parameters with low sensitivity. In response to these situations, this paper takes the example of the creep strain problem at the bottom edge of concrete components during the shrinkage period and conducts a quantitative sensitivity analysis of each parameter in the fine calculation of concrete during the shrinkage period. This paper illustrates the factors that contribute to or hinder the development of creep, categorizes the importance of various factors affecting creep, and divides the creep parameters into important, general, and minor parameters. The calculation formulas have been simplified, reducing the creep calculation and information volume by nearly 80%. Through specific case analysis, the results of the method in this paper are compared with those of the fine algorithm, verifying the accuracy of this paper's approach and providing the error boundaries of the results after simplified calculation. For the problems of concrete strain at different positions and steel stress in creep analysis, this paper summarizes the corresponding important parameters, which can provide references for related engineering projects.
Lower extremity arterial embolism after intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Xu Chaowei , Li Qian , Chen Jian
Published: June 2024

Background
Early embolic events may be a rare complication following intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
Case presentation:
We present two cases of lower extremity arterial embolism occurring shortly after intravenous thrombolysis. Both patients experienced acute occlusion of large arteries and atrial fibrillation and were diagnosed with cardioembolic stroke. The first case was a 49-year-old woman who presented with left limb paralysis. Thrombolysis with alteplase was performed, and five days later, she experienced a lower extremity arterial embolism. The second patient was a 64-year-old man who presented with right limb paralysis. Thrombolysis was performed, and three days later, he experienced a lower extremity arterial embolism.
Conclusion
Early embolic events may occur following intravenous thrombolysis for AIS, especially in patients with cardioembolic stroke; we should pay attention to this potential complication.
Study on overburden rock structure characteristics and surrounding rock control technology of island working face
Authors: Xingping Lai , Haoyu Zhu , Hao Qiao , Pengfei Shan , Wenhua Yang , Longquan Wu , Chong Jia
Published: June 2024

Aiming at the technical problems of safe and efficient mining under the complex conditions of strong mine pressure and multiple disasters in island working face, taking ZF2822 working face of Xiagou Coal Mine as the background, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and field measurement are used to explore the fracture structure characteristics and surrounding rock control technology of overlying rock in island working face. The results show that the ten morphological structures of the main roof fracture can be divided into four typical symmetrical structures and six asymmetric structures. According to the stress calculation formula of the key block B to the coal pillar, the stress characteristics of the 10 structures are classified and the risk classification is carried out. Among them, the (a), (e), (f) and (g) structures belong to level I. Four typical structures (a), (b), (c) and (d) were constructed to simulate the stress and strain characteristics of surrounding rock. The overlying strata subsidence displacement values of (a), (b), (c) and (d) at the roadway are 1.75 m, 1.5 m, 0.8 m and 0.6 m respectively, and the maximum stresses are 26.6 MPa, 19.5 MPa, 15.5 MPa and 10.0 MPa respectively, (a) > (b) > (c) > (d). Therefore, the surrounding rock control technology of gob-side roadway in island working face is put forward, the fracture structure of basic roof is determined and the reasonable applicable type of gob-side roadway is selected. The results after pressure relief show that the average daily microseismic energy of ZF2822 working face after pressure relief is 0.87×104J, which is about 42.38 % lower than that of April. The average stress is 1.13 MPa lower than that of the mining before the pressure relief area, and the decrease is 22.42 %. During the mining process of the working face in the pressure relief area, the average stress is 0.49 MPa lower than that before the pressure relief area, and the decrease is 9.02 %. It shows that the pressure relief has played a very good effect and provides a reference for the same type of mine.
The effects of avian hydrolyzed proteins on plasma and fecal metabolomics of adult dogs
Authors: Hsu Clare , Marx Fabio , Guldenpfennig Ryan , de Godoy Maria R. C.
Published: June 2024

Research has shown various hydrolyzed proteins possessed beneficial physiological functions; however, the mechanism of how hydrolysates influence metabolism is unclear. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the effects of different sources of protein hydrolysates, being the main dietary protein source in extruded diets, on metabolism in healthy adult dogs. Three complete and balanced extruded canine diets were formulated: control chicken meal diet (CONd), chicken liver and heart hydrolysate diet (CLHd), mechanically separated chicken hydrolysate diet (CHd). A replicated 3×5 Latin rectangle design was used with 10 adult beagles. Plasma and fresh fecal samples were collected at day 28. Samples were analyzed for global metabolomics with ultra-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometer interfaced with a heated electrospray ionization source and mass analyzer. In general, there were lower concentrations of dipeptides and protein degradation metabolites, indicating higher protein digestibility, in dogs fed protein hydrolysate diets in contrast with CONd (q<0.05). Higher plasma pipecolate and glutamate, higher fecal spermidine and indole propionate, and lower phenol-derived products were found in CLHd group than CONd (q<0.05), indicating lower oxidative stress and inflammation levels. The main difference in lipid metabolism between CHd and CONd was the bile acid metabolism, showing lower circulating bile acid, lower unconjugated bile acid excretion and higher taurine-conjugated bile acid excretion in the CHd group (q<0.05).
Experimental and theoretical study on ceiling temperature distributions in mountain tunnels with lateral open shafts
Authors: Zhang Yuchun , Liu Xinyu , Tan Rui , Hou Wei , Chen Longfei , Xing Shaoshuai , Li Zhisheng , Guo Yunhai , Han Xiaoqing
Published: June 2024

A series of fire experiments in a 1/10 scale model tunnel with a lateral open shaft were conducted. Analysis was performed to explore the maximum excess temperature and longitudinal temperature decay under the influence of a mechanical exhaust system with a lateral open shaft. Three different pool sizes and numerous extraction rates were considered. The experimental results yielded intriguing insights into the correlations between the rate of smoke extraction and the ceiling temperature. The variations in the temperature distribution of ceiling smoke upstream and downstream the fire source is different under the induced longitudinal velocity, especially for the near the fire source area. An analysis of the maximum excess temperature was conducted by inducing the heat loss coefficient \(\delta\). It is 0.85 (0.71) for the induced dimensionless longitudinal velocity \({\left( {\lambda {V_s}} \right)^'} \leqslant 0.19\) \(\left( {{{\left( {\lambda {V_s}} \right)}^'}>0.19} \right)\), which indicates the effect of a large velocity on the smoke heat loss. Then, a modified model of the maximum excess temperature was given for a tunnel utilizing lateral open shaft smoke extraction. In addition, a simple model was proposed to capture ceiling temperature decay, where the decay coefficients \({k_i}\) upstream and downstream of the fire source are proportional to\(1/{Q^{'1/3}}\)(\(V_{{in}}^{\prime }/{Q^{'1/3}}\)) for\({\left( {\lambda {V_s}} \right)^'} \leqslant 0.19\)\(\left( {{{\left( {\lambda {V_s}} \right)}^'}>0.19} \right)\). The research results have certain guiding significance for the arrangement of fire protection, fire monitoring and early warning devices in mountain tunnels.
Study of Nailed and Doweled Connections for Use in Structural Panels
Authors: Minari Vitor Hugo , Pereira Marcos Cesar M. , Junior Carlito Calil
Published: June 2024

Since wood is an ecologically more efficient material than steel or concrete, as it requires less energy to process and sequesters carbon, it has been increasingly studied for the incorporation of structural panels on the world market. Unfortunately, Brazilian culture is a major barrier to overcoming when it comes to building with alternative materials. Against this backdrop, the main objective of this project is to study structural panels made of Nail Laminated Timber (NLT) and Dowel Laminated Timber (DLT) based on the experimental analysis of panels produced in the laboratory. These types of panels are highly efficient for use as floors and slabs. They are also glue-free wood panels and, in the case of DLT, panels that have no other material in their composition apart from the wood itself.
Effect of Welding Parameters on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Dissimilar AISI 304 / Ductile Cast Iron Fusion Welded joints
Authors: El-Shennawy M. , Abdel-Aleem H. A. , Ghanem M. M. , Sehsah A. M.
Published: June 2024

Problems associated with dissimilar fusion welding are mainly originated from the differences in melting points, coefficients of thermal conductivity and thermal expansion, …etc., and carbon content when welding dissimilar ferrous materials. In this study, the problems associated with dissimilar fusion welding of stainless steel AISI304 with ductile cast iron DCI grade A536 were investigated. Using shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) process, various welding parameters were studied to investigate the successful/accepted dissimilar welded joint(s). Welding electrodes and welding techniques were the main studied parameters. Microstructural and mechanical investigations were carried out for welded joints under different welding parameters. Tensile, impact and hardness tests coupled with optical and scanning electron microscopic examinations with EDX analysis were made for metallurgical and mechanical evaluations of welded joints. Main results showed that joints welded by ENiCrFe-3 electrode in root pass and ENiFe-CI in filling passes were the successful dissimilar welded joints with 422MPa tensile strength which represents 104% of annealed DCI base metal and without any changes in toughness properties, where toughness at HAZ of DCI was 18J. High Ni content in weld metal increased the strength, ductility and reduced the weld metal dilution.
Diverse Enough but with Common Views:Building a Global Stance Classifier on COVID-19
Authors: Benkhedda Youcef , Magdy Walid
Published: June 2024

Stance detection, which determines a user’s position on a specific topic through their generated content or interactions, has been widely studied for various domains. However, most existing work focuses on regional or community-specific topics, lacking a global perspective. In this paper, we investigate the ability to detect stance on the COVID-19 pandemic, a truly global issue transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. We compile a large, multilingual dataset of 7.9 million tweets related to COVID-19, accompanied by media content, spanning 3,516 users from 90 countries and 31 languages. Our objective is to develop an effective stance detection approach that can accurately predict users’ stances (pro-vax or anti-vax) regardless of their language or location. To achieve this, we propose a network-based method that leverages user interactions on Twitter, such as friends, likes, replies, and mentions, in addition to textual content. Despite the significant cultural diversity within our dataset, our approach demonstrates the ability to accurately predict users’ COVID-19 stance by analyzing their interaction signals and network homophily patterns. Our classification model achieves an F-score of 0.95 for both pro-vax and antivax user stances, surpassing state-of-the-art text-based methods. The findings suggest that echo-chamber effects and network homophily can extend beyond borders and languages, forming global patterns of polarization around certain topics. Our work highlights the potential of network-based approaches for stance detection on global issues and contributes insights into the challenges and opportunities of developing inclusive and robust models across diverse contexts.
The NHANES 2011-2018 study found a negative correlation between bone mineral density and the non- high density to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) in U.S. adults
Authors: Zhang Hanwen , Mei jian , Deng wei
Published: June 2024

Introduction
Many research have shown a negative link between lipids and bone metabolism, and the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) may be a new marker of lipid metabolism. The relationship between NHHR and lumbar bone mineral mass (BMD) is unknown. NHHR and lumbar BMD were the study's main focus.
Method
NHHR and lumbar BMD were examined using 2011-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data and multivariate logistic regression models. Also employed were interaction tests and smoothed curve fitting.
Result
Our investigation found a connection between increased NHHR levels and decreasing lumbar BMD after adjusting for covariates. All four measurement points showed this association, and lumbar BMD decreased by 0.037 g/cm2 relative to the lowest quartile.
Conclusion
We discovered an interestingly negative correlation in US citizens between NHHR and lumbar BMD. This emphasizes the need of NHHR in lipid target monitoring.
From Freehand to Precision: Dynamic Navigation Systems in Transmandibular Nerve Canal Implantation - A Case Series
Authors: Che Shiwei , Ismail Noor Huda , Wuxiang Wang , Awang Raja Azman
Published: June 2024

Background:
This article explores the utilisation of trans-mandibular nerve canal implant in patients who have restricted space in their jaw as a result of the close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve. The article discusses the drawbacks of conventional implant techniques in these situations and presents innovative approaches, for example dynamic navigation systems (DNS) and surgical guides, to enhance precision and safety during implant placement.
Case Presentation:
The paper showcases successful implementation of implantation by employing thorough preoperative planning and strategically selecting implant kinds, that range from standard to ultra-short, depending on individual anatomical requirements. This is illustrated through in-depth case studies.
Conclusion:
The results, confirmed by subsequent evaluations, demonstrate the durability of the implants without any notable issues, affirming the effectiveness as well as safety of such surgical methods for intricate dental implant procedures.
Coupled Self-Replication and Self-Assembly of Inorganic Nanoparticles into Biosimilar Networks
Authors: Kotov Nicholas , McGlothin Connor , Whisnant Kody , Turali-Emre Emine , Owuor Dickson , Xiao Xiong Ye , Bogdan Paul , VanEpps J. Scott
Published: June 2024

Processes of self-replication, engineered using (bio)organic molecules and amphiphilic microdroplets, reveal fundamental requirements for the origin of life (1–4). However, their practical significance is limited by the absence of higher-level organization in the newly formed chemical species. The next generation of self-replicating systems should include the emergence of partial order although their realization is chemically challenging. Self-replication of inorganic colloids is particularly attractive technologically, but the energy requirements for such processes appear to be utterly prohibitive. Here we show that silver nanoparticles (NPs) self-replicate via photoinduced autocatalytic reduction under a variety of conditions. Newly generated NPs self-assemble into chains due to spatially restricted attachment pattern.(5) The continuous self-replication produces nanoscale networks with complex long-range organization, including nanoparticle colonies that are morphologically analogous to biofilms. The conformal networks formed on solid surfaces and other particles display high conductivity, which, combined with network organization, enable multi-functional coatings produced at ~30 lower light power requirements than lithography. The emergence of complex structural patterns via non-biological mechanisms points to the abiotic origin of biosimilar inorganic microstructures misinterpreted as early life forms.
Optimizing Large Language Model Scaling with Micro Batch Pipeline and Inference Parallelism
Authors: Quan Doudou , Wang Ruoxi , Lian Zhu , Wang Naixin
Published: June 2024

Natural language processing has seen transformative progress with the development of sophisticated models capable of generating and understanding human language with high accuracy. The novel concept of integrating micro batch pipeline and inference parallelism represents a significant leap in optimizing the scalability and efficiency of these models. Through comprehensive experimentation with a modified GPT-Neo, substantial improvements were achieved in throughput, latency, perplexity, and BLEU scores, highlighting the effectiveness of the proposed methodologies. The enhanced model demonstrated superior performance in processing large datasets, maintaining high accuracy and quality of outputs, thereby addressing critical bottlenecks in computational load and resource constraints. The study demonstrates the potential of advanced parallelism techniques in revolutionizing model training and deployment, contributing valuable insights into the future of natural language processing and artificial intelligence.
SARS-CoV2 infection in whole lung primarily targets macrophages that display subset-specific responses
Authors: Manh Thien-Phong Vu , Gouin Carla , De Wolf Julien , Jouneau Luc , Pascale Florentina , Bevilacqua Claudia , Gouilh Meriadeg Ar , Costa Bruno Da , Chevalier Christophe , Glorion Matthieu ,   Laurent Hannouche1, Urien Céline , Estephan Jérôme , Magnan Antoine , Guen Morgan Le , Marquant Quentin , Descamps Delphyne , Dalod Marc , Schwartz-Cornil Isabelle , Sage Edouard
Published: June 2024

Deciphering the initial steps of SARS-CoV-2 infection, that influence COVID-19 outcomes, is challenging because animal models do not always reproduce human biological processes and in vitro systems do not recapitulate the histoarchitecture and cellular composition of respiratory tissues. To address this, we developed an innovative ex vivo model of whole human lung infection with SARS-CoV-2, leveraging a lung transplantation technique. Through single-cell RNA-seq, we identified that alveolar and monocyte-derived macrophages (AMs and MoMacs) were initial targets of the virus. Exposure of isolated lung AMs, MoMacs, classical monocytes and non-classical monocytes (ncMos) to SARS-CoV-2 variants revealed that while all subsets responded, MoMacs produced higher levels of inflammatory cytokines than AMs, and ncMos contributed the least. A Wuhan lineage appeared to be more potent than a D614G virus, in a dose-dependent manner. Amidst the ambiguity in the literature regarding the initial SARS-CoV-2 cell target, our study reveals that AMs and MoMacs are dominant primary entry points for the virus, and suggests that their responses may conduct subsequent injury, depending on their abundance, the viral strain and dose. Interfering on virus interaction with lung macrophages should be considered in prophylactic strategies.
Genetic Variability and Association of Traits among Sorghum Genotypes [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Under Drought Stress Area
Authors: Tilaye Ambesu
Published: June 2024

Drought is one of the most important factors that affect crop production worldwide and continues to be a challenge to plant breeders, despite many decades of research. Understanding the genetic variability among sorghum genotypes is the key objective to develop improved sorghum cultivars for drought-prone environments. The field experiment was conducted at Miesso during the 2021 main cropping season. A set of 72 sorghum genotypes advanced from a pedigree breeding approach was used in this study. The experiment was laid out using a Row-Column design with two replications. R statistical software was used to analyze the data. The analysis of variance indicated that there were significant variations among the tested genotypes for the studied traits. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 0.56–23.88% and 0.66–28.99% respectively. Broad sense heritability ranged from 25.56–86.87% while genetic advance as a percent of mean ranged from 1.11–43.40%. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that five principal components with Eigenvalue greater than unity accounted for 74.1% of the total variation. Cluster analysis grouped the test genotypes into five clusters. Cluster I, II, III, IV, and V accounted for 41.667%, 6.944%, 26.389%, 16.667%, and 8.333% of the tested genotypes in that order. The highest intra-cluster distance was observed for cluster V whereas the maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and V. The lowest intra-cluster distance was observed for cluster III, whereas clusters I and III showed the lowest inter-cluster distance. The overall study revealed the presence of wide genetic variability among the studied sorghum genotypes in the study area where moisture stress is a critical problem for sorghum production.
Perspectives on Organ Donation and the Relationship Between Spiritual Beliefs and Willingness to Donate: a Cross-sectional Study of Nigerian Medical and Allied Health Students
Authors: Ibeabuchi Kingsley Chinemerem , Mbagwu Smart Ikechukwu , Nnaka Jude Amechi , Suleiman Muritala Odidi , Gbadegesin Ojo Stephen , Okafor Izuchukwu Azuka
Published: June 2024

Introduction
This study explored how the spiritual beliefs of medical and allied health students affect their willingness for organ donation.
Materials and Methods
An online questionnaire developed from interviews and Spirituality Orientation Inventory was used to survey 604 Nigerian medical and allied health students, including questions on students’ views on organ donation, spiritual beliefs, and spiritual reasons for organ donation choices. Descriptive analysis, crosstabulation, and Chi-squared tests, were used to determine proportions, and relationships between the variables, respectively. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results
The majority (72.6%) of students support organ donation in principle. Yet only 38.25% are willing to donate posthumously, with 37.1% undecided, and a mere 16.89% willing to donate while alive. Predominantly, students identify as Christians (87.7%) or Muslims (11.6%). Approximately 43.05% are uncertain if their religion endorses organ donation, while 55.46% aim to follow their religious teachings and 25.99% try to do so. Belief in reincarnation (38.9%) and life after death (72.9%) are prevalent among respondents. Notably, the belief in reincarnation, life after death, and religious adherence significantly influences willingness to donate organs, whether posthumously or while alive (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
There is a noteworthy disparity between the theoretical support for organ donation and the actual willingness to donate, particularly while alive, among Nigerian students. The strong correlation between specific spiritual beliefs and the willingness to donate organs, emphasizes the substantial influence of spirituality on this decision-making process. There is therefore a need to consider spiritual factors when devising strategies to meet the increasing demand for donor organs.
WITHDRAWN: Laboratory Study On Mechanical Response And Failure Mechanism of Red-Bed Soft Rock Under Water-Rock Interaction
Authors: Liu Chi , Liu Xiaoli , Sun Huan , Wang Mingyang , Wu Chunlu , Wang Enzhi , Wang Sijing
Published: June 2024

The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors while they make corrections to the work. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference. Questions should be directed to the corresponding author.
Estimation of the crop water stress index (CWSI) of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) using sensor-based irrigation scheduling for different irrigation levels
Authors: Madane Dnyaneshwar Arjun , Samiksha  , Kaur Gurveer
Published: June 2024

The crop water stress index (CWSI) is an important technique for determining stress levels in the plant and directing irrigation management techniques. To determine the CWSI for sunflower, a pot-based research trial was carried out in the research field of the Department of Soil and Water Engineering, PAU, Ludhiana (India) during the summer of 2023. The sensor-based irrigation scheduling was carried out on the basis of the depletion of total available soil moisture (TASM). The drip irrigation treatments consist of I1 (full irrigation), I2 (20% depletion of TASM), and I3 (40% depletion of TASM). The results revealed that the highest amount of water applied under I1 was recorded at 484.4 mm, while I2 (387.5 mm) and I3 (290.7 mm) during the growing season of sunflower. The results revealed that for kernel diameter and seed weight, I1 and I2 were statistically non-significant to each other while I1 and I3 were statistically significant to each other. The highest water productivity recorded for I2, followed by I3. The overall findings revealed that an average CWSI value of 0.85 for the sunflower crop falls within the range of lower and upper baselines. The response of physico-chemical properties of sunflower seeds showed a high correlation with the draught condition.
Unmanned surface vehicle for intelligent water quality assessment to promote sustainable human health
Authors: Qadir Muhammad Ibtsaam , Mumtaz Rafia , Manzoor Mariam , Saleem Misbah , Khan Muhammad Ajmal , Charlesworth Susanne
Published: June 2024

Deteriorating water quality poses a substantial risk to human health, with billions at risk of waterborne diseases due to contamination. Insufficient water quality data augment risks as conventional monitoring methods lack comprehensive coverage. Technologies like the Internet of Things and machine learning offer real-time water quality monitoring and classification. IoT nodes often provide point data insufficient for monitoring the quality of entire water bodies. Remote sensing, though useful, has limitations such as measuring only optically active parameters and being affected by climate and resolution issues. To address these challenges, an unmanned surface vehicle named `AquaDrone' has been developed. AquaDrone traverses water bodies, collecting data of four key parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and temperature) along with GPS coordinates. The data is transmitted to a web portal via LoRa communication and Wi-Fi, where visualizations like data tables, trendlines and color-coded heatmaps are generated. A multilayer perceptron classifies water quality into five categories, aiding in real-time classification. A comparative analysis of various oversampling techniques has been conducted in the context of water quality classification. The AquaDrone offers a feasible solution for monitoring quality of small to medium-sized water bodies, crucial for safeguarding public health.
Project management using the developed AHP–VIKOR method with the fuzzy approach
Authors: Milojkovic Ivan , Prascevic Natasa
Published: June 2024

There are many factors to consider when designing a sewerage pumping station (SPS), such as sizing the system, pump type, cooperation between pumps, SPS elevation, wastewater discharge location, system venting, correct number of inflows into the pumping station (PS) reservoir, and chemical resistance of the installations. In this study, we developed a multi-criteria-decision-making (MCDM) fuzzy AHP–VIKOR method with the aim to contribute to the improvement and development of MCDM methods. By combining and improving the existing AHP and VIKOR methods with the application of fuzzy logic theory, a novel fuzzy AHP–VIKOR method is for easier and clearer obtaining of optimal solutions. The new method was applied to obtain the findings in the analysis of four complex design solutions for canalisation, treatment, and pumping of atmospheric wastewater in the SPS in Makiš, an urban neighbourhood of Belgrade in Serbia. The analysis was carried out in relation to the stability of the solution by way of considering the use of different methods of MCDM optimisation, while taking into account ways of channelling, treatment, and evacuation of wastewater.
Comparison of the Effects of Different Coating Matrices on Cell Binding and Nitric Oxide-mediated Protein S-nitrosylation in Endothelial Cells under Shear Flow
Authors: Lin Ming-Chung , Lin Ming-Wei , Sulistyowati Erna , Kao Ching-Chieh , Liu Chung-Jung , Huang Shu-Ping , Hsu Sodio C. N. , Huang Bin
Published: June 2024

Objective:

Shear flow is a mechanical signal regulating the function of Endothelial
Cells (ECs). The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different matrices on cell binding,
Nitric Oxide (NO) production, protein S-nitrosylation, expression of adhesion proteins, ROS
generation, and cell viability in ECs under shear flow.

Methods:

The ECs growing on glass slides separately coated with poly-L-lysine (p-Lys), collagen
(Colla), fibronectin (Fibro), and a combined matrix (Colla+Fibro) were exposed to shear flow (25
dyne/cm2) for 0, 1, 4, 8 h. The number of ECs remaining attached on the glass slide was calculated.
The expressions of endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS), peNOSS1177, VE-cadherin, FAK,
and S-nitrosylated proteins were investigated by western blotting. The production of Nitric Oxide
(NO) was measured by a specific reagent. Finally, the levels of ROS and cell viability were monitored.

Results:

Under a constant shear flow for 1 h, the physiological responses of ECs were similar between
these four matrices. When shear flow was extended to 4 and 8 h, higher cell binding, elevated
NO production, increased S-nitrosylated proteins, enhanced expressions of FAK and VE-cadherin,
mildly accumulated ROS, and cell death were observed in the matrix of Fibro and Colla+Fibro.

Conclusion:

We have concluded fibronectin to be the optimal matrix facilitating NO-mediated Snitrosylation
that might be essential for superior binding efficiency, thereby preventing the stripping
of ECs under shear flow. The results can be broadly applied to diverse biomechanical
studies.
Pharmaceutical Applications and Advances with Zetasizer: An Essential
Analytical Tool for Size and Zeta Potential Analysis
Authors: Garg Sonakshi , Patel Preeti , Gupta Ghanshyam Das , Kurmi Balak Das
Published: June 2024

:

Zetasizer is an advanced device that measures various properties of particles or molecules
suspended in a liquid medium. It is extensively used for evaluating the size of nanoparticles,
colloids, and biomolecular particles, and for determining particle charge. There are several analytical
techniques by which the size, zeta potential, and molecular weight can be determined, like Dynamic
Light Scattering (DLS) that measures the size of particles in dispersed systems, which can
range from sub-nanometers to several micrometers in diameter. Electrophoretic Light Scattering
(ELS) analyzes the mobility and charge of particles, also known as the zeta potential. Static Light
Scattering (SLS) determines the molecular weight of particles in a solution. The Zetasizer is part of
the Zetasizer Advance range of benchtop systems available for laboratory use. The Zetasizer Ultra
model offers unique measurement capabilities, such as Multi-angle Dynamic Light Scattering
(MADLS) and particle concentration. These features offer a deeper understanding of samples, making
the Zetasizer a vital instrument in numerous scientific and industrial applications. In this review,
we have discussed Zetasizer’s principles for the determination of particle size, zeta potential,
and molecular weight, along with its qualification and applications in different formulations.