bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of lower cervical spine fracture with ankylosing spondylitis by simple long anterior cervical plate: a retrospective study of 17 cases
Authors: Chen Weifu , Yang Yu , Pan Wenjun , Lei Xinhuan , Hong Zhenghua , Luo Hua
Published: July 2024

Objective

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), an autoimmune disease, often leads to lower cervical spine fractures, with the potential for severe spinal nerve damage even from low-energy injuries. The optimal treatment approach remains debated.

Methods

A retrospective study involved 17 AS patients with lower cervical spine fractures who received anterior cervical fixation. Most presented cervicothoracic or thoracolumbar kyphosis, with 11 exhibiting neurological deficits. Patient characteristics, clinical data, visual analog scale (VAS), complications, and nerve recovery were analyzed.

Results

No postoperative neurological deterioration occurred. All cases experienced complete fusion of fractures during the follow-up period. Preoperative VAS significantly decreased at 3 days and 3 months post-surgery. Of the 11 patients with preoperative neurological deficits, approximately 54.5% showed improvement post-surgery. No complications were reported, such as esophageal fistula, wound infection, or fixation failure.

Conclusion

Anterior internal fixation is a possible treatment for AS-related lower cervical fractures. This approach ensures satisfactory spinal stability and neurological recovery with proper cranial traction and external fixation post-surgery. Our findings demonstrate that this surgical method is safe and effective.
Video-based diagnosis support system for pianists with Musician’s dystonia
Authors: Oku Takanori , Furuya Shinichi , Lee André , Altenmüller Eckart
Published: July 2024

Background

Musician’s dystonia is a task-specific movement disorder that deteriorates fine motor control of skilled movements in musical performance. Although this disorder threatens professional careers, its diagnosis is challenging for clinicians who have no specialized knowledge of musical performance.

Objectives

To support diagnostic evaluation, the present study proposes a novel approach using a machine learning-based algorithm to identify the symptomatic movements of Musician’s dystonia.

Methods

We propose an algorithm that identifies the dystonic movements using the anomaly detection method with an autoencoder trained with the hand kinematics of healthy pianists. A unique feature of the algorithm is that it requires only the video image of the hand, which can be derived by a commercially available camera. We also measured the hand biomechanical functions to assess the contribution of peripheral factors and improve the identification of dystonic symptoms.

Results

The proposed algorithm successfully identified Musician’s dystonia with an accuracy and specificity of 90% based only on video footages of the hands. In addition, we identified the degradation of biomechanical functions involved in controlling multiple fingers, which is not specific to musical performance. By contrast, there were no dystonia-specific malfunctions of hand biomechanics, including the strength and agility of individual digits.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the present technique in aiding in the accurate diagnosis of Musician’s dystonia.
Comparison of deep learning architectures for predicting amyloid positivity in Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy aging, from T1-weighted brain structural MRI
Authors: Chattopadhyay Tamoghna , Ozarkar Saket S. , Buwa Ketaki , Joshy Neha Ann , Komandur Dheeraj , Naik Jayati , Thomopoulos Sophia I. , Ver Steeg Greg , Ambite Jose Luis , Thompson Paul M.
Published: July 2024

Abnormal β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation in the brain is an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is typically assessed through invasive procedures such as PET (positron emission tomography) or CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) assays. As new anti-Alzheimer’s treatments can now successfully target amyloid pathology, there is a growing interest in predicting Aβ positivity (Aβ+) from less invasive, more widely available types of brain scans, such as T1-weighted (T1w) MRI. Here we compare multiple approaches to infer Aβ + from standard anatomical MRI: (1) classical machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression, XGBoost, and shallow artificial neural networks, (2) deep learning models based on 2D and 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs), (3) a hybrid ANN-CNN, combining the strengths of shallow and deep neural networks, (4) transfer learning models based on CNNs, and (5) 3D Vision Transformers. All models were trained on paired MRI/PET data from 1,847 elderly participants (mean age: 75.1 yrs. ± 7.6SD; 863 females/984 males; 661 healthy controls, 889 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 297 with Dementia), scanned as part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. We evaluated each model’s balanced accuracy and F1 scores. While further tests on more diverse data are warranted, deep learning models trained on standard MRI showed promise for estimating Aβ + status, at least in people with MCI. This may offer a potential screening option before resorting to more invasive procedures.
Longitudinal changes in Mediterranean diet adherence and perceived benefits and barriers to its consumption in US university students
Authors: Yildiz Serhat , Downing Patrick , Knight Caroline J. , Frugé Andrew D. , Greene Michael W.
Published: July 2024

Objective

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans has recommended consumption of a Mediterranean diet (MD) for overall health and wellbeing, and the US News & World Report has ranked the MD as the top diet overall for the past six consecutive years. However, it is uncertain if university students in the United States (US) have increased their adoption of this dietary approach over these past six years.

Design

Longitudinal cross-sectional survey conducted in three cohorts (2018, 2020, 2022) utilizing regression models to assess MD Adherence and other relevant outcomes variables.

Setting

University in the southern US.

Participants

Students (n = 761) enrolled in undergraduate introductory nutrition course.

Results

Survey respondents were 83% female, 91% white, and 97% ages 18–24. Predictors of MD adherence were older age, female gender, and health-related qualifications. MD adherence was lowest in 2022. The 2022 group perceived less MD health benefits, weight loss, ethical concerns, natural content, and sensory appeal compared to the 2018 group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in eating behavior were examined in the 2020 and 2022 groups. We observed that participants in the 2022 group had a greater frequency of snacking and a lower frequency of eating out compared to 2020 group.

Conclusion

MD adherence did not increase over time in US university students. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and education to promote healthier eating habits in university students.
Does a high peritoneal cancer index lead to a worse prognosis of patients with advanced ovarian cancer?: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on the latest evidence
Authors: Wang Siyu , Liu Shaoxuan , Liu Fangyuan , Guo Ying , Han Fengjuan
Published: July 2024

Background

The newest clinical evidence that the relationship between the peritoneal cancer index (PCI) and the postoperative prognosis of advanced ovarian cancer patients remains controversial, and there are no large-sample and multicenter studies to clarify this matter. Therefore, in this paper, we used meta-analysis to systematically assess the postoperative prognostic value of PCI in subjects with advanced ovarian cancer to provide individualized treatment plans and thus improve the prognosis of patients.

Methods

Literature on the correlation between PCI and the postoperative prognosis in subjects with advanced OC undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) was searched in the Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science from the database inception to April 20, 2023. The search was updated on February 28, 2024. We only included late-stage (FIGO stage: III-IV) patients who did not undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Afterwards, literature screening and data extraction were conducted using Endnote20 software. The literature quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Lastly, statistical analysis was performed with STATA 15.0 software.

Results

Five studies with 774 patients were included. The result indicated that patients with high PCI had a worse prognosis than those with low PCI. The combined hazard ratio was 2.79 [95%CI: (2.04, 3.82), p<0.001] for overall survival (OS) in patients with high PCI. Further subgroup analysis by the FIGO staging revealed that in stage III [HR: 2.61, 95%CI: (2.00, 3.40), p<0.001] and stage III-IV patients [HR: 2.69, 95%CI: (1.66, 4.36), p<0.001], a high PCI score was significantly associated with a worse prognosis. The PCI score had a greater impact on the OS of patients with higher stages. The combined hazard ratio was 1.89 [95%CI: (1.51, 2.36), p<0.001] for progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with high PCI.

Conclusion

PCI may be used as a postoperative prognosis indicator in patients with advanced OC on primary debulking surgery. High PCI indicates a worse prognosis. However, further research is warranted to confirm these findings.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023424010.
Obstructive or non-obstructive megacystis: a prenatal dilemma
Authors: Mandaletti Martina , Cerchia Elisa , Ruggiero Elena , Teruzzi Elisabetta , Bastonero Simona , Pertusio Annasilvia , Della Corte Marcello , Sciarrone Andrea , Gerocarni Nappo Simona
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Diagnosis of prenatal megacystis has a significant impact on the pregnancy, as it can have severe adverse effects on fetal and neonatal survival and renal and pulmonary function. The study aims to investigate the natural history of fetal megacystis, to try to differentiate in utero congenital lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) from non-obstructive megacystis, and, possibly, to predict postnatal outcome.

Materials and methods

A retrospective single-center observational study was conducted from July 2015 to November 2023. The inclusion criteria were a longitudinal bladder diameter (LBD) >7 mm in the first trimester or an overdistended/thickened-walled bladder failing to empty in the second and third trimesters. Close ultrasound follow-up, multidisciplinary prenatal counseling, and invasive and non-invasive genetic tests were offered. Informed consent for fetal autopsy was obtained in cases of termination of pregnancy or intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD). Following birth, neonates were followed up at the same center. Patients were stratified based on diagnosis: LUTO (G1), urogenital anomalies other than LUTO (“non-LUTO”) (G2), and normal urinary tract (G3).

Results

This study included 27 fetuses, of whom 26 were males. Megacystis was diagnosed during the second and third trimesters in 92% of the fetuses. Of the 27 fetuses, 3 (11.1%) underwent an abortion, and 1 had IUFD. Twenty-three newborns were live births (85%) at a mean gestational age (GA) of 34 ± 2 weeks. Two patients (neonates) died postnatally due to severe associated malformations. Several prenatal parameters were evaluated to differentiate patients with LUTO from those with non-LUTO, including the severity of upper tract dilatation, keyhole sign, oligohydramnios, LBD, and GA at diagnosis. However, none proved predictive of the postnatal diagnosis. Similarly, none of the prenatal parameters evaluated were predictive of postnatal renal function.

Discussion

The diagnosis of megacystis in the second and third trimesters was associated with live births in up to 85% of cases, with LUTO identified as the main cause of fetal megacystis. This potentially more favorable outcome, compared to the majority reported in literature, should be taken into account in prenatal counseling. Megacystis is an often misinterpreted antennal sign that may hide a wide range of diagnoses with different prognoses, beyond an increased risk of adverse renal and respiratory outcomes.
Evaluation of phrenic nerve stimulation trigger lag and synchronization in different modes of ventilation
Authors: Bentley Ishmael , Jocewicz Frank T. , Johnson Bruce D. , Mehta Hitesh P.
Published: July 2024

Phrenic nerve stimulation is currently being investigated for the prevention of diaphragm atrophy in patients with mechanically supported breathing. Patients receiving breathing support from mechanical ventilation are at risk of mismatches between respiratory demand and ventilator support. Our objectives were to determine if a novel phrenic nerve stimulation device provided stimulation during inspiration as intended and did not exacerbate any potential discordances. A benchtop electromechanical simulation model was developed to validate phrenic nerve stimulation with simulated breathing. The phrenic nerve stimulation device was evaluated with a mechanical ventilator attached to a breathing simulator. The trigger ratio and time lag between phrenic nerve stimulation and mechanical ventilation was measured for multiple disease and ventilator parameters. For the 1:1 breath trigger ratio test, 99.79% of intended stimulation breaths received stimulation at the correct time. For the 1:4 breath trigger ratio test, 99.72% of intended stimulation breaths received stimulation at the correct time. For trigger lag times for the inspiratory and expiratory phases, the mean inspiratory lag was 36.10 ± 10.50 ms and 16.61 ± 3.61 ms, respectively. The following discordance scenarios were evaluated in conjunction with simulated phrenic nerve stimulation: asynchrony-false trigger, dyssynchrony-early trigger, dyssynchrony-late trigger, dyssynchrony-early cycling, dyssynchrony-late cycling. Testing demonstrated none of these discordances were exacerbated by the simulated phrenic nerve stimulation. The novel phrenic nerve stimulation device delivered electrical stimulation therapy as intended and did not exacerbate any simulated discordances.
Synchrotron tomography of magnetoprimed soybean plant root system architecture grown in arsenic-polluted soil
Authors: Fatima Anis , Kataria Sunita , Jain Meeta , Prajapati Rajkumar , Mahawar Lovely
Published: July 2024

The present study evaluated the repercussions of magnetopriming on the root system architecture of soybean plants subjected to arsenic toxicity using synchrotron radiation source based micro-computed tomography (SR-µCT). This will be used evey where as abbreviation for the technique for three-dimensional imaging. Seeds of soybean were exposed to the static magnetic field (SMF) of strength (200 mT) for 1h prior to sowing. Magnetoprimed and non-primed seeds were grown for 1 month in a soil–sand mixture containing four different levels of sodium arsenate (0, 5, 10, and 50 mg As kg−1 soil). The results showed that arsenic adversely affects the root growth in non-primed plants by reducing their root length, root biomass, root hair, size and number of root nodules, where the damaging effect of As was observed maximum at higher concentrations (10 and 50 mg As kg−1 soil). However, a significant improvement in root morphology was detected in magnetoprimed plants where SMF pretreatment enhanced the root length, root biomass, pore diameter of cortical cells, root hair formation, lateral roots branching, and size of root nodules and girth of primary roots. Qualitative analysis of x-ray micro-CT images showed that arsenic toxicity damaged the epidermal and cortical layers of the root as well as reduced the pore diameter of the cortical cells. However, the diameter of cortical cells pores in magnetoprimed plants was observed higher as compared to plants emerged from non-primed seeds at all level of As toxicity. Thus, the study suggested that magnetopriming has the potential to attenuate the toxic effect of As and could be employed as a pre-sowing treatment to reduce the phytotoxic effects of metal ions in plants by improving root architecture and root tolerance index. This study is the very first exploration of the potential benefits of magnetopriming in mitigating the toxicity of metals (As) in plant roots utilizing the micro-CT technique.
Association between polyunsaturated fatty acids and depression in women with infertility: a cross-sectional study based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Hong Yan , Jin Xia , Shi Lihong
Published: July 2024

Background

Identifying possible influencing factors is crucial for the depression symptoms of women experiencing infertility. This study aims to explore the association between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the odds of depression symptoms in women experiencing infertility.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). PUFA intake was obtained through a 24-h dietary recall interview. Depression symptoms were defined using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) with a score of ≥10 points or as taking antidepressants. The association between PUFA and depression was assessed using a logistic regression model by calculating the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analysis was carried out based on menopausal status and female hormone use.

Results

There were 725 participants included for analysis. After adjusting the covariables, lower odds of depression symptoms were found in patients with the intake of omega-3 PUFA (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.24–0.96) and omega-6 PUFA (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.14–0.42) in the second tertile (T2) in comparison to the first tertile (T1). The intake of α-linolenic (ALA) (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.23–0.97) and linoleic acid (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.14–0.41) in T2 was also found to be related to the reduced odds of depression symptoms in comparison to T1.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a potential association between moderate omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA intake and a reduced risk of depression symptoms in women experiencing infertility. This implies that clinicians might find it useful to consider dietary advice that includes PUFA-rich foods as part of a broader strategy to address mental health in this patient group. However, further research is needed to confirm these preliminary findings and to establish the optimal levels of PUFA intake for mental health benefits.
Long-term evacuation and obesity: a 12-year follow-up comparative study of residents inside and outside Katsurao Village after the Fukushima nuclear disaster
Authors: Ito Naomi , Takita Morihito , Moriyama Nobuaki , Amir Isamu , Furuyama Ayako , Saito Hiroaki , Abe Toshiki , Yamamoto Chika , Sato Mika , Zhao Tianchen , Tsubokura Masaharu
Published: July 2024

Objective

Evacuation, owing to a disaster, impacts various aspects of an individual's life, including health status. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among residents of Katsurao Village, Fukushima Prefecture, after the evacuation order due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 was lifted in 2016 and to compare the prevalence of obesity by place of residence (inside or outside the village).

Methods

The number of examinees, sex, age, place of residence, body mass index (BMI), exercise habits, smoking habits, drinking habits, and dietary status were extracted from the results of health checkups since 2016. We compared the BMI of the indigenes of Katsurao Village by place of residence (inside or outside the village) over time.

Results

Although 7 years have passed since 2016, ~70% of the registered residents of Katsurao Village still live outside the village. The obesity rates have consistently been higher among people living outside the village compared to those inside, and the place of residence was the only factor significantly associated with obesity.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest early intervention is necessary to prevent health risks associated with disaster evacuation if the evacuation period is prolonged.
Knowledge, practice, and infection status of prisoners toward dermatomycosis: a study in Nepal
Authors: Dhakal Bikrant , Shrestha Bhagat Lal , Shah Sangam , Rijal Shrija , Karki Bibek Bahadur , Pangeni Paras Modi , Bhatta Nikita , Mehta Rachana , Thapa Neeraj , Zeeshan Bushra , Sah Ranjit , Luna Camila , Bonilla-Aldana D. Katterine , Rodriguez-Morales Alfonso J.
Published: July 2024

Background

Dermatophytosis, commonly known as tinea, poses a significant public health concern worldwide, especially in environments with poor hygiene and overcrowding, such as prisons. Despite its prevalence and impact on quality of life, there is a lack of research on the knowledge and hygiene practices regarding dermatophytosis among prisoners, particularly in Nepal.

Objective

The study aimed to assess prisoners’ knowledge, hygiene practice and infection status regarding dermatophytosis in Central Prison, Nepal.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study with a sample size of 184 respondents was designed to collect data using a validated pre-tested questionnaire from September 2023 to January 2024. The collected data was then analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21. Knowledge and hygiene practices were measured on an eight and 11-point scale and rated as poor (≤4) and sound (>4), bad (≤6), and good (>6), respectively. Summary data were presented by descriptive, while Chi-square and logistic regression were used for inferential statistics at p < 0.05.

Results

The findings revealed moderate knowledge among prisoners regarding dermatophytosis, with significant gaps in understanding its spread and prevention. While most prisoners recognized the importance of treatment, there were misconceptions about the inevitability of contracting dermatophytosis and the role of personal hygiene.

Conclusion

Despite good knowledge levels, adherence to recommended hygiene practices was suboptimal, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. The study underscores the importance of addressing knowledge gaps, changing attitudes, and promoting hygienic practices to mitigate the burden of dermatophytosis among prisoners.
Development and application of a 1K functional liquid chip for lactation performance in Bactrian camels
Authors: Guo Lili , Dao Lema , Liu Bin , Wang Jingyu , Liu Zaixia , Ma Fengying , Morigen Bielige , Chang Chencheng , Bai Yinbatu , Guo Yaqiang , Shi Caixia , Cao Junwei , Zhang Wenguang
Published: July 2024

Introduction

The advancement of high-throughput, high-quality, flexible, and cost-effective genotyping platforms is crucial for the progress of dairy breeding in Bactrian camels. This study focuses on developing and evaluating a 1K functional liquid single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array specifically designed for milk performance in Bactrian camels.

Methods

We utilized RNA sequencing data from 125 lactating camels to identify and select 1,002 loci associated with milk production traits for inclusion in the SNP array. The array’s performance was then assessed using 24 randomly selected camels. Additionally, the array was employed to genotype 398 individuals, which allowed for population validation to assess the polymorphism of SNP sites.

Results

The SNP array demonstrated high overall SNP call rates (> 99%) and a remarkable 100% consistency in genotyping. Population validation results indicate that camels from six breeding areas in Northwest China share a similar genetic background regarding lactation functionality.

Discussion

This study highlights the potential of the SNP array to accelerate the breeding process of lactating Bactrian camels and provides a robust technical foundation for improving lactation performance.
RPA-CRISPR-Cas13a-assisted detection method of transmissible gastroenteritis virus
Authors: Wang Haoyu , Cheng Zhimeng , Luo Ran , Yang Qiyue , Zeng Yongping , Yang Yijun , Chen Yuankun , Li Wenting , Liu Xiao
Published: July 2024

Background and aim

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) is a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus that causes diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, dehydration, and weight loss in piglets. In clinical practice, it often occurs in mixed infections with other pathogens, and is therefore difficult to diagnose and prevent. It mainly harms piglets of about 2 weeks old, causing huge losses on farms. The clinical confirmation of TGEV usually requires a laboratory diagnosis, but traditional PCR and immunofluorescence assays have some limitations. Moreover, most farms in China are ill-equipped to accurately diagnose the disease. Therefore, a new detection method with high sensitivity and specificity and less dependence on instrumentation is required.

Methods

We used recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), combined with the nuclease characteristics of the activated Cas13a protein to establish a visual CRISPR-Cas13a-assisted detection method for TGEV by adding a reporter RNA with fluorescent and quenching moieties to the system.

Result

We selected the optimal RPA primer and best CRISPR RNA (crRNA). The reaction system was optimized and its repeatability, specificity, and sensitivity verified. The TGEV detection system did not cross-react with other common diarrhea viruses, and its detection limit was 101 copies, which is similar with the sensitivity of qPCR. We successfully established an RPA–CRISPR-Cas13a-assisted detection method, and used this detection system to analyze 123 pig blood samples. qPCR was used as the gold standard method. The sensitivity, specificity, positive coincidence rate, and negative coincidence rate of the new method were 100, 98.93, 96.66, and 100%, respectively.
JVC-02 Teleoperated Robot: Design, Implementation, and Validation for Assistance in Real Explosive Ordnance Disposal Missions
Authors: Canaza Ccari Luis F. , Adrian Ali Ronald , Valdeiglesias Flores Erick , Medina Chilo Nicolás O. , Sulla Espinoza Erasmo , Silva Vidal Yuri , Pari Lizardo
Published: July 2024

Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operations are hazardous due to the volatile and sensitive nature of these devices. EOD robots have improved these tasks, but their high cost limits accessibility for security institutions that do not have sufficient funds. This article presents the design, implementation, and validation of a low-cost EOD robot named JVC-02, specifically designed for use in explosive hazardous environments to safeguard the safety of police officers of the Explosives Disposal Unit (UDEX) of Arequipa, Peru. To achieve this goal, the essential requirements for this type of robot were compiled, referencing the capabilities of Rescue Robots from RoboCup. Additionally, the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methodology was used to identify the needs and requirements of UDEX police officers. Based on this information, a modular approach to robot design was developed, utilizing commercial off-the-shelf components to facilitate maintenance and repair. The JVC-02 was integrated with a 5-DoF manipulator and a two-finger mechanical gripper to perform dexterity tasks, along with a tracked locomotion mechanism, which enables effective movement, and a three-camera vision system to facilitate exploration tasks. Finally, field tests were conducted in real scenarios to evaluate and experimentally validate the capabilities of the JVC-02 robot, assessing its mobility, dexterity, and exploration skills. Additionally, real EOD missions were carried out in which UDEX agents intervened and controlled the robot. The results demonstrate that the JVC-02 robot possesses strong capabilities for real EOD applications, excelling in intuitive operation, low cost, and ease of maintenance.
Accurate Method for Estimating Wall-Friction Based on Analytical Wall-Law Model
Authors: Zhou Lei , Wang Duo , Cao Bochao , Xu Hongyi
Published: July 2024

A novel method is proposed for accurately determining the local wall friction through the near-wall measurement of time-average velocity profile in a Type-A turbulent boundary layer (TBL). The method is based on the newly established analytical wall-law in Type-A TBL. The direct numerical simulations (DNS) data of turbulence on a zero-pressure-gradient flat-plate (ZPGFP) is used to demonstrate the accuracy and the robustness of the approach. To verify the reliability and applicability of the method, a two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement was performed in a ZPGFP TBL with a low-to-moderate Reynolds number (Re). Via utilizing the algorithm of single-pixel ensemble correlation (SPEC), the velocity profiles in the ZPGFP TBL were resolved at a significantly improved spatial resolution, which greatly enhanced the measurement accuracy and permitted us to accurately capture the near-wall velocity information. The accuracy of the approach is then quantitatively validated for the high Reynolds number turbulence using the ZPGFP TBL data. The research demonstrates that the current method can provide the precise estimation of wall friction with a mean error of less than 2%, which not only possesses the advantage of its insensitivity to the absolute wall-normal distance of the measuring point, but also its capability of providing an accurate prediction of wall shear stress based on fairly sparse experimental data on the velocity profile. The current study demonstrates that the wall shear stress can be accurately estimated by a velocity even at a single-point either measured or calculated in the near-wall region.
MV-SSRP: Machine Vision Approach for Stress–Strain Measurement in Rice Plants
Authors: Yi Wenlong , Zhang Xunsheng , Dai Shiming , Kuzmin Sergey , Gerasimov Igor , Cheng Xiangping
Published: July 2024

Rice plants’ ability to develop lodging resistance is essential for their proper growth and development, and understanding the stress–strain relationship is crucial for a comprehensive analysis of this resilience. Nevertheless, significant data variability, inefficiency, and substantial observational inaccuracies hinder current measurement and analysis techniques. Therefore, this study proposes a machine vision-based stress–strain measurement method for rice plants to address these limitations. The technique primarily involves the implementation of the proposed MV-SSRP rotating target detection network, which enhances the model’s ability to predict the strain of rice stalks accurately when subjected to bending forces through the integration of the spatial channel reorganization convolution (ScConv) and Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) attention mechanism. A stress–strain dynamic relationship model was also developed by incorporating real-time stress data obtained from a mechanical testing device. The experimental findings demonstrated that MV-SSRP attained precision, recall, and mean average precision (mAP) rates of 93.4%, 92.6%, and 97.6%, respectively, in the context of target detection. These metrics represented improvements of 4.8%, 3.8%, and 5.1%, respectively, over the performance of the YOLOv8sOBB model. This investigation contributes a theoretical framework and technical underpinning for examining rice lodging resistance.
Deficit Irrigation of Forage Cactus (Opuntia stricta) with Brackish Water: Impacts on Growth, Productivity, and Economic Viability under Evapotranspiration-Based Management
Authors: Bezerra Francisco Mardones Servulo , de Lacerda Claudivan Feitosa , Giroldo Aelton Biasi , Cavalcante Eduardo Santos , Michelon Nicola , Pennisi Giuseppina , Sales Jonnathan Richeds da Silva , Lessa Carla Ingryd Nojosa , Lima Silvio Carlos Ribeiro Vieira , Lopes Fernando Bezerra , Gianquinto Giorgio , Orsini Francesco
Published: July 2024

Climate change significantly impacts agriculture and forage production, requiring the implementation of strategies toward increased water and energy use efficiency. So, this study investigated the yield of forage cactus (Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw) under different irrigation depths using brackish groundwater (1.7 dS m−1), whose management was based on reference evapotranspiration (ETo) estimated by the Hargreave–Samani (HS) and Penman–Monteith (PM) equations. The research was conducted in Independência, Ceará, Brazil, under the tropical semi-arid climate. A randomized block design in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme was employed, varying the ET0 estimation equations (HS and PM) and irrigation levels (0; 20; 40; 70; and 100% of total required irrigation—TRI). Growth, productivity, and water use efficiency variables were evaluated at 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment initiation. The economic analysis focused on added value, farmer income, and social reproduction level. The results showed no isolated effect of the equations or their interaction with irrigation depths on the analyzed variables, suggesting that irrigation management can be effectively performed using the simpler HS equation. Furthermore, there was no statistical difference between the means of 100% and 70% TRI as well as between 70% and 40% TRI for most variables. This indicates satisfactory crop yield under deficit irrigation. Dry matter productivity and farmer income at 12 months resulting from complementary irrigation with depths between 40% and 70% of TRI were significantly higher than under rainfed conditions. The 70% depth resulted in yields equivalent to those at 100% TRI, with the social reproduction level being achieved on 0.65 hectares in the second year.
The Antimicrobial Peptide Capitellacin: Chemical Synthesis of Analogues to Probe the Role of Disulphide Bridges and Their Replacement with Vinyl Sulphides
Authors: Shepperson Oscar A. , Harris Paul W. R. , Brimble Margaret A. , Cameron Alan J.
Published: July 2024

Capitellacin (1) is a 20-residue antimicrobial β-hairpin, produced by the marine polychaeta (segmented worms) Capitella teletai. Since its discovery in 2020, only very limited studies have been undertaken to understand capitellacin’s structure–activity relationship (SAR). Using fast-flow Fmoc-SPPS, a focused library of capitellacin analogues was prepared to systematically study the influence of the two disulphide bridges on its structure and activity, and their replacement with a vinyl sulphide as a potential bioisostere. Upon studying the resulting peptides’ antimicrobial activity and secondary structure, the most terminal disulphide emerged as the most critical element for maintaining both bioactivity and the secondary structure, properties which were demonstrated to be closely interlinked. The removal of the innermost disulphide bridge or disulphide replacement with a vinyl sulphide emerged as strategies with which to tune the activity spectrum, producing selectivity towards E. coli. Additionally, an enantiomeric d-capitellacin analogue revealed mechanistic insights, suggesting that chirality may be an inherent property of capitellacin’s bacterial membrane target, or that a hitherto unknown secondary mechanism of action may exist. Additionally, we propose the Alloc protecting group as a more appropriate alternative to the common Dde group during fast-flow Fmoc-SPPS, in particular for short-chain diamino acids.
Can Bayesian Networks Improve Ground-Strike Point Classification?
Authors: Lesejane Wandile , Hunt Hugh G. P. , Schumann Carina , Ajoodha Ritesh
Published: July 2024

Studying cloud-to-ground lightning strokes and ground-strike points provides an alternative method of lightning mapping for lightning risk assessment. Various k-means algorithms have been used to verify the ground-strike points from lightning locating systems, producing results with room for improvement. This paper proposes using Bayesian networks (BNs), a model not previously used for this purpose, to classify lightning ground-strike points. A Bayesian network is a probabilistic graphical model that uses Bayes’ theorem to represent the conditional dependencies of variables. The networks created for this research were trained from the data using a score-based structure-learning procedure and the Bayesian information criterion score function. The models were evaluated using confusion matrices and kappa indices and produced accuracy values ranging from 86% to 94% and kappa indices of up to 0.76. While BN models do not outperform k-means algorithms, they offer an alternative by not requiring predetermined distances. However, the easy implementation of the k-means approach means that no significant gain is made by implementing the more complex Bayesian network approach.
Implication of Subsequent Leaders in the Gigantic Jet
Authors: Chang Wen-Qian , Lai Yan-Mou , Kuo Cheng-Ling , Mlynarczyk Janusz , Lin Zhong-Yi
Published: July 2024

Most of the lightning appears below the cloud or inside the cloud. Unlike conventional lightning, blue jets and gigantic jets (GJ) produce upward discharge since electric discharge occurs as a form of cloud-to-air leader. We analyzed a gigantic jet recorded in the 2022 Taiwan campaign. For our color photograph recorded in the observation, high spatial resolution (150 m) at a close distance (140 km) resolves the important spatial features of the GJ phenomena. First, the GJ propagated upwardly as the fully developed jet with a maximum height of ~80 km above the cloud top ~17 km. After the fully developed stage, the subsequent leader reached its top height of ~30 km with a width of 0.5–1.0 km. The subsequent leader attempted but failed to develop from leader to fully developed jet. The subsequent leader may be interpreted as a negative stepped leader associated with cloud rebrightening, similar to the subsequent stroke in the multi-stroke lightning. Besides, the relatively higher IC flash rates associated with the rise of cloud tops benefit the required meteorological conditions for developing gigantic jets.
Trustworthy AI Guidelines in Biomedical Decision-Making Applications: A Scoping Review
Authors: Mora-Cantallops Marçal , García-Barriocanal Elena , Sicilia Miguel-Ángel
Published: July 2024

Recently proposed legal frameworks for Artificial Intelligence (AI) depart from some frameworks of concepts regarding ethical and trustworthy AI that provide the technical grounding for safety and risk. This is especially important in high-risk applications, such as those involved in decision-making support systems in the biomedical domain. Frameworks for trustworthy AI span diverse requirements, including human agency and oversight, technical robustness and safety, privacy and data governance, transparency, fairness, and societal and environmental impact. Researchers and practitioners who aim to transition experimental AI models and software to the market as medical devices or to use them in actual medical practice face the challenge of deploying processes, best practices, and controls that are conducive to complying with trustworthy AI requirements. While checklists and general guidelines have been proposed for that aim, a gap exists between the frameworks and the actual practices. This paper reports the first scoping review on the topic that is specific to decision-making systems in the biomedical domain and attempts to consolidate existing practices as they appear in the academic literature on the subject.
An Ensemble Machine Learning and Data Mining Approach to Enhance Stroke Prediction
Authors: Wijaya Richard , Saeed Faisal , Samimi Parnia , Albarrak Abdullah M. , Qasem Sultan Noman
Published: July 2024

Stroke poses a significant health threat, affecting millions annually. Early and precise prediction is crucial to providing effective preventive healthcare interventions. This study applied an ensemble machine learning and data mining approach to enhance the effectiveness of stroke prediction. By employing the cross-industry standard process for data mining (CRISP-DM) methodology, various techniques, including random forest, ExtraTrees, XGBoost, artificial neural network (ANN), and genetic algorithm with ANN (GANN) were applied on two benchmark datasets to predict stroke based on several parameters, such as gender, age, various diseases, smoking status, BMI, HighCol, physical activity, hypertension, heart disease, lifestyle, and others. Due to dataset imbalance, Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) was applied to the datasets. Hyperparameter tuning optimized the models via grid search and randomized search cross-validation. The evaluation metrics included accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and area under the curve (AUC). The experimental results show that the ensemble ExtraTrees classifier achieved the highest accuracy (98.24%) and AUC (98.24%). Random forest also performed well, achieving 98.03% in both accuracy and AUC. Comparisons with state-of-the-art stroke prediction methods revealed that the proposed approach demonstrates superior performance, indicating its potential as a promising method for stroke prediction and offering substantial benefits to healthcare.
Associations between DEET, Organophosphorus Insecticides, and Handgrip Strength in Diabetes: An NHANES Analysis
Authors: Liu Chi-Feng , Chien Li-Wei
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Sarcopenia and diabetes mellitus (DM) have been shown to be related. It has been demonstrated that pesticides/insecticides are linked to various health issues, including DM. This study investigated the relationships between exposure to pesticides/insecticides and muscle strength among community-dwelling DM patients in a national sample of the United States (US). Methods: Data from the 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) on people aged 20 years with diabetes were retrieved. A digital dynamometer was used to quantify handgrip strength, and urine pesticide concentrations were determined through laboratory testing. Regression models were used to investigate the relationship between pesticide/insecticide exposure and handgrip strength. Results: After weighting, the data from 412 NHANES participants represented 6,696,865 U.S. inhabitants. The mean age of the participants was 58.8 years. High para-nitrophenol levels (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1) were shown to be associated with lower handgrip strength in both males (aBeta = −7.25, 95% CI: −11.25, −3.25) and females (aBeta = −3.73, 95% CI: −6.89, −0.56). Further, females with elevated 2-isopropyl−4-methyl-pyrimidinol had decreased handgrip strength. Desethyl hydroxy N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) was inversely related to handgrip strength in men aged ≥60 years. DEET acid and para-nitrophenol were inversely correlated to handgrip strength in women over 60 years. Conclusions: This study has linked certain pesticides/insecticides to decreased muscle strength in people with diabetes. Para-nitrophenol, in particular, is negatively related to muscular strength in both males and females, and 2-isopropyl-4-methyl-pyrimidinol is inversely related to muscle strength in females.
Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography-Derived Tricuspid Annular Properties in Acromegaly—Results from the MAGYAR-Path Study
Authors: Nemes Attila , Rácz Gergely , Kormányos Árpád , Gyenes Nándor , Ambrus Nóra , Lengyel Csaba , Valkusz Zsuzsanna
Published: July 2024

Introduction. Acromegaly is an endocrine pathology characterized by the overproduction of human growth hormone. The present study aimed to analyze three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE)-derived tricuspid annular (TA) properties in detail in patients with acromegaly and to compare the findings to those of matched healthy controls. Methods. The present study consisted of 29 patients with acromegaly (mean age: 55.9 ± 14.5 years, 21 males), of which 13 had an active disease. The control population comprised 57 healthy subjects (mean age: 53.2 ± 8.4 years, 38 males). Results. In the presence of acromegaly, left atrial and end-diastolic left ventricular (LV) sizes were dilated, and LV ejection fraction was increased, which was accompanied by thickened interventricular septum and LV posterior wall as compared with matched healthy controls. The presence of grade 1 mitral (MR) and tricuspid (TR) regurgitations were more frequent in acromegaly than in controls, regardless of disease activity. Higher than grade 1 MR/TR was uncommon in acromegaly. The 3DSTE-derived all end-diastolic (2.47 ± 0.27 cm vs. 2.23 ± 0.27 cm; 8.73 ± 1.77 cm2 vs. 6.67 ± 1.40 cm2; 11.56 ± 1.34 cm vs. 10.20 ± 1.10 cm, p < 0.001 for all) and end-systolic (1.97 ± 0.27 cm vs. 1.77 ± 0.28 cm; 6.24 ± 1.61 cm2 vs. 5.01 ± 1.42 cm2; 9.80 ± 1.35 cm vs. 8.72 ± 1.10 cm, p < 0.001 for all) TA diameters, areas, and perimeters proved to be dilated, while TA functional parameters including TA fractional area change (28.77 ± 9.80% vs. 27.64 ± 15.34%, p = 0.720) and fractional shortening (20.60 ± 9.08% vs. 20.51 ± 8.81%, p = 0.822) were normal in acromegaly regardless of whether acromegaly was active or not. RA volumes respecting the cardiac cycle were dilated in acromegaly as compared with those of healthy controls regardless of disease activity and were associated with respective changes in TA dimensions. Conclusions. In the presented acromegaly patients, significant TA dilation with preserved function could be detected regardless of disease activity. RA volumes and TA dimensions are correlated in acromegaly.
Decoding the Role of CYP450 Enzymes in Metabolism and Disease: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Hossam Abdelmonem Basma , Abdelaal Noha M. , Anwer Eman K. E. , Rashwan Alaa A. , Hussein Mohamed Ali , Ahmed Yasmin F. , Khashana Rana , Hanna Mireille M. , Abdelnaser Anwar
Published: July 2024

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) is a group of enzymes that play an essential role in Phase I metabolism, with 57 functional genes classified into 18 families in the human genome, of which the CYP1, CYP2, and CYP3 families are prominent. Beyond drug metabolism, CYP enzymes metabolize endogenous compounds such as lipids, proteins, and hormones to maintain physiological homeostasis. Thus, dysregulation of CYP450 enzymes can lead to different endocrine disorders. Moreover, CYP450 enzymes significantly contribute to fatty acid metabolism, cholesterol synthesis, and bile acid biosynthesis, impacting cellular physiology and disease pathogenesis. Their diverse functions emphasize their therapeutic potential in managing hypercholesterolemia and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, CYP450 enzymes are implicated in the onset and development of illnesses such as cancer, influencing chemotherapy outcomes. Assessment of CYP450 enzyme expression and activity aids in evaluating liver health state and differentiating between liver diseases, guiding therapeutic decisions, and optimizing drug efficacy. Understanding the roles of CYP450 enzymes and the clinical effect of their genetic polymorphisms is crucial for developing personalized therapeutic strategies and enhancing drug responses in diverse patient populations.