bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Universal Local Attractors on Graphs
Authors: Krasanakis Emmanouil , Papadopoulos Symeon , Kompatsiaris Ioannis
Published: April 2024

Being able to express broad families of equivariant or invariant attributed graph functions is a popular measuring stick of whether graph neural networks should be employed in practical applications. However, it is equally important to learn deep local minima of losses (i.e., with much smaller loss values than other minima), even when architectures cannot express global minima. In this work we introduce the architectural property of attracting GNN optimization trajectories to local minima as a means of achieving smaller losses. We take first steps in satisfying this property for losses defined over attributed undirected unweighted graphs with a novel architecture, called Universal Local Attractor (ULA). The latter refines each dimension of end-to-end trained node feature embeddings based on graph structure to track the optimization trajectories of losses satisfying some mild conditions. The refined dimensions are then linearly pooled to create predictions. We experiment on 10 tasks, from node classification to clique detection, on which ULA is comparable with or significantly outperforms popular alternatives of similar or greater theoretical expressive power.
Micro and Nano Pollutants from Tires and Car Brakes Generated in Winter Season in the Poznan City Urban Environment
Authors: Przekop Robert Edward , Sztorch Bogna , Pakuła Daria , Romańczuk-Ruszuk Eliza , Konieczna Roksana , Frydrych Miłosz
Published: April 2024

This research focusing on the environmental impact of tire and brake pad wear constitutes a significant area of transport-related studies. These two key vehicle components are not only the most frequently worn, but also generate micro and nano pollutants (i.e., rubber, metal oxides) that potentially harm the environment. Over half of the globally produced natural and synthetic rubbers, which amounted to about 30 million tons in 2022, are used for tire production. According to Wagner et al.'s research, over 1.3 million tons of such particles are released due to wear and tear in the European Union alone. This work focuses on examining snow deposits from various locations in an urban agglomeration (Poznan, Poland) in the winter season. FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic studies, optical and electron scanning microscopy SEM-EDS, and particle size studies using the DLS technique were conducted for a detailed characterization of pollutants in the environment. The conducted particle separation methods allowed for the extraction of a fraction mainly containing gum residues with particle sizes less than 2 µm. The results of these studies are crucial for understanding the impact of vehicle part exploitation on the environment.
Transcript-Level Analysis of Molecular Alterations Associated With the Development of Premalignant Bronchial Lesions
Authors: Pyatnitskiy Mikhail A. , Poverennaya Ekaterina V.
Published: April 2024

Premalignant lesions in the bronchial epithelium represent early stages of squamous cell lung carcinoma, challenging to detect with conventional methods. While previous studies have focused on gene expression, here we examine transcriptomic alterations associated with lesion development with the emphasis on protein-coding transcripts. We reanalyzed publicly available RNAseq dataset on airway epithelial cells from 82 smokers with and without premalignant lesions. Transcript abundances were quantified using kallisto, and differential expression and transcript usage analysis was conducted using the sleuth and RATs packages. Functional characterization included overrepresentation analysis (clusterProfiler), weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and network analysis (Enrichr-KG). We detected 5,906 differentially expressed transcripts, with significant enrichment in pathways related to oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial function. Transcript-level WGCNA identified single module correlated with dysplasia status, enriched in cilium-related biological processes. Analysis of hubs within this module highlighted key genes including RABL2B, DNAH1, EFHC1 and VWA3A, and revealed transcription factors such as FOXJ1 and ZNF474 as potential regulators. Our findings underscore the value of transcript-level analysis in uncovering novel insights into premalignant lesion biology. By examining transcripts rather than genes, we identified potential biomarkers associated with early lung carcinogenesis.
NHE1 Protein in Repetitive Mild TBI-Mediated Neuroinflammation and Neurological Function Impairment
Authors: Bielanin John Paul , Metwally Shamseldin Ayman Hassan , Oft Helena C.M. , Paruchuri Satya S. , Lin Lin , Capuk Okan , Pennock Nicholas D. , Song Shanshan , Sun Dandan
Published: April 2024

Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) are highly prevalent and can lead to chronic behavioral and cognitive deficits, often associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress have been implicated in mTBI-mediated axonal injury and pathogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms and contributing factors are not completely understood. In this study, utilizing a murine model of repetitive mTBI (r-mTBI) involving five closed-skull concussions in young adult C57BL/6J mice, we observed a significant elevation of Na+/H+ exchanger protein (NHE1) expression in GFAP+ reactive astrocytes, IBA1+ microglia, and OLIG2+ oligodendrocytes across various brain regions (including the cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, and hippocampus). This elevation was accompanied by astrogliosis, microgliosis and the accumulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Concurrently, r-mTBI mice displayed impaired motor learning and spatial memory deficits. However, post-r-mTBI administration of a potent NHE1 inhibitor, HOE642, attenuated locomotor and cognitive functional deficits as well as gliosis, oxidative stress, axonal damage, and white matter damage. These findings underscore the role of NHE1 upregulation in r-mTBI-induced oxidative stress, axonal damage, and gliosis, suggesting NHE1 as a promising therapeutic target to alleviate mTBI-induced injuries and restore neurological function.
Fear and Climate Change: How natural disasters and environmental fears shape American climate attitudes across political orientation
Authors: Garneau Christopher , Bedle Heather , Stanfield Rory
Published: April 2024

Climate change remains a polarizing issue along partisan lines in the United States, with conservatives expressing greater skepticism about its risks. This research investigates how fear shapes climate change attitudes across political orientations. From a 2023 national survey, results support hypotheses that conservatives demonstrate lower climate concern relative to liberals (H1), and that fear of natural and environmental disasters increase climate concern. While evidence for the hypothesis that the effect is more pronounced among conservatives is mixed (H3), the findings suggest that fear of anthropogenic environmental disasters elicit climate attitude shifts among conservatives, consistent with threat perception literature. When respondents noted heightened ecological fear, the political divisions in attitudes diminish, as trends converge on acknowledging the climate risks and causes. This relationship highlights messaging opportunities by focusing on locally relevant environmental threats that can aid in influencing conservative climate actions, which could build collective climate action support across political divides.
Evaluating the Discriminative Capacity of a Random Forest Predictive Model for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Tibial Plateau Fracture Patients
Authors: Liu Hao , Xing Fei , Jiang Jiabao , Chen Zhao , Xiang Zhou , Duan Xin
Published: April 2024

Introduction: This study aims to construct an efficient random forest predictive model to address the knowledge limitations in predicting deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among tibial plateau fracture (TPF) patients. DVT, being a critical and potentially life-threatening consequence, often necessitates intricate clinical management. Materials and Methods This investigation retrospectively examined adult patients who underwent surgical intervention for tibial plateau fractures in our institution from June 2020 to December 2023. Among the 562 patients who underwent surgical intervention, 231 were included in the study cohort, subsequently divided into training and testing cohorts in a 70:30 ratio. The training cohort utilized the R software to construct a random forest predictive model, which was then validated in the testing group. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis was conducted in this study to acquire feature selection variables and the area under the curve (AUC), evaluating the credibility and discriminative capacity of the random forest algorithm. Results As for the discriminative capacity of the random forest predictive model, in the training cohort, the 95% confidence interval (CI), area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, F1, and Balanced Accuracy were respectively (0.9775, 1), 1.0000, 1.0000, 1.0000, 1.0000, and 1.0000. Correspondingly, in the testing cohort, these metrics were (0.7326, 0.9176), 0.901, 0.8696, 0.8261, 0.7843, and 0.8478. Conclusion Utilizing the discerningly chosen " important " variables, this study employed the random forest algorithm to craft a predictive model, demonstrating exceptional discriminative prowess. These identified " important " variables, serving as predictive factors, aid clinicians in the identification of high-risk DVT patients. This, in turn, facilitates timely intervention, fortification of care, and enhancement of prognostic outcomes for patients with fractures.
Metformin's Effect on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through the miR-200a-5p and AMPK/SERCA2b Pathway
Authors: Chen Hang , Huang Minshan , Wang Hui , Zhang Dan , Wang Da , Li Mengwei , Wang Xianmei , Zhu Rui , Liu Jianjun , Ma Lanqing
Published: April 2024

Objectives: Metformin, a primary treatment for type 2 diabetes due to its insulin-sensitizing capabilities, has been widely recognized for its efficacy in improving or mitigating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recent investigations have highlighted the potential involvement of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, yet the precise mechanisms remain elusive. This study aims to explore the role of miR-200a-5p in regulating AMPK/SERCA2b to diminish liver fat accumulation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in metformin-treated NAFLD, thereby shedding light on novel therapeutic strategies.
Methods: The PA cell model, induced by mixing oleic and palmitic acid solutions in a 2:1 ratio, was utilized to simulate lipid accumulation, which was assessed using oil red O and Nile red staining. RT-PCR measured the mRNA levels of miR-200a-5p and key lipid metabolism genes (Acc1, Fasn, Cpt1, Scd1, Cd36, and Serbp1). Western blotting determined the protein expression of AMPK, phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK) and SERCA2b. The interaction between miR-200a-5p and AMPK was investigated via a luciferase reporter assay, and the effect of miR-200a-5p overexpression on AMPK and SERCA2b proteins was also assessed. A high-fat diet-induced NAFLD mouse model was developed to evaluate the impact of metformin on liver steatosis and lipid deposition through HE and oil red O staining. Additionally, liver lipid profiles (TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C) were quantified, and RT-PCR analyzed the mRNA levels of miR-200a-5p and lipid metabolism genes. The expression of AMPK, p-AMPK, and SERCA2b proteins were examined, alongside the mRNA levels of miR-200a-5p in the serum of NAFLD patients.
Results: Elevated mRNA levels of miR-200a-5p and lipid metabolism genes were observed in the PA cell model, while AMPK and SERCA2b had lower protein expression levels. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed miR-200a-5p's interaction with AMPK. The miR-200a-5p mimic group exhibited decreased AMPK and SERCA2b expression levels. Animal studies demonstrated metformin's capacity to lessen liver steatosis and lipid deposition, improving lipid profiles (TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C). Metformin treatment adjusted the mRNA levels of miR-200a-5p and lipid metabolism genes back to normal, as well as the protein expression levels of AMPK, p-AMPK, and SERCA2b. Elevated miR-200a-5p mRNA levels were detected in the serum of NAFLD patients.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that metformin may alleviate lipid deposition and ER stress in the livers of NAFLD mice by modulating the AMPK/SERCA2b pathway through miR-200a-5p. This study introduces a novel perspective on the mechanism of metformin's therapeutic effects in NAFLD treatment.
Exploring the protective effect and potential mechanism of acutumidine on myocardial ischemia based on “compound-target-pathway” network
Authors: Shao Jia , Yu Yingying , Zheng Rongrong , Luo Ling , Wang Yuanyuan , Zheng Yanxue , Wei Jinxia
Published: April 2024

Background
Menispermi Rhizoma is a traditional Chinese medicine with significant anti-myocardial ischemia (MI) effects. Acutumidine is a major alkaloid component of Menispermi Rhizoma. However, the effect and mechanism of acutumidine on MI remain unknown. This research aims to explore the effect and potential mechanism of acutumidine in treating myocardial ischemia (MI).
Methods
The oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) model of H9c2 cardiomyocytes was established to simulate MI in vitro. The protective effect of acutumidine against MI was evaluated by MTT assay, Hoechst/PI staining, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) release, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and cell apoptosis rate. Based on network pharmacology, the potential the anti-MI mechanism of acutumidine is explored by constructing a "compound-target-pathway" network. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed via metascape database. Finally, the key targets of acutumidine were validated by molecular docking.
Results
The experiment results showed that acutumidine could protect H9c2 cardiomyocytes against OGD injury by increasing the levels of SOD and GSH, and decreasing the release of LDH, CK and MDA significantly. The apoptosis rate of OGD H9c2 cells were reduced. All research results suggested that acutumidine could inhibit oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. Network pharmacology showed that the protective effect of acutumidine on MI was related to PI3K/AKT, HIF-1, and Ras signaling pathways. Molecular docking studies further showed that MAPK1, IGF1, EGFR, and KDR are the core targets of acutumidine in the treatment of MI.
Conclusions
Acutumidine was shown to have notable effects to inhibit oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in H9c2 cells through PI3K/AKT, HIF-1 and Ras signaling pathway. This study not only provides new insights into the anti-MI effect and mechanism of acutumidine, but also offers a promising candidate drug for the treatment of MI.
Study on the mechanism of miR-361-5p regulation of androgen receptor in castration-resistant transformation of prostate cancer
Authors: Zhang Peng , Yin Xin , Li Xinzhao , Zang Mingyi , Liang Qing , Zhang Zhiguo , Liu Lin , Han Conghui , He Jie , Liu Dachuang
Published: April 2024

Prostate cancer has become one of the most common tumors endangering men's health. At present, the main clinical treatments for prostate tumors are surgery, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, etc. However, due to drug resistance, the treatment effect of prostate cancer is not good, and the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and its protein structure changes play a crucial role in the resistance of prostate cancer. The expression of androgen receptor (AR) and changes in its protein structure play a crucial role in prostate cancer drug resistance. Non-coding RNAs, especially miRNAs, are involved in post-transcriptional regulation of genes and play an important role in the development of tumor cells, and may be used as specific substances to assist in the treatment of cancer. Our previous study showed that miR-361-5p expression was down-regulated in prostate cancer and that overexpression of miR-361-5p inhibited the proliferation, migration and promoted apoptosis of castration-resistant prostate cancer cells, DU145 and PC3, however, the mechanism through which miR-361-5p affects the progression of prostate cancer is unknown. We found that miR-361-5p could target binding to androgen receptor (AR) and play a role in the transformation of hormone-sensitive prostate cancer cells (LNCAP) to castration-resistant prostate cancer cells (LNCAP-AI), which inhibited proliferation, migration and promoted apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. Therefore, we suggest that miR-361-5p can target AR and inhibit the rapid growth of AR in the early stage of transformation, thus inhibiting the transformation of prostate cancer cells to castration-resistant.
Albendazole resistance evidence in Teladorsagia circumcincta in Iranian sheepby allele-specific PCR
Authors: Mirzaei Yousef , Yakhchali Mohammad , Mardani Karim
Published: April 2024

Globally, gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) have a considerable impact on the livestock husbandry and health conditions in Iran and throughout the world. The infected animals with gastrointestinal nematodes mostly need anthelmintic therapy which leads to the development of anthelmintic drug resistance. The main objective of the current study was to determine the frequency of β-tubulin isotype 1 gene polymorphism to albendazole (Alb) in Teladorsagia circumcincta isolated from sheep abomasum in Urmia city, Iran. A total number of 140 sheep abomasa were randomly collected and 157 infected abomasa with T. circumcincta were found. Alb resistance in T. circumcincta determined using Allele-Specific PCR (ASP) technique. The frequency of the homozygous susceptible (SS), homozygous resistant (rr) and heterozygous susceptible (Sr) to Alb were 51.7%, 6.9% and 41.4% in the examined T. circumcincta, respectively. It was concluded that Alb-resistance alleles were widespread in examined T. circumcincta which prevention control program should be lunched in the region.
Divergent mechanisms of steroid inhibition in the human ρ1 GABAA receptor
Authors: Lindahl Erik , Fan Chen , Cowgill John , Howard Rebecca
Published: April 2024

ρ-type γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptors are widely distributed in the retina and brain, and are potential drug targets for the treatment of visual, sleep and cognitive disorders. Endogenous neuroactive steroids including β-estradiol and pregnenolone sulfate negatively modulate the function of ρ1 GABAA receptors, but their inhibitory mechanisms are not clear. By combining four new cryo-EM structures with electrophysiology and molecular dynamics simulations, we characterize binding sites and negative modulation mechanisms of β-estradiol and pregnenolone sulfate at the human ρ1 GABAA receptor. β-estradiol binds in a pocket at the interface between extracellular and transmembrane domains, apparently specific to the ρ subfamily, and disturbs allosteric conformational transitions linking GABA binding to pore opening. In contrast, pregnenolone sulfate binds inside the pore to block ion permeation, with a preference for activated structures. These results illuminate contrasting mechanisms of ρ1 inhibition by two different neuroactive steroids, with potential implications for subtype-specific gating and pharmacological design.
Evaluation of Survival and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Neonates Born Very Preterm
Authors: Camacho-Sampaio Margarida , Cordeiro Catarina , Leuzinger-Dias Catarina , Dias Ana , Faria Dolores , Taborda Adelaide
Published: April 2024

Preterm infants are a vulnerable population at high risk for mortality, morbidity, and neurodevelopmental impairments that carry lifelong consequences. Knowledge of survival and sequelae by gestational age is of great importance in order to be able to guide parents and health professionals. The aim of this study is to evaluate perinatal morbidity, mortality and neurodevelopment impairment by gestational age (GA) and analyze the impact of perinatal factors on neurodevelopment outcomes of very preterm (VPT) infants. We conducted a retrospective cohort study off all infants born with < 32 weeks of GA, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a tertiary maternity hospital from 2013 to 2021. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 24 months of post-menstrual-age, using Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales II (GMDS-II). Moderate to severe neurodevelopment impairment (NDI) was considered in the presence of at least one of the following: global development quotient GMDS-II < 70, cerebral palsy (CP), severe visual impairment or profound sensorineural deafness. There were 311 VPT infants assessed for eligibility, 38 (10.9%) neonatal deaths and 37 (11.9%) losses to follow-up. Neurodevelopment evaluation was performed in 274 infants, 6.2% had moderate to severe NDI. GMDS-II global score < 70 was verified in 4.7%. CP was diagnosed in 3.3%, profound sensorineural deafness in 0.7% and severe visual impairment in 0.7%. The survival and survival without NDI were inversely related to GA. At 25 weeks of GA the survival rate without sequelae exceeded deaths and from 29 weeks the survival rate without NDI was ≥ 88%. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, GA was a protective factor for moderate to severe NDI or death (aOR 0.66; CI 95% 0.46–0.95), whereas being male (aOR 3.43; CI 95% 1.62–7.23) and resuscitation with tracheal intubation (aOR 6.36; CI 95% 2.90-13.59) were independent risk factors. Gestational age is the most significant and independent predictor of NDI. This work provides information not only on survival, but also on neurodevelopment in VPT stratified according to GA, and allows us to inform parents and health care professionals of the risks inherent in this population.
Health Impact of Alcohol Use in the United States
Authors: Shield Kevin , Keyes Katherine , Martinez Priscilla , Milam Adam J. , Rehm Jürgen , Naimi Timothy S.
Published: April 2024

Background
Alcohol is consumed by an estimated 137.4 million people in the United States 12 years of age and older, and, as a result, is estimated to have caused about 140 thousand deaths among people 20 to 64 years of age each year from 2015 up to and including 2019.
Methods
The proposed proposed review of the evidence on alcohol’s impact to health aims to produce conclusions to inform the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2026–2030. A multi-method approach will be utilized to formulate conclusions on (i) weekly (i.e., average) thresholds to minimize long-term and short-term risks of morbidity and mortality, (ii) daily thresholds to minimize the short-term risk of injury or acute illness due to per occasion drinking, (iii) alcohol use among vulnerable populations (e.g., pregnant women), and (iv) situations and circumstances that are hazardous for alcohol use. To inform expert discussions, this project will also include a systematic review of existing low-risk drinking guidelines, a systematic review of meta-analyses which examine alcohol’s impact on key attributable disease and mortality outcomes, and of estimates of the lifetime absolute risk of alcohol-attributable mortality and morbidity based on a person’s sex and average level of alcohol use. The preliminary conclusions produced as a result of this project will undergo public consultation, and data from these consultations will be analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The results of the public consultations will be used to further revise and refine the project’s conclusions.
Discussion
This project will establish a scientific consensus concerning alcohol’s impact on health. This consensus is imperative for informing the upcoming Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2026–2030, and for better informing individuals about the health risks associated with alcohol use.
Five-year tuberculosis trends analysis in eight districts of Mwanza region, Tanzania; (2017- 2021)
Authors: Beyanga Medard , Chegou Novel N , Walzl Gerhard , Mshana Stephen , Christa Kasang
Published: April 2024

Background.
In Tanzania like other developing countries, TB detection is hindered by totally missed, late notification and delayed diagnosis of active cases. Apart from having TB control strategies and interventions to detect patients and put them on treatment to cut down the chain of transmission, we are unaware of the existing burden and trends of tuberculosis for the previous five years in the Mwanza region. This study aimed at determining trends of tuberculosis in Mwanza region Tanzania for a period of five years, from 2017 to 2021.
Methods.
We extracted routine TB diagnostic data from 2017 to 2021 from eight districts of the Mwanza region of Tanzania from the electronic TB database. Data were captured in Microsoft office Excel 2007 in collaboration with district TB and leprosy coordinators and then imported into STATA 13 (Stata corp LLC, College Station, TX, USA) for analysis. We estimated TB case detection rate per 100,000 population.
Results.
A total of 6,414 laboratory confirmed tuberculosis cases were detected in eight districts of Mwanza region in Tanzania during the year 2017 to 2021. Average tuberculosis detection rate in five years was 34.7 per 100,000 population. Overall, TB the detection rate was two times higher in people without HIV (30.5) compared to those infected with HIV; 13.4 per 100,000 population. Of the 15 rifampicin resistant TB cases detected, 66.7% (10/15) were uninfected with HIV compared to 33.3% (5/15) that were detected in year 2018.
Conclusion
The TB case detection rate decreased in Mwanza region from 43.9 in 2017 to 21.4 per 100,000 population in 2021. Other parameters were missing in the data base which highlight remarkable gaps in the established database to monitor TB management in the region. The program require to investigate and improve on barriers hindering fully documentation of cases information’s which are very necessary for the program to attain its goals.
Compressive Stress-strain Relationships of Laminated Bamboo under Service Temperature
Authors: Guan Shanyue , Zhao Jiucheng , Tian Liya , Zhang Shizhong , Zhao Hongwei
Published: April 2024

Laminated bamboo is a novel green building material, understanding its mechanical properties at service temperatures is essential for structural safety and optimal design. However, currently there is no constitutive model capable of effectively predicting the compressive stress-strain relationship of laminated bamboo under the influence of service temperatures. This paper examines the influence of service temperature on the stress-strain relationship in laminated bamboo. Based on the fundamental form of the Weibull cumulative distribution, a constitutive model is proposed that can simulate the stress-strain relationship of laminated bamboo under varying temperature conditions, including strain hardening and thermal softening characteristics. Additionally, four constitutive models previously successfully applied to laminated bamboo or other bamboo composites were modified and analyzed for their capability to predict the compressive stress-strain relationship of bamboo-based materials under different temperature. The findings of this study not only guide the application of bamboo-based engineered materials in actual engineering structures, enhancing the precision and safety of structural designs, optimizing material usage, reducing waste, and lowering costs, but also provide valuable references for the research and application of other bamboo composite materials.
Spinal cord hypertension syndrome after unilateral biportal endoscopy surgery of Lumbar stenosis with lumbar disc herniation：A case report
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Li Dawei , Liu Zheng , Zheng Yingjie
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Unilateral biportal endoscopy(UBE）technology is a minimally invasive surgical technology that has emerged in recent years to treat lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spinal stenosis. It operates through water media to achieve disc removal or spinal canal decompression. However, as the application of surgery increases, some rare complications have also appeared. This article makes a case report on a type of patient with spinal cord hypertension syndrome that occurred in our hospital.
Case description: We report a case of a 52-year-old female patient with pain and numbness in her lower limbs. Examination revealed degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and lumbar disc herniation. The patient underwent unilateral laminectomy bilateral decompression(ULBD) and endoscopic lumbar discectomy without lumbar fusion or fixation. If the patient develops spinal cord hypertension syndrome during the operation, we will handle it accordingly, aiming to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Conclusion: Spinal cord hypertension syndrome focuses on prevention, early identification and detection are advocated, and timely treatment should be taken after occurrence.
Association between locomotive syndrome and visceral fat area
Authors: Miyazaki Tadashi , Ozato Naoki , Yamaguchi Tohru , Sugiura Yoko , Kawada Hiromitsu , Katsuragi Yoshihisa , Osaki Noriko , Mikami Tatsuya , Ito Ken , Murashita Koichi , Nakaji Shigeyuki , Tamada Yoshinori
Published: April 2024

Background
The association between locomotive syndrome (LS) and visceral fat area (VFA) has only been reported in the older population; however, the association between early stage LS (stage 1 [LS1]) and VFA remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between LS1 and VFA across different age groups through cross-sectional analysis.
Methods
In total, 1,236 (524 males and 712 females) participants aged 20–85 years were categorised into non-LS (n = 884, 71.5%) and LS1 (n = 352, 28.5%) groups according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association diagnostic criteria. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the presence of LS1 and VFA quartiles, age groups, and four groups: high VFA (73 cm2 < VFA) and non-older (age < 65 years), low VFA (VFA ≤ 73 cm2) and older (65 years ≤ age), high VFA and older, and low VFA and non-older groups, which was adjusted for sex, body mass index, skeletal muscle mass index, T-score, exercise habits, smoking status, and alcohol consumption.
Results
VFA was significantly associated with the prevalence of LS1 using multiple logistic analysis across VFA quartiles: Quartile 2 (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–2.83; p = 0.005), Quartile 3 (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.71–4.12; p < 0.001), and Quartile 4 (OR, 4.12; 95% CI, 2.41–7.07; p < 0.001), compared with Quartile 1. Age was also associated with LS1 prevalence. Finally, we investigated the association between LS1 and VFA across the age groups. The OR for each group was as follows: high VFA and non-older group (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.28–2.72; p = 0.001), low VFA and older group (OR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.94–5.14; p < 0.001), and high VFA and older group (OR, 6.43; 95% CI, 3.98–10.4; p < 0.001), compared with the low VFA and non-older group.
Conclusions
VFA is cumulatively associated with LS1 in relation to age in both the older and non-older groups. Our findings indicate that the management of VFA by diet and exercise is crucial not only for older but also non-older individuals to prevent LS1.
Effects of Clindamycin and Amoxycillin as Prophylaxis Against Early Implant Failure: Double-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Pradillo-Gallego Diego , Manzano-Moreno Francisco Javier , Ocaña-peinado Francisco Manuel , Olmedo-Gaya Maria Victoria
Published: April 2024

Objective The objective of this randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) was to compare the frequency of early implant failure, postoperative infection, and pain/inflammation and the degree of implant stability between healthy non-penicillin-allergic individuals receiving a single prophylactic dose of 600 mg clindamycin versus 2 g amoxicillin at 1 h before implant surgery.Materials and Methods We undertook a single-center double-blinded RCT with parallel groups. Eighty-two patients fulfilled study inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to the amoxicillin (n = 41) or clindamycin (n = 41) group. The primary outcome variable was early implant failure. The presence of infection was evaluated immediately after surgery and on days 7, 14, 30, and 90, and postoperative pain/inflammation was assessed daily on days 1 to 7 post-surgery. Resonance frequency analysis was used to measure primary and secondary implant stability.Results One early implant failure was observed (1/81), in a patient from the amoxicillin group. No statistically significant between-group differences were observed in early implant failure rate, postoperative infection rate up to 90 days, pain/inflammation scores during the first week post-surgery, or primary or secondary stability values.Conclusions A single dose of 600 mg clindamycin before implant surgery does not increase the risk of early implant failure or infection.Clinical relevance These findings suggest that a single dose of 600 mg clindamycin at 1 h before implant surgery is a safe antibiotic prophylactic approach; however, when a more prolonged antibiotic therapy is required, it appears advisable to prescribe an alternative antibiotic to avoid adverse effects.
Molecular docking of secondary metabolites of marine macroalgae Sargassum vulgare against exotoxin A
Authors: Baghernezhad Najme , Archangi Bita , Savari Ahmad , Amini Faedeh
Published: April 2024

Sargassumis described as possessing biological metabolites that have immuno-modulatory, analgesic, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-viral activities. The purpose of this study was to discover the antibacterial activity of the secondary metabolites ofSargassum vulgareby in silico approach.S. vulgaresamples were collected from the coastal zone of Boushehr, Persian Gulf. Species identification was performed by morphological and molecular tests. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts ofS. vulgarewere subjected to GC-MS. The metabolites obtained from GC-MS were chosen as ligands to react with the protein receptor in molecular docking analysis using the PyRx software. Then nine top ligands with high binding affinity and acceptable interactions were evaluated for physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and drug-likeness properties with the SwissADME web server. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 28 secondary metabolites: 16 ethanolic and 12 methanolic compounds. A docking study of these bioactive compounds showed their binding affinity and ability to react with the exotoxin A ofPseudomonas aeruginosaand according to the ADME results, two compounds Dioctyl Benzene-1, 2-Dicarboxylate and Bis (6-Methylheptyl) Benzene-1, 2-Dicarboxylate were showed the better properties for drug targeting. Accordingly, this study will help to explore the potential ofS. vulgaremetabolites as drug compounds for the control ofPseudomonasinfections.
Prediction of the Fatty Acid Profiles of Iberian Pig Products by Near Infrared Spectroscopy: A Comparison Between Multiple Regression Tools and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Hernández-Jiménez Miriam , Revilla Isabel , Hernández-Ramos Pedro , Vivar-Quintana Ana María
Published: April 2024

In this study the feasibility of predicting the lipid profiles of Iberian ham and shoulder samples by using NIRS technology was evaluated. Gas chromatography analysis was the reference method used. The muscles analyzed and recorded by NIRS were 76 Biceps femoris for Iberian hams and 72Brachiocephalicus for Iberian shoulders. NIR calibrations were carried out by using two methods: modified partial least squares regression (MPLS) and artificial neural networks (ANN). With the MPLS method it was possible to obtain equations with RSQ of > 0.5 for 5 individual fatty acids and 3 summations (PUFA, n-3 and n-6). The use of neural networks made it possible to find equations with RSQ of > 0.5 for 10 individual fatty acids, all of which are present in over 90% of the samples, and 5 summates (SFA, MUFA, PUFA, n-3 and n-6); finding that the calibration curves of the fatty acids C18:1, C18:2n6 and C18:3n3 presented RSQs of > 0.7. The results obtained indicate that NIR spectroscopy could be a very useful technology for the quality control of cured products as it allows estimating the main fatty constituents quickly and without using reagents.
Electrochemical meta-C−H Sulfonylation of Pyridines with Nucleophilic Sulfinates
Authors: Zeng Zhongyi , Qin Shi , Yang Mingkai , Xu Mingyao , Peng Zhi-Huan , Cai Jiating , Wang Shengdong , Gao Hui , Zhou Zhi , Hashmi A. Stephen K. , Yi Wei
Published: April 2024

Considering the indispensable significance and utilities of meta-substituted pyridines in medicinal, chemical as well as materials science, a direct meta-selective C − H functionalization of pyridines is of paramount importance, but such reactions remain extremely limited and highly challenging. In general, established methods for meta C − H functionalization of pyridines rely on the utilization of tailored electrophilic reagents to realize the intrinsic polarity match. Herein, we report a complementary electrochemical methodology; diverse nucleophilic sulfinates allow unprecedented meta-sulfonylation of pyridines through a redox-neutral dearomatization-rearomatization strategy by a tandem dearomative cycloaddition/hydrogen-evolution electrooxidative C − H sulfonation of the resulting oxazino-pyridines/acid-promoted rearomatization sequence. Besides, several salient features, including exclusive regiocontrol, remarkable substrate/functional group compatibility, scale-up potential, and facile late-stage modification, have been demonstrated, which further contributes to the practicality and adaptability of this approach.
GALNT15, induced during adipogenesis of human SGBS cells but not in mouse 3T3-L1 cells, regulates adipocyte differentiation
Authors: Takahashi Asuka , Koike Ryo , Watanabe Shota , Kuribayashi Kyoko , Wabitsch Martin , Miyamoto Masahiko , Komuro Akihiko , Seki Mineaki , Nashimoto Masayuki , Ibuka Akiko , Yamashita Kikuji , Iwata Takeo
Published: April 2024

Adipogenesis involves intricate molecular mechanisms regulated by various transcription factors and signaling pathways. In this study, we aimed to identify factors specifically induced during adipogenesis in the human preadipocyte cell line, SGBS, but not in the mouse preadipocyte cell line, 3T3-L1. Microarray analysis revealed distinct gene expression profiles, with 1460 genes induced in SGBS cells and 1297 genes induced in 3T3-L1 cells during adipogenesis, with only 297 genes commonly induced. Among the genes uniquely induced in SGBS cells, we focused on GALNT15, which encodes polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase-15. Its expression increased transiently during adipogenesis in SGBS cells but remained low in 3T3-L1 cells. Overexpression of GALNT15 increased mRNA levels of CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBPα) and leptin but had no significant impact on adipogenesis in SGBS cells. Conversely, knockdown of GALNT15 suppressed mRNA expression of adipocyte marker genes, reduced lipid accumulation, and decreased the percentage of cells with oil droplets. The induction of C/EBPα and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ during adipogenesis was promoted or suppressed in SGBS cells subjected to overexpression or knockdown of GALNT15, respectively. These data suggest that GALNT15 is a novel regulatory molecule that enhances adipogenesis in SGBS cells.
DisruptionBench: A robust benchmarking framework for machine learning-driven disruption prediction
Authors: Lucas Spangher , Bonotto Matteo , Arnold William , Chayapathy Dhruva , Gallingani Tommaso , Spangher Alexander , Cannarile Francesco , Bigoni Daniele , De Marchi Eliana , Rea Cristina
Published: April 2024

Disruptions remain a major challenge to commercialization of fusion leveraging the tokamak configuration. Machine Learning (ML) holds promise for prediction in its flexibility and knowledge transfer between devices. However, the current body of ML-driven disruption prediction research lacks systematic benchmarking standards. This work introduces a novel benchmarking platform -- DisruptionBench -- encompassing nine modeling tasks tailored onto real-time tokamak operations: the cross of three test tokamaks (Alcator C-Mod, DIII-D, and EAST) with three test regimes (zero-shot, few-shot, and many-shot.) We conduct a comprehensive evaluation of four ML models re-implementing published ones as well as introducing two novel approaches – a GPT-2-like transformer and the Continuous Convolutional Neural Network (CCNN). Across all evaluation metrics, the CCNN demonstrates the most consistent and superior performance (best AUC=0.974), using the Alcator C-Mod tokamak as a test dataset. However, the GPT-2 architecture (best AUC=0.84) and the Hybrid Deep Learner (best AUC=0.92) re-implementation succeed in specific cases. Exploring the role of ''memory" in the transformer model, we observe that it often learns to recognize shot initiation, suggesting the potential utility of models with broader temporal context. Finally, as modeling demands for nuclear fusion datasets enter an era of unprecedented size and complexity, we characterize a newly compiled dataset spanning the entire operational history of Alcator C-Mod (1991-2016). These benchmarking, modeling, and data resources promise to accelerate the development of advanced ML-driven disruption prediction capabilities.
Iliac crest bone distraction surgery for the treatment of thromboangiitis obliterans of lower limbs: A cohort-prospective preliminary study
Authors: Chang Shusen , Chen Wei , Song Hehua , Zhang Fang , Prà Ilaria Dal , Armato Ubaldo , Zhou Jian , Nie Kaiyu , Yin Meifang , Chiarini Anna , Santis Daniele , Wei Zairong , Deng Chengliang
Published: April 2024

Background Tibial cortex transverse transport (TTT) surgery presents favorable outcomes for treating thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO). However, TTT is associated with complications and requires prolonged bed rest, impacting patients' quality of life. This study aimed to introduce iliac crest bone distraction (ICBD) surgery as a novel surgical approach to TAO clinical management by comparing ICBD's clinical outcomes with TTT's. Methods Between April and October 2023, 18 male patients meeting inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the ICBD or TTT group. Pre- and postoperative changes in wound healing time, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, pain disappearance time, serum IL-6 levels, and intermittent lameness distance were evaluated. Infrared thermography assessed foot perfusion and temperature changes, while computed tomographic angiography (CTA) revealed lower limb vascular regeneration. Results During the 6-month follow-up period, no complications arose in either group. Successful ulcer healing similarly occurred in the 4 ICBD and 4 TTT patients with ulcers. Preoperative VAS scores were similar for ICBD and TTT (P = 0.612), with considerable improvements at one week postoperatively (P = 0.995). Disappearance time of rest pain was also similar for both groups (P = 0.537). Preoperative serum IL-6 levels were comparable (P = 0.842) but significantly decreased at one month postoperatively to similar levels for both groups (P = 0.539). Infrared thermography revealed postoperative improved thermal hotspot distribution. Six months after surgery, CTA showed an improved artery network of the lower limb. According to the Patwa and Krishnan grading system, six patients were "excellent" in the ICBD group one year after surgery and 7 in the TTT group, while 3 and 2 patients were "good", respectively. Conclusions Preliminary results demonstrate that ICBD's outcomes for TAO are similar to those of TTT but with fewer complications and a better quality of life. Therefore, we consider ICBD a promising surgical approach for treating TAO. Trial registration This study was registered with the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (20230411) and at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300072418).
Evaluating ATP testing for distribution system monitoring: Comparison to HPC, impact of chlorine quenching, and hold time dependency
Authors: Chen William S. , Abkar Leili , Mohseni Madjid
Published: April 2024

ATP assays have a faster turnaround time and higher sensitivity than traditional cultivation methods for microbial monitoring. Challenges implementing ATP testing include incompatibility with chlorine quenching agents and hold time sensitivity, which are not well-studied. Chlorinated distribution system samples were collected from two Canadian utilities, Metro Vancouver (n = 40 samples) and Halifax Water (n = 283). No significant correlations were observed between HPC and cATP (p > 0.1), suggesting these do not correlate well in waters with low biological activity (median HPC < 2 CFU/mL). However, interpretation of HPC and ATP results (based on the HPC guideline of 100 CFU/mL and cATP of 10 pg/mL) yielded the same conclusion for 96% of samples, suggesting a potential decision-making framework to replace HPC with ATP. Moreover, cATP results correlate more consistently with free chlorine (Rs = -0.13 [p = 0.04, n = 283] and − 0.39 [p = 0.01, n = 40]) compared with HPC. Importantly, adding chlorine quench (10% sodium thiosulfate) did not produce significantly different cATP results (p > 0.4), nor did analyzing at various hold times of 4-, 6-, and 24-hour (p > 0.06). This study supports the integration of ATP testing into existing sampling procedures for water utilities, as a sensitive, fast, and reliable monitoring method.
Performance evaluation of new Iranian lines and hybrids of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.
Authors: Alipanah Masoud , nematolahian Shahla , Nasiri Abdolazim , abedian zabiholah
Published: April 2024

Considering the production of new hybrids of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. it is necessary to update these tests and compare the existing hybrids with new hybrids. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of new Iranian silkworm lines and hybrids. In this study, eight lines, sixteen hybrids, and one control hybrid were tested. Silkworm eggs were obtained from the Development of Sericulture Center of Iran in the spring of 2022. The obtained data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS 9.4 with four replications and 200 larvae per replication. The primary analysis of all hybrids and lines showed that the hybrid’s average cocoon weight and cocoon shell weight were superior to lines (p < 0.0001). Average cocoon weight, shell weight, and pupal weight for the 11×2 hybrid were the best with 2.41, 0.63, and 1.79 gr, respectively. The 11×4 and 7×10 hybrids also have a higher heterosis rate than the other investigated hybrids. The results showed that none of the hybrids have positive specific combinability (SCA) for all traits. However, the hybrids 2×11 and 7×10 showed the highest specific combinability (SCA) for different traits. the average evaluation index for the mentioned traits was the best performance of hybrids 7×8 and 11×4, while hybrids 9×2 and 3×2 showed the lowest evaluation index among the examined hybrids. The results of this study showed that hybrids obtained from lines 7×8 and 4×11 had the best performance for cocoon production by farmers.