bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minimally invasive bleb surgery versus minimally invasive glaucoma surgery: a 12-month retrospective study
Authors: Konopińska Joanna , Gołaszewska Kinga , Saeed Emil
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to compare the IOP-lowering effectiveness and safety of standalone Preserflo MicroShunt and iStent 1st generation implantation combined with phacoemulsification in Caucasian patients with a 12-month follow-up period. This retrospective study analyzed the medical histories of patients undergoing antiglaucoma surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Bialystok, between January 2019 and January 2022. The main outcome measures were success rates (complete: proportion of eyes with IOP < 18 mmHg (criterion A) and < 15 mmHg (criterion B) or 20% reduction in IOP without any glaucoma medication; qualified: proportion of eyes achieving IOPs < 18 mmHg and < 15 mmHg or 20% reduction in IOP from baseline with or without medications), mean reduction (%) in IOP, medication burden, number of complications and additional interventions. In both groups, a significant decrease in IOP and medication burden were observed at 6 and 12 months when compared with baseline. At 12 months, qualified surgical success in criterion A was recorded in 67.4% and 85.7% of patients in the Preserfo and iStent groups, respectively (p = 0.045). Complete surgical success in criterion B at 12 months accounted to 61.4% of patients from Prserflo group and 32.7% patients in iStent group (p = 0.04). Surgical failure at 12 months was documented in 30.2% and 6.3% of patients, respectively (p = 0.003). There was a significant difference between groups in %IOP reduction after 12 months. Greater reduction was observed in Preserflo group, MD = − 8.41 CI95 [− 15.88; − 0.95], p = 0.028, (− 33.49% ± 21.59 vs − 25.07% ± 14.15 in iStent group). Both procedures effectively reduced IOP and postoperative use of antiglaucoma medications in glaucoma patients.
Pictorial depiction on controlling crowd in smart conurbations using Internet of Things with switching algorithms
Authors: Manoharan Hariprasath , Khalaf Osamah Ibrahim , Algburi Sameer , Hamam Habib
Published: June 2024

The proliferation of smart conurbations entails an efficient system design for managing all the crowds in public places. Multitude controlling procedures are carried out for controlling compact areas where more number of peoples is present at several groups. Therefore for controlling purpose the proposed method aims to design a pictorial representation using Internet of Things (IoT). The process is carried out by taking images and then organizing it using switching techniques in the presence of square boxes where entire populace is identified on real time experimentations. For processing and controlling the occurrence a separate architecture is designed with analytical equivalences where all data set is stored in cloud platform. Further the incorporation of system model is carried out using Switching Based Algorithm (SBA) which adds more number of columns even for high population cases. In order to verify the effectiveness of proposed model five scenarios are considered with performance evaluation metrics for SBA and all the test results provides best optimal results. Moreover the projected model is improved with an average percentage of 83 as compared to existing models.
Effective of different industrial disinfection in subzero cold-chain environment
Authors: Ren Zhe , Han Jie , Zhang Xue , Yan Zheng , Wei QiuHua
Published: June 2024

Effective disinfection methods are crucial in the cold chain transportation process of food due to the specificity of temperature and the diversity of contaminated flora. The objective of this study was to investigate the sanitizing effect of different disinfectants on various fungi at – 20 °C to achieve accurate disinfection of diverse bacterial populations. Peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium bisulfate were selected as low-temperature disinfectants and were combined with antifreeze. The sanitizing effect of these cryogenic disinfectants on pathogens such as Bacillus subtilis black variant spores (ATCC9372), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), Escherichia coli (8099), and poliovirus (PV-1) was sequentially verified by bactericidal and virus inactivation experiments. After a specified time of disinfection, a neutralizing agent was used to halt the sanitizing process. The study demonstrates that different disinfectants exhibit selective effects during the low-temperature disinfection process. Peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium monopersulfate are suitable for the low-temperature environmental disinfection of bacterial propagules, viruses, and fungal contaminants. However, for microorganisms with strong resistance to spores, a low-temperature disinfectant based on peracetic acid should be chosen for effective disinfection treatment. Our results provide a valuable reference for selecting appropriate disinfectants to sanitize various potential pathogens in the future.
Advantages of pooling of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells from different donors versus single-donor MSCs
Authors: Kannan Suresh , Gokul Krishna S. , Gupta Pawan Kumar , Kolkundkar Uday Kumar
Published: June 2024

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) from adult bone marrow are the most commonly used cells in clinical trials. MSCs from single donors are the preferred starting material but suffer from a major setback of being heterogeneous that results in unpredictable and inconsistent clinical outcomes. To overcome this, we developed a method of pooling MSCs from different donors and created cell banks to cater clinical needs. Initially, the master cell banks (MCBs) were created at passage 1 (P1) from the bone marrow MSCs isolated from of nine different donors. At this stage, MCBs from three different donors were mixed in equal proportion and expanded till P3 to create working cell banks. Further, the pooled cells and individual donor MSCs were expanded till P5 and cryopreserved and extensively characterised. There was a large heterogeneity among the individual donor MSCs in terms of growth kinetics (90% Coefficient of variation (CV) for cell yield and 44% CV for population doubling time at P5), immunosuppressive ability (30% CV at 1:1 and 300% CV at 1:10 ratio), and the angiogenic factor secretion potential (20% CV for VEGF and71% CV for SDF-1). Comparatively, the pooled cells have more stable profiles (60% CV for cell yield and 7% CV for population doubling time at P5) and exhibit better immunosuppressive ability (15% CV at 1:1 and 32% CV at 1:10 ratio ) and consistent secretion of angiogenic factors (16% CV for VEGF and 51% CV for SDF-1). Further pooling does not compromise the trilineage differentiation capacity or phenotypic marker expression of the MSCs. The senescence and in vitro tumourigenicity characteristics of the pooled cells are also similar to those of individual donor MSCs. We conclude that pooling of MSCs from three different donors reduces heterogeneity among individual donors and produces MSCs with a consistent secretion and higher immunosuppressive profile.
Point prevalence of evidence-based antimicrobial use among hospitalized patients in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Boltena Minyahil Tadesse , Wolde Mirkuzie , Hailu Belachew , El-Khatib Ziad , Steck Veronika , Woldegerima Selam , Siraneh Yibeltal , Morankar Sudhakar
Published: June 2024

Excessive and improper use of antibiotics causes antimicrobial resistance which is a major threat to global health security. Hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the highest prevalence of antibiotic use. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled point prevalence (PPP) of evidence-based antimicrobial use among hospitalized patients in SSA. Literature was retrieved from CINAHL, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA version 17. Forest plots using the random-effect model were used to present the findings. The heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using the I2 statistics and Egger’s test. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with code CRD42023404075. The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. A total of 26, 272 study participants reported by twenty-eight studies published from 10 countries in SSA were included. The pooled point prevalence of antimicrobial use in SSA were 64%. The pooled estimate of hospital wards with the highest antibiotic use were intensive care unit (89%). The pooled prevalence of the most common clinical indication for antibiotic use were community acquired infection (41%). The pooled point prevalence of antimicrobial use among hospitalized patients were higher in SSA. Higher use of antibiotics was recorded in intensive care units. Community acquired infection were most common clinical case among hospitalized patients. Health systems in SSA must design innovative digital health interventions to optimize clinicians adhere to evidence-based prescribing guidelines and improve antimicrobial stewardship.
Current spectral norm and phase variation based fault region identification for active distribution network
Authors: Chen Jie , Li Yong , Zeng Rong , Liu Junle , Chen An , Hou Liang , Zhao Long , Shahidehpour Mohammad
Published: June 2024

The paper presents a fault region identification method for the active distribution network (ADN) with limited PMU. First, PMU configuration and region division strategies are proposed based on the network topology. Next, the difference in three-phase current variations between the normal and fault regions of the ADN is analyzed. A multi-dimensional state monitoring matrix is built using the measured current data. The spectral norm ratio coefficient is constructed based on the 2-norm to lower the complexity of the multi-dimensional state monitoring matrix and quantify the difference in state changes before and after the fault occurs in each region. Then, the fault region is identified by combining each region’s spectral norm ratio coefficient and the change of the current phase. Finally, an IEEE 33-node simulation model is created to simulate faults under different working conditions. According to the simulation results, the suggested approach is less impacted by fault type, neutral point grounding mode, and transition resistance. Furthermore, even if the communication does not match the rigorous synchronization requirements, the proposed method can still complete the fault identification of the distribution network correctly and has high robustness.
Accumulation and translocation of lead in vegetables through intensive use of organic manure and mineral fertilizers with wastewater
Authors: Amjad Mehwish , Khan Zafar Iqbal , Nadeem Muhammad , Ahmad Kafeel , Shah Anis Ali , Gatasheh Mansour K. , Shaffique Shifa , Abbas Toqeer
Published: June 2024

In many countries with wastewater irrigation and intensive use of fertilizers (minerals and organics), heavy metal deposition by crops is regarded as a major environmental concern. A study was conducted to determine the impact of mineral fertilizers, cow manure, poultry manure, leaf litter, and sugarcane bagasse on soil’s trace Pb content and edible parts of vegetables. It also evaluated the risk of lead (Pb) contamination in water, soil, and food crops. Six vegetables (Daucus carota, Brassica oleracea, Pisum sativum, Solanum tuberosum, Raphanus sativus, and Spinacia oleracea) were grown in the field under twelve treatments with different nutrient and water inputs. The lead concentrations in soil, vegetables for all treatments and water samples ranged from 1.038–10.478, 0.09346–9.0639 mg/kg and 0.036–0.26448 mg/L, The concentration of lead in soil treated with wastewater in treatment (T6) and vegetable samples was significantly higher, exceeding the WHO’s permitted limit. Mineral and organic fertilizers combined with wastewater treatment reduced lead (Pb) concentrations in vegetables compared to wastewater application without organic fertilizers. Health risk indexes for all treatments except wastewater treatment (T6) were less than one. Pb concentrations in mineral fertilizers, cow manure, poultry manure, leaf litter, and sugarcane bagasse treated were determined to pose no possible risk to consumers.
Individual and team profiling to support theory of mind in artificial social intelligence
Authors: Bendell Rhyse , Williams Jessica , Fiore Stephen M. , Jentsch Florian
Published: June 2024

We describe an approach aimed at helping artificial intelligence develop theory of mind of their human teammates to support team interactions. We show how this can be supported through the provision of quantifiable, machine-readable, a priori information about the human team members to an agent. We first show how our profiling approach can capture individual team member characteristic profiles that can be constructed from sparse data and provided to agents to support the development of artificial theory of mind. We then show how it captures features of team composition that may influence team performance. We document this through an experiment examining factors influencing the performance of ad-hoc teams executing a complex team coordination task when paired with an artificial social intelligence (ASI) teammate. We report the relationship between the individual and team characteristics and measures related to task performance and self-reported perceptions of the ASI. The results show that individual and emergent team profiles were able to characterize features of the team that predicted behavior and explain differences in perceptions of ASI. Further, the features of these profiles may interact differently when teams work with human versus ASI advisors. Most strikingly, our analyses showed that ASI advisors had a strong positive impact on low potential teams such that they improved the performance of those teams across mission outcome measures. We discuss these findings in the context of developing intelligent technologies capable of social cognition and engage in collaborative behaviors that improve team effectiveness.
Constructing and validating a predictive nomogram for osteoporosis risk among Chinese single-center male population using the systemic immune-inflammation index
Authors: Zhuo Hang , Zhou Zelin , Chen Xingda , Song Zefeng , Shang Qi , Huang Hongwei , Xiao Yun , Wang Xiaowen , Chen Honglin , Yan Xianwei , Zhang Peng , Gong Yan , Liu Huiwen , Liu Yu , Wu Zixian , Liang De , Ren Hui , Jiang Xiaobing
Published: June 2024

Osteoporosis (OP) is a bone metabolism disease that is associated with inflammatory pathological mechanism. Nonetheless, rare studies have investigated the diagnostic effectiveness of immune-inflammation index in the male population. Therefore, it is interesting to achieve early diagnosis of OP in male population based on the inflammatory makers from blood routine examination. We developed a prediction model based on a training dataset of 826 Chinese male patients through a retrospective study, and the data was collected from January 2022 to May 2023. All participants underwent the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXEA) and blood routine examination. Inflammatory markers such as systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was calculated and recorded. We utilized the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model to optimize feature selection. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to construct a predicting model incorporating the feature selected in the LASSO model. This predictive model was displayed as a nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, C-index, calibration curve, and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA) to evaluate model performance. Internal validation was test by the bootstrapping method. This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Ethic No. JY2023012) and conducted in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. The predictive factors included in the prediction model were age, BMI, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, neuropathy, thyroid diseases, fracture history, SII, PLR, C-reactive protein (CRP). The model displayed well discrimination with a C-index of 0.822 (95% confidence interval: 0.798–0.846) and good calibration. Internal validation showed a high C-index value of 0.805. Decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that when the threshold probability was between 3 and 76%, the nomogram had a good clinical value. This nomogram can effectively predict the incidence of OP in male population based on SII and PLR, which would help clinicians rapidly and conveniently diagnose OP with men in the future.
Fine structural human phantom in dentistry and instance tooth segmentation
Authors: Takeya Atsushi , Watanabe Keiichiro , Haga Akihiro
Published: June 2024

In this study, we present the development of a fine structural human phantom designed specifically for applications in dentistry. This research focused on assessing the viability of applying medical computer vision techniques to the task of segmenting individual teeth within a phantom. Using a virtual cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) system, we generated over 170,000 training datasets. These datasets were produced by varying the elemental densities and tooth sizes within the human phantom, as well as varying the X-ray spectrum, noise intensity, and projection cutoff intensity in the virtual CBCT system. The deep-learning (DL) based tooth segmentation model was trained using the generated datasets. The results demonstrate an agreement with manual contouring when applied to clinical CBCT data. Specifically, the Dice similarity coefficient exceeded 0.87, indicating the robust performance of the developed segmentation model even when virtual imaging was used. The present results show the practical utility of virtual imaging techniques in dentistry and highlight the potential of medical computer vision for enhancing precision and efficiency in dental imaging processes.
A novel pansharpening method based on cross stage partial network and transformer
Authors: Chen Yingxia , Liu Huiqi , Fang Faming
Published: June 2024

In remote sensing image fusion, the conventional Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) extract local features of the image through layered convolution, which is limited by the receptive field and struggles to capture global features. Transformer utilizes self-attention to capture long-distance dependencies in images, which has a global receptive field, but the computational cost for high-resolution images is excessively high. In response to the above issues, this paper draws inspiration from the FusionNet network, harnessing the local detail acquisition capability of CNNs and the global data procuring capacity of Transformer. It presents a novel method for remote sensing image sharpening named Guided Filtering-Cross Stage Partial Network-Transformer, abbreviated as GF-CSTNet. This solution unifies the strengths of Guided Filtering (GF), Cross Stage Partial Network (CSPNet), and Transformer. Firstly, this method utilizes GF to enhance the acquired remote sensing image data. The CSPNet and Transformer structures are then combined to further enhance fusion performance by leveraging their respective advantages. Subsequently, a Rep-Conv2Former method is designed to streamline attention and extract diverse receptive field features through a multi-scale convolution modulator block. Simultaneously, a reparameterization module is constructed to integrate the multiple branches generated during training into a unified branch during inference, thereby optimizing the model’s inference speed. Finally, a residual learning module incorporating attention has been devised to augment the modeling and feature extraction capabilities of images. Experimental results obtained from the GaoFen-2 and WorldView-3 datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed GF-CSTNet approach. It effectively extracts detailed information from images while avoiding the problem of spectral distortion.
Saturated fatty acid concentrations are predictive of insulin sensitivity and beta cell compensation in dogs
Authors: Peloquin Matthew , Tovar Ashley , Graves Jessica L. , Stefanovski Darko , Tucker Katya , Marietti Entonio , Greenwood Karen , Halioua-Haubold Celine-Lea , Juarez-Salinas Dina
Published: June 2024

Chronic feeding of a high fat diet (HFD) in preclinical species induces broad metabolic dysfunction characterized by body weight gain, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia and impaired insulin sensitivity. The plasma lipidome is not well characterized in dogs with HFD-induced metabolic dysfunction. We therefore aimed to describe the alterations that occur in the plasma lipid composition of dogs that are fed a HFD and examine the association of these changes with the clinical signs of metabolic dysfunction. Dogs were fed a normal diet (ND) or HFD for 12 weeks. Insulin sensitivity (SI) and beta cell compensation (AIRG) were assessed through an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and serum biochemistry was analyzed before the introduction of HFD and again after 12 weeks of continued ND or HFD feeding. Plasma lipidomics were conducted prior to the introduction of HFD and again at week 8 in both ND and HFD-fed dogs. 12 weeks of HFD feeding resulted in impaired insulin sensitivity and increased beta cell compensation measured by SI (ND mean: 11.5 [mU/l]–1 min–1, HFD mean: 4.7 [mU/l]–1 min–1) and AIRG (ND mean: 167.0 [mU/l]min, HFD mean: 260.2 [mU/l]min), respectively, compared to dogs fed ND over the same duration. Chronic HFD feeding increased concentrations of plasma lipid species and deleterious fatty acids compared to dogs fed a ND. Saturated fatty acid (SFA) concentrations were significantly associated with fasting insulin (R2 = 0.29), SI (R2 = 0.49) and AIRG (R2 = 0.37) in all dogs after 12 weeks, irrespective of diet. Our results demonstrate that chronic HFD feeding leads to significant changes in plasma lipid composition and fatty acid concentrations associated with metabolic dysfunction. High SFA concentrations may be predictive of deteriorated insulin sensitivity in dogs.
Associations between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease, and abdominal obesity: a national retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cen Chao , Fan Zhongwen , Ding Xinjiang , Tu Xinyue , Liu Yuanxing
Published: June 2024

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) present notable health challenges, however, abdominal obesity has received scant attention despite its potential role in exacerbating these conditions. Thus, we conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys III (NHANES III) of the United States from 1988 to 1994 including 9161 participants, and mortality follow-up survey in 2019. Statistical analyze including univariable and multivariable Logistic and Cox regression models, and Mediation effect analyze were applied in study after adjustment for covariates. Our findings revealed that individuals with both abdominal obesity and MAFLD were more likely to be female, older and exhibit higher prevalence of advanced liver fibrosis (7.421% vs. 2.363%, p < 0.001), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (21.484% vs. 8.318%, p < 0.001) and CKD(30.306% vs. 16.068%, p < 0.001) compared to those with MAFLD alone. MAFLD (adjusted OR: 1.392, 95% CI 1.013–1.913, p = 0.041), abdominal obesity (adjusted OR 1.456, 95% CI 1.127–1.880, p = 0.004), abdominal obesity with MAFLD (adjusted OR 1.839, 95% CI 1.377–2.456, p < 0.001), advanced fibrosis(adjusted OR 1.756, 95% CI 1.178–2.619, p = 0.006) and T2DM (adjusted OR 2.365, 95% CI 1.758–3.183, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors of CKD. The abdominal obese MAFLD group had the highest all-cause mortality as well as mortality categorized by disease during the 30-year follow-up period. Indices for measuring abdominal obesity, such as waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and lipid accumulation product (LAP), elucidated a greater mediation effect of MAFLD on CKD compared to BMI on CKD (proportion mediation 65.23%,70.68%, 71.98%, respectively vs. 32.63%). In conclusion, the coexistence of abdominal obesity and MAFLD increases the prevalence and mortality of CKD, and abdominal obesity serves as a mediator in the association between MAFLD and CKD.
Stability in change: building a stable ecological security pattern in Northeast China under climate and land use changes
Authors: Zhang Boyan , Zou Hui , Duan Detai , Zhou Xinyu , Chen Jianxi , Sun Zhonghua , Zhang Xinxin
Published: June 2024

Climate change and land use change caused by human activities have a profound impact on ecological security. Simulating the spatio-temporal changes in ecosystem service value and ecological security patterns under different carbon emission scenarios in the future is of great significance for formulating sustainable development policies. This study quantified the four major ecosystem services (habitat quality, water retention, soil erosion, and carbon storage) in Northeast China (NC), identified ecological source areas, and constructed a stable ecological security pattern. The results show that the spatial patterns of soil erosion, carbon storage, water retention, and habitat quality, the four major ecosystem services in NC, are relatively stable in the next 30 years, and there is no significant difference from the current spatial pattern distribution. The SSP1–2.6 carbon emission scenario is a priority model for the development of NC in the next 30 years. In this carbon emission scenario, the NC has the largest ecological resources (191,177 km2) and the least comprehensive resistance value (850.006 × 10−4). At the same time, the relative resistance of the corridor in this scenario is the smallest, and the area of the mandatory reserve pinch points is the least. The ecological corridors in the SSP1–2.6 scenario form a network distribution among the ecological sources, connecting several large ecological sources as a whole. This study fills the knowledge gap in building a stable ecological security pattern in NC under the background of global change, and provides a scientific basis for the decision-making of regional ecological security and land resource management.
Brown midrib (BMR) and plant age impact fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) growth and development in sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum x drummondii)
Authors: Vasquez Alejandro , Balakrishnan Devi , Ayala Jessica , Loftin Kelly , Louis Joe , Kariyat Rupesh
Published: June 2024

Economic losses from insect herbivory in agroecosystems has driven the development of integrated pest management strategies that reduce pest incidence and damage; however, traditional chemicals-based control is either being complemented or substituted with sustainable and integrated methods. Major sustainable pest management strategies revolve around improving host plant resistance, and one of these traits of interest is Brown midrib (BMR). Originally developed to increase nutritional value and ease of digestion for animal agriculture, BMR is a recessive plant gene usually found in annual grasses, including sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids. In sorghum-sudangrass, BMR expressed plants have lower amounts of lignin, which produces a less fibrous, more digestible crop, with possible implications for plant defense against herbivores- an area currently unexplored. Fall Armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda) is a ruinous pest posing immense threat for sorghum producers by severely defoliating crops and being present in every plant stage. Using FAW, we tested the effect of seed treatment, BMR, and plant age on FAW growth, development, and plant defense responses in sorghum-sudangrass. Our results show that seed treatment did not affect growth or development, or herbivory. However, presence of BMR significantly reduced pupal mass relative to its non-BMR counterpart, alongside a significant reduction in adult mass. We also found that plant age was a major factor as FAW gained significantly less mass, had longer pupation times, and had lower pupal mass on the oldest plant stage explored, 60-days, compared to younger plants. These findings collectively show that pest management strategies should consider plant age, and that the effects of BMR on plant defenses should also be studied.
The moderating effect of physical activity on the relationship between neutrophil count and depressive symptoms
Authors: Guo Zhaohui , Xie Zhenwen , Wang Peng , Li Shufan , Xin Xin , Wang Xing
Published: June 2024

Variations in immune cell counts can trigger depressive symptoms, while physical activity effectively reduces the risk and severity of depressive symptoms. This study, based on the NHANES database, analyzes the relationship between neutrophil count and depressive symptoms and explores the moderating effect of physical activity on this relationship. Cross-sectional data from the NHANES database were extracted, including immune cell counts, PHQ-9 scores for self-assessment of depressive symptoms, and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) scores (PA). The interrelations among physical activity, neutrophil count, and depressive symptoms were analyzed. After controlling for confounding factors, neutrophil count was found to have a significant role in identifying depressive symptoms with an odds ratio (OR) [95% Confidence Interval (CI)] = 1.13 [1.02, 1.251]; the moderating effect of physical activity on the impact of neutrophil count on depressive symptoms was statistically significant (coefficient = -0.0028, P < 0.05). Neutrophil count may be a significant factor in identifying depressive symptoms in adults. As an effective moderating factor, physical activity can mitigate the impact of neutrophil count on depressive symptoms to a certain extent.
Risk factors of video urodynamics and bladder management for long-term complications in patients with chronic spinal cord injury
Authors: Chen Yu-Chen , Kuo Hann-Chorng
Published: June 2024

This study explores 15-year urological complications in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients and investigates the predictive factors from video-urodynamic study (VUDS) and bladder management. Analyzing 864 SCI patients with a mean 15.6-year follow-up, we assessed complications and utilized multivariate logistic regression for risk evaluation. VUDS factors such as autonomic dysreflexia, detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, vesicourethral reflux (VUR), contracted bladder, and high voiding detrusor pressure significantly increased the likelihood of recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI). Low bladder compliance, VUR, and contracted bladder notably raised the risk of hydronephrosis, while contracted bladder and detrusor overactivity with detrusor underactivity heightened chronic kidney disease risk. Volitional voiding reduced rUTI and VUR risk, whereas Valsalva maneuver-assisted voiding increased hydronephrosis risk. In conclusion, a contracted bladder identified in VUDS is associated with long-term urological complications in SCI, we propose that patients already experiencing a contracted bladder should prioritize volitional voiding as their preferred bladder management strategy to minimize the risk of additional complications such as rUTI and VUR. These findings unveil previously unexplored aspects in research, emphasizing the need for proactive management strategies in this patient population.
Predictive value of triglyceride glucose index combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for major adverse cardiac events after PCI for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Wang Long , Wang Yuqi , Wang Wei , Wang Zheng
Published: June 2024

Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a severe cardiovascular disease that poses a significant threat to the life and health of patients. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of triglyceride glucose index (TyG) combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for in-hospital cardiac adverse event (MACE) after PCI in STEMI patients. From October 2019 to June 2023, 398 STEMI patients underwent emergency PCI in the Second People's Hospital of Hefei. Stepwise regression backward method and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to screen the independent risk factors of MACE in STEMI patients. To construct the prediction model of in-hospital MACE after PCI in STEMI patients: Grace score model is the old model (model A); TyG combined with NLR model (model B); Grace score combined with TyG and NLR model is the new model (model C). We assessed the clinical usefulness of the predictive model by comparing Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI), Net Reclassification Index (NRI), Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC), and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA). Stepwise regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TyG and NLR were independent risk factors for in-hospital MACE after PCI in STEMI patients. The constructed Model C was compared to Model A. Results showed NRI 0.5973; NRI + 0.3036, NRI − 0.2937, IDI 0.3583. These results show that the newly developed model C predicts the results better than model A, indicating that the model is more accurate. The ROC analysis results showed that the AUC of Model A for predicting MACE in STEMI was 0.749. Model B predicted MACE in STEMI with an AUC of 0.685. Model C predicted MACE in STEMI with an AUC of 0.839. For DCA, Model C has a better net return between threshold probability 0.1 and 0.78, which is better than Model A and Model B. In this study, by combining TyG, NLR, and Grace score, it was shown that TyG combined with NLR could reasonably predict the occurrence of MACE after PCI in STEMI patients and the clinical utility of the prediction model.
PM2.5 concentration prediction based on EEMD-ALSTM
Authors: Liu Zuhan , Ji Dong , Wang Lili
Published: June 2024

The concentration prediction of PM2.5 plays a vital role in controlling the air and improving the environment. This paper proposes a prediction model (namely EEMD-ALSTM) based on Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD), Attention Mechanism and Long Short-Term Memory network (LSTM). Through the combination of decomposition and LSTM, attention mechanism is introduced to realize the prediction of PM2.5 concentration. The advantage of EEMD-ALSTM model is that it decomposes and combines the original data using the method of ensemble empirical mode decomposition, reduces the high nonlinearity of the original data, and Specially reintroduction the attention mechanism, which enhances the extraction and retention of data features by the model. Through experimental comparison, it was found that the EEMD-ALSTM model reduced its MAE and RMSE by about 15% while maintaining the same R2 correlation coefficient, and the stability of the model in the prediction process was also improved significantly.
A new seven-axis robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty system improves component positioning: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study
Authors: Tian Run , Gao Xu , Kong Ning , Li Xinghua , Li Yiyang , Wang Jian , Cao Yongping , Shi Zhanjun , Wang Kunzheng , Yang Pei
Published: June 2024

This study compared the radiologic and clinical outcomes of a new seven-axis robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty (THA) and conventional THA. Hundred and four patients were randomly assigned to two groups—the robotic-assisted THA group (RAS group) and the conventional THA group (CON group). The preoperative and postoperative Harris Hip score (HHS), acetabular inclination, anteversion, femoral offset, and leg length discrepancy (LLD) were compared. During the follow-up, no patients had any complications that could be associated with the use of the robot. The proportion of acetabular cups in the safety zone was significantly higher in the RAS group than that in the CON group. The two groups had significantly different mean absolute difference of inclination and anteversion. There was no significant difference in the postoperative HHSs, changes in HHSs, femoral offset, and lower limb length between the two groups. The seven-axis robotic-assisted THA system is safe and effective, and leads to better acetabulum cup positioning compared to conventional THA. The improvements observed in the HHS, LLD, and femoral offset in the RAS group were similar to those in the CON group.

Clinical trial registration time: 19/05/2022.

Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR2200060115.
Comparative study on the effects of grain blending on functional compound content and in vitro biological activity
Authors: Han Narae , Woo Koan Sik , Lee Jin Young , Lee Hyeon Gyu , Lee Junsoo , Lee Yu-Young , Kim Mihyang , Kang Moon Seok , Kim Hyun-Joo
Published: June 2024

In this study, changes in bioactive compound contents and the in vitro biological activity of mixed grains, including oats, sorghum, finger millet, adzuki bean, and proso millet, with eight different blending ratios were investigated. The total phenolic compounds and flavonoid contents ranged from 14.43–16.53 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 1.22–5.37 mg catechin equivalent/g extract, respectively, depending on the blending ratio. The DI-8 blend (30% oats, 30% sorghum, 15% finger millet, 15% adzuki bean, and 10% proso millet) exhibited relatively higher antioxidant and anti-diabetic effects than other blending samples. The levels of twelve amino acids and eight organic acids in the grain mixes were measured. Among the twenty metabolites, malonic acid, asparagine, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, and proline were identified as key metabolites across the blending samples. Moreover, the levels of lactic acid, oxalic acid, and malonic acid, which are positively correlated with α-glucosidase inhibition activity, were considerably higher in the DI-blending samples. The results of this study suggest that the DI-8 blend could be used as a functional ingredient as it has several bioactive compounds and biological activities, including anti-diabetic activity.
Optimizing the energy level alignment for achieving record-breaking efficiency in hot exciton deep red OLEDs
Authors: Wu Yujie , Zhang Jiasen , Li Deli , Du Songyu , Mu Xilin , Liu Chunyu , Fang Kaibo , Feng Tingting , Wang Tao , Li Wei , Ge Ziyi
Published: June 2024

Efficient hot exciton emitters are crucial for having a narrow energy gap between the lowest singlet excited (S1) state and the second triplet excited (T2) state while also ensuring that the T2 state is slightly higher than that of the S1 state.
Modeling the technological process of whelled harvester by applying Graph theory
Authors: Svoikin F.V. , Svoikin V.F. , Borozna A.A. , Bozhbov V.E. , Taraban M.V. , Ryapukhin A.V.
Published: June 2024

The article presents typical schemes of the development of the harvest area and the technological operations performed by a middle-class feller-delimber-buncher (FDB) (Ponsse Ergo 8W) in the middle taiga of the Komi Republic under natural and production conditions of JSC Syktyvkar LPC. On the example of the most common in the logging practice plantation forest plantations modeled the technological process in terms of productivity of a typical multi-operational logging machine, the process of processing one tree by such a machine, taking into account the graph theory modeled and given graph of processing one tree, hourly productivity of FDB in such conditions, recommendations on the value of the planned indicator of hourly productivity of FDB in such conditions are given.
Intensification of oil production through the use of hydraulic fracturing fluid based on polyacrylamide
Authors: Efimov Mark , Kalashnikov Andrey , Kuznetsov Alexander , Zankiev Maris , Sorokoletov Roman
Published: June 2024

The article considers the technology of Hydraulic Fracturing (HF) based on polyacrylamide (Co-PAM), identifies parameters for evaluating the quality of the fluid both on a guar and polyacrylamide base. Fluid viscosity is a main criteria of success of HF operations. Thus, fluid thermal stability, determine the pumping time. The composition of the Co-PAM-based HF fluid differs from the guar-based one, consisting of two main chemical reagents - a gelling agent and a crosslinker(x-linker), in that only a synthetic gelling agent is used. Recommended concentration starts from 4 l/m3. At this concentration the synthetic gel starts to exhibit properties of a sand-carrying fluid, suitable for standard pump rate (4.0-5.0 m3/min) HF. A significant advantage is compliance with the requirements for HF fluids which not only improves the filtration properties of the formation but also considers the economic feasibility of using such a chemical reagent. Co-PAM gel using provides reduction of logistics costs, water heating. Also it allows to exclude hydration unit, reduced crew, decreased wear on pumping units, including reduced consumption of lubricants during the HF operation.
A significance sampling method for visualizing function-based scenes
Authors: Vyatkin Sergey , Dolgovesov Boris
Published: June 2024

The article considers the task of rendering function-based scenes with a sample of significance to reduce variance. A sampling method based on significance with an optimal density is proposed. Samples with optimal density are generated in an additional space mapping. An algorithm is used that allows you to nonlinear deform an additional space mapping with the calculation of optimal densities. The algorithm implements a change in the deformation integration variables. As a result, a method has been implemented that leads to an effective reduction of variance in functionally defined scenes.
Problematics of protection of information resources of the enterprise
Authors: Gazizov Andrey , Filiev Andrey , Popov Vitaliy
Published: June 2024

In the modern era of societal advancement, there is a notable reliance on information and communication technologies within engineering centers. This reliance underscores the importance of implementing effective organizational and technical measures to safeguard information resources. Ensuring compliance with necessary security standards and employing certified protective measures is imperative. Protecting the Engineering Center's information involves continuous monitoring and prompt response to any breaches compromising integrity, confidentiality, and availability. Identifying specific vulnerabilities that directly jeopardize these resources is essential. Moreover, safeguarding resources necessitates a comprehensive protection strategy encompassing software, technical, cryptographic, and organizational measures to uphold information security consistently.
Empirical models of electron precipitations at the Earth’s ionosphere high latitudes: a review
Authors: Zolotov Oleg , Romanovskaya Yulia , Prokhorov Boris
Published: June 2024

This paper presents a review of the Earth’s ionosphere empirical models of high-latitude energetic electron precipitations. In total, the review includes twelve models. Those models represent the full spectra from the earliest to the most recently developed ones. The majority of models were derived from the DMSP mission data. Models by McDiarmid et al., Spiro et al., Zhang & Paxton, Kamp et al., and Wu et al. are the exceptions. The first two models were developed before the DMSP mission era. Most of considered models are based on a physical representation of precipitating electron fluxes. However, some models are utilizing the purely “technician” approach. Those models are constructed for each channel of the DMSP/SSJ4 detector separately. Nowadays, AFGL, Ovation Prime (OP), and OP-2013 are the most popular models. The AFGL model is the first one with reasonable accuracy being available for public use. However, OP/OP-2013 models are becoming more popular now. They provide the finer specification of the electron precipitations over the AFGL model but require the solar wind in situ observations as the input parameter.
Using soft soil models in geotechnical engineering: a review paper
Authors: Waheed Mohanned Q. , Asmael Noor M.
Published: June 2024

Soil is considered a complicated material as, in general, the behavior under loading is non-linear in addition it is anisotropic material and its behavior is time-dependent. Various models were developed in the method of finite element for modeling the behavior of soil under different loading cases, and it must be known that no constitutive model is available that can simulate completely the actual soil behavior under all conditions. This paper attempts to investigate the soft soil model and present a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages for the purpose of giving an overview, and discussing the main finding of the previous studies regarding using the Soft Soil model in the numerical analysis of geotechnical engineering problems and applications. In this research, it was observed from the previous studies that the relation between the modified compression index (λ*) and unloading index (κ*) is from (5 to 10). The Soft Soil model gives a stiffer stress-strain behavior compared to Hardening model. Using this model for compressible soils needs a longer calculation time than other models as the material stiffness matrix was included in each calculation step. It shows satisfactory results in the analysis of the settlement of immediate and consolidation cases of foundation in clayey soil than the model of Mohr-Coulomb.
Economics of reducing the negative impact on the environment: a guideline for sustainable development
Authors: Xi Fuyuan
Published: June 2024

The article is devoted to the economic prospects of reducing the negative impact on the environment through the introduction of the principles of sustainable development. The authors explore current challenges related to environmental issues and propose a promising path in the form of a transition to sustainable production and consumption models. It also analyzes what economic benefits can arise from the introduction of green technologies, energy-saving measures and sustainable practices in various sectors. Special attention is paid to the impact of such changes on reducing the environmental footprint of enterprises, improving resource efficiency and creating new jobs. The authors also discuss possible challenges and obstacles to sustainable development, suggesting strategies to overcome them. They consider the role of government policies, corporate responsibility and public awareness in creating an enabling environment for the transition to sustainable models. As a result, the article highlights the importance of a balanced approach to sustainable development, taking into account both environmental and economic aspects. The economic prospects presented in the article emphasize the need for active interaction between business, governments and society to achieve a sustainable future.
A Twisted Tale of Vein of Galen Aneurysmal Malformation
Authors: Sanghani Rohit , Panchal Toral
Published: June 2024

This illustration presents a three-dimensional representation of the vascular structure of the vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM), which is a rare congenital brain vascular abnormality characterized by the enlargement of the embryonic precursor of the vein of Galen—specifically, the median prosencephalic vein of Markowski. VGAM constitutes an arteriovenous fistula formed between the deep choroidal arteries and the embryonic median prosencephalic vein. Its development initiates early but is typically detectable via sonography only during the second- or third-trimester of gestation. The comprehensive assessment of the vascular anatomy of VGAM necessitates the examination of both the incoming (afferent) and outgoing (efferent) vessels.