bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Road Cycling causes more serious injuries than Mountain Biking. A prospective study and Review of the Literature
Authors: Martinez-Sañudo Luís , Verdaguer-Figuerola Arnau , Martínez-Carreres Laia , Garcia-Giménez Santiago , Cueva-Sevieri Enrique , Pelfort Xavier
Published: January 2024

Purpose
The number of cyclists and cycling crashes have increased in the last years around the world. Road Cycling and Mountain Bike are probably the most frequent practiced styles. The main purpose of our study was to analyze the severity of the injuries related to these two disciplines. Furthermore, we evaluated the frequency and the risk factors associated to these two sports within the broad category of cycling.
Methods
We performed a prospective study including 149 injured Road or Mountain Bike cyclists that we received to our Emergency Trauma Department between the period of November 2020 and October 2021. We analyzed the severity of the lesions by using the Injury Severity Score (ISS). Other associated variables like mechanism of the injury, use of helmet, alcohol or drugs consumption and the experience of the cyclist were also evaluated.
Results
We observed significant higher values on the ISS score and less frequency of the injuries in the Road Cycling group compared to the Mountain Bike one (67,1% vs 32,9% respectively). We also found a relation between the age of the cyclist and the severity of the injury. Older patients suffered more serious lesions.
Conclusion
Road Cycling crashes were less frequent than Mountain Bike ones but provided more risk of serious injuries. Older cyclist had more risk to suffer severe lesions.
Milk production and profitability of the various smallholder dairying models used in Zimbabwe
Authors: Mafigu Takudzwa , Masunda Blessed , Imbayarwo-Chikosi Venancio Edward , Mbiriri David Tinotenda , Hodzi Pride
Published: January 2024

An evaluation of milk yield, dairy products and profitability of the smallholder dairy production models used in Zimbabwe was carried out. We used secondary data on 1167 smallholder dairy farmers. These were categorised into commercial dairying (119), Milk collection centre (MCC) bulking and processing (145), MCC bulking and delivering to processor (87), farm gate (468) and other (348) models. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25.0. Average daily and monthly milk yields were highest (P < 0.05) in the commercial dairying model, at 209 L and 6270 L, respectively. The average milk yield per cow were 8.92 ± 1.0 L, 8.90 ± 0.9 L, 5.91 ± 1.2 L, 3.93 ± 0.5 L and 2.00 ± 0.6 L in the Commercial dairying, MCC bulking and processing, MCC bulking and delivering to processor, farm gate and other models, respectively. Fermented milk was produced in the largest volumes across all the models compared to the rest of the dairy products. Highest volumes of fermented milk were recorded in the farm gate (93.95 ± 13.6 l) followed by MCC bulking and processing (54.14 ± 24.5 l), and commercial dairying (45.8 ± 27.0 l) models. The commercial dairying model was the most profitable with a gross margin of $1539 ± 390. The rest of the dairying models, except for the farm gate model recorded losses. The commercial dairying model surpassed all models on herd size, milk production and gross margin, therefore, we recommend that smallholder dairy farmers practising other models transform into this model.
Combining OPTRAM soil moisture index with environmental variables to downscale monthly IMERG rainfall data
Authors: Talha Syed Muhammad , Hassan Mujtaba , Ahmad Bashir , Abbas Shahanshah , Qadeer Asim
Published: January 2024

Rainfall is an essential variable for modeling various Land-Use-Land-Cover (LULC) dynamics along with hydrological and climatic modeling. Various satellite products are available for rainfall monitoring but lack high spatial resolution. In this study, the Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM(IMERG) rainfall product is downscaled using the Optical Trapezoidal Model (OPTRAM) soil index along with other auxiliary variables to a resolution of 500m. This approach is validated using station data for the district of Sahiwal in Pakistan, with an R2 of 0.98 and 0.89 for the years 2019 and 2020 respectively and an RMSE of 7.09mm/month and 12.25mm/month respectively using the Random Forest Algorithm. The study used both Random Forest (RF) and Epsilon Support Vector Regressor (E-SVR) Algorithm and established that RF outperformed E-SVR. The used approach achieved satisfactory results and can be used to downscale rainfall products to a suitable spatial resolution which is important for various hydrological and climatic models. This study is important for researchers and signifies the importance of freely available remote sensing datasets for predicting and monitoring urban-climatic dynamics.
The use of LNG-IUS-19.5mg in daily gynecological routine practice in Germany: data from the KyleenaTM Satisfaction Study (KYSS)
Authors: Römer Thomas , Frenz Ann-Kathrin , Dietrich-Ott Susanne , Fiedler Anja
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The Kyleena™ Satisfaction Study (KYSS) provided the first data on 19.5mg levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS-19.5mg) use in routine clinical practice. Here we report results from the German participants in KYSS.
Methods: This prospective, observational, single-arm cohort study recruited women who independently chose to use LNG-IUS-19.5mg during routine counseling in Germany. Overall satisfaction and bleeding profile satisfaction, continuation rates, and safety profile were evaluated at 12 months or premature end of observation (EoO).
Results: In the German study population, LNG-IUS-19.5mg placement was attempted in 508 women and successful in 506 women. Mean age was 32.3 years, and 60.0% (n=305/508) were parous. Placement was considered easy and associated with no more than mild pain, even in younger and nulliparous participants.
Of those with satisfaction data available, 87.6% (n=388/443) were satisfied with LNG-IUS-19.5mg at 12 months/EoO. Satisfaction was similar for parous (86.9%, n=238/274) and nulliparous (88.8%, n=150/169) women, and was independent of age, prior contraceptive method, or reason for choosing LNG-IUS-19.5mg. Most participants (73.6%, n=299/406) were also satisfied with their bleeding profile at 12 months/EoO, independent of parity, age, prior contraceptive method, presence of amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea severity.
The 12-month continuation rate was 84.1% (n=427/508). Most discontinuations were due to loss to follow-up (8.5%, n=43/508) or treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) (4.7%, n=24/508). TEAEs were reported in 12.6% (n=64) of participants, with 9.3% (n=47) considered to have an LNG-IUS-19.5mg-related TEAE.
Conclusion: Our real-world findings on LNG-IUS-19.5mg use in German KYSS participants reflected its suitability for a broad population, including young and nulliparous women.
Clinical trial registration: NCT03182140 (date of registration: June 2017)
Integrated Assessment of Basin Effects on Seismic Damage: A Coupled 3D SEM-FEM Approach with Domain Reduction Method
Authors: Soto Valeria , Lopez-Caballero Fernando
Published: January 2024

Sedimentary materials enclosed in basins modify the ground motion by energy trapping, resonance and surface wave generation at the basin edge. In general, the effects of basin presence are approximated by amplification factors (AF), focusing directly on the horizontal components of ground motion. The current study presents a coupled framework to assess the impact of basin effects on the seismic damage of a nonlinear structure. Using the Domain Reduction Method (DRM), a complete time-analysis from the earthquake source, at a regional scale, to an infrastructure, at a local scale is performed. The numerical wave propagation simulation uses a coupled 3D SEM-FEM approach including non-linearities and soil-structure interaction. With the results is possible to correlate the amplification factors obtained from ground motions and the associated damage of the structure. The findings indicate that basins' effect on structural damage may be estimated in a simplified form using a combination of a structural behavior predictor and AFs derived from the free-field ground motions. However, these factors should be correctly predicted, including both basin and source variability.
RETRACTED: Rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis by PCR from blood samples
Authors: HASSINE Ahmed BEN HADJ , MARZOUK Manel , BOUKADIDA Jalel
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
FZD5 induces chemoresistance through ALDH1A1 in ovarian cancer
Authors: Xia Yuhong , Wang Shan , Sun Yu , Wang Wei , Chang Shijie , Zhang Zhongbo , Zhao Chenghai
Published: January 2024

Chemoresistance is associated with tumor relapse and unfavorable prognosis. Multiple mechanisms underlying chemoresistance have been elucidated, including stemness and DNA damage repair. Here, the involvement of WNT receptor FZD5 in ovarian cancer (OC) chemoresistance was investigated. Function studies on OC cells showed that FZD5 contributes to epithelial phenotype maintenance, growth, stemness, homologous recombination (HR) repair, and chemoresistance. Mechanistically, FZD5 modulates the expression of ALDH1A1, a functional marker for cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), in a β-catenin-dependent manner. ALDH1A1 activates Akt signaling, further upregulating RAD51 and BRCA1 to promote HR repair. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that FZD5-ALDH1A1-Akt pathway is responsible for the survival of OC cells, and targeting this pathway can sensitize OC cells to DNA-damaging therapy.
Critical period for first language acquisition may be shorter in autistic children than in typical children
Authors: Vyshedskiy Andrey , Marsiglio Allegra , Batham Sahil , Tagliavia Alessandro , Venkatesh Rohan , Tarakbay Anel , Mundhia Sagar , Urs Samarth , Khokhlovich Edward , Pinsky Eugene
Published: January 2024

Typical children demonstrate nearly constant syntactic language learning-rate, as measured by a parent-reported Mental Synthesis Evaluation Checklist (MSEC), from 2 to 6 years of age and reach the ceiling MSEC score around 8 years of age 1. In this study we report syntactic language learning-rate (measured as MSEC score change per year) in 15,183 autistic individuals of 2 to 22 years of age. Of these, 98.5% participants did not reach the ceiling MSEC score. Computational models used to estimate the trajectory of underlying learning-rate showed that unlike a constant syntactic language learning-rate in typical children, which is observed until at least 6 years of age, learning-rate in autistic individuals declined exponentially starting from 2.3 years of age. Furthermore, this decline started earlier in more severe forms of autism. One possible explanation for this difference is a shorter critical period for syntactic language acquisition in autistic children compared to typical controls. This early closing of the critical period may explain lifelong syntactic language deficits in some autistic individuals.
Multi-month forecasts of marine heatwaves and ocean acidification extremes
Authors: Mogen Samuel , Lovenduski Nicole , Yeager Stephen , Capotondi Antonietta , Jacox Michael , Bograd Steven , Lorenzo Emanuele Di , Hazen Elliott , Buil Mercedes Pozo , Kim Who , Rosenbloom Nan
Published: January 2024

Marine heatwaves (MHW) and ocean acidification extreme events (OAX) are periods during which temperature and acidification reach extreme levels, endangering ecosystems. As the threats from MHW and OAX grow with climate change, there is need for skillful predictions of events months-to-years in advance. Previous work has demonstrated that climate models can predict marine heatwaves up to 12 months in advance in key regions, but no studies have attempted to predict OAX. Here we use the Community Earth System Model (CESM) Seasonal-to-Multiyear Large Ensemble (SMYLE) to make predictions of both MHW and OAX events. We find that CESM SMYLE skillfully predicts discrete MHW and OAX events up to 1 year in advance. Skill is highest in the tropical and northeast Pacific, reflecting the contribution of El Niño-Southern Oscillation. A forecast generated in late 2023 during the 2023-24 ENSO event finds high likelihood for widespread MHWs and OAX in 2024.
Artificial ascites assisted microwave ablation for liver cancer adjacent to the diaphragm and perioperative nursing care
Authors: Ai Qinqin , Liu Delin , Liang Fei , Kong Zixiang , Pan Yanghong , Zhang Xu
Published: January 2024

Background
To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of artificial ascites assisted microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of liver cancer near the deep diaphragm and the importance of perioperative nursing.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who received MWA assisted by artificial ascites for liver cancer adjacent to the deep diaphragm from January 2016 to December 2022. Normal saline was used as artificial ascites to protect the deep diaphragm during MWA. The success rate of the procedure, the incidence of major complications, the technical efficacy of ablation, and the local tumor progression were recorded.
Results
A total of 62 lesions in 54 patients were enrolled, including 44 males and 10 females, with an average age of 55.64 ± 10.33 years. The ultrasound image quality scores of liver cancer before and after ascites were 3.57 ± 0.79 and 4.89 ± 0.33, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t = 16.324, P < 0.05). There was no injury to the diaphragm, no burn to the skin at the puncture site, and no abdominal hemorrhage. 1 patient developed a right pleural effusion, which was not drained. The complete ablation rate was 94.4% (51/54) at 1 month after ablation. Three patients had recurrence and were treated with MWA again. The patients in this study were followed up for 12 to 45 months, with a median follow-up time of 21 months. The local tumor progression rate was 5.6% (3/54).
Conclusion
MWA assisted by artificial ascites is a safe and effective treatment for liver cancer near the deep diaphragm. Systematic nursing measures are of great significance for the rapid recovery of patients and the success rate of surgery.
Output feedback control of a fractional-order model of the lung impedance
Authors: Kuzminskas Hadamez , Teixeira Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto , Galvao Roberto Kawakami Harrop , Assunção Edvaldo , Hadjiloucas Sillas
Published: January 2024

A fractional order output feedback controller for a lung ventilator is designed. This is based on a state-of-the-art electrical analogue model of the human respiratory system in the form of a network of fractional capacitors and resistors. The electrical input impedance of the adopted analogue is sufficiently flexible so it can adjust to experimental ventilation impedance data. Furthermore, it can explicitly account for the different physiological fractal type characteristics associated with lung formation such as branching morphogenesis associated to the treelike tubular network and alveolar differentiation associated with the generation of specialized epithelial cells for gas exchange. A description of this electrical analogue in pseudo-state space is then proposed. The aim is to finally provide a control methodology within the scope of output feedback control, when the measured output which is the airflow through the trachea is directed to follow a specified reference. The control provides adequate air pressure input to generate this nominal airflow. The proposed control design includes a pseudo-state observer and a double leaky integrator. The gains involved are designed using additional constraints imposed through linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), which enforce a regional allocation of eigenvalues. The robustness of the control loop is analyzed through an uncertainty matrix analysis linked directly to the model. It is observed that the proposed design can tolerate a relatively wide variation in physiological parameters (±15%). The proposed formulation advances current control design approaches for mechanical ventilators and provides a generic methodology bridging the gap between modern control theory, complex system analysis of emergent responses and bioengineering.
Significance of scattered small echogenic foci floating in urinary bladder as ultrasonography finding in dogs
Authors: Zareh Maede Beiki , Masoudifard Majid , Moosavian Hamidreza , Jamshidi Shahram , Tamai Iraj Ashrafi
Published: January 2024

Background: Despite the prevalence of echogenic foci floating in the urinary bladder seen in ultrasonography in dogs, surprisingly little has been written on its significance, including its potential association with urinalysis. The objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic value of the echogenic foci floating in urinary bladders in dogs.
Results- Cystosonography was performed on 45 dogs. Bladder contents were examined and divided into positive (containing echogenic particles) and negative (absent echogenic particles) groups according to the presence and absence of floating echogenic particles. Five mL of urine was collected via cystocentesis . Urine analysis and culture were done and the relationship between ultrasound evaluation and urinalysis results was investigated. In dogs with bladder echogenic particles in ultrasonography, the prevalence of hematuria, pyuria, bacteriuria, and lipiduria were 88.9%, 92.6%, 29.6%, and 70.3%, respectively. However, in dogs in which echogenic particles were not observed in their bladders, the prevalence of hematuria, pyuria, bacteriuria, and lipidauria was 77%, 50%, 5.5 %, and 77%, respectively. There was a significant association between bladder debris and positive urine culture, with an odds ratio of 7.15 (95% confidence interval: 0.81-63.28) compared with matched controls. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between the presence of floating echogenic particles with pyuria, and urine color ( p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: In conclusion, the present results showed the detection of bladder debris on ultrasound can be a predictor for pyuria and positive urine culture in dogs.
Precision Removal of Uneven Skin Tissue at Micrometre Levels by means of Focus-corrected Femtosecond-laser Ablation
Authors: Wu Jun , Yuan Mingzhou , He Xu , Yin Meifang , Armato Ubaldo , Huang Guangtao , He Jinqing , He Dehua , Li Jun , Liu Xiaofang , Zhong Rong , Ma Yuncan
Published: January 2024

Skin surgery requires micrometre levels precise tools that do not damage the healthy tissues to minimize aesthetic deterioration. Femtosecond (fs) laser has potential to realize micrometre levelsoperation in skin surgery, but the uneven skin surface which lead to laser defocus impedes the investigation of the dose-response relationship of fs-laser on skin and gives rise to secondary damage. In this study, a focus-corrected method based on two-dimensional interpolation for uneven skin surface was applied to our self-developed fs-laser microfabrication platform. Different laser powers and velocities were used for linear, planar, and 3D scanning of pig skin, respectively. The tissue elimination depths were detected via histopathology. The results showed that a micrometre levels controllable removal of target skin tissues couldbe achieved using the novel focus-corrected fs-laser ablation. The tissue elimination depth was related to the single pulse energy of the fs-laser and, within a certain range, reducing the scanning speed of the laser would not lead to a deeper tissue loss. Additionally, the use of fs-lasers for parallel linear scanning could achieve ablations of different 3D shapes. We demonstrated the focus-corrected fs-laser microfabrication platform we developed enables a micrometre levels precise removal of necrotic tissues while acceptably preserving the surrounding healthy skin by selecting appropriate fs-laser processing parameters.
Pressure Ulcer And Associated Factors Among Adult Patients Admitted To The Surgical Wards In The Comprehensive Specialised Hospital Of The Northwest Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Bekele Habtamu , Zemene Workie , Tesfaye Eleny
Published: January 2024

Background: Pressure ulcers are a serious concern in patients with prolonged bed time and presents with common complications following surgery. It is one of the key performance indicators of the qulity of nursing care provided to patients. and some studies have reported the prevalence of pressure ulcers in Ethiopia. There is a lack of evidence regarding its prevalence and associated factors in the current study area. The main objective of th is study was to assess pressure ulcers and their associated factors among adult patients admitted to the surgical ward of the Amhara Regional Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Northwest Ethiopia in ,2023.
Method:An institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from Junary 15 to June 19 ,2023 in NorthWest Ethiopia.and systematic random sampling technique was used to select 480 patients . Descriptive data were presented as absolute numbers with percentages , and multivariate analysis was used to assess the statistical association between a ssociated factors and pressure ulcer. Statiscal significance was set at P < 0.05 .
Results: A total of 49 pressure ulcer cases were detected among 480 patients. a prevalence rate of 10.2%, 95% CI (7.7, 12.9). Participants who had smoked (95% CI: AOR 7.46 (2.64,21.06), being bedridden (95% CI: AOR 3.92 (1.28, 11.66), had 21days the length of hospital stay (95% CI: AOR 3.01 (1.13, 8.02), had pain (95% CI: AOR 3.20 (1.06, 7.51), and had friction and shear (95% CI: AOR 5.71 (1.91, 17.08), were significant factors associated with pressure ulcer.
Conclusion: This study showed that a high percentage of pressure ulcer among patients had Pus. Smoking status, pain, bedridden , friction and shear problems, and length of hospital stay were significantly associated with pressure ulcer. Healthcare providers should educate patients about smoking risk, pain management, mattress installation, and linen care.
Blockchain Enabled Secure Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Framework with Traceability: An Efficient Searchable PharmaChain Approach
Authors: Mishra Rahul , Ramesh Dharavath , Mohammad Nazeeruddin , Mondal Bhaskar
Published: January 2024

The complex networks of manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and customers that make up today’s pharmaceutical supply chain span worldwide. As it is, there needs to be more transparency in the traditional pharma supply chain. Also, the global nature of this industry makes it vulnerable to problems caused by a lack of transparency, distrust among involved entities, and reluctance to share data. Such lack of transparency mainly causes concerns regarding pharmaceutical product supply record forgery and counterfeiting of drugs. Supply chain traceability, which means following a product’s journey from its manufacturing facility to its final consumers, is critically important, as it necessitates traceability, authenticity, and efficiency at a high level. This study proposes a blockchain-based secure and efficient traceable supply chain infrastructure for pharmaceutical products. Smart contracts are at the heart of the proposed solution, which uses them to track how all the entities are involved in supply and record relevant events. Thus, all the involved entities can stay up-to-date on the latest state and guarantee a secure supply against any supply record forgery and counterfeit pharmaceutical products. In addition, we replicate the records in many chunks and use parallel search to achieve efficient traceability, which searches the stored records efficiently on the blockchain network. The comprehensive security analysis with standard theoretical proofs ensures the computational infeasibility of the proposed model. Further, the detailed performance analysis with test simulations shows the practicability of the proposed model.
Long-term detection of active fires in a Neotropical National Forest: implications for management
Authors: Silva Maycon Lima da , Félix Hudson Coimbra , Diehl Larissa Moura , Bernardi José Vicente Elias , Ribeiro Rômulo José da Costa , Salemi Luiz Felippe
Published: January 2024

Fire, depending on its intensity, frequency and duration, can have a undesired pernicious effect in natural protected areas (NPAs). However, little is known on the dynamic of fire in NPAs within developing countries. In the present paper we answer the following question: how often, in annual terms, can a natural proteced area close to a populated urban centers burn? To adress this, we mapped and classified active fires in the Brasília National Forest (Federal District, Brazil) over a twenty-year period (from 2001 to 2020). A total of 1.339 active fires were detected throughout this period, occurring every year. Most of the active fire hotspots were concentrated in areas dominated by forest plantations, grasslands, savanas and natural forests. There was significant increase in detection of active fire after 2009. The fact that there are fires every year indicated the need for (i) a greater number of firefighters available and (ii) increase in environmental education campaigns about fire in the surrounding areas of the NPA.
Controlled Polymerization of Silver Nanoparticle Dispersed poly (aniline and 3–Bromo Aniline) Composites: “One–Pot” Synthesis, Characterization, Morphology, and Electrochemical Properties of Novel Copolymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Vijayanand Pachanoor Subbaian , Arumugam Jeeva , Sakthivel Ashokan , Churchill David G.
Published: January 2024

The formation of materials between silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and a polyaniline matrix can lead to various composites, depending on the specific conditions imposed by the researchers basedon the targets and applications initially intended. These nanocomposites often exhibit enhanced electrical, optical, and catalytic properties compared to either component considered by itself. Therefore, such new materials are sought–after and targeted for synthesis. New copolymer composites of silverdispersed poly(aniline–co–3–bromoaniline) copolymer nanocomposites at different molar ratios were synthesized by insitu chemical oxidative polymerization methods. Characterization includes UV–vis spectroscopy, FT–IR spectroscopy, X–ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy.The optical absorption absorption peaks at 338 and 596 nm are ascribed to the n–π* electronic transitions, respectively. The formation of benzenoid and quinoid rings of the copolymer system was confirmed by FT–IR spectroscopy. XRD spectral data confirms the amorphous nature of the copolymer. The SEM image depicts the agglomerated and spherical granular morphology with average sizes of 150 to 300 nm. According to a study on electrical conductivity, conductivity decreases as the feed ratio of 3–bromoaniline monomer increases1.13×10–5 to 5.16×10–8 S cm–1.
Analysis of the Sediment Deposition Characteristics in the Three Gorges Reservoir and Its Influence Factors
Authors: Xu Fang , Deng Jinyun , Ma Chenyu , Yang Chunrui , Zhao Zhanchao
Published: January 2024

Affected by climatic factors and human activities, the conditions of the sediment deposition of the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR) in the upper Yangtze River have undergone significant changes, the understandings of the sedimentation in TGR and its factors remain unclear. In this paper, the framework for sediment deposition in TGR from 2003 to 2017 is analyzed based on field data, its influence factors are discussed, and the empirical equations governing the relationships are presented. The results show that the sedimentation pattern of the TGR is discontinuous and that the perennial backwater area is the key sedimentation area, while the reaches of Xiangxizhen, Wushan, Fengjie, Wanxian, Huanghuacheng, Lanzhuba, and Tunaozi are the main deposition points in the reservoir. These deposition points include meandering and branching channels with the same characteristics of a wide section. Sediment deposition in the TGR is affected by the incoming water and sediment, the operation rule of the reservoir, and by the characteristics of its reaches. Compared with the factors influencing the total sediment retention ratio of the reservoir, local reach conditions are also the main factors influencing the sediment retention ratio of the reaches. The sediment retention ratio can be a good indicator that reflects sedimentation in the TGR; the calculated sediment retention ratio agrees well with field observations. With the continuous construction and operation of the main and tributary reservoirs in the upper Yangtze River, the existing sedimentation framework of the TGR will persist for many years.
HBSS: (Simple) Hash-Based Stateless Signatures – Hash all the way to the Rescue!
Authors: Dolev Shlomi , Yagudaev Avraam , Yung Moti
Published: January 2024

Recent advancements in post-Quantum secure signing have revitalized interest in one-time signatures, such as Lamport's, and their many signature extensions. Predominantly based on standard hash functions, these signatures avoid reliance on number theoretic assumptions. Existing methods utilize a commitment array, with de-commitment contingent on the hashed message's representation bits. State-of-the-art variants incorporate pseudorandom functions.
This study introduces a novel method utilizing a probabilistic ''set membership data structure" derived from hash functions. It involves accessing a long array with $k$ independent hash functions for each message, analogous to Bloom filters. This stateless signature scheme is adjustable to accommodate any pre-set maximum number of signatures by modulating the array's length. The key concept is the partial loading of the de-committed array, ensuring validation of signed messages, non-validation of unsigned messages, and signature unforgeability (forgery equates to decommitment without the private key). This approach extends to improving one-time or bounded-message Constructions, like the Naor-Yung extension, for regular signature applications in the new Hash-Based Stateless Signature (HBSS) scheme.
Virtual Screening of Synthetic Proteins Based on ESM2 Model
Authors: Song Huijia , Lin Xiaozhu , Zhao Long , Wen Zhenguo
Published: January 2024

The virtual screening of synthetic proteins is to develop an effective method to predict and screen out
synthetic proteins that are similar to the target sequences in terms of their structural and
physicochemical properties by combining advanced computational tools and models, such as
AlphaFold2 and ESM2. Through virtual screening, the experimental cost and time period can be
reduced, and some guidelines for customized design of new proteins can be provided. All similar
research efforts have promoted the advancement in the fields of synthetic biology and biomedical
science. In this paper, we first calculate the backbone distances between synthetic proteins and target
sequences using the AlphaFold2 tool to ensure that they are structurally similar. Secondly, based on the
ESM2 model, the concept of feature distance is proposed to ensure that the two proteins are consistent
in physicochemical properties. In the experiments, the steps of virtual screening of synthetic proteins
are summarized, and the synthetic proteins are arranged in ascending order by backbone distance and
feature distance. If the same synthetic protein appears in the first position of the two sorted tables, then
select that protein. If different synthetic proteins appear in the first position of the two sorted tables,
the synthetic protein with higher solubility will be selected. Repeat this process for other ranking
positions. The experimental results show that this process derived from backbone distance and feature
distance is a necessary and useful tool to select preferred synthetic proteins before entering the lab
experimental session.
The role of the adrenalectomy in the management of pheochromocytoma: the experience of a Portuguese referral center
Authors: Carvalho Ines Costa , Machado Miguel V.B. , Morais João P. , Carvalho Filipa , Barbosa Elisabete , Barbosa José
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Despite the low incidence, these tumors are of indisputable importance. This study aimed to analyze the management of pheochromocytoma in a referral center, with an emphasis on the minimally invasive adrenalectomy, which is the preferred therapeutic approach.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was performed on a cohort of patients diagnosed with pheochromocytoma who underwent adrenalectomy between January 2013 and December 2022. Clinical data including demographics, timelines, symptomatology, comorbidities, biochemical markers, genetic testing, surgical details, and follow-up outcomes, were collected and analyzed.
Results
The cohort included 44 patients, predominantly women (52,27%), with a median age of 53,39 years (range 13–83). Most of patients exhibited paroxysmal symptoms suggesting catecholamine excess. Documented hypertension was the most frequent (86,36%), along with glucose anomalies (40,01%) and anxiety disorder (31,82%). Genetic testing was performed in 36 (81,81%) patients and 14 (38,88%) revealed a positive result, predominantly RET pathogenic variant. Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 34 (79,07%) patients, showing significantly shorter operative time (2,5 hours vs. 4,25 hours, t-test p < 0,001) and fewer complications (23,53% vs 77,78%, p = 0,008). Postoperative complications occurred in 36,36% of the patients, mostly mild (grade I, 56,25%), with no mortality. SDHB pathogenic variant correlated with both recurrent and metastatic disease (p = 0.006). One-year follow-up reported 9.09% recurrence and 6.82% metastasis.
Conclusions
Adrenalectomy demonstrated a high safety and effectiveness. This study exhibited a higher rate of genetic testing referral than other studies. Despite past advances, there is still a need for further studies to establish protocols and evaluate new techniques.
Engineered anti-HER2 drug delivery nanosystems for the treatment of breast cancer
Authors: Vanni Silvia , Caputo Tania Mariastella , Cusano Angela Maria , Vita Alessandro , Aliberti Anna , Cocchi Claudia , Mulè Chiara , Principe Sofia , Liverani Chiara , Celetti Giorgia , Micco Alberto , Spadazzi Chiara , Miserocchi Giacomo , Mercatali Laura , Cusano Andrea
Published: January 2024

Background
Breast cancer stands as the primary cancer affecting women and the second most prevalent cause of cancer-related fatalities in developed nations. Consequently, there is a pressing demand for the advancement of therapeutic strategies that can be seamlessly integrated into clinical applications. We investigated the effectiveness of an encapsulation and decoration strategy employing biodegradable and biocompatible carriers together with 3D collagen-based culture models. Envisioning the use of nano delivery systems for localized regional release, we explored the feasibility of a light-controlled drug release, assisted by optical fibers.
Materials and methods
PLGA nanoparticles loaded or decorated with trastuzumab were synthesized via a double emulsion protocol and characterized by dynamic light scattering, surface plasmon resonance, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In vitro biological evaluation was then performed on HER2-positive breast cancer cell line BT-474, examining the effect of nanoformulations on cell viability in 2D and 3D collagen scaffold culture models. Cell cycle, apoptosis, cell morphology and distribution and protein expression were analyzed. Finally, a core-offset optical fiber was fabricated and particles release was studied in vitro using light in batch and microfluidic tests.
Results and discussion
The nanoparticles displayed uniform and spherical shape, maintaining stability in DMEM for up to seven days. The successful immobilization of TZ was verified. In vitro trials with BT-474 cells in 2D and 3D models revealed that PLGA nanoparticles encapsulated with TZ demonstrated similar or superior biological activity compared to free TZ. Notably, PLGA functionalized with TZ both internally and on the surface exhibited the highest effectiveness in terms of cell viability, increase of apoptosis markers, and inducing cell quiescence. This affirms the pivotal role of PLGA nanoparticles in preserving the integrity of TZ and enhancing its targeted delivery. Furthermore, we propose a breakthrough fiber-optic technology for the less invasive local delivery of PLGA-based nanocarriers that can be effectively used in clinical practice.
Conclusion
Our studies lay the foundation for future advancements in alternative therapeutic tools for localized breast cancer treatment. The integration of advanced carriers, optical fibers, and microfluidics opens up new possibilities for innovative and targeted therapeutic approaches.
Growth kinetics of an invasive wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) and their potential implications for ecosystem biodiversity
Authors: Dołkin-Lewko Alicja , Zajączkowska Urszula
Published: January 2024

Background:​
Rapid changes in the natural environment due to climate change are reflected in the migration of organisms. All habitat types in wetlands and river valleys are particularly vulnerable to alien species. Among these species is the wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata), the vine whose geographical range has greatly expanded in recent years across many European countries. In recent decades, in the literature on plant biology, the main focus has been on molecular and biochemical studies conducted primarily on taxa with relatively well-studied genomes. When working on wild vine species that are invasive plants whose genomes are usually poorly researched, it is reasonable to use different experimental strategies. In this situation, it seems most effective to begin research by focusing on issues related to the kinetics and biomechanics of shoots and tendrils, whose movements determine their ability to compete with autochthonous species.
Results:
This study employed the time-lapse video method to evaluate the growth parameters of wild cucumber plants, considering different support densities (5, 20, or 50 cm step size). Additionally, the biometric features of the shoots were analyzed and anatomical studies were performed. We demonstrated that the speed of growth of wild cucumbers depends on the available support, and was the most vigorous with dense supports. At the initial growth stage, both the intensity of nutation movements and stem elongation were lower than those in mature plants.
Conclusions:
Understanding the climbing and growth mechanisms of wild cucumber plants is crucial to developing strategies to limit their expansion. Further research is recommended to delve into the climbing mechanism of this plant, with an emphasis on extending studies to include its growth on natural supports, such as herbaceous plants and trees. These findings contribute to the broader knowledge base required for effective management and conservation efforts against invasive alien species, particularly wild cucumbers.
Bivariate joint modelling for mixed continuous and binary responses in the presence of non-monotone, non-ignorable missingness: The case of prostate cancer
Authors: Liaqat Madiha , Kamal Shahid , Fischer Florian
Published: January 2024

Joint modelling for mixed longitudinal responses has played a prominent part in disease decision-making. It is based on a joint strategy of estimating joint likelihood with shared random effects. Non-ignorable missingness in outcomes increases complexity in joint model; a shared parameter model is proposed to incorporate non-ignorable missing data for joint modelling of longitudinal responses and missing data mechanism. Parameters are estimated under the Bayesian paradigm and implemented via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods with Gibbs sampler. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, the joint model is applied to analyze a prostate cancer dataset. The objective is to assess whether there is an association between two mixed longitudinal biomarkers, which could have important implications for understanding disease progression and guiding treatment decisions. The dataset contains non-monotone missingness pattern. To evaluate the performance and robustness of the proposed joint model, simulation studies are conducted.
Toward More Informed Choices: Analysis of the Side Effects of Female Contraception Options Using Natural Language Processing of Online Reviews
Authors: Groene Nicole , Nickel Audrey , Rohn Amanda E.
Published: January 2024

Purpose
This study aims to explore women's online descriptions and evaluations of their experiences with birth control products, utilizing natural language processing (NLP). Focusing on non-favorable reviews, the objective is to shed light on the issues and side effects discussed by women, providing additional information that could aid women and their health care providers in making informed contraception choices.
Methods
Employing topic modeling and descriptive statistics, this study analyzes 19,524 unique patient reviews of female contraceptive products posted on Drugs.com. The study also explores patterns in drug ratings depending on the side effects described and contraception products reviewed.
Results
Topic analysis identifies eight main areas of side effects: weight gain, skin problems, loss of libido, mental health issues, menstrual irregularities, cramps and pain, continuous bleeding, and multiple cause dissatisfaction. Descriptive analyses reveal that female contraceptive products vary greatly in how frequently and firmly their side effects are described by women. Drug ratings, indicative of a product’s impact on reviewers’ well-being, vary substantially with contraception type and prevalent complaints voiced in the reviews.
Conclusion
Although exploratory in nature, the study underscores the value of using NLP to analyze large volumes of online reviews for obtaining qualitative insights into women's experiences with contraceptive products. This method can be a useful tool for helping women and doctors make more informed decisions, despite the inherent risk of bias in online reviews. These findings serve as a preliminary guide, suggesting the need for further research to confirm the links between specific side effects and women’s well-being.
Real-World Data of Cardio-oncologic Interventions for Cardiotoxicity with Oral Oncolytics
Authors: Abboud Karen , Umoru Godsfavour , Trachtenberg Barry , Ajewole Veronica
Published: January 2024

Background
Oral cancer therapy-related cardiotoxicity has a wide variety of presentations including arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, and myocardial infarction, but clinical evidence related to its management is limited. The purpose of this IRB-approved, single-center, retrospective, cohort study was to characterize cardio-oncologic interventions for cardiotoxicity related to oral oncolytics.
Methods
The cohort included 67 patients who were admitted to a multi-hospital health system between June 1, 2016 and July 31, 2021, had at least one medical record order of oral oncolytics considered to have cardiotoxic potential, and had an ICD10 code for a cardiotoxic event added to their electronic medical records after initiation of oral oncolytics.
Results
The majority (97%) had pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) or a CV risk factor. The three most common classes of oral oncolytics were aromatase inhibitors (36%), BCR-ABL inhibitors (16%), and VEGFR inhibitors (13%). New-onset or worsening heart failure (HF) (n=31), which occurred after a median of 148 days (Interquartile range (IQR) 43-476 days) was the most common cardiotoxic event. The most frequent interventions were pharmacological treatment of the cardiotoxicity (n=44) and treatment interruption (n=18), but guideline-directed medication therapy for HF could be further optimized.
Conclusion
Pre-existing CVD or CV risk factors predispose oncology patients to cardiotoxicity. Real-world practice reveals that cardiotoxic events require temporary interruption of treatment and initiation of pharmacologic treatment. A multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach that includes discussion of risks/benefits of treatment continuation and initiation of guideline-directed treatment is recommended until high-quality, drug-specific data for monitoring and treatment become available.
Trajectory optimization of flybys of multiple irregular satellites of Jupiter with Galilean moons gravity assist
Authors: Jing Quan , Hao Zhixin , Li Mingtao
Published: January 2024

The irregular satellites within the Jupiter system hold high scientific value due to their potential to contain clues about the early evolution of the solar system. This paper proposes a method for designing trajectories capable of flying by multiple irregular satellites. The method is based on beam search, using the virtual trajectory between layers to determine potential flyby targets, and considers both cases with and without Galilean moon gravity assist throughout the entire process, resulting in mission trajectories that meet certain constraints.In the final part, the idea of introducing diversity into the algorithm was used to expand the solution space. Simulation results demonstrate that by increasing the diversity of branches in beam search, the number of flybys of irregular satellites can be significantly augmented. Furthermore, incorporating gravity assist from Galilean moons into the mission design for initial orbits with shorter periods has also been shown to be effective in increasing the number of irregular satellite flybys.
Full Reference Image Quality Assessment Based on Dual-space Multi-feature Fusion
Authors: Wu Xinrong , Shi Zhiming , Jin Yongnu
Published: January 2024

At present, the majority of techniques for assessing image quality are restricted to extracting characteristics from an image in a single space. To increase the precision of the evaluation of image quality, this paper propose a new dual-space multi-feature fusion based approach to full-reference image quality assessment, which simultaneously extracts features in YIQ spaces and L*a*b* spaces. Firstly, to describe the image's brightness and texture difference, the luminance features and slope features are taken out of the luminance channel. We extract chroma features in the color channel to describe the difference in color and saturation of the image. Extracting the image's gradient features to obtain its structural details. Extracting the image's spatial frequency features to represent the distribution differences of different spatial frequencies within the image. Next, a single feature vector is fused by extracting the features in both spaces. Finally, to predict the quality of the image, the random forest model receives as inputs the feature vector and the image's subjective score. Many experiments have been carried out on the four public databases, and contrasted with alternative methods. The experimental findings confirm that the suggested algorithm predicts image quality more accurately. The MATLAB source code and dataset of this article will be published on GitHub, and the corresponding author can be contacted if necessary.