bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
miRNA changes associated with differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into human retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Esmaeili Maryam , Mead Ben
Published: March 2024

miRNA, short non-coding RNA, are rapidly emerging as important regulators in cell homeostasis, as well as potential players in cellular degeneration. The latter has led to interest in them as both biomarkers and as potential therapeutics. Retinal ganglion cells (RGC), whose axons connect the eye to the brain, are central nervous system cells of great interest, yet their study is largely restricted to animals due to the difficulty in obtaining healthy human RGC. Using a CRISPR-based reporter embryonic stem cell line, human RGC were generated and their miRNA profile characterized using NanoString miRNA assays. We identified a variety of retinal specific miRNA upregulated in ESC-derived RGC, with half of the most abundant miRNA also detectable in purified rat RGC. Several miRNA were however identified to be unique to RGC from human. The findings show which miRNA are abundant in RGC and the limited congruence with animal derived RGC. These data could be used to understand miRNA’s role in RGC function, as well as potential biomarkers or therapies in retinal diseases involving RGC degeneration.
Seasonal Occurrence and Ecological Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in sediments and water of Left-Bank canals of Indus River, Pakistan
Authors: Sidiqui Mohammed Hammad , Imran Uzma , Shaikh Kaleemullah , Ahmed Shoaib , Begum Razia , Shoukat Sohail
Published: March 2024

Kotri Barrage Left Bank Canals, i.e., Akram Pinyari, and Phuleli Wah, pass through Hyderabad Sindh, Pakistan. These canals are utilized for industrial, domestic, and agricultural purposes. These canals are badly affected by anthropogenic activities, which are major sources of organic content, especially PAHs. The present study aimed to investigate the presence, distribution, source, and ecological risk assessment of sixteen ∑16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and sediments of Left-bank canals of River Indus-Pakistan in both pre & post monsoon seasons. From each canal 3 water and 2 sediment samples were collected in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. After collection of sample EPA liquid-liquid extraction were used for the extraction of samples then GC-chromatography was used to investigate the concentration of PAHs. The cumulative concentrations of ∑16PAHs in the pre-monsoon season ranged between 22.26–836.46 ng/l and 26.95–49560 ng/g in water and sediments respectively. The total concentration of water and sediments in the post-monsoon season ranged between 76.51-5663.1 ng/L and 2976.70 -15238.33 ng/g respectively. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that industrial and domestic wastewater discharge, solid waste burning, heavy vehicular exhaust, biomass combustion, and petroleum residues are the primary sources of PAH contamination. The toxic equivalent factor (TEF) depicted that Benzo(a)Pyrene and Banzo(a,h)anthracene are the contributing PAHs with higher carcinogenic exposure equivalent in both water and sediments. The left-bank canals of River Indus are highly contaminated with PAHs, thus posing a severe health issue to humans and aquatic life.
Swiss Cooperation Fundings for Local Government Management in Benin: what are the Impacts on Peasant Family Farming from Maize Production Yield Perspective?
Authors: DEDEHOUANOU Arnaud , Statisticien Ingénieur
Published: March 2024

The aim of this research was to contribute to the literature on the impact of funding (subsidies) on farmers' productivity and hence on local development. To achieve this objective, the data collected concerned a sample of 521 maize producers accessing from PASDeR spread over the intervention zone (Borgou, Alibori, Atacora and Donga). Heckman's two-stage estimation method was used to make the estimates. Based on the estimation results obtained, we found that the selection process for financial subsidy beneficiaries is optimal. They also show that the financial subsidy is significant in explaining maize yield. However, the correlation between the financial subsidy and maize yield is negative, confirming the assertion of Blair, 1984 and Sonne 2010. This is because PASDeR's target group is mainly poor and does not have easy access to conventional financial services to bridge the funding gap. Finally, policy recommendations aiming to strong involvement of elected representatives, an in-depth diagnosis of the real and complete needs of farming and the rigorous monitoring of beneficiaries must be addressed.
J.E.L. Classification H72, H75
Assessing the Uncertainty of Embankment Breach Outflow due to Overtopping
Authors: Hayal Neslihan Godek , Calamak Melih , Yanmaz A. Melih
Published: March 2024

Embankment breach outflows resulting from overtopping were analyzed using probabilistic modeling. The effects of uncertainties in the inflow hydrograph and embankment breach parameters on the breach outflow were evaluated using a numerical model considering (1) breach parameters, including final bottom elevation, width, side slopes, formation time, weir coefficient, and water surface elevation triggering the breach; and (2) inflow hydrograph parameters, such as the peak flow rate and time to peak, as probabilistic parameters. The Monte Carlo method was used for the probabilistic analyses. The histograms and exceedance probability curves of the resulting peak flows were obtained, and probability density functions were fitted. A Chi-square goodness of fit test was performed to examine the fitted distributions. It was found that the upper and lower bounds, as well as the type of the final bottom elevation distribution of the breach play an important role in the breach outflow. Treating the inflow as deterministic or probabilistic did not significantly affect the discharge; however, it is suggested that it can be modeled using a normal distribution. The deterministic breach model underestimated the outflow compared to the maximum peak discharges of the probabilistic models.
Decoding Self-similar Earthquake Patterns and Static Stress; a Pathway to Enhanced Earthquake Forecasting
Authors: Chandriyan Haritha , Reddy Ramakrushna , Roy Paresh Nath Singha
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the collaborative application of fractal clustering patterns and cumulative Coulomb stress (CCS) in the context of earthquake precursory signal identification. We evaluated CCS created by the events based on the period when the Correlation fractal dimension (Dc) commenced falling into relatively lower values. We tested this approach to four strong (M > 7) earthquakes of southern and Baja California, revealing a correlation between these parameters. The crustal readjustment period prior to large earthquakes frequently exhibits a succession of events that result in positive CCS and a higher degree of spatial clustering, indicating low Dc. Preceding strong earthquakes, positive CCS values have been observed concurrently with the onset of low Dc, indicating the potential significance of Dc in seismic hazard assessment studies. We examined these parameters in the Ridgecrest and Baja California regions following the 2010 Mw 7.2 and 2019 Mw 7.1 events. Signs of strain were observed in the northwestern region of the epicenters, indicated by the presence patch of low Dc and positive CCS. We observed that earthquake frequency is typically highest in regions with low to medium Dc values. Multiple sections of the Garlock Fault, manifested by low Dc regions, are loaded, posing a significant seismic risk in Southern California. Similarly, the southern segment of the San Andreas fault displays demonstrate low Dc and high stress, has been inactive for a prolonged period. While these faults may be inactive, we must not underestimate the unpredictability of earthquakes.
Widening of narrow urethral plates with lateral skin in TIP hypospadias repair: single center series
Authors: Xu Yingrui , He Yan , Wang Hongwei , Wu Xuemin , Liu Zhaoquan , Du Guoqiang , Wu Xiangyu , Wu Rongde , Wang Yanze , Liu Wei
Published: March 2024

Background
To compare the outcomes of hypospadias repair using tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty and modified TIP with lateral skin to widen the urethral plate (WTIP).
Materials and methods
Data were obtained from pre-pubertal boys who underwent primary hypospadias repair between May 2018 and July 2023. The cases were divided into two groups; one group underwent TIP with urethral plate ≥ 6 mm width and the other group with urethral plate width < 6 mm underwent WTIP. WTIP urethroplasty was performed by widening incisions on the outer margins of the urethral plate to incorporate penile and glandular skin lateral to the urethral plate to facilitate tubularization. Complication rates and urinary functions were compared.
Results
A total of 157 patients were enrolled in this study. Eighty-eight cases with narrow urethral plate were subjected to WTIP urethroplasty, and the rest were subjected to TIP urethroplasty. The preoperative glans width in WTIP group was less than that in TIP group (P < 0.001), and 44.3% had midshaft meatus in WTIP group compared to 17.4% in TIP group (P < 0.001). However, the incidences of postoperative complications (17.6% vs. 21.6%, P = 0.550) were not statistically different between the TIP and WTIP groups. In addition, both groups did not differ significantly in postoperative uroflowmetry assessment.
Conclusions
The described technique helps to create an adequately caliber aesthetic neomeatus and facilitates tubularization, especially in hypospadias with a narrow urethral plate. Our data suggest that augmentation of a narrow urethral plate with WTIP has a similar surgical outcome to that of the TIP procedure in patients with a wide urethral plate.
Transcript and protein signatures derived from shared molecular interactions across cancers are associated with mortality
Authors: Zhao Yelin , Li Xinxiu , Loscalzo Joseph , Smelik Martin , Sysoev Oleg , Wang Yunzhang , AKM Firoj Mahmud , Aly Dina Mansour , Benson Mikael
Published: March 2024

Background
Characterization of shared cancer mechanisms have been proposed to improve therapy strategies and prognosis. Here, we aimed to identify shared cell-cell interactions (CCIs) within the tumor microenvironment across multiple solid cancers and assess their association with cancer mortality.
Methods
CCIs of each cancer were identified by NicheNet analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data from breast, colon, liver, lung, and ovarian cancers. These CCIs were used to construct a shared multi-cellular tumor model (shMCTM) representing common CCIs across cancers. A gene signature was identified from the shMCTM and tested on the mRNA and protein level in two large independent cohorts: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, 9,185 tumor samples and 727 controls across 22 cancers) and UK biobank (UKBB, 10,384 cancer patients and 5,063 controls with proteomics data across 17 cancers). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association of the signature with 10-year all-cause mortality, including sex-specific analysis.
Results
A shMCTM was derived from five individual cancers. A shared gene signature was extracted from this shMCTM and the most prominent regulatory cell type, matrix cancer-associated fibroblast (mCAF). The signature exhibited significant expression changes in multiple cancers compared to controls at both mRNA and protein levels in two independent cohorts. Importantly, it was significantly associated with mortality in cancer patients in both cohorts. The highest hazard ratios were observed for brain cancer in TCGA (HR [95%CI] = 6.90[4.64–10.25]) and ovarian cancer in UKBB (5.53[2.08–8.80]). Sex-specific analysis revealed distinct risks, with a higher mortality risk associated with the protein signature score in males (2.41[1.97–2.96]) compared to females (1.84[1.44–2.37]).
Conclusion
We identified a gene signature from a comprehensive shMCTM representing common CCIs across different cancers and revealed the regulatory role of mCAF in the tumor microenvironment. The pathogenic relevance of the gene signature was supported by differential expression and association with mortality on both mRNA and protein levels in two independent cohorts.
Effect of hybrid basalt-brucite fibers in the microstructure of low heat cement concrete
Authors: Zhu Haitang , Wang Yingxuan , Wan Cong , Ma Mei , Zhang Yongjie , Hao Zitai
Published: March 2024

In this paper, the mechanical properties and microstructure of hybrid basalt-brucite fibers reinforeced low heat cement concrete were investigated, including compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, hydration products, microstructure, and pore. The results showed that the composite effect of hybrid fibers can effectively improve the mechanical properties of low heat cement concrete and affect the failure mode of specimens. Based on microscopic techniques, it was found that hybrid fibers had a good bonding effect with the mortar. The failure mode of hybrid fibers in mortar included pull-out, tensile failure, and torsional failure. Meanwhile, mineral fibers can effectively promote hydration reaction, enhanced the interface transition zone between fibers and concrete, and improve the compactness of concrete by compensating for small pores in concrete. Based on the theory of composite materials, the reinforcement mechanism of hybrid fibers on low heat cement concrete was elucidated.
WITHDRAWN: Thangka Image Caption Generation Method Combining Multi-scale and Multi-level Aggregation
Authors: YUE Chaoyang , Hu Wenjin , Zhang Fujun , Shi Xinyue
Published: March 2024

Thangka, as a distinctive form of painting in China, plays a crucial role in facilitating a more profound appreciation and comprehension of Thangka through automated image description. Considering the diverse semantic objects and varying scales present in Thangka images, as well as their distinct spatial distribution characteristics, along with the challenge of potential information loss in image key features using Transformer-based encoding layers, this paper proposes a novel approach for generating Thangka descriptions, integrating multi-scale and multi-level aggregation. The proposed method, named Multi-scale and Multi-level Aggregation (MMA), addresses these challenges and enhances the quality of Thangka image description. At the encoding stage, we employ asymmetric convolutions to enhance the spatial information-capturing capability of convolutional layers. Additionally, we utilize a pyramid pooling module to further integrate multi-scale contextual information from both global and local regions of Thangka images, resulting in feature representations that possess rich semantic information. In the decoding stage, a multi-level aggregation network is designed to aggregate features from different encoding layers, thereby improving the utilization of semantic information from higher-level encoding layers and content information from lower-level encoding layers. This effectively addresses the issue of information loss. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves promising performance on the Thangka dataset. Compared to the NIC model, it achieves a significant improvement of 26.7% in BLEU-4 and 0.9% in METEOR, while generating descriptions with higher accuracy.
Morphing Compliant Trailingedge Skin Concept
Authors: Tikalsky Jan , Monner H. P.
Published: March 2024

Mitigating global warming and its associated consequences stands as the paramount challenge of our generation. The aviation industry and its aircraft must actively contribute to achieving climate neutrality. Regardless of the fuel used, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency emerges as a pivotal factor in attaining this goal. While numerous analyses and wind tunnel tests have highlighted the decisive advantages of variable wing trailing edges, no such system has yet been implemented commercially. The increasing mass and system complexity, however, compromise many of these advantages. This paper introduces a novel concept for morphing the trailing edge (Hyperelastic Trailing Edge Morphing, HyTEM), which has a completely continuous wing skin and possesses the potential to map spanwise-differentiated deflections. This capability enables the optimization of lift distribution based on the flight point. An application scenario of HyTEM are trailing edges of normal-category aeroplanes like CS-23. However, first Implementation is planned on a scaled demonstrator “Proteus”. The system is initially outlined and subsequently scrutinized using two analytical and two finite element methods. Although all these models rely on assumptions of linear material behaviour. Coupon tests were conducted to determine a specific stiffness. The linear material behaviour was verified through the single lap shear test. The results demonstrate that the application of HyTEM can reduce internal driving forces to 0,01% to 0,0001% of those in a conventional trailing edge connection with a continuous wing skin. Moreover, it has been established that linear material behaviour within the utilized strain is feasible and the method already provides sufficient accuracy for actuator sizing.
Navigating Thrombotic Terrain: Unveiling a Novel Homocystinuria Mutation Associated with Thrombophilia in a 16-Year-Old: A Case Report
Authors: TULASI POOJITHA , Veeramachaneni Amulya , Kamble Niranjan , Rangaswamy Darshan Rajatadri
Published: March 2024

Background: Thrombophilia is characterised by an abnormality of blood coagulation that increases thrombosis. Homocystinuria, encompasses a group of disorders marked by increased levels of homocysteine and other amino acids detectable in the bloodstream and urine. Conversely, homocystinuria due to Methylenetetrahydrofolatereductase (MTHFR) deficiency, a rarer disorder, stems from impaired folate metabolism due to deficient MTHFR enzyme.
Case presentation: A 16-year-old presented with walking difficulties, headaches, and thrombotic events, thrombophilia workup led to a diagnosis of Homocystinuria due to a novel mutation in MTHFR gene. Anticoagulant therapy was initiated which showed clinical imrpovement, but financial constraints hindered follow-up.
Conclusions: This case highlights the complexities of diagnosing and treating pediatric thrombophilia, particularly in resource-limited settings. Notably, the identified homozygous Autosomal Recessive (AR) missense variation in the MTHFR gene (Exon 4 – c582C>G) represents a novel mutation, suggesting the ongoing significance of genetic research in elucidating the underlying mechanisms of thrombotic disorders.
Mycorrhizal Types Determined the Response of Yield of Woody Bioenergy Crops to Environmental Factors
Authors: Luo Mengyuan , Shi Zhaoyong , Yuan Mingli
Published: March 2024

Fossil energy has been difficult to meet people's demand for energy. To avoid energy shortages, woody bioenergy crops as a renewable energy have become the object of research by many researchers. Also, mycorrhizas play an important role in crop productivity which inevitably affected biomass yield of woody bioenergy crops. Based on a global synthesis of biomass yield of woody bioenergy crops, we described a framework for recognizing responses of biomass yield of bioenergy crops to mycorrhizal types and made comparisons of biomass yield. Our resulted found that the biomass yield of woody bioenergy crops ranked from high to low as ectomycorrhizas (ECM) crops (10.2 ton DM ha− 1 yr− 1) > arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) + ECM crops (8.8 ton DM ha− 1 yr− 1) > AM crops (8.0 ton DM ha− 1 yr− 1). In addition, we indicated that the climate has the strongest effect on biomass yield in AM and ECM crops, whereas geography had the strongest effect on biomass yield in AM + ECM crops. Also, the response of biomass yield to geographic factors (latitude and elevation) and climatic factors (mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) varied among different mycorrhizal and plants types. When AM crops are planted, we can pay more attention to the temperature conditions-warmer location, while ECM crops are planted to choose a place with more precipitation conditions. This study revealed the relationship between mycorrhiza and bioenergy crops. It provided data and theoretical support for the rational explanation of the differences of different woody bioenergy crops and their different responses to global changes and increase production of bioenergy crops.
Consequences of Cancer on Zebrafish Danio rerio: Insights into Sex Determination, Sex Ratio, and Offspring Survival.
Authors: Boutry Justine , Douhard Mathieu , Asselin Klara , Dujon Antoine M , Meliani Jordan , De Backer Olivier , Nicolas Delphine , Shultz Aaron G , Biro Peter A , Beckmann Christa , Fontenille Laura , Kissa Karima , Ujvari Beata , Thomas Frederic
Published: March 2024

Offspring sex ratio has been proposed as an indicator of the risk of developing certain cancers in humans, but offspring sex ratio may also be a consequence of the disease. In this study, we investigate this subject using the zebrafish, Danio rerio, as a model system. First, we explore whether inducing skin cancer at an early stage of the host's life (embryonic stage) has the potential to influence sex determination and/or sex-specific mortality. Second, we investigate whether the sex ratio in offspring produced by tumor-bearing adult females differs from that of healthy females. Third, we compare the survival (until sexual maturity) of offspring produced by cancerous and non-cancerous females. We found that skin cancer did not influence sex determination and sex ratio of the offspring. However, consistent with previous studies on other model systems, the survival of offspring was higher when mothers were cancerous, suggesting that diseased females allocate more resources to current reproductive efforts compared to their healthy counterparts. This study makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary consequences of host-tumor interactions in animals.
Suitable Deep Learning Classifier Recommendation for Multi-variate Time Series Classification
Authors: Gan Rui
Published: March 2024

Time series classification can be categorized into two main types: univariate and multivariate. The major difference between the two is that multivariate datasets have multiple dimensions, which makes them more intricate than univariate datasets. Selecting a suitable classifier for multivariate time series classification can be challenging, as it involves trying out several algorithms to handle the intricate data. While some studies have been conducted on automatically finding suitable classifiers for univariate datasets, there are currently no such studies for multivariate ones. To fill this gap, this paper introduces a recommendation system for deep-learning classifiers that are suitable for multivariate time series classification. The experiments demonstrate that this recommendation system can automatically identify the suitable deep-learning classifier for some multivariate time series datasets.
Identifying hotspots of heat waves, droughts, floods, and their co-occurrences
Authors: Passos Marlon Vieira , Kan Jung-Ching , Destouni Georgia , Barquet Karina , Kalantari Zahra
Published: March 2024

To address the increasing need for hydroclimatic hazard assessment, a framework to map hotspots and analyze trends in heat waves, droughts, floods, and their compound occurrences was developed. The framework uses temperature, precipitation, river discharge, and derived climate indices to characterize the spatial distribution of hazard intensity, frequency, duration, co-occurrence, dependence, and their projected changes. The relevant climate indices applied are Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI), Heatwave Index (HWI), and Daily Flood Index (DFI). Suitable environmental indicators and corresponding thresholds for each hazard were selected based on estimated extreme event detection accuracy using receiver operating characteristics. Compound hazard dependence was assessed using Likelihood Multiplication Factor. The framework was tested for the case of Sweden, using daily data for the period 1922-2021. The results show that HWI, SPEI12, DFI are suitable indices to represent heat waves, droughts, and floods, respectively. Application of these indices shows increasing heat wave and flood occurrence in large areas of Sweden, but no significant change trend for droughts. Compound drought-heat wave and drought-flood events are found to be positively correlated in some locations, which can exacerbate their impacts. The novel framework developed here adds to existing hydroclimatic hazard research by (1) using local data and documentation to validate indicator-based hazard hotspots, (2) evaluating compound hazards at regional scale, (3) requiring just a few widely available input variables to (4) attain satisfactory accuracy levels for indicator-based hazard assessment, and (5) being generalizable to various hazard types.
Molecular detection and multilocus sequence analysis of Candidatus Phytoplasma solani-related strains infecting potato and sugar beet plants in Southern Germany
Authors: Eini Omid , Shoaei Zahra , Varrelmann Mark
Published: March 2024

Syndrome ‘basses richesses’ (SBR) disease in sugar beet caused by two phloem-limited pathogens, 'Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus' and 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' is a fastspreading disease in Central Europe. The planthopper vector, Pentastiridius leporinus (Cixiidae), has recently expanded its host range to potato in Germany. However, the genetic diversity of 'Ca P. solani' in potato and possible association to SBR phytoplasma is unknown. In this study we charachterized ‘Ca. P. solani’ infecting sugar beet and potato plants in close distance fields in Southern Germany. Initially, the pathogen was detected in the potato tubers (18.7%) and sugar beet roots (60%) using TaqMan Real-Time PCR. Then, the sequences of 16S rRNA and other informative genes (stamp, vmp1, tuf and secY) were analysed in a number of infected potato and sugar beet plants. The phytoplasma strain infecting sugar beet in Southern Germany was classified into 16SrXII-P subgroup, a novel subgroup recently reported from sugar beet in Eastern Germany. While, the potato related strains were close to 16SrXII-A, which is a common subgroup for potato stolbur reported in Europe. The multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of non-ribosomal genes of the phytoplasma strains showed that the potato strain is clearly different from the sugar beet associated strain in this region. The presence and prevalence of 16SrXII-P in sugar beet in Southern and Eastern Germany suggests that this subgroup is dominant in sugar beet in Germany. In addition, this study elucidates for the first time, the genetic diversity of ‘Ca. P. solani’ strains in potato in Germany with a possible different source rather than sugar beet. Further investigation is required to investigate genetic variation of ‘Ca. P. solani’ in all sugar beet and potato-growing regions including weeds host in Central Europe to better understand the epidemiology of both sugar beet SBR and potato stolbur disease.
Adherence to low-dose methotrexate in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis using a sensitive methotrexate assay
Authors: Möhlmann Julia E. , de Roock Sytze , Egas Annelies C. , Weijden Evelien ter , Doeleman Martijn J.H. , Huitema A D.R. , Luin Matthijs van , Swart Joost F.
Published: March 2024

Background: Low-dose weekly methotrexate is the mainstay of treatment in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Unfortunately, a substantial part of patients has insufficient efficacy of methotrexate. A potential cause of this inadequate response is suboptimal drug adherence. The aim of this study was to assess methotrexate adherence in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients by quantification of methotrexate concentrations in plasma. Secondly, the association between methotrexate concentrations and either self-reported adherence issues, or concomitant use of biologics was examined.
Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study using plasma samples from juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients. An ultrasensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for quantification of methotrexate and its metabolite 7-hydroxy-methotrexate in plasma. The determined methotrexate plasma concentrations in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients were compared with corresponding adherence limits, categorising them as either adherent or possibly non-adherent to methotrexate therapy.
Results: Plasma samples of 43 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis were analysed. Adherence to methotrexate in this population was 88% shortly after initiation of methotrexate therapy and decreased to 77% after one year of treatment. Teenagers were more at risk for non-adherence (p=0.002). We could not find an association between methotrexate adherence with either self-reported adherence issues, nor with the use of concomitant biological treatment (p=1.00 and p=0.27, respectively; Fisher’s Exact).
Conclusions: Quantification of methotrexate in plasma is a feasible and objective method to assess adherence in patients using low-dose weekly methotrexate. In clinical practice, the use of this method could be a helpful tool for physicians to refute or support suspicion of non-adherence to methotrexate therapy.
Baricitinib as a novel treatment for bullous pemphigoid: a case series report
Authors: Liang Guirong , Li Xiaoguang , Qian Hua , Sun Chao , Zhang Hanmei , Feng Suying
Published: March 2024

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disorder occurring mostly in the elderly. The standard treatment of BP patients with systemic corticosteroid have some potential serious side effects. Up till now, there is still lack of novel treatment for BP patients. Baricitinib, a selective Janus kinase (JAK) 1 and 2 inhibitor, has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, alopecia areata, and COVID-19. Successful treatment of refractory BP by JAK inhibitors has been reported in sporadic cases. In this study, we reported 8 BP patients treated with baricitinib. The patients after treatment were followed up for 3-24 months, with an average of 9.1 months. All 8 cases achieved disease control and the mean disease control period was 3 weeks (1-6 weeks). The bullous pemphigoid disease area index total (21.2 ± 13.0 to 2.5 ± 4.3, p<0.01), erosion/blister (6.0 ± 7.7 to 0.2 ± 0.5, p<0.05), urticaria/erythema (10.2 ± 11.9 to 0.0 ± 0.0, p=0.06), mucosal erosion/blister (10.0 ± 6.4 to 4.5 ± 5.1, n=4, p=0.25) and itching NRS (3.6 ± 3.5 to 0.0 ± 0.0, p=0.06) scores were all reduced after 2 months’ treatment. Seven of 8 patients achieved complete remission during tapering at month 3 and did not experience relapse during the follow-up period. The serum levels of anti-BP180 autoantibodies (IgG) were reduced significantly (77.1 ± 47.8U/mL to 40.1 ± 37.1U/mL, n=6, p<0.05) after 3 months’ treatment. During the follow-up period, only one patient experienced mild elevation of serum creatinine level after 3 months’ treatment of baricitinib, which returned to normal through discontinuation of the medication. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that low-dose, short-term administration of baricitinib is effective and safe for treating BP patients.
UniTracker:Transformer Based CrossUnihead for Multi-object Tracking
Authors: Wu Fan , Zhang Yifeng
Published: March 2024

In recent years, tracking-by-detection (TBD) has emerged as the predominant approach for
Multi-object Tracking (MOT). Most TBD algorithms typically employ separate branch heads to handle
the coarse feature representations extracted from the backbone network. However, this approach often leads to suboptimal model performance.
This is due to the presence of feature conflicts among multiple tasks on one hand, and the lack of information interaction among these tasks on the other.
Inspired by CSTrack and Unihead, we have combined the feature decoupling module REN with the transformer-based task interaction module CIT to form CrossUnihead which is a plug and play module.
This module not only effectively achieves task-based feature decoupling, but also facilitates information interaction among different tasks.
The MOT algorithm based on CrossUnihead, named UniTracker, demonstrates impressive performance on the MOT dataset when compared to other advanced methods and is capable of achieving real-time tracking.
The impact of quark many-body effects on exotic hadrons
Authors: Takeuchi Sachiko , Takizawa Makoto , Yamaguchi Yasuhiro , Hosaka Atsushi
Published: March 2024

We investigate the exotic hadrons consisting of two light quarks and two heavy antiquarks, $(q\bar Q)$-$(q\bar Q)$. The spin-dependent term between quarks is known to give an attraction to the $ud$ spin-0 component in the isospin-0 $u\bar c d\bar c$ system, $T_{cc}$. However, the said component also gets a repulsion from the partial Pauli-blocking. By the dynamical calculation with a simplified quark model, we discuss that the competition of the two effects leads to a shallow bound state for $T_{cc}$, which is preferred from the experiment, and a deep bound state for $T_{bb}$.
Preparation of Biodegradable Chitosan Semi-Interpenetrating Network Hydrogel and Its Application for Gastric Retention
Authors: DONG Pei , ZHANG Peng , SHENG Yang , SUN Yixin , Bradley Mark , ZHANG RONG , LIU Yuxin
Published: March 2024

Gastric retention hydrogels represent a potential material with weight-loss effects and offer an effective solution to address the low bioavailability of drugs in pharmaceutical therapy. This study aims to develop a degradable hydrogel capable of prolonged retention in the stomach, facilitating both weight loss and drug release. Two degradable macromolecular crosslinking agents were synthesized, with acrylamide as the main monomer, mixed with chitosan solution for the preparation of a degradable hydrogel with a semi-interpenetrating network (sIPN) structure initiated by a redox initiator. The morphology and chemical structure of the prepared hydrogels were characterized using analytical techniques such as SEM and FTIR. In vitro drug release experiments demonstrated that the hydrogel achieved controlled drug release, extending the drug's retention time in the stomach. The swelling performance, biocompatibility and degradation properties of the hydrogel in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) were also evaluated. Results indicated that the hydrogel with crosslinking agent ratio 4:6 exhibited a swelling ratio of 2700%, excellent biocompatibility and a weight loss of 7% in SGF over 5 days. The 4:6 hydrogel had a compressive modulus greater than 13 kPa at 60% deformation, demonstrating resistance to gastric peristalsis. Therefore, the chitosan sIPN hydrogel holds promising potential for applications in weight loss and the treatment of gastric diseases.
1H, 15 N & 13 C resonance Backbone and side-chain assignments and secondary structure determination of the BRCT domain of Mtb LigA
Authors: Vaishnav Jayanti , Ampapathi Ravi Sankar
Published: March 2024

The BRCA1 carboxyl-terminal (BRCT) domain, an evolutionarily conserved structural motif, is ubiquitous in a multitude of proteins spanning prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), BRCT domain plays a pivotal role in the catalytic activity of the NAD+-dependent DNA ligase (LigA). LigA is pivotal in DNA replication, catalyzing the formation of phosphodiester bonds in Okazaki fragments and repairing single-strand breaks in damaged DNA, essential for the survival of Mtb. Structural and functional aspects of LigA unveil its character as a highly modular protein, undergoing substantial conformational changes during its catalytic cycle. Although the BRCT domain of Mtb LigA plays an essential role in DNA binding and protein-protein interactions, the precise mechanism of action remains poorly understood. Unravelling the structure of the BRCT domain holds the promise of advancing our understanding of this pivotal domain. Additionally, it will facilitate further exploration of the protein-protein interactions and enhance our understanding of inter domain interactions within LigA, specifically between BRCT and the Adenylation domain. In this study, we demonstrate the overexpression of the BRCT domain of Mtb LigA and conduct its analysis using solution NMR spectroscopy, reveals a well-folded structure and we present a nearly complete chemical shift assignments of both backbone and sidechains. In addition, a secondary structure prediction by TALOS N predicts BRCT consisting of 3 α-helices and 4 β-sheets, closely resembling the typical structural topology of most BRCT domains.
Bonding strength of wood adhesives with fire-retardants under elevated temperatures
Authors: Silva Luana V. , Alves Matheus , Andrade Djems , Ferreira Débora , Piloto Paulo A. G. , Mesquita Luís M. R.
Published: March 2024

The utilization of wood and wood derivatives are growing in building construction, mainly due to sustainability and circularity reasons, despite the inherent flammability of wood. Woodworking often requires bonding elements with adhesives, which are prone to degradation under fire. A potential solution to improve the fire resistance of wood joints and their derivatives involves incorporating fire retardants into the adhesive compositions. This study explores the adhesion properties of bonded joints of medium-density fibreboard and pinewood panels using resins based on urea and polyurethanes derived from diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). Various proportions of ammonium polyphosphate, borax, and expandable graphite were incorporated as fire retardants. Shear testing was conducted on lap joints under both room and elevated temperatures to evaluate their adhesive performance. At room temperature and 100°C, the predominant failure mode was panel tear failure, while at higher temperatures, cohesive failure became more prevalent. The results indicated a reduction in bonding strength and displacement with increasing temperature. In particular, the MDI-based resin demonstrated higher shear resistance at elevated temperatures in comparison to the urea-based resin. The addition of fire retardants, particularly ammonium polyphosphate, improved the shear strength of MDI joints at 100°C and 200°C. Furthermore, the determined shear modulus per meter evaluated the decreasing rigidity of the bonding joint with increasing temperature. In the reference case of urea without fire retardants, the rigidity of the bond decreased by approximately 100% at 200°C compared to room temperature. In contrast, the MDI cases with ammonium polyphosphate and borax experienced a more moderate decrease of around 60% at 230°C, indicating improved thermal stability.
Senescence-Related Diagnostic Biomarkers in Gastric Carcinoma: Identification and Comprehensive Analysis Using a Machine Learning Algorithm
Authors: Tu Dao-yuan , Zhang Jie , Wang Ming-kao , Zhu Lun , Li Heng , Dou Jin , Zhang Xiao-yu , Zhao Hai-jian
Published: March 2024

Recent research indicates that senescence plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis. However, there is a lack of studies exploring the clinical significance and predictive capabilities of senescence-related genes (SRGs) in gastric carcinoma (GC). This study employs machine learning techniques to discern the diagnostic biomarker associated with senescence in GC. Moreover, it delves into an extensive evaluation of its immunological infiltration, biological function, and clinical relevance. Our analysis identified four SRGs (FEN1, HIF1A, PDGFRB, and PEX5) using a combination of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, support vector machine recursive feature elimination, and the area under the curve metrics. Subsequently, these four SRGs were incorporated into a senescence-based prognostic signature termed “riskScore.” Notably, the riskScore demonstrated reliability and accuracy as an independent prognostic marker. We observed a robust association between the riskScore and tumor mutation burden, clinicopathological features, tumor immune microenvironment, and overall prognosis. Single-cell sequencing revealed heightened immune cell infiltration in the high-risk group. Furthermore, the riskScore emerged as a pivotal determinant guiding therapeutic decisions for GC, including immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The results strongly suggest the riskScore as the signature diagnostic biomarker for GC. These findings lay a robust foundation for GC treatments and hold promise for developing a rapid, non-invasive technique for disease monitoring and prognostic prediction.
A Prospective Cohort Study Exploring the Joint Influence of Sunlight Exposure and Tanning Bed Use on Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Melanoma Risk
Authors: Tran Megan M. , George-Washburn Elisabeth A. , Rhee Jongeun , Li Wen-Qing , Qureshi Abrar , Cho Eunyoung
Published: March 2024

Exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation and use of UV-emitting tanning devices are known risk factors for skin cancer. Few studies have explored the interaction between these risk factors, namely how the risk of skin cancer increases among those who both have been exposed to high levels of natural sunlight and regularly use tanning beds. Nurses’ Health Study II followed 116,430 women, aged 25-42, from 1991 to 2011. Cumulative average UV exposure was based on participants’ residences at follow-up periods. History of severe sunburn during ages 15-20 was used as a proxy for early-life sunlight exposure. Tanning bed use in early life data was collected. Participants reported melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) diagnoses. We built multivariable Cox regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of skin cancer associated with joint effects of sunlight exposure and tanning bed use. Participants with high sunlight exposure and tanning bed use during high school/college had an increased risk of BCC (HR=1.53, CI 1.37-1.71, P interaction =0.01; vs. low UV exposure and no tanning bed use). Participants with a history of severe sunburns and tanning bed use during high school/college were at increased risk of BCC (HR=1.62, CI 1.47-1.79, P interaction =0.02; vs. no sunburns and no tanning bed use). No significant interactions were found between sunlight exposure and tanning bed use on SCC and melanoma risk. We found significant interactions between sunlight exposure and tanning bed use on the risk of BCC.
The Design and Development of an Ai-driven Chinese English Teaching Model
Authors: Fan Lin
Published: March 2024

Global English has developed into a language spoken across the globe due to education. Chinese English seems to be quite important in this particular situation, since China is the nation with the greatest population that speaks and understands English. To gather qualitative data, six students were chosen at random to participate in individual discussions. To examine drawback of the existing Chinese private education system and provide qualified advice for improving the efficacy and rationality of English private education in China.To overcome this problem, we proposed a Scarlet Fox Boosted Deep Neural Network (SF-BDNN) method. The purpose of SF-BDNN method is to improve the Chinese English teaching model. Initially, we gather a Chinese English teaching dataset and secondly, the collected data is preprocessed using Min max normalization to clean the data. Thirdly, Term frequency Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) method is employed to extract the unwanted data. Recursive Feature Elimination (RFF) is used to choose the appropriate data. The simulation findings of the result uses a Python tool. As a result, our proposed method achieves a superior result with listening skills (97%), Fluency English speaking (94%), Writing Proficiency (95.2), when compared to other existing methods.
L1-norm optimization of problems with arbitrary column rank by Whale method and its improved algorithm for outlier detection
Authors: Mahboub Vahid
Published: March 2024

In this contribution L1-norm target function is minimized by Whale algorithm for the first time. It is a meta-heuristic optimization method which mimics the social behavior of humpback whales. The Whale algorithm is simple and flexible. It takes advantage of a derivation-free mechanism. L1-norm is an efficient tool for outlier detection, nevertheless, its implementation is complex since after formulation of L1-norm minimization for a certain problem, one must solve a linear programming problem by a cumbersome search method while here we only need to set the corresponding L1-norm cost function. During this contribution we also investigate other advantages of the proposed method over traditional methods numerically. As the Whale algorithm cannot deal with rank deficient problems, it must be improved. Thus the second algorithm of this contribution is an improved Whale algorithm which is developed here. Three geodetic applications approve the robustness of the proposed approach.
mbDriver: identifying driver microbes in microbial communities based on time-series microbiome data
Authors: Tan Xiaoxiu , Xue Feng , Zhang Chenhong , Wang Tao
Published: March 2024

Background
Alterations in human microbial communities are intricately linked to the onset and progression of diseases. Identifying the key microbes driving these community changes is crucial, as they may serve as valuable biomarkers for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. However, there remains a need for further research to develop effective methods for addressing this critical task. This is primarily because defining the driver microbe requires consideration not only of each microbe’s individual contributions but also their interactions.
Results
This paper introduces a novel framework, called mbDriver, for identifying driver microbes based on microbiome abundance data collected at discrete time points. mbDriver comprises three main components: (1) data preprocessing of time-series abundance data using smoothing splines based on the negative binomial distribution, (2) parameter estimation for the generalized Lotka-Volterra (gLV) model using regularized least squares, and (3) quantification of each microbe’s contribution to the community’s steady state by manipulating the causal graph implied by gLV equations. The performance of nonparametric spline-based denoising and regularized least squares estimation is comprehensively evaluated on simulated datasets, demonstrating superiority over existing methods. Furthermore, the practical applicability and effectiveness of mbDriver are showcased using a dietary fiber intervention dataset and an ulcerative colitis dataset. Notably, driver microbes identified in the dietary fiber intervention dataset exhibit significant effects on the abundances of short-chain fatty acids, while those identified in the ulcerative colitis dataset show a significant correlation with metabolism-related pathways.
Conclusions
mbDriver holds promise for studying the dynamics of human microbiota and predicting microbiota-based targets for disease treatment.