bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automated Broad-Spectrum Bacterial Capture from Blood Using Vancomycin and Allantoin-Conjugated Polydopamine-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles for Sepsis Diagnostics
Authors: Teyib Abafogi Abdurhaman , Lee Jinyeop , Kim Joochan , Lee Sei Won , Jang Seongsoo , Park Sungsu
Published: November 2023

In the realm of sepsis diagnostics, timely and precise identification of causative bacteria is crucial for effective patient care. This study introduces a groundbreaking method that harnesses vancomycin (Van)- and allantoin (Al)-conjugated polydopamine (PDA)-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to achieve rapid and automated preconcentration and DNA extraction of sepsis-inducing bacteria from blood. The PDA coating ensures optimal dispersion of MNPs, allowing larger sample volumes to assay sensitivity and specificity. Notably, the immunomagnetic separation (IMS) method, enabled by Al/Van-PDA-MNPs, avoids the need for preliminary sample pretreatments, offering a swift, yet efficient avenue for bacterial preconcentration and DNA extraction. The sample preparation process concludes in less than 1 hour. Short processing times paired with accuracy of the method suggest this as a feasible diagnostic tool for various healthcare settings, from small clinics to expansive hospitals. Moreover, the system's strategic use of nanoparticles for DNA extraction illuminates the potential for breakthroughs in sepsis diagnostics, fostering earlier interventions and better patient outcomes.
Validation of sleep-staging accuracy for an in-home sleep electroencephalography device: A comparison with simultaneous polysomnography in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Seol Jaehoon , Chiba Shigeru , Kawana Fusae , Tsumoto Saki , Masaki Minori , Tominaga Morie , Amemiya Takashi , Tani Akihiro , Hiei Tetsuro , Yoshimine Hiroyuki , Kondo Hideaki , Yanagisawa Masashi
Published: November 2023

Efforts to simplify standard polysomnography (PSG) in laboratories, especially for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and to assess its agreement with portable electroencephalogram (EEG) devices are limited. We aimed to evaluate the agreement between a portable EEG device and type I PSG in patients with OSA and examined the EEG-based arousal index's ability to estimate apnea severity. We enrolled 77 Japanese patients with OSA who underwent simultaneous type I PSG and portable EEG monitoring. Combining pulse rate, oxygen saturation (SpO2), and EEG data improved sleep staging accuracy. Bland-Altman plots, paired t-tests, and receiver operating characteristics curves were used to assess agreement and screening accuracy. Significant small biases were observed for total sleep time, sleep latency, awakening after falling asleep, sleep efficiency, N1, N2, and N3 rates, and arousal index. All variables showed > 95% agreement in the Bland-Altman analysis, with interclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.76–0.982, indicating high inter-instrument validity. The EEG-based arousal index demonstrated sufficient power for screening AHI ≥ 15 and AHI ≥ 30. Portable EEG device showed strong agreement with type I PSG in patients with OSA. Additionally, the EEG-based arousal index yielded promising results in predicting apnea severity. This suggests that patients with OSA may assess their condition at home.
Mitochondrial Variants of Complex I Genes as Potential Biomarkers to Leprosy
Authors: Souza Felipe Gouvea , Silva Caio S. , Araújo Gilderlanio S. , Santana-da-Silva Mayara N. , Gobbo Angélica Rita , Silva Moisés Batista , Pinto Pablo , Costa Patrícia Fagundes , Salgado Claudio Guedes , Ribeiro-dos-Santos Ândrea , Cavalcante Giovanna C.
Published: November 2023

Background: Leprosy is a chronic bacterial infection mainly caused by Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects skin and peripheral nerves. Due to its ability to absorb carbon from the host cell, the bacillus became dependent on energy production, mainly through oxidative phosphorylation. In fact, variations in genes of Complex I of oxidative phosphorylation encoded by mtDNA have been associated with several diseases in humans, including bacterial infections, which are possible influencers in the host response to leprosy. Here, we investigated the presence of variants in the mtDNA genes encoding Complex I regarding leprosy, as well as the analysis of their pathogenicity in the studied cohort.
Results: We found a sum of 74 variants exclusive of only one leprosy pole (Pole T: Borderline Tuberculoid; Pole L: Borderline Lepromatous and Lepromatous), suggesting a possible clinical significance to these variants. Notably, six variants were exclusively found in both clinical poles of leprosy, including m.4158A>G and m.4248T>C in MT-ND1, m.13650C>A, m.13674T>C, m.12705C>T and m.13263A>G in MT-ND5, of which there are no previous reports in the global literature.
Conclusions: Our observations reveal a substantial number of mutations among different groups of leprosy, highlighting a diverse range of genomic consequences associated with mutations in genes across these groups. Furthermore, we suggest that the four specific variants exclusively identified in the case group could potentially play a crucial role in leprosy susceptibility and its clinical differentiation. These variants are believed to contribute to the instability and dysregulation of oxidative phosphorylation during the infection, further emphasizing their significance.
Trust as a Catalyst: Revealing the Impact of Government Trust and Professional Trust on Public Health Policy Compliance during a Pandemic
Authors: Chen Guobang , Hu Yue , Zhang Hua
Published: November 2023

Background
Existing research has extensively explored the relationship between government trust and compliance behaviour, but significant controversies exist. Some studies suggest a strong positive correlation between the two. Other studies have found that government trust hinders compliance behaviour. However, during the pandemic, the effectiveness of public health policies largely depends on the public's compliance with these policies. To examine the aforementioned controversies, this study utilizes survey data on the Chinese population during the COVID-19 period to explore the relationship between compliance with public health policies and government trust.
Methods
The study conducted a questionnaire survey of 1,395 individuals from 25 provinces in China from mid-November to mid-December 2022. Firstly, we categorized the public's compliance behaviour with public health policies based on the results of factor analysis. Subsequently, we examined the impact of government trust and professional trust on compliance behaviour with public health policies by constructing a structural equation model.
Results
Based on the results of factor analysis, we classified public adherence to public health policies into protective compliance and restrictive compliance. Results from the structural equation model show a positive correlation between the public's trust in the government and both protective and restrictive compliance, with a stronger influence on protective compliance. Government trust also exerts a positive impact on restrictive compliance behaviour through professional trust. Additionally, the study indicates a significant positive correlation between the public's professional trust and restrictive compliance, while it does not significantly affect protective compliance. Moreover, the public from rural areas demonstrates a greater willingness to adhere to both types of public health policies. Married individuals exhibit a stronger inclination toward protective compliance, while females show a stronger tendency toward restrictive compliance.
Conclusion
The study revealed a significant positive impact of government trust and professional trust on compliance behaviour with public health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, refuting any negative correlation between government trust and compliance behaviour. Normative motivations for compliance behaviour had a substantial impact on adherence. These findings offer valuable insights for future public health crisis management and public policy formulation.
Field experimental research on vertical load-bearing properties of rock-socketed cast-in-place piles based on pile stress test
Authors: Yan Nan , Zhang Ying jie , Bai Xiaoyu , Yin Jichao , Liu Junwei , Sang Songkui , Zhang Mingyi
Published: November 2023

This paper researched the vertical load-bearing capacity of rock-socketed cast-in-place piles using static load tests, and high- and low-strain dynamic tests, based on a construction project in Indonesia. On this basis, an exponential curve model was used to predict the ultimate load capacity of each test pile. The test piles were divided into 800 mm and 600 mm diameter groups. Under the maximum test load conditions, the end resistance of the 800 mm diameter piles accounted for more than 50% of the load, showing good friction end-bearing pile characteristics. In contrast, the maximum end resistance of the 600 mm diameter piles accounted for less than 35% of the load, showing end-bearing frictional pile characteristics where the vertical bearing capacity of a single pile is predominantly borne by the pile side friction resistance. The piles' load-settlement (Q‑s) curves varied slowly, with a maximum settlement of less than 30 mm. The rebound settlement rate at the top of the pile was significant, while the residual settlement was small. Under the maximum load, the pile side friction resistance reached a maximum in the rock-embedded section at the location of the flattest slope of the axial force curve.
Intolerance of Uncertainty and Psychological Flexibility as Predictors of Mental Health from Adolescence to Old Age
Authors: Okayama Sakiko , Minihan Savannah , Andrews Jack L. , Daniels Sarah , Grunewald Karina , Richards Matthew , Wang Weike , Hasan Yasmin , Schweizer Susanne
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it significant social, economic and health uncertainties. These were proposed to impact young people more compared to adults, leading adolescents to report more mental health problems during the pandemic. The current study examined whether differences in cognitive risk (tolerance of uncertainty) and protective (psychological flexibility) factors accounted for age-related differences in depression and anxiety. Data from the COVID-19 Risks Across the Lifespan (CORAL) cohort (N = 2280, 11–89 years), showed that adolescents experienced greater intolerance of uncertainty and lower psychological flexibility compared to adults and older adults. Tolerance of uncertainty did not account for age-related differences in depression or anxiety. However, psychological flexibility conferred more protective advantage for anxiety in adults compared to adolescents. The observed age-related differences in risk and protective factors advance our understanding of developmental vulnerabilities to depression and anxiety. Implications for mental health interventions in the context of future pandemics are discussed.
New Insights on the Study of Black and Quicksilver Patinas on the Surface of Ancient Chinese Bronze Mirrors
Authors: Wang Yunpeng , Long Shasha , Wang Xuening , Liu Fangzhi , Ma Qinglin
Published: November 2023

Natural corrosion mechanisms and artificial treatment mechanisms are currently explained for the development of black and quicksilver on the surface of bronze mirrors. Our knowledge of the formation of these glossy patinas is currently limited. Several bronze mirror samples dating to the Han (206 B.C.E to 220 C.E), the Tang (618-907 C.E), and the Song (960-1279 C.E) Dynasties derive from the Jinan City Museum (JN) and the Ju County Museum (JZ). A systematic approach, including metallographic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Raman spectroscopy, was used to analyze. The results show that the metallographic structure and corrosion layering of the black and quicksilver patina bronze mirror are equivalent to those of high-tin bronze. Compared to the quicksilver bronze mirror, the black patina bronze mirror has more severe corrosion. The notable phenomenon is that the white strip materials precipitated from the matrix of the JZ and JN samples. Raman spectrum indicates the white strip materials extracted from the JZ samples are advanced fatty acid lead, while the white strips extracted from the JN samples are advanced aromatic acid lead. The organic lead acid within the bronze mirror should be residual at the casting. It probably came from the release agent or the wax film's raw material that was left in the casting mould. When artificially wiping the bronze mirror, the organic lead acid would equally coat the surface and form a thin, corrosion-resistant coating. Heat originating from the electrochemical corrosion will therefore cause the advanced organic fatty acid lead's layer to oxidize, turning it into a black patina layer. If the degree of advanced organic fatty acid lead oxidation is low, it would be transformed into quicksilver patinas.
The effect of IL-17A and combined mechanical injury on meniscal tissue integrity in vitro
Authors: Ahrens Greta , Gellhaus Florian , Weitkamp Jan-Tobias , Behrendt Peter , Rolauffs Bernd , Grodzinsky Alan J. , Kurz Bodo
Published: November 2023

Objective
Meniscal integrity is crucial for knee joint stability and prevention of osteoarthritis (OA) development. Recent studies suggested that mechanical overload and interleukin (IL)-17A may be important intertwined players in meniscal degeneration, but a direct impact of IL-17A on the meniscus has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of IL-17A on meniscal tissue with and without combined mechanical injury (MI).
Methods
Meniscal explant disks (1 mm height, 3 mm diameter) were isolated from the lower surface of bovine menisci and exposed to IL-17A [0-100 ng/ml] and/or MI (single compression, 50% strain, strain rate 1 mm/sec). After three days of incubation in a serum-free medium the proteoglycan release (sGAG; DMMB assay), mRNA level of matrix-degrading enzymes (qRT-PCR), aggrecan degradation (NITEGE immunostaining), and cell death (histomorphometry of nuclear blebbing/apoptosis and condensed nuclei/unspecified cell death) was determined. Statistics: one-way ANOVA with Tukeys multiple comparisons or Kruskal-Wallis-post hoc test.
Results
IL-17A increased sGAG release in a dose-dependent manner. MI also induced release of sGAG, but the combination with IL-17A raised this effect to a significant level even for an IL-17A concentration which showed no significant effect on its own. Both, IL-17A and MI individually affected the mRNA levels for ADAMTS-4 and MMP-13 slightly, but the combination of both induced a significant increase in mRNA levels. Signals for the ADAMTS-4-related aggrecan neoepitope NITEGE were elevated by IL-17A in superficial explant tissue and by MI in superficial and deeper areas. The combination of both stimuli intensified this signal further. MI increased the number of cells with condensed nuclei significantly and induced apoptosis in a small proportion of cells. IL-17A alone had no significant impact on the amount of condensed nuclei but increased the number of apoptotic cells slightly and even more in combination with MI.
Conclusion
IL-17A induces matrix degeneration in meniscal tissue which in combination with a trauma intensifies significantly. The latter might be responsible for a post-traumatic joint environment that promotes meniscal degeneration and subsequently OA, and highlights IL-17A as a potential target in PTOA therapy.
Efficacy and safety of Genolimzumab in previously treated PD-L1-Positive recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer: a multicenter open-label, single-arm, phase Ⅱ study
Authors: An Jusheng , Feng Mei , Zhang Keqiang , Zhu Jianqing , He Aiqin , Li Xiumin , Peng Jin , Wang Xinwen , Zhang Hongping , Kong Weimin , Li Guiling , Yuan Jianlin , Liu Hu , Pan Yueyin , Yu Shiying , Shen Liangfang , Zhu Hong , Ma Cailing , Chen Hongmin , Hao Min , Cheng Wenjun , Zhang Wenxue , Deng Chao , Hu Chunhong , Huang Yi , Zhang Jian , Huang Kairong , Liu Zhijie , Zhu Zhaofeng , Xie Fan , Zhang Yunyan , Wu Lingying
Published: November 2023

Purpose
This phase II trial investigated the efficacy and safety of Genolimzumab (GB226) in patients with previously treated, PD-L1-Positive recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.
Methods
We conducted a two-stage, phase II trial to enrol patients who had disease progression after first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. Genolimzumab was given intravenously at a dose of 3 mg/kg every two weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxic effects, or withdrawal from the study. The primary endpoint was Independent Review Committee (IRC)-assessed confirmed objective response rate per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Other endpoints included duration of response (DOR), disease control rate (DCR), time to response(TTR), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and safety.
Results
169 patients were enrolled from May 2019 to Jan 2022. In 100 efficacy-evaluable patients, the ORR was 18% (95% CI, 11.03 to 26.95); the disease control rate was 41% (95% CI, 31.26 to 51.29). The median PFS was 1.91 months (95% CI, 1.87 to 3.55 months). The median overall survival was 16.69 months (95% CI, 11.07 to NR months). Furthermore, for 123 safety-evaluable patients, 97(78.9%) patients experienced a treatment-related adverse event. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events were hypothyroidism (30[24.4%]), anaemia (26 [21.1%]) and hyperthyroidism (17 [13.8%]).
Conclusions
Genolimzumab as a second-line or later therapy has Promising, durable clinical activity and favourable tolerability for patients with, PD-L1-Positive, ECOG=1, Squamous cell carcinoma, one prior line of therapy, no prior bevacizumab therapy or CPS ≥ 20 recurrent or recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.
All-metallic magnetic Purcell enhancement in a thermally stable
room-temperature maser
Authors: Fleury Romain , Xiang Rongrong , Bugnon Philippe , Khatibi Maliheh
Published: November 2023

Enhancing the spontaneous and stimulated emission rates of magnetic quantum emitters through Purcell effect is essential for designing high-performance quantum devices based on high quality factor and small mode volume. At room temperature, structures constructed using high-index dielectric materials have been favored due to their low absorption losses. However, these dielectric resonators are plagued by an inherent sensitivity to thermal fluctuations, which are unavoidable during the optical excitation or readout of the quantum states. Here, we propose to solve this issue with a dielectric-free, all-metallic toroidal split-ring resonator cluster of subwavelength size (≤ λm/17), which exhibits a fundamental magnetic mode at approximately 1.45 GHz (λm ∼ 207 mm), and a remarkably low mode volume (8.1 × 10−6λ3 m). Through experimental investigations, we demonstrate that the proposed resonator exhibits a high Purcell factor (5 × 106 ), and observe maser action when paired with a pentacene-based gain medium. We evidence the remarkable stability of the output pulse to thermal fluctuations caused by thousands of consecutive optical excitations, by far surpassing that of masers based on dielectric resonators.
Nomogram Predicting All-cause Mortality and Cancer-Specific Mortality after TURBT for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Retrospective Study Based on SEER Data
Authors: Yao Luo , Jing Yang , Zaixiang Tan , Sujing Wei , Xuekui Liu , Zehua Huang
Published: November 2023

Objective The study aims to develop two nomograms that predicts the ACM and CSM in patients with NMIBC using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.
Methods We extracted clinical data from 2004 to 2017 from the SEER database about NMIBC patients who had undergone transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) treatment. All patients were randomly divided into training cohort and validation cohort in the ratio of 7:3. We conducted univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and constructed nomograms for ACM and CSM using independent influencing factors. Nomogram predictive performance and clinical utility was evaluated by the consistency index (C-index), the time-dependent ROC curves, the calibration curve, and decision curve.
Results Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age at diagnosis, race, etc. were independent risk factors for ACM and CSM. Based on the multivariate Cox regression results, we constructed nomograms of ACM and CSM. In the training cohort, The C-index values for the ACM nomogram was 0.742 and the CSM nomogram was 0.784. In the validation cohort, the C-index values for the ACM nomogram was 0.745, while the CSM nomogram was 0.790. Our nomograms have better prediction than the nomograms based on AJCC stage T. And the calibration curves of the nomograms showed good consistency between the predicted and actual 5- and 10-year ACM and CSM rates.
Conclusion The nomograms can assist clinicians in identifying high-risk populations and devising more individualized treatment strategies for NMIBC patients.
WITHDRAWN: Effect of virtual reality intervention on hospitalized patients with acute pain after thoracoscopic surgery: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Xu Song , Cao Weibo , Ren Fan , Li Tong , Li Xuanguang , Jia Xuewang , Cao Cancan , Yu Haochuan , Mao Fuling , Li Hanyi , Zu Lingling , Chen Gang , Wei Li , Lu Yi
Published: November 2023

Background: Acute postsurgical pain remains one of the most common complaints among patients treated with minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Immersive virtual reality (VR) has been found to be a nonpharmaceutical technological means to deliver effective behavioral therapies for acute pain in some postsurgical settings. However, the role of VR in pain management after thoracoscopic surgery is still not determined.
Objective: To determine the analgesic effects of behavioral skill-based VR on patients after VATS.
Methods: Patients with a numerical rating scale (NRS) score ≥ four for postoperative pain were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to the QTC-VR, Placebo-VR, and control groups. Postoperative standard analgesia comprised an analgesia pump and flurbiprofen injections. All three groups of patients received standard analgesics. Patients in the Placebo-VR group watched a 10-minute relaxation-based 2D film through VR headsets, while patients in the QTC-VR group engaged in 10-minute interactive pain relief 3D VR programs while wearing VR headsets.
Results: Of the 61 postsurgical patients randomized and allocated to the QTC-VR, placebo-VR, and control groups, 15 failed to meet the criteria for analgesic drug use, and 1 suffered severe vertigo, leaving the data from 45 patients for final statistical analyses. There were no significantdifferences among the three groups in terms of age, sex, smoking status, education level, thoracoscopic surgical modalities, or baseline pain intensity. Patients who received QTC-VR interventions experienced considerable pain alleviation on the first (P < 0.001, 95% CI, 0.687 to 1.246), second (P < 0.001, 95% CI, 0.158 to 0.642), and third (P < 0.001, 95% CI, 0.108 to 0.559) postoperative days. The effect of pain interference on relations with others for patients receiving QTC-VR improved on postoperative days 2 (P= 0.007, 95% CI, -2.477 to 0.323) and 3 (P < 0.001, 95% CI, -2.420 to 0.780) compared with patients in the placebo-VR group, while the effect of pain on emotion (P = 0.018, 95% CI, -1.810 to 0.210), sleep (P = 0.004, 95% CI, -2.422 to 0.378), enjoyment of life (P= 0.005, 95% CI, -2.207 to 0.326), walking ability (P= 0.022, 95% CI, -1.882 to -0.118), and general activity (P= 0.007, 95% CI, -1.997 to 0.270) improved only on day 3 following surgery. Moreover, patients who underwent therapeutic QTC-VR interventions reported satisfaction with their treatment and experienced few adverse events.
Conclusions: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrates the efficacy and feasibility of immersive QTC-VR interventions in pain management after thoracoscopic surgery. This needs to be further validated by the ongoing phase III clinical trial.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05926817
Neural-network-enhanced Line of Sight method for 3D particle cloud matching in Particle Tracking Velocimetry
Authors: Dou Jianyu , Pan Chong , Han Yukun , Xiong Yuan , Wang Jinjun
Published: November 2023

The algorithm of three-dimensional (3D) particle cloud matching is a building block for 3D Particle Tracking Velocimetry (3D-PTV). In the present study, a new 3D particle cloud matching algorithm, i.e., neural-network-enhanced Line of Sight (NN-LOS), is proposed to update the traditional method of Line of Sight (LOS). The essence of NN-LOS is to use a Matching-Neural network (Matching-NN) to evaluate whether or not one set of candidate matching being recorded by different cameras with various viewing perspectives is valid. Such a Matching-NN is in-situ trained from virtual datasets that are synthetically generated by taking into account both the spatial calibration information and the actual seeding density in one particular experiment setup. This makes NN-LOS be self-adaptive to the measurement configuration, and thus avoids the problem of properly selecting a filtering threshold for the reproduction error in LOS. Both a series of synthetic tests and one surface morphology measurement are taken to prove that comparing to LOS, NN-LOS provides a significant improvement of the matching accuracy at high seeding density. A 3D-PTV measurement of a vortex ring in a synthetic jet is experimentally performed to demonstrate the advantage of NN-LOS. Comparing to Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry, NNLOS-PTV enhances the spatial resolution of the velocity-field measurement and reduces the uncertainty of instantaneous velocity. The performance improvement is further empirically explained by a semi-empirical test.
The complex inner Milky Way disentangled with chemistry-kinematics
Authors: Horta Danny , Petersen Michael , Penarrubia Jorge
Published: November 2023

The inner ∼ 5 kiloparsec (kpc) region of the Milky Way is complex.
Establishing a picture of the formation of the Galaxy requires precise understanding of the formation of this region. Here we report a study focused on disentangling the inner Milky Way using the measured positions, velocities, and element abundance ratios of red giant stars. We demonstrate that, after removing the stellar halo, the inner Galaxy populations can be grouped into three main components based on their angular momentum: bar, disc, and a previously unreported “knot” component. The knot has a spheroidal shape and is concentrated in the inner ∼ 1.5 kpc, is comprised of stars on nearly-radial orbits, and presents the most enriched [Fe/H] element abundances of the whole Galaxy. Its chemical composition is qualitatively similar to the Galactic bar, suggestive that these two populations share a common genesis. Our results also show that the bar is more slowly rotating than previously thought, with a pattern speed of Ω_bar = 24 ± 3 kms−1 kpc−1. This new estimate suggests that the influence of the bar extends beyond the solar radius.
Commonly prescribed medications and risk of pneumonia and all-cause mortality in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a UK population-based cohort study
Authors: Morgan Ann D , Massen Georgie M , Whittaker Hannah R , Stewart Iain , Jenkins Gisli , George Peter M , Quint Jennifer K
Published: November 2023

Background
A growing body of evidence suggests that prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is associated with increased risks of pneumonia. A substantial proportion of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are prescribed PPIs or ICS to treat common comorbidities, giving rise to concerns that use of these medications may be associated with potential harms in this patient population.
Methods
We used UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum primary care data linked to national mortality and hospital admissions data to create a cohort of people diagnosed with IPF on or after 1 January 2010. Patients were assigned to one of three exposure categories according to their prescribing history in the 12 months prior to IPF diagnosis as follows: “regular” users (≥4 prescriptions), “irregular” users (1–3 prescriptions) and “non-users” (no prescriptions). We explored the association between PPI/ICS prescription and pneumonia hospitalisation and all-cause mortality using multinomial Cox regression models.
Results
A total of 17,105 people met our study inclusion criteria; 62.6% were male and 15.9% were current smokers. Median age at IPF diagnosis was 76.7 years (IQR: 69.6–82.7). 19.9% were regularly prescribed PPIs, and 16.0% ICS, prior to IPF diagnosis. Regular prescribing of PPIs and ICS was positively associated with hospitalisation for pneumonia; the adjusted HR for pneumonia hospitalisation comparing regular PPI users with non-users was 1.14 (95%CI: 1.04–1.24); for regular ICS users the corresponding HR was 1.40 (95%CI: 1.25–1.55). We also observed a small increased risk for all-cause mortality in the “regular ICS user” group compared with the “non-user” control group (HRadj=1.19, 1.06–1.33). We found no evidence of an association between PPI prescribing and all-cause mortality.
Conclusion
Prolonged prescription of medications used to treat common comorbidities in IPF may be associated with increased risks for severe respiratory infections. These findings point to a need to adopt an adequate risk-benefit balance approach to the prescribing of ICS-containing inhalers and PPIs in people with IPF without evidence of comorbidities, especially older patients and/or those with more advanced disease in whom respiratory infections are more likely to result in poorer outcomes.
Significance of Heat Source/Sink on Electromagnetohydrodynamics Natural Convection Flow with Electroosmotic Effect
Authors: Oni Michael O. , Rilwan Usman S.
Published: November 2023

This work carried out a study on the role of heat source/sink on transient electromagnetohydrodynamics (EMHD) free (natural) convection flow in a vertical micro-channel with electroosmotic effect. The governing energy and momentum equations are converted from partial differential equation (PDE) into ordinary differential equation (ODE) using Laplace transformation technique in order to obtain fluid temperature and velocity in Laplace domain. The Riemann sum approximation method was applied for arriving at the semi-analytical solutions of the temperature distribution and velocity profile. Hence a MATLAB program was coded to study the influence of Prandlt number (Pr), Hartmann number (Ha), electric field strengths on x and z directions (Ex and Sz) and Grashoff number (Gr) on fluid velocity, temperature, skin-friction and mass flow in terms of line graphs. Result shows that the role of heat source/sink parameter has significant impact in the temperature distribution and velocity of the flow. Finally, it is also observed that the governing parameters contribute to the flow formation.
Appraisal of Flood Susceptibility of Hooghly basin, India using Shannon Entropy (SE) and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP)
Authors: Rehman Sufia , Chaudhary Prof. Bhagwan Singh , Azhoni Adani
Published: November 2023

Hooghly basin is one of the flood-affected areas of West Bengal in India. The basin's dense river system, topography, and geographic location make it more susceptible to flooding. Effective flood management necessitates the understating of the spatial distribution of flood susceptible areas. In this context, the present work has examined the flood susceptibility of the Hooghly basin using two significant methods of multicriteria decision making models (MCDM) i.e., Shannon Entropy (SE) and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) models. These two models were applied to twelve flood conditioning factors such as drainage density, elevation, LULC, normalized difference built up index (NDBI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), population density, rainfall, distance to rivers, slope, stream power index (SPI) and topographic wetness index (TWI). Binary logistic regression was also performed to identify the confounders of susceptibility in the basin. Drainage density, elevation, rainfall, and distance to rivers were identified as the major determinants of flood susceptibility. Validation of the models through the area under ROC curve (AUC) showed good predictability for SE (0.70) and FAHP (0.71) based flood susceptibility prediction. Therefore, this study may provide a base for stakeholders and planners in managing and minimizing flood susceptibility in the basin.
Composition Of Soil Mesofauna In Changing Cropping Systems Due To Urbanization In Bengaluru, India
Authors: Karan S , AS Devakumar
Published: November 2023

The study focused on the composition of soil mesofauna within changing cropping systems influenced by urbanization in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India during the rabi season of 2020–2021. Four major cropping systems, namely pulses, vegetables, horticulture, and agriculture + horticulture crops, were examined across urban, peri-urban, and rural zones in Bengaluru. The research uncovered a total of 714 individuals belonging to 16 different soil mesofauna taxa among the crops studied. Collembolans were found to be the most abundant members of the mesofauna community, with mites following closely. In terms of population dynamics, the highest mesofauna population was observed in December 2020, totaling 248 individuals, while the lowest count was recorded in February 2021, with 104 individuals. Among the crops studied, the highest number of individuals was found in Horticulture systems, with 277 individuals, closely followed by the Agri + horticulture cropping system, which had 158 individuals. When considering the geographical zones, the highest number of individuals was recorded in the urban zones, with 270 individuals, followed by peri-urban areas with 229 individuals, and the rural zone had the lowest count, totaling 225 individuals. It was observed that a less disturbed soil environment, post-monsoon conditions, and the urban heat appeared to favor the proliferation of soil mesofauna.
A continuum multi-phase and multi-component description of the freezing process of seawater to porous sea ice
Authors: Ricken Tim , Thom Andrea , Pathak Raghav , Thoms Silke , Kutschan Bernd
Published: November 2023

Formation of porous 'pancake' ice floes in the Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) is a complex phenomenon associated with interactions between the saline seawater and temperature. Ocean warming and future environmental conditions in the Southern Ocean will most likely have an impact on the porous microstructure and thus, also on the connected biogeochemical processes which are closely related to the ice formation. Hence, it becomes important to realistically model the phase transition phenomena. In this paper, a biphasic model of solid ice and saline sea water is presented within the framework of the extended Theory of Porous Media (eTPM) using a continuum mechanical multi-phase and multi-component treatment. The phase transition between ice and brine is modeled using an interfacial mass transfer approach where the mass transferred is assumed as a jump across an interface which separates the phases. The mass production, hence, depends on the heat fluxes, specific enthalpies and the interfacial area. Moreover, the freezing point depression due to changing salinities can be implemented yielding a more detailed simulation. The system of equations results in a high-fidelity model and is simulated using the Finite Element Method (FEM). As proof of concept academic examples are presented.
Amino-Silane - Functionalized Palygorskite with as a Promising Adsorbent for Cr(III): Evaluation of the process variables
Authors: Anjos Nathalia O. A. , Santos Gabriela M. , Bertolino Luiz C. , Soares Bluma Guenther
Published: November 2023

Chromium represents a serious threat to living organisms and ecological system. Thus, this removal from wastewater is an urgent concern. The present study evaluates the ability of the functionalized clay mineral palygorskite (PalSIL) to remove the Cr(III) ion under different experimental conditions as a function of process variables: contact time, adsorbate concentration, amount of adsorbent and pH. Palygorskite (Pal) from Guadalupe (Piauí/Brazil) was treated with 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxy silane and characterized by. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis, surface charge measurements (zeta potential) and textured properties (BET). The incorporation of amino-silane functional groups on the Pal surface resulted in maximum adsorption capacity of 21 mg g− 1and the maximum removal percentage of 99%. Data on removal percentages were analyzed using statistical analysis to predict the most significant factors and interactions in this process. The results indicated that the adsorbate concentration, the amount of adsorbent and the pH significantly influenced the removal of Cr(III) ions. It is believed that the adsorption process occurred by the complexation of Cr(III) ions with the organo-functional amino group present at the surface of PalSIL. The kinetic parameters indicated that the fast mechanism of the adsorptive process is a phenomenon of chemical nature. The reaction equilibrium was quickly reached, demonstrating a readily available surface for adsorption. Thus, the present results indicate that PalSIL has the potential to remove Cr(III) ions and probably other potentially toxic elements from wastewater.
Mechanism of overburden breakage and prediction of pressurised racking in the face of integrated mining under the shallow buried close to the coal seam hollow area
Authors: Yu Yongjiang , Zhao Shangqing , Song Zhiyuan , Liu Jiaming
Published: November 2023

The roof plate of the comprehensive mining face under the shallow buried close coal seam mining hollow area breaks at the coal wall, which is easy to cause the accident of cutting the roof and pressing the frame. Revealing the mechanism of breaking the overburden rock at the coal wall in the working face under the shallow buried close coal seam mining hollow area can prevent the press frame accident caused by the overburden articulated rock block breaking and destabilising at the coal wall. By constructing an analytical model of the mechanical analysis of the roof breakage of the lower coal seam under the influence of the stress of the basic roof breakage rock mass above the mining zone, Deriving the critical support strength of the braces for the fracture of the roof of the lower seam at the coal wall, Presenting an instability criterion for the articulated rock mass after fracture of the lower coal seam roof at the coal wall, Then, based on the critical support strength of the support and the instability criterion, we predicted the accident of the 4-coal group pressure frame in Shuangma 1 mine, The sensitivity of the critical support strength of the stent to each parameter was also analysed. The results show: The critical support strength of the brace increases linearly with the top rock load and exponentially with the angle of rotation of the top fractured rock mass. When the angle of rotation of the overlying fractured rock mass above the mining area reaches 42°, the basic top of the lower coal seam will fracture at the coal wall, but the articulated rock mass will not be destabilised; When the angle of rotation reaches 48°, the articulated rock block is destabilised and a press frame accident will occur. The critical support strength of the support has the maximum sensitivity to the rotation angle of the top fractured rock mass. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of press frame accidents in shallow buried close coal seam mining under similar conditions.
Enhanced Methanolysis of Waste PET for Sustainable Production of Dimethyl Terephthalate and Cyclic Arylboronic Esters
Authors: Mei Qingqing , Zhang Minghao , Yu Yunkai , Yan Binghui , Song Xiuju , Liu Yu , Feng Yixiong , Wu Weixiang , Chen Baoliang , Han Buxing
Published: November 2023

Developing efficient and cost-effective methodologies for high value-added conversion of waste plastic delivers substantial environmental and economic benefits. Herein, we develop a novel approach utilizing boric acid in the methanolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to derive pure dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and boronic acid esters through in-situ capture of ethylene glycol (EG). It not only upcycles waste PET but also eliminates intricate EG purification processes. Catalyzed by magnalium-aluminum-layered double oxides (Mg4Al1-LDO), this method achieved 100% conversions of PET with 96% and 100% yields of arylboronic esters and DMT, respectively. Kinetic studies and in-situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) demonstrated the pivotal role of the monodentate methoxy species, generated through the interaction of medium basic Mg–O ion pairs and methanol. This method demonstrates applicability for the upcycling of assorted discarded PET wastes, polyesters, and polycarbonates with EG units, highlighting its potential as a comprehensive solution for waste plastic management.
hIL-24: A Promising Therapeutic Target for Cervical Cancer Running Title: Targeting hIL-24 in Cervical Cancer
Authors: Song Min , Yuan Hongtao , Zhang Jie , Wang Jing , Yu Jianhua , Wang Wei
Published: November 2023

Objective:
This study aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets for cervical cancer by analyzing global gene expression data to pinpoint key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with the disease.
Methods:
Gene expression datasets from GEO, TCGA, and GTEx databases were analyzed to identify DEGs in cervical cancer. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was used to uncover disease-specific genes, and machine learning techniques, including LASSO regression and random forest, were employed to refine the search for pivotal genes.
Results:
The study successfully identified DEGs related to cervical cancer, with human IL-24 (hIL-24) emerging as a critical gene through WGCNA and machine learning predictions. Experimental validation demonstrated that hIL-24 suppressed Siha cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced apoptosis, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target.
Conclusion:
The comprehensive analysis of global gene expression data highlighted hIL-24 as a key gene in cervical cancer, suggesting its potential as a viable therapeutic target. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of hIL-24 in cervical cancer pathogenesis and have the potential to guide the development of novel treatment strategies in the field of oncology.
Multi-attribute based self-stabilizing algorithm for leader election in distributed systems
Authors: Biswas Amit , Singh Manisha , Baranwal Gaurav , Tripathi Anil Kumar , Aknine Samir
Published: November 2023

Cloud computing, edge computing, replicated databases, and various modern technologies are adopting distributed computing concepts for a reliable, high-performance, large-scale computational platform. In distributedcomputing, leader election is a fundamental problem because the elected leader helps coordinate andutilize the resources efficiently. Several state-of-the-art works mentioned that a good quality leader is essentialas it improves system performance, simplifies management procedures, reduces coordinational complexity, andmakes the system more fault-tolerant. However, designing a self-stabilizing leader election algorithm with weakassumptions in a failure-prone distributed environment is challenging. This paper proposes a multi-attributebased,self-stabilizing, network partition-tolerant leader election method for failure-prone distributed systems.Here, based on the system requirements, the pertinent attributes of a good quality leader are identified and assignedweights according to their importance. Then the identified attributes and their weight are used to elect asuitable node as the leader.We show that the algorithm is self-stabilizing and can tolerate multiple nodes and linkfailures. Further, we analyze the proposed algorithm’s time, communication, and bit complexities. We consider adistributed database system scenario to simulate the proposed method and compare it with existing approachesto evaluate and validate the proposed method’s performance and the elected leader’s quality.
A game theory approach for the assessment of COVID-19 risk and medical resource response in an early-stage pandemic
Authors: Wu Cheng-Kuang , Wu Wei-Chen
Published: November 2023

This study proposes a two-game theory model to decide on the deployment of health resources in all afflicted districts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. First, we model the interaction of Coronaviruses with a response commander as a two-player zero-sum game and then calculate COVID-19 risk values for each district using the mixed strategy Nash equilibrium. The threat, vulnerability, and consequence of the COVID-19 epidemic on the afflicted state are represented by the risk value. Second, the risk values from all states are applied to calculate a Shapley-Shubik index (SSI) for each district. The medical resources of all districts are distributed fairly depending on their marginal contribution to a simple cooperative game. According to the experimental results, administrators can utilize this framework to quantify the risk of COVID-19 in each afflicted district, and the Shapley-Shubik index is feasible as a method for deploying medical resources. And the SSI division deploys medical resources more efficiently than a proportional (RV) division.
Ultra-compact monolithically-integrated silicon single-microring spectrometer breaking the free-spectral-range limitation
Authors: Dai Daoxin , Zhang Long , Hong Shihan , Yi xiaolin , Chen Tangnan , liu dajian , Wang Pan , Shi Yaocheng
Published: November 2023

Highly-integrated spectrometers with performance excellence are extremely desired for various applications, such as consumer electronics and unmanned aerial vehicles. In this paper, an ultra-compact monolithically-integrated single-microring spectrometer on silicon is proposed and realized with a high resolution as well as a broad working window. In particular, an innovative scheme of utilizing the free spectral range (FSR) dispersion for a single-microring and strategically inducing resonant peaks red-shift more than twice of the FSR is proposed for the first time. In this way, the working window of the single-microring is significantly extended far beyond the FSR limitation with the assistance of intelligent algorithm. Moreover, the single-microring is realized with a high-Q factor by introducing ultra-low-loss broadened optical waveguides designed with modified-Euler curves, resulting in ultra-narrow-linewidth responses and ultra-high-resolution spectrum measurement. The monolithically-integrated silicon single-microring spectrometer is experimentally demonstrated with a resolution as high as 0.02 nm in a broad working window of 66 nm (which is >15 times larger than the microring's FSR). Besides, the present on-chip spectrometer is fabricated with standard processes for silicon photonics, showing an ultra-compact footprint of 370×110 μm2, which is the smallest monolithically-integrated spectrometer with the highest channel-to-footprint ratio (8.3×104 mm−2) to date. The present spectrometer is expected to be very attractive for realizing low-cost portable sensing modules and lab-on-a-chip systems because of the performance excellence, the footprint compactness and the integration density.