bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Multimodal Intervention on Quality of Life of Geriatric Clients regarding Health Promotional Outcomes at a selected Hospital, Kolar, Karnataka, India
Authors: VANI VANI .R , Cariena Zeanath Cariena Joseph Zeanath , Reshma Priya Reshma Aranha Priya
Published: October 2023

Purpose: To understand the Quality of Life of geriatric clients, that influence through Multimodal Intervention.
Methods: Quantitative approach Quasi-Experimental interventional controlled study with pre-test post-test design and follow-up for two months, adopted by using purposive sampling technique among 120 geriatric clients who gave consent for participation in the study at two different settings of hospitals from 28/07/2022 to 10/01/2023, Kolar. After obtaining CEC, data was obtained using the WHOQOL questionnaire and the Multimodal Intervention package consisting of a Snake & Ladder Health promotion strategies game, Educational Video, and Informational pamphlet been distributed to the experimental group whereas routine care given to the Control group followed by Posttest on the 30th day & 60th day. Reinforcement was carried out by the investigator on fortnightly basis reminders through messages. Data were analyzed by using Descriptive & Inferential statistics such as RMANOVA, Independent‘t’-test, Paired‘t-test, and Chi-square.
Results: A significant effect was demonstrated in the experimental group with enhanced mean, SD from pretest to posttest I and Posteest II found to be 54.76±10.39, 74.15±6.75& 77.71±4.99 without any significant changes in the control group.
Conclusion: Geriatric population was the biggest beneficiary, Multimodal Intervention was proven to be effective and can be implemented in hospitals, and community settings in improving the Quality of life of geriatric clients to foster healthy aging.
Scope and Challenges in the Implementation of Time Bank in India: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Verma Ankita , Srid Sruthi , Fatima Kaneez , Asthana Manish Kumar
Published: October 2023

This paper explores the scope of services and challenges in implementing Time Bank in India. This community-based initiative allows people to exchange skills and services without the involvement of money. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured telephone interviews with 20 participants aged 18 to 35. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: Services, Challenges and Limitations of Time Bank, Factors Affecting Help-Seeking Behavior, and Community and Gender Dynamics. Participants expressed interest in offering a wide range of services, from household tasks to professional services. However, challenges and limitations were also identified, such as a lack of awareness and understanding of the concept, social stigma, and concerns about trust, privacy, and safety issues. The study underscores the need to consider cultural and social factors while implementing community-based initiatives. Despite these challenges, participants believed Time Bank could be a valuable platform for building social connections and community support. The study's implications highlight the need for further research on the impact of Time Bank on social capital and the sustainability of the initiative in different cultural contexts.
C-SuFEx Linkage of Sulfonimidoyl Fluorides and Organotrifluoroborates
Authors: Jiang Xuefeng , Zhao Suqin , Zeng Daming , Wang Ming
Published: October 2023

Sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx), a new type of linkage reaction, has excellent potential for application in functional molecule linkage to prepare pharmaceuticals, biomolecules, and polymers. Herein, a C-SuFEx catalytic reaction was established to achieve fast (in minutes) linkage between sulfonimidoyl fluorides and aryl/alkyl organotrifluoroborates. Potassium organotrifluoroborates were instantaneously activated via trimethylsilyl triflate to afford organodifluoroboranes, releasing BF3 as a catalyst in situ. This C-SuFEx technique was capable of forming S(VI)-C(alkyl), S(VI)-C(alkenyl) and S(VI)-C(aryl) bonds, demonstrating its broad scope and thus surpassing the achievements of previous studies. Natural products and pharmaceuticals with sensitive functional groups, such as valdecoxib, celecoxib and diacetonefructose, are compatible with this protocol, allowing the formation of diverse sulfoximines.
FKBP5 drives bone marrow stem cells senescence and suppresses osteogenic differentiation via canonical WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Zhu Bin , Cai Bowen , Xue Kaixiao , Yin Guoyong , Zhou Shumin , Fang Jiahu
Published: October 2023

Senile osteoporosis and associated fractures significantly increase the morbidity and mortality of older people, thus increasing the cost of public health. Further investigations are required to explore the molecular causes of senile osteoporosis. In this study, FKBP5 expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) increased with age, and the degree of expression was inversely related to the patient's bone mineral density or CT values. Functional studies have validated the regulatory function of FKBP5 in BMSCs osteogenesis differentiation through the canonical WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway by binding to β-catenin and promoting its ubiquitination and degradation. Administration of SAFit2, a selective inhibitor of FKBP5, enhanced bone density in an animal model of senile osteoporosis. These findings suggest that FKBP5 may be a novel target and offer a new perspective on osteoporosis treatment.
Exploration of systematic treatment strategies for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: A single-institutional retrospective study
Authors: Xu Jiaojiao , Chen Keyu , Fang Ziru , Ye Hunan , Wang Xiaojia , Fang Meiyu , Cao Jun
Published: October 2023

Purpose: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) has high invasiveness, poor clinical prognosis, and high mortality rates. The article aimed to pinpoint the treatment characteristics of ATC.
Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 61 patients diagnosed with ATC at our institution from March 1, 2003 to September 30, 2022. All of them were diagnosed pathologically and their information regarding clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment strategy, and follow-up events was collected. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Then, the Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate the univariate and multivariate analyses.
Result: The study included 61 patients with ATC, ranging from 34 to 85 years old, with a median age of 66 in ATC. Half of (30/61, 49.2%) these patients’ tumor size was larger than 5cm. At the first prognosis, about 43/61 (70.5%) ATC patients accompanied acute symptomatic. 37 (60.7%) patients received chemotherapy, 11 (18%) patients treated with targeted therapy, and 9 (14.8%) ATC patients received immunotherapy. Surgery combines with chemotherapy could improve overall survival in ATC (P=0.003). 9 ATC patients who received targeted therapy based on surgery were able to increase their overall survival (P=0.025). Immunotherapy based on surgery was administered to 9 patients with ATC, statistical analysis also indicated beneficial (P=0.004).
Conclusion: Patients with ATC can be benefited from a systematic regimen and immunotherapy may be a new therapeutic direction. The multimodality pattern of ATC with the aid of biomarkers warrants exploration.
RETRACTED: Navigating digital: A community engagement study of young adults, mobile phones and sexual and reproductive health in Bangladesh and Colombia
Authors: Davis Sara L.M.
Published: October 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Optimized Finite-Time Integral Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Control for Leukemia Cancer Treatment
Authors: Hazareh Gozar Ali , Ghadiri Hamid , Ranjbar Mohammad Ali , Nazari Ali Jamali , Bacanin Nebojsa , Rezvani Mohammad Hossein
Published: October 2023

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and lymphatic system. Chemotherapy as a drug treatment method is one of the popular ways of treating this disease to destroy fast-growing cells. In this paper, the finite-time adaptive integral fast terminal sliding mode control (AIFTSMC) as a robust strategic method for treating leukemia cancer based on the chemotherapy process has been introduced. Two different treatment modes called uniform and non-uniform have been investigated in detail. Our goal in this trial is to reduce the number of cancer cells during treatment while minimizing damage to healthy cells. Moreover, the controller's coefficients in the sliding surface have been optimized using the water cycle algorithm, a novel type of metaheuristic algorithm. The simulation results show that AIFTSMC effectively targets cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells. The results promise a novel and practical way to treat leukemia in clinical applications.
MHD boundary layer flow of ternary hybrid nano-fluid (𝐓𝐢𝐨𝟐 - 𝐒𝐢𝐨𝟐, - 𝐀𝐥𝟐𝐨𝟑⁄𝐇𝟐𝐎 - 𝐂𝟐𝐇𝟔𝐎𝟐) A Numerical and analytical Investigations
Authors: KEZZAR Mohamed , NAFIR Noureddine , DIB Amar , SARI Mohamed Rafik , Dwivedi Naveen , Noor N. F. M. , TABET Ismail
Published: October 2023

In the present work, we explored the magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) flow in the pressure gradient across a flat plate. The effects of the magnetic field and the addition of ternary hybrid nano-fluid (i.e. a mixture of three nano particles for example ( \({Tio}_{2}, {Sio}_{2, } and {Al}_{2}{o}_{3}\)) in mixture base fluid ( \({H}_{2}O-{C}_{2}{H}_{6}{O}_{2}\) ) are also considered in this study. Basic partial differential equations (PDEs) are transformed into nonlinear ordinary differential equations using similarity transformation. Then, this equation was treated numerically by the 4th–5th order of the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method with shooting approaches and analytically by a new method called the Daftardar-Jafari Method (DJM). The effect of various physical parameters namely the magnetic field (M), the volumetric fraction of the nanoparticles, the pressure gradient \(\left(m\right)\) on the velocity distribution, the type of the nanoparticles and the coefficient of friction \({\text{C}}_{\text{f}}\), of the theoretical results obtained confirm that the ternary hybrid nano-fluid has a better dynamic property than the hybrid nano-fluid, as well as the efficiency of the adopted DJM technique.
Comparison of misoprostol and manual vacuum aspiration in treating first-trimester incomplete miscarriage: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Jin Hongyu , Zhang Man , Yang Xu , Liu Jianhong , Muhetaer Muhelisa , Chen Yali , Wu Yujie , Liu Xinghui
Published: October 2023

Background To provide evidence of the comparative curative efficiency and prevalence of treatment-related adverse events following manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) or misoprostol in first trimester incomplete abortion.Methods We comprehensively searched international medical literature databases, including PubMed, Medline, Ovid, Embase, and Web of science for related articles published between 2005 and 2023. After article screening, seven articles were finally included in the meta-analysis after assessment for risk of bias. Important parameters of the included studies were strictly extracted. Stata 17MP was used to compare the proportion of complete uterine evacuation, necessity for additional MVA, prevalence of adverse effects (abdominal pain, bleeding, fever, chills, nausea and vomiting), patients’ subjective evaluation and publication bias. Meta-regression was also performed.Results Seven eligible studies of 1097 patients receiving misoprostol and 1079 patients receiving MVA were included, and MVA was found to have better performance than misoprostol in terms of complete uterine evacuation (RR = 0.972, P༜0.001), regardless of age, gestational age, parity, dosage of misoprostol, and marital status. Meanwhile, misoprostol was related to higher possibility for additional MVA (RR = 7.112, P༜0.001). In terms of adverse events, misoprostol medication led to more frequent bleeding (RR = 1.91, P༜0.001), chills (RR = 7.5, P = 0.018), fever (RR = 4.34, P = 0.001), nausea (RR = 3.13, P = 0.005), and vomiting (2.21, P = 0.008).Conclusion MVA outperformed misoprostol in terms of accomplishing complete uterine evacuation in patients with first-trimester incomplete miscarriage. Moreover, the occurrence rate of adverse events was lower in MVA group than that in misoprostol group. However, since the rate of complete uterine evacuation after MVA and misoprostol were both over 90%, misoprostol was also considered as an alternative for MVA in limited resources settings.Trial registration: The research was formally registered on International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (registration number: INPLASY202350113) before statistical analysis.
Integrative Bioinformatics Analysis of CXCR-4 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4): Expression Pattern and Role in Breast Cancer Progression
Authors: KHAN Sameer Ullah , Aisha Shariqa , Fatima Kaneez , Malik Fayaz
Published: October 2023

C-X-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a protein-coding gene that regulates the transduction of various downstream signaling cascades, which are crucial for the migration, survival, and proliferation of cancerous cells. This gene is identified as one of the highly deregulated genes in breast cancer patients. The main theme of this study was to examine the expression profile and prognostic relevance of CXCR4 among individuals with breast cancer. We examined the expression pattern, immunological relationship, gene ontology, as well as pathway involvement of CXCR4 in breast cancer (BC) using comprehensive bioinformatic approaches. The findings of our study indicate a significant upregulation of CXCR4 in BC tissues, specifically TNBC. Furthermore, there was a substantial correlation between CXCR4 and tumor stroma, specifically with regulatory T cells. The findings of this study suggest that CXCR4 plays a crucial role in the advancement of tumors. Therefore, a combined approach of targeting CXCR4 along with conventional therapies can lead to a substantial improvement in the therapeutic response of patients with BC.
hsa_circ_0131457 regulates SFRP2 through miR-636 to inhibit the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Kong Panpan , Yang Huan , Liu Huifang , Tong Qing , Dong Xiaogang , Yi Mamumaimaitijiang-Abula , Yan Dong
Published: October 2023

Background: Circular RNA plays a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of pancreatic cancer. However, the existence of hsa_circ_0131457 has not been reported yet, necessitating further research.
Methods: The expression level of SOX4 in pancreatic cancer cells and tissues was measured using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The correlation between the expression level of SOX4 in pancreatic cancer tissues and clinicopathological features was analyzed using the Pearson Chi-square test. The survival curve of pancreatic cancer patients was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The circRNA regulating SOX4 was predicted through bioinformatics and subsequently verified in pancreatic cancer cells and tissues. Bioinformatics was also employed to predict the miRNA and target genes, and a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed. The expression of SFRP2 in pancreatic cancer cells and tissues was measured using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, and the correlation between clinicopathological features and prognosis was analyzed. Lastly, the biological function of SFRP2 was investigated through bioinformatics analysis.
Result: The expression of SOX4 was significantly up-regulated in pancreatic cancer cells and tissues. It is also associated with tumor size and T stage, which leads to a poor prognosis. qRT-PCR detection of pancreatic cancer tissue samples from 9 patients revealed a significantly lower expression of hsa_circ_0131457. Further bioinformatics analysis was conducted to establish the hsa_circ_0131457-miR-636-SFRP2 regulation network. Analysis of the target gene SFRP2 demonstrated a significant down-regulation in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells. SFRP2 was found to be negatively correlated with preoperative direct bilirubin, tumor size, T stage, and tumor differentiation, while positively correlated with overall survival time of patients.
Conclusion: It is inferred that the hsa_circ_0131457/ miR-636/SFRP2 regulatory mechanism may inhibit the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.
Practices and Factors Affecting on-site Medical Equipment Maintenance at Wau Teaching Hospital, South Sudan
Authors: Massimino Natale , Nimpagaritse Manassé , Maru Shital , Makhado Mulatedzi , Mitiku Shiferaw
Published: October 2023

Background of the study
With advances in the clinical field, medical devices in hospitals are also becoming more sophisticated and need to function under ideal conditions. In this context, it is important for hospitals to focus on the effective and fast repair of life-saving equipment. The objective of this research was to determine the practices and influential factors that affect on-site medical equipment maintenance.
Method:This was a quantitative research design. First, data related to maintenance practices, factors affecting medical equipment, and the root causes of equipment failure were collected using questionnaires. Questionnaires were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. A desk review and observation checklist was used.
Results:In this study, the maintenance practices documented were corrective maintenance and outsourcing to third-party logistics when medical devices broke down. There was a lack of inspection, prevention, predictive, and proactive maintenance practices.
Conclusions:The findings showed that corrective maintenance and outsourcing were the main maintenance practices observed. Factors affecting medical equipment repair processes were linked to insufficient resources, a lack of biomedical personnel, inadequate information about devices, a lack of periodical inspection and preventive design and implementation, and the inappropriateness of medical equipment.
Clinical characteristics of the “Gap” between the prevalence and incidence of hearing loss using National Health Insurance Service data
Authors: Lee Junhun , Yoon Chul Young , Lee Juhyung , Kong Tae Hoon , Seo Young Joon
Published: October 2023

Hearing loss is the inability to hear speech or sounds well, owing to a number of causes. This study aimed to simultaneously determine the prevalence, incidence, and the gap between them in hearing loss in South Korean patients at the same point in time as well as to identify patients who have not recovered from hearing loss. We examined the prevalence and incidence of patients diagnosed with hearing loss in the National Health Insurance Service database over an 11-year period from 2010 to 2020. The difference between prevalence and incidence was defined by the term “Gap”. Clinical characteristics such as sex and age per 100,000 individuals were examined. As of 2020, the domestic prevalence and incidence rates obtained in this study were 1.84% and 1.57%, respectively, and the prevalence and incidence rates increased with increasing age. The gap was 0.27%, which showed a steady increasing trend from 2011 to 2020, and the total medical expenses increased accordingly. Because hearing loss is an irreversible disease, this Gap could mean many things, but it could be seen as a patient who has never recovered from hearing loss.
Serum proteinase-3 levels as a predictor of progression-free survival of first-line chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Furuya Kei , Nakajima Masao , Tsunedomi Ryouichi , Nakagami Yuki , Xu Ming , Matsui Hiroto , Tokumitsu Yukio , Shindo Yoshitaro , Watanabe Yusaku , Tomochika Shinobu , Maeda Noriko , Iida Michihisa , Suzuki Nobuaki , Takeda Shigeru , Hazama Shoichi , Ioka Tatsuya , Hoshii Yoshinobu , Ueno Tomio , Nagano Hiroaki
Published: October 2023

Background: To improve the prognosis of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), investigating predictive biomarkers for prognosis and chemotherapeutic responsiveness is necessary. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the clinical significance of serum proteinase-3 (PRTN3) as a predictor for prognosis and chemosensitivity, especially to bevacizumab, in mCRC.
Methods: This single-center retrospective observational study enrolled 79 patients with mCRC in our hospital and 353 patients with colorectal cancer from the TCGA database. Preoperative serum PRTN3 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis according to serum PRTN3 levels were then evaluated. PRTN3 expression in tumor and stromal cells was evaluated immunohistochemically. The impact of PRTN3 levels on angiogenesis and bevacizumab sensitivity was evaluated using the tube formation assay.
Results: Serum PRTN3 level was an independent poor prognostic factor for progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio: 2.082; 95% confidence interval: 1.118–3.647; P=0.010) in patients with mCRC. Similarly, prognostic analysis with TCGA data set showed poorer overall survival in patients with PRTN3 expression compared to those without PRTN3 expression, especially in patients with stage IV. Immunohistochemical analysis of resected specimens revealed that stromal neutrophils expressed PRTN3, and their expression level was significantly correlated with serum PRTN3 levels. Interestingly, the effectiveness of first line chemotherapy was significantly poorer in the high serum PRTN3 level group. High serum PRTN3 was significantly associated with poorer PFS (hazard ratio, 3.027; 95% confidence interval, 1.175–7.793; P=0.0161) in patients treated with bevacizumab, an anti-angiogenic inhibitor. Tube formation assay revealed that PRTN3 administration notably augmented angiogenesis while simultaneously attenuating the anti-angiogenic influence exerted by bevacizumab.
Conclusions: Serum PRTN3 levels could be a novel predictive biomarker of PFS of first-line chemotherapy especially for bevacizumab in patients with mCRC; however, future studies are warranted to confirm our results.
Characterizations of Laser Transmission Welding of Glass and Copper Using Nanosecond Pulsed Laser
Authors: Nguyen Hoai , Lin Chih-Kuang , Tung Pi-Cheng , Ho Jeng-Rong
Published: October 2023

In this study, we conducted an investigation into the heterogeneous bonding process of glass and copper using a nanosecond pulsed laser for laser transmission welding. Our research focused on examining various processing parameters and the influence of focal plane positions on bonding quality. To evaluate weld strength, we employed both pull-tensile separation force (PTSF) and shear-tensile separation force (STSF) measurements. The analysis of fracture and separation results encompassed detailed examinations of weld morphology, microstructure, elemental composition, and phase configuration. The results revealed that increasing the laser welding energy initially enhanced the weld strength until it reached a saturation point. This saturation point was attributed to the formation of voids or cracks, leading to residual stress within the weld zone due to non-uniform hot spots in the molten area during processing. Among the different focal plane positions tested, positioning it below the glass/copper interface yielded the highest weld strength. The maximum achieved bond strength was above 10 MPa, demonstrating the feasibility of cost-effective pulsed laser welding for copper-to-glass applications. Furthermore, the welds exhibited superior resistance to STSF compared to PTSF. PTSF caused breaking at the weld seam-glass boundary, leaving the weld seam on the copper plate, whereas STSF resulted in separation along the weld-copper interface, leaving the weld seam on the glass sheet. In-depth analysis through SEM and EDS elucidated that Cu and SiO2 underwent intra-mixing and inter-particle diffusion in the molten pool during welding. HR-TEM and SAED observations unveiled the presence of polycrystalline copper nanoparticles, copper oxides, and an amorphous Cu-O-Si region at the weld interface. This amorphous region significantly contributed to the robust bonding between copper and glass.
Bioinformatics analysis of a disease-specific lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA)
Authors: Reiisi Somayeh , Ahmadi Kambiz
Published: October 2023

Background:This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in RSA using the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network.
Methods: The present study obtained expression datasets of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) (GSE179996), messenger RNAs (mRNAs) (GSE201469), and microRNAs (miRNAs) (GSE178619, GSE201442) from blood samples of individuals with RSA and healthy controls. The differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), mRNAs (DEMs), and miRNAs (DEmiRs) were revealed. Subsequently, the identification of miRNAs that interact with DELs and exhibit overlap with DEmiRs was conducted. The specific genes were achieved through the overlapping predicted target genes and DEmiRs. A regulatory network comprising lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA was established, followed by a subsequent analysis of enrichment. Also, the enrichment analysis was performed, and a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed.
Results: This study identified 57 DELs, 212 DEmiRs, and 301 DEMs regarding RSA. Subsequent analysis revealed a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network comprising nine upregulated lncRNAs, 14 downregulated miRNAs, and 65 mRNAs. The ceRNA network's genes were then subjected to functional enrichment and pathway analyses, which showed their association with various processes, such as cortisol and thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion, human cytomegalovirus infection, and parathyroid hormone synthesis. Furthermore, ten hub genes (ITGB3, GNAI2, GNAS, SRC, PLEC, CDC42, RHOA, RAC1, CTNND1, FN1) were identified based on the PPI network results.
Conclusion: In summary, the outcomes of our study offer new understandings towards comprehending the potential pathogenic mechanism in RSA via the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and reveal the possibility of identifying new lncRNAs and miRNAs as promising molecular biomarkers.
Injecting the Score of the First-stage Retriever as Text Improves BERT-Based Re-rankers
Authors: Askari Arian , Abolghasemi Amin , Pasi Gabriella , Kraaij Wessel , Verberne Suzan
Published: October 2023

In this paper we propose a novel approach for combining first-stage lexical retrieval models and Transformer-based re-rankers: we inject the relevance score of the lexical model as a token into the the input of the cross-encoder re-ranker. It was shown in prior work that interpolation between the relevance score of lexical and BERT-based re-rankers may not consistently result in higher effectiveness. Our idea is motivated by the finding that BERT models can capture numeric information. We compare several representations of the BM25 and Dense Passage Retrieval (DPR) scores and inject them as text in the input of four different cross-encoders. Since knowledge distillation, i.e., teacher-student training, proved to be highly effective for cross-encoder re-rankers, we additionally analyze the effect of injecting the relevance score into the student model while training the model by three larger teacher models. Evaluation on the MSMARCO Passage collection and the TREC DL collections shows that the proposed method significantly improves over all cross-encoder re-rankers as well as the common interpolation methods. We show that the improvement is consistent for all query types. We also find an improvement in exact matching capabilities over both the first-stage rankers and the cross-encoders. Our findings indicate that cross-encoder re-rankers can efficiently be improved without additional computational burden or extra steps in the pipeline by adding the output of the first-stage ranker to the model input. This effect is robust for different models and query types.
Experimental advancement of snowmelt influences flowering phenology and pollinator visitation in an alpine ecosystem
Authors: Rose-Person Annika , Spasojevic Marko J , Forrester Chiara , Bowman William D , Suding Katharine N , Oldfather Meagan F , Rafferty Nicole E
Published: October 2023

Climate change is altering interactions among species, including plants and pollinators. In alpine ecosystems, where snowmelt timing is a key driver of phenology, earlier snowmelt may generate shifts in plant and pollinator phenology that vary across the landscape, potentially disrupting interactions. Here we ask how experimentally induced changes in snowmelt timing in a topographically heterogeneous alpine-subalpine landscape impact flowering, insect pollinator visitation, and the pathways connecting key predictors of plant-pollinator interaction. Snowmelt was advanced via the application of black sand on top of snow in manipulated plots, which were paired with control plots. For each forb species, we documented flowering onset and counted flowers throughout the season. We also performed pollinator observations to measure visitation rates. We found that plants flowered earlier in advanced snowmelt plots, with the largest advances in later-flowering species, but flowering duration and visitation rate did not differ between advanced snowmelt and control plots. Using piecewise structural equation models, we assessed the interactive effects of topography on snowmelt timing, flowering phenology, floral abundance, and pollinator visitation. We found that all of these factors interacted to predict visitation rate in control plots. However, in plots with experimentally advanced snowmelt, none of these predictors explained a significant amount of the variation in visitation rate, indicating that different predictors are needed to understand the processes that shape pollinator visitation to flowers under novel climate conditions. Our findings demonstrate that climate change-induced early snowmelt may fundamentally change the relationships between abiotic and biotic drivers of plant-pollinator interactions in alpine environments.
Handover decision and Load balancing in LTE networks using a Fuzzy logic system based on an optimisation technique
Authors: Mohan Divya , Amalanathan Geetha Mary
Published: October 2023

In the rapidly evolving landscape of LTE networks, achieving efficient Quality of Service (QoS) while ensuring seamless handovers and optimal Load balancing poses a significant challenge. Traditional methods rely on manual decision-making processes, leading to errors and suboptimal performance. Our study explores automated decision-making leveraging LTE networks' self-organising network (SON) capabilities to address this. This research identifies a critical gap in the existing literature: the lack of an automated, error-sensitive system that can swiftly balance the demands of handover and load distribution while maintaining QoS standards. An innovative strategy utilising fuzzy logic systems is suggested to close this gap. Fuzzy logic considers diverse network parameters, enabling it to make informed decisions regarding handovers and Load balancing based on real-time network status and associated variables. Our solution uses cutting-edge optimisation methods like the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) to optimise judgments based on fuzzy logic. These algorithms step in when fuzzy logic encounters complexities, ensuring precise decision-making even in intricate scenarios. The core motivation behind this research lies in the ever-increasing demand for high data rates while preserving QoS standards. A dense LTE cell becomes imperative, necessitating sophisticated algorithms for continuous handover operations. The contribution to the fuzzy logic system's conceptualisation and practical application, which significantly enhances system performance and user mobility, is equally important. Our suggested model fulfils and exceeds the desired QoS by automating the decision-making process and incorporating optimisation approaches, resulting in a smooth and effective LTE network operation.
Vector transmission of parsley yellow leaf curl virus by the leafhopper Austroagallia sinuata
Authors: Nichkerdar Khadijeh , Heydarnejad Jahangir , Massumi Hossain
Published: October 2023

This study investigates the transmission potential of parsley yellow leaf curl virus (PYLCV; family Geminiviridae) by Austroagallia sp. leafhopper commonly found in vegetable farms in Kerman province, Iran. Accordingly, following two days of acquisition access period, nymphs from the non-viruliferous colony of Austroagallia sp. successfully transmitted the virus from PYLCV infected parsley to healthy seedlings after seven days from the start of feeding. On the basis of male genitalia morphology, the species of the leafhopper, was identified as A. sinuata. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a plant virus transmission by a species of Austroagallia in the world.
Circulating microRNAs from plasma as preclinical biomarkers of epileptogenesis and epilepsy
Authors: Szydlowska Kinga , Bot Anna , Nizinska Karolina , Olszewski Maciej , Lukasiuk Katarzyna
Published: October 2023

Background
Epilepsy frequently develops as a result of brain insult, e.g., brain injury or stroke; however, currently, there are no tools allowing us to predict which patients suffering from trauma will eventually develop epilepsy. microRNAs are interesting candidates for biomarkers, as several of them have been described to change their levels in the brains of epileptic subjects. There is evidence suggesting that microRNA levels are also altered in the plasma during epilepsy. This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of plasma miRNAs as epileptogenesis/epilepsy biomarkers.
Methods
In our studies, we used a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy. An epileptogenic insult was status epilepticus evoked by stimulation of the left lateral nucleus of the amygdala. Next, animals were continuously video and EEG monitored for 3 months. Blood was collected at 14, 30, 60, and 90 days after stimulation from the tail vein. Blood plasma was separated and processed using Affymetrix miRNA 4.1 array strip microarrays.
Results
We compared miRNA levels between sham-operated (n = 12) and stimulated animals (n = 15). We detected 14 miRNAs differentiating between sham-operated and stimulated animals at 14 days, 6 at 30 days, 16 at 60 days, and 11 at 90 days. We also compared the miRNA levels between animals with high and low numbers of seizures. We found differences in the levels of 11 miRNAs at 14 d, 7 at 30 d, 11 at 60 d and 8 at 90 d (p < 0.01).
Conclusions
We propose three miRNAs that could be potential biomarkers of different stages of epileptogenesis: miR-671, miR-9a-3p and miR-7a-5p. According to us, miR-206-5p is a potential biomarker of epileptogenesis, and miR-221-3p is a potential biomarker of epilepsy severity, characterized by the number of seizures. We also think that these five miRNAs can be considered in the future as potential treatment targets.
Circular Utilization of Discarded Oyster Farming Bamboo Scaffolding in Pulp and Papermaking
Authors: Sun Hao-Chen , Lai Yu-Hsun , Huang Kuan-Yeh , Huang Ssu-Yu , Shyu Jiann-Gwo , Perng Yuan-Shing
Published: October 2023

Oyster Farming is one of the important fisheries and aquaculture industries in Taiwan. Each year, approximately 4,000~5,000 tons of discarded bamboo scaffolding (BS) used in oyster farming, are generated. In this context, the treatment and circular utilization of these materials should be taken seriously. This study evaluates the suitability of BS for pulp and papermaking by assessing the chemical compositions, microstructural appearance, and fiber morphology. The pulping properties of BS is investigated by soda pulping. The chemical composition of BS shows the potential for application in pulping. The appearance presents pores and the structure that can enhance pulping reactions, while the fiber morphology indicates the possibility of producing high-strength paper. Through the factorial experiment analysis of soda pulping, it demonstrated that BS is suitable for pulping with lower NaOH dosage and longer digestion time. Among these conditions, the condition at 170°C with 14% NaOH dosage for 90 min digestion has the highest pulping yield in this study. After refining the highest pulping yield BS pulp, with a Hollander beater for 60 min to adjust the freeness, the resulting pulp, when blended into the TOCC pulp, exhibits higher freeness, as well as improved strength and bulk properties of handsheet. The handsheets can achieve the strength property standards required for cardboard, without the chemical additives. In summary, BS exhibits the potential for pulping application and can be blended with OCC pulp to produce cardboard paper, thereby enhancing the circular utilization value of discarded oyster farming bamboo scaffolding in Taiwan.
Value of diffusion-weighted imaging in lesions with different signals on T1WI in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis
Authors: Zeng Chun , Xiang Yayun , Liu Hanjing , Li Yongmei , Xiong Junwei
Published: October 2023

Backgrounds Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) lesions with different signals on T1WI might exhibit different imaging. This study investigated the ADC characteristics of the anti-NMDA lesions with different disease durations (DDs).
Methods Retrospective analyses were performed on 66 defined patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in our hospital. All patients underwent conventional T2WI, T1WI, and DWI scans. The signal, distribution, and enhancement of the lesions on MRI were observed. Meanwhile, manifestations on DWI and corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) images of these lesions were observed, and the ADC values were measured. Relationships between the ADC values and the DD and the modified ranking scale (mRS) scores were analyzed.
Results Twenty-nine lesions were observed in only 22/66 patients. All the 29 lesions with different DDs showed diversified signals on T1WI and ADC maps. 19 lesions in 17 patients with relatively short DDs presented isointensity on T1WI, while hypointensity on the ADC maps. ADC values of the 19 lesions were lower than those of the contralateral normal brain tissues (P < 0.001). Among the ten lesions observed in 5 patients with rather long DDs, seven lesions showed hypointensity and hyperintensity on ADC maps. The average ADC value of the ten lesions was higher than that of the contralateral normal brain tissue (P < 0.05). The ADC values of the lesions showed a positive correlation with the patients’ DDs (P > 0.05).
Conclusions The ADC images and ADC values of anti-NMDAR lesions in different DD are different, which are helpful to infer the pathological changes of this disease.
Quality of life and social reinsertion of patients on maintenance haemodialysis in three regions of Cameroon
Authors: Teuwafeu Denis Georges , Sehbing Mervis , Mahamat Maimouna , Fouda Hermine , Halle Marie-Patrice , Ashuntantang Gloria
Published: October 2023

Background
Reduced quality of life is associated with shorter survival in chronic illnesses. However, the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and social reinsertion of patients on maintenance haemodialysis is much more underappreciated in resource-limited countries such as Cameroon.
Method
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out from February 22nd to May 20th, 2022, in 4 government-funded haemodialysis centres in three randomly selected regions of Cameroon. Patients received twice-weekly dialysis sessions. Social reinsertion and HRQOL were assessed using a structured questionnaire and the kidney disease quality of life instrument (KDQOL-36™). HRQOL scores < 50 were categorized as low, while scores > 50 reflected better HRQOL. Data were analysed using the software statistical package for Social Sciences version 25.0. Statistical significance was set at a p value < 0.05.
Results
The study included 434 patients. The mean age was 48.33 (13.55) years, 65.7% (285/434) were male, 62.3% (269/434) had no monthly income, and the mean dialysis vintage was 3.74 (3.83) years. The mean HRQOL score was 44.34 (9.77), and 76.2% (325/434) had HRQOL scores < 50). Overall HRQOL was associated with older age (aOR: 2.344, CI 1.089–5.04). After the initiation of maintenance haemodialysis, 67.1% (49/73) of students dropped out of school. The main reason for school absenteeism and unemployment was physical insufficiency, with 82.4% (19/24) and 52.4% (75/144), respectively. There were no promotions or marriages after initiation; 51% (221/434) of relationships with relatives and friends were affected negatively, while 83.3% (66/79) of those of marriageable ages could not find suitors. The social participation score was poor in 61.5% (267/434) of participants. There was an association between low QOL and social participation (p = 0.009).
Conclusion
The HRQOL of patients on maintenance hemodialysis is greatly reduced, especially their physical health status. Older age was a determinant of low QOL. Additionally, social reinsertion remains poor due to adverse changes that occur to these patients and their families after dialysis initiation.
Approaching coherent turbulence and the roll-cell transition with Lagrangian coherent structures and objective fluxes
Authors: Aksamit Nikolas Olson , Katurji Marwan , Zhang Jiawei
Published: October 2023

We present the first analysis of objective and material vortices in Large Eddy Simulations of atmospheric boundary layer turbulence. We extract rotating fluid features that maintain structural coherence over time for near-neutral, transitional, and convective boundary layers. In contrast to traditional analysis of coherent structures in turbulent boundary layers, we provide the first objective (frame-indifferent) identification of temporally coherent vortex boundaries that are responsible for organizing tracer distributions. We compare these rotating structures with qualitative descriptions of horizontal rolls and convective cells arising from decades of observational studies. We also quantify their contribution to turbulent fluxes of heat under varying atmospheric stability. Using recently developed tools from the theory of objective transport barriers, we derive connections between the relative orthogonality of objective momentum and heat transport with the presence of rolls and cells. This suggests the relationship between momentum and heat transport through vortex surfaces may help explain the physics behind roll-cell transitions.
Spatial-temporal Evolution and Peer Effects of Urban Green Development Efficiency: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhou Jialiang , Zhong Mingchun
Published: October 2023

In the process of global urban development, there are urgent ecological security and environmental pollution problems, green development is the fundamental way for urban sustainable development, economic transformation and mitigation of ecological and environmental problems. Based on the panel data of 283 cities at prefecture level and above in China from 2003 to 2017, this paper analyzes spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of urban green development efficiency (UGDE) and the peer effects of UGDE between cities of different grades. It is found that during the study period, in terms of temporal evolution, the average UGDE in China increased from 0.47 in 2003 to 0.61 in 2017, with a cumulative growth rate of 29.79%, showing a rising trend in general. In terms of spatial evolution, the number of low-efficiency cities and medium-efficiency cities continued to decrease. The eastern region has always been the main distribution areas of higher-efficiency cities and high-efficiency cities; in the central region, UGDE in most cities improved significantly; in the western region, UGDE has always lagged behind that in the eastern and central regions. In addition, the center of gravity of UGDE presented a trend of northwest migration in general, with a total displacement of 100.07 km, and UGDE showed a spatial dispersion trend. The empirical results indicate that the improvement of UGDE in large cities has a driving effect on that in neighboring medium cities and small cities through the positive peer effect, and the growth of UGDE in medium cities has a promoting effect on that in neighboring small cities through the positive peer effect; the increase of UGDE in medium cities has a positive peer effect on that in neighboring large cities, and the growth of UGDE in small cities has a positive peer effect on that in neighboring medium cities; UGDE promotes each other between large cities through the positive peer effect.
A Novel Lifting Point Location Optimization Method of Transmission Line Tower Based on Improved Grey Wolf Optimizer
Authors: Wang Guolin , Ding Pengjie , Huang Chaosheng , Yu Zhongliang
Published: October 2023

There are some deficiencies in the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) when optimizing the four-point lifting location of the transmission line tower, such as low optimization efficiency and easy to fall into a local minimum. Therefore, this study proposes an optimization method for the four-point lifting location of transmission line towers based on improved GWO. The good point-set is used to improve the initialization method of gray wolf individuals in order to ensure the uniform distribution of population position and reduce the invalid search in the early stage of optimization. Two random operators are used to adjust the optimal gray wolf position by combination mutation, which enhances the ability of the algorithm to jump out of the local optimum. Finally, the median of gray wolf population is used to consider the trend information of optimization process, and the stability of optimization algorithm is improved. Through the simulation experiment of the improved algorithm and comparison with genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization algorithm, and artificial fish swarm algorithm. The results show that the improved algorithm has a better effect and faster convergence speed in solving the optimization problem, and it is better than other optimization algorithms in the optimization problem of the four-point lifting of transmission line tower.
Power Regulation and Performance Optimization of PV-BES-FC HRES: A Case Study
Authors: Buts Kumaril , Dewan Prof. Lillie
Published: October 2023

This research paper considers a real technical problem related to the economic performance evaluation of green energy generation with power regulation. A Photovoltaic (PV)-Battery Energy Storage (BES) and fuel Cell (FC) supported Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) provides electrical power with zero carbon emission. PV generators and FC systems are slow-responding energy sources and can't mitigate the peak load demand. The peak load stress reduces the efficiency and lifespan of the FC, and it is liable to instability for a slow-responding PV generator. Power regulation with load stress mitigation is of utmost importance for reliable operation. For this purpose, the addition of a fast-responding Energy Storage System (ESS), Batteries, and/or Supercapacitors, connected to the HRES is required. The performance of the combined operation of PV-ESS and FC should be well-regulated for the reliable working of the system. For this purpose, the design of a suitable controller is required to manage and regulate the power distribution with variable load, according to demand. This paper proposes a Proportional Integral (PI)- hybrid controller to regulate load stress while maintaining the power demand for PV-BES & FC supported RES during variable load. A case study of Visvesvaraya Bhawan (Hostel-10), National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra (NITK), Kurukshetra, India, with residing capacity of fifteen hundred students, is considered to verify the proposed approach governing the base load demand with peak load stress management. The HOMER Pro software is used for sizing and confirming the economic performance of the HRES. MATLAB simulated proposed control approach is verified on the Real-Time OPAL-RT platform.