bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep Feature Fusion Classification Model for Identifying Machine Parts
Authors: Batool Amina , Dai Yaping , Ma Hongbin , Yin Sijie
Published: September 2023

In the digital world, automatic component classification is becoming increasingly essential for industrial and logistics applications. The ability to automatically classify various machine parts, such as bolts, nuts, locating pins, bearings, plugs, springs, and washers; using computer vision is challenging for image-based object recognition and classification. Despite varying shapes and classes, components are difficult to distinguish when they appear identical in several ways–particularly in images. This paper proposes identifying machine parts by a deep feature fusion classification model (DFFCM)-variance based designed through the convolutional neural network (CNN), by extracting features and forwarding them to an AdaBoost classifier. DFFCM-v extracts multilayered features from input images, including precise information from image edges, and processes them based on variance. The resulting deep vectors with higher variance are fused using weighted feature fusion to differentiate similar images and used as input to the ensemble AdaBoost classifier for classification. The proposed DFFCM-variance approach achieves the highest accuracy of 99.52% with 341,799 trainable parameters compared with the existing CNN and one-shot learning models, demonstrating its effectiveness in distinguishing similar images of machine components and accurately classifying them.
Next Generation Ecological Models - Central Texas Watersheds: Geospatial Layers and Related Tables
Authors: Saltus Christina , Johansen Richard , Reif Molly , Nowlin Weston , Schwartz Benjamin , Perkins Joshuah
Published: September 2023

Relevant geospatial data layers are required for developing next generation ecological response models for specific reaches of 5 rivers in Central Texas: Colorado, Concho, San Saba, Llano, and Pedernales Rivers. Therefore, a collaborative effort between Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Texas State University, and Texas A&M University was undertaken to acquire and curate a collection of biological and physical datasets to be utilized as inputs for next generation ecological response models at various spatial scales (watershed, river buffer, and point). The objective was to aggregate and process GIS and remote sensing data layers using advanced geospatial analytics to generate relevant metrics (e.g., landcover, elevation, soil erodibility). Next, subsets of the priority datasets were extracted based on two spatial units of interest (local buffer and watershed). The priorities include (1) Percent land use and land cover information from National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) land use/land cover class types (forest, cultivated land, open water, etc.) and soil composition (%); LU change, (2) Geomorphology for each sampling point, (3) Physiographic information on each sampling point, and (4) Linear stream distance between sampling points (5 Secondary) Distance/network analyses. This work was funded through ERDC’s Next Generation Ecological Modeling Program under the work unit titled, “Remote Sensing and statistical support for multi-scale field-based data collection”.
Research Mapping of Sharia Banking During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Vosviewer Bibliometric and Literature Review
Authors: Trimulato Trimulato , Tambusa Muhammad Kharis
Published: September 2023

This study’s purpose is to describe the development of research related to Islamic banks during the Covid-19 pandemic. Various published national standard studies on the theme of sharia banking during the Covid-19 pandemic. This research uses the Publish or Perish (POP) application to explore various related studies sourced from Google Scholar. The data used is for 3 years, namely the period from 2020 to 2022. The keywords used in the article search are sharia banking during the Covid-19 pandemic. From the search results, the articles obtained will be inputted into the Vosviewer application, for descriptive analysis, an analysis of the results obtained after being shown by the application is carried out. Then input was carried out in the VOSviewer application, then the results were found from research for three years with the theme of sharia banking during the Covid-19 pandemic. The results showed that from the Vosviwer application, there were 38 articles obtained from the publish or perish (PoP) application, the results of Network Visualization, Overlay Visualization, and Density Visualization. There are 8 clusters, with various items from each cluster. For the literature review, 7 research themes related to sharia Banking during the Covid-19 Pandemic were found.
Maisir Chip Higgs Domino Transactions on Online on the Millenial Generation in Bengkalis Regency, Riau Indonesia
Authors: Hasan Zulfikar , Rezfani Oliv , Syukri Ahmad
Published: September 2023

The online Higgs domino maisir chip transaction among millennials in the Bengkalisregion is the focus of this study. The purpose of this study was to determine how the millennial generation views online Higgs domino chip transactions and how they affect them. This kind of exploration is subjective examination. This kind of research uses descriptions and field conditions to develop concepts, understandings, and theories. Descriptive analysis is the method used in this study, which aims to accurately describe a person, disease, symptom, or group. The Interview is the method that is used to collect data. It is a form of verbal communication that aims to gather information. Written documents like diaries, magazines, documents, meeting minutes, and others are used to gather information on Islamic law and opinions about the Maisir Higgs domino chip transaction in the Bengkalis area for the millennial generation. The law of online Higgs domino maisir chip transactions, which includes the prohibitions of gharar, usury, and maisir from an Islamic economic perspective, are the findings of this study.
A high throughput-mating assay between S. cerevisiae natural strains reveals a genetic basis for sexual selection and fitness inheritance
Authors: Pilpel Yitzhak , Strauss Sivan Kaminski , Golomb Ruthie , Arad Sivan , Liti Gianni , Dahan Orna
Published: September 2023

Sexual mating is key to evolutionary processes, allowing combination of beneficial alleles between individuals. Data across species suggest that organisms can exert selection of partners that in part depends on factors such as genetic distance and fitness of partners. Fitness is the ultimate evolutionary trait, and its inheritance as a quantitative trait is multi-genic. Revealing the factors that govern mate selection and fitness inheritance are critical for understanding the effects of sex on evolution. Yet, large data are limited, main conclusions are inconsistent, and bigger and consistent datasets are needed. Here, we developed a massive mating assay that enables the simultaneous quantification of mate choice among ~100 Saccharomyces cerevisiae natural strains. DNA barcode recombination allows sequencing of recombined barcode pairs to reveal mating frequencies among all strains, and fitness measurements of both parental haploids and offspring diploids. We find preferential mating with partners with which higher-fitness offspring emerge. Following inheritance of fitness, we find that offspring fitness in fermentable carbon source correlates mainly with parental fitness, while on non-fermentable carbon, offspring fitness is mainly an increasing function of the genetic distance between their parents. Our results suggest that mate choice and fitness inheritance depend upon environmental condition and strains genetics.
Outcome of use of a novel Modulator of Oxidative Phosphorylation on kidney function in patients with Chronic Kidney disease
Authors: Okundaye Ebima Clifford , Enobakhare Ella Egberanmwen , Escamilla Christina , Okundaye Ebima , Chiejine Gibson , Okotete George , obimah chika , Ward Diamondnesday
Published: September 2023

Introduction
CKD is a contributor to illness and is associated with a diminished quality of life and reduced life expectancy. Several studies have proposed and evaluated therapeutic options of curbing the progression of the disease and decline in kidney function as measured by the glomerular filtration rate . Although these medications have been shown to be helpful in minimizing the rate of decline of CKD progression , currently no therapeutic option is available for patients to restore or repair any already incident loss of glomerular function leading to an improvement in renal function from their baseline . A new pathway targeting NAD+ pathway has been proposed by animal studies . In this article we studied the effect of utilizing a novel drug QRX3 , a promoter of NAD/NAD+ oxidative phosphorylation pathway and its effect of glomerular filtrate rate in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Methodology
We invited and screened patients presenting for evaluation and follow up at a nephrology outpatient clinic . 45 patients were screened for the study. Diabetes and Hypertension were the causes of CKD in the study population . 17 patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate between 9 and 48 mls/min/1.73m2 and meeting criteria were included in the study and were started on the novel medication in addition to their standard CKD management. The primary outcome was a mean and percentage change in glomerular filtration rate at 3 months and at 6 months.
Results
Using analysis of the data for all participants, the mean change in renal function by eGFR was from 29 mls per minute to 35.5 mls per minute at three months (P-0.027 Confidence interval 22.68 to 35.43, DF 16 , SE 3.01 ) ,which was sustained at 35.2 mls per minute at six months ( p=0.07 DF 11 Confidence interval 23.1 to 40.05 , SE 3.8) . This reflected a percentage mean increase of 20.9 % for all the study participants. This effect was similar for percentage increase from the mean eGFR at 3 months for both stage 3 and 4 ( P= 0.0086 for CKD 3 and P=0.02 for CKD 4 ) when compared to CKD stage 5 patients.
Conclusion
Among patients with slowly declining chronic kidney disease , the use of a novel drug target of NAD/NAD+ oxidative phosphorylation pathway resulted in a mean improvement in their kidney function above baseline ,an effect that was sustained even at 6 months.
Deep learning-based estimation of axial length using macular optical coherence tomography images
Authors: Yu Xiaobing , Liu Jing , Li Hui , Zhou You , Zhang Yue , Song Shuang , Gu Xiaoya , Xu Jingjing
Published: September 2023

Objectives
This study aimed to develop deep learning models using macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) images to estimate axial lengths (ALs) in eyes without maculopathy.
Methods
A total of 2 664 macular OCT images from 444 patients' eyes without maculopathy, who visited Beijing Hospital between March 2019 and October 2021, were included. The dataset was divided into training, validation, and testing sets with a ratio of 6:2:2. Three pre-trained models (ResNet 18, ResNet 50, and ViT) were developed for binary classification (AL ≥ 26mm) and regression task. Ten-fold cross-validation was performed, and Grad-CAM analysis was employed to visualize AL-related macular features. Additionally, retinal thickness measurements were used to predict AL by linear and logistic regression models.
Results
ResNet 50 achieved an accuracy of 0.872 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.840–0.899), with high sensitivity of 0.804 (95% CI, 0.728–0.867) and specificity of 0.895 (95% CI, 0.861–0.923). The mean absolute error for AL prediction was 0.83 mm (95% CI, 0.72–0.95 mm). The best AUC, and accuracy of AL estimation using macular OCT images (0.929, 87.2%) was superior to using retinal thickness measurements alone (0.747, 77.8%). AL-related macular features were on the fovea and adjacent regions.
Conclusions
OCT images can be effectively utilized for estimating AL with good performance via deep learning. The AL-related macular features exhibit a localized pattern in the macula, rather than continuous alterations throughout the entire region. These findings can lay the foundation for future research in the pathogenesis of AL-related maculopathy.
Racial Discrimination and Administrative Burden in Access to Public Services
Authors: Bell Elizabeth , Jilke Sebastian
Published: September 2023

Equal access to public services is a foundational element of democratic societies. Yet, stark inequalities in access to public services persist, partially due to bureaucratic discrimination, or differential treatment by bureaucrats. This study investigates the causal mechanism of bureaucratic discrimination, arguing that racial discrimination can serve as a means of cream skimming, when there are economic incentives to prioritize easier-to-serve clientele. We predict that in the absence of information regarding prospective clients’ performance, group-level performance information will be imposed on racially minoritized individuals. We implemented a nationwide email correspondence audit experiment including all charter school principals in the U.S. (n = 5,850). The findings show that Black email aliases faced significantly higher administrative burdens in trying to get access to charter schools than White email aliases when no performance signal was provided. However, when a direct signal of clients’ performance was introduced, the racial disparities diminished. These results provide evidence on the causal mechanism of bureaucratic discrimination as a means of cream-skimming.
Reprogramming of Myelopoiesis by Malaria-induced Hemozoin Accumulation
Authors: Cheng Shih-Chin , Zhu Yanhui , Gao Qingxiang , Cheng Yu , Wang Shengfang , Zhang Jia , Yang Shuzhen , Xu Ren , Yuan Jing , Novakovic Boris , Netea Mihai
Published: September 2023

Malaria remains a major worldwide health challenge by affecting millions of people every year. Malaria infection leads to hemozoin (Hz) deposition in the bone marrow, which in turn disrupts hematopoiesis and modulates immune responses to other infections. The underlying mechanism of these alterations remain obscure. Here, we show that persistent Hz deposition instigates a sustained myelopoiesis bias, characterized by increased peripheral myeloid cells and heightened cytokine production reminiscent of trained immunity. Hz orchestrates myelopoiesis predominantly through a cell-intrinsic Myd88-dependent pathway, which entails augmented chromatin accessibility of key transcription factor genes, such as PU.1 and IRF-8, in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). This effect was validated by complementary experiments employing direct Hz injection into the bone cavity and bone marrow chimeras. Intriguingly, the epigenetic alterations in HSPCs impart a lasting impact on the transcriptome and function of circulating monocytes. Furthermore, abrogating Ly6C monocytes eliminates the protective effects of Hz-driven myelopoiesis, underscoring the indispensable role of enhanced myelopoiesis in host defense. Our study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms governing Hz-induced myelopoiesis and deepens our understanding of central trained immunity induced by Hz. These findings imply a potential co-evolutionary advantage of previous malaria infection in conferring resistance to subsequent pathogen encounters in malaria-endemic regions.
Solvent-promoted selective hydroxymethylation of biomass-derived furan compounds
Authors: Peng Lincai , Song Weipeng , Zhang Junhua , Sun Yong , Zhang Rui , Liu Huai
Published: September 2023

Valorization of biomass-derived industrially-accessible C5 furan compounds like furfural (FF) and furfuryl alcohol (FA) to bifunctionalized furan-based derivatives is of great importance to biorefinery processes, yet remains challenging. We report herein the catalytic hydroxymethylation of FA rather than the conventional hydrogenation of costly 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), giving high yield to 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran (DHMF), a versatile intermediate. Using formalin/1,4-dioxane mixture as the solvent system, DHMF yield reaches 76.4% over Hβ zeolite at 60°C within 60 min, which considerably exceeding the yields in single formalin and the state-of-art reports on FF hydroxymethylation to HMF. The co-solvent 1,4-dioxane serves as a catcher of formaldehyde hydrate to access substrate FA and as a shield to restrain undesirable condensation reactions. Impressively, the developed protocol reveals excellent universality in boosting the hydroxymethylation of electrondrawing group-free furan molecules (e.g., furan, 2-methylfuran). The understanding of these solvation effects can be employed to manipulate the hydroxymethylation of biomass-related furan compounds.
Tetrahydrocannabinol derivative ameliorates 5-FU mediated DNA damage propensity coupled with Vimentin suppression leading to autophagy induction
Authors: Goswami Anindya , Mir Khalid , Chakraborty Souneek , Amin Tanzeeba , Kumar Aviral , War Abdul Raouf , Nalli Yedukondalu , Kumar Rakesh , Kumar Lekha , Ali Asif
Published: September 2023

Anastasis cascade including induction of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition ( EMT), DNA repair, and stimulation of pro-survival mediators collectively exaggerate therapy resistance in cancer prognosis. The extensive implications of DNA-damaging agents are clinically proven futile for the rapid development of disease recurrence during treatment regime. In order to tackle this catastrophic event, recently, combinatorial approaches to prevent the pro-survival and pro-metastatic mediators responsible for incurring resistance to tumor cells are rapidly emerging. Herein we report a glycosidic derivative of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-9-OG) abrogates 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) induced EMT in colon cancer cells nullifying DNA repairing mechanism. Our in vitro and in vivo data strongly proclaims that THC-9-OG could not only abrogated 5FU mediated background EMT activation through stalling matrix gelatin degradation as well as murine 4T1 lung metastasis but also strongly diminished Rad51 DNA damage repairing mediator along with stimulation of γH2AX foci formation. The combinatorial treatment (5FU + THC-9-OG) in Apc knockout colorectal carcinoma model conferred remission of the crypt progenitor phenotype which was prominently identified in alone 5FU treatment. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that 5FU plus THC-9-OG significantly attenuated the major EMT inducer Vimentin via extensive ROS generation which simultaneously triggered autophagy induction via LC3B I-II conversion and p62 degradation in a p-ATM dependent manner. Additionally, Cannabinoid receptor CB1 was responsible for abrogation of Vimentin since we found increase in the expression of γH2AX and decrease in vimentin expression in CB1 agonist (ACEA) plus 5FU treated cells. Nutshell, our results unveil a new direction of Cannabinoid based combinatorial approach to control background EMT along with robust enhancing of DNA damage potential of sub-toxic concentration of 5FU resulting immense inhibition of distant metastasis coupled with triggering cell death in vitro and in vivo.
Identification and validation of RNA-binding protein SLC3A2 regulates melanocyte ferroptosis in vitiligo by integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing
Authors: Zhang Jingzhan , Xiang Fang , Ding Yuan , Hu Wen , Wang Hongjuan , Zhang Xiangyue , Lei Zixian , Li Tingting , Wang Peng , Kang Xiaojing
Published: September 2023

Background
The pathogenesis of vitiligo remains unclear. The genes encoding vitiligo-related RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and their underlying pathogenic mechanism have not been determined.
Methods
Single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the CNCB database was obtained to identify distinct cell types and subpopulations and the relative proportion changes in vitiligo and healthy samples. Using RBP genes for unsupervised clustering, we obtained the specific RBP genes of different cell types in vitiligo and healthy groups. We analyzed the RBP genes in different cell subpopulations, especially melanocytes. Combined with the bulk RNA-seq data of melanocytes, we obtained the different RBP genes from melanocytes and predicted their function. Cell experiments, including gene knockdown, qRT–PCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis-related tests, were conducted to explore the role of the key RBP gene SLC3A2 in vitiligo.
Results
We identified 14 different cell types and 28 cell subpopulations using scRNA-seq data. There is a significant difference in the proportion of each cell subpopulation between the patients with vitiligo and healthy groups. The RBP gene expression is highly heterogeneous; there are significant differences in some cell types, such as keratinocytes, Langerhans, and melanocytes, while there are no significant differences in other cells, such as T cells and fibroblasts in the two groups. The melanocyte-specific RBP genes were enriched in the apoptosis and immune-related pathways in the patients with vitiligo group. Combined with the bulk RNA-seq data of melanocytes, key RBP genes related to melanocytes were identified, including 11 upregulated RBP genes (BST2, CDKN2A, HLA-A, IFIT1, LMF2, RPL12, RPL29, RPL31, RPS19, RPS21, and RPS28) and one downregulated RBP gene (SLC3A2). Cell experiments confirmed melanocyte proliferation decreased, whereas apoptosis increased after SLC3A2 knockdown. SLC3A2 knockdown in melanocytes also decreased the SOD activity and melanin content; increased the Fe2+, ROS, and MDA content; significantly increased the expression levels of TYR and COX2; and decreased the expression levels of GSH and GPX4.
Conclusions
We identified the RBP genes of different cell subsets in patients with vitiligo and confirmed that downregulating SLC3A2 can promote ferroptosis in melanocytes. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of vitiligo.
Association between gut microbiota at 3.5 years of age and body mass index at 5 years: Results from two French nationwide birth cohorts
Authors: Charles Marie , Toubon Gaël , Butel Marie-José , Rozé Jean-Christophe , Delannoy Johanne , Ancel Pierre Yves , Aires Julio
Published: September 2023

Background/Objectives:
The relations between the gut microbiota and change in body mass index (BMI) or pediatric overweight in early life remain unclear and there is a scarcity of information regarding the preterm population. This study aimed to investigate how the gut microbiota at 3.5 years of age is associated with (1) the later BMI at 5 years, and (2) BMI z-score variations between 2 and 5 years in children from two French nationwide birth cohorts.
Subjects/Methods:
Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to profile the gut microbiota at 3.5 years of very preterm children (n = 143, EPIPAGE 2 cohort) and late preterm/full-term children (n = 369, ELFE cohort). Predicted metabolic function abundances was computed using PICRUSt2 tool. Children anthropometric measurements were collected at 2 and 5 years through medical exams or retrieved from the child health booklets. Statistical analyses included multivariable linear and logistic regressions, variable selection using random forest, and microbiome regression-based kernel association tests.
Results
The Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio at 3.5 years was positively associated with BMI z-score at 5 years. Several genera were positively associated ([Eubacterium] hallii group, Fusicatenibacter, and [Eubacterium] ventriosum group) or negatively associated (Eggerthella, Colidextribacter, and Ruminococcaceae CAG-352) with BMI z-score at 5 years. Some genera were also associated with BMI z-score variations between 2 and 5 years. Predicted metabolic functions including steroid hormone biosynthesis, biotin metabolism, glycosaminoglycan degradation, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism were associated with a lower BMI z-score at 5 years. Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids pathway was associated with a higher BMI z-score.
Conclusions
These findings indicate that the gut microbiota at 3.5 years is associated with later BMI during childhood independently of preterm or term birth suggesting that changes in the gut microbiota that may predispose to adult obesity begin in early childhood.
Novel NARS2 variants in a patient with early-onset status epilepticus: case study and literature review
Authors: Yang Nuo , Chen Limin , Zhang Yanfeng , Wu Xuemei , Hao Yunpeng , Yang Fan , Yang Zuozhen , Liang Jianmin
Published: September 2023

Background: NARS2 as a member of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases was necessary to covalently join a specific tRNA to its cognate amino acid. Biallelic variants in NARS2 were reported with disorders such as Leigh syndrome, deafness, epilepsy, and severe myopathy.
Methods: Detailed clinical phenotypes were collected and the NARS2 variants were discovered by whole exome sequencing and verified by Sanger sequencing. Additionally, 3D protein structure visualization was performed by UCSF Chimera.
Results: The proband in our study had early-onset status epilepticus with abnormal EEG and MRI results. She also performed global developmental delay (GDD) and myocardial dysfunction. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and Sanger sequencing revealed compound heterozygous missense variants [NM_024678.6:exon14:c.1352G>A(p.Arg451His); c.707T>C(p.Phe236Ser)] of theNARS2 gene. The proband develops refractory epilepsy with GDD and hyperlactatemia. Unfortunately, she finally died for status seizures two months later.
Conclusion: We discovered two novel missense variants of NARS2 in a patient with early-onset status epilepticus and myocardial dysfunction. The NGS enables the patient to be clearly diagnosed as combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency 24 (COXPD24, OMIM:616239), and our findings expands the spectrum of gene variants in COXPD24.
Comparing aneuploidy rate in arrested human embryos derived from in-vivo and in-vitro matured oocytes
Authors: Montazeri Fateme , Kalantar Seyed Mehdi , Hoseini Seyed Mehdi , Agha-Rahimi Azam , Abdoli Maryam , Nikuei Pooneh
Published: September 2023

Background
In vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes is an increasingly popular assisted reproductive technology (ART) due to its reduced cost and simplicity, offering advantages for women at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the morphology and cytogenetic status of embryos from IVM oocytes.
Material and Methods
The arrested embryos were collected from IVM cycles (case N = 66) or IVF cycles (control N = 68). Embryos in the cleavage stage were examined microscopically to assess their morphology, followed by investigation of aneuploidy in chromosomes 13, 18, 21, and X / 15, 16, 22, using FISH-based PGS on biopsied blastomeres.
Results
In this study, the maturation rate of GV-oocytes was about 64.79% which was significantly lower than the maturation rate of MII-oocytes around 85.5%. Also, the embryo formation rate was significantly higher in the control group than the case group (0.044). However, there was no significant difference in the fertilization rate, arresting rate and embryo quality between the groups (P-value > 0.05). In addition, the frequency of aneuploidy for each chromosome individually and overall abnormalities in sex and autosomes did not display any significant differences in arrested embryos that were generated from GV and MII oocytes.
Conclusion
Our study indicates that IVM does not impact the quality of embryos, nor does it increase the aneuploidy rate of GV-derived embryos. Thus, we highly recommend using IVM for patients who are hormone-sensitive, poor responders, or at risk of OHSS. We also strongly advise screening embryos that are derived from GV-oocytes through PGS, regardless of quality.
Efficacy analysis of treatment of femoral shaft fractures in adolescents with elastic intramedullary nail
Authors: Sun Jianping , Liang Xiao-ju , Wang Bing , Qu Ji-ning , Jie Qiang
Published: September 2023

Objective
To investigate the clinical efficacy of treatment of femoral shaft fractures in adolescents with elastic intramedullary nail.
Methods
From March 2016 to January 2022, the data of 59 cases of adolescent femoral shaft fractures treated by elastic intramedullary nail in the Pediatric Orthopaedic Hospital, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University were analyzed retrospectively. We were able to follow-up on 59 patients (34 males, 25 females); Mean age at fracture was 13 (11 ~ 18) years; Body weight: 38 ~ 62kg, average 48kg. The time from injury to surgery ranged from 2 to 7 days. The average was 3.8 days. All operations were fixed with elastic intramedullary nails, and external fixation was fixed with hip herringbone plaster or brace. Record the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, diameter of elastic intramedullary nail, external fixation method, hospital stay, fracture healing time, etc.
Results
Surgery took 60 ~ 180 minutes, with an average of 110 minutes. Intraoperative blood loss: 5 ~ 30ml, average 14ml. Elastic intramedullary nail diameter: Of these, 24 patients used 4.0mm; 35 patients used 3.5mm. External fixation: hip herringbone plaster fixation in 45 cases; 14 cases were fixed with brace. Patients were hospitalised for 4 ~ 14 days, averaging 7 days. Mean post-operative follow-up of 18 months (12–36 months). The fracture healing time was 3 to 8 months (average 4.6 months). The internal fixation was taken out from 11 to 20 months after operation, with an average of 13 months. During the follow-up period, no patient had complications such as femoral head necrosis, infection, nonunion of fracture, delayed union, malunion and nail withdrawal. At the last follow-up, the lower limbs of two patients were not equal in length, but the difference was less than 1 cm.
Conclusions
The treatment of femoral head fractures in adolescents with flexible intramedullary nailing is simple, with less bleeding, fewer complications, less impact on limb development, and definite efficacy.
Fat Phobia Scale-Short Form and Beliefs About Obese Persons Scale: Cross-Cultural Adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: de Souza Gabriela Cristina Arces , Laus Maria Fernanda , Silva Wanderson Roberto da , Japur Camila Cremonezi
Published: September 2023

The Fat Phobia Scale-Short Form (FPS) and the Beliefs About Obese Persons Scale (BAOP) are scales developed to investigate fatphobia and beliefs about obese persons , respectively. The aim of the study was to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of these scales to Brazilian Portuguese. The methodology was carried out in 5 stages: 1. translation, 2. synthesis of translations, 3. evaluation by the expert committee of semantic, idiomatic, experiential and conceptual equivalences, 4. discussion with the target population (health professionals and other areas), and 5. back-translation. The results of the judgment of equivalences evaluated by the specialists were presented in absolute and relative frequency, and the agreement of the results between the specialists was verified by the Kappa de Fleiss Coefficient (₭). The results showed excellent agreement for all equivalences in both scales, except for BAOP semantics, which was good. (₭ = 0,67). Suggestions from the target population (Brazilian adults) were considered to adapt the final version of the two scales, which were back-translated and approved by the original authors. It is concluded that FPS and BAOP are duly adapted to Brazilian Portuguese and ready to be tested for their psychometric qualities.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and risk of infectious diseases in hospitalized older patients
Authors: Balducci Marco , Locatelli Edoardo , Barbieri Maria Giorgia , Ferrighi Elena , Scardina Serena , Barrile Giulia , Sganga Federica , Mattioli Irene , Remelli Francesca , Maggi Stefania , Volpato Stefano , Trevisan Caterina
Published: September 2023

Purpose.
Vaccinations, for example flu vaccine, may be a cause of cross-reactive immunostimulation that prevents a larger spectrum of infections. However, whether SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations may also determine this effect is unclear. This study aims, first, to assess the incidence of infections at hospital admission and during the hospitalization in older inpatients vaccinated and unvaccinated against SARS-CoV-2; second, to compare length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
Methods
. This retrospective study included 754 older inpatients admitted to the Geriatrics and Orthogeriatrics Units of the University Hospital of Ferrara (Italy) between March 2021 and November 2021. Sociodemographic and health-related data, and the diagnosis of infections at hospital admission and during hospitalization were collected from medical records.
Results.
The sample’s mean age was 87.2 years, 59.2% were females, and 75.5% were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Vaccinated individuals had a 33% lower odds of intra-hospital infections (OR = 0.67, 95%CI:0.46–0.98) and 40% lower in-hospital death (HR = 0.60, 95%CI:0.39–0.94), also after adjusting for potential confounders, while no significant results emerged about infections at hospital admission. Considering the hospitalization’s endpoints, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was associated with a lower probability of being transferred to long-term care or other hospital departments than returning home (OR = 0.63, 95%CI:0.40–0.99).
Conclusions.
In older inpatients, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may reduce the risk of intra-hospital infectious diseases not caused by SARS-CoV-2 and all-cause in-hospital mortality. The vaccination coverage in the older population could limit not only the onset and severity of COVID-19 but also the occurrence of other infectious diseases.
Chirality-governed Clusteroluminescence in Polypeptides
Authors: Chen Chongyi , Zhao Wangtao , Liu Yali , Gao Mei , Kong Liufen , Yu Shunfeng , Zhao Chuanzhuang
Published: September 2023

Fluorescent protein-mimics are highly desired for the applications in biomedical fields. In this work, the clusteroluminescence of polypeptides in bulk and solution state was observed and the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of polypeptides can be modulated by the chirality of amino acid residues. Polyglutamates with different optical rotations were synthesized and the racemic polypeptides exhibited a significantly higher PL intensity than the enantiopure ones. This emission is originated from the n-π* transition between C=O groups of polypeptides and enhanced by clusterization of polypeptides. CD and FTIR spectra demonstrated that the enantiopure and racemic polypeptides form α-helix and random coil structures, respectively. The random coils can form chain entanglements and interchain interaction easily because of its high flexibility, leading to the more clusterizations and stronger PL intensity. The rigidity of helical structures restrains the chain entanglements and the formation of intrachain hydrogen bonds between amide groups of backbone impairs the interchain interaction between polypeptides, resulting in lower PL intensity. The PL intensity of polypeptides can also be manipulated by the addition of urea or trifluoroacetic acid. Our study not only elucidate the chirality-based structure-property relationship of clusteroluminescence in peptide-based polymers, but also offers implications for the rational design of fluorecent peptides/proteins.
Efficient Event-Based Robotic Grasping Perception using Hyperdimensional Computing
Authors: Hassan Eman , Zou Zhuowen , Chen Hanning , Imani Mohsen , Zweiri Yahaya , Saleh Hani , Mohammad Baker
Published: September 2023

Grasping is Fundamental in various robotic applications, particularly within industrial contexts. Accurate inference of object properties is a crucial step toward enhancing grasping quality. Dynamic and Active Vision Sensors (DAVIS), increasingly utilized for robotic grasping, offer superior energy efficiency, lower latency, and higher temporal resolution than traditional cameras. However, the data they generate can be complex and noisy, necessitating substantial pre-processing. In response to these challenges, we introduce GraspHD, an innovative end-to-end algorithm that leverages brain-inspired hyperdimensional computing (HDC) to learn about the size and hardness of objects and estimate the grasping force. This novel approach circumvents the need for resource-intensive pre-processing steps, capitalizing on the simplicity and inherent parallelism of HDC operations. Our comprehensive analysis reveals that GraspHD surpasses state-of-the-art approaches in terms of overall classification accuracy. We have also implemented GraspHD on an FPGA to evaluate system efficiency. The results demonstrate that GraspHD operates at a speed 10x faster and offers an energy efficiency 26 times higher than existing learning algorithms, all while maintaining robust performance in noisy environments. These findings underscore the significant potential of GraspHD as a more efficient and effective solution for real-time robotic grasping applications.
Utilization of HIV testing services among men who have sex with men inNew Delhi, India: A qualitative study on barriers and facilitators
Authors: Vashisht Shruti , Rai Sanjay , Kant Shashi , Haldar Partha , Goswami Kiran , Misra Puneet , Reddy DCS , Panda Samiran
Published: September 2023

Background & objectives: In India, the prevalence of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM), a core risk group for HIV was estimated to be 4.3%, 16 times higher than the national average. In Delhi, the estimated prevalence among MSM was 1.8%. Despite free HIV testing services being available across the public health systems, for over two decades, MSM did not avail themselves, these services optimally. The objective of this study was to understand the barriers to and facilitators of the utilisation of standard HIV testing among MSM.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted among MSM who were registered with the selected targeted intervention sites (TIs) in New Delhi, India. MSM were recruited for focus group discussions (FGDs) between January and May 2021. A total of six FGDs were conducted using a prepared FGD guide that covered questions on issues, challenges faced during and facilitators of the utilization of standard HIV testing. The data were manually coded and entered into NVivo release 1.5 and themes were identified.
Results: A total of 67 MSM participated in the FGDs. Major barriers reported with utilization of standard HIV testing were rude behavior of health care workers (HCWs), long queues, sexual stigma - disclosure of one’s identity on being spotted in queues by acquaintances, discomfort with the too many questions on sexual behavior being asked by HCWs and HIV related stigma- fear of turning out positive. The facilitators identified were knowledge about and perceived risk of HIV/AIDS and exclusive MSM NGOs/ TI sites.
Interpretation & Conclusions: We identified factors within the individual as well as the environment that acted as barriers and facilitators to the utilization of standard HIV testing by MSM.
Non‑intrusive polynomial chaos expansion for robust topology optimization of truss-like continua under random loads
Authors: Guo Xinze , Zhou Kemin
Published: September 2023

This paper dedicates to presenting an uncertain analysis framework for robust topology optimization (RTO) based on truss-like material model that integrates non-intrusive polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) approach. In this framework, the RTO problem is formulated as a bi-objective optimization one to simultaneously minimize the expectancy and its standard deviation of structural compliance with volume constraints. The magnitude and direction of load uncertainty are assumed to follow a Gaussian distribution independently. A standard non-intrusive PCE requires a large number of multivariate integrals to calculate the expansion coefficient. Therefore, response metrics such as structural compliance are efficiently characterized using the decoupling techniques based on the expansions of the uncertain parameters. The mechanical analysis and uncertainty analysis are separated, so that the number of simulations in the original PCE procedure is greatly reduced for linear structures by means of superposition. The optimization is achieved by gradient-based methods. The appreciable accuracy and efficiency are validated by the brutal Monte Carlo simulation. Three numerical examples are provided to demonstrate that the proposed method can lead to designs with completely different topologies and superior robustness.
Subject-specific brain functional fingerprints are preserved during general anesthesia
Authors: Liu Hesheng , Fu Xiaoxuan , Ren Jianxun , Wei Wei , Li Shiyi , Wang Danyang , Wang Yezhe , Yang Zekun , Zhang Yifei , Zhang Ping , Wang Meiyun
Published: September 2023

Functional MRI often requires general anesthesia for noncompliant individuals. However, it remains unclear how anesthesia affects brain network organization and whether individuals’ idiosyncratic functional fingerprints remain identifiable. Here, we performed individualized analyses on prolonged fMRI data (96 minutes) collected from 14 participants in both awake and anesthetized states. We found that functional connectivity in the primary sensorimotor, visual and auditory cortices was particularly susceptible to anesthesia. Within- and between-network connectivity was generally reduced under anesthesia, indicating weakened integration. Individual differences in connectivity profile were diminished, however, subject-specific functional fingerprints were well-preserved and highly identifiable, especially in the association cortices. A model was developed to reconstruct individuals’ awake connectomes using anesthesia data. The model's ability to identify autism-related dysfunctions in social network was demonstrated using data from 29 anesthetized, autistic children. This work revealed anesthetic effects on functional connectivity, and established a reconstructive model that may bridge conscious and unconscious states.
Interaction of Gravitational Waves with Yang-Mills fields
Authors: Gosala Narasimha Reddy , Dasgupta Arundhati
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we discuss the interaction of non-Abelian SU(2) Yang-Mills progressive waves with gravitational waves. We solve and obtain solutions to pure Yang-Mills equations in different backgrounds, and perturbative solutions induced due to gravitational waves. These induced solutions show 'beat patterns' and depending on boundary conditions, changes in frequency. We find that in the symmetry broken phase of the gauge fields, the interactions are perturbative only for an infinitesimal time. The system has to be studied using non-perturbative methods for predicting new observational physics in colliders.
Unraveling the pivotal role of cellular senescence genes in intervertebral disc degeneration: insights from bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation
Authors: Liu Fei , Yin Ji , Guo Daru , Cai Weiye , Cheng Kang , Song Chao , Mei Yongliang , Zhou Daqian , Gao Silong , Lv He , Wang Zhaoqiang , Chen Feng , Liu Zongchao
Published: September 2023

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a complex age-related physiological change involving mainly cellular senescence (CS), inflammation, impaired tissue biomechanical function, and degradation of the extracellular matrix, and is a major cause of lumbar disc herniation and low back pain. Nonetheless, the specific role of CS and its associated genes in IVDD remains unclear. In this study, we first obtained 53 differentially expressed CS-related genes (CSRGs) by differential analyses of IVDD patients and non-IVDD patients from the GSE124272 and GSE150408 microarray expression datasets of the GEO database. We then performed GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on these 53 CSRGs to explore their functions and pathways. To find the key genes from these 53 CSRGs, we first built a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to recognize hub genes, and then on top of that we also applied the support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm, random forest (RF) algorithm, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis. We finally obtained 4 hub CSRGs (DUSP3, MAPKAPK5, SP1 and VEGFA) to forecast the risk of IVDD. Based on the four hub genes we previously obtained, we built a nomogram model and performed a decision curve analysis, which ultimately suggested that the model was beneficial to patients. Based on the selected 4 hub CSRGs, we classified IVDD patients into two Hub gene patterns (hub gene clusters A and B) by the consensus clustering method, while the 297 DEGs obtained by screening based on the two hub gene clusters were classified into two gene patterns using the same method. We then applied a PCA algorithm to determine Hub gene scores for each sample to measure Hub gene patterns and found that patients in cluster A had higher Hub gene scores than those in cluster B. We also showed the correlation of two Hub gene patterns and Gene patterns with immune cell infiltration and the differential expression levels of four Hub genes by constructing heat maps and histograms. We performed GO enrichment analysis on these 297 DEGs to explore their role in IVDD. Finally, we used qPCR analysis and western blot to verify the expression levels of mRNA and protein in normal and IVDD cells of 4 hub CSRGs. In summary, CSRGs play an important role in the pathogenesis of IVDD, and our study of the hub gene cluster may guide future therapeutic strategies for IVDD.
Hazard function analysis of prognosis after recurrent colorectal cancer
Authors: Ise Ichiro , Kawai Kazushige , Nakano Daisuke , Takao Misato , Natsume Soichiro , Kato Hiroki , Nakamori Sakiko , Dejima Akira , Yamaguchi Tatsuro
Published: September 2023

Background and objectives: Mean survival time (MST) is used as the indicator of prognosis in patients with a recurrence of colorectal cancer (CRC). Alternative to MST, we aimed to visualize the changes in death risk after a CRC recurrence using hazard function analysis (HFA).
Methods: The medical records of 726 consecutive patients with a recurrence after R0 radical surgery for CRC were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: The five-year survival rate post-recurrence was 37.7%, and the MST was 3.5 years, while the risk of death peaked at 2.90 years post-recurrence. Seven variables were found to predict short survival, including number of metastatic organs ≥ 2, non-surgical treatment for the recurrence, and a short interval before recurrence. In patients with a recurrence in one organ, the MST was four years, the peak time of death visualized by HFA was 2.9 years, and the five-year survival rate was 45.7%. In patients with surgical resection of the recurrence, the MST was 8 years, the peak time of death was 3.3 years, and the five-year survival rate was 61.8%.
Conclusions: The present study established a novel method of assessing changes in mortality risk over time using HFA, in patients with a recurrence of colorectal cancer.
WITHDRAWN: Optimization and characterization of biochar obtained from weedy biomass of Calotropis gigantea by vacuum pyrolysis
Authors: Poonia Poonam , Gaur Loveena , Panwar Narayan Lal
Published: September 2023

In the present study, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the preparation conditions of biochar to obtain better quality biochar. The maximum fixed carbon, carbon, surface area, pore volume and pore size were predicted at the optimised preparation parameters of 450°C temperature and 50-100mm particle size. The objective of the present study is to evaluate and characterized the application of biochar of invasive weed Calotropis gigantea obtained under optimized parameters by vacuum and slow pyrolysis for one hour of reaction time. The biochar was characterized with the presence of high carbon content of 64.65%, and; low H/C and O/C molar ratio of 0.08 and 0.15 respectively. The surface of biochar was observed porous constituting mesoporous pore structure with remarkable high surface area of 99.91m2/g and pore volume of 0.0398cm3/g along with traces of minerals fractions such as K- 1.33%, Na- 1.17%, Mg- 1.05%. Strong FTIR bands observed at 1994.1 cm-1, 1110 cm-1, and 745 cm-1, representing allenes (R 2C=C=CR 2) , aryl alkyl ethers (R − O – R) and aromatic (C–H) bending. All these parameters indicate its potential in the application for carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation, environment pollutants adsorption (both organic and inorganic) and soil improvement.