bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on drug susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus and its correlation with virulence genes
Authors: Ji Xiaojuan , Lu Hongfei , Lu Jingfa , Ye Xiaoying , You Cong , Li Longnian
Published: August 2023

Aim
Staphylococcus aureus has become a common pathogen that causes hospital-acquired infections. This study aimed to investigate the drug resistance and virulence genes (mupA, fnbA, arcA, PVL, TSST, mecA, ermC, ermA) of Staphylococcus aureus from infectious patients in a tertiary hospital in China. Moreover, the levels of these genes in erythromycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates were performed.
Methods
From 2020 to 2022, 58 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients with clinical Staphylococcus aureus infection in the hospital were collected, and strain identification and susceptibility tests were performed by using VITEK 2 and supporting gram-negative bacteria identification cards. DNA was extracted using a DNA extraction kit and all genes were magnified using the polymerase chain reaction.
Results
A total of 58 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were detected in 58 wound and secretion specimens. MRSA isolates accounted for 48.3% and MSSA isolates accounted for 51.7%. The percentage of multidrug resistance (MDR) in Staphylococcus aureus isolates was 60.3%. Staphylococcus aureus was highly susceptible to ceftaroline, tigecycline, teicoplanin, vancomycin, daptomycin, and linezolid, while it was highly resistant to benzylpenicillin, clindamycin, erythromycin, and oxacillin. fnbA was the gene with the highest detection rate (100%), and arcA also had a higher detection rate (98.3%), followed by mecA (56%), TSST (46.6%), ermA (33.3%), mupA (27.6%), ermC (17.5%), and PVL (13.8%). There were significant differences in the distribution of mecA, ermC, and ermA in erythromycin-resistant and erythromycin-sensitive isolates (P < 0.05), and there were also statistically significant differences in resistance to oxacillin, sulfamethoxazole, levofloxacin, cefoxitin, and clindamycin (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
The incidence of infection caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus increases significantly with the prevalence of MRSA. The genes mecA, ermC, and ermA are virulence factors in antibiotic-resistant strains and are significantly associated with erythromycin. Erythromycin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is more susceptible to resistance to oxacillin, sulfamethoxazole, levofloxacin, cefoxitin, and clindamycin.
Modification of the winter North Atlantic jet stream due to anthropogenic climate change
Authors: Verger Alejandro Hermoso , Riviere Gwendal , Harvey Ben , Methven John , Schemm Sebastian
Published: August 2023

The North Atlantic jet stream has hardly shifted poleward over recent decades, nor has it weakened as suggested by arguments based solely on Arctic amplification. Instead, it has mostly remained in place and even strengthened for reasons under debate. Earth system models mostly fail to accurately predict this behavior of the North Atlantic jet stream. Here we show that an increase in diabatic heating beneath the jet entrance over east coast of North America affects the jet directly by modifying potential vorticity and the position of the tropopause and indirectly through an enhancement of eddy momentum flux convergence at the jet core as Rossby waves propagate meridionally away from their excitation region. The direct mechanism produces a local intensification and slight poleward shift of the jet entrance, while the indirect mechanism has an impact downstream, where there is an acceleration of the jet core and weaker westerlies along the jet flanks thereby reducing the jet width while establishing a tripolar pattern of change. A two-dimensional frontal-geostrophic simulation illustrates the direct mechanism whereby enhanced diabatic heating, associated with extratropical cyclones, intensifies the jet. Additionally, an idealised global warming experiment with a global circulation model confirms the role of baroclinicity and diabatic heating in setting the jet response to warming. Finally, using a fully-coupled Community Earth System Model ensemble forced with the SSP3-7.0 scenario, we show that uncertainty in the evolution of the North Atlantic jet is linked to the large spread in the position of the baroclinic trend. What emerges from the model hierarchy is a physically consistent explanation of the North Atlantic jet response to warming.
Establishment of a prognostic signature for hepatocellular carcinoma using disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs
Authors: Yang Yunchuan , Zhou Chi , Ma Xiang , Xu Nan , Ding Ding , Ma Zhongzheng , Liu Hao , Zhou Lei , Cui Peiyuan , Liu Mulin
Published: August 2023

Background
Disulfidptosis is a recently discovered form of programmed cell death that may be a new direction in tumor treatment. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, how disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DRLs) are involved in regulating HCC is not yet understood. This study aimed to establish a prognostic signature for DRLs and analyze their clinical value in patients with HCC.
Method
RNA sequencing, mutation, and clinically relevant data were collected from the Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). Univariate Cox analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, and multivariate Cox analysis were conducted to evaluate DRLs. On the basis of these analyses, a prognostic signature was developed. Subsequently, we validated the accuracy of this prognostic signature using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, C-index, survival curve, nomogram, and principal component analysis (PCA). Finally, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), tumor mutation burden (TMB) analysis, immune-related analysis, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) analysis, and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) predictions.
Results
A prognostic signature consisting of MKLN1-AS, TMCC1-AS1, AL603839.2, AC245060.7 and AL049840.3 was developed. This prognostic signature demonstrated reliable predictive capability for estimating the survival time of patients with HCC. We observed notable differences between the high- and low-risk groups in terms of immune cell population, immune function, TIDE, and IC50.
Conclusions
A new prognostic signature was developed based on the five DRLs to predict the prognosis of patients with HCC, which may be helpful for individualized therapeutic strategies.
Sex and gender correlates of sexually polymorphic cognition
Authors: Cartier Louis , Guérin Mina , Saulnier Fanny , Cotocea Ioana , Mohammedi Amine , Moussaoui Fadila , Kheloui Sarah , Juster Robert-Paul
Published: August 2023

Background: Sexually polymorphic cognition (SPC) results from the interaction between biological (birth-assigned sex (BAS), sex hormones) and sociocultural (gender identity, gender roles, sexual orientation) factors. The literature remains quite mixed regarding the magnitude of the effects of these variables. This project used a battery of classic cognitive tests designed to assess the influence of sex hormones on cognitive performance. At the same time, we aimed to assess the inter-related and respective effects that BAS, sex hormones, and gender-related factors have on SPC.
Methods: We recruited 222 adults who completed eight cognitive tasks that assessed a variety of cognitive domains during a 150-minute session. Subgroups were recruited as follows: cisgender heterosexual men (n = 46), cisgender non-heterosexual men (n = 36), cisgender heterosexual women (n = 36), cisgender non-heterosexual women (n = 38), gender diverse (n = 66). Saliva samples were collected before, during, and after the test to assess testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone. Psychosocial variables were derived from self-report questionnaires.
Results: Cognitive performance reflects sex and gender differences that are partially consistent with the literature. Interestingly, biological factors seem to better explain differences in male-typed cognitive tasks (e.g., spatial), while psychosocial factors seem to better explain differences in female-typed cognitive tasks (e.g., verbal).
Conclusion: Our results provide a solid foundation for better understanding SPC by going beyond BAS as a binary. We highlight the importance of treating sex as a biological factor and gender as a sociocultural factor together since they collectively influence SPC.
Smart ellipsometry with physics-informed deep learning
Authors: Liu Shiyuan , Chen Xiuguo , Liu Shuo
Published: August 2023

Ellipsometry is a century-old optical measurement technique extensively used to determine thicknesses and optical constants of thin films. Nevertheless, as ellipsometry is essentially an indirect characterization method, ellipsometry data analysis, which traditionally involves tedious and time-consuming human-expert intervention and requires adequate knowledge and experience to model the optical properties of film materials, has long been universally considered to be challenging. We proposed a smart ellipsometry network (SENet), with which optical constants satisfying the Kramers–Kronig relations can be achieved automatically without any prior knowledge of material optical properties. The proposed method was verified experimentally using a variety of thin films, with the materials covering metals, dielectrics and semiconductors in an ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared broad spectral range. Furthermore, our method demonstrated remarkable generalization capabilities in the analysis of thin films at different angles of incidence, in different spectral ranges, and prepared on different substrates from those in the generation of the training dataset. The developed method paves the way for ellipsometry as a general characterization technique that allows for the automatic, accurate, and fast determination of material optical properties.
Aspirin intervention before ICU admission reduced the mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: Results From the MIMIC-IV
Authors: Meng Yao , Lin Yi , Zhang Jia-wei , Zou Wen-li , Liu Yue-ming , Shen Xiao-gang , Shen Quan-quan , Wang Min-min , Shao Li-na , Feng Hong-yuan , Zhu Yan , Yu Jing-ting , Lin Bo , Zhu Bin
Published: August 2023

Background
Aspirin, with its pleiotropic effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet aggregation, has been widely used for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between the use of aspirin before the intensive care unit (ICU) and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) is unknown.
Methods
Patients with AKI in this retrospective observational study were selected from the Marketplace for Medical Information in Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV). The association between aspirin intervention and 30-day mortality was assessed using Cox proportional hazards model. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association of aspirin intervention with the risks of intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding and blood transfusion. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was adopted to balance the baseline variables. Sensitivity analysis was performed to validate the results by multiple interpolations for the missing data.
Results
The study included 4237 pre-ICU aspirin users and 9745 non-users. In multivariate models, we found a decreased risk of mortality in those who received aspirin before ICU compared to those who did not (hazard ratio [HR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.62–0.79; p < 0.001). This benefit was consistent in the post-PSM analyses, sensitivity analyses, and subgroup analyses. Moreover, aspirin intervention was associated with a reduced risk of intracranial hemorrhage and gastrointestinal bleeding (HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.10–0.25; p < 0.001; HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.38–0.88, p = 0.012) after being adjusted by relating covariates, whereas with a increased risk of blood transfusion (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.16–1.46; p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Patients with AKI treated with aspirin before ICU admission might have reduced 30-day mortality without increasing the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or gastrointestinal bleeding,but may increase the risk of transfusion.
Climate warming and nitrogen deposition had no significant interaction effect on litter decomposition of subtropical mountain forest in Southwest China
Authors: Li Yue , Wang Simeng , Wang Ying , Bu Menglong , Liu Shuai , Wu Chuansheng
Published: August 2023

Background and Aims
Litter decomposition is essential in the global carbon cycle, which is affected by environmental factors. Under the context of global warming and increasing nitrogen deposition, the responses of litter decomposition are unclear in subtropical forests.
Methods
Here, we carried out an interaction experiment of warming (3.3 oC) and nitrogen addition (50 kg ha− 1 yr− 1) and a recovery experiment (remove warming and nitrogen addition treatments) in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest for four years in total.
Results
The results showed that during the treatment period, warming, nitrogen addition, and their combination significantly decreased litter decomposition according to the k values by 35.8, 23.0, and 42.2%, respectively. However, there was no significant interaction between warming and nitrogen addition. Litter decomposition rates quickly returned to the same level during the two-year recovery period. Variance partitioning analysis (VPA) and covariance analysis (ANCOVA) simultaneously confirmed that warming and nitrogen addition significantly affected litter decomposition. VPA and ANCOVA also showed that soil temperature and water content significantly contributed to the decomposition rate in the treatment period.
Conclusions
This study suggests that warming and nitrogen addition significantly inhibit litter decomposition, but this effect is not sustainable.
Opposing effects of soil biota on a native plant shoot and root growth in the presence of a invasive competitor
Authors: Hao Zhou , Tang Xuefei , Wei Chunqiang , Gao Lunlun , Lu Xinmin
Published: August 2023

Aims: Soil biota can affect native and alien species differently, and consequentially promote or suppress alien species invasion. However, how soil biota influence the competition between native and alien species has rarely been explored. Methods: Here, our study tested how the rhizosphere biota of the invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides and its native congener A. sessile in China affected their competition with a greenhouse experiment.
Results: We found that soil biota, regardless from the rhizosphere of the native or the invasive plant, increased native plant total and shoot mass in the presence of the invasive plant but not in the presence of conspecific individual. Furthermore, soil biota from its own rhizosphere soils decreased native plant root mass in the presence of the invasive plant. Therefore, the native plant accumulated more shoot and total mass, but less root mass than the invasive plant only in the presence of soil biota.
Conclusions: Overall, our results highlight the importance of exploring the roles of soil biota in plant competition within a whole plant framework.
The impact of online parent-child communication quality on the social adaptation of left-behind children: The chain mediating role of parent-child relationship and resilience
Authors: Zhang Gen
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to explore the impact of online parent-child communication quality on the social adaptation of left-behind children, as well as the chain mediating role of parent-child relationship and resilience. A total of 539 left-behind children were surveyed using the Online Parent-child Communication Scale, Parent-Child Relationship Scale, Children Resilience Scale, and Children's Social Adaptation Scale. The results indicated that online parent-child communication quality positively predicted the social adaptation of left-behind children. Parent-child relationship mediated the relationship between online parent-child communication quality and social adaptation of left-behind children. Resilience mediated the relationship between online parent-child communication and social adaptation of left-behind children. Parent-child relationship and resilience had a chain-mediated role in the relationship between online parent-child communication and social adaptation of left-behind children. These findings contribute to understanding the impact of online parent-child communication quality on the social adaptation of left-behind children and its underlying mechanisms, providing important guidance for improving the social adaptation of left-behind children.
Prevalence and associated factors of prediabetes in Chinese inpatients with schizophrenia
Authors: Yi Wenying , Wu Haibo , Fu Weibin , Feng Huimei , Huang Jie , Li Haijing , Chen Yuwei , Zheng Yingjun , She Shenglin
Published: August 2023

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in patients with schizophrenia. Prediabetes is associated with an increased risk of developing T2DM. However, little is known about prediabetes in patients with schizophrenia. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of prediabetes among adult inpatients with schizophrenia in a large psychiatric hospital in China.
Methods: This retrospective observational study included adult inpatients with schizophrenia who were discharged from the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in 2019. Data were obtained from electronic records of this hospital. Prediabetes was defined as fasting blood glucose (FBG) 5.6–6.9 mmol/L or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 5.7%–6.4%. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the factors associated with prediabetes.
Results: A total of 1,725 inpatients with schizophrenia were included. The prevalence of prediabetes was 21.5%. The patients with prediabetes were older and had a longer duration of schizophrenia, fewer years of education, a higher prevalence of hypertension, a higher BMI, and higher levels of TG, TC and LDL-C than patients with normal glucose regulation. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension, age, BMI, and TG were significantly associated with prediabetes.
Conclusion: The prevalence of prediabetes was 21.5% in our study, which suggests that prediabetes is prevalent among schizophrenia inpatients in China. In addition, hypertension, age, BMI, and TG may be potential risk factors for prediabetes in patients with schizophrenia.
Designing a Robust and Efficient Routing Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Neyigapula Bheema Shanker
Published: August 2023

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) play a pivotal role in a wide range of appli- cations, including environmental monitoring, surveillance, and healthcare. This research paper presents the development and implementation of Dynamic Energy- efficient Adaptive Routing (DEAR), a novel and robust routing protocol for WSNs. DEAR combines hierarchical clustering and data-centric approaches to achieve energy efficiency, adaptability to dynamic topologies, and fault toler- ance. The paper provides an in-depth analysis of DEAR’s algorithmic design, implementation process using C + + on the NS-3 simulation framework, and the resolution of technical challenges faced during development. Through extensive simulations, DEAR is compared with existing protocols, demonstrating its supe- riority in terms of energy consumption, network lifetime, and packet delivery ratio. The paper’s technical depth and detailed evaluation highlight DEAR’s abil- ity to overcome limitations of traditional routing solutions, making it a promising candidate for enhancing the performance and reliability of WSNs in practical scenarios.
The role of bile acids in the increased incidence of colorectal cancer in cholecystectomized patients
Authors: Gál Eleonóra , Menyhárt István , Varga Mónika , Szekeres András , Ábrahám Szabolcs , Váczi Dániel , Vasas Béla , Tiszlavicz László , Szepes Zoltán , Hegyi Péter , Venglovecz Viktória
Published: August 2023

An increased incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been observed among cholecystectomized patients. However, the exact mechanism is not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of hepatic and gallbladder bile on normal and cancerous colon cells and to separately examine the effects of the most common bile acids (BAs). The concentrations of BAs in hepatic and gallbladder bile were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. The effects of bile and individual BAs (100, 300, 500, and 1000 µM) on the viability, proliferation, and metastatic potential of a normal cell line (FHC) and two adenocarcinoma (Caco-2 and FHC-116) cell lines were investigated using different cell assays. No difference was observed in the effects of hepatic and gallbladder bile on the proliferation of normal and adenocarcinoma cells. Among the BAs, taurine-conjugated BAs, especially taurocholic acid, time-dependently increased the proliferation of normal and adenocarcinoma cells and the metastatic potential of cancer cells. The study results showed that the increased risk of CRC in cholecystectomized patients is not due to bile composition changes, but elevated levels of taurine-conjugated BAs may contribute to the development or progression of CRC.
Progressive Increase of Brain Gray Matter Volume in Individuals with Regular Soccer Training
Authors: Li Ju , Cao Yaping , Huang Minghao , Qin Zhe , Lang Jian
Published: August 2023

The study aimed to investigate alterations in gray matter volume (GMV) in individuals undergoing regular soccer training, using high-resolution structural data, while also examining the temporal precedence of such structural alterations. Both voxel-based morphometry(VBM) and source-based morphometry(SBM) methods were employed to analyze volumetric changes in gray matter between the soccer and control groups. Additionally, a causal network of structural covariance(CaSCN) was constructed using granger causality analysis based structural data of training period ordering to assess the causal impact of on increased gray matter regions. Significant increases in gray matter volume were observed in the cerebellum in the soccer group. Additionally, the results of the SBM analysis revealed significant increases in gray matter volume in the calcarine and thalamus of the soccer group. The analysis of CaSCN demonstrated that the thalamus had a prominent influence on other brain regions in the soccer group, while the calcarine served as a transitional node, and the cerebellum acted as a prominent node that could be easily influenced by other brain regions. In conclusion, our study identified widely affected regions with increased gray matter volume in individuals with regular soccer training. Furthermore, a temporal precedence relationship among these regions was observed.
A Comprehensive Study of the Oncogenic Function of Claudin-18 in Various Human Cancers
Authors: Hou Xianbing , Chen Dandan , Wang Yao
Published: August 2023

A transmembrane protein called CLDN18 is stably expressed in the appropriate human tissues. Because CLDN18 expression varies significantly depending on the target tissues or cell types, dysregulated CLDN18 can have severe oncogenic effects. The study of CLDN18 and stomach cancer has been successful. It is unknown, though, what role CLDN18 plays biologically in pan-cancer. The functional features of CLDN18 in human malignancies and its function in the immune response are the subject of the first in-depth analysis we describe here. We conducted a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of CLDN18 using existing databases and the R language. Our findings suggest that CLDN18 may be a cancer biomarker. The immune microenvironment may be regulated by CLDN18 in conjunction with other immunological checkpoints, and it may also be used as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for particular malignancies.
Conflation Patterns of Vietnamese verbs A Cognitive Perspective
Authors: Toan Ly Ngoc
Published: August 2023

In order to represent complex events or conflation patterns, Vietnamese verbs that conflate are examined in this study for their semantic components. The lexicalization patterns presented by Talmy, L (2000), the semantic structure clarified by Jackendoff, R (1990), and the frame semantics postulated by Fillmore, C (1970) serve as the theoretical underpinnings of this study. This study sheds light on the blending of conceptual categories in Vietnamese verbs through empirical data. It focuses on the analysis of these conceptual categories, which include Action, Cause, Manner, Motion, Path, Perception, Position, and Location, within Vietnamese conflation patterns. The research investigates the combinability of these conceptual categories and provides a thorough comprehension of verb argument structures. It is anticipated that the analysis of Vietnamese conflation pattern typologies would add to the field's linguistic background. Examining conflation patterns also makes it easier to understand the underlying conceptualizations and cultural influences that influence language usage.
A multimodal mobility-on-demand service: dynamic rescheduling approach considering passenger-vehicle couplings
Authors: Zheng Hao , Guo Runhua , Zheng Han
Published: August 2023

Out of concern for the transport efficiency and sustainable development of city mobilities, both policymakers and commuters are calling for an integrated multimodal transportation network. Although the implementation of Mobility-on-demand (MoD) service should have been satisfying, the lack of corporation between different transit modes results in unsatisfying passenger experiences and low service efficiency. Multimodal MoD (MMOD) service is proposed to comprehensively utilize fixed-route public transit and demand-responsive transit resources for the integration of a multimodal transportation network. To formulate the MMoD, a service framework that periodically reassigns real-time orders and reschedules operational routes is proposed. To reduce the computational complexity, a passenger-vehicle routing model with multimodal transfers is constructed based on multilayer space-time networks for decoupling vehicle routes and passenger schedules. A column-generation algorithm is proposed to further reformulate, dualize, decompose and solve the primal problem of the aforementioned model. Toy example demonstrates that the proposed algorithm can yield a maximum of 60 times speed-up than that of the commercial solver Gurobi. Finally, by adjusting the passenger acceptance rate of rideshares and transfers under large-scale examples, we presented the sensitivity analysis taking the proportion of served passengers as the indicator of service efficiency. Experiments show that the passenger acceptance rate of ridesharing has a greater impact on the service efficiency.
Effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVC) on Bemisia tabaci eggs
Authors: O’Hearn Jonathan Scott
Published: August 2023

Bemisia tabaci, the silverleaf whitefly, is a serious pest, and vector for disease, in many agricultural crops. The current common control strategy for this pest is applications of chemical synthetic insecticides. Resistance to several insecticides has already been observed in this species. If non-chemical control options were available, their use could reduce the reliance of insecticides and help slow insecticide resistance in this whitefly. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is nonvisible radiation with wavelengths ranging from 100 nm to 400 nm. UVC, wavelengths 100 nm to 280 nm, has been found to have insecticidal properties. UVC radiation of wavelength 254 was tested on B. tabaci eggs at 2 different distances, 49.5 cm and 30.5 cm, and at 4 different times, 15 (s), 30 (s), 60 (s), and 90 (s) per distance to see what effect they had on the eggs of B. tabaci. All UVC applications tested had a significant reduction in hatching when compared to the control based on an analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA) and pos-hoc Tukey HSD test. LD50, LD90, and LD95 were calculated. At 49.5 cm irradiation times were found to be, LD50 = 31.8 (s), LD90 = 86.9 (s), and LD95 = 80.5 (s). For the 30.5 cm distance irradiation times were, LD50 = 19.2 (s), LD90 = 63.1 (s), and LD95 = 75.5 (s). This study shows that UVC might be a viable non-chemical control option for controlling B. tabaci.
Silicon via fertigation with and without potassium application, modulates plant water content, gas exchange, and growth of common beans cultivated in the field under different soil water levels
Authors: Gonzalez-Porras Carlos Vital , Teixeira Gelza Carliane Marques , Prado Renato de Mello , Ferreira Patrícia Messias , Palaretti Luiz Fabiano , Oliveira Kamilla Silva
Published: August 2023

Frequent droughts have led to an expansion of irrigated common bean cultivation areas. An effective strategy to enhance water use efficiency and optimize crop growth is the application of silicon (Si) and potassium (K). However, the interaction between Si dosage, water regimes, and plant potassium status, as well as the underlying physiological mechanisms, remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the effects of Si doses applied via fertigation under various water regimes, in the presence and absence of potassium fertilization, on gas exchange, water use efficiency, and growth of bean crops in field conditions. Two experiments were conducted, one with and one without K supply, with the same treatments evaluated in both experiments. The treatments comprised a 3x4 factorial design, encompassing three water regimes: 80% (no deficit), 60% (moderate water deficit), and 40% (severe water deficit) of soil water retention capacity, and four doses of Si supplied via fertigation: 0, 4, 8, and 12 kg ha− 1. The optimal doses of Si for fertigation application, leading to increased Si absorption in plants, varied with decreasing soil water content. The respective values were 6.6, 7.0, and 7.1 kg ha− 1 for the water regimes without deficit, with moderate water deficit, and with severe water deficit. Fertigation application of Si improved plant conditions, particularly under severe water deficit, regardless of potassium status. This improvement was evident in relative water content, leaf water potential, and membrane resistance, directly impacting pigment content and gas exchange rates. The physiological effects resulted in enhanced photosynthesis in water-deficient plants, mitigating dry mass production losses. This research demonstrates, for the first time in this species, the potential use of Si in irrigated crops to enhance irrigation efficiency in areas limited by low precipitation and water scarcity. Given the global implications of climate change and the increased frequency of droughts, these findings are significant.
Assessment of hospital arrival time and associated factors of patients with acute ischemic stroke to introduce thrombolytic therapy at Jimma Medical Center, Jimma, Ethiopia
Authors: Bejiga Yonas Damtew , Geleta Megersa Negesa , Asefa Elsah Tegene , Tukeni Kedir Negesso
Published: August 2023

Background: Background: Acute ischemic stroke is one of acute cerebrovascular emergencies that require timely medical intervention. Thrombolytic therapy is an important treatment option, but its effectiveness dependents on prompt hospital arrival. This study was aimed to assess the arrival time and associated factors of these patients, with the objective of providing thrombolytic therapy.
Methodology: a hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1st to January 30, 2023. All patients diagnosed with Acute Ischemic Stroke during the study period were included. Data was collected using questionnaires and entered into Epi-data for analysis. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used to see relationships between variables.
Results: Among 112 patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke, male accounts for 55.3%, with mean age of 61.75±10.7 years. Most of the study participants didn’t have health insurance coverage. Only few numbers of patients recognized the symptoms of stroke and sought immediate medical attention. The median time between symptom onset and arrival was 33 hours and 29 minutes. Level of education ([aOR]: 8.8; 95%, [CI]: 1.6-49.2; p=0.013), Misinterpretation of the symptoms (aOR: 4.53; 95% CI: 1.37-16.75; p=0.001) and lack of health insurance (aOR: 14.4; 95% CI: 2.2-90.9; p=0.005) was related with longer time of arrival and pre-hospital delay.
Conclusion: The time of arrival for patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke was longer. Level of education, Misinterpretation of the symptoms, and lack of public health insurance were related with longer time of arrival and pre-hospital delay.
Evaluating YOLO-based Object Detectors for Detecting Road-Killed Endangered Brazilian Animals
Authors: Ferrante Gabriel , Nakamura Luis Vasconcelos , Sampaio Sandra , Filho Geraldo , Meneguette Rodolfo
Published: August 2023

Wildlife roadkill is a recurring, dangerous problem that affects both humans and animals and has received increasing attention from environmentalists worldwide. Addressing this problem is difficult due to the high investments required in road infrastructure to effectively reduce wildlife vehicle collisions. Despite recent applications of machine learning techniques in low-cost and economically viable detection systems, e.g., for alerting drivers about the presence of animals and collecting statistics on endangered animal species, the success and wide adoption of these systems depend heavily on the availability of data for system training. The lack of training data negatively impacts the feature extraction of machine learning models, which is crucial for successful animal detection and classification. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of several state-of-the-art object detection models on limited data for model training. The selected models are based on the YOLO architecture, which is well-suited for and commonly used in real-time object detection. These include the YoloV4, Scaled-YoloV4, YoloV5, YoloR, YoloX, and YoloV7 models. We focus on Brazilian endangered animal species and use the BRA-Dataset for model training. We also assess the effectiveness of data augmentation and transfer learning techniques in our evaluation. The models are compared using summary metrics such as precision, recall, mAP, and FPS and are qualitatively analyzed considering classic computer vision problems. The results show that the architecture with the best results against false negatives is Scaled-YoloV4, while the best FPS detection score is the nano version of YoloV5.
A new index based on solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence and land surface temperature to monitor drought
Authors: Zhang Zhaoxu , Sun Yuanheng , Shi Zhenwei , Xu Wei , Zhan Tianyu
Published: August 2023

Drought is a frequent global phenomenon. The occurrence of drought can affect the production of industry, agriculture and economic growth. Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence is a by-product of photosynthesis that can be used to monitor vegetation growth and drought. Traditional drought monitoring generally used solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence anomalies and rarely used solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to establish an index. This study integrated solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence and land surface temperature to establish a new solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence drought index (SIF_DI). The new SIF_DI was subsequently used for monitoring drought in Huang-Huai-Hai plain from 2000 to 2018. Results showed that SIF_DI had negative correlation with areas affected by drought. In Hebei, Henan and Shandong provinces, the correlation coefficients were − 0.79, -0.54 and − 0.76 respectively. SIF_DI had positive correlation with crop yields (wheat and maize). The correlation coefficients were 0.47, 0.61, 0.32 (wheat) and 0.69, 0.49, 0.36 (maize) respectively. All correlation coefficients surpassed those calculated using vegetation health index. Subsequently, the SIF_DI was applied to long-term drought monitoring during the crop growing season in Huang-Huai-Hai plain. This investigation proved that the new index calculated using solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence is a reliable and effective indicator for monitoring and assessing drought.
Geochemical characteristics and influencing factors of dissolved rare earth elements in rivers of coal-grain composite areas in eastern China
Authors: Hu Mingyu , Jiang Chunlu , Xia Xiang , Li Yanan
Published: August 2023

Rare earth elements are widely used in the study of source tracing and geochemical characteristics, which can reflect the degree of influence of human activities on water environment. In order to reveal the additive effects of various human activities on the geochemical characteristics of rare earth elements in the surface water environment, the content of rare earth elements in the surface river water in the coal-grain complex area of eastern China was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that all water samples were alkaline, ΣREE content ranged from 0.18 ~ 0.88 µg·L-1, with an average value of 0.28 µg·L-1. All of the water samples showed significant enrichment of light rare earth elements due to a combination of natural processes and external inputs. The spatial distribution and fractionation characteristics of rare earth elements show that rare earth elements (especially Ce) are prone to adsorption/complexation reactions with colloidal particles, resulting in their removal from water, Eu anomaly is related to plagioclase crystallization and human activities (coal development, agricultural production, urbanization process), and Gd anomaly is only related to human activities. The research results can provide scientific reference for revealing the distribution of rare earth elements and geochemical environmental behavior in surface water environment under the superimposed influence of various human activities.
First Report of Carrot Cyst Nematode Heterodera carotae Jones 1950 from a New Host Brassica oleracea var. viridis L. in Türkiye: Comporation of Morphological and Morphometrical Characters with World Populations
Authors: GUVERCIN Bugra , AKYAZI Faruk
Published: August 2023

In October 2021, root and soil samples were collected from cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. viridis L.) growing fields in the Black Sea region of Turkiye. Cyst forming nematodes were detected in soil and root samples. Cysts were extracted from soil using Cobb’s sieving method. Obtained nematodes were subjected to morphological and molecular analysis. For molecular analysis, the ribosomal DNA region spanning the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) gene and D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) were amplified using primer sets TW81/AB28 and D2A/D3B, respectively. Also, Cytochrome Oxidase I (cox1) region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) using species-specific primer set (Car-F/Car-R) were used to clarify the identification. PCR product was sequenced and then compared with sequences of Heterodera species available in the GenBank database. The NCBI BLAST analysis of Turkiye population sequences showed 99.82% similarity with Heterodera carotae Jones 1950 sequences registered in GenBank. The newly obtained sequences were submitted to the GenBank database under accession number OP602412.1. The present study includes scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of the external morphology of the cyst cone, second stage juvenile and male. The results obtained from morphological and molecular studies showed that the cysts nematode population was H. carotae. This is the first report of H. carotae detected in Türkiye.
Prognosis of different bone metastases patterns in EGFR-mutant advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients
Authors: Peng Jin , Hu Fang , Mao Xiaowei , Niu Yanjie , Ma Meili , Jiang Liyan
Published: August 2023

Introduction
Bone metastases at initial diagnosis of lung cancer was associated with worse prognosis, compared with non-bone metastases. However, whether there was survival difference in different bone metastases patterns between bone metastases without extrathoracic metastases (BM), simultaneous bone metastases and other extrathoracic metastases (BMM) in real-world setting was unclear.
Methods
Advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients with initial bone metastases who receiving first-line first-generation Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) and EGFR T790M guided Osimertinib as second-line therapy were retrospectively screened. The first-line real-world progression-free survival (1LrwPFS), second-line real-world progression-free survival (2LrwPFS), post-progression survival (PPS) and real-world overall survival (rwOS) were evaluated.
Results
A total of 126 patients were enrolled. Patients with BMM had worse rwOS (35.2 months vs. 42.9 months, HR = 0.512, P = 0.005) and shorter 2LrwPFS (12.8months vs. 17.0 months, HR = 0.575, P = 0.011), compared with BM group. There was no statistically significant difference in 1LrwPFS (12.7months vs. 14.0months, HR = 0.838, P = 0.333) and PPS (10.6 months vs. 6.2months, HR = 0.731, P = 0.152) between BM and BMM group. Linear regression and Spearman rank correlation analysis demonstrated 2LrwPFS was strongly correlated with rwOS (r = 0.621, P = 0.000, R2 = 0.568). In multivariate analysis, patients with BMM (P = 0.002), performance status(PS) score ≥ 2 (P ＜0.001) and TP53 alteration positive (P = 0.003) were independent prognostic factors of worse rwOS.
Conclusion
Different bone metastases patterns had different survival outcome. In addition, 2LrwPFS had a high impact on rwOS for EGFR-mutant advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients receiving first-line first-generation EGFR-TKI and Osimertinib as second-line therapy.
Contemporary Definitions of Infant Growth Failure and Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Outcomes in Extremely Premature Infants at Two Years of Age
Authors: Strobel Katie , Wood Thomas , Valentine Gregory , German Kendell , Gogcu Semsa , Hendrixson D , Kolnik Sarah , Law Janessa , Mayock Dennis , Comstock Bryan , Heagerty Patrick , Juul Sandra
Published: August 2023

Introduction:
The association of 2-year neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes with in-hospital or post-discharge growth failure (GF) using contemporary definitions for preterm infants is unknown.
Methods
In a secondary analysis of a preterm cohort, changes in anthropometric z-scores were examined between birth and hospital discharge, and from discharge to 2 years. The 2-year evaluation included Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-III) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).
Results
Among 629 infants, accelerated linear growth from birth to discharge was associated with higher BSID-III cognitive scores (+ 3.2 points [IQR 0.02, 6.4]) while in-hospital GF was not associated with any outcomes. Infants with weight GF after discharge had lower BSID-III motor scores (-3.1 points [-5.9, -0.2]). Infants with accelerated weight growth after discharge had increased odds of behavioral problems on the CBCL (aOR 1.9 [1.03, 3.5]).
Discussion
In-hospital and post-hospitalization growth metrics are modestly associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes with length gains apparently most beneficial.
Does Robotic Assisted Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Restore Native Jointline More accurately than with Conventional Instruments?
Authors: S Ashok Kumar P , pawar Sawankumar , Kanniyan Kalaivanan , patil Shantanu , Pichai Suryanarayan , bose Vijay
Published: August 2023

Aim:
The study's primary aim is the restoration of native joint line in patients having robotic-assisted unicondylar knee Arthroplasty and conventional unicondylar knee Arthroplasty. Literature in the past has demonstrated that reducing the joint line can result in greater failure rates.
Methods:
This is a Prospective cohort investigation of patients who had medial UKA between March 2017 and March 2022.All patient’s preoperative and postoperative radiological joint line assessments were examined by two observers by Weber's methods. Robotic-assisted UKA performed with hand-held image-free robots was compared to conventional UKA groups.
Results
The distal position of the femoral component was higher in Group B utilizing conventional tools than in Group A employing robotic-assisted UKA. This positional difference was statistically significant. The mean difference among the pre-operative and post-operative joint lines in Group A was 1.6 ± 0.49 (range 0.8mm to 2.4mm), while it was 2.47 ± 0.51 (range 1.6mm to 3.9mm) (p 0.005) in Group B. In Group A, a greater percentage of the subjects (64%) attained a femoral component position within two millimeters from the joint line, whereas just 18% in Group B did.
Conclusion
When compared with the conventional UKA technique, the meticulous attention to detail and planning for ligament rebalancing when using the Robotic-assisted UKA technique not solely enhance surgical precision for implant placing but additionally provides excellent native joint line restoration and balancing. For validation of its longevity and survivability, the cohort must be tracked for a longer period of time.
IRW prevents diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by preserving mitochondrial content and enhancing hepatic fatty acid oxidation capacity
Authors: Zani Stepheny C. de Campos , Berg Emily , Jiang Xu , Knox Alexandra , Ackroyd Evan , Getachew Aaron , Wu Jianping , Chan Catherine B
Published: August 2023

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, remains without approved pharmacological treatment, with lifestyle modifications being the first line of therapy. Alternative approaches, including food-derived bioactive peptides can aid in the management of metabolic conditions including hypertension, obesity and insulin resistance. IRW is a tripeptide produced from the egg white protein ovotransferrin with angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitory properties. Previous studies reveal that IRW supplementation elicits antihypertensive effects, improves skeletal muscle insulin signaling and glucose tolerance, while reducing BW gain. In this study, we hypothesized that IRW45 supplementation would prevent high-fat diet-induced NAFLD by modulating hepatic lipid metabolism and preserving mitochondrial content. We found that IRW45 prevents diet-induced NAFLD, while rosiglitazone (ROSI) treatment worsens it. IRW45 decreases hepatic triglyceride content and lipid droplet size compared to HFD and ROSI. This is accompanied by a trend to increase hepatic Ppargc1a gene expression and increase Cd36 compared to HFD. Moreover, IRW45 increases the hepatic mitochondrial complexes, p-AMPKα and has a trend to increase p-ACC abundance compared to HFD. Therefore, IRW45 prevents diet-induced NAFLD, in part by preserving mitochondrial content and increasing hepatic lipid oxidation capacity.