bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender Inequality in the Medical Profession: the Women Doctors in Spain (Womeds) Study
Authors: Santucci Claudia , López-Valcarcel Beatriz González , Avendaño-Solá Cristina , Bautista Mari Carmen , Pino Carmen Gallardo , García Lourdes Lledó , Martín-Perez Elena , López Pilar Garrido
Published: January 2023

Background
The WOmen in MEDicine in Spain (WOMEDS) project (https://womeds.es) aims to detect and measure possible gender bias in different settings of the medical profession in Spain, monitor its evolution over time, and propose measures to reduce it.
Methods
We collected primary data for the calendar year 2019-2021, retrieved from several sources, and selected surveys. We built four groups of leadership position indicators: i) health care according to specialty and region, ii) scientific and professional bodies (presidents and board members of scientific societies, guest speakers at medical congresses according to specialty, medical councils by region) iii) academic career (dean, department head, full and associated professors); and iv) research career (application/concession/financial amount of national projects with public funding). We analyze data using female ratios, calculated as the percentage of women in specific top positions divided by the percentage of women in the relevant population.
Results
We found a gender bias in all four settings. Disparities emerged both in medical staff and head positions. During the observed period, 76.6% of the presidents of FACME member medical societies were men and only 3 annual congresses had ratios of women speakers higher than 1. Women were over-represented in the lower groups and under-represented in the top academic positions. Only 26% and 27% respectively of the heads of departments and deans were women. The applications for public funding for research projects are led by women in 45% of the cases, with a strikingly low percentage in some modalities of research calls. The budget granted to women in public calls was 24.3% lower than that of men.
Conclusion
In all the areas analyzed, the leadership positions are still mostly occupied by men despite the feminization of medicine. The severe gender bias found calls for urgent interventions within a defined time horizon. Such measures must concern all levels, from national or regional regulation to changes in organizational culture or incentives in specific organizations. We hope that the WOMEDS project will contribute to making the problem visible for organizations to react proactively.
Effects of acid pretreatment of copper granules recovered from waste printed circuit board on product purity and impurities introduced in electrolytic system
Authors: Li zhijian , Wang Wei , Jiang Long-jin , CHANG Zhidong , Ma Xiping , Luo Xin
Published: January 2023

In order to extend the duration of the electrolyte solution in which copper granules recovered from waste printed circuit board are refined through electrolysis to obtain copper with high purity and which is contaminated by the accumulation of metallic impurities along with the refinery of waste printed circuit board, the leaching and electrowinning processes are used to pretreat the copper granules. The effects of impurities of copper granules as well as H2SO4 mole ratio, leaching temperature, liquid to solid ratio, and operation time on the removing efficiencies of Zn, Sn, Fe, and Al, were studied. The results showed that more than 95% of impurities can be removed when the mole ratio of impurities to H2SO4 was 1:4, the temperature was 70°C, the liquid-solid ratio was 20 mL/g, along with the leaching time of 180 min. After 1440 min electrolysis of the pretreated granules with the electric current density of 40 mA/cm2, the purity of refined copper maintained at 99% in contrast with 95% which copper granules are without pretreatment. The maximal concentration of the accumulated ions of impurities is less than 60 mg/L, which suggests the sulfuric acidic pretreatment is a promising approach to increase the duration of the electrolyte solution.
URI alleviates tyrosine kinase inhibitors-induced ferroptosis by reprogramming lipid metabolism in p53 wild-type liver cancers.
Authors: Ding Zhi-wen , Pan Yu-Fei , Shang Taiyu , Jiang Tian-Yi , Lin Yun-Kai , Yang Chun , Pang Shujie , Cui Xiao-Wen , Wang Yixiu , Feng Xiaofan , Xu Mengyou , Pei Mengmiao , Chen Yibin , Li Xin , Ding Jin , Tan Ye-Xiong , Wang Hongyang , Dong Li-Wei , Wang Lu
Published: January 2023

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)-based systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has only limited clinical benefit and reaches a bottleneck due to its drug resistance. Here, through whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) and lipidomic analysis, we uncover that lipid metabolism reprogramming mediated by unconventional prefoldin RPB5 interactor (URI) endows HCC with resistance to TKIs-induced ferroptosis. Mechanistically, URI directly interacts with TRIM28 and promotes p53 ubiquitination and degradation in a TRIM28-MDM2 dependent manner. Importantly, we find that p53 binds to the promoter of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1) and represses its transcription. Therefore, high expression of URI is correlated with high level of SCD1 and their synergetic expression predicts poor prognosis and TKIs resistance in HCC. The combination of SCD1 inhibitor aramchol and deuterated sorafenib derivative donafenib displays promising anti-tumor effects in xenografted models of wild-type p53 liver cancer cell lines. This combination therapy has potential significant clinical benefits for the patients with advanced HCC who have wild-type p53 and high levels of URI/SCD1.
NLRP3 inflammasome-IL-1β-IL-1R1 signaling pathway is involved in surgery- induced neuroinflammation in mice
Authors: Jiang Xin , Liu Yuanyuan , Ren Yi , Wang Rui , Wang Ting , Guo Mixue , Zhang Caixia , Qu Baofu , Wang Hao , Ma Gang
Published: January 2023

OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have shown that the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and associated IL-1β/IL-1R1 pathway plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of inflammation-induced impairment of diverse diseases, inflammation-induced pulmonary fibrosis pathological process. However, the impact of NLRP3 inflammasome-IL-1β-IL-1R1 signaling pathway in surgery-induced neuroinflammation still remains unknown.
METHODS
Firstly, male C57BL/6J mice were adopted to randomly devided into control group and different time point group (0.5h, 6h, 12h, 18h, 24h) after surgery treated with carotid artery exploration surgery. Moreover, to further investigate the effect of blockage of NLRP3, 4 groups including control group, surgery group, surgery + AAV group and surgery + NEG group, were added to our experiments. After the surgery, the levels of proteins related to the NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1R1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in diverse groups were measured by immunofluorescence assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Microglia and monocytes were separately determined by flow cytometry. The pathological changes in the brain were detected by Nissl staining.
RESULTS
Peripheral surgery resulted in monocyte activation and an increase in the expression of IL-1β in the circulatory system. IL-1R1, NLRP3, activated caspase-1 (caspase-1 P10), IL-1β, and IL-18 were upregulated in the hippocampus. Subsequently, the expression of microglia cells considerably increased and neuronal damage was observed. These effects were attenuated by AAV-NLRP3 treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
The peripheral surgery induced an increase of IL-1β, IL-1R1, NLRP3, and neuron injury in the hippocampus, inhibiting the expression of NLRP3 can alleviate inflammatory factors expression and neuron damage. We assumed that there is a feedback mechanism about IL-1β-IL-1R1-NLRP3 inflammasome existing in the brain after peripheral surgery.
Application of triangular duct in solar assisted air-heating system with surface roughness: A numerical investigation
Authors: Kumar Rajneesh , Re Palvai Srinivas , Kharub Majneet , Bharadwaj Gaurav
Published: January 2023

A solar air heater is a simple device designed to collect solar radiation for air heating purpose and the heated air can further be used for space heating, drying, etc. The conventional air heater (solar assisted) has poor performance and with this work an attempt has been made to improve its performance by providing surface roughness over the heated surface. The roughness employed over the surface has elliptical cavity and its dimensions and placement over the heated surface is defined with the dimensionless parameters (relative cavity depth; Dd, relative crosswise distance; Dc, and relative flow-wise distance; Df which varied from 0.016 to 0.038, 6-14, and 6 to 14, respectively). A CFD code has been development and validated with the experimental results to do the parametric analysis for understand the effect of proposed surface roughness on the performance of air-heater. It is concluded that the proposed surface roughness promotes the local turbulence, flow separation, and strong vortices in the flow-field with resulted comparatively higher thermal performance in the proposed air-heater. But, this higher thermal performance achieved at the expense of higher pressure loss in the passage. The augmentation of heat increases substantially by 2.57 times at the expanse of 2.3 times increase in pressure at relative cavity depth (Dd); relative crosswise distance (Ds); and relative flow-wise distance (Dl) of 0.038, 10, and 10, respectively. However, the overall performance is 1.75 times higher in the proposed air-heater in comparison to the conventional designs.
Graph deep learning accelerated efficient crystal structure search and feature extraction
Authors: Wei Su-Huai , Li Chuannan , Liang Hanpu , Zhang Xie , Lin Zijing
Published: January 2023

Structural search and feature extraction are a central subject in modern materials design, the efficiency of which is currently limited, but can be potentially boosted by machine learning (ML). Here, we develop an ML-based prediction-analysis framework, which includes a symmetry-based combinatorial crystal optimization program (SCCOP) and a feature additive attribution model, to significantly reduce computational costs and to extract property-related structural features. Our method is highly accurate and predictive, and extracts structural features from desired structures to guide materials design. As a case study, we apply our new approach to a two-dimensional B-C-N system, which identifies 28 previously undiscovered stable structures out of 82 compositions; our analysis further establishes the structural features that contribute most to energy and bandgap. Compared to conventional approaches, SCCOP is about 10 times faster while maintaining a comparable accuracy. Our new framework is generally applicable to all types of systems for precise and efficient structural search, providing new insights into the relationship between ML-tracted structural features and physical properties.
Factors for not performing total body skin examinations in primary care in association with teledermoscopy
Authors: Ingvar Jonas , Nielsen Kari , Ingvar Åsa
Published: January 2023

Purpose
To investigate factors related to omitted total body skin examination (TBSE) in skin cancer diagnostics while managing patients using teledermoscopy (TDS) in Swedish primary care.
Methods
4,987 TDS referrals from primary care centers were analyzed to identify factors associated with failing to perform TBSE. Data collected included age, gender of patient and physician, and reason for visit. Logistic regression was used to test the association between the variables and risk for failing to complete a TBSE.
Results
The risk for omitted TBSE is higher in older patients, females, patients whose primary reason for seeking care was not specifically for a complete skin check, and with female physician. Patients > 80 years had more than four times increased risk not to undergo TBSE compared to the youngest (< 30 y). The strongest correlation to omitting TBSE was with other reason for primary care visit than “skin check”. Male gender of the patient and being examined by male physicians decreased the risk of omitted TBSE by 20% and 30%, respectively. There was no evidence of interaction between the gender of the patient and physician.
Conclusion
Since TDS reduces the opportunities to have a TBSE by dermatologists, the standard management of patients with suspicious skin lesions in primary care must be revised and evidence-based. TBSE is strongly recommended for patients with increased risk of skin cancer, for example old male persons with fair skin and a history of skin cancer, when managing them with TDS.
Fatostatin promotes anti-tumor immunity by reducing SREBP2 mediated cholesterol metabolism in tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes
Authors: Zhu Lei , Shi Yilin , Feng Zhelong , Yuan Dingyi , Guo Shiduo , Wang Yuxia , Shen Haowen , Li Yan , Wang Yajing
Published: January 2023

Aberrant lipid metabolism affects intratumoral T cells mediated immune response and tumor growth. Fatostatin, a chemical inhibitor of sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) activation was found that it can inhibit cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration, G2/M phase arrest under SREBP-dependent processes and block mitotic cell division not depending on the SREBPs mediated lipogenesis. However, the complicated intervention effect of fatostatin on lipids metabolism in the TME, and its influence on anti-tumor immunity of T cells remains unclear. Here we found that fatostatin effectively inhibited the growth of B16 melanoma, MC38 colon cancer, and Lewis lung cancer (LLC) transplanted tumor in mice through reducing SREBPs mediated lipids metabolism in the tumor tissue, especially cholesterol levels. The effects of fatostatin on the overall metabolic level of TME mainly focus on tryptophan metabolism, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism. Mechanically, fatostatin decreased intracellular cholesterol accumulation and inhibited XBP1-mediated ER stress, thereby suppressing the proportion of Treg cells and CD8+ T cells exhaustion in the TME, exerting an anti-tumor function. Our study suggests that targeting SREBP2-mediated cholesterol metabolism could be a potential strategy for anti-tumor immunotherapy and confirmed the application potential of fatostatin in tumor immunotherapy.
Superconductivity in Twisted Double Bilayer Graphene Stabilized by WSe2
Authors: Folk Joshua , Su Ruiheng , Kuiri Manabendra , Taniguchi Takashi , Watanabe Kenji
Published: January 2023

Identifying the essential components of superconductivity in graphene-based systems remains a critical problem in 2D-materials research, connecting this field to the mysteries that underpin investigations of unconventional superconductivity throughout condensed-matter physics. Superconductivity has been previously observed in magic-angle twisted stacks of monolayer graphene but conspicuously not in twisted stacks of bilayer graphene, although both systems host topological flat bands and symmetry-broken states. Here, we report the discovery of superconductivity in twisted double bilayer graphene (TDBG) in proximity to WSe2. Samples with twist angles 1.24° and 1.37° superconduct in small pockets of the gate-tuned phase diagram within the valence and conduction band, respectively. Superconductivity emerges from unpolarized states near van Hove singularities and next to regions with broken isospin symmetry, showing the correlation between a high density of states and the emergence of superconductivity in TDBG while revealing a possible role for isospin fluctuations in the pairing.
Inverse relationship between Parkinson’s disease and cancer in Korea: a longitudinal study of a national health screening cohort
Authors: Kim Ji Hee , Kim So Young , Choi Hyo Geun , Kim Yoo Hwan , Kwon Mi Jung , Kim Joo-Hee , Lee Heui Seung
Published: January 2023

Background: Despite growing epidemiological evidence, the relationship between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and cancer has not been conclusively demonstrated, and related studies are scarce in the Asian population.
Objectives: We aimed to determine the association between PD and subsequent development of various cancers from longitudinal data of a representative sample of Korean adults aged ≥40 years.
Methods: We retrospectively identified 8,381 patients diagnosed with PD from 2002 to 2019 using claims data among 514,866 people of random samples from the Korean National Health Insurance database. We sampled 33,524 age-, sex-, income-, and residential area-matched participants without PD from the same database. The longitudinal associations between PD and overall cancers, as well as 10 common types of cancer, were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis.
Results: The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of all cancer types was 0.63 (95% confidence interval = 0.57-0.69) in patients with PD compared with matched controls. The aHRs of gastric, thyroid, colorectal, lung, hepatic, and pancreatic cancer and hematological malignancy was 0.69 (0.56-0.85), 0.60 (0.39-0.93), 0.56 (0.44-0.70), 0.71 (0.58-0.84), 0.64 (0.48-0.86), 0.37 (0.23-0.60), and 0.56 (0.36-0.87), respectively. The associations of bladder, gallbladder and biliary duct, and kidney cancer with PD were not statistically significant.
Conclusions: Our findings show that the inverse association with overall cancer and most cancer types in patients with PD. These inverse associations and their pathogeneses merits further investigation.
Designing an Expert System for Ranking Facial Attractiveness Based on Deep Learning and Fuzzy Inference System
Authors: Moridani Mohammad Karimi , Behbahani Soroor , Nejati Foojan ‎
Published: January 2023

Objective:
A wide range of social consequences is attributed to face preferences, from mate choices and decisions about social relationships to hiring decisions, including fashion modeling and marketing issues. This paper aims to design and develop an expert system based on the fuzzy inference system (FIS) for ranking facial attractiveness.
Methods:
Firstly, we reviewed the research on facial attractiveness and found that most papers do not use an expert system to rate the facial attractiveness of people. Therefore, this study used a deep learning method using a convolutional neural network (CNN) to recognize attractive faces. Then, with the help of the rules of the fuzzy inference system, an expert model was designed for ranking facial attractiveness.
Results:
We demonstrated that the combination of FIS and CNN is highly effective and excellent at ranking facial attractiveness. Our method performs better than other methods we have investigated in a small amount of data. The mean and standard deviation values of sensitivity, specificity, precision, and accuracy of the proposed model for detecting attractive and unattractive faces were 99.46±0.03%, 99.35±0.01%, 98.99±0.02%, and 99.7±0.01%, respectively. In addition, we have obtained a mean prediction accuracy for ranking facial attractiveness as 99.53+0.06%.
Conclusion:
We designed an expert ranking system for facial attractiveness to rank different faces according to facial structure features. As a result of our approach, we could also provide a deeper understanding of how FIS and CNN can recognize ranking facial attractiveness.
Observation of the Griffiths phase in the hyperkagome antiferromagnet Mn3RhSi in the absence of disorder
Authors: Shamoto Shin-ichi , Iida Kazuki , Ikeuchi Kazuhiko , Yamauchi Hiroki , Hall Amelia , Chen Yu-Sheng , Lee Min Kai , Balakrishnan Geetha , Chang Lieh-Jeng
Published: January 2023

The disorder has been believed to be a necessary ingredient in the Griffiths phase, which usually forms a ferromagnetic cluster in the paramagnetic state above the magnetic long-range order temperature. However, we found that the Griffiths phase behavior appears as a magnetic short-range order in a paramagnetic state of a hyperkagome antiferromagnet Mn3RhSi without any disorder over a wide temperature range of approximately 500 K. Here, neutron scattering investigations of the magnetic Griffiths phase in a single crystal of Mn3RhSi reveal the fluctuating magnetic cluster forms a spiral spin structure different from the Néel state. This finding suggests that the magnetic Griffiths phase becomes stable in the paramagnetic state of the hyperkagome lattice without any disorders.
Effect of lamellar keratoplasty after pre-Descemet’s membrane suture healing of acute corneal hydrops
Authors: bai jie , Liu Chang , Li Shaowei , Zhao Lin , Li Ling , Song Wenxiu , Hu Luping
Published: January 2023

Background: This study aimed to observe the effect of lamellar keratoplasty (LK) after pre-Descemet’s membrane (pre-DM) suture healing of acute corneal hydrops (ACH).
Methods: In a retrospective noncomparative case series, 11 patients (11 eyes) with ACH, who underwent pre-DM suture combined with intracameral air injection in the acute stage, underwent LK when the oedema subsided. During surgery, the diseased cornea was stripped layer by layer, and a mild scar in the deep stroma occasionally remained. The age, sex, diagnosis, scope of acute corneal oedema, size and location of scar after oedema healing, operation interval, postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), astigmatism, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.
Results: The average follow-up time was 15.45 ± 8.54 months (6–30 months). The average time from corneal suture to LK was 41.91 ± 36.39 days. After LK, the BCVA was 0.52 ± 0.18 (0.15–0.8), astigmatism on the front surface of corneal topography was 5.63 ± 1.28 D, and apparent optometry CYL was -4.50 ± 1.87 D. The central corneal thickness was 552.81 ± 62.81 μm (449–637 μm). Microperforation occurred in two cases. No other complications occurred in any patients until the last follow-up.
Conclusions: LK can be performed earlier after the pre-DM suture of ACH. The combination of the two can shorten the overall course of the disease, significantly improve vision, and avoid the complications of penetrating keratoplasty.
Implementing a nurse-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy intervention to reduce the impact of hot flushes/night sweats in women with breast cancer: A qualitative process evaluation of the MENOS4 trial
Authors: Boxall Cherish , Fenlon Deborah , May Carl , Nuttall Jacqui , Hunter Myra S.
Published: January 2023

Background: Hot flushes and night sweats are life-altering symptoms experienced by many women after breast cancer treatment. A randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to explore the effectiveness of breast care nurse (BCN)-led group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This paper reported findings from a qualitative process evaluation to optimise the CBT intervention and explore the determinants of implementation into routine practice.
Methods: Qualitative process evaluation occurred in parallel with the RCT to explore patient and healthcare staff experiences and perspectives using semi-structured interviews pre-and post-intervention. Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) informed data collection, analysis, and reporting of findings. The analysis involved inductive thematic analysis, NPT coding manual and subsequent mapping onto NPT constructs.
Results: BCNs (n=8), managers (n=2), surgeons (n=3) and trial participants (n=8) from six sites took part. All stakeholders believed group CBT met a need for non-medical hot flushes/night sweats treatment, however, had little exposure or understanding of CBT before MENOS4. BCNs believed the work fitted with their identity and felt confident in delivering the sessions. Despite little understanding, patients enrolled onto group CBT because the BCNs were trusted to have the knowledge and understanding to support their needs and despite initial scepticism, reported great benefit from group-based participation. Both managers and surgeons were keen for BCNs to take responsibility for all aspects of CBT delivery, but there were some tensions with existing clinical commitments.
Conclusions: Both healthcare staff and patient participants believe BCN-led group CBT is a beneficial service but barriers to long-term implementation into routine care suggest there needs to be multi-level organisational support.
Trial registration: NCT02623374 – Last updated 07/12/2015 on ClinicalTrials.gov PRS
CENP-E activation by Aurora A and B controls kinetochore fibrous corona disassembly
Authors: Eibes Susana , Rajendraprasad Girish , Guasch-Boldu Claudia , Kubat Mirela , Steblyanko Yulia , Barisic Marin
Published: January 2023

Accurate chromosome segregation in mitosis depends on multiprotein structures called kinetochores (KTs) that are built on the centromeric region of sister chromatids and serve to capture mitotic spindle microtubules (MTs). In early mitosis, unattached KTs expand a crescent-shaped structure called fibrous corona whose function is to facilitate initial KT-MT attachments and chromosome transport by MTs. Subsequently, the fibrous corona must be timely disassembled to prevent segregation errors. Although recent studies provided new insights on the molecular content and mechanism of fibrous corona assembly, it remains unknown what triggers the disassembly of the outermost and dynamic layer of the KT. Here, we show that Aurora A and B kinases (AurA and AurB) phosphorylate CENP-E to release it from an autoinhibited state. At KTs, AurB phosphorylates CENP-E to prevent its premature removal together with other corona proteins by dynein. At the spindle poles, AurA phosphorylates CENP-E to promote chromosome congression and prevent accumulation of corona proteins at the centrosomes, allowing for their intracellular redistribution. Thus, the AurA/B-CENP-E axis establishes the long-sought mechanism of fibrous corona disassembly that is essential for accurate chromosome segregation.
WITHDRAWN: Linking public perspectives on watershed issues to indicators, and natural regions as management units within a large watershed
Authors: Montemayor Marilou B.
Published: January 2023

Public consultation workshops were held at three locations that corresponded to natural regions (ecological units) within the Red Deer River watershed (hydrologic unit), Alberta, Canada. Participants were asked what their watershed issues were. Issues were linked to watershed indicators used in the completed state of the watershed report (SOW) that would eventually be used in the future watershed management plan (WMP). Issues gathered were sorted, counted, averages calculated and ranked, and comparisons made between locations. Two main categories of issues emerged: environmental and socio-economic. There were nine environmental indicators, three of which were new, and a whole new set of eight socio-economic watershed indicators. Natural regions influenced environmental indicators and to a lesser degree, socio-economic indicators. Dividing the large watershed (4,965,000 ha) using natural regions as management units could serve as “common-places” for their respective local communities and governments, an adaptation of the place-based approach. Ranking of environmental indicators could be used for developing a WMP in phases. This study illustrates the importance of public consultations, the consideration of both ecological and hydrologic management units, and both environmental and socio-economic indicators, in watershed management planning.
Age-dependent blood signatures of rehabilitated patients with mild COVID-19
Authors: Guo Xuantong , Liu Xiaoxiong , Tang Jiahang , Deng Chunshan , Jiang Wanli , Qiao Bin , Wang Ruoxi , Chen Zuxin , Wang Yanchun , Liu Xin-an
Published: January 2023

Growing evidence suggests that pulmonary and neurological sequelae from critical novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can occur which are closely related to immune responses. However, data on the long-term systemic biochemical sequelae in mild COVID-19 are lacking. Here we investigated the blood biochemical indexes and cytokines of 25 mild cases from Wuhan nine months after infection with COVID-19. Compared with control, rehabilitated patients with mild COVID-19 showed significant reduction in the levels of RBC count and ALB in an age-dependent manner. Major symptoms such as fatigue and memory decline were found in elderly rehabilitators. Besides the overall reduction in the correlations among hematologic indicators in rehabilitated patients, the serum cytokine assay also confirmed the age-related alterations such as the level of CD40 Ligand in rehabilitators with mild COVID-19. Our current data indicated the age-dependent long-term consequences after mild COVID-19 infection and continuous follow-up is warranted.
Is it possible to flatten-the-curve after the initial outbreak of Covid-19? A data-driven modeling analysis for Omicron pandemic in China
Authors: Liu Miao , SUN Jiaqi , LI Yusi , Shao Ning-Yi
Published: January 2023

In the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has become the predominant strain circulating worldwide. In China, enormous controversies exist regarding the “dynamic zero tolerance” (DZT) and “totally no inventions” (TNI) strategies for preventing the spread of the Omicron variant. Currently, China is gradually relaxing the COVID-19 measures from DZT level. In such situations, the “flatten-the-curve” (FTC) strategy, which decreases and maintains the low rate of infection to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system by adopting relaxed nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) after the initial outbreak, has been perceived as most appropriate and effective method to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant. Hence, we established a data-driven model of Omicron transmission based on the pandemic data of Macau, Hong Kong, and Singapore in 2022 to deduce the overall prevention effect throughout China. In the current immunity level without any NPI applied, more than 12.7 billion (including asymptomatic individuals) were infected with the Omicron variant within 90 days, but the daily new infections sharply declined; moreover, Omicron outbreak would result to 1.49 million deaths within 180 days. The application of FTC could decrease the deaths by 36.91% within 360 days. Age-stratified analyses showed that the NPI application among individuals aged > 60 years would also result in 0.81 million deaths within 360 days, and the application of FTC strategy through treatment with anti-COVID drugs can reduce the number of deaths to 0.40 million. In a model of completed vaccination, the application of TNI strategy would also result in 0.56 million deaths and slightly decrease the infection numbers. The strict implementation of FTC policy combined with completed vaccination and drug use, which only resulted in 0.19 million deaths in an age-stratified model, will help end the pandemic within about 240 days. The pandemic would be terminated within a shorter period of time without resulting in a high fatality rate; therefore, the FTC policy could be strictly implemented through enhancement of immunity and drug use.
Risk factor analysis for radiographic para-aortic lymph nodes metastasis in left-sided colorectal cancer：a retrospective study
Authors: Chen Qiang , Yang Jiabin , Peng Wei , Cheng Ming , Wu Yongyou
Published: January 2023

Background
Synchronous para-aortic lymph node (PALN) metastasis from colorectal cancer (CRC) is rare, and the positive predictive value of pre-operative CT was low. This study aimed to clarify risk factors radiographic PALN metastasis in left-sided CRC for improving the accuracy of pre-operative CT scan.
Patients and Methods:
Patients with pathologically and radiographically confirmed diagnosis of left-sided CRC were enrolled between January 2019 and August 2021. The Correlations between clinicopathologic data and radiographic PALN metastasis were analyzed chi-squared test or Fisher exact test and the multivariate binary logistic regression model was used for multivariate analyses.
Results
There were 15(3.56%) patients with radiographic PALN metastasis. The hepatic (P = 0.023) and inferior mesenteric lymph nodes (IMLN) (P < 0.001) metastases, elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (P = 0.007) and carbohydrate antigen19-9 (CA19-9) (P = 0.021) levels, longer tumor length (P = 0.003), lower degree of tumor differentiation (P < 0.001), deeper tumor invasion (P = 0.038), later lymph node staging (P < 0.001), perineural invasion (P = 0.009) and lymphovascular involvement (P < 0.001) were the risk factors for radiographic PALN metastasis. Among them, the radiographic IMLN metastasis (P = 0.003, OR = 20.927, 95% CI 2.823–155.820) was the only independent risk factor.
Conclusion
Some clinicopathologic characteristics, especially IMLN metastasis, are the risk factors for PALN metastasis.
Evolution of the incidence of COVID-19 during the first five waves in residents and professionals of nursing homes in Normandy, France
Authors: THIBON PASCAL , GRENIER Carine , EROUART Stéphane , BORGEY France , HELLO Simon LE , MARTEL Mélanie
Published: January 2023

Background
Older adults living in nursing homes (NH) paid a heavy price to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite early and often drastic prevention measures.
Aims
To study the characteristics and the impact of the pandemic on NH residents and professionals over 2 years.
Methods
Cross sectional study of COVID-19 clusters among residents and/or professionals in NH, from March 2020 to February 2022, in Normandy, France. We used data from the French mandatory reporting system, and cross-correlation analysis.
Results
The weekly proportion of NH with clusters was strongly correlated with population incidence (r > 0.70). Attack rates among residents and professionals were significantly lower in period 2 (vaccination rate in residents ≥50%) compared with periods 1 (waves 1 and 2) and 3 (Omicron variant ≥50%). Among residents, mortality and case fatality rates decreased drastically during periods 2 and 3.
Conclusions
Our study provides figures on the evolution of the pandemic in NH.
Natural statistics of human head orientation constrain models of vestibular processing
Authors: Sinnott Christian , Hausamann Peter , MacNeilage Paul R.
Published: January 2023

Head orientation relative to gravity determines how gravity-dependent environmental structure is sampled by the visual system, as well as how gravity itself is sampled by the vestibular system. Therefore, both visual and vestibular sensory processing should be shaped by the statistics of head orientation relative to gravity. Here we report the statistics of human head orientation during unconstrained natural activities in humans for the first time, and we explore implications for models of vestibular processing. We find that the distribution of head pitch is more variable than head roll and that the head pitch distribution is asymmetrical with an over-representation of downward head pitch, consistent with ground-looking behavior. We further show that pitch and roll distributions can be used as empirical priors in a Bayesian framework to explain previously measured biases in perception of both roll and pitch. We also analyze the dynamics of human head orientation to better understand how gravitational and inertial acceleration are processed by the vestibular system. Gravitational acceleration dominates at low frequencies and inertial acceleration dominates at higher frequencies. The change in relative power of gravitational and inertial components as a function of frequency places empirical constraints on dynamic models of vestibular processing. We conclude with a discussion of methodological considerations and scientific and applied domains that will benefit from continued measurement and analysis of natural head movements moving forward.
Influence of an inclined magnetic field and heat and mass transfer on the peristaltic flow of blood in an asymmetric channel
Authors: Abdelhafez M. A. , Abd-Alla A. M. , Abo-Dahab S. M. , Elmhedy Yasmine
Published: January 2023

This article presents a theoretical study on heat and mass transfer analysis of the peristaltic flow of blood conveying through an asymmetric channel in the presence of inclined to the magnetic field. The effects of ratio of relaxation to retardation times, non-uniform parameter, the non-dimensional amplitude, Hartman number and phase difference have been taken into account. The governing coupled non-linear partial differential equations representing the flow model are transmuted into linear ones by assuming that the wave is very long with a small Reynolds number. The converted mathematical formulations are solved analytically via the Mathematica software. Analytical expressions for the dimensionless velocity profiles of fluid, temperature, concentration, pressure gradient, increase in pressure, heat transfer coefficient and shear stress of the blood are derived. The velocity, temperature, concentration, pressure gradient, increase in pressure, heat transfer coefficient and shear stress were calculated numerically for different values of the parameters, which were represented graphically and find their physical meaning
Overexpression of MiR-32 in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Increases Production of Fc-fusion Protein
Authors: Bazaz Masoume , Adeli Ahmad , Azizi Mohammad , Karimipoor Morteza , Mahboudi Freidoun , Davoudi Noushin
Published: January 2023

The demand for industrial genetically modified host cells has been increased with the growth of the biopharmaceutical market. Numerous studies on improving host cell productivity have shown that altering host cell growth and viability through genetic engineering can increase recombinant protein production. During the last decades, it has been demonstrated that overexpression or downregulation of some microRNAs in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells as the most often employed host cell in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, can improve their productivity. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play a key role in controlling cellular mechanisms through their binding to different mRNA targets and negatively regulating gene expression. In efforts to increase the host cell's productivity through microRNA engineering of the cells, some microRNA targets have been selected based on their previously identified role in human cancers. MicroRNA-32 (miR-32), which is conserved between humans and hamsters (Crisetulus griseus), has been shown to play a role in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis in some human cancers. In this study, we investigated the effect of miR-32 overexpression on the productivity of CHO-VEGF-trap cells. Our results indicated that stable overexpression of miR-32 could dramatically increase the productivity of CHO cells by 1.8-fold. It also significantly increases cell viability, batch culture longevity, and cell growth. To achieve these results, following the construction of a single clone producing an Fc-fusion protein, we transfected cells with a pLexJRed-miR-32 plasmid to stably produce the microRNA and evaluate the impact of mir-32 overexcretion on cell productivity, growth and viability in compare with scrambled control. Our findings highlight the application of miRNAs as CHO cell engineering tools and indicated that miR-32 could be a target for engineering CHO cells to increase cell productivity.
New agricultural wheat frontier in Brazil: Envirotypes applied in the adaptability and stability of wheat genotypes in contrasting environments
Authors: Casagrande Cleiton Renato , Mezzomo Henrique Caletti , Santos Crislene Vieira dos , Sousa Diana Jhulia Palheta se , Yamanaka Celso Hideto , Olivoto Tiago , Dias Kaio Olimpio das Graças , Borém Aluizio , Nardino Maicon
Published: January 2023

Global climate changes can dramatically impact wheat production in Brazil's Cerrado biome, considered a new wheat farming frontier. Therefore, new approaches are needed to better understand the G×E interaction in environments with high climate variations. Here, we integrate envirotyping, adaptability, and stability techniques to better understand the G×E interaction and provide new insights for the recommendation of tropical wheat genotypes that can perform well in hotter and drier environments. Thirty-six wheat genotypes were evaluated for grain yield in eight field trials in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in the Brazilian Cerrado region. There is strong evidence that even in irrigated conditions, temperatures > 30 ºC during the booting and heading/flowering stages dramatically reduce the grain yield. Two lines, VI14774 (GY = 3800 kg ha-1), and VI14980 (GY = 4093 kg ha-1) had better performance in the hotter environment (~ 22% and ~ 32% higher than the grand mean) and are potential germplasm sources for warmer environments at the boosting and heading/flowering stages. Overall, this study provides new insights on how the environment typing can be useful to better understand the genotype-by-environment interaction and help to breed new climate-resilient wheat cultivars for the cerrado region. In this study, the REML/BLUP and GGE Biplot methods highly correlate in terms of genotype classification for selection and recommendation purposes. The genotypes VI 14127, VI 14197, VI 14026, and BRS 264 are the closest to a hypothetical ideal genotype.
Effect of Whatsapp Based Good Enough Sex Consultation on Infertility Stress and Sexual Satisfaction in Iranian Women Who Applied for Infertility Treatment: A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Moghaddam-tabrizi Fatemeh , Emdadi-Babanazar shahla , Haghighi Mahmonir , gharaaghaji rasool
Published: January 2023

Background

Infertility is associated with the reduction of sexual activity and always there is a relationship between infertility and sexual dysfunction. Infertility stress refers to a group of symptoms that appear following infertility diagnosis; these symptoms are similar to those of post-traumatic stress disorder and are specifically evident in the beliefs and feelings associated with infertility. The present study aimed to determine the effect of whatsapp based good enough sex consultation on infertility stress and sexual satisfaction in infertile women who applied for infertility treatment in a randomized control trial.

Methods

This is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial in which a total of 100 infertile women were recruited using convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to two groups of whatsapp based GES model consultation and routine care. Data collection tools consisted of a demographic, the Larson's Sexual Satisfaction and Newton Infertility Stress questionnairs. In the pretest stage, participants in both groups completed the above questionnaires before the intervention. Participants in the intervention group were given access to the 6-week GES model consultation program. The program consisted of six consultation and assignments packages, regarding all 12 dimensions of GES model. Then participants re-completed questionnaires immediately and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed with SPSS software version 20 using chi-squared test, independent-samples t-test, and repeated measures Analysis of Variance. The significance level (p-value) was considered to be less than 0.05.

Results

The results of rANOVA indicated that there was a significant difference in the mean scores of sexual satisfaction (with its all dimensions: desire to have sex, sexual adjustment, quality of sexual life, sexual attitude) and infertility stress (and it's all dimensions: social concern, sexual concern, relationship concern, need for parenthood, life without children) between the two groups from pre- to post-intervention, and then over the one month follow-up period in the intervention group, while scores of control participants did not show this pattern during the study (p ˂ 0.001). Considering the partial Eta squared, the effect of intervention had the highest interaction effect on both variables of sexual satisfaction (η2 = 0.52) and infertility stress (η2 = 0.82).

Conclusions

Since whatsapp based GES sex model intervention had significant effect on infertility stress and sexual satisfaction. Therefore, it is recommended to be considered as one of the practical plans in the process of treatment and counseling of infertility.
Trial registration number: IRCT20210926052593N1,
The date of registration: 13-10-2021.
Recognition of citrus fruit and planning the robotic picking sequence in orchards
Authors: Li Chunmao , Liu Fang , Fang Bin , Lu Hui , Sun Yue
Published: January 2023

To improve the operational efficiency of and to prevent possible collision damage in the picking of citruses by robots in densely planted complex orchards, this study proposes an algorithm based on YOLOv5 for recognizing citruses and planning a picking sequence. First, the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) is embedded into YOLOv5 to improve the feature extraction capability of the network and mitigate missed detection of occluded targets and small targets. Simultaneously, the bounding loss function is optimized to improve the positioning accuracy of the bounding box. This combined model is used to recognize and localize citruses. Then, a three-dimensional model of citrus fruit was established, and an adaptive pheromone concentration updating mechanism was introduced on the basis of the ant colony algorithm to dynamically judge the picking order of citruses and determine the optimal picking sequence. We show the quantitative and qualitative results of our method in comparison to previous methods. In tests, the F1-score of this method for citrus in a densely planted environment was 92.41%, which is a 2.81% improvement compared to YOLOv5. Compared to stochastic planning, the proposed method can plan the picking sequence of citruses in the field of view in advance and shorten the picking path. In addition, extensive sequence planning experiments on other fruits validate the superior of the proposed method. Therefore, the method in this paper may provide new solutions for citrus anti-collision picking and orchard yield forecasting and new ideas for the intelligent fruit industry.
NDT prediction of self-compacting concrete strength based on maturity method
Authors: Kazemifard Sahar , Motaghed Sasan , Eftekhari Nasrollah
Published: January 2023

The maturity method is used as a non-destructive test to estimate the compressive strength of concrete. The main problem of this method is its dependence on the concrete mix design. This research presents a method for predicting the strength of self-compacting concrete in a specific range, without repeating the time-consuming and expensive standard calibration process. To demonstrate the ability of the method, 15 self-compacting concrete mix designs were prepared and their strength and maturity were determined at the ages of 2, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. Based on the proposed method, the fc=a ln Ma+b relation was fitted to the mean of the data. Then scale factors for 3 mixes were calculated based on the early ages data (for example 3-day data) and the mix-specific strength-maturity curves were determined without a standard calibration process. The proposed method shows a high accuracy of more than 94% in these examples. Based on these results, it is not necessary to redo the entire calibration process within the reasonable range of changes in the mix design on the site, and the calibration curve can be presented in this way.