bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of pPLA family and their roles in reproductive development of Gossypium hirsutum L
Authors: Wang Mingyang , Tian Dingyan , Li Tengyu , Pan Jingwen , Wang Chenlei , Wu Lanxin , Luo Kun , Mei Zhenyu , Liu Jinwei , Chen Wei , Yao Jinbo , Li Yan , Wang Fuxin , Zhu Shouhong , Zhang Yongshan
Published: April 2023

Background Phospholipases As (PLAs) are acyl hydrolase that can catalyze the release of free fatty acids in phospholipids and play multiple functions in plant growth and development. PLAs can be divided into three families, PLA1, PLA2 (sPLA) and patatin-related PLA (pPLA). Previous studies have elucidated the versatile roles of pPLAs in growth and development of many plants.Methods Genome-wide analysis of the pPLA family and screening of genes for expression verification and gene silencing verification. After gene silencing, analysis of pollen expression pattern, pollen vitality test and POD, SOD, CAT, MDA and H2O2 detection.Result In this study, a total of 294 pPLAs were identified from 13 species, including 46 GhpPLAs divided into three subfamilies (I-III-γ). Expression pattern analysis revealed that most of GhpPLAs were preferentially expressed in the reproductive organs (petal, pistil, anther and ovule), especially two genes (GhpPLA23 and GhpPLA44) were deduced that may affect the reproductive development of G. hirsutum. VIGS experiment of GhpPLA23 and GhpPLA44 showed that the pollen activity decreased with their lower expression levels in the silenced plants. The contents of POD, CAT, SOD and other physiological indicators were significantly increased, while ROS and ROS scavengers were significantly changed after genes silencing, indicating that these two genes had important effects on cotton reproductive development. These findings suggest that pPLAs play a crucial role in reproductive development of G. hirsutum and show the potential to be utilized as candidate genes for haploid inducing.Conclusions In this study, pPLA genes play an important role in the reproductive organs of cotton, affecting the development of flower organs and sperm cells, so this family may play an important role in the reproductive development progress of cotton, and even in inducing cotton to produce haploid.
Annular unidirectional slip Couette flow with heat transfer and variable viscosity
Authors: Ali Ahmed E.K. , Abou-Dina M. S. , Ghaleb A. F. , Helal M. A.
Published: April 2023

This paper investigates the thermal, variable viscosity axial Couette flow between two con-centric circular cylinders, taking into account both the Navier and the dynamical slip boundary conditions. The nonlinear governing equations for momentum and energy balance are solved under start-up condition using the Laplace transform (LT) technique, in conjunction with the Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM). The first two orders of approximation for tempera- ture and velocity are obtained, as well as the entropy generation in the space occupied by the flow and the volumetric flux. Numerical results and graphical representations of the solution are provided and discussed to depict the effects of the slip parameters on the velocity and the temperature profiles, on the entropy generation rate and on the volumetric flux.
Up against the wall - emergency double myocardial rupture repair
Authors: Ravi Rajeevlochan , Sinha Shubhra , Dunlop Craig , Unsworth-white Jonathan
Published: April 2023

Background
Left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) and interventricular septal rupture (VSR) are potentially catastrophic mechanical complications after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). When they occur together, “double myocardial rupture” (DMR), survival is unlikely. DMR is seen in only 0.3% of all AMIs. With or without surgical intervention, the odds are against the patient.
Case presentation
A 57-year-old male self-referred to the emergency department of a remote hospital 5 days after first experiencing chest pain. Investigations in ED confirmed an inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by DMR. Coronary angiography revealed a mid-course total occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA).
He was rapidly transferred to our regional cardiac surgical unit, arriving straight into the operating theatre, in cardiogenic shock. He was briefly conscious, before arresting prior to intubation and being massaged onto bypass. Not only did he survive the all-night operation, requiring a mitral valve replacement in the process, but he survived multiple postoperative complications to be eventually transferred on postoperative day 66, neurologically intact, to a peripheral unit to complete his rehabilitation. He was subsequently discharged home 88 days after the operation and was able to ambulate with a walking frame into his first postoperative follow-up clinic appointment.
Conclusions
Our patient, against all odds, has survived DMR and multiple postoperative complications. We present the details of his case and the literature surrounding the condition. The patient’s mental fortitude and his supportive family played a big part, along with excellent team working in our unit.
Romeo and Juliet Meeting in Forest Like Regions
Authors: Misra Neeldhara , Mulpuri Manas , Tale Prafullkumar , Viramgami Gaurav
Published: April 2023

The game of rendezvous with adversaries is a game on a graph played by two players: Facilitator and Divider. Facilitator has two agents and Divider has a team of k ≥ 1 agents. While the initial positions of Facilitator’s agents are fixed, Divider gets to select the initial positions of his agents. Then, they take turns to move their agents to adjacent vertices (or stay put) with Facilitator’s goal to bring both her agents at same vertex and Divider’s goal to prevent it. The computational question of interest is to determine if Facilitator has a winning strategy against Divider with k agents. Fomin, Golovach, and Thilikos [WG, 2021] introduced this game and proved that it is PSPACE-hard and co-W[2]-hard parameterized by the number of agents.
This hardness naturally motivates the structural parameterization of the problem. The authors proved that it admits an FPT algorithm when parameterized by the modular width and the number of allowed rounds. However, they left open the complexity of the problem from the perspective of other structural parameters. In particular, they explicitly asked whether the problem admits an FPT or XP-algorithm with respect to the treewidth of the input graph. We answer this question in the negative and show that Rendezvous is co-NP-hard even for graphs of constant treewidth. Further, we show that the problem is co-W[1]-hard when parameterized by the feedback vertex set number and the number of agents, and is unlikely to admit a polynomial kernel when parameterized by the vertex cover number and the number of agents. Complementing these hardness results, we show that the Rendezvous is FPT when parameterized by both the vertex cover number and the solution size. Finally, for graphs of treewidth at most two and girds, we show that the problem can be solved in polynomial time.
2012 ACM Subject Classification Mathematics of computing → Discrete mathematics; Theory of computation → Design and analysis of algorithms
Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior among Dental & Medical Students of Kabul University of Medical Sciences
Authors: Ehsan Hedayatullah , Ahmadzai Nazera , Orfani Zarlasht , Rezayee Bibi Marwa , Wally Moqadasa , Daftani Sardara
Published: April 2023

Objective The study's goal was to find out how much dentistry and medical students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences knew about oral health, as well as their attitudes and behavior toward dental health and oral hygiene routines.Materials and Methods From September 2022 to December 2022, cross-sectional research was conducted at Kabul University of Medical Sciences. A total of 496 dentistry and medical students (312 females + 184 males) aged 18–25 years old from 5 colleges of health and medical related disciplines were addressed. All participants were given a thorough questionnaire with 30 amended items modified from Peterson et al. and Stenberg et al.Results 44.5% of the participants brushed their teeth twice per day, 41.3% once per day, and 9.31% more than twice per day, while just 4.7% cleaned their teeth less than once per day. Surprisingly, the majority of participants (91%) were aware of the significance of routine dental visits which 51.3% of participants reported visiting the dentist frequently even while they experienced pain. 94% of students had the opinion that brushing teeth prevents dental decay. 93% of them agreed that using of fluoride strengthens teeth and 96% polled that sweets are bad for teeth.Conclusions Oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behavior is associated with the individual subject’s educational level. Females are more concerned about their oral health than males. And for having better oral hygiene, there is need for educational programs for public.
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Incident Heart Failure Risk: The Kailuan Cohort Study
Authors: Wei Zhihao , Huang Zhe , Song Zongshuang , Zhao Wenliu , Zhao Dandan , Tan Yizhen , Chen Shuohua , Yang Peng , Li Yun , Wu Shouling
Published: April 2023

Background
Recently, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed to replace non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to emphasize the pathogenic association between fatty liver disease and metabolic dysfunction. Studies have found that MAFLD independently increases the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. But the relationship between MAFLD and heart failure (HF) is not fully understood.
Objectives
This study aimed to explore the association between MAFLD and the risk of HF.
Methods
The study included 98,685 participants without HF selected from the Kailuan cohort in 2006. All participants were divided into non-MAFLD group and MAFLD group according to MAFLD diagnostic criteria. After follow-up until December 31, 2020, the Cox regression analysis model was used to calculate the effect of MAFLD on the risk of HF.
Results
During the median follow-up of 14.01 years,3260 cases of HF were defined, the HF incidence density of non-MAFLD group and MAFLD group was 2.19/1000pys and 3.29/1000pys, respectively. Compared with the non-MAFLD group, participants with MAFLD had an increased risk of HF (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.30-1.50); in addition, an exacerbation of fatty liver disease was associated with an increased risk of HF in people with MAFLD. We also observed a higher risk of HF among the different metabolic dysfunction of MAFLD in people with both fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes (HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.73-2.21).
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that the risk of HF was significantly increased in participants with MAFLD, and an exacerbation of fatty liver disease was associated with an increased risk of HF in people with MAFLD. In addition, we should pay more attention to people with MAFLD with type 2 diabetes.
On the Poincare-Bendixson formula for planar piecewise smooth vector fields
Authors: Li Shimin , Liu Changjian , Llibre Jaume
Published: April 2023

The topological index, or simply the index, of an equilibrium point of a differential system is an integer which saves important information about the local phase portrait of the equilibrium.
There are mainly two ways to calculate the index of an isolated equilibrium point of a smooth vector field. First Poincare and Bendixson proved that the index of an equilibrium point can be obtained from the number of hyperbolic and elliptic sectors that there are in a neighborhood of the equilibrium point, which is known as Poincare-Bendixson formula for the topological index of an equilibrium point. Second several works contributed to the algebraic method of Cauchy's index for computing the index of an equilibrium point.
In this paper we extend the Poincare-Bendixson formula to planar piecewise smooth vector fields. Applying this formula we define the index of generic codimension-one equilibria for piecewise smooth vector fields, including boundary equilibria, pseudo-equilibria and tangency points.
Severe Mental Illness and Non-specific Abdominal Pain in the Emergency Department: A Multi-institutional Database Study
Authors: Chien Wei-Che , Kou Hao-Wei , Wu Kai-Hsiang , Gao Shi-Ying , Ng Chip-Jin , Hung Yu-Yung , Lee Chao-Wei , Li Chih-Huang , Hung Shang-Kai
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Abdominal pain is a common cause of emergency department (ED) visits, and non-specific abdominal pain (NSAP) accounts for a large proportion of diagnoses. Patients with severe mental illness (SMI) are particularly vulnerable due to their atypical disease presentation and high comorbidity rates. Previous studies have reported higher ED revisit rates and delayed diagnoses in patients with SMI and NSAP. This study aimed to evaluate ED management, unscheduled ED revisit rates, and short-term adverse outcomes in patients with SMI and NSAP.Methods: Relying on the Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD), we selectively used data from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017. Diagnoses of NSAP and SMI were confirmed by combining the ICD codes with relevant medical records. The non-SMI group was matched at a ratio of 1:3 using a Greedy algorithm. The outcomes were ED management, 72-hour unscheduled ED revisits, and 7-day adverse events.Results: A total of 233,671 patients from seven hospitals over a span of 11 years were recruited; among them, 98,722 were excluded based on the inclusion criteria, leaving 134,949 patients for analysis. The SMI group had more comorbidities, a higher rate of 72-hour unscheduled ED revisits, and was more likely to receive analgesics, but less likely to undergo laboratory tests and CT scans. Patients without SMI were more likely to be admitted to the ward and undergo invasive abdominal procedures within seven days after index ED discharge. No significant differences were found in ICU admission, abdominal surgery, or in-hospital mortality between the two groups.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that patients with SMI and NSAP had a higher rate of 72-hour unscheduled ED revisits, but this did not lead to higher short-term adverse outcomes. Although NSAP is considered a safe diagnosis for both the general population and patients with SMI, the higher rate of unscheduled ED revisits suggests the need for better healthcare interventions to eliminate health disparities in this vulnerable group.
Long-term changes in precipitation in the eastern portion of the Guanabara Bay hydrographic region, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Abreu Marcel Carvalho , de Oliveira-Júnior José Francisco , Souza Amaury , Lyra Gustavo Bastos , Fraga Micael de Souza , Silva Felipe Bernardes da , Almeida Laura Thebit , Silva Marcos Vinícius da , Cecílio Roberto Avelino
Published: April 2023

The Guanabara Bay hydrographic region (GBHR) is a strategic area of Rio de Janeiro, with few studies on Climatology and on the annual maximum daily rainfall (Pmax). Detecting changes in Pmax is a prerequisite for a better understanding of the climate and developing adaptation and mitigation measures at a regional and local scale. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify trends in Pmax through non-parametric tests in the GBHR region of Rio de Janeiro based on historical time series. Five rain gauges were selected with daily rainfall series due to long time series (ranging from 1939 to 2020) and with a maximum of 10% annual failures. The non-parametric tests (MK, modified MK and Pettitt) were applied to the rainfall temporal series. The series of Pmax were classified as random, independent, homogeneous and stationary. The Pmax were observed mostly between November and March. It is noteworthy that this identified period corresponds to the greater performance of South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ), convective rainfall and Frontal Systems (FS) in Rio de Janeiro. The results of MK test were coincident with Pettitt test. The modified MK test detected a trend in rain gauges where the Pettit test was no significative. The change points by Pettit test, in significative trend were 1995 and 1985, for Nova Friburgo and Cachoeiras de Macacu. The results obtained from the study are important for territorial planning, airport management, and for the socioeconomic interest of GBHR – Rio de Janeiro, mainly for COMPERJ (petrochemical complex) and landslide and flood areas.
Contrasted avian communities between two protected areas in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Authors: Exantus Jean-Marry , Cambrone Christopher , Bezault Etienne , Cézilly Frank
Published: April 2023

Although urban and suburban protected areas may contribute to conserving biodiversity, their importance remains poorly documented. We compared the composition of bird assemblages between two protected areas, the Urban National Park of Martissant (UNPM) and the suburban Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve (WFER) in Haiti, one the poorest country in the world, plagued with severe deforestation and environmental degradation. Species were identified along transects without distance estimation. A total of 718 birds belonging to 38 different species were censused (494 at UNPM and 224 at WFER, from 24 and 26 species, respectively), including two endemic and vulnerable species,Corvus leucognaphalusandAmazona ventralis, observed only at the urban site. Species richness, diversity, evenness and species-abundance distributions did not differ significantly between sites. However, the composition of the two avian assemblages differed significantly, with only 31.6% species in common and a significant difference in their relative abundance. We found no evidence for a difference in the degree of forest dependency between the two assemblages. However, mainly and strict insectivorous species accounted for a larger proportion of observations at WFER (34.8%) compared to UNPM (19.6%). Factors influencing the contrast in avian assemblage composition between two sites include differences in elevation and associated vegetation, difference in water availability and variation in the ability of species to adapt to the urban environment. Our results demonstrate the importance and complementarity of the two protected areas for the conservation of avian diversity in Haiti.
A Persistent Median Artery Piercing the Median Nerve: A Review and Clinical Implications
Authors: Pavlovsky Ethan , Kistner Gilberto , Loomis Mario
Published: April 2023

Purpose: This case report documents a rare variation of a persistent median artery. Normally a transient vessel present during embryologic development of the limbs, the median artery typically regresses by the eighth week of life as the radial and ulnar arteries predominate the distal vascular supply of the hand. In a subset of the adult population, this artery remains as a persistent median artery which most often ends in the carpal tunnel or hand without significant vascular dependence.
Methods: We report a unique variant of the persistent median artery that perforates the median nerve and contributes a significant portion of the blood supply to the hand.
Results: An 84-year-old female cadaver was found bilaterally to have an artery that penetrated the median nerve in the forearm, continued through the carpal tunnel, then joined the superficial arch, giving rise to the common digital artery to the second webspace. It also gave rise to the radialis indicis, the princeps pollicis, and an anastomotic branch to the radial artery.
Conclusion: This anatomic variant of a persistent median artery piercing the median nerve, traversing the carpal tunnel, and providing aberrant primary blood supply to a large area of the hand are details clinically relevant to those who treat hand disorders and injuries.
Effect of pressure and turbulence intensity on the heat flux during flame wall interaction (FWI)
Authors: Padhiary Abhijit , Pilla Guillaume , Sotton Julien , Bellenoue Marc
Published: April 2023

Combustion applications such as IC engines are a major source of power generation. Renewable alternative fuels like hydrogen, ammonia and efuels promise potential of combustion in future power applications. Most power applications encounter flame wall interaction (FWI) during which high heat losses occur. Investigating heat loss during FWI has potential to identify parameters that could lead to decreasing heat losses and possibly increasing the efficiency of combustion applications. In this work, study of FWI in a constant volume chamber (CVC) at high pressure in both laminar and turbulent conditions is presented. High speed surface temperature measurement using thin junction thermocouples coupled with high-speed flow field characterization using particle image velocimetry (PIV) are used simultaneously to investigate the effect of pressure during FWI (Pint) and turbulence intensity (q) on the heat flux peak (QP). In laminar combustion regimes it is found that QP is proportional to Pint0.35. The increase in q is shown to affect both Pint and QP. Finally, comparing QP vs Pint for both laminar and turbulent combustion regimes, it is found that increase in q leads to increase in QP which is highly pronounced at high Pint.
Analysis of factors influencing fall risk among elderly people in rural of China
Authors: Zhao Yaodong , Xie Dan , Zhang Chi , Wang Haibo , Zhang Beibei , Liu Song , Li Min , Chen Guimei , Ding Hong
Published: April 2023

Background
Falls can cause serious health problems in the elderly. China is gradually entering a moderately aging society. In rural areas of China, the elderly are at a higher risk of falling.
Methods
M County, Anhui Province, China was selected as the survey site by the typical field sampling method, and the elderly people in rural areas were selected as the research objects. A total of 1187 people were investigated. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used for univariate analysis, and multiple linear regression was used for multivariate analysis.
Results
Chronic diseases, number of chronic diseases, daily living ability, mental health, working status and family doctors are the factors that influence falls among elderly people in rural areas of China (P<0.05, Adjusted R2=0.395).
Conclusion
The falls risk of the elderly in rural areas of China is influenced by multiple factors. Therefore, comprehensive measures should be taken to reduce the fall risk by comprehensively evaluating the influencing factors.
Gender Wage Gap and Male Perpetrated Child Sexual Abuse
Authors: Hans Zainab , Belzer Michael
Published: April 2023

Given the fact that child abuse and intimate partner violence often co-occur, intra-household bargaining models provide a useful framework to investigate the relationship between macro-economic factors and child sexual abuse (CSA). Non-cooperative bargaining models predict that labor market opportunities that benefit women improve their bargaining power and lead to lower levels of intimate partner violence against them. We posit that this protective effect extends to children as well, and exploit exogenous variation in macro-economic factors to examine the impact of gender specific wages and employment on police reported CSA in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia from 2006 to 2019. The empirical analysis provides evidence that narrowing the gender wage gap leads to a decline in police reported CSA incidents perpetrated by mothers’ intimate partners, whereas improvements in relative employment opportunities do not yield any such effects. Consistent with previous literature, our results show that wages, not employment, determine bargaining power. The findings also underscore important spillover benefits of policy solutions directed towards narrowing the gender wage gap.
JEL Classification: J13, J12, I10
A Simple but Universal Fully Linearized ADMM Algorithm for Optimization Based Image Reconstruction
Authors: Qiao Zhiwei , Redler Gage , Epel Boris , Halpern Howard
Published: April 2023

Background and Objective: Optimization based image reconstruction algorithm is an advanced algorithm in medical imaging. However, the corresponding solving algorithm is challenging because the optimization model is usually large-scale and non-smooth. This work aims to devise a simple but universal solver for optimization models.
Methods: The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm is a simple and effective solver of the optimization models. However, there always exists a sub-problem that has not closed-form solution. One may use gradient descent algorithm to solve this sub-problem, but the step-size selection via line search is time-consuming. Or, one may use fast Fourier transform (FFT) to get a closed-form solution if the system matrix and the sparse transform matrix are both of special structure. In this work, we propose a simple but universal fully linearized ADMM (FL-ADMM) algorithm that avoids line search to determine step-size and applies to system matrix and sparse transform of any structures.
Results: We derive the FL-ADMM algorithm instances for three total variation (TV) models in 2D computed tomography (CT). Further, we validate and evaluate one FL-ADMM algorithm and explore how the two important factors impact convergence rate. Also, we compare this algorithm with the Chambolle-Pock algorithm via real CT phantom reconstructions. These studies show that the FL-ADMM algorithm may accurately solve optimization models in image reconstruction.
Conclusion: The FL-ADMM algorithm is a simple, effective, convergent and universal solver of optimization models in image reconstruction. Compared to the existing ADMM algorithms, the new algorithm does not need time-consuming step-size line-search or special demand to system matrix and sparse transform. It is a rapid prototyping tool for optimization based image reconstruction.
RETRACTED: Improving Nursing Students' Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills in Teaching Pressure Injury: A Quasi-Experimental Study Using an Escape Room Game
Authors: Şengül Tuba , Kaya Nurten
Published: April 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
The development of the PAOLI (People with Aphasia and Other Layperson Involvement) guideline for reporting Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in aphasia research
Authors: Charalambous Marina , Kountouri Alexia , Schwyter Jürg Rainer , Annoni Jean-Marie , Kambanaros Maria
Published: April 2023

Background: Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in aphasia research obliges researchers to include people with aphasia (PWA) as research partners from the beginning of the study. Yet the quality of reporting on the level and type of involvement is poorly documented in the absence of a guideline to document contribution. This study aimed to extract the items and statements relevant for the development of the People with Aphasia and Other Layperson Involvement (PAOLI) reporting guideline, in collaboration with people with aphasia.
Method: The EQUATOR method for developing a reporting guideline was followed. This involved: (1) evidence from a scoping review, (2) a thematic analysis of the in-depth interviews, of people with stroke and aphasia, on the topics to be included in the pilot draft, (3) a two round Delphi survey for item/statement selection and (4) an experts’ consensus meeting. The research team involved two PPI partners with chronic stroke-induced aphasia. The research process involved co-design and was informed by the Dialogue model.
Results: Twenty-three participants, from 13 countries, voted in round one with 87% (20/23) responding in round two. The PAOLI guideline includes 17 items (with 66 descriptive statements) on how to: establish collaborations, recruit patients, gain informed consent, organize induction meetings, train patient partners, create communication links, engage communication partners, conceptualize topics, establish research priorities, reach consensus, work with co-design methods, develop proposals, assist with dissemination of results, promote implementation of the outcomes, support patient partners and promote self-evaluation, monitor progress and assess impact of the patient involvement. These items were considered by the participants as the most important for the involvement of people with aphasia as research partners.
Conclusion: The PAOLI is the first international consensus guideline for reporting patient involvement in aphasia research. Researchers are encouraged to adopt the reporting guideline to improve the quality of their research by documenting the meaningful involvement of people with aphasia within the research team from the start.
Evaluation of high elevation afforestations
Authors: Grätz Tina , Vospernik Sonja , Scheidl Christian
Published: April 2023

High elevation afforestations provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly protection against natural hazards, compared to technical measures. In Austria, more than 3,000 high elevation afforestation sites covering 9,000 ha have been established between 1906 and 2017, mainly for avalanche protection. The actual protective effect depends on predisposing factors and landcover, i.e. whether forest is present. In this study predisposing factors and landcover classes were identified and analysed in selected afforestation sites. The protective effect of forest was attributed to the presence of forest cover and tree species. Using RGB images with a ground resolution of 20 x 20 cm, nine landcover categories have been distinguished by means of supervised classification with the random forest algorithm. Those landcover categories were classified with an overall accuracy of 0.87–0.98 and Kappa-values, ranging between 0.81–0.93. Images were filtered using a 3 pixel by 3 pixel majority filter, which further increased the overall accuracy by removing noise pixels while preserving the fine elements of the orthoimage. Our results indicate a positive performance for about half of the analysed afforestation sites. The dominance of the land use class “Meadow” at most sites with a negative protection performance, suggests grassing as a limiting factor. The spatial information provided with the described method allows to identify critical areas in terms of avalanche protection even years after the initial afforestation.
The association of STAT4 single nucleotide polymorphisms with thrombotic manifestations in a cohort of patients with autoimmune diseases and antiphospholipid antibodies
Authors: Celińska-Löwenhoff Magdalena , Iwaniec Teresa , Dziedzina Sylwia , Kaczor Marcin , Pastuszczak Maciej , Dropiński Jerzy , Sanak Marek , Musiał Jacek
Published: April 2023

Objective To assess the association of genetic polymorphisms of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 4 with thrombotic manifestations in patients with autoimmune diseases, including antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).Methods A group of 395 adult, non-related patients (331 women and 64 men) with autoimmune diseases and 150 healthy control subjects were genotyped for 4 STAT4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): rs7574865, rs10181656, rs7582694 and rs11684030. The risk alleles associations with antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) and the occurrence of thrombotic events were then analysed in the group of patients.Results Among 395 patients almost half were diagnosed with APS: 97 with primary (PAPS) and 83 with secondary (SAPS). Differences in frequencies of the risk alleles for the following 3 SNPs: G/C rs7582694, rs10181656 C/G, and rs7574865 G/T were stronger associated with APS than with systemic lupus erythematosus or other autoimmune diseases. All 3 SNPs were associated with prothrombotic, triple positive APLA profile: OR = 1.68 (1.04 to 2.70, 95% CI), p = 0.032; OR = 1.61 (1.1 to 2.59, 95% CI), p = 0.048; and OR = 1.61 (1.0 to 2.59, 95% CI), p = 0.048; respectively. The association of the 2 STAT4 risk alleles, i.e., SNP rs7582694 (C) and rs10181656 (G) was stronger for venous thromboembolism: OR = 1.6 (1.1 to 2.5, 95% CI), p = 0.03 and OR = 1.5 (1.1 to 2.5, 95% CI), p = 0.02; respectively.Conclusions SNPs in the STAT4 gene, i.e., rs7582694(C), rs1018165(G), and rs7574865(T) are associated with venous thromboembolic events in autoimmune disease patients, therefore they might identify subjects at risk of venous thromboembolism.
Anomaly pathway activities and transcriptome burden reveal cellular plasticity of human cancer
Authors: Sh Yuan , Yang Zhimin , Hu Zhiyuan , Zhang Xiuli
Published: April 2023

Background: It is now widely acknowledged that the adaptive evolutionary process of cancer cells is characterized by genomic and epigenetic alterations. Nevertheless, the extreme heterogeneity of cancer cells and the extreme sparsity of scRNA-seq data limited the understanding of cancer cell reconfiguration of anomaly pathway activity and adaptive evolution under selection pressure.
Methods: We collected a total of 7,955 tumor samples, including 32 common human cancer types as the training set. Five sets of scRNA-seq data from different studies covering 5 different cancer types were used as the validation set.
Results: In this study, we used a contrastive learning approach to analyze scRNA-seq data and developed a sceAPA model to determine the spatial mapping correlation between RNA features and genomic variation-associated anomaly pathway activities in cancer. The dynamic transcriptional profile revealed by scRNA-seq reflects how cancer cells reconfigure their transcriptome pattern and develop various APA patterns in response to selective pressure to gain an evolutionary advantage. We found that the plasticity of human cancer was negatively related to the transcriptome burden, and increasing transcriptome burden was associated with more chaotic APA patterns.
Conclusions: Our study shows that cancer cells possess greater plasticity by reprogramming immune-associated transcript patterns, thereby conferring greater resistance to selection pressure. The plasticity of cancer cells is closely related to adaptive evolution, drug resistance, distant metastasis, and immune escape.
From Zygotic to Somatic Embryogenesis: A Difficult Task for Pinus Sylvestris L. Biotechnological Propagation
Authors: Ershova Maria , Ignatenko Roman , Chirva Olga
Published: April 2023

Data on the development of the Pinus sylvestris zygotic embryos collected from trees of different ages, growing in the territory of southern Karelia (the 1st order Petrozavodsk Seed Orchard, progeny trial in the Manga village, Petrozavodsk Park) are presented. It was found that fertilization and further formation of zygotic embryos occurred faster in trees that grew in the park, which is possibly due to the microclimatic conditions formed in the urban environment. The in vitro culturing of 1022 megagametophytes containing immature embryos on DCR nutrient medium has showed that explants collected from 40 years old clones of plus trees on the Petrozavodsk SO extruded (8.06 ± 1.33%) and formed callus (0.65 ± 0.32%) more actively, than explants from younger trees (10–20 years old) both from the park and the progeny trial. It was revealed that megagametophytes containing zygotic embryos at the stage of cleavage polyembryony were the most responsive explants for the somatic embryogenesis initiation. Nevertheless explants with zygotic embryos at globular and precotyledonary stages also formed callus. One of the reasons for the failure of P. sylvestris somatic embryogenesis initiation appeared to be the developmental pathology which led to absence of formed zygotic embryo within the megagametophyte.
Classification of five-dimensional symmetric Leibniz algebras
Authors: Choriyeva Iroda , Khudoyberdiyev Abror
Published: April 2023

In this paper we give the complete classification of 5-dimensional complex solvable symmetric Leibniz algebras.
Mathematics Subject Classification: 17A30, 17A32
Measurement and modelling of speed of sound in binary mixtures of methyl oleate with n-hexane or n-decane under pressure
Authors: Daridon Jean-Luc , Bazile Jean-Patrick , Nasri Djamel
Published: April 2023

In this study, the speeds of sound were measured in binary liquid mixtures of methyl oleate and either n-hexane or n-decane at temperature T = 303.15 K and pressures ranging from 0.1 to 70 MPa. The data obtained from these measurements were used to calculate the excess speed of sound for these mixtures. The speed of sound molecular weight product, raised to a constant power γ was also calculated and represented as a function of molar percentage. This was done in order to determine a simple combining rule for representing the speed of sound of mixtures composed of n-alkanes and fatty acid alkyl esters.
Modelling multiple seasonalities with ARIMA: Forecasting Madrid NO2 hourly pollution levels
Authors: Avila Matias Luis , Alonso Andres M. , Peña Daniel
Published: April 2023

Multiple seasonalities often appear in high-frequency data. In this context multiple seasonal components are usually modelled in a deterministic way by trigonometric functions or dummy variables. This assumption may be too strict. Instead, a more flexible model is to allow the seasonality to slowly change as a seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average model, where the seasonality is modelled as a stochastic processes. In this study, we propose to model them iteratively, combining different seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models. To this end, we test the proposed methodology with Madrid's NO2 hourly measurements of pollutants with daily, weekly and annual seasonalities, due to human activity and weather conditions. Here, we demonstrate the usefulness of our approach by comparing it with other methodological approaches proposed for this type of data. In an extensive exercise involving 15-year hourly forecasts, we show that the proposed procedure performs very well in predicting hourly pollution over a 24-h horizon and improves on alternative procedures. Additionally, the impact on the predictions of covariates such as wind speed, temperature and festivities were evaluated.
The influence of a digital clinical reasoning test on medical student learning behavior during clinical clerkships
Authors: Ruczynski Larissa IA , Schouwenberg Bas JJW , Custers Eugène , Fluit Cornelia RMG , de Pol Marjolein HJ van
Published: April 2023

PURPOSE Recently, we developed a new digital clinical reasoning test (DCRT) to evaluate students’ clinical-reasoning skills. Although an assessment tool may be soundly constructed, it may still prove inadequate in practice by failing to function as intended. Therefore, more insight is needed into the effects of the DCRT in practice.MATERIALS & METHODS Individual semi-structured interviews and template analysis were used to collect and process qualitative data. The template, based on the interview guide, contained six themes: (1) DCRT itself, (2) test debriefing, (3) reflection, (4) practice/workplace, (5) DCRT versus practice and (6) ‘other’.RESULTS Thirteen students were interviewed. The DCRT evaluates the students’ clinical-reasoning skills adequately using six different question types. Students use the implicit and explicit feedback the DCRT provides for the improvement of their clinical-reasoning learning practice. By doing so, they show behavior consistent with self-directed learning and lifelong learning. Among other things, the DCRT encourages them to engage more in formal education and workplace-learning during their clerkships. Although the faculty emphasizes the different purposes of the DCRT (assessment of/for/as learning), students predominantly perceive the DCRT as an assessment solely of learning.CONCLUSION The implementation of a DCRT leads to successful stimulation of learning and practicing clinical-reasoning skills in the workplace.
Influence of Silver Oxide Nanoparticles in the Enhancement of Electrochemical Properties of Binary Polymer Nanocomposite PTh-nAg2O
Authors: K Meenatchi G , G Velraj
Published: April 2023

In this study, a chemical oxidation polymerization method was used to create polythiophene. A binary polymer nanocomposite (PTh-nAg2O) was prepared by mechanically mixing polythiophene with silver oxide nanopowder. The Functional groups, bandgap energy, morphology and elemental composition of the sample were analyzed using FTIR, UV-Vis, SEM and EDX, respectively. At room temperature, the A.C. electrical conductivity was measured using a two-probe experimental setup in with a frequency range of 1 kHz to 10 MHz. Compared to polymer, the conductivity of the binary polymer nanocomposites improved by two orders of magnitude. Electrochemical experiments revealed that the binary polymer nanocomposite PTh-nAg2O has a maximum specific capacitance of 725 F/g at 10 mV/s. The EIS measurements revealed Nyquist plots, indicating that the polymer nanocomposite exhibits ideal capacitive behaviour.
Experimental investigation on the dynamic response of rock with different brittleness under coupled static-dynamic compression
Authors: Sun Bo , Ren Fuqiang
Published: April 2023

Deeply understanding the failure characteristics of brittle rock under the combined action of static geo-stress and dynamic disturbance is is crucial for the assessment of deep underground rock structure stability. In this study, the dynamic response characteristics of rocks with different brittleness under coupled static-dynamic loads, are investigated using the Splitting Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) impact tests on granite, green sandstone, and red sandstone. The influence of brittleness index(Bd) on stress-strain, dynamic strength, energy absorption, and failure characteristics under different axial pre-stress (APS) was analyzed. The results show that all the stress-strain curves appear to strain rebound, and the rebound deformation of the red sandstone (with the smallest Bd) is the smallest. With a rise in APS, the dynamic strength increases, then falls, and achieves its maximum when the pre-stress is 30% of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS). In addition, the energy absorption density (ηa) and the energy utilization efficiency (Ka) both show a trend of first increasing, and then decreasing as the APS increases, and the higher the Bd, the greater ηa, and the smaller Ka. Furthermore, when the APS is greater than 0.3 UCS, the crack propagation velocity (CPV) increases with the increase of APS, and the CPV is directly proportional to Bd. At 0.7 UCS, the fractal dimension of the fragments after failure reaches the maximum, indicating a more uniform distribution of fragment size.
A vault-prediction formula for implantable collamer lens based on preoperative parameters: A retrospective clinical study
Authors: Yang Jing , Li Hui , Wu Minhui , He Runzhang , Nong Yating , Zou Zongyin , Zhang Chun , Zhou Sheng
Published: April 2023

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to predict the vault of implantable collamer lens (ICL) using a formula established based on the preoperative parameters.
Methods: This retrospective study included data on 226 eyes from 114 patients(the median age and range was 27.5±5.7; 18-46 years) who underwent EVO-ICL surgery between May 2021 and April 2022. Preoperative parameters, such as anterior chamber depth (ACD) horizontal angle-to-angle diameter (ATA), Crystalline lens rise (CLR), and vault (1 week after surgery) were measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The axial length of eyes (AL) and white-to-white (WTW) values were measured using an IOLmaster and calipers under a slit lamp separately.
Result: The mean WTW, ACD, horizontal ATA diameter, CLR, AL, and vault 1 week after surgery were 11.42±0.37 mm, 3.25±0.25 mm, 11.72±0.44 mm, 45.78±175.42 μm, 27.61±1.93 mm, and 586.51±254.54 μm respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the ICL-width, ACD (β=0.293), ATA (β =-0.657), CLR (β =-0.157), and the anterior chamber angle in temporal side (T:ACA) (β=-0.277) were predictors of the vault size (adjusted-R2=0.39, P<0.001).
Conclusion: The formula built based on these preoperative parameters could be used to predict the vault before surgery. The present study showed that several preoperative parameters that may seem to be of less importance, such as CLR and T:ACA, should be taken into account when choosing the optimal ICL.
Impact of urban slum residence on coverage of maternal, neonatal and child health service indicators in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana: an ecological time-series analysis, 2018-2021
Authors: Dwomoh Duah , Iddi Samuel , Afagbedzi Seth Kwaku , Tejedor-Garavito Natalia , Dotse-Gborgbortsi Winfred , Wright Jim , Tatem Andrew J , Nilsen Kristine
Published: April 2023

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11 and 3 emphasize the need to eliminate slums, provide access to safe and affordable housing and basic services, and achieve universal coverage of maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) services by 2030. Governments and development agencies have historically neglected the problems associated with living in urban slums across major capital cities in sub-Saharan Africa. Health policies and programs have tended to focus on people living in rural communities. This study assessed the trends and compared inequities in MNCH service utilization between slum and non-slum districts in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. The study analyzed data from 29 districts using monthly time-series data on MNCH service utilization between January 2018 and December 2021 obtained from the routine health management information system. Multivariable quantile regression models with robust standard errors were used to quantify the impact of urban slum residence on MNCH service utilization. We assessed the inequality of MNCH coverage indicators between slum and non-slum districts using the Gini Index with bootstrapped standard errors and the Generalized Lorenz curve. The rates of vaccination coverage and antenatal care (ANC) attendance have declined significantly in slum districts compared to the non-slum districts. However, skilled delivery and postnatal care were found to be higher in the urban slum areas compared to the non-urban slum areas. To achieve the target of the SDGs, the Government and other relevant stakeholders should prioritize the implementation of effective policies, programs, and interventions aimed at improving access to and utilization of ANC and immunization services among the urban slum dwellers.
Physical and chemical properties of starfruit (Averrhoa Carambola L. cv. Bintang Mas) at different maturity indexes
Authors: Shapawi Zahrah-Izati Azhar , Ariffin Siti Hajar , Shamsudin Rosnah , How Syahmeer , Kantono Kevin , Baharom Ahmad Hafiz
Published: April 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.