bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acoustic and Optoacoustic Stimulations in Auditory Brainstem Response test in Salicylate Induced Tinnitus
Authors: Montazeri Katayoon , Farhadi Mohammad , Akbarnejad Zeinab , Asadpour Abdoreza , Majdabadi Abbas , Fekrazad Reza , Mahmoudian Saeid
Published: April 2023

As a common debilitating disorder worldwide, tinnitus requires objective assessment. In the auditory brainstem response (ABR) test, auditory potentials can be evoked by acoustic or optoacoustic (induced by laser light) stimulations. In order to use the ABR test in the objective assessment of tinnitus, in this study, acoustic ABR (aABR) and optoacoustic ABR (oABR) were compared in the control and tinnitus groups to determine the changes caused by Sodium salicylate (SS)-induced tinnitus in rat. In both aABR and oABR, wave II was the most prominent waveform, and the amplitude of wave II evoked by oABR was significantly higher than that of aABR. Brainstem transmission time (BTT), which represents the time required for a neural stimulation to progress from the auditory nerve ending to the inferior colliculus, was significantly shorter in oABR. In the tinnitus group, there was a significant increase in the threshold of both ABRs and a significant decrease in the amplitude of wave II only in the oABR. Based on our findings, the ABR test has the potential to be used in the assessment of SS-induced tinnitus, but oABR has the advantages of producing more prominent waveforms and significantly reducing the amplitude of wave II in tinnitus.
Prevalence of Autoimmune Thyroiditis among Children with Autoimmune Hepatitis
Authors: Mogahed Engy Adel , Soliman Hend M. , Morgan Dalia Saber , Elaal Hoda Mohammed Abd , Khattab Rasha Abd El Razek Mahmoud , Eid Ragaey A , Hodeib Mahmoud
Published: April 2023

Background Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an organ specific autoimmune disease, which can manifest at any age of life. there is a high prevalence of extrahepatic autoimmune diseases in patients with AIH. Autoimmune thyroid diseases (ATDs) are the most frequent extrahepatic autoimmune disorders among patients with AIH. Aim of work is to detect the frequency of ATDs among Egyptian children with AIH.Methods This research is a cross-sectional study conducted on 58 children with AIH aged ≤ 18 years. All patients were tested for free triiodothyronine (FT3), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and antithyroglobulin (anti-TG). Thyroid ultrasound (US) and thyroid scan were performed for patients with abnormal thyroid profile, borderline values, positive anti-TPO or anti-TG.Results The mean ± standard deviation (SD) for the age of the patients was 11.3 ± 4.5 years. Out of 58 patients of AIH, 28 patients (48.3%) had associated other autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune thyroiditis was the most common associated autoimmune disease being present in 10 patients (17.2%). The thyroid status of AIT patients showed that 6 patients (60%) were euthyroid, 3 patients (30%) had subclinical hypothyroidism and only one patient (10%) was hyperthyroid.Conclusion Autoimmune hepatitis in Egyptian children is commonly associated with other autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common to be associated with AIH in pediatric patients. As it is not usually clinically manifesting, regular screening for AIT in children with AIH is mandatory.
The Effect of Tai Chi Exercise on Physiological and Functional Fitness of Community-Based Older Adults Living with Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bibi Rashida , Khan Roheeda Amanullah , Zeb Akhter , Yan Zhang , Anwar Nasir , Mian Nasar
Published: April 2023

Tai chi is a well-known therapeutic slow-motion rhythmic exercise based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been widely practiced for health promotion in older adults. According to our knowledge, there is a scarcity of evidence, and Tai Chi practice is controversial to support that all styles of Tai Chi movements are safe or effective for those having physiological and musculoskeletal functional declines. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the randomized control trial studies to examine the effect of different types of Tai Chi (TC) exercises on physical and functional fitness in elders with physical and functional declines living in the community. We followed the PRISMA guide throughout the study. Of the 18 papers reviewed, we analyzed the risk of bias, quality, and methodology following PICO guidelines. We retrieved 18 scientific papers from the different webs of science and databases by selecting Bullion words and MESH items according to our objective. We scrutinized 866 research papers through our inclusion and exclusion criteria; only 18 papers that fulfilled the inclusion criteria went through an extensive review. Tai Chi with its 24 styles is safe, improves joint mobility function, posture control, hemodynamic balance, and stabilizes body balance in the elderly with musculoskeletal conditions. It can be practiced by elders with chronic conditions living in the community, but style adjustment is required. Future studies are required to conduct more randomized control studies to evaluate the effect of Tai Chi exercises on biochemical level for those elders with other chronic health conditions.
Correlation between vibration and power consumption of angular contact ball bearings under structural size combinations based on nonlinear dynamic model
Authors: Deng Song , Zhao Chuang , Yang Can , Qian Dongsheng , Jiang Shaofeng
Published: April 2023

To explore the correlation between vibration and power consumption of angular contact ball bearings, the evaluation of power consumption was merged into the original nonlinear dynamic model of ball bearings and this model was validated by the experimental method. On this basis, a comprehensive analysis of vibration and power consumption of ball bearings was conducted, then, the variations in the power consumption and vibration at different numbers of balls and groove curvature radii were studied, again, their optimal combinations were determined to attain the acceptable power consumption, dynamic stability and vibration in the bearing system. The corresponding results illustrate that reducing the maximum number of balls by one or two can obtain the good dynamic performance of friction consumption, dynamic stability and vibration of ball bearings, besides, the combination of inner and outer groove curvature radii should both strengthen contact loads and effectively guide the motion of the ball to get the favorable comprehensive performances.
Sequence analysis of TLR4 gene in river buffalo (Egyptian breed) and SNPs association with Mastitis
Authors: Mossallam Ahlam Ahmed Abou , Nahas Soheir M. El , Osman Noha M. , Shahwan El-Hassan T , Sabry Nevien M.
Published: April 2023

Background:Mastitis is a major cause of economic loss for dairy farmers and industry. River buffalo play an economically significant role in Egypt. Buffaloes with mastitis have reduced milk yield and change in milk composition. Genetic variations in the TLR4 gene have been related to several diseases in farm animals and humans including mastitis.The present investigation aims to find the genotypic variations in the TLR4 gene and their relation to mastitis in the river buffalo, Egyptian breed.Results:Eighty-one buffaloes (Egyptian breed) were tested for mastitis using SCC. 45% of the investigated buffaloes had mastitis. DNA from 30 buffaloes' blood samples (15 healthy and 15 with mastitis) were extracted and the TLR4 gene was sequenced. Twenty-one SNPs were found from which four SNPs were associated with mastitis: one in 5'UTR (c.1-g27) and 3 SNPs in the coding region at c.87, c.575, and c.576. The nucleotide variations in SNPs c.1-g27(C>A) and c.87 (C>A) were only present in buffalo with mastitis, while buffaloes with genotype CC at both locations were healthy. The AA genotype at c.87 (P.29) results in a stop codon leading to an abnormally shortened protein. The nonsynonymous SNPs c.575 A>G, and c.576 T>G shared amino acid 192 resulting in three amino acids (His192Arg/Gln). The dominant genotypes AA at c.575 and TT at c.576 were associated with mastitis resistance (OR<1.00), while recessive genotype GG at c.575 was associated with mastitis susceptibility (OR> 1.00). These two SNPs may affect their role in ligand recognition since they were in the LRR4 domain (p.174-p.197) which is part of coreceptor binding region 1.Conclusion:The present study confirms the relation between TLR4 genotypes and mastitis resistance or mastitis susceptibility in river buffalo. The study suggested four SNPs c1-g27C>A, c.87 C>A, c.575A>G, c. 576T>G,) have the potential to be markers for assisted buffalo selection to improve milk production.
Recent ice-flow acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior
Authors: Løkkegaard Anja , Colgan William , Thorsøe Kisser , Jakobsen Jakob , Hansen Karina , Khan Shfaqat Abbas
Published: April 2023

In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products hampers detection of inland changes. In-situ measurements using stake surveys or GPS have lower uncertainties. To detect inland changes, we repeated in-situ measurements of ice-sheet surface velocities at historical locations first measured in 1959. Here, we show ice velocities have increased 5-15% across all deep inland sites. Several sites show a northward deflection of 3-4.5° in their flow azimuth. The recent appearance of a network of large transverse surface crevasses, bisecting historical overland traverse routes, may suggest a fundamental shift in local ice dynamics. We suggest that creep instability - a coincident warming and softening of near-bed ice layers - may explain recent acceleration and rotation, in the absence of a change in local driving stress. This mechanism, if included in simulations may improve projections of future ice loss.
Influence of the freezing level on Atmospheric Rivers in High Mountain Asia: WRF case studies of orographic precipitation extremes
Authors: Nash Deanna , Carvalho Leila M.V. , Rutz Jonathan J. , Jones Charles
Published: April 2023

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) reach High Mountain Asia (HMA) about 10 days per month during the winter and spring, resulting in about 20 mm day-1 of precipitation. However, a few events may exceed 100 mm day-1, providing most of the total winter precipitation and significantly affecting water resources. This study shows that from 1979 to 2015, integrated water vapor transport (IVT) during Western HMA ARs has increased 16% while the height of the 0°C isotherm, or freezing level has increased up to 35 m. HMA ARs that have an above-average freezing level result in 10-40% less frozen precipitation compared to ARs with a below-average freezing level, increasing the risk for precipitation-related hazards such as landslides and flooding. To evaluate the importance of these trends in the characteristics of ARs, we investigate mesoscale processes leading to orographic precipitation using Advanced Weather Research and Forecasting (ARW-WRF) simulations at 6.7 km spatial resolution. We contrast two above- and below- average freezing level AR events with otherwise broadly similar characteristics and show that with a 50-600 m increase in freezing level, the above-average AR resulted in 10-70% less frozen precipitation than the below-average event. This study contributes to a better understanding of climate change-related impacts within HMA's hydrological cycle and the associated hazards to vulnerable communities living in the region.
GPX4 mRNA levels in the PMNs are negatively correlated with autoantibody production, disease activity and lupus alopecia in SLE
Authors: Yang Fangyuan , Li Liuying , Liu Huijuan , Zhang Ruilin , Liang Rongmei , Xu Wenchao , Li Yingfei , Luo Minshuang , Zhai Zeqing , Zhuang Jian , Jie Hongyu , Li Xing , Shi Xingliang , Han Xinai , He Yi , Sun Erwei
Published: April 2023

Background: Ferroptosis is a recently discovered type of regulated necrosis and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) has been recognized as a key enzyme that protects against ferroptosis. However, the significance of GPX4 inPolymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) ofsystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has not been explored. In this study, we examined GPX4 mRNA in PMNs and analyzed its association with serological and clinical features.
Methods: Real-time transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)analysis was used to determine the expression of GPX4 mRNA in PMNs from 50 SLE patients, 49 RA patients, 39 axSpA patients and 42 healthy controls(HC). The associations of the relative RNA expression levels of GPX4 with serological and clinical indicators were assessed by Spearman's correlation analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of GXP4 mRNA for SLE.
Results: GPX4 mRNA levels was lower in SLE patients than those in healthy individuals, rheumatoid arthritis(RA) patients and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients. GPX4 mRNA levels were negatively correlated with the numbers of positive antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) (r=-0.3072, p=0.0300), anti-dsDNA antibody (r=-0.3654, p=0.0336) and antinucleosome antibody (ANuA)(r=-0.4052, p=0.0263). GPX4 mRNA levels were also negatively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) (r=-0.3773, p=0.0069), C-reactive protein(CRP) (r=-0.4037, p=0.0036) and SLE Disease Activity Index(SLEDAI) score(r=-0.3072, p=0.0300). Interestingly, GPX4 mRNA levels were downregulated in patients with alopecia compared with patients without alopecia. The diagnostic capacity of GPX4 mRNA achieved high diagnostic accuracy (the area under the curve, AUC: 0.8483) with sensitivity (78.00%) and specificity (80.95%).
Conclusions: These results showed that downregulated GPX4 mRNA in PMNs of SLE patients is negatively associated with production of ANAs, disease activity and lupus alopecia, suggesting an important role of ferroptosis in SLE, high diagnostic value of GPX4 mRNA in PMNs and potential therapies targeting GPX4 for SLE patients, especially lupus alopecia.
Subjectively intense odor does not affect dream emotions during rapid eye movement sleep
Authors: Okabe Satomi , Abe Takashi
Published: April 2023

Dreams experienced during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep have emotional features. Intervention methods for dream affectivity have recently garnered interest, and we have demonstrated that negative dreams were induced during REM sleep through exposure to a favorable or familiar odors. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unclear. To address this gap, we investigated whether more intense odors could induce negative dreams, as odors tend to be perceived as more intense when they are preferred or familiar. Contrary to our hypothesis, the results of our study indicate that subjective intense odors did not induce negative dreams. We initially expected stronger odors to have a greater impact on dream emotionality, as they stimulate the brain more intensely. Notably, during arousal, weak odors tend to evoke a more potent olfactory response, while strong odors tend to produce a weaker response. To investigate whether this difference influenced the effects on dreams, we compared the respiratory activities of the strongly and weakly perceived odor groups but found no significant differences. Our findings suggest that subjectively perceived strong odors are unlikely to affect dream emotionality and may be processed differently than favorable or familiar odors.
Quantum Computing for Social Business Optimization: A practitioner’s perspective
Authors: Aljaafari Mohammed
Published: April 2023

Currently, E-commerce is widely adopted as it is important for business management and economic growth in the new global economy, and to reach the rapid increasing population. To better manage the e-commerce, it is important to collect and evaluate the Consumer Behaviour data for decision making and optimization. The conventional computing technologies need high amount of power and time for large data analysis. Quantum computing has the potential to analyze the large amount of data more efficiently than classical computing. This paper aims to explore the core process areas that need to be consider by the practitioners for adopting quantum computing in social business. To address the objective of this study, we conducted a literature review and empirical study to explore the core process areas that need to be considered for the consideration of quantum computing in social business. The results show that limited scalability, regulatory challenges, high initial cost, limited availability of quantum resources, education and training and security are the most important process areas that need to be focused by the industry practitioners. The result of this study gives a knowledge base for research and practitioners community to develop the tools and strategies for the adoption of quantum computing in social business.
The Influence of Gamification on Medical Students’ Diagnostic Decision Making and Awareness of Medical Cost: A mixed-method study
Authors: Ishizuka Kosuke , Shikino Kiyoshi , Kasai Hajme , Hoshina Yoji , Miura Saito , Tsukamoto Tomoko , Yamauchi Kazuyo , Ito Shoichi , Ikusaka Masatomi
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND The gamification of learning increases student enjoyment, and motivation and engagement in learning tasks. This study investigated the effects of gamification using decision-making cards (DMCs) on diagnostic decision-making and cost using case scenarios.METHOD Thirty medical students in clinical clerkship participated, and were randomly assigned to 14 small group. Decision-making was gamified using DMCs. The DMCs had a clinical information heading and medical cost on the front, and clinical information details on the back. First, each team was provided with brief clinical information on case scenarios. Subsequently, DMCs depending on the case were distributed to each team, and team members chose cards one at a time until they reached a diagnosis of the case. The total medical cost was then scored based on the number and contents of cards drawn. Four case scenarios were conducted. The quantitative outcomes including confidence in effective clinical decision-making, motivation to learn diagnostic decision-making, and awareness of medical cost were measured before and after our gamification by self-evaluation using a 7-point Likert scale. The qualitative component consisted of a content analysis on the benefits of learning clinical reasoning using DMCs.RESULT Confidence in effective clinical decision-making, motivation to learn diagnostic decision-making, and awareness of medical cost were significantly higher after the gamification. Furthermore, comparing the clinical case scenario tackled last with the one tackled first, the average medical cost of all cards drawn by students decreased significantly from 11,921 to 8,895 Japanese yen (p < 0.05). In the content analysis, seven advantage categories of DMCs corresponding to clinical reasoning components were extracted (information gathering, hypothesis generation, problem representation, differential diagnosis, leading or working diagnosis, diagnostic justification, and management and treatment).CONCLUSION Teaching medical students clinical reasoning using DMCs can improve clinical decision-making confidence and learning motivation, and reduces medical cost in clinical case scenarios. In addition, it can help students to acquire practical knowledge, deepens their understanding of clinical reasoning, and identifies several important clinical reasoning skills including diagnostic decision-making and awareness of medical costs. Gamification using DMCs can be an effective teaching method for improving medical students’ diagnostic decision-making and reducing costs.
Energy absorbing 4D printed meta-sandwich structures: load cycles and shape recovery
Authors: Gisario Annamaria , Desole Maria Pia , Mehrpouya Mehrshad , Barletta Massimiliano
Published: April 2023

The present study investigates the behavior of solid cellular structures in polylactic acid (PLA), created using FDM technology (Fusion Deposition Modelling). The geometries are permanently deformed by compressive stress and then subjected to the recovery of the shape, through the application of a thermal stimulus. The structures are analyzed for medium-high and medium-low compression stresses, evaluating the mechanical properties and the absorption energy as the number of cycles varies. The study shows that the ability to absorb energy is related to the density of the model, as well as the degree of damage suffered, which increases with increasing number of load cycles. The strongest geometry is the Lozenge grid, which is the most reliable, because it shows no damage with increasing compression cycles and keeps its absorption rate almost constant. The increase in Lozenge grid density leads to an improvement in both mechanical strength and absorption energy, as well as a lower incidence of microcracks in the geometry itself due to the repeated load cycles.
Predictive Ability of the GLIM Criteria on Long-term Prognosis in Patients Staying in a Palliative Care Unit: A Prospective Study
Authors: Durmaz Funda Gökgöz , KIZILARSLANOĞLU Muhammet Cemal
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Prognostic criteria are important tools that guide the management of patients. It was aimed to evaluate the malnutrition status of the patients hospitalized in the palliative care center according to the GLIM criteria and to investigate its effect on the long-term prognosis.Materials and Methods GLIM criteria were used to evaluate the malnutrition status of the participants. In order to evaluate the prognosis, length of hospital stay(LOS), mortality, need for intensive care, mortality during hospitalization, and after discharge were considered. Comorbidities were scored according to the Modified Charlson Comorbidity Index. In addition, a questionnaire form was used to recognize the socio-demographic characteristics of the individuals.Results A total of 84 patients were included in the study [52.4% women, 56% married, and the median age 74 years(min 20, max 95)]. According to the GLIM criteria, 79.8% (n = 67) of the participants were diagnosed as malnutrition. The median LOS of the patients in the palliative care center was 15(min:1-max:135) days, and the median follow-up period after discharge was 284(min:182- max:350) days. Mortality rates of the patients with malnutrition were higher during the follow-up period compared to the patients without malnutrition. Advanced age and higher Modified Charlson comorbidity score were significantly associated with mortality. There was an inverse relationship between long hospital stay and mortality rate. There was no statistically significant relationship between gender, marital status, income and education status, and mortality. Malnutrition was more commonly diagnosed in patients with dementia, high comorbidity index, and advanced age. The regression analysis showed malnutrition, malignancy, age, COPD, and dementia were the independent predictors for mortality during the follow-up period.Conclusion Malnutrition might be an independent risk factor for mortality in inpatients in a palliative care center. Screening patients for malnutrition at regular intervals and providing early nutritional support may have positive results in terms of prognosis.
Effect of anthropogenic activity on the levels of metals in surface sediments of the Gabes Gulf (Tunisia)
Authors: Gargouri Dorra , Gzam Maher , Abida Habib
Published: April 2023

The Gabes Gulf, recognized for its marine productivity, is the subject of high anthropogenic pressure. The aim of this synthesis work is to present a global view of metal contamination in marine sediments in the Gabes Gulf and its relationship with anthropogenic sources. The study is based on descriptive and chemometric methods, where contamination indices were used (Enrichment Factor and Geoaccumulation Index). The examined sites, classified in an increasing order of contamination are: southern coast of Sfax, northern coast of Sfax, and Gabes coast. Contamination is mainly explained by the industrial activity of phosphate treatment. Phosphogypsum, which is the main product enriched with metals, is evacuated directly into the sea along the Gabes coast, while small quantities were evacuated into the sea in the northern coast of Sfax. In the southern coast of Sfax, only a part of the phosphogypsum leaching water is drained into the sea. The contamination indices were calculated using two different methods. The first is based on regional natural concentration of metals while the second uses mean continental crust concentrations. The first method was shown to better characterize sediment contamination. However, the second was shown to be more adequate in comparing results against those of other areas around the world.
Omega6/omega 3 ratio is high in individuals with increased sperm DNA fragmentation
Authors: Abdollahadeh Saeideh , Riasi Alireza , Tavalaee Marziyeh , Jafarpour Farnoosh , Nasr-Esfahani Mohammad Hossein
Published: April 2023

Increased ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in spermatozoa has been positively correlated with induced lipid peroxidation and elevated sperm DNA damage. Therefore, the fatty acid composition of the individuals’ spermatozoa might be a determinant of fertility status. To that end, a case-control study was conducted including 56 infertile men (aged from 25 to 45 years) referring to Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center to investigate the relationship between sperm and seminal plasma omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio with sperm DNA fragmentation. Men were grouped into high and low percentages of sperm DNA fragmentation, and seminal and sperm parameters were assessed between the two groups. Sperm parameters (WHO criteria), oxidative stress status (BODIPY and DCF staining), residual histones (aniline blue), DNA fragmentation (TUNEL and SCSA), and plasma fatty acid composition (HPLC) were assessed. Student’s t-test and Pearson’s correlation were used as statistical methods. Individuals with high sperm DNA damage had significantly lower sperm motility, higher sperm residual histone, and lipid peroxidation. Men diagnosed with high sperm DNA damage possessed higher amounts of total saturated, monounsaturated, and omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids ratio in both sperm and seminal plasma (P < 0.05). Pearson’s correlation revealed positive correlations (P < 0.05) between omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids ratio in both sperm and seminal plasma with the percentage of sperm residual histones, DNA damage, and sperm lipid peroxidation. Overall, our results indicated that infertility caused by deficiencies in omega-3 fatty acids could be diagnosed and treated by supplementation of these fatty acids in an individual’s diet.
Bibliographic mapping of animal genetic resources and climate change in farm animals
Authors: Vieira Renata , McManus Concepta
Published: April 2023

Bibliometric mapping is a tool that allows you to visualize the academic production, as well as the publication trends over the years. In this study we carried out the bibliometric mapping of citation, co-occurrence of keywords, co-citation, and bibliographic coupling for “animal genetic resources” and “climate change”. Scopus was used to obtain the publication information and VOSViewer software to produce the maps. 1171 documents were found from authors in 129 countries from 1975 to 2022. The United States, United Kingdom and China are the top three countries producing scientific research on the topics of animal genetic resources and climate change. China is the country with the most recent publications. The United States, the United Kingdom and China stood out in almost all the analyses, but other Asian and Latin American countries appear more recently and are becoming more important in this scenario. Most of the work is related to studies involving animal adaptation, conservation, and genetic diversity, however, in recent years there has been an increasing amount of research involving genetic engineering, such as the use of genetic sequencing and SNPs. This study can help to understand new research trends in the area of animal genetic resources and climate change and can assist in the development of future actions within the research community.
Autonomous error correction of a single logical qubit using two transmons
Authors: Schuster David , Li Ziqian , Roy Tanay , Pérez David Rodríguez , Lee Kan-Heng , Kapit Eliot
Published: April 2023

Large-scale quantum computers will inevitably need quantum error correction to protect information against decoherence. Traditional error correction typically requires many qubits, along with high-efficiency error syndrome measurement and real-time feedback. Autonomous quantum error correction (AQEC) instead uses steady-state bath engineering to perform the correction in a hardware-efficient manner. We develop and realize an AQEC scheme with transmons, that actively corrects single-photon loss and passively suppresses low-frequency dephasing. Compared to uncorrected encoding, factors of 2.0, 5.1, and 1.4 improvements are experimentally witnessed for the logical zero, one, and superposition states. Our results show the potential of implementing hardware-efficient AQEC to enhance the reliability of a transmon-based quantum information processor.
Are empirical treatments compatible with the pattern of antibiotic sensitivity in urinary tract infections?
Authors: Torkamanasadi Fatemeh , Alemi Mohsen , Rahim Niloofar , Moradi Abbas
Published: April 2023

Background: Considering the importance of empirical antibiotic treatment before obtaining urine culture results, it is necessary to know the pattern of microbial sensitivity to antibiotics to proper manage urinary tract infection (UTI).
The present research aimed at determining type of pathogens causing UTI and the pattern of antibiotic sensitivity in urine cultures of hospitalized patients in Hamadan, Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 individuals (including 60 cases as the hospital-acquired infection and 60 cases as the community-acquired infection group). Clinical and demographic data were obtained from all the examined samples, and the pattern of antibiotic sensitivity in the selected cases was investigated.
Results: According to the results, most of the isolates were resistant to commonly used antibiotics in the treatment of UTIs. A significant increase was observed in drug resistance to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, and ceftriaxone, especially in community-acquired cases. In community-acquired UTIs from the gram-negative pathogen, E.coli showed the highest drug sensitivity to imipenem (100%) and Fosfomycin (95%) and the highest drug resistances were observed for ciprofloxacin (62.5%) and levofloxacin (60%). In the cases of E.coli acquired from the hospital, resistance to fluoroquinolones, ceftriaxone and cefepime increased, while the sensitivity to meropenem, imipenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam was 80.6%, 87.1% and 90%, respectively.
Conclusion: It is necessary to determine the frequency and regional antibiotic sensitivity patterns of bacteria causing UTIs to provide an effective and proper protocol for the management and treatment of serious and critical patients with UTIs.
Investigation of Internal Damage Evolution in Gneiss Considering Water Softening
Authors: Sun Changhai , Xie Bingxin , Wang Rui , Deng Xianghui , Wu Jin
Published: April 2023

In soft rock tunnels, there are often large deformations during construction, especially when the groundwater seepage and softens the surrounding rock. For achieving the purpose of studying the softening effect of water immersion on strength and stability of surrounding rock, 15 rock samples were selected for physical and mechanical tests under 5 conditions: natural state and free immersion for 1, 3, 6, and 9 months, and nuclear magnetic resonance technology(NMR) was also adopted to test the internal pore structure of specimens with different immersion durations, thus the micro structure features of the gneiss, such as the NMR relaxation time T2 spectrum distribution, porosity, and pore volume ratio of different pore sizes under water softening were then obtained. The NMR results shows that the longer the free immersion duration of the rock sample, the greater the porosity; at the same time, the number of micropores in the rock gradually decreases under the interaction of water and rock, and the mesopores increase slightly first and then decrease all the time. The number of macropores is gradually increasing. When the immersion duration is 6 months, the number of macropores begins to increase significantly, and the mechanical properties of the specimens begin to drop significantly. By 9 months, the proportion of macropores in the rock has reached 57.6%. The results showed that the number growth of macropores is the root cause of the macroscopic failure of rock sample. The study results have significance for on-site construction in water-rich areas.
Association between Triglyceride glucose index and severity of diabetic foot ulcers in type2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Zhang Xingxing , Chen Weihao , Wang Xuedong , Jiang  , Wu Jiyan , Shi Wanyan , Wang Xiaoxiao , Yin Yihu , Zheng Jiayin , Hu Xiang , Lin Cai
Published: April 2023

Background: Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a good surrogate biomarker to evaluate insulin resistance (IR). The study aimed to investigate whether the TyG index is related to the severity of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in patients with type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods: A total of 1059 T2DM patients were enrolled in this observational, retrospective, single-center study. TyG index was calculated as ln[fasting triglycerides (mg/dl)×fasting glucose (mg/ dl)/2]. The severity of DFUs was classified into mild-to-moderate DFUs (Wagner grade score <3) and severe DFUs (Wagner grade score ≥3) based on Wagner classification. Patients were stratified according to the tertiles of TyG index. Logistic regression models were implemented to explore the association between TyG index and the severity of DFUs. Subgroup analyses were used to verify the reliability of results.
Results: Compared with the reference lowest TyG tertile (T1), the highest tertile (T3) was associated with 0.377-fold increased risk of prevalence of severe DFUs (odds ratio [OR] 1.377, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.017-1.865) (P =0.039). After adjusting for potential confounders, the multivariable-adjusted OR and 95% CI were 1.506 (1.079-2.103) (P =0.016) in patients with highest tertile. Moreover, subgroup analyses indicated that the association was stronger among men, patients with age ≥ 65 years, duration of diabetes more than 10 years, or without PAD.
Conclusions: Elevated TyG index is independently associated with severity of DFUs even after adjusting conventional confounders.
Combined RNA interference and gene replacement therapy targeting MFN2 for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2A
Authors: Rizzo Federica , Bono Silvia , Ruepp Marc David , Salani Sabrina , Ottoboni Linda , Abati Elena , Melzi Valentina , Cordiglieri Chiara , Pagliarani Serena , De Gioia Roberta , Anastasia Alessia , Taiana Michela , Garbellini Manuela , Lodato Simona , Kunderfranco Paolo , Cazzato Daniele , Cartelli Daniele , Lonati Caterina , Bresolin Nereo , Comi Giacomo , Nizzardo Monica , Corti S
Published: April 2023

Mitofusin-2 (MFN2) is an outer mitochondrial membrane protein essential for mitochondrial networking in most cells. Autosomal dominant mutations in the MFN2 gene cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2A disease (CMT2A), a severe and disabling sensory-motor neuropathy that impacts the entire nervous system. Here, we propose a novel therapeutic strategy tailored to correcting the root genetic defect of CMT2A. Though mutant and wild-type MFN2 mRNA are inhibited by RNA interference (RNAi), the wild-type protein is restored by overexpressing cDNA encoding functional MFN2 modified to be resistant to RNAi. We tested this strategy in CMT2A patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-differentiated motor neurons (MNs), demonstrating the correct silencing of endogenous MFN2 and replacement with an exogenous copy of the functional wild-type gene. This approach significantly rescues the CMT2A MN phenotype in vitro, stabilizing the altered axonal mitochondrial distribution and correcting abnormal mitophagic processes. The MFN2molecular correction was also properly confirmed in vivo in the MitoCharc1 CMT2A transgenic mouse model after cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) delivery of the constructs into newborn mice using adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9). Altogether, our data support the feasibility of a combined RNAi and gene therapy strategy for treating the broad spectrum of human diseases associated with MFN2mutations.
Key Genes, Altered Pathways and Potential Treatments for Muscle Loss in Astronauts and Sarcopenic Patients
Authors: Caicedo Andrés , Castañeda Verónica , Díaz Juan , Haro-Vinueza Alissen , Park Jiwoon , Kim JangKeun Kim , Overbey Eliah , Salinas Ivonne , Nardocci Gino , Camera Andrea , Mason Christopher , Beheshti Afshin
Published: April 2023

Sarcopenia is characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength in the elderly. Interestingly, astronauts suffer from a sarcopenic-like phenotype due to microgravity, thus effective countermeasures and preventive strategies are needed. Earth precision medicine combined with statistical, co-expression network and pathway analysis enables us to explore gene expression data from people with and without sarcopenia to obtain a list of 21 Key Genes (KGs). We then validated our KGs upon data from human endothelial cells cultured in the International Space Station, and astronauts’ samples from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Inspiration 4 mission. Our results suggest that POMC and GOLGA8R are the most robust biomarkers identified for muscle loss. Finally, a pharmacological screening performed to target our KGs showed that POMC activity can be modulated using phase IV or approved drugs. Combining Earth’s precision medicine with space data is a promising approach to address common conditions related to accelerated aging.
Pollen morphology for successful pollination dependent on pollinator taxa in a generalist plant: Relationship with foraging behavior
Authors: Hasegawa Takuya , Itagaki Tomoyuki , Sakai Satoki
Published: April 2023

Pollen morphology varies at inter- and intraspecific levels. Its interaction with pollinator behavior and morphology determines pollen fate. We tested whether pollen morphology promoting successful pollination differs depending on pollinator taxa in a generalist shrub, Weigela hortensis (Caprifoliaceae). We identified flower visitors carrying pollen from anthers to stigmas and compared the spine length and diameter of the pollen grains they carried. We found that pollen on the bodies of bumble bees and hunch-back flies and the scopae of small bees (including andrenid bees) contributed to seed production. Pollen grains on the bodies of bumble bees had longer spines than those on the scopae of andrenid bees or the bodies of hunch-back flies. Pollen grains on the scopae of andrenid bees had larger diameters than those on hunch-back flies. Bumble bees collected pollen grains with shorter spines and larger diameters on their corbiculae while andrenid bees collected pollen grains with shorter spines and intermediate diameters on their scopae. The differences in morphology of pollen carried by pollinators reflected pollen collection from bodies to corbiculae/scopae by bees. Our findings suggest that pollen morphology has diversified to facilitate successful pollination by pollinating partners.
First-principles study on the high-pressure physical properties of orthocarbonate Ca 2 CO 4
Authors: Liu Zi-Jiang , Li Tian , Sun Xiao-Wei , Zhang Cai-Rong , Liu Zhong-Li , Song Ting , Wen Xiao-Dong
Published: April 2023

Orthorhombic Ca2CO4(space groupPnma) is a recently discovered orthocarbonate whose high-pressure physical properties are critical for understanding the deep carbon cycle. Here, we study the structure, elastic and seismic properties of Ca2CO4-Pnmaat 20–140 GPa using first-principles calculations, and compare them with the results of CaCO3polymorphs. The results show that the structural parameters of Ca2CO4-Pnmaare in good agreement with the experimental results. It is the potential host of carbon in the Earth's mantle subduction slab, and its low wave velocity and small anisotropy may be the reason why it cannot be detected in seismic observation. The thermodynamic properties of Ca2CO4-Pnmaat high temperature and high pressure are obtained using the quasi-harmonic approximation method. This study provides new insights into the behavior of carbonate and carbon cycles in the mantle.
β-Variational autoencoders and transformers for reduced-order modelling of fluid flows
Authors: Vinuesa Ricardo , Solera-Rico Alberto , Vila Carlos Sanmiguel , Gomez MA , Wang Yuning , Almashjary Abdulrahman , Dawson Scott
Published: April 2023

Variational autoencoder (VAE) architectures have the potential to develop reduced-order models (ROMs) for chaotic fluid flows. We propose a method for learning compact and near-orthogonal ROMs using a combination of a β-VAE and a transformer, tested on numerical data from a two-dimensional viscous flow in both periodic and chaotic regimes. The β-VAE is trained to learn a compact latent representation of the flow velocity, and the transformer is trained to predict the temporal dynamics in latent space. Using the β-VAE to learn disentangled representations in latent space, we obtain a more interpretable flow model with features that resemble those observed in the proper orthogonal decomposition, but with a more efficient representation. Using Poincaré maps, the results show that our method can capture the underlying dynamics of the flow outperforming other prediction models. The proposed method has potential applications in other fields such as weather forecasting, structural dynamics or biomedical engineering.
Fatigue in Children Using Motor Imagery and P300 Brain-Computer Interfaces
Authors: Keough Joanna Renée Grandinetti , Irvine Brian , Kelly Dion , Wrightson James , Marquez Daniel Comaduran , Kinney-Lang Eli , Kirton Adam
Published: April 2023

Background Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology offers children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy unique opportunities for communication, environmental exploration, learning, and game play. Research in adults demonstrates a negative impact of fatigue on BCI enjoyment, while effects on BCI performance are variable. To date, there have been no pediatric studies of BCI fatigue. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of two different BCI paradigms, motor imagery and visual P300, on the development of self-reported fatigue and an electroencephalography (EEG) biomarker of fatigue in healthy children.Methods Thirty-seven typically-developing school-aged children were recruited to a prospective, crossover study. Participants attended three sessions: (A) motor imagery-BCI, (B) visual P300-BCI, and (C) video viewing (control). The motor imagery task involved an imagined left- or right-hand squeeze. The P300 task involved attending to one square on a 3x3 grid during a random single flash sequence. Each paradigm had respective calibration periods and a similar visual counting game. Primary outcomes were self-reported fatigue and the power of the EEG alpha band both collected during resting-state periods pre- and post-task. Self-reported fatigue was measured using a 10-point visual analog scale. EEG alpha band power was calculated as the integrated power spectral density from 8–12 Hz of the EEG spectrum.Results Thirty-two children completed the protocol (age range 7–16, 63% female). Self-reported fatigue and EEG alpha band power increased across all sessions (F(1,155) = 33.9, p < 0.001; F = 4.0(1,149), p = 0.047 respectively). No differences in fatigue development were observed between session types. There was no correlation between self-reported fatigue and EEG alpha band power change. BCI performance varied between participants and paradigms as expected but was not associated with self-reported fatigue or EEG alpha band power.Conclusion Short periods (30-mintues) of BCI use can increase self-reported fatigue and EEG alpha band power to a similar degree in children performing motor imagery and P300 BCI paradigms. Performance was not associated with our measures of fatigue; the impact of fatigue on useability and enjoyment is unclear. Our results reflect the variability of fatigue and the BCI experience more broadly in children and warrant further investigation.
Hybrid Quantum Artificial Intelligence Electromagnetic Spectrum Analysis Framework for Transportation System Security
Authors: Vaidyan Varghese Mathew , Rimal Bhaskar P.
Published: April 2023

The traffic signal control (TSC) system is faced with both opportunities and challenges as a consequence of connected vehicle (CV) technology. Although implementing CV technology might considerably enhance safety and mobility performance, the connection between vehicles and transportation infrastructure may raise the dangers of cyber-attacks. Studies on cybersecurity in TSC systems have been undertaken in recent years. However, a safe framework for air-gapped malware analysis is still lacking. Our study aims to close this research gap by presenting a thorough electromagnetic analysis approach to address the cybersecurity issue facing the TSC in the CV environment. In this technique, a hybrid deep-learning architecture based on classical-quantum transfer learning models is constructed to study electromagnetic (EM) spectra. We assess the effect of adversarial attacks on TSC systems using these hybrid models and distinguish attacks from normal operations of the controller. A neural network trained on a dataset to collect pertinent characteristics from a high-dimensional dataset of Electromagnetic (EM) trace-based TSC attack vectors form the basis of hybrid models. The outcome of the standard deep learning process is then examined by the quantum layer. A number of quantum gates make up the quantum layer, which can enable a number of quantum mechanical activities, including superposition and entanglement. The most conceivable and feasible attack approach in transport signal controllers has been found to be data spoofing, and the potential of the proposed air-gapped electromagnetic Hybrid classical quantum monitoring framework in sensor fusion and interrupts is explored in light of these findings.
Artificial intelligence education system based on feedback-adjusted differential evolution algorithm
Authors: Xu Xiangyan , Zhao Hongmei
Published: April 2023

In order to build a high-quality artificial intelligence teaching system, based on the feedback adjustment differential evolution algorithm, this paper constructs an artificial intelligence teaching model based on machine learning, which aims to minimize the total cost of normalized network resources. Moreover, this paper abstracts the SFC mapping problem into an integer linear programming problem, which simplifies the SFC mapping solution process, and proposes a business-aware greedy search algorithm. At the same time, this paper takes into account factors such as the betweenness centrality of data center nodes in DC-EON and the maximum overlap between SFCs to complete VNF deployment, and this paper considers the bandwidth request of the virtual link, the route length and the betweenness centrality of the link to realize the link mapping. In addition, in order to improve the effectiveness of the algorithm solution, this paper designs a feedback-adjusted differential evolution operator to optimize the individuals in the population. Finally, this paper designs experiments to study the performance of the algorithm and the model. From the experimental results, it can be seen that the algorithm and model proposed in this paper basically meet expectations.