bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of treated palm fibers on the mechanical properties of compressed earth bricks stabilized by geopolymer binder based natural pozzolan
Authors: Kamwa Rolande Aurelie Tchouateu , Mousi Joseph Bikoun , Tome Sylvain , Nemaleu Juvenal Giogetti Deutou , Gérard Martine , Etoh Marie-Annie , Etame Jacques
Published: April 2024

The aim of this work is to study the influence of the palm fibers treated with soda hydroxide solution, on the properties of the compressed earth bricks stabilized with 15% of natural pozzolana based alkaline geopolymer binder. To achieve this objective, mortars composed of treated fibers at different levels (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5%) for a length of 4 and 16 cm, have been developed. These different mortars with those without fibers were subjected to mechanical (dry compression, wet compression, and flexion), physical (water absorption), mineralogical (XRD, FTIR) and microstructural (SEM/EDX) characterizations after 7 and 90 days. The results obtained show that, in general the addition of fibers improves the mechanical and physical properties of compressed earth bricks stabilized with 15% of alkali-geopolymer binder. In addition, the adding of treated palm fibers does not have an influence on the mineralogical composition of the composite bricks. The observation of the diffractograms of FTIR analysis shows that these fibers have a capacity to sorption water molecules. Furthermore, the optical analysis shows that the binder used perfectly encapsulates the fibers. This situation shows that the treated fibers act perfectly as a filler in the matrix. The maximum dry compressive strength and flexural strength values are obtained with the addition of 0.4% fibers at 90 days and are 8.08 and 5.8 MPa respectively. Furthermore, an additional of 0.4% of palm fibers in earth bricks stabilized by the alkaline geopolymer binder based natural pozzolan is recommended for the construction of buildings.
The comparison of white-to-white via triple person-times caliper measuring and machine- measuring in V4c implantable collamer lens implantation
Authors: Dan Ting-Ting , Liu Tai-Xiang , Li Zong-Ze , Liang Ceng-Peng , Li Fa-Yuan
Published: April 2024

Background: This study aimed to compare the differences in white-to-white (WTW) values obtained using the triple-person-times caliper measurement, IOL-Master 700, Pentacam HR, and UBM before V4c Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) Implantation. The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of these measurements and assess their correlation with the vault.
Methods: A total of 930 myopia patients (1842 eyes) who were interested in undergoing ICL surgery were assessed before the procedure using various instruments. The WTW measurements were obtained using a triple person-times caliper, Pentacam HR, and IOL-Master 700, whereas the angle-to-angle (ATA) measurements were obtained using UBM. The size of the ICL was subsequently calculated using triple person-times caliper measurements. The vault of the ICL was assessed using Pentacam HR three months after the surgery.
Results: The WTW was determined to be 11.31 ± 0.31mm, 11.49 ± 0.34mm, and11.86 ± 0.37mm, respectively, using the triple person-times caliper, Pentacam HR, and IOL-Master 700. The measurement of ATA was 11.58 ± 0.51mm, as done by UBM. The ICL vault was measured to be 411.49 ± 197.59 µm when examined with Pentacam HR three months after the procedure. The results from all four methods in horizontal WTW, triple person-times caliper, Pentacam HR, IOL - Master 700, and UBM, were compared and p < 0.001 was considered statistically significant. The four measures correlated well (r > 0.38, p = 0.000). The highest correlation was found between IOL-Master and Pentacam HR (r = 0.783, p = 0.00). The lowest correlation was found between UBM and Pentacam HR (r = 0.38, p = 0.00). Bland–Altman analysis showed that the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) were the triple person-times caliper and Pentacam HR (–0.59, 0.29) and the triple person-times caliper and IOL Master (–1.12,–0.03). This indicated a strong agreement between the triple person-times caliper and Pentacam HR and a lack of agreement between the triple person-times caliper and IOL Master.
Conclusions: Triple person-times caliper measurements offer excellent maneuverability, practicality, and reliable outcomes for determining ICL vaults. Measurements obtained using the triple-person caliper were less differece than those obtained using the Pentacam HR.
Rapid Estimation of Soil Arsenic Concentration Based on Spectral Feature Selection
Authors: Yue Feng , Wang JingLi , Tang YuLan
Published: April 2024

Hyperspectral technology offers a promising alternative to traditional methods for investigating soil arsenic (As) contamination. However, the relationship between soil arsenic content and spectra may involve complex non-linear dynamics and data redundancy. Therefore, selecting spectral features and constructing models for rapid estimation has become a focal point in current research. In this study, soil samples were collected from an abandoned non-ferrous metal factory area, serving as the research subject, and hyperspectral data within the visible/near-infrared (400–1000 nm) range were acquired. The original spectral data underwent preprocessing using Savitzky-Golay smoothing (SG), Multiple Scattering Correction (MSC), and first-order derivative transformation (FD). Subsequently, the dataset was partitioned using the SPXY algorithm, and bands relevant to heavy metal arsenic (As) content were identified through Spearman correlation analysis.Various feature selection algorithms were then combined with the Extended Feature Algorithm (EFA) to determine the pertinent bands. Finally, a regression prediction was conducted using the selected bands as independent variables and arsenic (As) content as the dependent variable. This was achieved by constructing an Improved Particle Swarm Optimization-Support Vector Machine Regression model (IPSO-SVMR).According to the model evaluation criteria, the band combination of the ICO-SPA feature selection algorithm combined with EFA yielded an R2 of 0.87435, an RMSE of 22.374, and an RPD of 2.8211 on the validation set, indicating its superiority as the best model constructed.This study provides an effective method for the rapid estimation of heavy metal arsenic content.
Isokinetic Strength and Functional Ratio for Quadriceps and Hamstrings among Semi-Professional Athletes in UAE playing Football, Cricket, and Tennis- Biomechanical Implications
Authors: Bhatt Yogi , Hazari Animesh
Published: April 2024

Background
Monitoring the strength of the muscle is essential for both assessing and anticipating the state of the muscle and its functional capacity. Isokinetic strength evaluation is amongst the most widely employed techniques for assessing lower limb muscle strength in athletes. It has been determined that the hamstring-to-quadricep ratio is a crucial factor in determining the incidence of lower extremity injuries. Sports like football, cricket, and tennis have similar components in practice but may have a different involvement of the hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio. Hence, this study aims to compare the isokinetic strength of the hamstrings against the quadriceps for football, cricket, and tennis among semi-professional athletes.
Methodology:
An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with the inclusion of participants between the ages of 18 years to 40 years, both males and females having an active athlete profile playing football, cricket, and tennis as a semi-professional (competing in inter-collegiate, national level tournaments). The minimum duration in each sport was taken as one hour per day and three to five times per week. A total of 66 participants were enrolled with 22 participants in each group for 6 months. ISOMOVE isokinetic device was used to assess the strength of dynamically contracting Quadriceps and Hamstring muscles.
Results
Age-wise distribution of players showed that age ranged between 18–40 years with 77.3% players in football, 68.2% in cricket, and 59.1% in tennis were males. The comparison for the mean peaks of isokinetic strength of all three sports suggested that higher isokinetic strength was found in football players with a mean value of 0.51 ± 0.07, followed by cricket and tennis with mean values of 0.48 ± 0.08 and 0.42 ± 0.05 respectively.
Conclusion
The isokinetic strength was found to be more in football players followed by cricket and tennis players for semi-professional athletes. The findings of the study conclude that isokinetic strength varies for the given three similar sports as the demand on the target muscle would vary specifically. A good isokinetic strength for football skills may not impart similar physiological properties for cricket and tennis. Thus, semi-professional players who play multiple games should consider the strength and training specific to sports to avoid the risk of injuries.
The location of cationic substitutions in carbonated biomimetic apatites significantly affects crystal nanomechanics
Authors: Deymier Alix , Wong Stephanie , Eaton Abigail , Krywka Christina , Nair Arun
Published: April 2024

Bone and teeth are comprised of carbonate-substituted apatites with cationic substitutions, like sodium and potassium. Cations substitute for calcium in the apatite lattice but it is unclear whether they substitute for Ca(1) or Ca(2). Additionally, although we know that anionic substitutions affect the mineral mechanics, it is unclear how cationic substitutions affect mineral stiffness. Here, a combined experimental and theoretical approach using in situ fluid-mediated hydrostatic loading with synchrotron Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) is used to elucidate the role of CO32− and Na+ or K+ co-substitutions on the atomic structure and mechanics of biomimetic apatites. Comparison of WAXS and DFT results showed that preferential substitutions at the Ca(1) and Ca(2) sites depended on cationic type and concentration, with a preference for Ca(1) at higher levels of co-substitution. Substitution levels and location of the cationic substitution both significantly affected the modulus of the minerals. This presents a new paradigm for the development of biomimetic apatites with multi-property tunability by considering composition and atomic organization.
Breeding in bitter gourd to leverage general and specific combiners for vital horticultural attributes
Authors: Sriniva B. , Padma S. S. Vijaya , Naidu L. Naram , Jasmitha M.
Published: April 2024

Bitter gourd is a well-known and commercially grown cucurbit all over the world. The best general and specific combiners should be employed in various breeding techniques to improve distinct horticultural traits. The current experiment was carried out in the vegetable experimental farm of the department of vegetable science at Dr. YSR Horticulture University in West Godavari, A.P. The Experiment was composed up of seven different parents that were crossed in a half diallel method, resulting in the development of 21 hybrid combinations. The analysis of variance found that the variances for general and specific combining abilities are extremely significant for all of the characters under investigation. For the traits, days to male and female flower appearance and first picking, IC-44418, Kashi Mayuri and IC-68314 were found as good general combiners whereas the hybrids viz., IC-44418 x IC-469512, IC-433630 x Special Boldar, IC-433630 x IC-68314, IC-68314 x Special Boldar, Kashi Mayuri x IC-469512, IC-469512 x Special Boldar and IC-433630 x IC-469512, are considered as promising specific combiners. For the yield components, the parents viz., Preethi, IC-469512, Special Boldar and Kashi Mayuri were observed as good general combiners whereas the hybrids viz., IC-469512 x Special Boldar, Kashi Mayuri x IC-433630, Kashi Mayuri x IC-44418, IC-44418 x IC-433630, IC-433630 x IC-469512 and Kashi Mayuri x Special Boldar were identified as good specific combiners. Selected parents with ideal per se performance and combining ability effect in various component traits can be involved in multiple crossing techniques to recombine diverse yield components.
An Improved Algorithm for Grouped Hierarchical Multi-object Tracking Based on Feature and Motion Prediction Enhancement
Authors: Zhang Yuhui , Cai Xi , Kao Jiacheng , Zhao Huiying , Hu Ruixue , Han Guang
Published: April 2024

Multi-object tracking (MOT) is a significant challenge within the field of computer vision, holding various practical applications. Nevertheless, it is still a challenge to extract more discriminative features, more accurate prediction of target motion trajectories and better matching strategies in tracking tasks. This study delves into a large number of multi-target tracking algorithms and makes improvements in feature extraction, motion prediction, similarity calculation and data association. A dual-attention module has been incorporated into the feature extraction network with the aim of enhancing the feature information; a position and velocity information fusion module is designed in the motion prediction stage to learn the long-term dependency of target motion information; and finally, a pedestrian grouping hierarchical data association module is designed to accomplish tracking. Our study shows that we achieve competitive performance on popular multi-object tracking benchmarks (e.g., MOT16, MOT17) compared to current state-of-the-art methods.
Genetically Predicted Elevated Circulating 3,4-Dihydroxybutyrate Levels Mediate the Association between families.Christensenellaceae and Osteoporosis Risk: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: 侯 达隆 , 阳 阳
Published: April 2024

Objective: To investigate the impact of gut microbiota on osteoporosis and identify the mediating role of blood metabolites in this process.
Methods: This two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study utilized summary level data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Gut microbiota GWAS data were obtained from the MiBio-Gen consortium meta-analysis (n=13,266), while osteoporosis summary statistics were sourced from the FinnGen consortium R9 release data (7300 cases and 358,014 controls). Metabolite data, including 1400 metabolites or metabolite ratios, were derived from a study involving 8,299 unrelated individuals. The primary MR method employed was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Reverse MR analysis was conducted on bacteria causally associated with osteoporosis in forward MR. The gut microbiota with the smallest p-value was selected as the top influencing factor for subsequent mediation analysis. A two-step MR approach quantified the proportion of the blood metabolite effect on gut microbiota influencing osteoporosis. IVW and Egger methods were used to assess heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.
Results: IVW estimates indicated a suggestive effect of family.Christensenellaceae on osteoporosis (odds ratio(OR) = 1.292, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.110–1.503, P =9.198 × 10−4). Reverse MR analysis revealed no significant causal effect of osteoporosis on family.Christensenellaceae (OR = 0.947, 95% CI: 0.836–1.072, P =0.386). The proportion of the effect of family.Christensenellaceae on osteoporosis mediated by circulating levels of 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate was 9.727%. No significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was detected in the instrumental variables used for MR analysis.
Conclusion: This study establishes a causal link between family.Christensenellaceae and osteoporosis, with a minor proportion of the effect mediated by elevated circulating levels of 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate. Further randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are warranted to validate this conclusion.
Comorbidity index model to predict the death risk of hemodialysis patients: a single-center observational cohort study
Authors: Yu Yanna , Wang Zhan , pei xiahua , Li Fen , Ni Zhibin , Zhang Shu
Published: April 2024

Background
Comorbidity prediction models have been demonstrated to offer more comprehensive and accurate predictions of death risk compared to single indices. However, their application in China has been limited, particularly among chronic kidney disease patients. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of comorbidity index models in predicting mortality risk among Chinese maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.
Methods
Take the MHD patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine as the subjects, Claims-based Disease-specific refinements Matching translation to ICD-10 and Flexibility (CDMF-CCI) model and Liu model were selected as the candidate models for this verification research. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression calculation were used to analyze the independent predictive effect of the models on survival rate.
Results
Annually, nearly 500 patients undergo hemodialysis treatment. From January 2019 to June 2022, a total of 199 patients succumbed, with a mean age of 65.2 years. During these four years, the mortality rates were 13.04%, 9.68%, 11.69%, and 6.39%, respectively. The leading causes of death were sudden demise (82 patients, 41.2%), cardiovascular disease (48 patients, 24.1%), pulmonary infection (33 patients, 16.5%), and stroke (19 patients, 9.5%). When compared to individual indices, the CDMF-CCI model displayed more accurate and predictive results, with an HR of 1.1. Conversely, the Liu model failed to identify high-risk individuals.
Conclusions
The MHD patients face a significant risk of mortality. When compared to univariate parameters and the Liu model, the CDMF-CCI model exhibits superior predictive accuracy for mortality in MHD patients.
Research on fusing improved A* and adaptive DWA path planning algorithms
Authors: LIAO YIKUI , WANG ZHITE , QIN YIQUAN
Published: April 2024

To satisfy the performance requirements of robot path planning, an algorithm combining the improved A* algorithm and the improved Dynamic Window Approach (DWA) is proposed, which results in shorter path lengths, improved search efficiency, and path smoothness. Aiming at the challenges of the traditional A* algorithm in complex scenarios, a new heuristic function based on Manhattan and diagonal is designed, and then weights are dynamically assigned to obtain the global shortest path and the least search time. Then, an improved search strategy based on 8-neighborhoods is proposed, which improves the search efficiency and reduces the time consumption of the traditional 8-neighborhood 8-direction search method by dynamically assigning the optimal search direction of the current node. On the other hand, the traditional DWA algorithm faces some challenges, such as the paths are not globally optimal, the path planning may fail or path length may increase, the azimuthal coefficient is rigid, and the algorithm is computationally intensive. For these problems, a keypoint densification strategy is proposed to modify the deflected paths, adaptively adjust the azimuth function coefficients, and limit the range of the obstacle distance function. Finally, the proposed improved A* algorithm and fusion algorithm are compared with the existing methods. The simulation results under the ROS system show that the improved A* algorithm can generate the shortest global path in complex environments, the average path length is reduced by 3.95%, and the average path searching time is shortened by 21.62%. For the fused algorithm, the average path length and the average runtime are reduced by 5.95% and 8.7% in the moving obstacles environment.
Genetically predicted 15 circulating blood cell traits and Esophageal Cancer：a comprehensive Mendelian randomization study
Authors: li Xiang long , Xie Wanying , Tan Yu , Yang Shaofeng , Zhou Qingyu
Published: April 2024

Background: Epidemiologic evidence indicates that circulating blood cell traits may be linked to both the incidence and outcome of Esophageal Cancer. Nevertheless, these studies are at risk of being influenced by confounding factors. In our research, we conducted Mendelian randomization to explore the potential causal association between circulating blood cell traits and EC.
Methods: This study utilized genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets to analyze genetic variation using a two-sample MR design. The EC data was obtained from a GWAS study involving 740 cases and 372,016 controls (identifier: ieu-b-4960), while data for 15 circulating blood cell traits were sourced from a GWAS with 562,132 participants. Various statistical methods including Inverse variance weighted (IVW), Weighted median, MR Egger regression, Weighted mode, and Simple mode were employed to assess the causal connection between the circulating blood cell traits and EC. Additionally, a series of sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the robustness of the findings.
Results: The results found significant association between elevated circulating BAS counts (odds ratio, OR: 1.0012, 95 % confidence interval, CI: 1.0004-1.0020, p =0.0037), and decreased circulating levels of HBG (OR: 0.9994, 95% CI: 0.9989-1.0000, p =0.0403) with the risk of EC in the IVW approach. In addition,circulating blood cell traits including MPV (OR: 0.0506, 95% CI:0.0034 -0.7435, p =0.0295 ) and LYM (OR: 0.1356, 95% CI:0.0209-0.8816, p =0.0364) are suggested to be the consequences of EC
Conclusions: In this research, we systematically examined the association between the 15 circulating blood cell traits and the occurrence of EC. We identified upstream regulators (BAS counts) and downstream effectors (HBG concentration) associated with EC. In addition, EC affects circulating levels of LYM counts and MPV. Our results provide valuable insights into the role of circulating blood cell traits in the development of EC, offering new avenues for further research and potential interventions in the prevention and management of EC.
Tibiotalocalcaneal Ankle Arthrodesis with Posterior Approach Arthroscopic-Assisted Hindfoot Nailing, Early-Mid-Term Clinical, and Radiological Results: A Retrospective Analysis of 25 Patients
Authors: Ertan Mehmet Batu , Özbek Emre Anıl , Yoğun Yener , Kocaoğlu Hakan , Güngör Erdal , Akmeşe Ramazan
Published: April 2024

Background: End-stage ankle arthrosis causes severe pain and limited movement. In this case, tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis (TTCA) surgery forms the basis for surgical treatment in the appropriate patient group. TTCA with arthroscopy-assisted hindfoot nailing can be used to achieve a high union rate and low complication rate. In this study, we aimed to examine the early- and mid-term results of patients treated with this technique from various perspectives and to evaluate them by comparing them with the current literature.
Methods: Data were collected from 25 patients who met the established criteria and underwent TTCA with posterior approach arthroscopic-assisted hindfoot nailing. In addition to the demographic data of the patients, their clinical and pain scores were evaluated using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and visual analogue scale (VAS). These scoring data were collected preoperative, postoperative 3rd month, postoperative 12th month, and at the final postoperative follow-up (18–24th months). Additionally, the union time and complication data during the follow-up period were examined.
Results: When the AOFAS and VAS scores of the 25 patients were examined, a significant improvement was observed in the preoperative period and early postoperative period comparisons (p < 0.001). No significant change was observed between the comparison of the postoperative 12th month and last postoperative control clinical scores. While the union rate of the patients was observed to be 92%, the average union time was 13.1 ± 3.5 weeks. During follow-up, peri-implant fracture, deep infection, and non-union were observed in one patient each (12%).
Conclusion: The early- and mid-term postoperative results of patients treated with TTCA surgery with posterior approach arthroscopic-assisted hindfoot nailing show that this technique may be an option with low complication and high union rates for the appropriate group of patients planned for ankle arthrodesis.
Sensitive bispecific chimeric T cell receptors for cancer therapy
Authors: Riddell Stanley , Simon Sylvain , Bugos Grace , Prins Rachel , Rajan Anusha , Palani Arulmozhi , Heyer Kersten , Stevens Andrew , Zeng Longhui , Thompson Kirsten , Price Jason , Kluesner Mitchell , Jaeger-Ruckstuhl Carla , Shabaneh Tamer , Olson James , Su Xiaolei
Published: April 2024

The expression of a synthetic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to redirect antigen specificity of T cells is transforming the treatment of hematological malignancies and autoimmune diseases [1-7]. In cancer, durable efficacy is frequently limited by the escape of tumors that express low levels or lack the target antigen [8-12]. These clinical results emphasize the need for immune receptors that combine high sensitivity and multispecificity to improve outcomes. Current mono- and bispecific CARs do not faithfully recapitulate T cell receptor (TCR) function and require high antigen levels on tumor cells for recognition [13-17]. Here, we describe a novel synthetic chimeric TCR (ChTCR) that exhibits superior antigen sensitivity and is readily adapted for bispecific targeting. Bispecific ChTCRs mimic TCR structure, form classical immune synapses, and exhibit TCR-like proximal signaling. T cells expressing Bi-ChTCRs more effectively eliminated tumors with heterogeneous antigen expression in vivo compared to T cells expressing optimized bispecific CARs. The Bi-ChTCR architecture is resilient and can be designed to target multiple B cell lineage and multiple myeloma antigens. Our findings identify a broadly applicable approach for engineering T cells to target hematologic malignancies with heterogeneous antigen expression, thereby overcoming the most frequent mechanism of relapse after current CAR T therapies.
Epigallocatechin inhibits PDGF-BB-induced vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation via DNMT1 regulation of the Nur 77 axis
Authors: shen Li , Tan Juanjuan , Li Feng , Xia Ke , Yuan Zhichao , Yan Zhiqiang
Published: April 2024

EGCG inhibits vascular smooth muscle proliferation.Nur77 and DNMT1 have been observd in the plaques of patients with atherosclerosis and are thought to be associated with vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. This study was designed to investigate the role and mechanism of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells( VSMCs) and clarified the underlying molecular mechanism of EGCG. We investigated whether EGCG suppressed platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis in vivo and vitro. The effect of EGCG on smooth muscle cell proliferation and phenotype were evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK8), EdU staining, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.The effect of EGCG on smooth muscle cell migration was uising Wound-healing assay and Western blot analysis..The effect of EGCG on smooth muscle cell apoptosis was uising Flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. The current findings demonstrated that EGCG alleviated neointimal hyperplasia in balloon-induced arterial walls in vivo, significantly inhibited PDGF-BB-induced VSMC proliferation, migration, and promoted apoptosis in vitro and identical results were obtained in vivo..Moreover, EGCG attenuated VSMC proliferation by modulating the regulation of the DNMT1-Nur77-signaling axis. Our collective data showed that EGCG inhibited PDGF-BB-induced VSMC proliferation via DNMT1 regulation of the Nur77- signaling axis. In conclusion, These findings suggest that EGCG may be a promising therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of CVDs.
Research on Dynamic Urine Volume Detection System Based on Smart Flexible Textile Sensors
Authors: Xiong Fan * , Li Yunfei , Xie Chuanle , Wang Zheng , Zhou Jinli , Yang Hongying , Fan Mengzhao , Yang Chaoran , Zheng Junjie , Wang Chenxiao , Guo Cheng
Published: April 2024

Urinary leakage volume is a crucial indicator reflecting the condition of patients with urinary incontinence. Currently, there are limited smart diapers capable of continuous dynamic detection of urinary volume. This study developed two types of urinary volume sensors based on resistance and capacitance, integrating them with traditional diapers for evaluating the severity of urinary leakage: mild leakage: 0-5mL; moderate leakage: 6-12mL; severe leakage: above 12mL. Three patterns of resistance-based urinary volume sensors were designed. The results showed that Pattern A could accurately determine the level of urinary volume. Additionally, three electrode distances of capacitance-based urinary volume sensors were designed. The results demonstrated that the sensor with a 1cm electrode spacing could detect the urinary volume range, indicating 1mL per drop with a capacitance increase of approximately 1.5-1.8pF. The error per drop was around ± 0.5mL. This study validated the feasibility of smart flexible textile sensors in urinary volume detection, providing a potential solution for better assessing and managing the condition of patients with urinary incontinence.
Nonlinear associations of dietary selenium intake with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after stroke in US adults: findings from NHANES 1999-2018
Authors: Deng Yi , Du Senlin , Tao Jiarong , Jin Ruiyun , Tong Feng , Peng Jiaxing , Fang Hua , Wu Miaojing , Tang Zhenyu
Published: April 2024

Background: The association between dietary selenium intake and mortality in stroke patients remains unclear. We aimed to explore these associations through NHANES 1999-2018.
Methods: Stroke participants ≥20 years of age were enrolled and were followed until December 31, 2019. Dietary selenium intake and stroke diagnosis were obtained by self-report on the questionnaire. Mortality information was obtained through prospective matching with the National Death Index database.
Results: 1334 stroke survivors were included. Dietary selenium intake was significantly and inversely associated with all-cause mortality in stroke patients after adjusting for all confounders (hazard ratio [HR]=0.997, p=0.024). Compared to the reference population, stroke patients with dietary selenium intake in quartiles Q2, Q3, and Q4 were associated with reduced all-cause mortality (p for trend=0.02). Dietary selenium intake at Q2 was associated with reduced CVD mortality after stroke and not significantly associated with cancer mortality. Restricted cubic spline analysis indicated that dietary selenium intake was nonlinearly associated with all-cause (p for nonlinear=0.0361) and CVD mortality (p for nonlinear=0.0189) in stroke patients. Segmented regression showed that dietary selenium intake was inversely associated with all-cause and CVD mortality at <81 mcg/d and 87 mcg/d, respectively, with no additional protective effects thereafter. Stratified analyses suggested that these effects were only present in specific ages and genders.
Conclusions: In a national longitudinal cohort, dietary selenium intake was nonlinearly associated with all-cause and CVD mortality but not cancer mortality after stroke in U.S. adults. Dietary selenium intake at 81 mcg/d and 87 mcg/d had the optimal protective effect on post-stroke all-cause and CVD mortality, respectively.
Relationship Between Parathyroid Hormone Levels and Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent Dose Requirements in Hemodialysis Patients; a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sabzi Elnaz , Rasaei Nakisa , Heydarzadeh Reza , Vafa Reza Golchin , Sohrabizadeh Sina , Malekmakan Leila , Haghighat Shirin
Published: April 2024

Background
Anemia is a prevalent issue among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis, influenced by various factors. Treatment typically involves erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapy and iron formulations, yet achieving optimal hemoglobin levels poses challenges. This study aims to explore the correlation between parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and ESA dosage requirements in hemodialysis patients.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study of 238 CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis for more than six months, we collected data on various parameters, including gender, duration of CKD and hemodialysis, hemodialysis frequency, cause of kidney failure, ESA dosage, complete blood count (CBC), iron profile, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, PTH, albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), and Kt/V.
Results
A total of 238 patients (58.4% male, 41.6% female) were categorized into two groups based on their anemia control status: the poor anemia control group (hemoglobin ≤ 11 g/dL) comprising 56.30% of the patients, and the good anemia control (hemoglobin > 11 g/dL) comprising 43.7% of the patients. While the correlation between PTH and ESA dose was not statistically significant overall (correlation coefficient: 0.015, p-value = 0.825), a meaningful correlation was observed in patients with poor anemia control (correlation coefficient: 0.177, p-value = 0.046). Additionally, dialysis adequacy (Kt/V) was significantly associated with improved hemoglobin levels (correlation coefficient: 0.931, p-value < 0.001).
Conclusion
In this study, we observed no correlation between PTH levels and ESA dosage in hemodialysis patients overall. However, a notable finding emerged among individuals with lower hemoglobin values (≤ 11 g/dL) despite standard treatments. In this subgroup, a significant relationship between PTH levels and the required ESA doses was evident, suggesting a potential link between elevated PTH levels and resistance to EPO.
Changes in proximal colon on intestinal ultrasound indicate efficacy of remission induction therapy for active ulcerative colitis
Authors: Izumikawa Koichi , Inaba Tomoki , Yasutomi Eriko , Takahashi Sakuma , Yamauchi Kenji , Syunsuke Colvin Hugh , Okamoto Kunio , Sakakihara Ichiro , Yamamoto Kumiko , Tanaka Shigetomi , Ishikawa Shigenao , Wato Masaki
Published: April 2024

Background
The utility of intestinal ultrasound (IUS) on remission induction therapy for acute ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been fully addressed.
Aims
To elucidate the effectiveness of IUS for the assessment of remission induction therapy.
Methods
In all, 107 sites in 32 patients (12 with severe colitis, 20 with moderate colitis) were analyzed. Disease activity was assessed as Mayo endoscopic score (MES) by colonoscopy. The US grade and bowel wall thickness (BWT) before induction therapy were compared with the MES. Changes in the US grade and BWT before and after clinical improvement were analyzed at the site of the strongest inflammation and at the oral and anal sides.
Results
The US grade and MES were well correlated, yielding a correlation coefficient of 0.59 (p < 0.01). After clinical improvement, the rates of improvement in the US grade and BWT at the most inflamed region, oral side, and anal side were 9.4% and 21.9%, 43.8% and 43.8%, 12.5% and 21.9%, respectively. The US grade and BWT decreased at all sites after clinical improvement in all cases (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). However, the change in US grade was significantly greater at the oral side than at the site of strongest inflammation or anal side (p = 0.048, p = 0.034, respectively).
Conclusion
IUS is an effective method for assessing the efficacy of remission induction therapy for active UC, and the assessment should be done at the proximal part of the colon, as opposed to solely at the site of the strongest inflammation.
The Risk of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Coagulopathy in IBD Patients with Cirrhosis
Authors: Rajamanuri Medha , Pannala Sreeram , Dar Sophia , Danduboyina Anirudh , scaife Steve , Arshad Hafiz Muhammad Sharjeel
Published: April 2024

Introduction: In cirrhotic patients, systemic inflammation disrupts the delicate balance of hemostatic variables, akin to what occurs in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), potentially resulting in a shift towards either a procoagulant or anticoagulant state. Current guidelines advocating for anticoagulation use in hospitalized IBD patients lack strong evidence, and there is a notable absence of guidelines tailored specifically for those with underlying cirrhosis. This study seeks to explore how underlying cirrhosis impacts the risk of coagulopathy and gastrointestinal bleeding in IBD patients, aiming to provide insights for making well-informed decisions regarding anticoagulation therapy.
Patients and Methods: Utilizing the National Inpatient Sample database, we identified hospitalizations with a primary or secondary diagnosis of IBD and cirrhosis based on ICD-10 codes from 2016 to 2020. This retrospective cohort study excluded pregnant women, patients requiring chronic anticoagulation, and those with malignancies to mitigate confounding. A meticulous 1:1 matching for significant comorbidities between cohorts was performed. Primary outcome studied is incidence of upper GI bleed, secondary outcomes include mortality, venous thromboembolism, length of stay.
Results: Of the total IBD patients, 5,375 had cirrhosis. Following 1:1 matching, both the cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic groups comprised 4,195 patients. In the matched cohorts, IBD patients with cirrhosis exhibited an increased risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (RR-3.60, p < 0.0001) and mortality (RR-2.78, p < 0.002), while there was no significant difference in venous thromboembolism (VTE) events (RR-1.70, p-0.446). Length of stay did not significantly differ between the groups.
Conclusion: This study uncovers a markedly elevated incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding among IBD patients with cirrhosis. Our results underscore the importance of diligent monitoring and close follow-up for individuals with both conditions. The efficacy of anticoagulation in preventing thromboembolic events remains uncertain in these patients, given the heightened propensity for bleeding observed in our study among those with IBD and cirrhosis. Future randomized clinical trials are warranted to investigate the effect of anticoagulation in this population, taking into account the varying severity of underlying cirrhosis.
Evaluation of Western Ethiopian Sorghum Landraces for Resistance to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth
Authors: Earecho Minyahil Kebede , Nebiyu Esubalew
Published: April 2024

Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth is an obligate root parasite that causes severe yield losses in sorghum production in semi-arid areas. It reduces yields in sorghum, maize, millets, and rice crops. Striga resistant or tolerant sorghum would form a great part of an integrated Striga control. Thus, this study aimed to determine the response of 48 sorghum genotypes against artificially infested S. hermonthica under pot and field experimentation. Two resistant (Berhan and Framida), and susceptible Assosa-1, Adukara, and/or ETSL102967 were used as a positive and negative checks. The results showed a high variability among sorghum landraces with respect to the effects of Striga parasitism. Early maturing sorghum landraces have the lowest Striga densities and late maturing sorghum landraces are too susceptible to Striga. Sorghum landraces ETSL102969 was found the most resistant sorghum landrace that shown similar Striga number as Birhan (resistant check). Also, ETSL102970 sorghum landraces was found the second resistant landrace with better Striga resistance than Framida (resistant check). Therefore, it is recommended that using ETSL102969 and ETSL102970 as a resistance source to enhance the resistance of sorghum against S. hermonthica in Ethiopia.
Effects on anorectal function of endoscopic submucosal dissection for rectal tumors involving the dentate line
Authors: Kobayashi Yumie , Fukunaga Shusei , Kanamori Atsushi , Kono Mitsuhiro , Ochiai Tadashi , Ominami Masaki , Otani Koji , Hosomi Shuhei , Tanaka Fumio , Taira Koichi , Fujiwara Yasuhiro
Published: April 2024

Background:Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a specific procedure that utilizes an electrosurgical knife for en-bloc resectioning large tumors. However, no study has examined the effect of ESD on the defecation function of patients with rectal tumors. We aimed to investigate the potential effects caused by ESD by analyzing changes in the morphology and movement of the anorectum pre- and post-ESD.
Methods: This prospective observational study included 11 patients with anorectal tumors who underwent ESD between April 2020 and February 2022. Pre-ESD assessments includedanorectal manometry and defecography. Post-ESD assessments were conducted 2 months later, including anorectal manometry, defecography, and proctoscopy for ulcer and stenosis evaluation.
Results: The median patient age was 73 years, including seven males and four females. Eight (73%) patients had rectal Rb lesions, with a resection range of one-third (0.33). Resection reached the dentate line in six cases (55%). No cases of perforation, delayed bleeding, or delayed perforation occurred. In the patients with post-ESD mucosal defects involving the dentate line, the median of functional anal canal length significantly decreased from (3.4 cm pre-ESD to 2.8 cm post-ESD, p = 0.04). Defecography revealed one case with incomplete evacuation (< 50%) and incontinence post-ESD. Interestingly, patients with pre-existing rectoceles noted resolution of lesions post-ESD. None of the patients reported daily constipation or fecal incontinence.
Conclusions: While rectal ESD is unlikely to cause significant real-world defecation difficulties, alterations in rectal and anal canal morphology and function may occur if the dentate line is involved in the resection range.
Comprehensive Assessment of serum 3′-tRF Arg as a novel diagnostic biomarker for gastric cancer
Authors: Ding Rui , Li Yang , Zhang Yu , Li Xun , Gu Xinliang , Shen Xianjuan , Ju Shaoqing
Published: April 2024

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the malignant tumors with the highest mortality rates worldwide, yet there is a lack of diagnostic markers with high sensitivity in the clinic. tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are a novel type of non-coding small RNAs characterized by their abundance in body fluids and specific biological functions. In this study, we focused on the potential of tsRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis of GC.
Methods: Differential expression of tsRNAs was screened by high-throughput sequencing, and Quantitative real-time PCR verified the expression of 3′-tRFArg in GC serum and tissues. The methodological evaluation of 3′-tRFArg was confirmed using Sanger sequencing and agarose gel electrophoresis. The correlation between the expression levels of 3′-tRFArg and clinical pathological parameters was analyzed using Chi-square tests. The diagnostic value was assessed through the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the impact of 3′-tRFArg expression on survival was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis.
Result: 3′-tRFArg was found underexpressed in GC tissues and serum with good stability. The differential expression of serum 3′-tRFArg could identify GC patients and show significant correlations with clinical pathological features. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that 3′-tRFArg possesses a higher diagnostic value than conventional biomarkers, particularly in the early diagnosis of GC.
Conclusions: 3′-tRFArg is significantly underexpressed in the serum of GC patients and can serve as a biomarker of high sensitivity. It possesses superior diagnostic efficacy compared to traditional markers and is valuable for monitoring tumor development and prognosis.
Investigation on Dynamical Mechanics of Rock-Backfill Composite Samples under SHPB Test
Authors: Ma Haiyue , Zhang Yunpeng , Yang Xi
Published: April 2024

In blast-induced caving mining employing backfilling techniques, understanding the mechanism of interaction and evolution of deformation between rock and backfill under coupled conditions has become essential. In order to perform dynamic uniaxial impact testing at high strain rates utilizing the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) test technique, this research produced coupled specimens of rock and cemented tailing backfill (CTB). The coupled body's stress-strain curves at various strain rates were measured, and the failure processes behind them were examined. Using GDEM software, a coupled model of SHPB rock-CTB was created in order to examine the internal variations in stress wave velocity as well as the evolution of cracks in the coupled specimens. According to experimental results, the dynamic compressive strength of the connected body increases first, falls later, and finally stabilizes when the average strain rate (ASR) increases from 27.45 s− 1 to 68.73 s− 1. At typical strain rates below 60 s− 1, the stress-strain curve displays a "stress drop" type, and at rates over 60 s− 1, a "stress rebound" type. When the ASR is below 55 s− 1, the energy absorption progressively increases; when it is above 55 s− 1, it reduces and then increases again. The simulation results validate the validity of the experimental conclusions by showing that transverse and longitudinal cracks occur on the surface of the backfill, with greater deformation observed on the side in contact with the transmission bar compared to the side in contact with the rock.
LACTNet: A Lightweight Real-time Semantic Segmentation Network Based on Aggregation CNN and Transformer
Authors: Zhang Xiangyue , Li Hexiao , Ru Jingyu , Ji Peng , Wu Chengdong
Published: April 2024

Transformers have shown a significant advantage over CNNs in modeling long-range dependencies, which has led to their increased attention in semantic segmentation tasks. In the current work, a novel semantic segmentation model-LACTNet is introduced, which synergistically combines Transformer and CNN architectures for real-time processing. LACTNet is designed with a lightweight Transformer featuring a gated convolutional feedforward network, which is combined with CNNs to compensate for their respective shortcomings. LACTNet designs a Lightweight Average Feature Bottleneck (LAFB) module that effectively guides spatial detail information within the features, thus enhancing segmentation accuracy. To address the loss of spatial features in the decoder, a long skip-connection approach is employed through the designed Feature Fusion Enhancement Module (FFEM), which boosts both the integrity of spatial features and the feature interaction capability in the decoder. Testing on both the Cityscapes and CamVid datasets confirms that LACTNet attains mIoU scores of 74.8% and 71.8%, respectively, while also maintaining real-time frame rates of 90 FPS and 126 FPS.