bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STUDY OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE POLYMER HYDROGELS FOR REGULATION OF WATER-LIPID BALANCE
Authors: Lebedeva K. O. , Cherkashina A. N. , Savchenko D. A. , Matiukhov D. V. , Lebedev V. V.
Published: December 2023

The article shows studies on the study of biologically active polymeric hydrogel materials for the regulation of water-lipid balance. It is shown that the current trend in the development of biologically active polymers and materials based on them is the technology of creating effective systems for the transdermal delivery of drugs and active substances to the human body. As part of the literature review, it has been proven that transdermal delivery systems based on biologically active polymeric materials are of increased interest in the administration of drugs through the skin, for local therapeutic effects on the affected skin during systemic local drug delivery, and they are also widely used in the direction biologically active materials in the form of various types of polymeric hydrogels. In the article, a study was conducted to determine the features of obtaining biologically active polymeric hydrogel materials for regulating the water-lipid balance. Food gelatin TM "Mriya" (Ukraine), glycerin, sodium alginate, humic acids and distilled water were used in the work. The development and research of biologically active polymeric hydrogel materials for the regulation of water-lipid balance has been carried out. It has been established that humic acids in polymer hydrogels based on gelatin and sodium alginate have a high antibacterial activity and completely stop the processes of mold formation in them. It has been proven that compositions based on gelatin and sodium alginate with a content of humic acids of 15 % are the most effective in terms of obtaining hydrogels with an antibacterial effect. Effective biologically active polymeric hydrogel materials based on gelatin and sodium alginate, modified with different content of humic acids, have been obtained and studied. Modification of biopolymer hydrogels based on gelatin and sodium alginate with humic acids makes it possible to obtain biologically active polymeric hydrogel materials with an increased degree of swelling and the ability to significantly improve the moisture-lipid balance of the skin: according to the initial indicators of moisture 34–36 % and fat content 8–10 % of the skin, it increases them up to 58–66 % and 52–60 % respectively. In fact, thanks to the use of biologically active polymeric hydrogel materials based on gelatin and sodium alginate modified with humic acids, it becomes possible to transform the state from weakly oily tough to highly moist oily elastic skin. The effect of improving the moisture-lipid balance of the skin is enhanced along with the content of humic substances.
INTEGRATION OF OPERATION OF REGENERATORS OF GLASS FURNACES
Authors: Selikhov Yu.A. , Gorbunov K. A.
Published: December 2023

The material of the article relates to the glass industry, namely to equipment for cooling the roof of regenerators of glass melting furnaces and can be used in the construction of new or reconstruction of existing regenerators.

When the refractories of industrial glass melting furnaces are destroyed, an intensive decrease in the wall thickness of the melting basin occurs, which leads to a significant increase in the temperature of the outer surface of the walls and, accordingly, an increase in heat losses. The maximum destruction of the refractory masonry of the walls of the melting basin is observed at the level of the mirror of the melted glass. There is uneven wear along the height and perimeter of the pool. The rate of destruction of the masonry is determined by the stability of the used refractories, the temperature regime of glass melting, and the design features of the units.

The technical task of the article is: to increase the service life of the refractory masonry of the glass furnace regenerator roof; utilization of the heat of the outer masonry surface of the regenerator roof, as well as improvement of its cooling system by using water cooling of the outer surface of the regenerator roof; saving fuel consumed to heat the same amount of coolant in boiler equipment.

The proposed cooling of the outer surface of the regenerator roof makes it possible to: reduce the temperature of the outer surface of the roof to the level of 30 °C and at the same time make the most of the heat of the outer surface of the regenerator roof, which has not been used before, for example, to obtain hot water from a heat supply system, and this makes it possible to save fuel costs, which are necessary for the operation of boiler equipment to heat the same amount of coolant; to ensure a more uniform distribution of temperature fields over the entire plane of the regenerator roof by using flat collectors of a special design, which, in turn, makes it possible to slow down the process of destruction of the refractory lining of the regenerator roof. The thermocouples installed in the pipelines make it possible to monitor the change in the temperature of the coolant in the collectors, and in the event of an increase in the surface temperature of the collectors, the automation increases the flow of the coolant in the pipelines. The collectors are equipped with pressure valves, when the temperature of the coolant in the collector is above 100 °C, it can boil in the collector and then the pressure valve equalizes the pressure in the collector.
Joint Models for Longitudinal and Time-to-event Data with JM R Package
Authors: Kim Jinheum
Published: December 2023

Even if the value of the risk factor evolves continuously in the extended Cox model, the inference may be somewhat biased because it employs a discrete approximation method. As a result, if the risk factor’s value not only fluctuates constantly but also contains measurement error, a model that substitutes the average value rather than the measured value of the risk factor might be considered. Such a model is known as a joint model. After introducing the most widely used the present-value model among joint models, this model was extended to various types of data. In addition, several residuals for model diagnosis were introduced, methods for predicting the probability of event occurrence and the value of the longitudinal risk factor by application of the estimation model were introduced, and an index that can evaluate how well the longitudinal risk factors divide patients into high-risk and low-risk groups was introduced. Finally, all the statistical inference methods introduced in this study were implemented using the JM R package and the source codes were supplied.
Relationship between Family Type and Health Behaviors in Korean Adolescent: Based on the 17th Youth Health Behavior Survey
Authors: Kim Chang-Hee , Park Jong , Han Mi Ah , Ryu So Yeon
Published: December 2023

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the relationship between family type and health behaviors in Korean adolescents.Methods: The study included 41,551 students who participated in the 17th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to compare health behaviors such as smoking, drinking, sexual experience, excessive smartphone use and physical activities by family type which were classified as general and broken families.Results: In this study, 85.7% of adolescents’ families were general families and 14.3% were broken families. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for health behaviors among adolescents from broken families compared to adolescents from general families were 1.38 (1.21-1.58) for lifetime smoking, 1.53 (1.27-1.83) for current smoking, 1.46 (1.33-1.61) for lifetime drinking, 1.46 (1.29-1.66) for current drinking, sexual experience 1.65 (1.38-1.98), and excessive smartphone use on weekdays and weekends 1.39 (1.26-1.54) and 1.44 (1.30-1.58), respectively.Conclusions: Adolescents from broken families often have undesirable health behaviors, and are more likely to be exposed to high-risk groups than adolescents from general families. Depending on the type of family, the main caregiver’s active intervention through guidance and encouragement for the healthy behaviors is required, and it is necessary to prepare the direct psychological and behavioral support through the development of supporting programs in the community and continuous counseling program, which may play an alternative role of main caregiver.
Relationship between Living Environments and Recreational Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity Engagement in the Older Korean Population
Authors: Kim Bokun , Kim Gwon-Min
Published: December 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between living environments, such as regions, towns and dwelling types, and recreational moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (RMVPA) engagement in the older Korean population.Methods: A total of 7,594 male and female subjects aged ≥ 60 years were included. To evaluate living environments, participants’ regions, towns and dwelling types were each sorted into two conditions: (1) special regions (i.e., South Korea’s capital city and six metropolitan regions, the largest cities in each province) and (2) other regions; (1) dongs (urbanized areas) and (2) eups and myeons (rural areas); and (1) apartments and (2) houses. RMVPA was assessed using the short form of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and separated into tertiles.Results: The percentages of the lowest tertiles of RMVPA in other regions, eups and myeons, and houses were higher than those in one special and six metropolitan regions, dongs and apartments. However, the percentages of middle and highest tertiles showed the opposite results (p< 0.001 for all). Subjects living in special regions, dongs and apartments were 1.56, 1.94, 1.42, 1.66, 1.78, and 1.24 times more likely to be in the middle RMVPA tertile in male and female subjects, respectively, relative to those in other regions, eups and myeons, and houses (p< 0.01 for all). Those living in special regions, dongs and apartments were 1.80, 2.57, 1.52, 1.85, 2.23, and 1.21 times more likely to be in the highest RMVPA tertile in male and female subjects, respectively, relative to those in other regions, eups and myeons, and houses (p< 0.05 for all).Conclusions: Living in an apartment in a large, urbanized city may be positively related to higher RMVPA engagement in the older Korean population, regardless of sex.
Relationship between Fatigue, Sleep, Subjective Health Status, and Job Involvement in Shift-working Production Workers
Authors: Chae Yeojoo , Ryu Sein
Published: December 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine of fatigue, sleep quality, and perceived health for shift workers and to identify variables that influence job involvement in order to develop an intervention program for shift workers to enhance their job involvement.Methods: Data was collected from 124 workers who worked in 3 manufacturing companies with more than 300 manufacturing companies in G-city. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis with SPSS statistics 27.0 program.Results: Job involvement is related to perceived health was found to have a significant positive correlation and fatigue have a significant negative correlation. Factors affecting job involvement were found to be a significant influencing factor on perceived health. It showed an explanatory power of 32.1%.Conclusions: Therefore, it is necessary to develop and verify job involvement improvement programs that take into account various variables to promote the job involvement of shift workers.
Effect of Self Management to Quality of Life for Pregnant Woman with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus by Family Strength
Authors: Park Seo Jin
Published: December 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mediating effect of family strength on the relationship between self management and quality of life for pregnant woman with gestational diabetes mellitus.Methods: A convenience sample of 120 pregnant woman with gestational diabetes mellitus was recruited. SPSS PROCESS Macro Model 4 was applied to confirm the mediation effect, and boot strapping using a 95% confidence interval was performed to detetmine the statistical significance of the indirect effect.Results: Family strength had a mediating effect in the relationship between self management and quality of life among pregnant woman with gestational diabetes mellitus.Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, family strength should be considered when developing a program self management to improve the quality of life for pregnant woman with gestational diabetes mellitus.
Interrupción del embarazo en Chile 2018-2020: rol de las variables sociodemográficas y sanitarias sobre la decisión de la mujer
Authors: Saldias-Fernández Maria Angelica , Gónzales-Santa-Cruz Andrés , Parra-Giordano Denisse
Published: December 2023

Objetivo. Identificar factores sociodemográficos y sanitarios en mujeres que requirieron prestaciones asociadas con la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo (IVE). Material y métodos. Diseño transversal retrospectivo desde registros oficiales por centros de salud entre 2018-2020. Análisis con estadística descriptiva y modelos de regresión logística múltiple. Resultados. Asociación entre IVE y causal por violación vs. riesgo de vida de la mujer (aRP [razón de prevalencia ajustada]=1.16 [IC95%: 1.11,1.21]); nivel Fonasa A (Fondo Nacional de Salud) (aRP=0.79 [IC95%: 0.67,0.93]), B (aRP= 0.79 [IC95%: 0.67,0.93]) y C vs. Isapre (Institución de Salud Previsional) (aRP= 0.73 [IC95%: 0.58,0.93]). A medida que aumenta el nivel de atención, desde nivel primario al terciario, incrementaría la probabilidad de interrumpir el embarazo (aRM [razón de momios ajustados]= 0.59 IC95%: 0.36,0.99; aRM= 0.58 [IC95%: 0.35,0.96]). Conclusión. Se proporcionan estimaciones nacionales en materia de IVE. Destaca que diferentes determinantes sociosanitarios son importantes de considerar para promover lineamientos y políticas sanitarias para promover los derechos sexuales y reproductivos, y la autonomía reproductiva.
The Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scale: answer patterns and cutoffs in Mexico
Authors: Huffman Curtis , Nájera Héctor
Published: December 2023

Objective. To investigate the degree in which answer patterns in the Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scale (HWISE) relate to scores aiming at identifying latent groups with different water insecurity levels in a nationwide representative sample of the Mexican population. Materials and methods. Based on data from the 2021 National Survey on Health and Nutrition (Estudio Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2021, Ensanut 2021), sequence data representations, and a latent class analysis (LCA), in this article we estimate the likely misclassification errors of different cutoffs proposed for the HWISE scoring system. Results. The main results suggest that a 5-item subset of the HWISE may exhibit a more reliable and cost-effective behavior than the complete 12-item set for a 2-level partition of the sample. Conclusions. Our methodological approach provides new insights regarding the efficiency and likely errors in distinguishing between levels of water insecurity based on the Mexican chapter of the HWISE.
Interference Management in Massive MIMO System for 5G Networks: A survey
Authors: Aikoun Yves Fidèle , Yin Sheng
Published: December 2023

The advent of 5th Generation (5G) networks have created new challenges for wireless communication systems due to the increasing demand for high data rates, low latency, and ubiquitous connectivity. Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems have emerged as one of the key technologies for 5G networks, which can support multiple users simultaneously and improve system capacity and coverage. However, the use of multiple antennas in the same area to serve very large number of users can generate interference between transmitted signals, which can degrade the received signals as well as the system efficiency. Therefore, interference management techniques are essential in massive MIMO systems to reduce the impact of interference and improve system performance. This research aims to investigate interference management techniques in massive MIMO systems including beamforming method, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and joint transmission coordinated multi-point (JT-CoMP). The objective is to analyze the performance of these techniques in terms of system capacity, coverage, and reliability and compare their effectiveness in reducing interference. The research findings will provide valuable insights into the most effective interference management techniques for 5G networks and inform the design and optimization of the systems.
Understanding Neuromodulation Pathways in tDCS: Brain Stem Recordings in Rats During Trigeminal Nerve Direct Current Stimulation
Authors: Laughlin Myles Mc , Majdi Alireza , Asamoah Boateng
Published: December 2023

Recent evidence suggests that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) indirectly influences brain activity through cranial nerve pathways, particularly the trigeminal nerve. However, the electrophysiological effects of direct current (DC) stimulation on the trigeminal nerve (DC-TNS) and its impact on trigeminal nuclei remain unknown. These nuclei exert control over brainstem centers regulating neurotransmitter release, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, potentially affecting global brain activity. To investigate how DC-TNS impacts neuronal activity in the principal sensory nucleus (NVsnpr) and the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve (MeV), twenty male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 10 each nucleus) were anesthetized with urethane. DC stimulation, ranging from 0.5 to 3 mA, targeted the trigeminal nerve's marginal branch. Simultaneously, single-unit electrophysiological recordings were obtained using a 32-channel silicon probe, comprising three one-minute intervals: pre-stimulation, DC stimulation, and post-stimulation. Xylocaine was administered to block the trigeminal nerve as a control. DC-TNS significantly increased neuronal spiking activity in both NVsnpr and MeV, returning to baseline during the post-stimulation phase. When the trigeminal nerve was blocked with xylocaine, the robust 3 mA trigeminal nerve DC stimulation failed to induce increased spiking activity in the trigeminal nuclei. Our results offer initial empirical support for trigeminal nuclei activity modulation via DC-TNS. This discovery supports the hypothesis that cranial nerve pathways may play a pivotal role in mediating tDCS effects, setting the stage for further exploration into the complex interplay between peripheral nerves and neural modulation techniques.
Epigenetic Modulation of Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements Activity Influences Neural Precursor Cell Proliferation
Authors: Jiang Yan , Sun Daijing , Zhu Yueyan , Peng Wenzhu , Weng Jie , Dong Shulong , Li Jiaqi , Chen Qi , Ge Chuanhui , Liao Liyong , Dong Yuhao , Liu Yun , Meng Weida
Published: December 2023

Transposable elements (TEs) play a critical role in modulating gene expression during neurodevelopment. Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements (SINEs), a significant subset of TEs, contribute to gene regulation by generating non-coding transcripts and functioning as enhancers. Moreover, SINEs harbor binding sites for the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), pivotal in orchestrating chromatin organization. However, the exact function of SINEs in neurodevelopment remains elusive. In our study, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis using ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, WGBS, in situ Hi-C, and RNA-seq. We elucidated the intricate epigenetic regulations governing a relatively conserved subset of SINEs in mouse neural precursor cells (NPCs). Our findings revealed that the SET domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase 1 (SETDB1) orchestrates H3K9me3, in conjunction with DNA methylation, to restrict SINEs' chromatin accessibility in NPCs. Loss of SETDB1 granted CTCF access to previously restricted SINE elements, facilitating novel chromatin loop formation and influencing cell cycle genes. Disruptions in cell proliferation were notably observed both in vitro and in vivo following genetic ablation of SETDB1 in NPCs. In summary, our study sheds light on the comprehensive epigenetic regulation of SINEs, suggesting their role in maintaining chromatin integrity and stemness in NPCs.
Enhancing Isochrysis zhangjiangensis Yield: Role of small peptide and mineral chelates
Authors: Xia yutong , Li Keyi , Han Jianda , Gao Ebin , Chen Huayou
Published: December 2023

The high-density cultivation of bivalves necessitates a steady supply of microalgae as feed. However, microalgae often face reduced yields due to the lack of cost-effective and safely efficient nitrogen and essential minerals sources. Therefore, this study opted for Isochrysis zhangjiangensis, a microalga favored by bivalves, for experimentation. Various small peptides and minerals were added separately to the F/2 culture medium for microalgae cultivation.The results indicate that adding 0.15g/L of glutathione as a nitrogen source, copper glycinate as a copper source, or calcium aspartate as a calcium source can enhance algal density. However, when ferrous glycinate is used as an iron source, zinc glycinate as a zinc source, or manganese glycinate as a manganese source, there is no significant difference in growth compared to the inorganic mineral group (P < 0.05).In conclusion, small peptides were found to be more effective in promoting the growth of Isochrysis zhangjiangensis than inorganic nitrogen sources. Furthermore, appropriate chelated mineral forms were demonstrated to be more conducive to the growth of Isochrysis zhangjiangensis than their inorganic counterparts. This research underscores the significance of selecting suitable organic nitrogen sources and mineral forms to enhance the production of Isochrysis zhangjiangensis.
Fungal pleural infection due to Microascus gracilis with pulmonary aspergillosis after COVID-19 pneumonia
Authors: Hu Zhimin , Mao Lina , Deng Tiying , Su Bintao , Yang Yi , Dong Binlin , Xu Qing , Yang Shuo
Published: December 2023

Background: Scopulariopsis/Microascus is a rare but devastating pathogen due to its intrinsic resistance to nearly all available antifungal agents. Microascus gracilis, an ascomycetous mold in the order Microascales, family Microascaceae, have recently emerged as significant invasive pathogens causing opportunistic infections.
Objectives and Methods: We present a case of pleural infection caused by M.gracilis in an immunocompromised man. In order to further understand the characteristics of the pathogen isolated from the patient, we identified the strain through mycological characteristics, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization(MALDI) time-of-flight(TOF) mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based sequencing, performed in vitro drug susceptibility testing against common antifungal agents. Moreover, we assessed the lymphocyte subsets and programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1) expression in peripheral blood and pleural effusion to monitor the efficacy of therapy with thymosin-α-1 and intravenous immunoglobulin.
Results: Filamentous fungi isolated from chest tube and pleural fluid were identified as M.gracilis based on classical morphology, mass spectrometry and molecular biology methods. The susceptibility results in vitro revealed that multiple antifungal agents were inactive against the strain. The adjuvant immunomodulatory treatment successfully upgraded the level of CD3+T and CD4+T cells, while downgraded the level of CD3+PD-1+T and CD4+PD-1+T cells both in peripheral blood and pleural effusion.
Conclusions: The immunocompromised host with opportunistic M.gracilis infection, rapid and accurate recognize thorough direct microscopic testing with calcofluor white and MOLDI-TOF MS is the key to achieve definite diagnosis, and a combination of antifungal therapy with immunomodulatory therapy is vital for improving survival.
Recent increase of atypical forms of invasive meningococcal disease
Authors: Taha Samy , Deghmane Ala-Eddine , Taha Muhamed-Kheir
Published: December 2023

Background: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases declined upon the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) to control the COVID-19 pandemic but rebounded since the second half of 2022 in numbers with genotypical changes of the strains. We explored in this report associated modifications in the clinical presentations of IMD.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study using the French National Reference Centre Database for meningococci between 2015-2022. We scored serogroups, sex, age groups, clinical presentations and clonal complexes of the corresponding isolates.
Findings: Non-meningeal atypical forms of IMD increased significantly upon easing of NPI, such as bacteriemic meningococcal pneumonia and abdominal forms. They represented 6% and 8% of all IMD forms and were significantly linked to serogroups Y and W respectively, to older adults for bacteriemic pneumonia and to young adults for abdominal presentations. These atypical forms were also significantly associated with more early mortality.
Interpretation: An upsurge of atypical forms in France since the lifting of COVID-19-related NPI accompanied the rebound of IMD cases. An increase in IMD burden may be expected and urge to enhance preventive strategies against IMD by adapting current vaccination strategies to epidemiological changes.
Contralateral C7 nerve transfer to three recipient nerves-an optional surgical method in total brachial plexus avulsion combined with accessory and phrenic nerve injury
Authors: Guo Jinding , Zhao Xin , Lao Jie , Gao Kaiming
Published: December 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to present our long term follow up outcome on the use of the contralateral C7 (CC7) transfer to reinnervate three recipient nerves in the patients with total brachial plexus avulsion injury (BPAI).
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed data from 13 patients with total BPAI. All of the 13 patients were confirmed with phrenic nerve and spinal accessary nerve total injury on the affected side. 5 patients were 20 years or younger and 8 were older than 20 years at the time of surgery. In 1st stage, the entire CC7 was harvested and was transferred to pedicled ulnar nerve and the suprascapular nerve with sural nerve grafted. It was performed less than 6 months after injury in 10 patients; 3 underwent the procedure more than 6 months but less than 12 months. The ulnar nerve was transferred to median nerve and biceps branch in the 2nd stage about 4 to 8 months after the 1st stage.
Results
The recovery rate was 84.62% (11/13) for shoulder abduction, 53.85% (7/13) for shoulder external rotation, 84.62% (11/13) for elbow flexion, 61.54% (8/13) for wrist and finger flexor and 53.85% (7/13) in median nerve area sensation. The recovery of median nerve in younger group was significantly better than the elder group (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
The use of CC7 transfer for simultaneous repair of suprascapular nerve, median nerve and biceps branch is an effective procedure in treating total BPAI. This technique may become an option for treatment of total BPAI combined with phrenic nerve and spinal accessary nerve injured case.
Eye-AD: A Graph-based Model for Early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment Detection based on Retinal OCTA Images
Authors: Zhao Yitian , Hao Jinkui , Kwapong William , Xu Yanwu , Shen Ting , Fu Huazhu , Lu Qinkang , Liu Shouyue , Zhang jiong , Liu Yonghuai , Zhao Yifan , Zheng Yalin , Frangi Alejandro , Liu Jiang , Zhang Shuting
Published: December 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a rising healthcare challenge worldwide. There is currently no simple and affordable test to accurately detect AD at scale. In this work we propose a novel deep learning framework (Eye-AD) to detect Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease (EOAD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), using retinal microvasculature and choriocapillaris acquired from optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The proposed Eye-AD model is a multilevel graph representation approach, which utilizes the intra- and inter-instance relationships of different retinal layers.
We used a total of 5,751 OCTA images obtained from 1,671 participants of a retrospective, multi-centre study to train, validate and test the Eye-AD model. The experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of our model in both EOAD detection (internal data: AUC = 0.9355, external data: AUC = 0.9007) and MCI detection (internal data: AUC =0.8630, external data: AUC = 0.8037). Furthermore, we explored the associations between retinal structural biomarkers in OCTA images and EOAD/MCI, and the results align well with the conclusions drawn from our deep learning interpretability analysis. Our findings provide further evidence that retinal OCTA imaging, coupled with artificial intelligence, will serve as a rapid, non-invasive and affordable approach for AD-related diseases detection and risk assessment.
Implementation of WHO guidelines for cervical cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment: Knowledge and perceptions of health providers from Argentina
Authors: Arrossi Silvina , Straw Cecilia , Antelo Victoria Sánchez , Paolino Melisa , Baena Armando , Forestier Mathilde , Rol Maryluz , Almonte Maribel
Published: December 2023

BackgroundThe 2021 the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on cervical cancer screening and treatment provide countries with evidence-based recommendations to accelerate the disease elimination. However, evidence shows that adherence by health providers to screening guidelines is low. We conducted a study in Argentina aimed to analyze knowledge and perceptions regarding the 2021 WHO Guidelines by health providers.
Methods A qualitative study was carried out based on individual, semi-structured interviews with health providers who specialize in gynecology (n=15). The themes explored were selected and analyzed using domains and constructs of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.
Results Although health providers perceive WHO as a reliable institution, they do not know the 2021 guidelines, their supporting evidence, and its elaboration process. Their clinical practice is mainly guided by local recommendations developed by national professional medical associations (PMAs). For interviewees, dissemination of WHO guidelines should be done through health authorities and national PMAs, mainly through in-service training. Health providers had a positive assessment regarding WHO Recommendation 1 (screen, triage, treatment for women aged 30+ with HPV-testing every 5 to 10 years) and they perceived a favorable climate for its implementation. HPV-testing followed by triage was considered a low complexity practice, enabling a better detection of HPV, a better selection of the patients who will need diagnosis and treatment, and a more efficient use of health system resources. However, they suggested adapting this recommendation by removing screening interval beyond 5 years. WHO Recommendation 2 (screen-and-treat approach with HPV-testing for women aged 30+ every 5 to 10 years) was predominantly rejected by interviewees, was considered an algorithm that does not respond to women's needs and that was not adequate for the Argentinean context. Regarding the HPV-test modality, clinician-collected tests was the preferred mode. Health providers considered that HPV self-collection should be used primarily among socially vulnerable women to increase screening coverage.
Conclusions Dissemination of WHO guidelines among health providers should be widely carried out, especially in settings that could benefit of a screen-and-treat approach. It is essential to identify areas of partnership and collaboration with PMAs in the implementation of WHO guidelines.
Assessment of Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI) using the WRF-UCM model over a Metropolitan City in India
Authors: Peri Subrahmanya Hari Prasad , Satyanarayana ANV
Published: December 2023

Rapid urbanization leads to an increase in urban air temperature, considerably affecting health, comfort and the quality of life in urban spaces. The accurate assessment of outdoor thermal comfort is crucial for urban health. In the present study, a high-resolution mesoscale model coupled with a layer Urban Canopy Model (WRF-UCM) is implemented over the city of Hyderabad (17.3850° N, 78.4867° E) to simulate urban meteorological conditions during the summer and winter period of 2009 and 2019. The universal thermal climate index (UTCI) has been estimated using the model-derived atmospheric variables and a human biometeorology parameter to assess the linkages between the outdoor environment and thermal comfort. Results revealed that during summer, the city experiences nearly 10 hours of extreme to strong thermal stress, whereas moderate thermal and slight cold stress are experienced during winter. The urban area in Hyderabad expanded from 5–15% during the study period, leading to a 3℃ (1.5 ℃) increase in land surface temperature and a 1 to 1.5 ℃ (0.5 to 1 ℃ ) rise in air temperature at 2m height and UTCI during summer (winter) time. The analysis reveals that the maximum UTCI values were noticed over built-up areas compared to other land classes during daytime as well as nighttime. The results derived from the present study have shown the performance of WRF-UCM-derived UTCI reasonably portrayed the significant impact of urbanization on thermal comfort over the city and provided useful insights with regard to urban comfort and welfare.
Emerging variants develop total escape from potent monoclonal antibodies induced by BA.4/5 infection
Authors: Stuart David , Liu Chang , Das Raksha , Dijokaite-Guraliuc Aiste , Zhou Daming , Mentzer Alexander , Supasa Piyada , Selvaraj Muneeswaran , Duyvesteyn Helen , Ritter Thoms , Temperton Nigel , Klenerman Paul , Dunachie Susanna , Paterson Neil , Williams Mark , Hall Dave , Fry Elizabeth , Mongkolsapaya Juthathip , Ren Jingshan , Screaton Gavin
Published: December 2023

The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 is driven in part by a need to evade the antibody response in the face of herd immunity. Here, we isolate spike binding monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from vaccinees who suffered vaccine break-through infections with Omicron sub lineages BA.4 or BA.5. 28 potent antibodies were isolated and characterised functionally, and in some cases structurally. Since the emergence of BA.4/5 SARS-CoV-2 has continued to accrue mutations in the S protein, to understand this we characterize neutralization of a large panel of variants and demonstrate a steady attrition of neutralization by the panel of BA.4/5 mAbs culminating in total loss of function with recent XBB.1.5.70 variants containing the so-called ‘FLip’mutations at positions 455 and 456. Interestingly, activity of some mAbs is regained on the recently reported variant BA.2.86.
Co-expression network analysis and identification of core genes in the interaction between wheat and Puccinia Striiformis f. sp. tritici
Authors: Wang Yibo , Zhang Ke , Chen Dan , Liu Kai , Chen Wei , He Fei , Tong Zhijun , Luo Qiaoling
Published: December 2023

The epidemic of stripe rust, caused by the pathogen Puccinia Striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), would reduce wheat (Triticum aestivum) yields seriously. Traditional experimental methods are difficult to discover the interaction between wheat and Pst. Multi-omics data analysis provides a new idea for efficiently mining the interactions between host and pathogen. We used 140 wheat-Pst RNA-Seq data to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between disease-resistant and disease-susceptible samples, and carried out Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. Based on this, we constructed a gene co-expression network, identified the core genes and interacted gene pairs from the conservative modules. Finally, we checked the distribution of Nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) genes in the co-expression network and drew the wheat NLR gene co-expression network. In order to provide accessible information for related researchers, we built a web-based visualization platform to display the data. Based on the analysis, we found that various heat shock proteins (HSPs), protein kinases, and glycosidases frequently appeared in the network. They were likely to be involved in the biological processes of Pst infecting wheat. We also found that HSPs was significantly co-expressed in wheat and Pst, suggesting that there might be direct or indirect interactions between them. This study can assist scholars in conducting studies on the pathogenesis and help to advance the investigation of wheat-Pst interaction patterns.
Development and validation of a new model for predicting the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation：a single center experience with 325 cases
Authors: Duan Shaoxian , Hou Dingcong , Xie Yan , Jiang Wen-tao
Published: December 2023

Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation has a dismal prognosis. We aimed to develop a new model for effectively predicting the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 325 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent a first orthotopic liver transplantation at Tianjin First Central Hospital.Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify potential predictors. A new scoring model based on the identified predictors was developed and validated.
Results
Cox multivariate analysis revealed tumor number ≥ 2, ki67 labeling index > 0.23, preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio > 4, maximum tumor diameter > 5.25 cm, and preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein > 88.33 ng/ml as independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence in the development cohort. We developed a new scoring model. The patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups according to the new scoring model.The 3-year recurrence-free survival rates after liver transplantation in the high-risk group were significantly lower than those in the low-risk group (P < 0.001) and there was a significant difference in the cumulative incidence of recurrence between the two risk groups on competing-risk regression in the two cohorts. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve was 0.870 in the development cohort and 0.772 in the validation cohort. Hanley–McNeil analysis demonstrated that the new model was superior to the Milan criteria (P = 0.040) for predicting tumor recurrence after liver transplantation.
Conclusion
The model effectively predicted hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation, and it is promising as a reference for clinical decision-making.
Evaluation of picture change effects on fractional occupation number states in noble gas atoms
Authors: Takashima Chinami , Nakai Hiromi
Published: December 2023

In the two-component relativistic density functional theory, the picture change error (PCE), which originates from insufficient transformation of operators, should be corrected. In this study, we examine the PCE in the fractional occupation number (FON) state based on the spin-free infinite-order two-component Hamiltonian. The PCE for the total and orbital energy changes is estimated with respect to the FON electrons of the highest occupied molecular orbital and 1s core orbital in noble gas atoms. PCE is significant in core orbitals in heavy elements but relatively small in light elements and valence orbitals. The delocalization error, which can be represented by the total energy deviation from the behavior of the exact energy, is overestimated by the lack of picture change correction of the two-electron operator and underestimated by that of the density operator. Corresponding to these results, the PCE influences the value of orbital energies and slope of orbital energy change to FON.
A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study on Process Model Comprehension driven by Eye Tracking and Electrodermal Activity
Authors: Winter Michael , Bredemeyer Cynthia , Reichert Manfred , Neumann Heiko , Pryss Rüdiger
Published: December 2023

The continual digital transformation in various domains yielded promising opportunities, especially in the healthcare industry. Thereby, a seamless integration of healthcare expertise with information technology (IT) is essential to benefit further from the potentials of digitization (e.g., generate new communication and collaboration synergies). A lingua franca (i.e., a common language that enables understandable information interchange between healthcare practitioners and IT) is vital to this endeavor. The Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 2.0 is a promising option for such a lingua franca, according to earlier studies. In order to assess BPMN 2.0's potential as a lingua franca, a cross-sectional follow-up study with N = 31 participants was carried out on this foundation. Two process models for dental appointment and vaccination were explained to the participants. Their cognitive load, skin conductivity (i.e., electrodermal activity), and gaze movements (i.e., eye tracking) were all monitored simultaneously. The examined performance indicators reinforce previous conclusions, showing that it is feasible to adequately understand process model semantics, which confirms the effectiveness of BPMN 2.0 as a universal language. However, the significant focus should be on minimizing the inherent complexity of process model syntactics and pragmatics. The outcomes additionally demonstrated the potential for assessing eye tracking and electrodermal activity in this context.
Endogenous organization form and trade costs
Authors: Choi Kangsik
Published: December 2023

We ananlyze the endogenous firms' choice of organization form in the presence of endogenous freight rates, port fees with the public (or asymmetric) port ownership. We found that regardless of port ownership, one firm provides corporate incentives (i.e., U-form), and other firm provides divisional incentives (i.e., M-form). Thus, choosing U-form (resp. M-form) in the asymmetric organization for firm and producer surplus is profitable (resp. unprofitable), but for the government and consumer surplus is socially undesirable (resp. desirable). Furthermore, we present some extensions to check the robustness of the obtained results.
JEL Classi cation: D43, F12, F13, L13, M16.
BENet: Boundary-Enhanced Network for Real-time Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Lei Xiaochun , Chen Zeyu , Yu Zhaoxin , Jiang Zetao
Published: December 2023

In the realm of real-time semantic segmentation, deep neural networks have demonstrated promising potential. However, current methods face challenges when it comes to accurately segmenting object boundaries and small objects. This limitation is partly attributed to the prevalence of convolutional neural networks, which often involve multiple sequential down-sampling operations, resulting in the loss of fine-grained details. To overcome this drawback, we introduce BENet, a real-time semantic segmentation network with a focus on enhancing object boundaries. The proposed BENet integrates two key components: the Boundary Extraction Module (BEM) and the Boundary Adaption Layer (BAL). The proposed BEM efficiently extracts boundary information, while the BAL guides the network using this information to preserve intricate details during the feature extraction process. Furthermore, to address the challenges associated with poor segmentation of elongated objects, we introduce the Strip Mixed Aggregation Pyramid Pooling Module (SMAPPM). This module employs strip pooling kernels to effectively expand the contextual representation and receptive field of the network, thereby enhancing overall segmentation performance. Our experiments conducted on a single RTX 3090 GPU show that our method achieves an mIoU of 79.4% at a speed of 45.5 FPS on the Cityscapes test set without ImageNet pre-training.
Sonographic temporary nephromegaly in children during the initial febrile urinary tract infection is a significant prognostic factor for recurrent infection
Authors: Ishimori Shingo , Fujimura Junya , Nakanishi Keita , Hattori Kengo , Hirase Satoshi , Matsunoshita Natsuki , Kamiyoshi Naohiro , Okizuka Yo
Published: December 2023

There is no available data on the relationship between sonographic temporary nephromegaly in children with the initial episode of febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI) and recurrent fUTI, with a focus on whether nephromegaly is temporary or not. A multicenter retrospective cohort study on children who underwent renal ultrasound during initial fUTI was conducted between 2013 and 2020. Sonographic temporary nephromegaly is defined as increased renal length during initial fUTI following normal length of a kidney after completion of antibiotic treatment. This study included 343 children. In comparison to children without sonographic temporary nephromegaly (n = 307), duration of fever and intravenous antibiotics were significantly longer, and the level of serum CRP, creatinine and the proportion of children had recurrent fUTI were significantly higher in those with sonographic temporary nephromegaly (n = 36). In an additional analysis of 100 patients receiving voiding cystourethrography, Logistic regression model confirmed that vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was significantly correlated with temporary nephromegaly and recurrence. The indication receiving cystourethrography in 9 of 16 with VUR who had temporary nephromegaly was recurrent fUTI. Our results suggest that sonographic temporary nephromegaly on initial infection could be a predictive factor for recurrence and VUR, and children with this factor could detect VUR before recurrence.
Latent profile analysis of benefit finding among among family caregivers of Chinese older adults with disability and its influencing factors
Authors: Liu Zijing , Sun Longfeng
Published: December 2023

Objective To explore the characteristics of potential categories of benefit finding among family caregivers of Chinese older adults with disability, and to analyze the differences in the characteristics of different categories of caregivers and related influencing factors.
Methods Convenience sampling was used to consecutively select family caregivers of disabled older adults in Zhongshan Community, Bayi Community, Beishi Community Health Service Center, and Neurology, Rehabilitation, and Geriatrics Departments of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China, from October 2022-June 2023 as the survey respondents. General Information Questionnaire, Sense of Coherence-13(SOC-13),Simplified Copying Style Questionnaire(SCSQ) and Benefit Finding Sacle(BFS)were used to conduct the survey. Mplus 8.3 and SPSS25.0 software were applied for Latent profile analysis and statistical analysis.
Results A total of 218 family caregivers of older adults with disability were surveyed, and the caregiver benefit score was 57.00 (47.00, 67.25); the caregiver benefit was expressed in three different potential categories, named "low-level benefit finding group" (43.58%), "medium-level benefit finding group" (43.58%), and "high-level benefit finding group" (12.84%). Ordered logistic regression analyses showed that years of caregiving experience of family caregivers of the disabled elderly, work status, family functioning, and coping styles were the factors influencing the potential profile categories of benefit finding (P < 0.05).
Conclusion The benefit finding of family caregivers of older adults with disability are at a low level and are significantly heterogeneous. It is recommended that clinicians and community workers focus on family caregivers of disabled older adults with short caregiving years and those who are working, and guide family caregivers of disabled older adults to improve the family support system, adopt positive coping styles, promote the perception of benefits, and improve the life satisfaction of disabled older adults.