bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-Cultural Validation of Neuropsychological Assessments and their Clinical Applications in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Scoping Analysis
Authors: Gkintoni Evgenia , Nikolaou Georgios
Published: July 2024

This systematic review explores the cross-cultural validation of neuropsychological assessments and their clinical applications in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), focusing on culturally adapted CBT (CA-CBT) across diverse populations and settings. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in multiple academic databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. Keywords related to cognitive-behavioral therapy, cultural adaptation, and specific populations were used. Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and pilot studies that assessed CA-CBT for various mental health conditions. Results: The review included studies involving Chinese Americans, Latino caregivers, Syrian refugees, Jordanian children, Malaysian Muslims, Afghan refugees, Iraqi women, Japanese children and adolescents, and Tanzanian and Kenyan children. CA-CBT demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and psychosis. For instance, Research has shown that CA-CBT is more effective than standard CBT in reducing depressive symptoms among Chinese Americans and significantly lowering PTSD symptoms in Syrian refugee women. The method has been well-received and feasible in diverse populations, such as Jordanian children and Afghan refugees. Long-term benefits are promising, with sustained improvements reported in various studies. Additionally, digital and remote delivery methods have demonstrated potential for expanding the accessibility of CA-CBT. Conclusions: CA-CBT is a valuable and effective intervention for diverse cultural populations, significantly improving mental health outcomes. However, future research must address limitations such as small sample sizes, short follow-up periods, and variability in assessment tools. Studies should include larger and more diverse sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, rigorous control groups, and comprehensive outcome measures to further validate and enhance the application of CA-CBT across different cultural contexts.
Metagenomics Insight of Veterinary and Zoonotic Pathogens Identified On Urban Wetlands of Los Lagos, Chile
Authors: Opitz-Ríos Catherine , Burgos-Pacheco Alvaro , Paredes-Cárcamo Francisca , Campanini-Salinas Javier , Medina Daniel A.
Published: July 2024

Wetlands are ecosystems that are essential to ecological balance and biodiversity, never-theless human activity is a constant threat to them. Excess nutrients are caused by inten-sive livestock and agricultural operations, pollution, and population growth, which in turn leads to uncontrolled microbiological development. This impairment in water quality can constitute a risk to animal, human, and environmental health. To thoroughly charac-terize the microbial communities, shotgun metagenomics was used to characterize the taxonomic and functional pattern of microorganisms that inhabit urban wetlands in the Los Lagos Region of Chile. The main objective was to identify microorganisms of veteri-nary relevance, assess their potential antibiotic resistance, and characterize the main vir-ulence mechanism. As expected, a high diversity of microorganisms was identified, in-cluding bacteria described as animal or human pathogens. Also, a diverse repertory of an-timicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs) was detected, which confers mainly resistance to be-ta-lactams, consistent with the families of antibiotics most used in Chile. Besides, a di-verse collection of virulence mechanisms was also identified. Given the significance of the relationship between environmental, animal, and human health—a concept known as One Health—there is a need to establish molecular surveillance programs. This work is the first report of the presence of these harmful biological elements in urban wetlands subjected to anthropogenic pressure, located in the south of Chile.
CP Violation: Differing Binding Energy Levels of Quarks and Antiquarks, and their Transitions in Λ-baryons and B-mesons
Authors: Christodoulou Dimitris M , Kazanas Demosthenes
Published: July 2024

We consider spontaneous quark transitions between the Λ0 baryon and its resonant states, and (anti)quark transitions between the neutral kaon K0 and the two heavy ηq-mesons (q = c, b). We use the measured differences in mass deficits to calculate the binding energy levels of valence c and b (anti)quarks in these transitions. In the process, we account for isospin energy release in K0 transitions and for the work done by the strong force in suppressing Coulomb repulsions in the charged Λc+-baryon. We find that the flips s→c and s¯→c¯ both release energy back to the strong field; and that the overall range of quark energy levels above their u-ground is 100-MeV wider than that of antiquark energy levels above their d¯-ground. The wider quark range stems from the flip s→b, which costs 283 MeV more (or 3× more) than the corresponding antiquark flip s¯→b¯. At the same time, transitions from the respective ground states to the s and s¯ states (or the c and c¯ states) point to a clear origin of the elusive charge-parity (CP) violation. The determined binding energy levels of (anti)quarks allow us to analyze in depth the (anti)quark transitions in Λ-baryons and B-mesons.
The impact of atmospheric pollution on children's respiratory health
Authors: Kudryavtseva A.V. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Shilova N.V. , Ksenzova L.D. , Soboleva V.A. , Farber I.M. , Kоlganova N.I. , Ovsyannikov D.Yu. ,   Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins – Escuela de Medicina, Santiago, Chile,   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation,   Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Moscow, Russian Federation,   Institute of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation,   People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russian Federation,   People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: July 2024

The review is devoted to a highly relevant problem – the impact of polluted air on the respiratory health of the child population. The main pollutants (pollutants) of the air in both urban and rural areas, the depth of their penetration into the respiratory tract are analyzed in detail; evidence is given of an increased risk of respiratory infections and exacerbations of bronchial asthma in children living in large cities. The following issues were discussed: controlled exposure of pollutants and respiratory tract infections; mechanisms of negative effects of polluted air on lungs; is reducing air pollution able to improve human health? It should be noted separately that, despite a thorough search in all foreign and domestic databases available to authors, in the 21st century, single articles are devoted to air pollution issues. This can serve as an indicator of the importance and necessity of conducting in-depth research on this issue. Key words: air pollution, particulate matter, children, respiratory infections, asthma
Alkaline phosphatase in the diagnosis of diseases in children
Authors: Ramazanova K.M. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Vitebskaya A.V. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: July 2024

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphomonoesters (e.g., the endogenous substrate inorganic pyrophosphate) with optimal activity at alkaline pH values. The level of alkaline phosphate depends on both sex and age and the diagnostic system used. Objective. To compare the reference intervals (RI) of alkaline phosphorus in different commercial laboratories and to verify the existence of a lower limit. Results. When analyzing the obtained data, it was revealed that 8 out of 11 diagnostic laboratories have RI of ALP divided according to sex and age, and there is an indication of the lower limit of norm different from 0. At the same time, 2 laboratories have no division of indicators according to sex and age; one laboratory has no division according to sex (there is only division according to age), the lower limit of RI corresponds to 0. Conclusion. Currently, there are a sufficient number of laboratories determining the concentration of alkaline phosphorus by methods for which there are RIs that have a lower limit and standardized separation by age and sex. However, 3 out of 11 laboratories have RIs for ALP that do not meet accepted standards. This may lead to incorrect interpretation of the results of studies, complicate the diagnosis of disorders of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, in particular, hypophosphatasia, since a decrease in the concentration of ALP is the main biochemical marker of this disease. Key words: hypophosphatasia, reference intervals, alkaline phosphatase
The impact of international migration on the economy of developing countries
Authors: Chernobay Liana ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Malibroda Sviatoslav , Shevchuk Yurii ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University,   Lviv Polytechnic National University
Published: July 2024

In the research, we study theories which reflect international migration initiation that describe migration decisions or situations independent from structural or individual factors which originally caused migration. We outline a variety of influences on the host country’s economy by the migrants and focused on: migrants-workers, migrants-students, migrants-entrepreneurs, migrants-consumers, migrants-savers, migrants-tax-payers. The research finds that contribution which immigrants can make to the economy of their host countries depends on such factors: the socioeconomic characteristics of the immigrants themselves; immigration status and labor rights; level of integration into society; economic environment of the country of destination; policies and institutional environment. We made a correlation analysis and built a correlation matrix between GDP per capita growth and migrants’ remittances for some developing countries that showed strong direct level of correlation. The research showed that there is a strong direct correlation between the remittances of migrants from the developed countries and the growth of GDP per capita in the developing countries. The strongest link is observed in India, Nigeria and Philippines - in the countries, most dependent on remittances from migrants. In our research we confirmed that India, China, Mexico, Philippines and Nigeria benefited in GDP per capita due to migrants’ remittances. We developed priorities for the policy of migration countries the base of which should be adaptation of the migration policy to labor market needs; protection of migrant’s rights and nondiscrimination; investment into integration of migrants; leveraging the impact of migration on the economy; and monitoring the economic impact of migration.
Gender Disparity in Authorship Among Orthopaedic Surgery Residents
Authors: Cho Elizabeth , McCarthy Mary V. , Hodkiewicz Victoria , Rumps Mia V. , Mulcahey Mary K.
Published: July 2024

Background:

Gender disparity remains pervasive in orthopaedic surgery, which affects the research pursuits of orthopaedic surgeons. The purpose of this study was to characterize gender-related authorship trends of orthopaedic surgery residents, including evaluation of gender-concordant publication rates.

Methods:

An observational cross-sectional analysis of US orthopaedic surgery residency programs was performed. Information on residency programs and demographics of each cohort was collected. Publication metrics consisting of number of first and non-first author publications and H-indices were manually obtained for PGY-3 to PGY-5 residents attending the 25 programs ranked the highest for research output by Doximity. Gender of each resident and senior author was determined from institutional websites using photos, biographies, and preferred pronouns when available.

Results:

A total of 532 residents, 169 (31.8%) female and 363 (68.2%) male, were included for authorship analysis. Of them, 415 (78%) had at least one first author publication, which did not vary significantly by gender. Female residents had disproportionately fewer first author publications compared with their representation (22% vs. 31.8%, p < 0.00001). Female residents averaged fewer first and non-first author publications compared with male residents (2.8 vs. 4.6, p = 0.0003; 6.4 vs. 10, p = 0.0001 respectively). Despite fewer publications overall, a greater subset of publications by female residents were written in collaboration with a female senior author compared with publications by male residents (p < 0.0001). Male residents had a higher average H-index of 5.4 vs. 3.9 among female residents (p = 0.00007).

Conclusion:

Despite similar rates of first author publication among male and female residents, female residents had fewer publications overall, lower H-indices, and disproportionately fewer first author publications than would be expected given their representation. Findings from this study suggest that gender disparity in orthopaedic surgery extends to differences in research productivity as early as in residency. This may have negative implications on the career advancement of female orthopaedic surgeons. Additional work is needed to identify and understand biases in research productivity and career advancement, to promote more equitable strategies for academic achievement.

Level of Evidence:

IV.
Buddhist Criticism of Justification of Varṇa System by Brahmanists. On the Russian Translation of Vajrasūcī. Vajrasūcī. Trans. from Sanskrit and Notes by Ruzana V. Pskhu
Authors: Pskhu Ruzana ,   Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia
Published: July 2024

In the later period of the development of Indian philosophy (VII century), one of the most interesting questions marked the boundary of Brahmanic thought and its most categorical opponent, Buddhism: the question of the existence of universals. Despite the fact that at first glance this dispute seems purely philosophical and therefore comparable to a similar phenomenon in Western European philosophy, nevertheless, in the history of Indian philosophy, the problem of universals arises in a certain context, explaining their appearance as a ‘situational’ phenomenon. In the VII century, Kumārila Bhaṭṭa, in a dispute with the Buddhist Dharmakīrti, resorted to universals in justifying the legality of the Varṇa system: all brahmins are united by one common property or universal – brahmanism, due to which brahmins differ from all other people. We can talk about the existence of a certain paradigm in the Brahmin culture, which explains the social structure of ancient Indian society, and the affirmation by all philosophical systems of classical Indian philosophy, united by the name of āstika (recognizing the Vedas), and the grammatical structure of Sanskrit in Pāṇini’s work, and many other realities of Brahmin culture. The article examines the text of Vajrasūcī attributed to the early Buddhist author Aśvaghoṣa, in which a condensation of possible arguments against the Varṇa system and the exclusive status of the Brahmins is proposed. The article presents the translation of Vajrasūcī from Sanskrit into Russian.
Ubiquitin-Proteasome System in the Different Stages of Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: McDade Eric , Liu Haiyan , Bui Quoc , Hassenstab Jason , Gordon Brian , Benzinger Tammie , Shen Yuanyuan , Timsina Jigyasha , Wang Lihua , Sung Yun Ju , Karch Celeste , Renton Alan , Daniels Alisha , Morris John , Xiong Chengjie , Ibanez Laura , Perrin Richard , Llibre-Guerra Jorge J , Day Gregory , Supnet-Bell Charlene , Xu Xiong , Berman Sarah , Chhatwal Jasmeer , Ikeuchi Takeshi , Kasuga Kensaku , Niimi Yoshiki , Huey Edward , Schofield Peter , Brooks William , Ryan Natalie , Jucker Mathias , Laske Christoph , Levin Johannes , Vӧglein Jonathan , Roh Jee Hoon , Lopera Francisco , Bateman Randall , Cruchaga Carlos
Published: July 2024

This study explored the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s disease (DIAD) by examining changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of UPS proteins along with disease progression, AD imaging biomarkers (PiB PET, tau PET), neurodegeneration imaging measures (MRI, FDG PET), and Clinical Dementia Rating® (CDR®). Using the SOMAscan assay, we detected subtle increases in specific ubiquitin enzymes associated with proteostasis in mutation carriers (MCs) up to two decades before the estimated symptom onset. This was followed by more pronounced elevations of UPS-activating enzymes, including E2 and E3 proteins, and ubiquitin-related modifiers. Our findings also demonstrated consistent correlations between UPS proteins and CSF biomarkers such as Aβ42/40 ratio, total tau, various phosphorylated tau species to total tau ratios (ptau181/T181, ptauT205/T205, ptauS202/S202, ptauT217/T217), and MTBR-tau243, alongside Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and the CDR®. Notably, a positive association was observed with imaging markers (PiB PET, tau PET) and a negative correlation with markers of neurodegeneration (FDG PET, MRI), highlighting a significant link between UPS dysregulation and neurodegenerative processes. The correlations suggest that the increase in multiple UPS proteins with rising tau levels and tau-tangle associated markers, indicating a potential role for the UPS in relation to misfolded tau/neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and symptom onset. These findings indicate that elevated CSF UPS proteins in DIAD MCs could serve as early indicators of disease progression and suggest a link between UPS dysregulation and amyloid plaque, tau tangles formation, implicating the UPS as a potential therapeutic target in AD pathogenesis.
Hybrid Filtering Techniques and Improved SOM for Next-Generation Film Recommendations
Authors: SHARMA SAURABH , SHARMA SAURABH , SHARMA SAURABH , SHARMA SAURABH
Published: July 2024

Personalized movie recommendations are becoming increasingly important for increasing user satisfaction and engagement in an era where entertainment content is becoming more digitally connected. This work presents a novel approach to facilitate movie selection through the use of Enhanced Self-Organizing Maps (SOM). SOMs, or unsupervised neural network architectures, are helpful in recommendation systems because of their ability to recognize intricate patterns in data. The methodology described in this paper starts with gathering user-movie interaction data, such as user ratings and movie characteristics. This data is normalized before being used to train the model in order to preserve homogeneity. Subtle patterns in data can be effectively identified by the Enhanced SOM due to its adjustable learning rate and neighborhood function. The Enhanced SOM's capacity to identify related users and movies is used to generate personalized movie suggestions. The framework's incorporation of hybrid filtering approaches improves the caliber of recommendations. While content-based filtering uses movie attributes like genres and descriptions, collaborative filtering algorithms take advantage of user-item interactions. These methods yield recommendations that synergistically combine multiple filtering processes. The efficacy of the proposed resolution is meticulously evaluated by contrasting the precision of the recommendations and user contentment with pre-established standards. A thorough evaluation of real-world datasets supports the efficacy of the Enhanced SOM-based movie recommendation technique. To further enhance suggestion quality, the system offers options to modify grid sizes, neighborhood functions, and parameters. When taken as a whole, these features demonstrate how successful the suggested approach is in making personalized movie recommendations. Enhanced SOMs are a reliable model for content platforms that want to enhance user experiences by offering precise movie recommendations along with scalability and flexibility when paired with hybrid filtering techniques.
Heterologous expression of banana MaDREB16 gene in Arabidopsis increases tolerance to dehydration and combined dehydration plus heat stress through stomatal regulation and root elongation
Authors: Chaudhari Rakesh Shashikant , Jangale Bhavesh Liladhar , Krishna Bal , Sane Prafullachandra Vishnu
Published: July 2024

We report here isolation of a dehydration responsive element binding 2 (DREB2) gene (MaDREB16) from Grand Nain (GN) cultivar of Musa acuminata and its involvement in dehydration and heat stress responses in transgenic Arabidopsis plant. Expression analysis of MaDREB16 in root tissues of two banana varieties showed its significant expression under dehydration and combined dehydration plus heat stress. Our findings demonstrate that soil grown transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing MaDREB16 gene display better rate of survival, aerial dry biomass, seed production, relative water content and content of free proline, whereas it has lower ion leakage and malondialdehyde content under the stress conditions studied. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants also showed significant induction of downstream marker genes under dehydration, heat as well as their combination of stresses. Transgenic Arabidopsis displayed reduced stomatal densities and indices even under unstressed conditions suggesting that the transgene modifies the stomatal characteristics and improved regulation of stomatal aperture in dehydration stress as compared to wild-type Arabidopsis. These alterations may be accountable for the observed improved tolerance against individual and combined stress studied.in transgenic as compared to the wild-type. Interestingly the transgenic Arabidopsis showed improved germination rate and root growth under mannitol and combined mannitol plus heat stresses. Altogether, our findings reveal that the MaDREB16 is an important gene of attention to exploit in transgenic breeding to augment tolerance in not only banana against dehydration and its combination with heat stress but also in other crops.
Petrological constraints on magma storage conditions during ongoing post-caldera volcanism at Ioto volcano, Ogasawara, Japan
Authors: Miwa Takahiro , Nagai Masashi , Kozono Tomofumi , Nakada Setsuya , Yasuda Atsushi , Ozawa Taku , Ueda Hideki , Tanada Toshikazu , Fujita Eisuke
Published: July 2024

Active volcanism occurs at post-caldera volcanoes, which are often characterized by rapid crustal uplift due to the development of resurgent domes. Post-caldera volcanism has been attributed to the behavior of volcanic fluids in a magma storage region beneath the caldera. However, few studies have provided petrological constraints on magma storage during ongoing post-caldera volcanism. In this paper, we describe the petrological characteristics of the eruptive products from the 2022 eruption at Ioto volcano, Ogasawara, Japan, which provide a unique opportunity to examine magma storage conditions. The 2022 Ioto magma is characterized by a trachytic composition and contains ~7 vol.% phenocrysts (plagioclase, clinopyroxene, olivine, and magnetite). The clinopyroxene–liquid geothermometer and plagioclase–liquid hygrometer yield a temperature of 970 ± 30°C and water content of 1.4 ± 1.1 wt.% for the Ioto magma. The water content corresponds to a pressure of 25 ± 22 MPa, implying magma is stored at a depth of 1.2 ± 1.0 km beneath the volcano. This depth is consistent with the funnel-shaped magma body at 1–2 km depth inferred from geophysical data. As such, we conclude that the 2022 eruption was sourced from magma stored at ~1.2 km depth. Intrusion of magma through a cone sheet may have contributed to the block-like uplift of Motoyama, which is part of the ongoing post-caldera volcanism at Ioto volcano.
GIS-Based Multi Factor Analysis for Positioning Water Harvesting Sites Integrated with Managed Aquifer Recharge
Authors: Shaban Amin , Hage Mhamad El , Farhat Nasser
Published: July 2024

Runoff loss to the sea and seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers represent a dual hydrologic phenomenon in many coastal regions. In this respect, an integrated management approach must be adopted to mitigate the impact of this geo-environmental problem, through surface water harvesting and recharging (SWHR) it into the beneath rock formations. However, positioning suitable sites, for surface water harvesting where from this water can be artificially/spontaneously recharged, is often a challenge. This study handles this challenge with innovative multi factor analysis using GIS to identify the optimal sites for SWHR. For this purpose, thematic maps were analysed and systematically integrated with data retrieved from satellite images (e.g., Sentinel-2, SRTM, etc.). The obtained geospatial data represent main factors controlling surface water flow regime, infiltration potential and other relevant environmental factors. Being converted to GIS digital files with various levels of impact on SWHR, these factors were together systematically manipulated; and thus 28 sites were identified and hydrologically characterized. The produced SWHR sites' map serves decision makers to take proper actions for water management in coastal zones whether in the investment of surface water or the mitigation of seawater intrusion.
Characterization of a Pyroptosis-Related lncRNA signature to evaluate immune features and predict prognosis in Lower-grade glioma
Authors: Chen Yi , Liu Qiang , Yu Qing , Sui Rui , Shi Ji , Liang Haiyang , Liu Jia , Zhang Xuanming , Xu Huizhe , Piao Haozhe
Published: July 2024

Lower-grade gliomas (LGGs), primarily affecting younger populations, pose a unique challenge in oncological treatment due to their diverse genetic and molecular profiles. Pyroptosis, a specialized form of programmed cell death different from apoptosis, plays a crucial role in cancer pathogenesis by causing cell lysis and inflammation, thereby affecting tumor behavior. This study focuses on the prognostic importance of pyroptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in LGGs, aiming to provide new perspectives for individualized therapy. The research involved bioinformatic and statistical analyses of data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). It includes the collection of RNA-seq expression data from TCGA and CGGA databases, identification of prognostic pyroptosis-related lncRNAs through Pearson correlation and Cox regression analysis, and construction of a Prognostic LncRNA Pyroptosis Score (PLPS) using LASSO regression. The study also encompasses functional enrichment analysis using GO and GSEA, immune characteristics evaluation using various algorithms, and analysis of the genetic landscape in different PLPS subgroups. The study identified 18 pyroptosis-related lncRNAs with significant prognostic value in LGG patients. From these, a PLPS was developed, based on 8 selected lncRNAs, to predict the overall survival of LGG patients. Patients were classified into low-risk and high-risk groups according to the PLPS, allowing an evaluation of their prognoses and clinical molecular features. The study also investigated the immune infiltration status and genomic variations of these patients. The research demonstrated the potential of the identified lncRNAs as biomarkers for personalized treatment strategies in LGG. The findings revealed a complex interaction between pyroptosis, lncRNAs, and tumor biology in LGGs, highlighting the importance of pyroptosis in tumor progression. This study not only contributes significantly to our understanding of LGG pathogenesis and treatment but also opens new pathways for developing targeted therapies based on individual molecular profiles. The results underscore the potential for more effective, personalized treatment approaches in oncology, particularly in the context of LGG.
QTL mapping and genome-wide association analysis reveal genetic loci and candidate gene for resistance to gray leaf spot in tropical and subtropical maize germplasm
Authors: Pan Yanhui , Jiang Fuyan , Shaw Ranjan K. , Sun Jiachen K. , Li Linzhuo , Yin Xingfu , Bi Yaqi , Kong Jiao , Zong Haiyang , Gong Xiaodong , Ijaz Babar , Fan Xingming
Published: July 2024

Gray leaf spot (GLS) is a major foliar disease of maize (Zea mays L.) that causes significant yield losses worldwide. Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying gray leaf spot resistance is crucial for breeding high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties. In this study, eight tropical and subtropical germplasms were crossed with the temperate germplasm Ye107 to develop a nested association mapping (NAM) population comprising 1,653 F2:8 RILs consisting of eight recombinant inbred line (RIL) subpopulations, using the single-seed descent method. The NAM population was evaluated for GLS resistance in four different environments, and genotyping-by-sequencing of the NAM population generated 593,719 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Linkage analysis and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted to identify candidate genes regulating GLS resistance in maize. Both analyses identified 25 QTLs and 149 SNPs that were significantly associated with GLS resistance. Candidate genes were screened 20Kb upstream and downstream of the significant SNPs, and three novel candidate genes (Zm00001d051039, Zm00001d051147, and Zm00001d044845) were identified. Zm00001d051039 and Zm00001d051147 were located on chromosome 4 and co-localized in both linkage (qGLS4-1 and qGLS4-2) and GWAS analyses. SNP-138,153,206 was located 0.499kb downstream of the candidate gene Zm00001d051039, which encodes the protein IN2-1 homolog B, a homolog of glutathione S-transferase (GSTs). GSTs and Protein IN2-1 homolog B scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) under various stress conditions, and GSTs are believed to protect plants from a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses by detoxifying reactive electrophilic compounds. Zm00001d051147 encodes a probable beta-1,4-xylosyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of xylan in the cell wall, enhancing resistance. SNP-145,813,215 was located 2.69 kb downstream of the candidate gene. SNP-5,043,412 was consistently identified in four different environments and was located 8.788 kb downstream of the candidate gene Zm00001d044845 on chromosome 9. Zm00001d044845 encodes the U-box domain-containing protein 4 (PUB4), which is involved in regulating plant immunity. The findings of this study are significant for marker-assisted breeding aimed at enhancing resistance to GLS in maize and laying the foundation for further elucidation of the genetic mechanisms underlying resistance to gray leaf spot in maize and breeding of new disease-resistant varieties.
Genome-wide association analysis revealed genetic markers linked to grain yield and yield related traits in finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn] grown in acidic soils
Authors: Brhane Haftom , Haileselassie Teklehaimanot , Tesfaye Kassahun , Lule Dagnachew , Abreha Kibrom B. , Hammenhag Cecilia , Ortiz Rodomiro , Geleta Mulatu
Published: July 2024

Aim
Finger millet is a nutritionally rich crop cultivated in the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia. Soil acidity has a major impact on the crop’s yield and productivity as tolerant cultivars that perform well in acidic soils are limited. This study aimed at evaluating major finger millet phenotypic traits under acidic soils followed by identifying associated markers.
Method
A total of 288 finger millet genotypes were field evaluated for 8 major phenotypic traits including grain yield under acid soil conditions at Bako and Gute field sites in Ethiopia. In addition, the same genotypes were subjected to genotyping-by-sequencing to generate single nucleotide polymorphism markers to analyze association mapping.
Results
Data analysis revealed significant phenotypic variation in all targeted traits among the studied genotypes. Genotypes Ec-100093 (322.7 g), Ec-215803 (310.2 g), and Ec-203322 (301.2 g) were relatively high-yielding, whereas genotypes Ec-229721 (31 g) and Ec-242110 (31.2 g) had the lowest grain yield across the two locations. The broad-sense heritability of the traits ranged from 0.04 for the number of effective tillers (NET) to 0.78 for days to emergence (GY). The marker-trait association analysis using Bayesian-information and Linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively Nested Keyway model revealed 23 SNP markers significantly associated with one or more traits. Among the273 significant markers, one associated with days to emergence, seven with days to heading, four with days to maturity, three with grain yield (GY), two with ear length, one with plant height, two with number of fingers, and three with the number of effective tillers (NET).
Conclusions
Once validated with further research, the identified novel markers associated with the targeted traits will potentially be useful for genomics-driven finger millet improvement.
Prevalence and associated risk factors of pre-diabetes and diabetes among khat (Catha edulis forsk) chewers in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia
Authors: Damtie Destaw , Seyoum Tarik
Published: July 2024

Khat chewing is associated with lifestyles and dietary habits that have a direct link to the increase of blood glucose levels. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of pre-diabetes and diabetes among khat chewers in Bahir Dar. In this cross-sectional study, 265 khat chewers were selected using snowball sampling. The association and strength of association between DM and risk factors were determined using univariate and multivariable logistic regressions in SPSS version 25. The prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus was 21.1% and 14.0%, respectively. DM was associated with being married, being widowed, chewing khat for 5 to 10 years, chewing 51 to 100 grams of khat per chewing session, medical history of hypertension, sitting for ≥ 3 hours a day for chewing, and having high waist circumference (p < 0.05). The independent predictors of DM in this study were khat chewing frequency of 5 to 7 days a week (AOR = 6.322) and chewing ≥ 100g khat per chewing session (AOR = 4.721). Khat chewers in Bahir Dar show higher diabetes rates than national averages. Key risk factors include frequent, high-quantity khat use. Reducing consumption can lower risk.
Influence of Interstitial Lung Disease on Systemic Sclerosis Hospitalizations, A National Study (2002-2020)
Authors: Jobanputra Julia , Furtado Nikhil , Jabbar Ali Bin Abdul , Dilsaver Danielle , Asghar Noureen , Mirza Mohsin , Nahas Joseph , Tauseef Abubakar
Published: July 2024

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder that can cause generalized inflammation and is characterized by fibrosis of the skin, organs and vasculopathy. Limited SSc is more common and typically less serious and less frequent diffuse has a higher mortality rate due to end organ damage. One of the most common complications of SSc is interstitial lung disease (ILD). ILD is characterized by fibrosis, scarring, and inflammation of the lungs. ILD has a 30% prevalence and a 40% 10-year mortality in patients with SSc worldwide. Hospitalizations for SSc were abstracted from the 2002–2020 using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), an all-payer administrative database in capturing 97% of hospital discharges in the Untied States. The primary aim was to evaluate whether in-patient mortality, length of stay (LOS), and hospital cost differed if SSc patients had underlying ILD. We estimated multivariable logistic regression and log-normal models controlling for age, biological sex, race/ethnicity, income, and hospital setting. ILD was associated with 88% greater adjusted odds of in-patient mortality (aOR 95% CI: 1.53 to 2.31, p < 0.001), 15% longer stays (aOR 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.28, p = 0.000), and 33% higher adjusted hospital costs (aOR 95% CI: 1.26 to 1.40, p < 0.001). These findings concluded that SSc with ILD has a significant impact on hospitalization outcomes.
Iranian nurses’ understanding of moral distress in pediatric wards
Authors: Rahmani Narges , Roshan FatemehSadat Seyed Nematollah , Nabavian Majedeh , Alipour Hossein
Published: July 2024

Background: As direct and continuous providers of patient services, nurses are more exposed tovarious types of psychological stress in the work environment compared to other members of the health system. Nurses working in pediatric wards are in contact with children, and their families are more exposed to moral distress.This study aimed to investigate Iranian nurses’ understanding of moral distress in pediatric wards.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted through inductive content analysis in 2023-2024. Data were collected through semi-structured and individual interviews and analyzed simultaneously and continuously using Graneheim and Lundman’s approach.
Twelve participants among nurses with moral distress experiences were selected through purposive sampling from Babol and Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences.
Results: The study findings include four main classes and eight subclasses: 1) moral distress related to colleagues (doctor and nurse colleagues), 2) moral distress related to parents (conflict with children’s rights and distrust in nurses), 3) moral distress related to organizational factors (lack of manpower and proper equipment), and 4) psychological tensions following moral distress (mental conflict and exhaustion).
Conclusion: The findings demonstrate the need for mechanisms by managers and officials to hold educational programs and workshops to help reduce moral distress levels in nurses. To this end, it is necessary to identify the stressful conditions caused by nursing care in this ward and reduce nurses’ exposure to stress in moral dilemmas.
Improvements to steepest descent method for multi-objective optimization
Authors: Chen Wang , Tang Liping , Yang Xinmin
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we propose an efficient strategy for improving the multi-objective steepest descent method proposed by Fliege and Svaiter (Math Methods Oper Res, 2000, 3: 479--494). The core idea behind this strategy involves incorporating a positive modification parameter into the iterative formulation of the multi-objective steepest descent algorithm in a multiplicative manner. This modification parameter captures certain second-order information associated with the objective functions. We provide two distinct methods for calculating this modification parameter, leading to the development of two improved multi-objective steepest descent algorithms tailored for solving multi-objective optimization problems. Under reasonable assumptions, we demonstrate the convergence of sequences generated by the first algorithm toward a critical point. Furthermore, for strongly convex multi-objective optimization problems, we establish the linear convergence to Pareto optimality of the sequence of generated points. The performance of the new algorithms is empirically evaluated through computational comparisons on a set of multi-objective test instances. The numerical results underscore that the proposed algorithms consistently outperform the original multi-objective steepest descent algorithm.
Employing Raman Spectroscopy and Machine Learning for the Identification of Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhang Ya , Li Zheng , Li Zhongqiang , Wang Huaizhi , Regmi Dinkar , Zhang Jian , Feng Jiming , Yao Shaomian , Xu Jian
Published: July 2024

Background
Breast cancer poses a significant health risk to women worldwide, with approximately 30% being diagnosed annually in the United States. The identification of cancerous breast tissues from non-cancerous ones during surgery is crucial for the complete removal of tumors.
Results
Our study innovatively utilized machine learning techniques (Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)) alongside Raman spectroscopy to streamline and hasten the differentiation of normal and late-stage cancerous breast tissues in mice. The classification accuracy rates achieved by these models were 94.47% for RF, 96.76% for SVM, and 97.58% for CNN, respectively. To our best knowledge, this study was the first effort in comparing the effectiveness of these three machine-learning techniques in classifying breast cancer tissues based on their Raman spectra. Moreover, we innovatively identified specific spectral peaks that contribute to the molecular characteristics of the murine cancerous and non-cancerous tissues.
Conclusions
Consequently, our integrated approach of machine learning and Raman spectroscopy presents a non-invasive, swift diagnostic tool for breast cancer, offering promising applications in intraoperative settings.
Dural puncture epidural technique improved haemodynamic stability compared with spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery: a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Hu Yang , Zhong Yu , Du Ming-cheng , Long Xiang , Jiang Jing-jing , Gong Yuan
Published: July 2024

Background: The dural puncture epidural technique could provide better haemodynamic stability in elective caesarean delivery compared with spinal anaesthesia. We aimed to investigate if the dural puncture epidural technique could reduce the incidence of hypotension in elective caesarean delivery compared with spinal anaesthesia.
Methods: This was a single-centre, parallel-group, randomised, double-blind controlled trial at the Yichang Central People’s Hospital. Healthy women aged 20–40 years with an American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I or II, undergoing elective primary caesarean delivery, and with foetuses with vertex presentation at 38–40 weeks of gestation were enrolled. The patients were randomised into group S (spinal anaesthesia) and group D (dural puncture epidural technique) with different neuraxial placement. The primary outcome was the incidence of hypotension during the operation. The secondary outcomes were time from injection to the end of operation, average dose of rescue ephedrine, incidence of intraoperative nausea and vomiting, heart rate, neonatal umbilical vein pH, and Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min.
Results: The findings of our study revealed that the dural puncture epidural technique reduces the incidence of hypotension in caesarean delivery compared with spinal anaesthesia, without affecting heart rate. There was no significant difference in the onset time from injection to the end of operation, and no severe adverse effects were found in our study.
Conclusions: The dural puncture epidural technique could provide better haemodynamic stability when the risks and benefits to the mother and her foetus are considered together.
Trial registration: The trial was registered on October 30, 2021 at www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2100052541).
Intelligent Detection Technology for Concrete Cracks in Bridge Baseplate Based on Machine Vision
Authors: Yu Zhiyuan , Dai Chunquan , Li Haisheng , Yu Haiyang , Zeng Xiaoming
Published: July 2024

With the continuous advancement of urbanization, the demand for the use of bridges has increased, and the demand for bridge health monitoring also sharply increased. Because of the particularity of its location, there are many difficulties in the crack detection of bridge baseplate. This paper proposed an intelligent detection technology for concrete cracks in bridge baseplate based on machine vision. Firstly, the images of concrete crack in bridge baseplate were collected by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the images were binarized, and the binarized images were used as the data set. Then, we improved the VGG model, proposed the VGG-A9 model suitable for crack image classification, set the ReLU function, added the batch normalization layer and dropout layer to optimize the model. The VGG-A9 model was trained and verified through the constructed data set, the loss function curve and classification accuracy curve were analyzed. It can be seen that the VGG-A9 model has low loss value, high accuracy and fast convergence speed. Finally, the crack feature parameters were extracted from the classified crack binary images as the basis for the service reliability evaluation of bridges, which provide reference for the intelligent detection and operation maintenance of bridges.
Sharing tripartite nonlocality sequentially using only projective measurements
Authors: Xu Yiyang , Sun Hao , Guo Fenzhuo , Dong Haifeng , Wen Qiaoyan
Published: July 2024

Bell nonlocality is a valuable resource in quantum information processing tasks. Scientists are interested in whether a single entangled state can generate a long sequence of nonlocal correlations. Previous work has accomplished sequential tripartite nonlocality sharing through unsharp measurements. In this paper, we investigate the sharing of tripartite nonlocality using only projective measurements and sharing classical randomness. For the generalized GHZ state, we have demonstrated that using unbiased measurement choices, two Charlies can share the standard tripartite nonlocality with a single Alice and a single Bob, while at most one Charlie can share the genuine tripartite nonlocality with a single Alice and a single Bob. However, with biased measurement choices, the number of Charlies sharing the genuine tripartite nonlocality can be increased to two. Nonetheless, we find that using biased measurements does not increase the number of sequential observers sharing the standard tripartite nonlocality. Moreover, we provide the feasible range of double violation for the parameters of the measurement combination probability with respect to the state.
MTOR promotes astrocyte activation and participates in neuropathic pain through an upregulation of RIP3
Authors: Dong Bingru , Li Danyang , Song Shasha , He Na , Yue Shouwei , Yin Sen
Published: July 2024

Neuropathic pain (NP), a chronic pain condition, is mostly the result of astrocyte activation within the spinal cord. Here, we investigated the underlying mechanisms associated with this effect. We found that following chronic constriction injury (CCI) surgery, there was an increase of mTOR in astrocytes and an activation of astrocytes within the spinal cords. Overexpressing mTOR by intrathecal injection of TSC2-shRNA further promoted CCI-induced neuroinflammation and astrocyte activation. Knockdown of astrocytic mTOR reversed hyperalgesia and rescued the downregulation of spinal glutamate metabolism-related protein expression. Interestingly, overexpression of mTOR resulted in the RIP3 up-regulation, and pharmacological inhibition of RIP3 eliminated the mTOR-induced astrocyte activation. Mechanistically, we found that mTOR controlled the expression of RIP3 in astrocytes through ITCH-mediated ubiquitination and an autophagy-dependent degradation. Taken together, our results reveal an unanticipated link between mTOR and RIP3 in promoting astrocyte activation, providing new avenues of investigation directed toward the management and treatment of NP.