bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caudate lobe-based minimally invasive anatomic hepatectomy: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Zhiheng , Peng Jing , Zhu Yican , Cao Yajuan , Han Bing , Yue Yang , Yu Decai
Published: October 2023

Background: Anatomic hepatectomy has become a crucial surgical procedure in the liver section. The function and role of the caudate lobe in anatomic hepatectomy remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to summarize the efficiency of caudate lobe-based anatomic hepatectomy.
Methods: Three hundred thirty-one cases were enrolled in this retrospective study. They underwent minimally invasive hepatectomy based on caudate lobe-based anatomic hepatectomy theory. The operation time, blood loss, postoperative CRP, and hospital duration were collected for further analysis.
Results: The mean length of G1L was longer than that of G1C. The length of G1C or G1L was negatively correlated with clinical outcomes (bleeding volume, operation time, postoperative CRP, and hospital duration) and the occurrence of operation-associated complications. Further subgroup analysis showed that theclinical outcomes (postoperative CRP and bleeding volume) of patients who underwent right hepatectomy were negatively associated with the length of the G1C, and the length of the G1L wasconnected to the clinical outcome of patients after left hepatectomy.
Conclusion: Based on the outcomes of 331 patientsundergoing hepatectomy, caudate lobe-based anatomic hepatectomy theory was feasible and efficient for anatomic liver sections.
Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Supercapsular Percutaneously-assisted Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty Versus Conventional Posterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhao Yize , Wang Chen , Sun Wenchen , Xie Xinyi , Feng Ganjun
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis was aimed to compare the postoperative results between SuperPATH and conventional posterior/posterolateral approach (PA).
METHODS: PRISMAP guidelines were followed in this review. CNKI, Wanfang, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were searched for qualified studies according to the inclusion criteria, and extracted and analyzed the data by Review Manage 5.4 and Stata 16.0.
RESULTS: 36 studies were included. Compared to PA group, SP group had a shorter incision length, less intraoperative blood loss, a shorter hospital stay, ability to act earlier and less postoperative drainage. Hip function (HHS) was significantly improved within three months postoperatively. Pain of hip (VAS) was significantly reduced within one month postoperatively. The state of daily living (BI) was significantly improved within three months. Patients' overall health status (SF-36 score) improved significantly postoperatively. There was no difference in postoperative complications between the two approaches. PA had a shorter operative time and a higher accuracy of prosthesis placement.
CONCLUSION: SuperPATH is worth promoting. It is superior to conventional PA in terms of shorter hospital stay, less blood loss, shorter patient's postoperative bed rest, acceleration of postoperative hip function, and reduction of postoperative pain. However, it requires a longer operative time and implantation of the prosthesis is less accurate than that of PA. SuperPATH requires continued learning by surgeons to minimize the impact of its shortcomings.
Occult retinal neovascularization following intravitreal bevacizumab and laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Ng Wei Loon , Trinavarat Adisak , Atchaneeyasakul La-ongsri
Published: October 2023

Background:
We present a patient with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who developed worsening plus disease after complete regression of stage 3 ROP. The use of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) aided the visualization of occult neovascularization that caused the disease progression.
Case presentation:
The patient was at high risk for ROP due to low birth weight of 690 grams and gestational age of 25 weeks. After the diagnosis of stage 3 ROP in zone I without plus disease, she was treated initially with bilateral intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and followed by laser photocoagulation 3 weeks later. Despite the resolution of ROP stage, the plus disease worsened. Neither systemic risk factors nor skip laser areas were observed. Hence, FFA was performed and subsequently identified occult neovascularization with active leakage. Additional IVB and laser treatment in the capillary dropout area inside vascularized retina were added. The plus disease improved but mild arteriolar tortuosity persisted.
Conclusions:
Worsening of plus disease after completion of laser ablation and IVB with complete regression of stage 3 ROP is rare. Systemic risk factors such as continuous oxygen therapy and cardiovascular disease should be ruled out. FFA aided in identifying occult neovascularization and prompted further treatment.
Diagnosis accuracy of Raman spectroscopy in the diagnosis of tuberculosis: a meta-analysis
Authors: Cheng ZiHe , Ma Rui , Yu Zixian , Wu Jing , Sun Yanan , Wang Qiaoyun , Li Tiantian , Zhao Jin , Wang Shengyu
Published: October 2023

Background Raman spectroscopy (RS) has shown promise in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). However, the evidence for its diagnostic accuracy in TB is still unclear.
Results This meta-analysis incorporated a total of eight articles. RS exhibited a sensitivity of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.82-0.96) and specificity of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.85-0.97) for TB diagnosis. Importantly, the DOR was 146.18 (95% CI, 42.28-505.42), indicating a favorable discriminative ability. Additionally, the AUC of summary receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.95-0.98). Subgroup analysis further indicated that both surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and the 700-900 nm wavelength group demonstrated even higher sensitivity and specificity, surpassing 0.95. Significant heterogeneity was observed among the included studies; however, the publication bias was considered acceptable based on Deeks’ funnel plot analysis.
Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that RS may be an effective and accurate tool for differentiating TB. Notably, the application of SERS and the utilization of the 700-900 nm wavelength range further enhance the sensitivity and specificity.
Trial Registration This meta-analysis has been registered at PROSPERO with ID: CRD42023415761.
Screening of Close Contacts of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in an Urban Area in Shanghai, China: a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Shiqi , Li Fen , Jing Chen , Zheyuan Wu , Chenxi Ning , Shen Xin , Yuan Zhengan
Published: October 2023

Objectives: The study aimed to explore the risk factors of close contacts developing pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and evaluate the socioeconomic benefits of TB prevention and control expenditure in Putuo District, Shanghai.
Study design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among close contacts of pulmonary TB patients in Putuo District from 2017 to 2018.
Methods: A symptom questionnaire, chest X-ray (CXR) and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) were carried out to screen the consenting close contacts. Three sputum smears and cultures were collected from close contacts whose screening was positive.
Results: A total of 1036 individuals were included in this study, with an average age of 47.3±19.4 years old, including 427 males and 609 females. Four of the close contacts had suspected TB symptoms. Fourteen had abnormal CXR with suspected TB and 52 had positive IGRA results. Multivariate analysis showed that index cases with positive sputum smears, close contacts with suspected TB symptoms and their interaction term were at significantly higher risk of developing TB. A total of $67,372.6 was invested. Eight active TB cases were screened and successfully treated in this study, saving $88,083.11 by avoiding new cases by conducting close contact screening in this study and $1,203,953.05 in the socioeconomic value. Each dollar generated $19.18 in socioeconomic benefits.
Conclusions: A comprehensive package, involving funding and introducing new techniques needs to be developed to further optimize the screening strategies of close contacts, particular emphasis should be placed on those with bacteria-positive index cases or those with suspected TB symptoms during follow-up.
Construction of a predictive model for fear of fall in rehabilitating elderly stroke patients using a multi- layer perceptron neural network
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Zhang Lei
Published: October 2023

Objective
To establish a predictive model using multi-layer perceptron (MLP) for fear of fall in elderly stroke patients during the rehabilitation period.
Methods
From June 2022 to February 2023,368 elderly patients with rehabilitation stroke were investigated by scales.Conduct univariate and multivariate analysis of the influencing factors for fear of fall, using multivariate Logistic regression and MLP to establish the prediction model and calculate the prediction accuracy of the two models.Predictive efficacy was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.
Results
The prediction accuracy of the multivariate Logistic regression model was 78.00% and the area under the ROC curve was 0.848; the prediction accuracy of the MLP model was 84.90% and the area under the ROC curve was 0.890.
Conclusion
The prediction of fear of fall in elderly stroke patients during the rehabilitation period can be done with MLP model.
Mass Spectra Prediction with Structural Motif-based Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Jo Jeonghee , Park Jiwon , Yoon Sungroh
Published: October 2023

Mass spectra, which are agglomerations of ionized fragments from targeted molecules, play a crucial role across various fields for the identification of molecular structures. A prevalent analysis method involves spectral library searches, where unknown spectra are cross-referenced with a database. The effectiveness of such search-based approaches, however, is restricted by the scope of the existing mass spectra database, underscoring the need to expand the database via mass spectra prediction. In this research, we propose the Motif-based Mass Spectrum prediction Network (MoMS-Net), a GNN-based architecture to predict the mass spectra pattern utilizing the structural motif information of the molecule. MoMS-Net considers both a molecule and its substructures as a graph form, which facilitates the incorporation of long-range dependencies while using less memory compared to the graph transformer model. We evaluated our model over various types of mass spectra and showed the validity and superiority over the conventional models.
Influence of prenatal aquatic activities on fetal outcomes and maternal physical and mental outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Junmiao , Chen Rongrong , Wang Yuhan , Zhao Kun , Zhou Feifei
Published: October 2023

Purpose
Aquatic activities are becoming increasingly popular as a form of exercise during pregnancy. However, the effects of these activities on the physical and mental health outcomes of pregnant women during and after pregnancy as well as fetal outcomes remain unclear. This meta-analysis evaluated the current evidence regarding the effects of aquatic activities during pregnancy on neonatal and maternal outcomes.
Methods
Three databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase) were searched from inception to March 7, 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of aquatic activities versus standard prenatal care or no exercise on neonatal and maternal outcomes. Pooled outcome measures were determined using random-effects models.
Results
Ten RCTs including 1949 patients met the criteria for inclusion in this meta-analysis. The results showed that prenatal aquatic activities could significantly improve maternal weight control (mean difference [MD]= -0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]= -1.64 to -0.18, P = 0.01, I2 = 0.00%), improve maternal quality of life (standard mean difference [SMD] = 0.16, 95%CI = 0.03 to 0.28, P = 0.01, I2 = 0.00%), and extend fetal birth length (MD = 0.48, 95%CI = 0.10 to 0.87, P = 0.01, I2 = 0.00%) compared with standard prenatal care or no exercise, while no significant differences were observed in fetal birth weight, Apgar score at 1 minute, Apgar score at 5 minutes, pH of umbilical cord blood, gestational age, rate of preterm delivery, incidence of postnatal depression and mode of delivery.
Conclusions
Prenatal aquatic activities can significantly improve maternal weight control and quality of life during pregnancy, and may promote longer birth length. However, additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Asbestos Ban Policies and Mesothelioma Mortality in Greece
Authors: Gogou Evdoxia , Hatzoglou Chryssi , Siachpazidou Dimitra , Zarogiannis Sotirios G. , Gourgoulianis Konstantinos I.
Published: October 2023

Background
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that mostly affects the pleura and has a strong link to asbestos exposure. Greece banned the use of asbestos in 2005, however, the public was already aware of this substance in the 1980s. This research aims to present an overview of Greece's mesothelioma mortality rates (MMR) from 1983 to 2019 by age, gender, and geographic region and to determine whether the actions to ban asbestos impacted these rates.
Methods
Data were retrieved by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (HAS) from death certificates that mentioned mesothelioma as the cause of death from 1983 to 2019 with details on the residence, gender, and age. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 29 software, a one-way ANOVA test followed by post-hoc and Dunnett C test for multiple comparisons or Independent samples T-test for comparison between two subjects.
Results
Males' MMR and the whole population's MMR reached their highest levels in 2011 (0.86/100000 and 0.52/100000, respectively). In order to look for any potential changes between the first two decades of the 21st century, we compared the mean MMR of each geographic region in Greece between two different 10-year subperiods (2000–2009 and 2010–2019). Except for Epirus, all regions of Greece had elevated regional MMRs, particularly in those with the highest asbestos deposits. Notably, the MMR in Epirus decreased from 0.55/100000 (2000–2009) to 0.38/100000 (2010–2019). After 2011, the MMR for men and the general population stabilized. This stability is important since mesothelioma in men is associated with occupational asbestos exposure. The intriguing discovery of a lower MMR in Epirus emphasizes the need to raise awareness of the condition and implement effective public health measures.
Conclusions
In Greece, the annual rate for males and the whole population reached its highest level in 2011, which is positive and encouraging and may be a sign that the rate will stabilize during the following years. Moreover, this study showed that the actions made in the 1980s regarding public awareness and surveillance directly impacted the decrease in Epirus rates. Future research, continual awareness, information, and recording are needed to monitor the mesothelioma epidemic.
Trial registration:
Not applicable
De novo 7q11.21 duplication with 4-hydroxy phenylacetic aciduria– A rare neurodevelopmental syndrome: A Case report
Authors: Akter Sanjida , Hossain Md Shafayat , Tasnim Fariha , Bulbul Mohammad Farhad , Ananna Farzana Rashni
Published: October 2023

Introduction The rearrangement of chromosomal genes, particularly duplication and deletion, is mostly known as a chromosomal disorder. Chromosome 7 has approximately 1.5 million base pairs (Mb); chromosome 7q11.21 region is prone to chromosomal rearrangement. Duplication in any of these regions can cause autism spectrum disorder. Organic acid disorder is when the body's metabolism does not function properly, producing insufficient energy and accumulating harmful substances in the blood and urine. 4-hydroxy phenylacetic acid is a metabolite of the methyl hydrogens substitution, which causes Schizophrenia, ulcerative colitis, and epilepsy. Method We performed Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for the detection of chromosomal duplication from GC lab South Korea on peripheral blood samples and Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LS-MS/MS) for organic acid disorder on urine sample in our patient from Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital (Daegu, South Korea). We have reviewed both disorders' clinical features and genotype-phenotype characteristics. Psychological and behavioral modification, dietary modification, and supplementation are being applied appropriately. Result We have identified our patient with 4-hydroxyphenyl acetic aciduria by Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LS-MS/MS), and its concentration was found 84.4 (mmol/mol Cr) and duplication in chromosome 7q11.21 by CMA, which is 444 kb in size likely benign. Discussion We have found various autistic features related to chromosome 7q11.21 duplication and 4-hydroxyphenyl acetic aciduria. Timely treatment, proper diet, special behavioral care, and close monitoring may help improve the patient's condition.
Site quality for Araucaria angustifolia plantations with subtropical Cambisol is driven by soil organism assemblage and the litter and soil compartments
Authors: Souza Tancredo , Dobner Mário , Nascimento Gislaine dos Santos , Silva Lucas Jónatan Rodrigues da
Published: October 2023

Soil quality is a driver for biodiversity enrichment, soil fertility, and soil organic matter dynamics. Different soil quality levels at Araucaria angustifolia plantations may influence the soil organisms, and the interaction between litter and soil compartments by providing habitat and nutrients in different pathways. Our aim was to present a deeper view of the litter-soil compartments, and soil organisms community composition associated with three degrees of site quality (low-, average-, and high-quality sites), which reflect productivity levels, at the highlands of southern Brazil. The non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) grouped the influence of soil quality degrees in three groups considering the dissimilarities on the soil organisms among each other. The ordination of the soil organisms, richness, and Shannon’s diversity in each studied soil quality degree had a stress value of 0.08. The structural equation models indicated that the loss of soil quality showed a negative relationship among soil organisms’ assemblage, and soil-litter compartments. Our results highlighted the importance of considering soil biotic and abiotic attributes for achieving high productivity levels from A. angustifolia plantations within its natural occurrence range.
Kiwifruit-A.blazei intercropping effectively improved yield productivity, nutrient uptake, and rhizospheric bacterial community
Authors: Shen Chuan , Li Xia , Qin Jianfeng
Published: October 2023

Background
Intercropping systems have garnered attention as a sustainable agricultural approach for efficient land usage, increased ecological diversity in farmland, and enhanced crop yields. This study examined the impact of intercropping on the kiwifruit rhizosphere to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between cover plants and kiwifruit in this sustainable agricultural system.
Results
The analysis of soil physicochemical properties and bacterial communities was conducted in the Kiwifruit-A. blazei intercropping system. Moreover, the combined analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomic sequencing was used to identify differential microbes and metabolites in the rhizosphere. Intercropping led to an increase in soil physicochemical (ALN, TN, SOC, AP, MBC, MBN) and enzyme activity (URE, NR), as well as re-shaped the bacterial community and increased in microbial diversity. Specifically, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Myxococcota, and Patescibacteria were the most abundant and diverse phyla in the intercropping system. The expression analysis further revealed that the bacterial genera of BIrii41, Acidibacter, and Altererythrobacter were significantly upregulated in the intercropping system. Moreover, a total of 358 differential metabolites (DMs) were identified between the monocropping and intercropping cultivation patterns, with fatty acyls, carboxylic acids and derivatives, and organooxygen compounds being significantly upregulated in the intercropping system. The KEGG metabolic pathways further revealed the considerable enrichment of DMs in ABC transports, histidine metabolism, and pyrimidine metabolism. This study identified a significant correlation between 95 bacterial genera and 79 soil metabolites, and an interactive network was constructed to explore the relationships between these differential microbes and metabolites in the rhizosphere.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that Kiwifruit-A. blazei intercropping can be an effective, labor-saving, economic, and sustainable practice for reshaping the bacterial community and promoting the accumulation and metabolism of beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere.
Technology-enabled great leap in deciphering plant genomes
Authors: Fan Longjiang , Gong Xiaojiao , Xie Lingjuan , Yang Kun , Shen Leti , Huang Yujie , Zhang Shiyu , Sun Yanqing , Wu Dongya , Ye Chuyu , Zhu Qian-Hao
Published: October 2023

Plant genomes provide essential and vital basic resources to study multifarious aspects of plant biology and applications (e.g. breeding). From 2000 to 2020, 1,031 genomes of 788 plant species were sequenced. From 2021 to 2023, 1,857 genomes of 841 plant species, including 622 newly sequenced species, were assembled, showing a great leap. The 1,857 newly assembled genomes, with some being telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assembles, cover the major phylogenetic clades and many of them have a high quality. The achievement is mainly attributed to significant advances in both sequencing technologies and assembly software. A database named N3: plants, genomes, technologies was developed to accommodate the metadata associated with the sequenced plant genomes. In the end, we discussed the challenges involved in building huge size gap-free and single-cell genomes as well as the future opportunities in plant genomic studies.
Prediction of isometric forces from combined epidural spinal cord and neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the rat lower limb
Authors: Song Daniel , Tresch Matthew
Published: October 2023

Both epidural spinal cord and muscle stimulation have been widely used for restoration of movement after spinal cord injury. However, using both approaches simultaneously could provide more flexible control compared to using either approach alone. We evaluate whether responses evoked by combined spinal and muscle stimulation can be predicted by the linear summation of responses produced by each individually. Should this be true, it would simplify the prediction of co-stimulation responses and the development of control schemes for spinal cord injury rehabilitation. In anesthetized rats, we measured hindlimb isometric forces in response to spinal and muscle stimulation across a range of amplitudes. Force prediction errors were calculated as the difference between predicted co-stimulation vectors and observed co-stimulation vectors whereby small errors signified evidence for linear summation. We found that the errors for spinal and muscle co-stimulation were significantly larger than expected. Using a bootstrapping analysis, we find that these larger errors do not reflect a nonlinear interaction between spinal and muscle responses. Instead, they can be attributed to the variability of spinal stimulation responses. We discuss the implications of these results to the use of combined muscle and spinal stimulation for the restoration of movement following spinal cord injury.
False-positive results of galactomannan assays in patients administered glucose-containing solutions
Authors: Shin Dong Woo , Cho Jungwon , Choi Kyung Suk , Lee Jungwha , Choi Yunsang , Choi Seong Jin , Kim Sang-A , Moon Song Mi , Kim Eu Suk , Kim Hong Bin , Park Kyoung Un , Hong Yun Ji , Song Kyoung-Ho
Published: October 2023

Galactomannan (GM) is a polysaccharide cell wall component released by Aspergillus spp., and an immunoenzymatic GM assay is used for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. We evaluated the cause of strong positivity for GM in patients with no typical signs of aspergillosis. Repeat assays were performed using different instruments and reagent lots, but there were no differences in results among the assays. Patients with strongly positive GM results were investigated. Medication histories revealed that 14 of 23 patients had been administered total parenteral nutrition solution from one manufacturer and 4 patients had been administered dextrose solution from a different manufacturer before being tested. The results of GM assays conducted on samples of dextrose solution and the glucose fraction of the total parenteral nutrition solution were strongly positive, confirming the causes of the false-positive reactions. We hypothesize that a trace amount of GM was introduced into the glucose-containing solutions because glucoamylase, which is necessary for the saccharification step of glucose synthesis, was derived from Aspergillus niger. To enhance patient care and prevent unnecessary antifungal prescriptions, healthcare providers and manufacturers of healthcare products need to be aware of the possibility of false-positive reactions for GM.
Lipomyelomeningocele in a neonate: A case report from Eastern Nepal
Authors: Rayamajhi Anusha , Shrestha Manisha , Yadav Pramodman Singh , Adhikari Pratik , Mehta Binod , Khadka Shuvam , Dahal Alok
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Myelomeningocele is a congenital neural tube defects associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Accounting for more than 80% of all neural defects, this condition requires immediate attention. In this case report, we present a 44-day old male child with the features of lipomyelomeningocele presented to our neurosurgery OPD.
Case presentation: A 44-day old male child presented to the pediatric outpatient with complains of a gradually increasing swelling in the lumbar region since birth. The baby was referred to the Neurosurgery outpatient department due to suspicion of neural tube defects. A lump was present in the posterior aspect of the sacral region covered with an overlying healthy skin, soft on palpation, fluctuant, and measured about 4 cm x 4 x 1 cm. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a focal neural tube defect of 4.9 cm x 4.3 x 1.9 cm at L4, L5, and S1 with tethering of the cord at the L4 level. The patient had a successful repair of the meningocele and later advised on regular follow-up visits.
Conclusion: Our case report highlights the challenges associated with occurrence of lipomyelomeningocele, in regions with limited access to prenatal care and folate supplementation. It emphasizes the importance of public health efforts to educate and support pregnant women in remote areas, ultimately reducing the burden of congenital neural tube defects in neonates.
Human endometrial stem cells-derived exosomes enhance neurite outgrowth and peripheral nerve regeneration through activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Namini Mojdeh Salehi , Ebrahimi-Barough Somayeh , Beheshtizadeh Nima , Ai Jafar
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, exosomes participate in cell-cell communication and gain attention as a new approach for cell-free therapies. Recently, various studies have demonstrated the therapeutic ability of exosomes, but the biological effect of human endometrial stem cell (hEnSC)-derived exosomes is still unclear. Herein, we obtained exosomes from hEnSC and indicated that these exosomes activate the vital cell signaling pathway and progress neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cell lines. For this purpose, hEnSC-derived exosomes were extracted by ultracentrifuge and characterized by DLS, SEM, TEM, and western blot. Also, dil-staining of hEnSC-derived exosomes was done to determine the penetration of hEnSC-derived exosomes into PC12 cells. MTT assay, scratch assay, and western blot assay were applied to PC12 cells that were exposed to different concentrations of exosomes (0, 50, 100, and 150 µg/ml). Our results demonstrated that exosomes significantly increased neurite outgrowth, proliferation, and migration in PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the analysis of western blots showed increased expression of the PI3/AKT signaling pathway in PC12 cells exposed to hEnSC-derived exosomes in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the results of this study indicated that hEnSC-derived exosomes can enhance cell proliferation and migration and promote neural outgrowth by activating the PI3/AKT signaling pathway. Accordingly, hEnSC-derived exosomes became an effective strategy for cell-free therapies. All together, these positive effects make hEnSC-derived exosomes a new efficient approach in regenerative medicine, especially for the cure of neural injury.
Dietitians as innovators: a deductive-inductive qualitative analysis
Authors: Hewko Sarah Jean , Freeburn Julia
Published: October 2023

Background: Frontline health professionals are well-placed to develop and implement beneficial innovations. Evidence supports the clinical and financial benefits of Registered Dietitian (RD)-led improvement initiatives, but we know little about how RDs perceive of innovation or of themselves as innovators. The objectives of the study were to gain an understanding of: 1) how RDs define innovation; 2) who RDs perceive as innovative; 3) whether RDs feel prepared to innovate, and; 4) to what extent work context impacts RDs’ capacity to innovate at work.
Methods: All RDs employed in Canada were eligible to participate. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and a deductive-inductive approach was applied to qualitative analysis. Specifically, Scott & Bruce’s (1994) Path Model of Individual Innovation in the Workplace was first applied as a coding structure.
Results: Respondents (n = 18) exhibited a pro-innovation disposition and a gendered perception of innovation. Few felt their preparatory education prepared them to be innovators in the workplace. All components of Scott & Bruce’s model were supported. Inductive codes were categorized into five themes, including: benefits, dietetics-specific, health care system, technology and individual characteristics.
Conclusions: Researchers have previously raised concerns about gendered perceptions of innovation; our results support the legitimacy of these concerns. RDs reported entering the workforce unprepared to be innovative. While the applicability of Scott & Bruce’s model among RDs was confirmed, deficits in the model were noted beyond what would be expected due to context.
Angle modulated two-dimensional single cell pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for detecting early symptoms of DNA fragmentation in human sperm nuclei
Authors: Kaneko Satoru , Takamatsu Kiyoshi
Published: October 2023

We here developed a novel angle-modulated two-dimensional single cell pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (2D-SCPFGE). Variations in current-application-time and rotation angle generated different alignments of DNA fibers and segments. After the first run, the specimen was turned by 150 degrees (2D-SCPFGE-0-150) to detect naturally occurring the earliest stage of DNA fragmentation or 75 degrees (2D-SCPFGE-0-75) to analyze artificially induced cleavage. The former revealed that a part of long chain fibers remained at the origin and long segments were still tangled in the bundle of elongated fibers after the first run. The latter visualized the dose-dependent cleavage of DNA by EcoR1. Multicycle 2D-SCPFGE was useful for generating 2D-alignments of single nuclear DNA fibers, which is the first step for visualization of single-strand breaks on stretched fibers. To date, many articles have accepted the pathogenetic significances of DNA fragmentation in human sperm for male infertility and congenital anomaly. It is necessary to perform multivariate analyses of not only earliest-stage DNA fragmentation but also other types of damage, including single-strand breaks, in sequential DNA fibers. 2D-SCPFGE is the fundamental tool for understanding single nuclear DNA damages.
A multi-task image splicing tampering detection model based on semantic segmentation network
Authors: Wei Weiyi , Zhang Futong , Wang Jian , Lei Huanhuan
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, malicious tampering and forgery images show an explosive growth trend. Current image splicing tamper detection methods commonly suffer from issues such as inaccurate identification of tampering boundaries and low detection accuracy. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a multi-task image splicing tampering detection algorithm based on DeepLabv3+. The proposed algorithm improves the model's detection of manipulation boundaries by using shallow image features to predict the boundaries of manipulation regions within images. Concurrently, in an endeavor to enhance the model's adaptability towards multi-scale manipulated regions, segments the image manipulated regions by multi-scale fusion features, integrates the attention mechanism in the original empty-space pyramidal kernel, and uses the MSPM instead of the global average pool to improve the localization accuracy of the manipulated regions. The experimental results demonstrate that the F1 scores on CASIAV1.0 and Columbia datasets are 0.664 and 0.729, respectively. The MCC scores are 0.683 and 0.723, respectively. These scores are superior to the algorithms CNN-LSTM, MFCN, EXIF-SC, and MSGL. Furthermore, Significant advancements have been observed in terms of the localization accuracy when comparing against the original methodologies.
Stabilization Control of Output Voltage for Segmented Dynamic Capacitive Power Transfer System Based on Partial Power Processing
Authors: Tang Dingyuan , Zhou Wei , Zhang Qiang , Li Mengmeng , Huang Liang
Published: October 2023

In the operation of dynamic capacitive power transfer (DCPT) systems, time-varying parameters can significantly impact the stability of the system’s output voltage. Achieving precise regulation of system through closed-loop controller becomes important. This paper presents a control method for DCPT systems based on partial power processing (PPP) technique. It achieves output voltage stability under various disturbances by processing only a fraction of the power. Firstly, this paper outlines the architecture of the PPP-based DCPT system and conducts system modeling. Based on the model, the influence of varying input voltage, coupling parameters, and load resistance on the open-loop output characteristics of the system is analyzed. Furthermore, the relationship between the duty cycle of the Boost converter, power ratio of the main/auxiliary channels, and output voltage is investigated after the controller's intervention. This analysis clarifies the control ability to regulate the output voltage. A 350W DCPT experimental prototype is established, demonstrating stable control of the system's output voltage at 100 V despite disturbances such as load variations within the range of 30-100 Ω, movement of the receiver between adjacent transmitting segments, and input voltage fluctuations of ±10%. When compared to a DCPT system with a cascaded DC-DC converter, the system’s efficiency is also improved by 0.7%~2.1% under different load conditions.
Heterojunction PdO/CoS as a high-performance visible-light active photocatalyst in elimination of methylene blue from in aqueous media
Authors: Alinezhad Zahra , Fazaeli Reza , Moghadamzadeh Hamidreza , Ardjmand Mehdi , Raoufi Nahid
Published: October 2023

In this research, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye was investigated using cobalt sulfide and palladium oxide nanoparticles, as well as the composite PdO/CoS, under visible light irradiation. The structural and morphological properties were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Mott-Schottky analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hexagonal structure was observed for cobalt sulfide, and the XRD analysis revealed a multi-faceted structure for the composite. The Mott-Schottky analysis confirmed the formation of a p-n heterojunction, and the flat band potential values for the n-type and p-type semiconductors were found to be -1 and 1.3, respectively. The bandgap of the composite was determined to be 3 eV using Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS). Various conditions such as temperature and pH, as well as the percentage of palladium doping, significantly influenced the degradation of methylene blue. Both CoS and PdO alone exhibited some degradation ability, but when palladium oxide was deposited on cobalt sulfide to form the composite, a remarkable 91% degradation efficiency was achieved. When 0.1 grams of the synthesized composite was used for 90 minutes, it successfully degraded 91% of methylene blue with an initial concentration of 10 ppm. In the Design of Experiments (DOE) approach, the optimum conditions for this research were found to be a catalyst mass of 0.06 g, an initial dye concentration of 8 ppm, and 2% palladium doping at pH 10, resulting in a 92.38% degradation efficiency in 110 minutes. To model the degradation of methylene blue using the synthesized composite, the Fritz-Schlunder and Koble-Corrigan models achieved the highest correlation coefficients (0.995 and 0.992, respectively) and the lowest error functions (0.024, 0.0008) and (0.032, 0.002), respectively. Additionally, the Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Intra-particle diffusion control kinetic models showed the highest correlation coefficient (98%). In summary, the study demonstrated that the PdO/CoS composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for methylene blue degradation, and the optimized conditions resulted in high degradation efficiency. The proposed kinetic models provided valuable insights into the degradation mechanism of methylene blue using the synthesized composite.
Influences of the Normal Loading Condition and Surface Texture on Interface Shear Behavior between Sand and Suction Caisson Wall
Authors: Li Dayong , Li Yifan , Zhang Yukun , Wu Yuqi
Published: October 2023

The mechanical behavior of the interface between soil and the suction caisson wall determines the installation behavior and bearing capacity. A series of interfacial shear tests are conducted to study the effects of the normal loading condition and the interface texture on the sand-suction caisson interface shear characteristics. The movement and crushing behavior of sand particles in the shear zone are analyzed. It is found that with the increase of shear displacement, the shear stress-displacement curve under a constant normal load condition (CNL) has an obvious strain-softening trend. On the contrary, the shear stress increases linearly with increasing the shear displacement under a variable normal load condition (VNL). The frictional coefficient, the broken zone thickness, and the shear deformation band thickness for a convex suction caisson wall-sand interface are significantly larger than those of the grooved interface. It is also found that the presence of the water film reduces the friction between sand particles and suction caisson wall. Under large displacement shearing, the degree of sand particle breakage becomes significantly higher than that under small displacement shearing. These results help understand the shear characteristics of the sand-suction caisson wall and invent the new type of the suction caisson.
Nutritional and inflammation factors associated with current frailty level and effect of comorbidities on the progression of frailty
Authors: Urano Tomohiko , Kuroda Tatsuhiko , Shiraki Masataka
Published: October 2023

Objective
Frailty is defined as the extreme vulnerability of an organism, a syndrome that exposes the individual to a higher risk of disability. While risk factors for frailty have been gradually uncovered, the full identification of biochemical factors or comorbidities influencing frailty remains incomplete.
Design:
Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed to elucidate the risk factors for the prevalence and progression of frailty.
Setting and participants:
Peri- or post-menopausal Japanese female outpatients (n = 1035).
Measurements:
At baseline, biochemical markers such as serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, leptin, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) were measured. Comorbidities included diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, vertebral osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis. Frailty levels were assessed using frailty scores ranging from 0 to 5. Prevalence of frailty was judged by a score of 3 and above, and progression was judged by an increase of the frail score during observation period. Multiple regression analysis was used for the cross-sectional analysis, and the Cox hazard model was used for the longitudinal analysis.
Results
Of the 1035 selected participants, 212 were diagnosed with frailty. Advanced age and log IL-6 and BCAA levels were significant independent risk factors for frailty. Subjects were followed for 7.7 ± 5.9 years and progression was observed on 130 subjects. Higher age, the absence of hyperlipidemia, presence of osteoporosis, and lower frailty scores were identified as significant risk factors for frailty progression.
Conclusions
Energy metabolism markers, IL-6 and BCAA, were significantly associated with the current frailty status, while hyperlipidemia and osteoporosis acted as negative and positive predictors, respectively, of future frailty progression. Improved energy-related conditions and treating osteoporosis in the older adults may be useful in preventing of frailty or its progression.
Effectiveness of Dialectic Behavioral Therapy in Adolescents (DBT-A) in the treatment of depression and emotional dysregulation: A Colombian cohort study
Authors: Ayala-Corredor Catalina , Clavijo-Bocanegra Diana Lorena , Palacios-Ariza María Alejandra , Forero-Quintana Luisa , Niño Andrea , Rincon-López Juliana Vanessa , Villalba-Niño Sara Yinneth
Published: October 2023

Background
Dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT) is a psychotherapeutic treatment to address emotional dysregulation (EDys) through acceptance and change strategies. It has been specifically adapted for use in adolescents (DBT-A). The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a DBT-A skills training program in two different group formats, compared with standard care, for the treatment of EDys and depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Methods
This study is a prospective cohort on adolescents who were exposed to DBT-A skills training compared with standard care. The program included 14 sessions, two hours in duration, fortnightly. We examined clinical outcomes and measures of EDys (with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - DERS) and depression (with the Children’s Depression Inventory - CDI) in three groups: Group A corresponded to separate DBT group skills training for patients and their caregivers; Group B-Multifamily, in which adolescents and their caregivers participated in the same sessions; and Group C was the treatment as usual group, with no DBT skills training.
Results
We identified 331 adolescents who met the inclusion criteria, 201 subjects were excluded, leaving a final sample of 130 subjects. Groups were significantly different only in sex distribution, and problematic alcohol/substance use. Significant differences in DERS and CDI scores were observed when comparing intervention groups A and B with control Group C (ANOVA p value < 0.001). The adjusted model for the difference in DERS scores showed a significant association between either of the intervention groups vs. treatment as usual. The model for change in the CDI scores showed a significant effect of Group B assignment over treatment as usual, but not of group A. Additionally, age showed a significant effect with an average decrease in the difference between pre and post scores of -1.207 per year (95%CI -2.292; -0.122). The use of antidepressants also showed a significant effect with a magnitude of 5.411 (95%CI 1.415; 9.407).
Conclusions
The implementation of DBT-A skills training, in either a separate or multifamily format, was both effective and safe for EDys treatment. DBT-A skills training delivered in a multifamily format may have the added benefit of impacting symptoms of depression.
Tropical Atlantic Oceanic Islands and Archipelagos: Physical structures, plant diversity, and affinities of the bryofloras of northern and southern islands
Authors: Costa Denise Pinheiro , Sérgio Cecília
Published: October 2023

We investigated the species richness, endemism, and similarities of the bryofloras on ten islands and archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean to determine the floristic relationships among them using presence/absence. Cluster analysis was used to determine similarities among the bryofloras of ten islands and archipelagos. We examined the bryophyte species to address the following questions: (1) How many bryophyte species are there in the total area and on each island and archipelago? (2) Do mosses and liverworts share patterns of diversity? (3) What are their species distribution patterns? (4) How many endemic species are there on the islands? (5) Is there a high similarity among those bryophyte floras? We encountered 1,647 species, 325 genera, and 204 families, with the richest families (Lejeuneaceae, Lophocoleaceae, Plagiochilaceae, Brachytheciaceae, Bryaceae, Fissidentaceae, and Pottiaceae), representing 35% of all species. Over 12% of the bryophytes are African elements, 8% have global distributions, approximately 3% are Macaronesia elements, 5% are endemic, and 34% are included in other distributions. We present a checklist of 1,647 bryophyte species, of which 91 are endemic. Bryophyte richness and diversity differed significantly among the ten islands and archipelagos studied, and their low similarities illustrate their high degrees of heterogeneity. This paper is the first evaluation of bryophyte species on ten islands and archipelagos of the Atlantic Ocean, giving insight into their species richness, endemism and similarities, and providing information for analyzing species turnover, migration, invasion, etc., representing an increase in our general knowledge of the bryofloras of oceanic islands and archipelagos, contributing to the targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.
Designing of High Entropy Alloys with High Hardness – A Metaheuristic approach
Authors: Poonia Ansh , Modalavalasa Kishor , Ayyagari Kameswari Prasada Rao
Published: October 2023

The near-infinite compositional space of High-Entropy-Alloys (HEAs) is a huge resource-intensive task for developing exceptional materials. In the present study, an algorithmic framework has been developed to optimize the composition of an alloy with chosen set of elements, aiming to maximize the hardness of the former. The influence of phase on hardness prediction of HEAs was thoroughly examined. This study aims to establish generalized prediction models that aren’t confined by any specific set of elements. We trained the HEA identification model to classify HEAs from non-HEAs, the multi-labeled phase classification model to predict phases of HEAs also considering the processing route involved in the synthesis of the alloy, and the hardness prediction model for predicting hardness and optimizing the composition of the given alloy. The purposed algorithmic framework uses twenty-nine thermodynamic descriptors to compute the composition that demonstrates maximum hardness for the given set of elements along with its phase(s) and a label stating whether it is classified as HEA or not.