bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Machine Learning Approach to Predict Blood Cancer from Patients' Symptoms and Blood Images
Authors: Akter Tanjina , Ghosh Kingkar Prosad , Rabbi Ahmed , Rahman Mohammad Motiur , Rume Marufa Jahan
Published: September 2024

This article presents a novel investigation into the detection of blood cancer and its subtypes using machine learning (ML) algorithms, with a specific focus on patient symptoms and microscopic blood images. Early diagnosis of blood cancer poses significant challenges and potential life-threatening consequences, primarily due to the complexities involved in identifying subtypes prevalent among both adults and children. This study delves into the rapid advancements in ML technologies and their applications in cancer research. Over the past decade, ML algorithms have demonstrated considerable promise in early cancer testing and have seen increased adoption in cancer diagnosis. In this research, we utilize a comprehensive ensemble of ML classifiers, including Naive Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbor, Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree, and Random Forest, to classify patient symptoms. Furthermore, state-of-the-art classifiers such as CNN, VGG, Inception, KNN, SVM, Random Forest, and Naïve Bayes distinguish between healthy and unhealthy cells in microscopic blood images. Our study's results showcase the highest accuracy achieved for the symptoms determination model using the Random Forest classifier at 85%. Additionally, microscopic image analysis demonstrates an accuracy of 97% using the Efficient Net b3 detection model. The novelty of this research lies in its pioneering approach to disease detection by integrating advanced ML algorithms to analyze both patient symptoms and microscopic images. By offering valuable insights and achieving a substantial step forward in the quest to combat blood cancer effectively, these findings contribute to the field of medical research. The integration of machine learning into cancer detection has the potential to transform the medical landscape, providing better patient outcomes and improving overall healthcare practices.
Genetic Insights into Associations Between Bowel Diseases and Chronic Kidney Disease by Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization
Authors: Li Xinming , Xu Jiayu , Zhou Chenchen , Lv Jiayi , Xu Jing , Zhang Liming , Mao Zhiguo , Liu Zhijia , Xue Cheng , Tai Hongqin
Published: September 2024

Objective
This study aims to investigate the genetic causal relationships between gastrointestinal diseases—specifically celiac disease (CeD), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Methods
We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data. Two sets of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were chosed as instrumental variables(IVs), 32 SNPs related with CeD and 68 SNPs associated IBD. The primary analysis utilized the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, supplemented by MR-Egger and weighted median approaches.
Results
Our findings indicate significant genetic causal effects of CeD and IBD on the risk of developing CKD. The IVW method showed a positive association between CeD and CKD (OR = 1.021, 95% CI = 1.002–1.041, P = 0.032), with stronger effects observed for IBD (OR = 1.051, 95% CI = 1.014–1.089, P = 0.006). Reverse MR results of CKD on CeD (P = 0.435; OR = 0.939) and CKD on IBD (P = 0.166; OR = 1.120) were not statistically significant.
Conclusions
The study provides genetic evidence linking gastrointestinal diseases to an increased risk of CKD. These findings highlight the importance of considering genetic predispositions when assessing CKD risk in patients with CeD and IBD.
Unlocking the biocontrol and plant growth potential of endophytic fungi against pea root rot complex in Himachal Pradesh, India
Authors: Kushwaha Kavita , Pal Joginder , Banyal Devinder K , Paul Surinder , Katoch Gaurav
Published: September 2024

Pea root rot complex (PRRC) incited by plethora of fungal and oomycetous pathogens is often ratified as a major hitch and yield declining factor to world pea production. In this study, we have isolated fifty one endophytic fungi from healthy pea roots collected from the sub-humid and dry temperate regions of Himachal Pradesh, India. Of these, eight potent fungi exhibiting higher antagonism through preliminary screening were assessed for their antagonism against most predominant PRRC pathogen Fusarium oxysporum using the dual culture test. Under in vitro screenings, maximum mycelial inhibition of 82.22% was obtained with the Schizophyllum sp. isolate JPE19. Microscopic illustrations traced from interaction zone of endophyte and target pathogen displayed conspicuous aberration in the hyphae of pathogen. Under glasshouse and field evaluation assay, maximum per cent disease control was achieved in treatment Schizophyllum sp. isolate JPE19 exhibiting 79.42 and 74.29% disease control, respectively. Further, it has remarkably augmented the growth traits of pea under both glasshouse and field conditions. Root colonization executed by plate count and confocal microscopic analysis substantiated significantly higher colonization in endophytes treated plants which affirmed the establishment of inoculated strain in endosphere of the pea plants. The data retrieved in current research to the best of our knowledge witnesses first report on biocontrol and plant growth promoting potential of pea inhabited endophytic fungi and furthers our route to develop commercial bio-formulation of these fungi which could be used as green option for effective management of dreadful PRRC disease.
Bulk RNA analysis identified the characteristics and immunoinvasive patterns of osimertinib resistance in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Shi Ling , Qiu Feng , Shi Chao , Zhang Guohua , Yu Feng
Published: September 2024

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations being a common driver. Osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has shown efficacy in treating NSCLC patients harboring EGFR mutations. However, resistance to osimertinib poses a significant clinical challenge. This study aims to identify key genes associated with osimertinib resistance in NSCLC and elucidate their underlying mechanisms to inform new therapeutic strategies. Utilizing a comprehensive bioinformatics approach, we conducted differential expression analysis, enrichment analysis, consensus clustering, drug sensitivity analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, and immune infiltration analysis. Our findings revealed 126 genes, including KRT14, KRT16, KRT17, KRT5, KRT6A, KRT6B, TP63, and TRIM29, that are potentially pivotal in osimertinib resistance. Enrichment analyses indicated significant involvement in biological processes such as epidermis development and keratinocyte differentiation, and pathways like valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation. Immune infiltration analysis showed significant downregulation of 14 immune cell types in the resistant group, with notable negative correlations between hub genes and specific immune cells. We constructed a diagnostic model with an area under the curve (AUC) greater than 0.9,,validated externally, demonstrating robust diagnostic performance. Interaction networks, including mRNA-TF, RBP-mRNA, and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA, provided insights into the complex regulatory mechanisms of resistance.
Computed Tomography versus Radiography for Suspected Paediatric Physical Abuse: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mohammed Ahmed Abdulahad , Mahon Eimear , Moore Niamh , Sweetman Lorna , Maher Michael , O'Regan Patrick , England Andrew , McEntee Mark
Published: September 2024

Background
The diagnosis of suspected physical abuse (SPA) remains a continuous challenge to paediatric healthcare. Several studies have reported that computed tomography (CT) may improve the evaluation of SPA.
Objective
This study aims to systematically review the diagnostic performance of CT compared to radiography in investigating SPA.
Materials and methods
Multiple databases were searched, using PRISMA methods, from 2008 to July 2023 for relevant studies in English. Two reviewers independently screened and selected relevant studies using Covidence software. The QUADAS-2 tool was used for the quality assessment of the included papers. Sensitivity, specificity and the effective radiation dose of CT and radiography from the included studies were extracted. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results
Of the 4057 identified papers, 10 met the inclusion criteria; all 10 included skull and/or chest. The overall sensitivity and specificity of CT were 96.5% (95%CI: 94.9–97.7%) and 99.5% (95%CI: 99.1–99.8%), respectively. Compared to the sensitivity and specificity of radiography, 59.8% (95%CI: 56.2–63.3%) and 99.7% (95%CI: 99.3–99.8%), respectively.
Conclusion
The sensitivity of CT is significantly higher than radiography for non-accidental rib and skull fractures. With modern CT technologies, there is potential for substantial radiation dose optimisation. CT imaging should be further investigated as a viable option when managing SPA cases.
Elemental detection and mapping of rat bone matrix induced by chemoradiotherapy with confocal micro-XRF
Authors: Li Qiuxia , Chen Hongchi , Zhai Ying , Li Fangzuo
Published: September 2024

Breast cancer is among the most prevalent malignant tumors in women. The administration of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for breast cancer treatment can lead to amenorrhea and substantial bone loss in women. Consequently, postmenopausal women are susceptible to the morbidity and mortality risks associated with breast cancer and postmenopausal osteoporosis. In this study, we investigated the impact of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on osteoporosis in female rats using confocal microbeam X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) method. The female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were categorized into three groups: the control group (G1), the chemotherapy and radiotherapy group (G2), and the radiotherapy-only group (G3). The SD rats were euthanized six weeks post chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and femur slices with a thickness of 1mm were obtained for confocal µ-XRF analysis. The results demonstrate a significant loss of calcium in the G2 and G3 groups, while the G2 group exhibited a substantial increase in Fe content compared to the G1 group. The conclusion can be drawn that the occurrence of osteoporosis is related to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while the significant elevation in bone iron content signifies the progression of osteoporosis.
Impact of Diagnosis-Related Groups Reform on Inpatient Service Capacity, Costs, and Efficiency in the Neurology Department: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis from Yunnan, China
Authors: Liu Yaqing , Du Sixian , Yang Chengfeng , Yang Yong , Yang Yiqing
Published: September 2024

Background In 2023, an innovative case-based Diagnosis-Related Groups payment method was piloted in an economically underdeveloped city in Southwest China. This study aims to investigate the impact of this payment reform on the service capacity, cost, and efficiency of inpatient services in the Neurology Department of the leading hospital in the county-level medical community.
Methods This study included monthly data from January 2021 to June 2024 for inpatients in the Neurology Department of M Hospital in A City, Yunnan Province. Eleven outcome indicators were analyzed, including total DRGs weight, Case mix index, Average length of stay (days), and Average cost per inpatient stay (RMB). An interrupted time series model with a control group was used to examine the effects of the DRGs payment reform on these outcome indicators.
Results After the implementation of the DRGs reform in January 2023, the total DRGs weight of the Neurology Department increased by 26.81 (95% CI: 0.99 to 52.63, P < 0.05), and the CMI increased by 0.01 relative to other departments in the same hospital (95% CI: 0.00 to 0.17, P < 0.01). In terms of costs, the average length of stay decreased by 0.06 days (95% CI: -0.09 to -0.039, P< 0.01), the average cost per inpatient stay decreased by 45.55 RMB (95% CI: -72.92 to -18.17, P < 0.01), and the average medication cost per inpatient stay decreased by 12.29 RMB (95% CI: -23.50 to -1.08, P < 0.05).
Conclusions This study confirms that DRGs improve the inpatient service capacity of the neurology department and reduce inpatient costs. Given the limited medical resources in economically underdeveloped areas, actively promoting DRGs payment reform is imperative. Health insurance departments should promptly update and adjust DRGs coding schemes to incentivize high-level hospitals to admit patients with complex and difficult-to-treat conditions. Medical institutions should regularly assess the financial status of departments under the DRGs payment method, implement refined management practices, and provide individualized treatment plans that integrate traditional Chinese and Western medicine. This ensures the provision of high-quality, efficient inpatient services while maintaining a certain profit margin.
Report on heart failure in Poland: data from 2014-2021
Authors: Lelonek Małgorzata , Pawlak Agnieszka , Nessler Jadwiga , Bohdan Michał , Hryniewiecki Tomasz , Władysiuk Magdalena , Niesyczyński Grzegorz , Cegłowska Urszula , Hałgas Kacper , Śmiglewska Agata , Wiśniewska Anna , Siniarski Aleksander
Published: September 2024

Background
Heart failure (HF) is marked by a poor prognosis, heightened mortality risk, and recurrent hospitalizations. Poland consistently leads among OECD countries with a high hospitalization rate of 616 per 100 000 citizens in 2019, nearly three times the 34-country average.
Aim
This study aims to provide essential insights into managing HF patients in Poland, focusing on those with recurrent hospitalizations, spanning the period from 2014 to 2021.
Methods
Employing observational methods, the study utilizes long-term registry data from the Polish Ministry of Health and the "Health Needs Map." Analyzing a diverse population, data from the National Health Fund encompasses over 1 000 000 patients diagnosed with HF (ICD-10 code: I50) or pulmonary edema (ICD-10 code: J81), predominantly treated through uniform medical services. This study inherently adopts a population-based approach, encompassing all medical facilities treating patients with those ICD-10 codes.
Results
Here we present the data on HF prevalence, incidence, and the healthcare pathway. Diagnosed cases of HF in Poland rose to 1.02 million by December 31, 2019. In 2021, the standardized HF prevalence rate reached 2 626 per 100 000, peaking in individuals aged 80–89 years (32%). HF hospitalizations (HFH) in 2019 were 1022 per 100 000, decreasing to 205 000 in 2021. Notably, hospitalizations surpassed patients receiving treatment by 18–25%, with over 9.2 million healthcare services observed from 2014–2021, constituting 48% of cases.
Conclusions
This study, pertinent to Polish and global cardiologists, provides a comprehensive overview of HF trends and risks, holding potential for refining diagnosis and treatment in Central and Eastern European populations.
EGFR-TKIs or EGFR-TKIs combination treatments for untreated advanced EGFR- mutated NSCLC: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Ao , Wang Xiaoming , Wang Lian , Zhuang Han , Xiong Liubo , Gan Xiao , Wang Qian , Tao Guanyu
Published: September 2024

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and EGFR-TKI combination treatments have become the standard first-line treatments for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, the best option has yet to be determined. This study compares the efficacy and safety of various first-line EGFR-TKI monotherapies and combination treatments for advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC.
Methods:We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials databases, and several international conferences to identify randomized controlled trials reporting on first-line EGFR-TKI treatments for patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The study quality was assessed using the revised tool for risk of bias in randomized trials. The efficacy and safety outcomes of the included treatments were compared by network meta-analysis based on a frequentist approach.
Results:We identified 26 trials (8,359 patients) investigating 14 treatment groups, including first, second, and third-generation EGFR-TKIs and their combination treatments. Osimertinib plus chemotherapy and lazertinib plus amivantamab showed the highest efficacy in improving progression-free survival. New third-generation EGFR-TKIs demonstrated comparable efficacy to osimertinib alone but did not surpass it. Subgroup analyses revealed slight variation in treatment efficacy based on mutation types and patient demographics. Combination treatments were associated with a higher incidence of adverse events.
Conclusion:These results reveal that osimertinib plus chemotherapy and lazertinib plus amivantamab are superior first-line options for patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC. However, these combinations are associated with higher adverse event rates.
27-hydroxycholesterol induces multidrug resistance in estrogen receptor- positive breast cancer cells via elevation of HER2
Authors: Zhou Qian , Wang Mengting , Tang Guomin , Yang Yuling , Fang Yuqi , Miao Yiyang , Hang Yunjie , Zhou Ming , Hu Chunyan , Li Zhong
Published: September 2024

Background
Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer is prone to drug resistance during endocrine therapy and chemotherapy, a complex phenomenon known as multidrug resistance (MDR). 27-Hydroxycholesterol (27HC), a main metabolite of cholesterol in the body, is conformed to be is an independent risk factor for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. However, the potential association of 27HC accumulation in vivo with endocrine therapy or chemotherapy resistance remains to be determined. We recently demonstrated that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) upregulation represents a novel mechanism underlying endocrine resistance in breast cancer. The potential role of 27HC in HER2 expression and MDR of breast cancer is currently unknown.
Methods
In this study, human ER-positive breast cancer cell lines with low HER2 expression, T47D and MCF-7, were used to study the effects of exposure to 27HC on MDR in breast cancer in vitro.
Results
Long-term exposure to 27HC clearly induced MDR in ERα-positive breast cancer cells. In terms of the underlying mechanism, 27HC-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) promoted HER2 expression, which is an important causative factor of MDR. Based on the data, we infer that ROS activate the IL-6/STAT3 pathway through phosphorylation of ERK1/2, enhancing HER2 expression and further promoting a HER2-ERK1/2-STAT3 positive feedback loop, which ultimately leads to the development of MDR.
Conclusion
Our collective data indicate that 27HC interferes with endocrine therapy and chemotherapy in breast cancer, representing a novel mechanism of MDR. Accordingly, we propose that hypercholesterolemia or accumulation of 27HC in the body is a potential health risk for breast cancer patients. Moreover, HER2 may have clinical utility as an intervention target to reduce the occurrence of MDR in patients and ultimately improve the efficacy of endocrine therapy and/or chemotherapy.
Genetic Algorithm Based Optimisation Framework for Quantum Circuit Mapping GAQCM
Authors: Lu Kai , Li Hui , Han Zi’Ao , Ju Mingmei , Liu Shujuan
Published: September 2024

Most of the existing qubit mapping algorithms are deterministic, resulting in a lack of diversity in the generated quantum circuit mappings, which makes it difficult to strike a balance between quality and diversity, and prevents them from being flexibly adapted to different quantum computing tasks. To solve this problem, this paper proposes the Genetic Algorithm-based Quantum Circuit Mapping (GAQCM) framework, which is based on the idea of genetic algorithm, evaluates the quality of mapping by the fitness function, and continuously improves the mapping scheme through several iterations. The GAQCM framework is designed to be flexible, providing a variety of choices, crossover operations and several unique mutation methods are designed to improve the performance of the algorithm. The framework also introduces a neighbourhood gate-based initialisation strategy to improve the algorithm efficiency and convergence speed. Experimental results show that the GAQCM framework reduces the number of SWAP gates by an average of 44.6% and 62.0%, and reduces the hardware gate overhead by 13.8% and 14.9% in the t|ket > and Qiskit compilers, respectively, compared to 2QAN. The framework allows users to customise the fitness function and parameter settings according to their specific needs, and is suitable for a variety of quantum computing tasks.
Data cleaning method based on multiple interpolation
Authors: Liu Yiyang , Jiang Xiaomo , Liu Peng , Li Shilong
Published: September 2024

To ensure the availability and data quality of integrated and fused data, develop data cleaning methods, and achieve real-time processing of missing data values, this research project studies various methods for filling missing data values. By understanding the principles of each method, a multi-method data missing value filling module is developed, and a multiple interpolation missing value method based on random forest method is proposed. Using 500 sample data from a 250MW gas turbine in 2013 for simulation and comparison tests, in order to test the calculation errors of the four filling methods under different missing rates, five rows of sample data were randomly emptied at missing rates of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90%. The experimental results compared the mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), running time, and maximum deviation. Compared with traditional regression filling methods, the multiple interpolation method has an accuracy improvement of more than 90% in terms of MAE, MSE, RMSE, running time, and maximum deviation. Due to the complexity of the multiple interpolation algorithm, for 500 sample data, the running processing time is 20s longer. Subsequently, appropriate data cleaning methods can be selected based on actual background conditions.
IL-1β primed mesenchymal stromal cells moderate hemorrhagic shock-induced vascular permeability
Authors: Baudry Nathalie , Campeanu Aurélie , Aussel Clotilde , Doutrelon Caroline , Grosbot Marion , Banzet Sébastien , Vicaut Eric , Peltzer Juliette
Published: September 2024

Background: Hemorrhagic shock (HS) corresponds to absolute hypovolemia creating an imbalance between oxygen supply and consumption. This causes an impaired hemostasis, a systemic inflammatory response, and microvascular permeability which can lead to multiple organ failure (MOF). There is no specific treatment for the endothelial dysfunction that plays a major role in the evolution towards MOF. Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) have been used in clinical trials for their immunomodulation and tissue repair capabilities for many years. Moreover, we previously showed that IL-1β-primed-MSC (MSCp) attenuated HS-induced organ injuries. The objective was to determine whether MSCp could prevent the onset of MOF after HS by preventing endothelial dysfunction.
Methods: We developed a rat model: 90min of HS at a fixed Mean Arterial Pressure of 35mmHg, followed by resuscitation and transfusion. MSCp treatment was administered intravenously at the beginning of the resuscitation. After 6h, plasmatic endothelial markers, vascular permeability (Evans Blue (EB) administration) and renal and hepatic water contents (difference between wet and dry weight), were evaluated. We also evaluated the ability of MSCp to limit the adhesion of leukocytes to an activated endothelium in vitro.
Results: Our results indicate that early administration of MSCp could reduce hepatic vascular leakage associated with a trend to decrease of Syndecan-1, ICAM-1, vWF and VCAM-1. In vitro, these cells are able to decrease leukocyte-endothelial cell bonding. Therefore, we suggest that MSCp are able to prevent endothelial dysfonction that contributes to liver injury.
Research and Development of New Intelligent Foaming and Discharging Agent System
Authors: Shuo Zhao , Meilong Fu , Baofeng Hou , Junbo Zhang , Xudong Li
Published: September 2024

The application of classic foaming agent faces several issues, including excessive use of defoaming agent, inadequate defoaming, pipeline blockage due to silicone oil precipitation, and high development cost of the foaming agent. To address the aforementioned issues, a novel intelligent foaming agent was created. This resulted in the development of a self-defoaming intelligent foaming agent system. The study focused on analyzing key performance indicators of the foaming agent system, including temperature resistance, salt resistance, oil resistance, phase transition temperature point, foaming ability, foam half-life, liquid carrying capacity, and self-defoaming ability. The experimental findings indicate that TS-1 and ESAB exhibit favorable foaming performance and stability under the conditions of 90°C temperature, 20 × 104mg / L salinity, and 40% condensate oil content after a 1:1 mixture. Additionally, they are capable of undergoing phase transition within the temperature range of 12 to 15.2°C. The Waring blender stirring method resulted in the foaming agent solution, which had a concentration of 3g/L, reaching a volume of 487 mL. The foam's half-life was 20 minutes, and the liquid carrying rate was 91.7%. After a duration of 20 minutes, the rate of self-defoaming was 81.6%. The addition of the self-developed synergist facilitated the defoaming process, which was successfully accomplished within a time frame of 10 minutes. Moreover, the self-defoaming rate achieved a remarkable 100%. The foam drainage agent system may autonomously react to variations in ambient temperature and achieve phase transition behavior through temperature stimulation. This is accomplished by utilizing the natural temperature difference between the bottom hole and the wellhead during foam drainage gas recovery operations. This innovation presents a novel concept for the foam drainage agent used in recovering drainage gas. It simplifies the operation of gas recovery in oil and gas wells, reduces the expenses associated with foam drainage in oil wells, and offers a solution for enhancing cost-effectiveness and efficiency in the oil and gas industry. It holds immense theoretical and practical importance.
Electrocardiographic parameters of chemically immobilized giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
Authors: Pereira Fernanda Mara Aragão Macedo , Mangueira Danyele Karoline Avante , Melchert Alessandra
Published: September 2024

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a vulnerable species that is threatened mostly due to anthropogenic pressure. The anteater is a highly specialized insectivore, challenging the species’ ex situ maintenance and conservation efforts. Several dietary-associated health issues have been reported in captive anteaters, including heart conditions such as cardiomyopathy. On the other hand, cardiopathy is mainly diagnosed only on necropsy, and lack of clinical reference is one of the constraints. This work describes electrocardiographic parameters in 9 zoo-kept giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). The giant anteaters were evaluated after chemical immobilization. Surface electrocardiography using a digital electrocardiograph was performed to acquire data on the six frontal plane leads. Four animals were placed in both left and right recumbencies to assess changes in waveforms. Nine anteaters were considered healthy and included in the statistics. The mean heart rate and electrical axis were 37.8 bpm ± 3.45 and 75.6º ± 11.43, respectively. ECG parameters results were P wave duration (ms) 89.7 ± 9.2, P wave amplitude (mV) 0.14 ± 0.05, PR segment duration (ms) 149 ± 23, R wave amplitude (mV) 1.55 ± 0.56, QRS complex duration (ms) 88.6 ± 12.0, QT interval duration (ms) 530.0 ± 71.2, and T wave amplitude (mV) 0.76 ± 0.21. There was no difference between left or right recumbency. Heart parameters of giant anteaters seem to be influenced both by size and metabolic rate when comparing with other species. This is the first description of ECG parameters in giant anteaters.
Biodiversity and soil moisture drive the response of ecosystem multifunctionality to grassland salinization
Authors: Pan Chengchen , Liu Jiliang , Yuan Feng , Yu Xiaoya
Published: September 2024

Salinization is well known to impair ecosystem functions. Many researchers have focused on the variation in individual ecosystem functions caused by salinization. However, few researchers have considered ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) at above- and belowground biodiversity levels under salinization conditions. In particular, the relationship between multiple ecosystem functions and ground-dwelling arthropod biodiversity with grassland salinization has been rarely explored. Here, we assessed the effects of grassland salinization on soil nutrients, productivity, biodiversity and overall EMF in the Hexi Corridor Region, Gansu Province, China. Both the direct effect of grassland salinization and the indirect effects of plant richness, ground-dwelling arthropod diversity and abiotic factors on EMF were quantified. Our results showed that salinization significantly impaired the EMF of the salinized grasslands. The EMF was significantly and positively related to plant richness, ground-dwelling arthropod taxa richness and soil water content, but not to soil pH. Structural equation modeling revealed that grassland salinization indirectly affects the EMF through soil moisture, plant species and ground-dwelling arthropod taxa richness changes. Plant species richness indirectly influences EMF by controlling ground-dwelling arthropod taxa richness. Overall, biodiversitiy and soil moisture are crucial in mediating the response of EMF to grassland salinization.
Lightweight Salix Cheilophila Recognition Method Based on Improved YOLOv8n
Authors: Ma Haotian , Liu Zhigang , Pei Chenghui , Song Tianyou , Zhao Zhifei , Wang Shuhan
Published: September 2024

Stumping is an important measure for the care and management of salix cheilophila during its growth. Rapid and accurate detection of salix cheilophila in the stumping period in desert is the basis of intelligent stumping equipment. However, the complex model needs high computing power of hardware. It limits the deployment and application of salix cheilophila recognition in intelligent stumping equipment. Therefore, this study took salix cheilophila in the desert areas of Shierliancheng, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the stumping period as the research object, and proposed an improved YOLOv8 rapid identification method, named YOLOV8-VCAD. First, the lightweight network VanillaNet was used to replace the backbone of YOLOv8 to lessen the computing load and complexity of the model. Coordinate attention mechanism was embedded to extract important features by setting in location information, which strengthened the regression and positioning abilities of the model. Second, introducing an adaptive feature fusion pyramid network significantly strengthens the model's ability to characterize and integrate the features, improving the accuracy and performance of target detection. Finally, the CIoU loss in YOLOv8 is replaced by DIoU loss to quicken the regression convergence of the model. The experimental results show the accuracy of this method is 95.4%, and the floating-point a second (Flops) and parameters are 7.4G and 5.46M, respectively. Compared to the traditional YOLOv8, the precision of the proposed algorithm is increased by 7.7%, the recall is increased by 1.0%, the computational complexity is reduced by 16.8%, and the parameters are reduced by 7.9%. The performance of YOLOV8-VCAD for the detection of salix cheilophila in the stumping period is obviously better than the traditional YOLOv8. The algorithm proposed in this paper can quickly and accurately detect the salix cheilophila in the stumping period. Besides, it can reduce the deployment cost and difficulty of the vision module of intelligent stumping equipment, and provide technical support for the automatic intelligence of salix cheilophila stumping equipment.
A second order non-uniform IMEX-Alikhanov-FEM for time-fractional PDEs and PIDEs with time-dependent coefficients
Authors: Tomar Aditi , Tripathi Lok Pati , Pani Amiya K.
Published: September 2024

The stability and error analysis of a non-uniform implicit-explicit Alikhanov finite element method (IMEX-Alikhanov-FEM) are investigated for a class of time-fractional linear partial differential/integro-differential equations. These equations involve a non-self-adjoint elliptic operator with variable coefficients in both space and time. A second-order error estimate in the L 2-norm is derived, up to a logarithmic factor, for the problem with initial data in H 1 0 (Ω) ∩ H 2 (Ω). Furthermore, in the case of a self-adjoint elliptic operator , a superconvergence result is obtained in the H 1-norm, leading to an error estimate in the L ∞-norm for two-dimensional problems. All the estimates are α-robust, i.e., constants do not blow up as α → 1 −. A set of numerical experiments is conducted to confirm our theoretical results.
AMS subject classifications. 65N35, 65N22
Comprehensive Machine Learning Approach for Heart Disease Diagnosis: Integrating HDTFS, Clustering and DNN
Authors: Romalt A. Ann , S.Kumar Mathusoothana
Published: September 2024

Heart disease ranks as a top cause of mortality globally, and the key to successful management lies in its timely diagnosis. Effective treatment depends on early detection. This research proposes a unique approach to detecting cardiac illness using machine learning (ML) methods, which have lately exhibited potential in this domain, combining deep neural networks (DNN) with probabilistic classification, often known as K-means clustering. The recommended strategy was evaluated using the UCI heart disease (HD) dataset. Prior to analysis, the data underwent pre-processing to manage missing values, encode categorical variables, scale them, and normalize them. An innovative technique called hybrid decision tree-based feature selection (HDTFS) is produced by merging decision trees with correlation feature selection. K-means partitioning was then used to categorize the data into groups depending on how similar they were to one another. A DNN was trained using the pre-processed data to predict the kind of heart illness. DNNs are trained using the adaptive moment optimizer (Adam optimizer), a well-known optimization method, to further refine the results. The research uncovered that the recommended strategy performed more precisely than other cutting-edge strategies. This suggests that combining HDTFS, K-means clustering, and DNN may improve the identification of heart illness and that the Adam optimizer can further improve the model's prediction capability.
A randomized, controlled study on the use of antifoaming and mucolytic agents in preparation for upper digestive endoscopy
Authors: Carvalho Amani Hamidah Carvalho , Couto Técio de Araújo , Carneiro Marcos de Vasconcellos , Trevizoli José Eduardo Trevizoli , de Faria Ricardo Jacaranda , de Meneses Juliana , Carvalho-Louro Daniela Mariano
Published: September 2024

Background
The randomized, controlled, double-blind study aimed to compare solutions containing antifoaming agent alone vs. antifoaming agent combined with mucolytic agent for improving endoscopic visibility to determine the most appropriate and effective solution for use in practical clinic.
Methods
A total of 178 adult individuals undergoing routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were divided into three groups to receive pre-endoscopic solutions: group A - Simethicone 100mg (Simet) + N-acetylcysteine 600mg (NAC) + water; group B - Simethicone 100mg + water; and group C (Control) - 100mL water. Mucosal visibility was assessed at four sites in the upper gastrointestinal tract (lower oesophagus, body, antrum and gastric fundus), and the sum of the scores was considered the total mucosal visibility score. The visibility scores were compared between the solutions. The total duration of the procedure, the volume of water required to obtain adequate vision and the mean time of administration of pre-endoscopic solutions were compared between groups. The likelihood of obtaining better visibility scores for each segment was evaluated in relation to the type of solution and the administrations times.
Results
The mean total visibility score of solution B was better than that of solution C. The mean antral score was better for solutions A and B than for solution C and the mean fundus score was better for solution B than for solution C. There was no significant difference between solutions A and B. Despite not demonstrating clear benefits, the combination of NAC with simethicone was superior to that of the placebo in the antrum. The duration of the exam and the volume of water required to improve visibility were similar between the solutions. There was a greater chance of obtaining better visibility scores when using solution B for 10-20 minutes in all segments.
Conclusion
The use of simethicone alone as a pre-endoscopic solution improved the visibility of the gastric mucosa, notably of the antrum and fundus when administered 10-20 minutes before the exam. The addition of NAC to the antifoaming agent did not improve mucosal visibility.
Trial registration: Research Ethics Committee of the Institute for Strategic Health Management of the Federal District (CAAE 31061420.6.0000.8153).
Association between Neutrophil-Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio and Kidney Stones: A Cross-Sectional Study Using NHANES Data
Authors: Guo Shihan , Jiao Xu , Lu Yun
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Our goal was to explore the potential association between the neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin-ratio (NPAR) and kidney stones.
Methods: This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), collected between 2007 and 2018. We employed multiple logistic regression models and smooth curve fitting to investigate the relationship between NPAR and other inflammatory biomarkers, including the systemic immune inflammation index (SII), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), in relation to kidney stones. Independent relationships between these factors were assessed. Subgroup analysis revealed associations based on different population types. The study also evaluated the predictive ability of various inflammation markers in assessing the likelihood of developing kidney stones.
Results: A total of 17,258 subjects were recruited, with a prevalence of kidney stones at 8.9%. Through multiple logistic regression models and smooth curve fitting, we found that NPAR was associated with other inflammatory biomarkers (SII, PLR, NLR) and the presence of kidney stones. A nonlinear relationship with a saturation effect was observed, characterized by an L-shaped curve. The inflection points identified were 17.66, 1.06, 78.26, and 3.36. A positive correlation was noted on the left side of the inflection point, while a negative correlation was observed on the right side. In subgroup analysis, male participants and those with universal high school education exhibited a significantly increased incidence of kidney stones (P < 0.05). In ROC analysis, NPAR demonstrated the best discriminatory power and accuracy in predicting kidney stones compared to other inflammatory markers.
Discussion: NPAR may serve as a superior biomarker of inflammation relative to other inflammatory biomarkers (SII, PLR, NLR). U.S. adults with elevated levels of NPAR, SII, PLR, and NLR should be cognizant of potential risks to kidney health.
Physical and Chemical Characterization of Experimental Newly Formulated Resin Infiltrated Lithium Disilicate Ceramic Network versus Resin Infiltrated Feldspathic Ceramic Network(An in-vitro study)
Authors: Hussein Alaa , Aboushlieb Moustafa , Habib Nour
Published: September 2024

Background
polymer infiltrated ceramic network is hybrid dental ceramic that mimic the properties of tooth structures, unfortunately commercially available PICN still present limitations such as low strength thus, the current study was assigned to prepare resin infiltrated lithium disilicate ceramic network (PILN) and compare with commercially available PICN regarding microstructure and biaxial flexural strength.
Methodology:
a fine powder of lithium disilicate was produced by grounding IPSe.max CAD/CAM blocks, a porous lithium disilicate ceramic networks containing 25% (PILN-25) and 20% (PILN-20) porosity were produced by firing at 820OC and 830OC respectively. Resin was infiltrated and polymerized to form a dense PILN. A total of 69 specimens were prepared and assigned into three groups (n = 23) according to the type of ceramic used in fabrication of the ceramic network. The comparable group was Enamic, while the intervention groups were (PILN-25) and (PILN-20). For two intervention groups, porosity and density were measured before and after resin infiltration using helium pycnometer (n = 3 at each stage). SEM for microstructure analysis (n = 9) and One specimen was examined under FESEM for better visualization of the crystalline phases. Another three specimens (n = 3) in each group were assigned for XRD testing and lastly ten specimens for each group (n = 10) were subjected to biaxial flexural strength test. The statistical significance level was set at p ≤ 0.005.
Results
There was statistically significant difference in biaxial flexural strength, PILN-20 recorded the highest significant strength followed by PILN-25 and Enamic. PILN-25 showed higher porosity% than PILN-20 and the porosity decreased after resin infiltration. PILN-20 showed higher density than PILN-25 and density increased after resin infiltration. XRD revealed the presence of lithium disilicate crystals in both PILN-25 and PILN-20. SEM revealed highly interlocked ceramic and polymeric networks. FESEM revealed the presence of spherical lithium disilicate crystals.
Conclusion
PILN is a new type of hybrid ceramic material with enhanced mechanical properties.
Clinical implication:
PILN can be used as a promising CAD/CAM block to make high strength high esthetics dental restorations.
Mixed FEM implementation of three-point bending of the beam with an edge crack within strain gradient elasticity theory
Authors: Chirkov Aleksandr Yu. , Nazarenko Lidiia , Altenbach Holm
Published: September 2024

This paper considers the problem of symmetrical three-point bending of a prismatic beam with an edge crack. The solution is obtained by the mixed finite element method within the simplified Toupin-Mindlin strain gradient elasticity theory. A mixed variational formulation of the boundary value problem for displacements-deformations-stresses and their gradients is applied, simplifying the choice of approximating functions. Griffith's concept of energy balance is adopted to calculate the energy release rate with a virtual increase in crack length. The increment of the potential energy of an elastic body is determined accounting for the strain gradient contribution. Numerical calculations were performed using a quasi-uniform triangular mesh of the cross-type. The mesh refinement was applied in the vicinity of the crack tip, at the concentrated support, and at the point of application of the transverse force, and uniform mesh partitioning was utilized in the rest of the beam. The fine-mesh analysis was carried out on the successively condensed meshes in the stress concentration domain for different values of the length scale parameter. The crack opening displacements and the distribution of strains and stresses for various values of the length scale parameter are presented. An increase in this parameter increases the stiffness of the crack, which leads to a decrease in the crack opening displacements and a smooth closure of its faces at the crack tip. In addition, accounting for the scale parameter reduces the calculated values of strains and stresses near the crack tip. Based on the energy balance criterion, local fracture parameters such as the release rate of elastic energy and the stress intensity factor are determined for different values of the mesh step. The numerical calculations indicate the convergence of the obtained approximations. The main feature of solutions, which includes the strain gradient contribution, is the decrease in the values of the calculated parameters associated with the fracture energy compared to the classical elasticity theory.
Coexistence structural characteristics and phenotypic variation process of root and soil in a heterogeneous environment after plantation construction
Authors: Meng Chen , Zhu Zhihao , Wang Li , Qu Jianjun , Wang Lei , Song Naiping , Wang Xing , Yin Zhengcong
Published: September 2024

Aims
Little information is available on the physical interactions between the root system and soil structure in a heterogeneous environment. In this study, we aim to showed how to construct the coexistence structure of the root and soil in a heterogeneous field environment.
Methods
Computerized tomography (CT) scanning can be used to construct the structure of coexistence and various topological structure parameters of roots, pores, and aggregates in a controllable manner.
Results
A denser root-soil system network structure (such as the length, volume, surface area and diameter of root-macropore system, and the sphericity and girth of aggregates) formed in the surface soil as the plantation age increased. In particular, there was connectedness to find a stronger thick root, but there was a decrease in the number of clusters of fine roots. In a heterogeneous environment, the influence of macropore and aggregate on the root variable shows a weak positive relationship, in the inverse relationship, the root variable has a significant positive impact on the maropore and aggregate. In addition, the degree of aggregate has a significant positive effect on the porosity.
Conclusions
The introduction of shrubs led to the increase of coarse roots but the decrease of fine roots in desert steppe, indicating that the introduction of shrubs was not conducive to herb recovery.The root system has a direct positive influence on the soil pores, and also has an indirect positive influence on the soil pores by promoting the development of aggregates.
Identification of substituted acetanilide compounds as small molecule CBX2 inhibitors via in silico screening
Authors: Takase Shohei , Kumar Ashutosh , Maemoto Yuki , Yokoyama Sho , Arata Mayumi , Maruo Hiroki , Dohi Sayaka , Yun Young Sook , Inoue Hideshi , Hamamoto Makiko , Yoshida Minoru , Zhang Kam Y J , Ito Akihiro
Published: September 2024

The chromodomain protein CBX2 binds directly to histone H3 trimethylation at lysine 27 (H3K27me3) and is a component of polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1). CBX2 plays a pivotal role in transcriptional repression by acting as a reader protein that recognizes H3K27me3. In this study, we performed in silico screening based on the crystal structure of CBX2 to identify small molecule compounds that target the chromodomain of CBX2. The ability of the selected compounds to inhibit the interaction between CBX2 and histone H3 in cells was validated. After three rounds of in silico screening, CG3-46 was ultimately identified as the most potent CBX2 inhibitor in this study. CG3-46 inhibited the growth of the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in a concentration range comparable to that used to inhibit the interaction between CBX2 and H3K27me3. Our results indicate that CG3-46 represents the first nonpeptide small molecule inhibitor of CBX2, which not only serves as a valuable chemical tool for elucidating the role of CBX2 in cellular epigenetic regulation but also as a starting compound for the development of CBX2-targeted therapeutics for triple-negative breast cancer.