bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gestational VPA exposure enhances facial stimulation-evoked cerebellar mossy fiber–granule cell transmission via GluN2A-contanning NMDA receptor in offspring mice
Authors: Qiu De-Lai , Yuan Yong-Xue , Liu Yang , Zhang Jing , Bing Yan-Hua , Chen Chao-Yue , Li Guang-Gao , Chu Chun-Ping , Yin Ming-Ji
Published: January 2024

Valproic acid (VPA) is one of the most efficient antiepileptic drugs, which exposed during gestation has been employed as an animal model for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Numerous studies have demonstrated that the dysfunction of synaptic transmission of cerebellar cortical circuitry contributes to the social deficits and repetitive behaviors of ASD. In this study, we investigated the effect of VPA exposure during pregnancy on the tactile stimulation-evoked cerebellar mossy fibers-granule cell (MF-GC) synaptic transmission in the urethane-anesthetized mice. Three-chamber test showed that VPA-exposed mice exhibited significant reduction of social interaction comparted with control group. In vivo electrophysiological recordings revealed that a paired-facial stimulation evoked MF-GC synaptic, N1 and N2. The evoked MF-GC synaptic responses in VPA-exposed mice exhibited a significant increase in area under the curve (AUC) of N1, amplitude and AUC of N2 than that of VPA-untreated mice. Cerebellar surface application of a selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors blocker, D-APV, significantly depressed the facial stimulation-evoked MF-GC synaptic transmission. In presence of D-APV, AUC of N1, amplitude and AUC of N2 in VPA-exposed mice were no significant than that of VPA-untreated mice. Notably, blockade of GluN2A- but not GluN2B- subunit-containing NMDA receptor, significantly depressed the MF-GC synaptic transmission, and decreased AUC of N1, amplitude and AUC of N2 in VPA-exposed mice to a similar level of that in VPA-untreated mice. In addition, the expression of GluN2A subunit-containing NMDA receptor immunoreactivity in granule cell layer of VPA-treated mice was significantly higher than that in control mice. These results indicate gestational VPA exposure produces behaviors of ASD accompanied with an enhancement of the cerebellar MF-GC synaptic transmission by an increase of GluN2A-contanning NMDA receptor in offspring mice.
Tuberculosis Infectiousness is Associated with Distinct Clinical and Inflammatory Profiles
Authors: Horne David , Nduba Videlis , Njagi Lilian , Murithi Wilfred , Mwongera Zipporah , Logioia Gisella , Peterson Glenna , Segnitz R Max , Fennelly Kevin , Hawn Thomas
Published: January 2024

Interrupting transmission events to prevent new acquisition of infection and disease is a critical part of tuberculosis (TB) control efforts. However, knowledge gaps in understanding the biology and determinants of TB transmission, including poor estimates of individual infectiousness and the lack of accurate and convenient biomarkers, undermine efforts to develop interventions. Cough-generated aerosol cultures have been found to predict TB transmission better than any microbiological or clinical markers in cohorts from Uganda and Brazil. We hypothesized that highly infectious individuals with pulmonary TB (defined as positive for cough aerosol cultures) have elevated inflammatory markers and unique transcriptional profiles compared to less infectious individuals (negative for cough aerosol cultures). We performed a prospective, longitudinal study using a cough aerosol sampling system as in other studies. We enrolled 142 participants with treatment-naïve pulmonary TB in Nairobi, Kenya, and assessed the association of clinical, microbiologic, and immunologic characteristics with Mtb aerosolization and transmission in 143 household members. Contacts of the forty-three aerosol culture-positive participants (30%) were more likely to have a positive IGRA (85% vs 53%, P = 0.005) and a higher median IGRA IFNγ level (P < 0.001, median 4.25 IU/ml (0.90–5.91) vs. 0.71 (0.01–3.56)) compared to aerosol culture-negative individuals. We found that higher bacillary burden, younger age, and larger mean upper arm circumference were associated with positive aerosol cultures. In addition, novel host inflammatory profiles, including elevated serum C-reactive protein and sputum cytokines, were associated with aerosol culture status. Notably, we found pre-treatment whole blood transcriptional profiles associated with aerosol culture status, independent of bacillary load. Together, these findings suggest that TB infectiousness is associated with epidemiologic characteristics and inflammatory signatures and that these features may be used to identify highly infectious persons. These results provide new public health tools and insights into TB pathogenesis.
The regulatory status of health apps that employ serious games and gamification
Authors: Gilbert Stephen , Freyer Oscar , Wrona Kamil , de Snoeck Quentin , Hoffmann Moritz , Melvin Tom , Stratton-Powell Ashley , Wicks Paul , Parks Acacia
Published: January 2024

Smartphone applications are one of the main delivery modalities in digital health. Many of these mHealth apps use gamification to engage users, improve user experience, and achieve better health outcomes. Yet it remains unclear whether gamified or game approaches help to deliver effective, safe, and clinically beneficial products to users. This study examines the compliance of 69 gamified mHealth apps with the EU Medical Device Regulation and assesses the specific risks arising from the gamified nature of these apps. Of the identified apps, 32 (46.4%) were considered non-medical devices; seven (10.2%) were already cleared/approved by the regulatory authorities, and 31 (44.9%) apps were assessed as likely non-compliant or potentially non-compliant with regulatory requirements. These applications and one approved application were assessed as on the market without the required regulatory approvals. According to our analysis, a higher proportion of these apps would be classified as medical devices in the US. The level of risk posed by gamification remains ambiguous. While most apps showed only a weak link between the degree of gamification and potential risks, this link was stronger for those apps with a high degree of gamification or an immersive serious game experience.
Flexible and Transparent Leaf-vein Electrodes Fabricated by Liquid Film Rupture Self-Assembly AgNWs for Application of Heaters and Pressure Sensors
Authors: Xue Chen , Jiarui Jin , Bing Liu , Sheng Li , Zongqiang Sheng , Hongwei Wu
Published: January 2024

The leaf veins with hierarchically interconnected network structures have great potential as self-assembly templates for transparent and flexible electrodes. In this paper, a liquid membrane ruptured assisted AgNWs self-assembly method was adopted to obtain conductive veins, which show a low sheet resistance of 3.6 /Ω❏ and a high transparency of 80.3%. The figure of merit of conductive veins was as high as 451Ω-1 and can be further increased by increasing the number of soaking because the light transmittance is immune to the AgNWs layer number. The veins maintained excellent electrical conductivity even after bending 10000 times at a 2 mm radius of curvature and exhibited excellent corrosion resistance under harsh conditions. Heaters based on the conductive veins are shown as application examples. A high temperature of 104 oC was achieved at a low voltage of 2 V, enough to heat cold water. Furthermore, pressure sensors based on the conductive veins were fabricated as examples of wearable devices. Human actions such as finger bending, wrist bending, elbow swing, throat swallowing, smile and walking can be monitored in real-time. The liquid film ruptured assisted nanomaterial self-assembly method is an effective strategy for the efficient preparation of conductive mesh, which can be extended to any substrates with mesh structure owing to its simplicity and universality.
Changing clinical characteristics of pediatric inpatients with pneumonia during COVID-19 pandamic: a retrospective study
Authors: Chen Mengxue , Zhou Yabing , Jin Shengjie , Bai Shasha , Tang Xiaoyu , Liu Quanhua , Wang Liwei , Ji Ruoxu , Liu Haipei , Zhong Wenwei , Chen Yi , Fang Dingzhu , Zhang Jianhua , Hua Li
Published: January 2024

Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic have impacts on the prevalence of other pathogens and people’s social lifestyle. This study aimed to compare the pathogen, allergen and micronutrient characteristics of pediatric inpatients with pneumonia prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China.
Methods:
Patients with pneumonia admitted to the Department of Pediatric Pulmonology of Xinhua Hospital between March-August 2019 and March-August 2020 were recruited. And clinical characteristics of the patients in 2019 were compared with those in 2020.
Results:
Hospitalizations for pneumonia decreased by 74% after the COVID-19 pandemic. For pathogens, virus, mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and mixed infection rates were all much lower in 2020 than those in 2019 (P < 0.01). Regarding allergens, compared with 2019, the positive rates of house dust mite, shrimp and crab were significantly higher in 2020 (P < 0.01). And for micronutrients, the levels of vitamin B2, B6, C and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in 2020 were observed to be significantly lower than those in 2019 (P < 0.05). For all the study participants, longer hospital stay (OR = 1.521, P = 0.000), milk allergy (OR = 6.552, P = 0.033) and calcium (Ca) insufficiency (OR = 12.048, P = 0.019) were identified as high-risk factors for severe pneumonia by multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
The number of children hospitalized with pneumonia and incidence of common pathogen infections were both reduced, and that allergy and micronutrient status in children were also changed after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proximity induced charge density wave in graphene/1T-TaS2
Authors: Andrei Eva , Tilak Nikhil , Altvater Michael , Hung Sheng-Hsiung , Jeng Horng-Tay , Li Guohong , cheong Sang Wook , Chung Chung-Hou , Kaleem Taha , Won Choong-Jae
Published: January 2024

The proximity-effect, a phenomenon whereby materials in close contact appropriate each other’s electronic-properties, is widely used in nano-scale devices to induce electron-correlations at heterostructure interfaces. Commonly observed proximity-induced correlation-effects include superconductivity, magnetism, and spin-orbit interactions. Thus far, however, proximity induced charge density waves (CDW) have not been rigorously explored, primarily because of screening in 3D metals and defect scattering at interfaces. Here, we report the observation of a CDW proximity effect between graphene and the commensurate CDW in 1T-TaS2 (henceforth called TaS2 for brevity). Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) together with theoretical modeling to probe the interface between graphene and a TaS2 crystal, we demonstrate the existence of a proximity induced CDW within graphene. Furthermore, we observe that graphene modifies the band structure at the surface of TaS2, by providing mid-gap carriers and reducing the strength of electron correlations there. We show that the mechanism underlying the proximity induced CDW is well-described by short-range exchange interactions that are distinctly different from previously observed proximity effects.
Resveratrol nanocrystals-based dissolving microneedles for rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Diao Ningning , Wang Wenxin , Cao Min , Liu Xiaowei , Yang Weili , Cao Yuxin , Sun Tianying , Pei Huijie , Guo Chunjing , Chen Daquan
Published: January 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic destructive inflammatory synovitis that is associated with a wide range of clinical consequences, including comorbidities affecting systemic bone, vasculature, metabolic function, and cognition. Although Resveratrol (Res) has been shown to have pharmacological benefits in the treatment of RA, its limited bioavailability and poor water solubility have prevented clinical usage of this substance. Therefore, changing the crystalline form of Res to boost its solubility and bioavailability can thus significantly improve its therapeutic effect for RA. Based on this, in this study, the crystalline form of Res was milled into nanocrystals by media milling and loaded into soluble microneedles (MNs) prepared from high molecular weight hyaluronic acid by vacuum casting for the treatment of RA. This study addressed the shortcomings of poor water solubility and low bioavailability of Res, and meanwhile, the transdermal drug delivery system mediated by soluble MNs improved patient compliance and extended the duration of drug action in vivo, which provided a novel research idea for the treatment of RA.
Photo-curable thiol-ene / nanocellulose elastomeric composites for bio-inspired and fluorine-free superhydrophobic surfaces
Authors: Balkan Alper , Sola Enrico , Karasu Feyza , Leterrier Yves
Published: January 2024

Cellulose nanofibrils are attractive candidate biomaterials for polymer composites owing to their superior characteristics compared to organic resins such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, process-induced anisotropy of the composite due to high aspect ratio, tunable surface chemistry and reinforcement capability; however, the wide-spread utilization of these bio-based materials remains limited, especially for applications involving photopolymerization. In this work, a photo-curable and free-flowing thiol-ene resin containing controlled concentrations of cellulose nanofibrils oxidized by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) mediation (TOCNF) was prepared without dispersants or surfactants owing to surface modifications such as counter cation exchange of carboxyl and grafting of thiol and ene functional moieties. The rheological and photo-crosslinking behavior of the TOCNF suspensions, the thermal stability and the mechanical performance of the cured composite materials, and the hydrophobicity of lotus-replicated hierarchical surfaces were characterized. The composite suspensions were shear thinning with power law exponents around 0.3 and their photo-conversion profiles significantly varied based on the grafted surface functionality with thiol modifiers causing a lower curing rate than enes. The cured composites showed improved thermal resistance at elevated degradation temperatures above ~ 360°C, and outperformed the neat thiol-ene polymer in terms of hardness (x5.8) and reduced modulus (x3.4). Moreover, the surface of composites texturized with a lotus leaf pattern was superhydrophobic with a water contact angle of 155°, higher than that of the neat polymer (147°). These results are useful to obtain mechanically and thermally robust photo-cured elastomers as well as to explore the potential of such composite resins in manufacturing processes requiring rapid curing such as 3D printing and roll-to-roll processing.
A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis to Explore Modifying Factors in Randomized Controlled Trials: What Works for Whom to Reduce Depression in Nursing Home Residents?
Authors: Declercq Ine J.N. , Leontjevas Ruslan , Verboon Peter , De Vriendt Patricia , Gerritsen Debby L. , Hooren Susan
Published: January 2024

Background: Reviews of depression interventions in nursing home residents resulted in positive findings. However, because of the heterogeneity of the studies, it remains unclear what works for whom. Considering moderator effects may contribute to a comprehensive understanding of depression treatment in residents. Therefore, this study aims to review depression interventions, examining moderator effects of (1) residents’ factors, and (2) components specific of interventions.
Methods: A Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials primarily aimed at reducing depressive symptoms among residents was conducted. First, intervention types, e.g., exercise interventions, were compared to care as usual. Second, meta-regression analyses were conducted for moderator effects of residents’ factors (i.e., severity of depressive symptoms, physical dependency, and cognitive impairment) and components identified as specific to an intervention (e.g., music, creativity, positivity).
Results: Our search across six databases resulted in 118 eligible studies: 16 on neurobiological interventions, 102 on non-pharmacological interventions. Compared to care as usual, cognitive interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and goal-oriented therapy, showed the strongest effects (MD = -1.00, 95% CrI [-1.40 to -0.66]). Furthermore, the severity of depressive symptoms moderated the effect of interventions (ƅ = -0.63, CrI 95% [-1.04 to -0.22]), while none of fifteen identified intervention-specific components did. In residents with a depression diagnosis, there were larger effect sizes for interventions including daily structure, psychoeducation, healthy food, creativity, positivity, and an activating/encouraging environment , whereas interventions focusing on distraction and relaxation had larger effect sizes in those residents without.
Conclusions: By examining the moderator effects, we provided an integrative perspective on the observed variations in effects across different target groups, and components of depression interventions. This approach underscores the complex nature of interventions, emphasizing the need for continued transdisciplinary research, and the exploration of potential moderators. Future investigations should carefully assess residents’ factors and choose interventions and their components accordingly.
Temporally compounding energy droughts in European electricity systems with hydropower
Authors: Most Lieke van der , Wiel Karin van der , Gerbens-Leenes Winnie , Benders R.M.J. (René) , Bintanja Richard
Published: January 2024

As Europe's renewable energy capacities expand, electricity systems face increased risks of energy droughts—periods of low production coinciding with high demand. We evaluate characteristics of electricity variability due to weather variations by calculating 1600 years of daily production and demand. Focusing on six European countries—chosen for their energy mix including hydropower—we find that energy droughts result from processes that cause (temporally) compounding impacts in the energy and meteorological system. These can turn what might have been short-term droughts into prolonged, cumulative energy crises. For instance, low reservoir inflows in spring quadruple the chance of prolonged energy droughts: reduced snowpack and rainfall lower hydro-availability but also dry-out subsoils, increasing the chance of heatwaves and therewith extending the energy problems into summer. We identify and quantify three compounding energy/climate conditions and the associated characteristics and risks of multiyear energy droughts, crucial for future energy system design and policies.
Bioactive compounds, nutritive properties and adaptation of five seaweeds growing in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Authors: Kamal Liza , Alam Mohammad Ashraful , Hossain Md Faruque , Rahman Asma , Ahmed Ashfaque
Published: January 2024

The study focused on evaluating the adaptation, nutrient properties, and bioactive compounds of five different seaweed species. Samples were collected in March 2023 from the Rezu Khal estuary, North Nuniachara and St. Martin’s Island on the western coast, Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh. The research found diverse nutrient properties, with varying concentrations of minerals like Na (42.08 to 245.43 mg/kg) and K (71.15 to 445.48 mg/kg) among the seaweeds. Hypnea musciformis and H. spinella have been found to accumulate more Na than K. Research showed fluctuating levels of heavy metals like Pb, Cr, Ni, and Cd, but they remained within tolerable limits, making these seaweeds non-toxic and suitable for consumption. The seaweed was found to be rich in bioactive compounds, including tannins, saponins, terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids, and steroids having industrial and medicinal applications. Enteromorpha intestinalis and Gracilaria tenuistipitata exhibited the highest chlorophyll and carotenoid content, respectively. Significant variations (P <0.05) in soluble protein, total phenolic, and flavonoid content were observed, with G. tenuistipitatafrom North Nuniachara standing out for elevated phenols, flavonoids, and protein. These findings highlighted the adaptability of seaweeds to changing marine environments, showcasing their resilience to stress, and microbial attacks, owing to their rich nutrient contents and diverse bioactive metabolites. However, in short, this study underscores the potential of seaweed as valuable natural resources with both nutritional and industrial significance.
Activation of GABAergic neurons in anterior cingulate cortex and their impacts on pulpitis-induced pain
Authors: Wu Li-An , Si Jialin , Yu Zhuo , Yan Xia , Nian Meng , Bai Yuting , Wu You , Wang Haozhen , Zhang Yaoyuan , Kang Xiaoning , Du Yang , Huang Jing
Published: January 2024

Dental pulpitis, a highly prevalent condition associated with severe pain, often poses a challenge for conventional analgesics, which exhibit limited efficacy in providing effective relief. Previous researches have focused primarily on the dental pulp nerve fibers, trigeminal ganglion, and medullary dorsal horn. Over the past few years, GABAergic neurons have been validated as important regulators of pain. However, the central neural mechanisms, especially involving GABAergic neurons in higher brain centers, that modulate dental pulpitis pain remain largely unclear. In this study, we utilized various techniques, including immunofluorescence staining, transmission electron microscopy, multichannel electrophysiology, in vivo fiber photometry and chemogenetics to investigate functional and structural plasticity of GABAergic neurons and their subgroups in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during dental pulpitis. FOS staining results indicated activation of ACC GABAergic neurons in pulpitis mice. Electron microscopy revealed the changes of postsynaptic densities in ACC synapses. Mean firing rates and calcium signals of ACC GABAergic neurons were significantly increased. Additionally, chemogenetic activation of ACC GABAergic neurons reduced pulpitis pain. Specifically, activation of parvalbumin-positive (PV) neurons had no effect while activating somatostatin-positive (SST) neurons significantly relieved pulpitis pain. In summary, our study identified the ACC as an important central modulator of dental pulpitis pain, highlighting the involvement of GABAergic neurons, especially the SST neurons. Our findings may offer potential therapeutic targets for dental pulpitis pain management.
In vitro rapid propagation of triploid Toxicodendron vernicifluum
Authors: Zhang Xiaolin , Feng Jiayu , Luo Yiran , Duan Xiaomeng , He Chengzhong , Zong Dan
Published: January 2024

Triploid lacquer trees have a higher yield of raw lacquer and greater stress resistance, however, it is challenging to develop efficient and rapid seedling culture techniques because of the influence of metabolites with raw lacquer. In this study, the stem segments of a triploid lacquer tree were used to investigate the effects of explant sterilization treatment, different combinations of exogenous hormone concentrations on the induction of axillary buds, seedling development, and rooting, as well as transplanting substrate ratios. The results showed that the optimal combination of disinfection treatment for triploid Toxicodendron vernicifluum explants involves 75% alcohol immersion for 10 s, followed by 2.0% benzalkonium chloride treatment for 1 min, and 0.1% HgCl2 treatment for 4 min. The suitable medium for axillary bud induction was Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) + 0.1 mg/L zeatin (ZT) + 0.1 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), resulting in a high induction rate of 95.00%. The combination of 1/2 MS + 0.5 mg/L 6-BA + 0.3 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was the most effective for axillary bud proliferation. The combination of 1/2 MS + 0.1 mg/L 6-BA + 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D + 0.5 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) + 0.2% activated carbon (AC) was an optimum for hardening-off. With Woody Plant Medium (WPM) + 0.5 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) + 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D + 0.5 g/L AC as rooting medium, the rooting rate was 67.76%. Also, the appropriate transplanting substrate ratio for triploid T. vernicifluum was grass charcoal: laterite: humus =1: 1: 1. Collectively, our results provide the technical assurance for seedling scale multiplication and propagation, facilitating its application in production.
Random walk in the complete graph : hitting and cover times
Authors: Castella François , Sericola Bruno
Published: January 2024

We consider the moments and the distribution of the hitting and cover times of a random walk in the complete graph. We study both the time needed to reach any subset of states and the time needed to visit all the states of a subset at least once. We obtain recurrence relations for the moments of all orders and we use these relations to analyze the asymptotic behavior of the hitting and cover times distributions when the number of states tends to infinity.
Radiomics Nomogram for Preoperative Differentiation Between Clinical Stage IA Solitary Pulmonary Nodule-Type Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma and Invasive Non-mucinous Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Hong Sen , Ge Wu , Wu Yanping , Zhou Yinjun , Liu Haibo , Lin Shanyue
Published: January 2024

Background
Radiomic applications for differentiating clinical stage IA solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN)-type invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) from SPN-presenting lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate predictive models for the preoperative differentiation between SPN-IMA and invasive non-mucinous LADC using computed tomography (CT) radiological and radiomic features.
Methods
In this bicentric study, we collected 507 SPNs, of which 42 were diagnosed as IMA and 465 as invasive non-mucinous LADC. The patients were randomly divided into training and test sets at a ratio of 7:3. The minimal redundancy maximal relevance filter was used to extract radiomic features, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to screen these features and calculate the individualized radiomic score (rad score). We constructed a prediction nomogram that integrated radiomics and CT radiological features by applying multivariate logistic regression. Diagnostic capabilities were assessed by comparing the receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve (AUC) values.
Results
The combined model achieved AUC values of 0.789 and 0.798 for the training and test sets, respectively, surpassing those of the radiomics model in both the training (p = 0.038) and test (p = 0.021) sets. Moreover, the combined model performed better than the clinical model in the training (p = 0.017) and test (p = 0.025) sets. We transformed this combined model into a nomogram that accurately quantifies the risk of IMA and demonstrates exceptional discrimination and calibration.
Conclusions
The combined nomogram, incorporating radiomics and CT radiological features, is potentially valuable for the preoperative differentiation between clinical stage IA SPN-type IMA and invasive non-mucinous LADC.
Enhanced cytotoxic efficacy of Ocimum Basilicum leaf extract-mediated TiO2 nanocrystals
Authors: Kapoor Anu , Kumar Naveen , Sharma JK , Sharma Vandana , Sharma SK , Pundir Prem , Anand Gagan , Kandwal Abhishek , Kumar Suresh
Published: January 2024

In the present report, titanium oxide (TiO2) nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized using the green route utilizing Ocimum basilicum leaf extract (OBLE). X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies revealed that TiO2 NCs exhibit tetragonal crystal configuration with anatase-type symmetry with \(I{4}_{1/}amd\) space group. The phenolic groups (–OH) present in OBLE were detected as the bend appeared at 3420 cm− 1 in the infrared spectrum. The characteristic hump positioned at 331 nm in the UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV–DRS) of biosynthesized TiO2 NCs confirmed the formation of nanoparticles and the optical band gap of TiO2 NCs was found to be 3.41 eV as evaluated from Tauc’s plot. The surface morphology of TiO2 NCs showed minute agglomeration with an average particle size of 11.8 ± 0.66 nm as obtained from statistical analysis of the particle size distribution. The cytotoxic activity of TiO2 NCs was investigated against MDA–MB 231 cancer cells and dose-dependent cell inhibition was observed with a low IC50 value of 13.35 µg/mL after 48 h of incubation time.
A Novel Approach for color-balanced Reference Image Selection for Breast Histology Image Normalization
Authors: Jawad M Abdul , Khursheed Farida
Published: January 2024

Histology image analysis is a fundamental aspect of medical research and diagnosis, and achieving proper normalization of histology images is essential for accurate analysis. The selection of an appropriate reference image plays a pivotal role in the normalization process, as it serves a benchmark for aligning and adjusting the color and intensity of other images within the dataset. However, the lack of a universally reliable method for selecting an optimal reference image poses a significant challenge in the field of histology image analysis. This study proposes an automatic reference image selection procedure to effectively represent the entire color space of the dataset or a particular class under investigation. The impact of the proposed procedure on the morphological and structural quality of normalized histology images is investigated using three established normalization techniques: Reinhard, Macenko, and Vahadane. Two strategies are explored: the global reference image strategy, where a single reference image is chosen for the entire dataset, and the class-specific reference image strategy, which considers the unique characteristics of each class. The results demonstrate that the proposed automatic reference image selection procedure consistently outperforms random selection in both strategies, yielding higher metric scores (SSIM, QSSIM, and PCC). Furthermore, the class-specific reference image approach significantly improves the image quality compared to random selection. The proposed method enhances alignment and accuracy in histology image normalization by leveraging class-specific reference images, facilitating more reliable analysis in histopathology research and clinical applications.
The efficacy and safety of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration with primary duct closure for cholecystolithiasis combined with choledocholithiasis
Authors: Teng Da , Xu Yue , Yang Qingsong , Zhang Wenjun
Published: January 2024

Introduction:
Cholecystolithiasis combined with choledocholithiasis is a common disease. Surgery is a safe and effective treatment method. In terms of the management of the common bile duct, T-tube drainage (TTD) and primary duct closure (PDC) are two methods for repairing the bile duct after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE). So far, there is still significant controversy over the choice of two surgical methods. This study analyzes the efficacy and safety of two bile duct management methods in LCBDE surgery.
Materials and Methods:
The clinical data of 157 patients who received LCBDE treatment in our hospital from January 2019 to January 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were divided into primary duct closure group (PDC group) and T-tube drainage group (TTD group) according to different treatment methods of common bile duct. The demographic factors, preoperative conditions, surgical details and postoperative complications were compared.
Results:
Compared with TTD group, PDC group had fewer number of stones and Diameter of stones (P<0.05). In the Diameter distribution of CBD, the proportion of mild expansion group (10-15mm) was higher (P<0.05). In PDC group, ALT and AST decreased more rapidly after surgery(P<0.05). PDC group had shorter operation time, less volume of drainage, and shorter extubation time, shorter postoperative hospital stay and less hospitalization cost(P<0.05).
Conclusions:
PDC is suitable for patients with small and fewer common bile duct stones, fewer number, and moderate expansion of the common bile duct. PDC is a safe and feasible treatment for cholecystolithiasis combined with choledocholithiasis.
Characterization of European sprat acoustic backscatter
Authors: Palermino Antonio , Gastauer Sven , Felice Andrea , Canduci Giovanni , Biagiotti Ilaria , Costantini Ilaria , Leonori Iole
Published: January 2024

In fisheries acoustics, the identification of targets and precise translation of acoustic energy into biological meaningful metrics remains a challenge. Backscattering cross-section, or its logarithmic form, Target Strength (TS, dB re 1 m2), is a key parameter in this process. There are numerous studies on commercially important species, but few studies are available on commercially non-important species, such as the European sprat in the Mediterranean Sea. The application of backscattering models can improve our understanding of the acoustic properties of these species, allowing the manipulation of key parameters affecting the TS. Here we applied several backscattering models, on three-dimensional swimbladder shapes derived from Computer Tomography (CT) scans, of sprat collected during the MEDiterranean International Acoustic Survey (MEDIAS) in 2021. The theoretical TS pattern was compared with empirical TS revealing a good fit at 38 and 70 kHz between 0° (broadside incidence) and − 20° and significant differences at higher frequencies and tilt angles. This study provides estimates of the relative frequency response and broadband backscatter of sprat in the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, the relationship of TS with fish length at 38 kHz yields a new relevant conversion parameter (b20) of -68.3 dB re 1 m2 for European sprat in the Mediterranean Sea.
Polystyrene microplastics exposure induces growth toxicity and disturbs skeletal muscle angiogenesis via THBS1
Authors: Yang Yun , Liu Hu , Zou Dongbin , Ji Fengjie , Lv Renlong , Wu Hongzhi , Zhou Hanlin , Xu Tieshan , Hou Guanyu , Hu Chengjun
Published: January 2024

Background: Microplastics (MPs) exposure can cause oxidative damage, reproductive toxicity, and inflammatory diseases, attracting global attention. Microvasculature is essential for skeletal development. Its aberrant formation could impair skeletal muscle regeneration. However, the toxic effect of MPs exposure on skeletal muscle angiogenesis remains unclear.
Results: In vivo, piglets were given diets containing 0 mg/kg (CON group), 75 mg/kg (75 mg/kg MPs group), and 150 mg/kg polystyrene MPs (150 mg/kg MPs group) with particle sizes of 1.23 μm for 30 days. The findings revealed that the average daily gain of piglets in the 150 mg/kg MPs group was lower than that in the CON group. Increased MPs accumulation in skeletal muscle in the 150 mg/kg MPs group resulted in a lower redness index, myoglobin content, and type I muscle fiber, along with a rise in type II muscle fiber. Metabolomic analysis indicated significant reductions in the levels of carnosine, beta-Alanine, palmitic acid, niacinamide, and glutathione in the skeletal muscle of the 150 mg/kg MPs group compared to the CON group. In addition, piglets treated with 150 mg/kg MPs exhibited heightened oxidative stress and impaired angiogenesis in skeletal muscle. In vitro, MPs treatment hindered the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of porcine vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that MPs up-regulated the expression of thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) by reducing mRNA and protein degradation, thus disrupting skeletal muscle angiogenesis.
Conclusions: MPs exposure limits the growth of piglets and increases the oxidative damage in skeletal muscle. In addition, MPs exposure induces type II muscle fiber formation and diminishes skeletal muscle angiogenesis through THBS1. These results contribute to a better understanding of MPs toxicology in growth and skeletal muscle development of both animals and humans.
Assessing the Role of Joint Arthroplasty and Intra-articular Injections in Improving Objective Clinical Parameters in Type 2 Diabetics
Authors: McLellan Maddison , Callan Kylie , Lung Brandon , Donnelly Megan , Issagholian Leo , DiGiovanni Ryan , Stitzlein Russell , McMaster William , Yang Steven
Published: January 2024

Background
Despite successful recovery from total knee arthroplasty (TJA), it is unclear whether TJA patients can lose weight and improve overall health measures. The ability to exercise after TJA is thought to improve cardiovascular health and decrease weight. With the increasing obesity epidemic, it is important to understand the role of TJA and injections in improving diabetes management and systemic health postoperatively in type 2 diabetic patients.
Methods
A retrospective review of diabetic patients, 80 undergoing primary TJA and 48 undergoing intra-articular injections, was performed to assess trends in laboratory outcomes post intervention. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, ethnicity, and medical comorbidities were compared between surgical and injection groups to assess baseline characteristics. 6-month pre and post intervention hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), albumin, cholesterol panel, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and BMI measurements were recorded to assess overall health and diabetes management.
Results
Compared to the surgical cohort, injection patients were more likely to be on insulin and had higher pre-intervention HbA1c levels. There was no statistically significant change in 6-month pre-intervention HbA1c, albumin, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), blood pressure, and BMI compared to 6-month post-intervention. In both groups, overall HbA1c levels increased by 0.2. Injection-only patients had a significant decrease in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and total cholesterol.
Conclusions
Although weight loss is recommended for diabetic patients prior to TJA, it is unclear whether TJA can assist with improved diabetic management, weight loss, and overall health markers. In diabetics not optimized for surgery, corticosteroid injections can be considered.
Dynamic landslide displacement prediction model: A variational mode decomposition based SSO-LSTM approach
Authors: Wang Haiying , Ao Yang , Wang Chenguang , Zhang Yingzhi , Zhang Xiaofeng
Published: January 2024

Addressing the limitations of existing landslide displacement prediction models in capturing the dynamic characteristics of data changes, this study introduces a novel dynamic displacement prediction model for landslides. The proposed method combines Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) with Sparrow Search Optimization (SSO) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) techniques to formulate a comprehensive VMD-SSO-LSTM model. Through the application of variational mode decomposition, the method dissects cumulative displacement and rainfall data, thereby extracting distinct components such as trend, periodicity, and fluctuation components for displacement, as well as low-frequency and high-frequency components for rainfall. Furthermore, leveraging Gray Correlational Analysis, the interrelationships between the periodic component of displacement and the low-frequency component of rainfall, as well as the fluctuation component of displacement and the high-frequency component of rainfall, are established. Building upon this foundation, the SSO-LSTM model dynamically predicts the interrelated displacement components, synthesizing the predicted values of each component to generate real-time dynamic forecasts. Simulation results underscore the effectiveness of the proposed VMD-SSO-LSTM model, indicating root-mean-square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values of 1.2329 mm and 0.1624%, respectively, along with a goodness of fit (R2) of 0.9969. In comparison to both BP prediction model and LSTM prediction model, the VMD-SSO-LSTM model exhibits heightened predictive accuracy.
Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with leaf rust resistance in rye by precision mapping
Authors: Mateusz Matuszkiewicz , Agnieszka Grądzielewska , Magdalena Święcicka , Alperen Ozturk , Monika Mokrzycka , Dolapo Igbari Aramide , Jie Song , Andrzej Kilian , Rakoczy-Trojanowska Monika
Published: January 2024

Background:
Leaf rust (LR) is among the most destructive fungal diseases of rye (Secale cereale L.). Despite intensive research using various analytical and methodological approaches, such as quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, candidate gene expression analysis, and transcriptome sequencing, the genetic basis of the rye immune response to LR remains unclear.
Results:
A genome-wide association study was employed to detect QTLs controlling the immune response to LR of rye. A mapping population, G38A, was constructed by crossing two inbred lines: 723 (susceptible to LR) and JKI-NIL-Pr3 (a donor of the LR resistance gene Pr3). For genotyping, SNP-DArT and silico-DArT markers were used. Resistance phenotyping was conducted by visual assessment of the infection severity in detached leaf segments inoculated with two isolates of Puccinia recondita f. sp. secalis, namely, 60/17/2.1 (isolate S) in the main experiment and 86/n/2.1_5x (isolate N) in the validation experiment, at 10 and 17 days post-infection (dpi), respectively.
In total, 42773 SNP-DArT and 105866 silico-DArT markers were included in the main analysis including isolate S, of which 129 and 140 SNP-DArTs and 767 and 776 silico-DArTs were significantly associated (p ≤ 0.001; −log10(p) ≥ 3.0) with the immune response to LR at 10 and 17 dpi, respectively. Most significant markers were mapped to chromosome 1R. The number of common markers from both systems and at both time points occupying common chromosomal positions was 37, of which 21 were positioned in genes, comprising 18 markers located in exons and three in introns. This gene pool included genes encoding proteins with a known function in response to LR (e.g., a NBS-LRR disease resistance protein-like protein and carboxyl-terminal peptidase).
Conclusion:
This study has expanded and supplemented existing knowledge of the genetic basis of rye resistance to LR by (1) detecting two QTLs associated with the LR immune response of rye, of which one located on the long arm of chromosome 1R is newly detected, (2) assigning hundreds of markers significantly associated with the immune response to LR to genes in the ‘Lo7’ genome, and (3) predicting the potential translational effects of polymorphisms of SNP-DArT markers located within protein-coding genes.
The Effect of Social Support on Adolescent Athletes Engagement: Self-Efficacy and Mental Toughness of the Chain Mediated Effects
Authors: Wang Pukui , Shi Chenge , Chen Jun , Wang Zewen , Gao Xiang , Fan Yongzhao , Mao Yongqiang
Published: January 2024

To explore the relationship between social support and adolescent athlete engagement and the role of self-efficacy and mental toughness in this relationship. A convenience sampling method was used to administer the athletes' received social support questionnaire, general self-efficacy scale, mental toughness inventory, and athletic engagement questionnaire to adolescent athletes in seven youth sports schools in China, and 513 valid questionnaires were collected. 1) After controlling for the effects of adolescent athlete age and sport level, regression analyses revealed that social support positively predicted adolescent athlete engagement; 2) Self-efficacy and mental toughness mediated the relationship between social support and adolescent athlete engagement, and this mediation consisted of three pathways: parallel mediation of both self-efficacy and mental toughness, and chain mediation of both self-efficacy and mental toughness. The mediating effects model constructed in this study can inform the promotion of youth athlete engagement levels, which can be crucial for improving youth athlete engagement in the future by enriching youth athletes' social support networks, enhancing self-efficacy, and developing mental toughness levels.
Identifications of charcoal resistance hybrids among sunflower genotypes by using line by tester analysis
Authors: Basharat Taiyybah , Gul Samrin , Rauf Saeed , Ahmad Salman , Sajid Muhammad
Published: January 2024

Sunflower is an important oilseed of the world and yield of the sunflower has been threatened by the biotic and abiotic factors under current scenario of global climate change. Charcoal rot is a peculiar disease of tropical and subtropical climate and is characterized by the presence of lesions on stem which causes wilting and premature lodging of stem. Introgression of disease resistant genes is the only solution to combat disease. To find out charcoal resistant lines this research was carried out in the department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan during 2021-23. Four (04) charcoal resistant inbred lines (B-208, B-124, B-224, B-112) were crossed with the four (04) male fertility restorer lines (RH.334, RH.456, RH.459, R.SIN.82) in line × tester fashion to yield 16 half sib cross combination. Plants were inoculated at the base of stem with the concentration of 3 basidium µL-1, after 30 days after sowing. Crosses were found significantly different for the incidence of charcoal rot resistance. However, C.112 ×RSIN.82 was found to be less infested and considered as resistant hybrids. Moreover, cross combinations C.112 ×RSIN.82 and C.208 ×RH.344 showed significant negative heterosis and complete to overdominance toward resistant breeding lines. Heterosis estimates were low and show high magnitude of dominance variance than additive variance for disease resistance. Breeding lines B-112, B-208 and RSIN.82 had significant general combining ability effects and may be exploited in breeding program.
Molecular Rapid Diagnostic Testing for Bloodstream Infections: Nanopore Targeted Sequencing with Pathogen-Specific Primers
Authors: Han Dongsheng , Yu Fei , Zhang Dan , Hu Juan , Zhang Xuan , Xiang Dairong , Wang Jingchao , Zheng Jieyuan , Lou Bin , Zheng Shufa , Chen Yu
Published: January 2024

Background
Nanopore sequencing, known for real-time analysis, shows promise for rapid clinical infection diagnosis but lacks effective assays for bloodstream infections (BSIs).
Methods
We prospectively assessed a novel nanopore targeted sequencing (NTS) assay's performance in identifying pathogens and predicting antibiotic resistance in BSIs, analyzing 387 blood samples from December 2021 to April 2023.
Results
The positivity rate for NTS (69.5%, 269/387) nearly matches that of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) (74.7%, 289/387; p = 0.128) and surpasses the positivity rate of conventional blood culture (BC) (33.9%, 131/387; p < 0.01). Frequent pathogens detected by NTS included Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 54), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 36), Escherichia coli (n = 36), Enterococcus faecium (n = 30), Acinetobacter baumannii(n = 26), Staphylococcus aureus(n = 23), and Human cytomegalovirus (n = 37). Against a composite BSI diagnostic standard, NTS demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 84.0% (95% CI 79.5%-87.7%) and 90.1% (95% CI 81.7%-88.5%), respectively. The concordance between NTS and mNGS results (the percentage of total cases where both either detected BSI-related pathogens or were both negative) was 90.2% (359/387), whereas the consistency between NTS and BC was only 60.2% (233/387). In 80.6% (50/62) of the samples with identical pathogens identified by both NTS tests and BCs, the genotypic resistance identified by NTS correlated with culture-confirmed phenotypic resistance. Using NTS, 95% of samples can be tested and analyzed in approximately 7 hours, allowing for early patient diagnosis.
Conclusions
NTS is rapid, sensitive, and efficient for detecting BSIs and drug-resistant genes, making it a potential preferred diagnostic tool for early infection identification in critically ill patients.