bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of perioperative and long-term outcomes among presentations of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery diagnosed beyond infancy versus during infancy
Authors: Straka Nadine , Gauvreau Kimberlee , Huang Yisong , DeWitt Elizabeth , Allan Catherine , Thiagarajan Ravi , Nathan Meena
Published: September 2023

Background
Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA) typically presents in infancy; however, there are cases of patients who survive the infant period and present later in life. We aimed to characterize patients with late ALCAPA diagnoses and to assess perioperative and functional outcomes.
Methods
A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent ALCAPA repair between 1996 to 2020 at Boston Children’s Hospital was performed. This cohort was divided into early ALCAPA (<1 year) and late ALCAPA (≥ 1 year) groups. Perioperative data were collected. Longitudinal functional assessments were made by echocardiography, exercise stress test, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
Results
The median age of the late ALCAPA group was 7.6 years with 25% (6/24) of patients over 18 years. The late ALCAPA group was more likely to present as an incidental finding (63%) and required less preoperative intervention compared to the early group. On preoperative echocardiogram, the late ALCAPA group had less moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (16.7% vs 62%, p<0.001) or left ventricular dysfunction (16.7% vs 89%, p <0.001) compared to the early group. Reoperation was uncommon and both groups demonstrated almost complete resolution of mitral regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction over time.
Conclusion
There are important differences between late and early ALCAPA subtypes. Revascularization results in excellent outcomes in both early and late groups but long-term surveillance of ALCAPA patients is warranted as they may have functional deficits after repair.
Interventions for promoting patients’ adherence to 14-day primaquine treatment in a highly malaria-endemic township in Myanmar: A qualitative study among key stakeholders
Authors: Win Kyawt Mon , Aung Pyae Linn , Ring Zau , Linn Nay Yi Yi , Kyaw Myat Phone , Nguitragool Wang , Cui Liwang , Sattabongkot Jetsumon , Lawpoolsri Saranath
Published: September 2023

Background
Plasmodium vivax malaria is considered a major threat to malaria eradication. The radical cure for P. vivax malaria normally requires a 14-day administration of primaquine (PQ) to clear hypnozoites. However, maintaining adherence to PQ treatment is a significant challenge, particularly in malaria-endemic rural areas. Hence, this study aimed to formulate interventions for promoting patients’ commitment to PQ treatment in a highly malaria-endemic township in Myanmar.
Methods
A qualitative study was conducted in Waingmaw Township in northern Myanmar, where P. vivax malaria is highly endemic. Key stakeholders including public health officers and community members participated in focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) in September 2022. Data were collected using validated guidelines, translated into English, and visualized through thematic analysis.
Results
Responsible individuals from different levels of the Myanmar National Malaria Control Program participated in the IDIs. Most of them reported being aware of the markedly increasing trend of P. vivax and the possibility of relapse cases, especially among migrants who are lost to follow-up. Workload was a key concern surrounding intervention implementation. The respondents discussed possible interventions, such as implementing directly observed treatment (DOT) by family members, piloting a shorter PQ regimen, expanding the community’s malaria volunteer network, and strengthening health education activities using local languages to promote reasonable drug adherence. FGDs among community members revealed that although people were knowledgeable about malaria symptoms, places to seek treatment, and the use of bed nets to prevent mosquito bites, most of them still preferred to be treated by quack doctors and rarely used insecticide-treated nets at worksites. Many often stopped taking the prescribed drugs once the symptoms disappeared. Nevertheless, some respondents requested more bed nets to be distributed and health promotion activities to be conducted.
Conclusion
In rural areas where human resources are limited, interventions such as implementing family member DOT or shortening PQ regimens should be introduced to enhance the radical cure for the P. vivax infection. Disseminating information about the importance of taking the entire treatment course and emphasizing the burden of relapse is also essential.
Small-scale Upflows - Tracked from the Photosphere to Corona
Authors: Schwanitz Conrad , Harra Louise , Barczynski Krzysztof , Mandrini Cristina , Suárez David Orozco , Vacas Alejandro Moreno , Raouafi Nour
Published: September 2023

Coronal transients are known as sources of coronal upflows. With the commissioning of Solar Orbiter, it became apparent that coronal small-scale features are even more frequent than previously estimated. It was found that even small coronal features seen by Solar Orbiter can produce visible upflows. Therefore, it is important to study the plasma flows on small scales better and understand their atmospheric driving mechanisms.
In this article, we present the results from a two-week coordinated multi-space craft observation campaign with Hinode, IRIS and the GREGOR telescope. We identify a small region of coronal upflows with Doppler velocities of up to 16.5 km s−1. The upflows are located north of a coronal bright point in a coronal hole. We study the corona, the transition region, the chromosphere, and the photospheric magnetic field to find evidence of underlying mechanisms for the coronal upflow. We find a complex photospheric magnetic field with several small mixed polarities that are the footpoints of different loops. Flux emergence and cancellation are observed at the constantly changing footpoints of the coronal loops. Reconnection of loops can be identified as the driver of the coronal upflow. Furthermore, the impact of the coronal activity triggers plasma flows in the underlying layers. This work highlights that frequent small coronal features can cause considerable atmospheric response and ubiquitously produce plasma upflows that potentially feed into the solar wind.
Heart Rate Variability and Respiration Rates during a Mindfulness Based Intervention for Health Care Professionals: Mindfulness in Motion
Authors: Justin J Merrigan , Klatt Maryanna , Quatman-Yates Catherine , Emerson Angela , Kronenberg Jamie , Orr Morgan , Caputo Jacqueline , Daniel Kayla , Duchemin Anne-Marie , Steinberg Beth , Hagen Joshua A.
Published: September 2023

The purpose was to evaluate the effects of Mindfulness in Motion (MIM), a Mindfulness Based Intervention, on respiration rate, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV). Healthcare providers wore chest strap electrocardiography-based (ECG) devices during MIM sessions (n = 84). Data were collected during the following mindfulness-based segments: 5-minute quiet sitting to reflect on the weekly theme that ended with a 30 second mindful breath count (Baseline-MIM), 15-minute Education video, 20-minute Discussion with peers, 15-minute Practice, and lastly a 5-minute reflection ending with a 30 second breath count (Post-MIM). Metrics from ECG included: mean heart rate, root-mean square of successive differences between R-R intervals (rMSSD), standard deviation of R-R intervals (SDNN), absolute power for low frequency (LF, 0.04–0.15 Hz), and high frequency (HF, 0.15–0.4 Hz) bands, Total Power across entire frequency range (< 0.4 Hz), LF:HF Ratio, and respiration rate. According to mixed effect models there were main effects of MIM Session Segments (p < 0.05) across all metrics. Heart rate was elevated during Practice (4.96 ± 0.91, p < 0.001, ES = 0.383), while rMSSD was not significantly different at any timepoint (p > 0.05). Compared to Baseline-MIM, respiration rates were significantly slower in Practice (1.98 ± 0.35 bpm) and Post-MIM (2.03 ± 0.35 bpm, p < 0.001), while SDNN, LF, and LF:HF were significantly increased. During practice, HF was decreased, while Total Power was increased during Post-MIM. Acute improvements in HRV, likely from acute decreases in respiration rates, occurred while healthcare providers completed a mindfulness intervention (MIM) during work hours.
Fabrication of (Al 2 O 3 /CdO) metal and ceramic matrix composites reinforced CMC via laser ablation and studying their optical, thermal, and electrical properties for optoelectronic applications
Authors: Farea M. O. , El-Morsy M. A. , Menazea Abdelrhman A.
Published: September 2023

Aluminum oxide and cadmium oxide nanoparticles have been reinforced carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC nanoparticles using a laser ablation process. The effect of change the content of cadmium oxide on the optical, thermal and electrical conductivity properties have been evaluated. The synthesized films have been investigated via various techniques. The strong ion interactions and arrangement of big ion clusters that produced a significant quantity of ion clusters may have caused the Al2O3/CdO peaks to rise again. FTIR spectra of the polymer nanocomposites obtained the interactions between the Al2O3/CdO -NPs and pure CMC. The energy gap values decrease from 5.35 eV to 2.98 eV in direct transition by increasing the content of cadmium oxide nanoparticles. The values of TGA indicate that the thermal stability of the produced materials has been increased by the addition of Al2O3/CdO nanoparticles. Dielectric results found that as Al2O3/CdO NP concentrations increase, the dielectric constant and dielectric loss increase as well. Arc length in CMC/Al2O3 reduces as cadmium oxide content rises, indicating enhanced conductivity. The synthesized nanocomposite fil could be suggested for optoelectronic applications.
Balancing riderless electric scooters at zero speed in the presence of feedback delay
Authors: Horvath Hanna Zsofia , Takacs Denes
Published: September 2023

The nonlinear dynamics of electric scooters is investigated using a spatial mechanical model. The equations of motion are derived with the help of Kane's method. Two control algorithms are designed in order to balance the e-scooter in a vertical position at zero longitudinal speed. Hierarchical, linear state feedback controllers with feedback delay are considered. In the case of a delay-free controller, the linear stability properties are analyzed analytically, with the help of the Routh-Hurwitz criteria. The linear stability charts of the delayed controllers are constructed with the help of the D-subdivision method and semi-discretization. The control gains of the controllers are optimized with respect to the robustness against perturbations. The effects of the feedback delay of the controllers, the rake angle, the trail, and the center of gravity of the handlebar on the linear stability are shown. The performance of the control algorithms is verified by means of numerical simulations.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2020) MSC 34A30 · MSC 34A34 · MSC 34D08 · MSC 34H05 · MSC 37C75 · MSC 93B52
Use of An Abbreviated Electrocardiogram in Pediatrics: It is Time for a Change!
Authors: Carroll Megan , Centanni Ryan , Sherman Ashley , Kline Jessica , Follansbee Christopher W. , Chang Philip M. , Malloy-Walton Lindsey E.
Published: September 2023

Introduction
Alternate electrocardiogram (ECG) acquisition with fewer than 12 leads has not been systematically evaluated in pediatric patients. This study aimed to determine if an abbreviated ECG with fewer leads maintained diagnostic accuracy in pediatric ECGs.
Methods
Single center, systematic review of randomly selected standard 12-lead ECGs from our hospital database (2017–2020) was performed. Utilizing an overlay technique, 8-(limb + V1/V6) and 6-lead (limb only) variations of 12-lead tracings were generated and interpreted by two independent pediatric electrophysiologists.
Results
600 pediatric ECGs were generated from 200 patients (age range 2 weeks-21 years old). There was high percent agreement (92.5–100%) amongst the readers. When comparing 12-lead to 6- and 8-lead ECGs, there was almost perfect agreement in rhythm identification (97.5–100%, 𝜅 0.85-1) and substantial agreement with specific interval measurements (97.5–100%, k 0.66-1). The 8-lead showed substantial agreement with 12-lead ECGs when identifying specific ECG patterns (97.5–100%, 𝜅 0.66-1). A similar degree of agreement was not seen with the 6-lead variant. Utilizing the 12-lead ECG as the gold standard, sensitivity and specificity of the 8- and 6-lead ECG were > 89% for rhythm identification. The specificity for interval measurements and pattern recognition was > 99% while sensitivity was reduced for both 6- and 8- lead ECG, likely due to smaller sample size and fewer abnormal ECGs.
Conclusions
An 8-lead ECG provided comparable diagnostic accuracy to a 12-lead ECG for rhythm identification, interval measurement, and ECG pattern recognition. This information can be integrated into future technological advancements in ECG acquisition tailored specifically for pediatrics.
Detection of scattered settlement in and around Babile Elephant Sanctuary and threats it pose using robust remote sensing method, Eastern Ethiopia.
Authors: Shifaw Eshetu , Oumer Mohammednur , Sha Jinming
Published: September 2023

Illegal human activities occurring within protected areas (PA) are threats to the ecosystem and an annoyance for PA managers in many parts of the world including Ethiopia. This research aims to map scattered settlements in and surrounding Babile Elephant Sanctuary (BES) to analyse its impact on the endangered PA. Sentinel-2 L2 spectral data from dry and wet seasons were used to map settlements. A simple method of cloud masking based on multi-temporal thresholding that referenced a cloud-free dry season image was proposed to produce a cloud-free wet season image from several images. Then 19 features were derived from the seasonal images to be used as input for the random forest classifier. An integrated dataset was produced from the World Settlement Footprint and the new settlement map for analysis of settlement distribution. To see the variation in settlement density, cluster analysis was performed using Ordering Points to Identify the Clustering Structure (OPTICS) algorism. Our result was very closer to the World Settlement FootprintDataset The result showed that an area on the west of BES that covers only 18% of its boundary was settlement-free. If BES is to survive, relevant authorities should take immediate measures that curtain the movement of people into the sanctuary.
Somatotopic Organization of the Sensory Thalamus: New Insights from Deep Brain Stimulation for Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Rifi Ziad , Remore Luigi Gianmaria , Tolossa Meskerem , Wei Wenxin , Sun Xiaonan , Bari Ausaf
Published: September 2023

Background Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a promising treatment for medication-refractory neuropathic pain. The ventral posteromedial (VPM) and ventral posterolateral (VPL) nuclei of the thalamus are popular targets for the treatment of facial and limb pain, respectively. While intraoperative testing is used to adjust targeting of patient-specific pain locations, a better understanding of thalamic somatotopy may improve targeting of specific body regions including the individual trigeminal territories, face, arm, and leg.Objectives To elucidate the somatotopic organization of the sensory thalamus using in-vivo macrostimulation data from patients undergoing DBS for refractory neuropathic pain.Methods In-vivo macrostimulation data was retrospectively collected for 14 patients who underwent DBS implantation for neuropathic pain syndromes at our institution. 56 contacts from 14 electrodes reconstructed with LeadDBS were assigned to macrostimulation-related body regions: tongue, face, arm, or leg. 33 contacts from 9 electrodes were similarly assigned to one of three trigeminal territories: V1, V2, or V3. MNI coordinates in the x, y, and z axes were compared by using MANOVA.Results Across the horizontal plane of the sensory thalamus, the tongue was represented significantly medially, followed by the face, arm, and leg most laterally (p < 0.001). The trigeminal territories displayed significant mediolateral distribution, proceeding from V1 and V2 most medial to V3 most lateral (p < 0.001). Along the y-axis, V2 was also significantly anterior to V3 (p = 0.014).Conclusions While our results showed that the sensory thalamus displayed mediolateral somatotopy of the tongue, face, arm, and leg mirroring the cortical homunculus, the mediolateral distribution of trigeminal territories did not mirror the established cortical homunculus. This finding suggests that the facial homunculus may be inverted in the sensory thalamus.
An asymptotic expansion for a Lambert series associated to Siegel cusp forms
Authors: Maji Bibekananda , Jha Abhash Kumar , Juyal Abhishek , Shakya Babita
Published: September 2023

In 2000, Hafner and Stopple proved a conjecture of Zagier which states that the constant term of the automorphic function |∆(x+iy)|2 i.e., the Lambert series Σ∞n=1 τ (n)2e−4πny can be expressed in terms of the non-trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function. In this article, we study an asymptotic expansion of a generalized version of the aforementioned Lambert series associated to Siegel cusp forms.
2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 11M06, 11M26; Secondary 11N37.
Unraveling Intratumoral Complexity in Metastatic Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans through Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Analysis
Authors: Ge Ling-Ling , Wang Zhi-Chao , Wei Cheng-Jiang , Huang Jing-Xuan , Liu Jun , Gu Yi-Hui , Wang Wei , Li Qing-Feng
Published: September 2023

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) stands as a rare and locally aggressive soft tissue tumor, characterized by intricated molecular alterations. The imperative to unravel the complexities of intratumor heterogeneity underscores effective clinical management. Herein, we harnessed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to conduct a comprehensive analysis encompassing samples from primary sites, satellite foci, and lymph node metastases. Rigorous preprocessing of raw scRNA-seq data ensued, and employing t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (tSNE) analysis, we unveiled seven major cell populations and fifteen distinct subpopulations. Malignant cell subpopulations were delineated using infercnv for copy number variation calculations. Functional and metabolic variations of diverse malignant cell populations across samples were deciphered utilizing GSVA and the scMetabolism R packages. Additionally, the exploration of differentiation trajectories within diverse fibroblast subpopulations was orchestrated through pseudotime trajectory analyses employing CytoTRACE and Monocle2, and further bolstered by GO analyses to elucidate the functional disparities across distinct differentiation states. In parallel, immune microenvironmental cellular components were segmented, and GSEA analyses uncovered functional differences across the three tumor samples. Remarkably, the CellChat facilitated a comprehensive intercellular communication analysis. This study culminates in an all-encompassing single-cell transcriptome atlas, propounding novel insights into the multifaceted nature of intratumor heterogeneity and fundamental molecular mechanisms propelling metastatic DFSP.
Planar polynomial differential systems of degree one: Full characterization of its first integrals
Authors: Ghermoul Bilal
Published: September 2023

In this work we classify the first integrals of all planar polynomial differential systems of degree one with real constant coefficients. Additionally we characterize when these first integrals are either polynomial, or rational , or non-algebraic.
2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 34C05, 34A34.
Does Executive Power impact on R&D Investment? A Grouping Study of Media Attention and Institutional Environment
Authors: Zuo Xuelian , Zhou Ting
Published: September 2023

This study explored executive power’s influence on corporate R&D investment based on social psychology theory. It also examined the impact of media attention and institutional environment on the relationship between executive power and enterprise R&D investment as an external governance mechanism. Empirical verification was carried out using data on listed companies on China's small and medium-sized board and growth enterprise market from 2013 to 2018. The results show a significant positive correlation between executive power and corporate R&D investment. Further research reveals that ownership power, organizational power, and reputational power significantly promote enterprises’ R&D investments. Expert power has no significant impact on R&D investment. In enterprises with lower media attention, the influence of executive power on R&D investment is more significant. In enterprises with a poorer institutional environment, the influence of executive power on R&D investment is more significant.
YOLO ROBBERY: Video Surveillance based Robbery Prediction and Alert System Using YOLO V7
Authors: Chidambaram Vivek alias Meenatchisundaram , Chandrasekaran Karthik Painganadu
Published: September 2023

Detection of anonymous behavior is a method of detecting the behavior of people who are insignificant. By using video surveillance and anomaly detection, it is possible to automatically see when something that does not fit the usual pattern is captured by the camera. Although it is a challenging task, it is crucial to automate, improve, and lower expenses in order to detect crimes and other calamities. In this paper, a novel YOLO-Robbery network has been introduced for enhance the security by identifying the threat activities in the supermarket and send the alert message to the shop owner automatically. Initially, the surveillance camera's real-time footage is collected and transformed into image frames for subsequent processing. These frames are pre-processed using multi-scale retinex to remove distortions and augmented to increase the data frames. This work utilizes the YOLO V7 network to extract features from surveillance camera images to quite effective at recognizing and classifying threats at supermarket. Finally, Greedy snake optimization is used to fine-tune the hyperparameters of YOLO V7 network it is trained using DCSASS dataset for efficient image recognition and the alert message is sent to the shop owner automatically. The proposed method has been simulated using MATLAB. The experimental result shows that the YOLO-Robbery method performance was evaluated using the DCSASS dataset in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and specificity. The proposed YOLO-Robbery achieves the overall accuracy of 99.15%. The proposed YOLO-Robbery increases the overall accuracy range by 13.15%, 2.15%, and 6.24 better than CLSTM-NN, J. DCNN, and ANFIS respectively.
AURKB is a key to connect oxidative phosphorylation and immune microenvironment in Gastric Cancer.
Authors: Chen Shuran , Wang Yitong , Cai Xiangxiang , Lu Fei , Dong Rui , Lu Weichen , Zhang Fuxin , Wu Huazhang , Liu Mulin
Published: September 2023

The oxidative phosphorylation(OXPHOS) is one of the important activities and plays an important role in the development of tumor. This study combines transcriptome and clinical data from gastric cancer(GC) patients from the GEO and TCGA databases. Consensus Cluster Analysis divides GC patients into OXPHOS-high and -low groups. The GSVA analysis displayed significant differences in the immune microenvironment among the different OXPHOS groups. Furthermore, WGCNA was used to screen immune-related core molecules, and analyzed the differentially-Expressed Genes(DEGs) among different subtypes. AURKB was identified as a key molecule linking oxidative phosphorylation and immunity in GC. Subsequently, the biological functions of AURKB in GC were analyzed using transcriptomics and cell experiments. Finally, the link between AURKB and immunotherapy effect in patients with GC was analyzed in combination with multiple immune-related databases. Our study determined that AURKB is involved in the OXPHOS and affects the response to immunotherapy in GC patients. The combination of AZD1152 and targeted Therapy or immunotherapy may be a promising strategy in the treatment of GC.
Disease Specific Quality of Life as Part of the Long-term Follow-up for Children Born With Esophageal Atresia in an Academic Unit in South Africa - a Pilot Study
Authors: de Vos C , Dellenmark-Blom M , Sikwete FM , Sidler D , Wyk L van , Goussard P
Published: September 2023

Purpose:
As neonatal mortality rates have decreased in esophageal atresia (EA), there is a growing focus on Quality of Life (QoL) in these children. No study from Africa has reported on this topic. This pilot study aimed to describe disease specific QoL in EA children and its applicability as part of long-term follow-up in an academic facility in South Africa.
Methods:
Disease specific QoL in children born with EA was assessed utilizing the EA-QoL questionnaire for children aged 2-17 years during a patient-encounter.
Results:
Thirteen questionnaires for children aged 2-7 years were completed by 5 parents. A perceived impact on their child’s eating was reported by 46-92% of parents, and less perceived impact in the other two domains. Twenty-seven questionnaires were completed by 8 children aged 8-17 years and 10 parents. Similar percentages children and parents reported a perceived impact in the eating, social relationships, and body perception domains. More than half reported a perceived impact on the child’s health and well-being.
Conclusion:
This study supports the concept that assessment of disease specific QoL should play a vital role in the comprehensive follow-up approach for children born with EA. We identified that parents of younger children were more likely to report eating disorders whereas parents of older children were more likely to report health difficulties with different perceptions when it came to the child’s scar.
Thermal stability and detonation characters of nitro- substituted derivatives of 4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) pyrimidine
Authors: li butong , Ou Jiaqian , Li Lulin , Yi Guobin , Peng Yanhong , Wang Taoyu
Published: September 2023

The nitro groups are introduced into 4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) pyrimidine to substitute the hydrogen atoms one by one, through which total 31 derivatives are constructed to looking for high energy density compounds (HEDCs). To probe the thermal stabilities, the heats of formation (HOFs) are calculated by using the G3MP2 method. To explore the dynamic stability, the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis is performed to confirm the trigger bond, for which the bond dissociation energy is calculated using the B3PW91 method with the 6-311 + G(d,p) basis set. Furthermore, the detonation velocity (D), the detonation pressure (P), the molecular density (ρ), and the explosive heats (Q) are also predicted by using the Kamlet-Jacobs equation. Based on our calculation, it is confirmed that E is a potential high energy density compound with sufficient stability and excellent detonation performance.
A Novel Study on Tempered $({\upkappa},\uppsi)$-Hilfer Fractional Operators
Authors: Salim Abdelkrim , Lazreg Jamal Eddine , Benchohra Mouffak
Published: September 2023

The objective of this paper is to introduce new definitions of the tempered (κ,ψ)-fractional operators and establish their various properties. Our research is primarily focused on applying these newly proposed operators to investigate the existence, uniqueness, and κ-Mittag-Leffler-Ulam-Hyers stability of a specific class of boundary value problems involving implicit nonlinear fractional differential equations and tempered (κ,ψ)-Hilfer fractional derivatives. To accomplish this, we make use of the fixed point theorem of Banach and a generalization of the well-known Gronwall inequality. Additionally, we provide illustrative examples to demonstrate the practical effectiveness of our main findings.
S1 Nuclease Activity on Poly- Adenine- Mediated Spherical Nucleic Acids
Authors: Shen Weiwei , Zhong Letian , Qian He , Yao Weirong , Guo Yahui , Chang Qiaoying
Published: September 2023

Background
Recently, spherical nucleic acids ( SNA ) have attracted the attention of many professionals and scientists. However, due to the very limited and incomplete researches, the mechanism of the SNA and nuclease remains confusing and ambiguous.
Methods and results
In this work, the poly-adenine-modified spherical nucleic acid ( polyA-SNA ) was selected as the experimental subject for the first time to study the activity of S1 nuclease on the surface of gold nanoparticles. We have systematically investigated the regulation of S1 nuclease activity changing by many factors, including PEG, DNA combining form, particle size, DNA combining density and DNA strand length.
Conclusion
The mechanism of biomolecular - nanoparticle interface affecting S1 nuclease activity was preliminarily discussed. The results will also be helpful to understand and construct high stability SNA probes and lay a foundation for expanding their biological applications in complex environments.
Impact of increasing dietary concentrations of quebracho tannins on the ruminal and fecal microbiota of dairy goats
Authors: Cremonesi Paola , Severgnini Marco , Battelli Marco , Monistero Valentina , Penati Martina , Gazzonis Alessia Libera , Castiglioni Bianca , Rapetti Luca , Manfredi Maria Teresa , Addis Maria Filippa
Published: September 2023

Condensed tannins may reduce enteric methane emissions in dairy goats by acting on feed digestibility and promoting microbial community composition shifts. We assessed the impact on the ruminal and fecal microbiota of a dietary integration with condensed quebracho tannins (CT) at three different levels (2%, Q2; 4%, Q4; 6% on dry matter, Q6) compared with a control diet (C), in a repeated 4 × 4 Latin square feeding scheme with four goats per square. The ruminal and fecal bacterial, archaeal, fungal, and protozoan microbiota were assessed at the end of each feeding period. The results were then evaluated in relation to CH4 and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, nitrogen excretion, and feed efficiency. In the rumen, a reduction in prokaryotic alpha-diversity was observed. Beta-diversity was also significant, with the strongest impact for the Q6 diet. Increasing CT concentrations induced more significant community shifts. The phylum Bacteroidota were enriched by all three CT levels, leading to inversion of the Bacteroidota/Firmicutes ratio. Methanobrevibacter with the corresponding phylum (Euryarcheota) and family (Methanobacteriaceae) were reduced by Q6. Ruminococcaceae, Synergistaceae and Flexilinea and Fretibacterium decreased, while Prevotellaceae, Acidaminococcaceae, Succiniclasticum and Fibrobacter increased. The diet did change the overall fungal biodiversity of the rumen, dominated by Neocallimastix, Feramyces, and Caecomyces. In the protozoal microbiota, dominated by Entodinium, only Diplodinium decreased, while Polyplastron and Isotrichia increased. In the feces, alpha and beta-diversity did not change significantly. In feces, the genus Methanobrevibacter and the corresponding phylum and family (Euryarcheota and Methanobacteriaceae, respectively) were increased by CT. The Q6 diet reduced fecal Arcanobacterium, Anaerococcus, and Megasphaera, while it enriched Alistipes and Corynebacterium. Malassezia dominated the fecal fungal microbiota with an average relative abundance of over 95%. Significant changes were observed in the feces for different fungal genera. In conclusion, increasing levels of CT in the diet induced increasingly relevant changes in the rumen microbiota of goats, including a reduction in the abundance of microbial taxa responsible for methane production. On the other hand, CT affected feed conversion efficiency, and this should be taken into account as a contributing factor in the total reduction of methane emissions.
Parent Psychological Flexibility in Pediatric Chronic Pain
Authors: Hanania Joan , George Jessica Edwards , Rizzo Christie , Manjourides Justin , Goldstein Laura
Published: September 2023

Pediatric chronic pain is embedded in a broader social context, especially within parent-youth relationships. Parent risk factors have been associated with poor functional outcomes in youth with chronic pain. Research delineating the adaptive role of parent psychological flexibility in the context of pediatric chronic pain remains limited. The study applied a biopsychosocial and ecological framework towards understanding adaptive influences of parental responses to youth’s pain related functional outcomes. The study aims to examine associations between adaptive parental responses and youth’s functional disability, specifically related to parent psychological flexibility. 127 youth (66.1% female) with mixed etiology chronic pain, ranging in age from 8 to 17 years (M = 12.24; SD = 1.598), and their parent or guardian participated in the study at an interdisciplinary pediatric pain clinic within a public hospital and online pain peer support groups. Measures of demographic and pain characteristics, youth’s functional disability, pain acceptance, and parent psychological flexibility were collected. Regression results indicated that youth’s reported pain intensity [B = 3.01, SE = 0.441, p < .0005], and parent psychological flexibility [B = -0.006, SE = 0.003, p = 0.042] were independently associated with youth’s self-reported functional disability. Findings underscore the importance of assessing parental factors when examining pain-related functional disability in pediatric chronic pain. Findings further support how parent psychological flexibility positively impacts youth’s pain related functioning. Implications highlight the need for inclusion of parents as targets for change in clinical interventions and may further optimize treatments aimed at improving the functioning of youth with pain by addressing parent coping. Perspective: The article explores the adaptive role of parent psychological flexibility in the context of pediatric chronic pain. Findings underscore the importance of assessing parental factors when examining pain related functional disability and support targeting parents in clinical interventions to optimize pediatric pain-related functional outcomes.
Visualization and Analysis of the Curvature Invariants in the Alcubierre Warp-Drive Spacetime
Authors: Rodal Jose
Published: September 2023

In the Alcubierre warp-drive spacetime, we investigate the following scalar curvature invariants: the scalar I, derived from a quadratic contraction of the Weyl tensor, the trace R of the Ricci tensor, and the quadratic r1 and cubic r2 invariants from the trace-adjusted Ricci tensor. In four-dimensional spacetime the trace-adjusted Einstein and Ricci tensors are identical, and their unadjusted traces are oppositely signed yet equal in absolute value. This allows us to express these Ricci invariants using Einstein’s curvature tensor, facilitating a direct interpretation of the energy-momentum tensor. We present detailed plots illustrating the distribution of these invariants. Our findings underscore the requirement for four distinct layers of an anisotropic stress-energy tensor to create the warp bubble. Additionally, we delve into the Kretschmann quadratic invariant decomposition. We provide a critical analysis of the work by Mattingly et al., particularly their underrepresentation of curvature invariants in their plots by 8 to 16 orders of magnitude. A comparison is made between the spacetime curvature of the Alcubierre warp-drive and that of a Schwarzschild black hole with a mass equivalent to the planet Saturn. The paper addresses potential misconceptions about the Alcubierre warp-drive due to inaccuracies in representing spacetime curvature changes and clarifies the classification of the Alcubierre spacetime, emphasizing its distinction from class B warped product spacetimes.
An ensemble method for cross lingual semantic textual similarity
Authors: Piroozfar Poorya , Abdous Mohammad , Bidgoli Behrouz Minaei
Published: September 2023

Today, it is particularly important to recognize the semantic similarity between texts in different languages due to the emergence of new natural language processing models like ChatGPT and Bard. These models can provide more accurate and comprehensive answers to users' questions by identifying semantic similarity between two texts in different languages. Cross-lingual semantic similarity refers to the process of calculating similarity between two pieces of text in different languages. This paper aims to present an improved method for finding similarities between sentences in different languages. Some of the current methods create the same vector space to achieve this, while others use machine translation to translate the text into another language and then determine similarity between the two sentences using monolingual sentence similarity methods. The degree of similarity is expressed as a number between 0 and 5. Over the past few years, the progress in language models based on transformers has paved the way for improvements in detecting text similarity. This article discusses the utilization of ensemble models with transformers to determine the semantic similarity of sentences in Persian and English languages utilizing the Persian-English corpus. According to our findings, this ensemble approach has a correlation rate of 95.28% in detecting the extent of semantic similarity between cross-lingual sentences. These results indicate that our method surpasses previous techniques for discovering similarities between sentences in different languages.
Integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data reveals a CD8+ T cells signature predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Ni Meng , Deng Yanan , Qin Changling , Zhao Bingqian , Wang Ning , Li Qiong , Song Zhan , Liu Chi
Published: September 2023

Background As we know, immune infiltration play an important role in tumor initiation and progression. Therefore, we devoted to exploring the effect of dynamic evolution of CD8 + T cells on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression.Methods We comprehensively analyzed gene expression and clinical information in 2,423 HCC cells and 837 HCC samples. Seurat and Monocle algorithms were used to identify CD8 + T cell cluster. Prognostic models were constructed by seven machine learning algorithms, and risk stratification was performed for HCC patients. Immune abundance, enriched function, and mutational profiles of patients in different risk groups were further delineated. Finally, we further validated the results using mIHC in 32 paired HCC and paracancer samples.Results A total of 240 CD8 + T cell trajectory genes were obtained by pseudo-time analysis. Seven machine learning algorithms were used to build optimal prognostic models (ICPM). Patients with high ICPM score had dismal prognosis. Notably, comprehensive analysis revealed that the high-risk group had a higher abundance of immune infiltrates and immunotherapy response rate. The mIHC results further demonstrate the accuracy of our analysis.Conclusion Establishment of ICPM promotes the development of precision therapy for HCC patients and provides new insights for the management and treatment.
Integrated life skill training and executive function strategies in children with autism spectrum disorder in Qatar: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yousef Bara , Raj Naresh Bhaskar , Wan-Arfah Nadiah , Dhas Brightlin Nithis , Rosal Florence Vargas , Mansour Ahmad Mohammad , Alhadi Samah ahmad Abd , Dizon Marnel Morada , Ajouly Rana Moufeed , Sboui Nadhira
Published: September 2023

Background: Executive function (EF) impairment is common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). EF strategies are considered effective in improving therapeutic outcomes of children with ASD. This study primarily aims to explore whether integrating EF strategies combined with regular occupational therapy intervention is more effective in improving daily life skills (DLS) and sensory integration/processing (SI/SP) skillsthan regular occupational therapy alone in children with ASD and secondarily aimsto assess treatment outcomes on improving visual motor integration (VMI) skills.
Methods: A total of 92 children with ASD will be recruited and following baseline assessments randomly assigned to the treatment group (45-min once weekly individual occupational therapy plus EF strategies) and control group (45-min once weekly individual therapy sessions alone).
Discussion: All children will be evaluated systematically by assessing SI/SP, DLS, and VMI, skills at baseline, 7 weeks, and 14 weeks of treatment. Data will be analyzed using analysis of covariance and t-test. This single-blind randomized controlled trial will provide empirical evidence for the effectiveness of EF strategies when combined with regular occupational therapy programs. Based on trial results, EF strategies could be recommended in multidisciplinary programs for children with ASD.
Clinical trial registration: This trial has been registered on the clinicaltrail.gov for registry, protocol ID: MRC-01-22-509 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05829577, registered April 25, 2023.
Development of an inclusive and cost-effective Afrocentric predictive model for stroke: A novel approach
Authors: (NM) Nweke Martins , (PO) Oyirinnaya Praise , (GN) Govender Nalini , Sara Mitha , Polycarp Nwoha , Chidi Ibeneme Sam
Published: September 2023

Background:Prediction of stroke is indispensable for the initiation of the necessary preventive and prophylactic measures. The conspicuous omission of African data in most of the validated prediction models questions their appropriateness for the region. This study therefore aimed to develop an inclusive and cost-effective Afrocentric predictive model for stroke (CAPMS).Methods and Analyses:We employed an evidence synthesis approach namely meta-analysis structured as per the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched PubMed, Scopus, African Journals, Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature, from inception to date. Case-control and cohort studies that reported the risk factors of stroke and corresponding risk estimates were included. Screening of the titles and abstracts was undertaken by two independent reviewers. We conducted meta-analyses using Comprehensive Meta-analysis (CMA) version 3.Result:Majority of the eligible studies (>50%) investigated both ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke. In Africa, more than 20 risk factors of stroke were identified however only 18 met the eligibility for meta-analysis. Our findings shows that homocysteine (Rw = 13.9, Ri = 0.67), hypertension (Rw = 5.6, Ri =0.94) and cardiac events (Rw =3.1, Ri = 0.8) were the three most powerful independent predictors of stroke in Africa. Low consumption of green vegetables (Rw =2.4, Ri = 1.0), stress (Rw = 1.76, Ri =1.0) and hypertension were the most clinically responsive risk factors of stroke. All biomarkers except homocysteine were cost-effective having an investigative price of less than $13.6. Critical risk point was fitted at the 90thpercentile being 12.7. The cumulative Rw and investigative costs of CAPMS 1 (15.8 and $2.4) and CAPMS 2 (14.9 and $7.2) showed good performance index and cost-effectiveness.Conclusion:Targeted screening with the CAPMS 1 & CAPMS 2 model represents cost-effective innovation in practice of stroke screening in African clinics and communities. We recommend immediate validation of CAPMS to ascertain its performance, feasibility and acceptability in the region.Registration:The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023430437).
Spore germination and lactic acid combined treatment: A new strategy for the shelf-life extension of instant wet noodles
Authors: Zhang Qiaozhen , Gu Fengying , Li Tian , Guo Xin , Li Yang , Liang Manzhu , Wang Feng , Guo Qin , Wang Qiang
Published: September 2023

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BAM) was the primary spoilage bacteria in instant wet noodles (IWNs), so reducing BAM spores was crucial to extending shelf-life. This study proposed a strategy combining spore germination (SG) and lactic acid (LA) treatment for the shelf-life extension of IWNs. In liquid culture medium, L-histidine was an efficient germinant and increased the SG rate 1.05 times. The acid mortality of spores was increased to 83.57% at pH 3.0 while increasing the membrane permeability of the spores. In IWNs, compound germinants (1% L-histidine, 0.5% D-glucose, and 1% sodium chloride) increased the SG rate by 3.61 times. The strategy further increased spore heat death by 34.41%-41.68%, and led to a spore acid-heat death rate of 76.52%-94.03%. This strategy was significantly effective in IWNs processing, extending shelf-life by 3.00-5.50 times, and the pH to 5.5-6.6 for IWNs. Meanwhile, the comprehensive quality of IWNs improved. The strategy has potential applications in the development of IWNs with high quality and a long shelf-life.
Influence of GaN Cap Layer on E-Mode AlGaN/GaN HEMT Device with Nitrogen Implanted Gate Using TCAD Simulations
Authors: Song Yu-Lin , Reddy Manoj Kumar , Issac Kutagulla
Published: September 2023

This study presents an optimized and novel AlGaN/GaN HEMT structure which is developed using TCAD (Technology Computer-Aided Design) simulations. The calibrated D-Mode AlGaN/GaN HEMT is converted into an E-Mode transistor using nitrogen implantation and the device optimization is achieved by changing the thickness of the GaN cap layer. With the increase of GaN cap layer thickness from 0nm to 2nm the device achieved an increment in the breakdown voltage from 159V to 720V and drain current from 1.11×10− 05 A/mm to 1.99×10− 02 A/mm. The large Ids of the HEMT with GaN cap layer are attributed to the increase of the concentration of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The leakage current is reduced from 1.07×10− 08 A/mm to 5.35×10− 11 A/mm thereby increasing the device performance with the use of the GaN cap layer. The shift in Vth, bandgap, and an increase of Electron Density is also observed by altering the GaN cap thickness from 0nm to 2nm. The current gain of the 2nm GaN cap device is shown with an increase in gate voltage ramping (Vgs).
A Novel Computational Approach for Solving Fully Implicit Singular Systems of Ordinary Differential Equations
Authors: Benhammouda Brahim
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a novel computational approach to solve fully implicit singular nonlinear systems of ordinary differential equations. These systems have a two fold difficulty: being fully implicit and singular at the same time. Such systems cannot be solved in general by software packages such as Maple due to their fully implicit structure. Furthermore, numerical methods like Runge-Kutta cannot be applied. The proposed method here is based
on the idea of applying the differential transform method (DTM) directly to these systems while exploiting an important property of Adomian polynomials. This new idea has led to a general and efficient algorithm that can be easily implemented using Maple, Mathematica or Matlab. We stress here that our technique does not require transforming the implicit system in hands to an explicit differential system. Also our technique equips the DTM with a powerful
tool to solve other fully implicit differential systems. To illustrate the capability and efficiency of the proposed method, four numerical examples that are not solvable by software packages like Maple are given. Numerical results show that our method has successfully solved these examples by providing the exact solutions in a convergent power series form.