bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in Fatal and Non-Fatal Injuries in the United States: Analyzing Incidence and Costs from 2015 to 2022
Authors: Wu Scott , Soetikno Alan , Sheehan Karen , Lundberg Alexander
Published: October 2024

Background In addition to the emotional toll on patients, families, and communities, injury is financially costly for the United States healthcare system. Costs associated with injury can be medical or non-medical, with medical costs limited to acute medical care and non-medical costs including work or quality of life losses. The objective of this study is to characterize recent incidence and cost trends for fatal and non-fatal injuries in the United States. Methods This descriptive retrospective study analyzes data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) database from 2015–2022. The top ten injury types across all age groups by total cost in three injury outcome categories were compared, with the top three types in each category further discussed. Results Unintentional drug poisoning was the costliest fatal injury at $1.13T in 2022, a 123% increase from its total cost in 2015 ($503B). Suicide by drug poisoning was the only fatal injury type to decrease in total cost. Unintentional falls were the costliest non-fatal hospitalization-and-release and emergency department-and-release injury at $474B and $931B in 2022, respectively. Relative to fatal injuries, a greater proportion of costs were attributed to medical care in the non-fatal injury categories. Conclusions There is considerable heterogeneity in the trends of injury outcomes (i.e. fatal, non-fatal) and specific injury types (i.e. unintentional falls, firearm suicides), driven by changes in incidence and per-injury cost. Unintentional drug overdose and unintentional falls are the costliest fatal and non-fatal injuries, respectively, by wide margins. Recent injury incidence and cost trends highlight increased mortality, as well as increased hospitalization with decreased emergency department utilization for non-fatal injuries.
Evaluating impaired consciousness after acquired brain injury using a virtual-reality-based eye-tracking system
Authors: Lee Hyun Haeng , Hyun Cheolhwan , Kang Chung Hwan , Moon Won-Jin , Lee Jongmin
Published: October 2024

Background
Virtual reality (VR) can provide an experimental basis for inferring consciousness using information obtained from the responses of persons with disorders of consciousness (DOC) to denoised exogenous stimuli. Although integration of eye-tracking technologies has been proposed for evaluating levels of DOC, the calibration process poses substantial challenges or may be infeasible for persons with DOC. We aimed to demonstrate the validity and clinical utility of biomarkers obtained from pupil movements in response to visuoauditory stimuli presented in a VR environment using eye-tracking technology, while addressing the limitations of uncalibrated pupil trajectories.
Methods
We enrolled persons with prolonged DOC caused by acquired brain injury who showed continuous eye-opening for at least 15 min, along with healthy individuals. Participants were shown nine visuoauditory stimuli in a three-dimensional VR space while pupil movements were measured using an eye-tracking system. We calculated the relative pupil tracking length for visual and auditory stimuli (RPTL-V and RPTL-A). We established their cut-off values based on their congruence with the evoked potential test result to ascertain the presence of a “visuoauditory response by the RPTL.” Based on these results and the “visuoauditory response by Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R),” the individuals were classified into “overt tracking,” “covert tracking,” and “no sign of tracking” groups. After 1 year, we assessed whether the participants could obey a simple command.
Results
Fifteen persons with prolonged DOC (median age, 67 [interquartile range {IQR}, 64.5–72.5] years; 9 [60%] women) and six healthy individuals (median age, 55 [IQR, 52.3–58.3] years; 3 [50%] women) participated. The RPTL-V and RPTL-A distribution varied according to the level of DOC and integrity of the visual or auditory pathway. The RPTL-V and RPTL-A cut-off values were 14.737 and 30.019, respectively. Frequencies of simple command obeying in the groups were: overt tracking, 5/8 (62.5%); covert tracking, 2/4 (50%); and no sign of tracking, 0/3 (0%). In 1/15 persons with DOC, a visuoauditory response not detected through the CRS-R was identified via the RPTL.
Conclusions
A VR-based eye-tracking system can quantitatively assess DOC, offering valid and clinically useful support for diagnosis and prognosis in conjunction with the CRS-R.
Functional profiling of murine glioma models highlights targetable immune evasion phenotypes
Authors: Mikolajewicz Nicholas , Tatari Nazanin , Wei Jiarun , Savage Neil , Farias Adrian Granda , Dimitrov Vassil , Chen David , Zador Zsolt , Dasgupta Kuheli , Aguilera-Uribe Magali , Xiao Yu-Xi , Lee Seon Yong , Mero Patricia , McKenna Dillon , Venugopal Chitra , Brown Kevin R. , Han Hong , Singh Sheila , Moffat Jason
Published: October 2024

Cancer intrinsic immune evasion mechanisms and pleiotropy represent a barrier to effective translation of cancer immunotherapy. This is acutely apparent for certain highly fatal cancers such as high-grade gliomas and glioblastomas. In this study, we use functional genetic screens, single-cell transcriptomics and machine-learning approaches to deeply characterize murine syngeneic glioma models in vitro and in vivo, and compare-and-contrast their value as preclinical models for human glioblastoma (GBM). Systematic genome-wide co-culture killing screens with cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells or macrophages established NFkB signaling, autophagy/endosome machinery, and chromatin remodeling as pan-immune cancer intrinsic evasion mechanisms. Additional fitness screens identified dependencies in murine gliomas that partially recapitulated those seen in human GBM (e.g., UFMylation). Different models associated with contrasting immune infiltrates including macrophages and microglia, and both models recapitulate hallmark immune gene programs seen in human GBM, including hypoxia, interferon and TNF signaling. Moreover, in vivo orthotopic tumor engraftment is associated with phenotypic shifts and changes in proliferative capacity, with models recapitulating the intratumoral heterogeneity observed in human GBM, exhibiting propensities for developmental- and mesenchymal-like phenotypes. Notably, we observed common transcription factors and cofactors shared with human GBM, including developmental (Nfia, Tcf4), mesenchymal (Prrx1 and Wwtr1), as well as cycling-associated genes (Bub3, Cenpa, Bard1, Brca1, and Mis18bp1). Perturbation of these genes led to reciprocal phenotypic shifts suggesting intrinsic feedback mechanisms that balance in vivo cellular states. Finally, we used a machine-learning approach to identify evasion genes that revealed two gene programs, one of which represents a clinically relevant phenotype and delineates a subpopulation of stem-like glioma cells that predict response to immune checkpoint inhibition in human patients. This study offers relevant insights and serves to bridge the knowledge gap between murine glioma models and human GBM.
Nutritional education interventions on the components of metabolic syndrome in Bangladeshi adults
Authors: Akter Shammy , Azhar Bably Sabina , Kamruzzaman Md. , Roshid Md. Mamunur , Alvin Bose
Published: October 2024

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that includes central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and disturbed glucose metabolism. To the best of our knowledge, no research in Bangladesh has evaluated the effect of nutritional interventions on MetS.The main objective was to explore the effects of nutritional interventions on participants with MetS. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 500 Bangladeshi adults (30 to 69 years; both males and females) who provided informed consent. Modified NCEP ATP III criteria for Asians were used to diagnose the subjects. This study revealed that the overall percentages of men and women with MetS were 59.6% and 59.1%, respectively.The present study revealed a 2.69 cm reduction (p < 0.05) in waist circumference in females after 4 months of in-depth nutritional counseling and a 0.24 cm reduction after 4 months of single-intervention nutritional counseling. Similarly, a 2.64 cm reduction (p > 0.05) in males after 4 months of in-depth nutritional counseling and a 1.57 cm increase after a single intervention of nutritional counseling were found to be significant (p < 0.05). A 1.08 mmol/L decrease in FBG was found after in-depth nutritional counseling for 4 months, while no significant difference was detected after a single intervention. A 9.37 mg/dl increase in HDL-C was found (p < 0.05) for females, but for males, the levels of HDL-C remained nearly the same in both intervention groups. A reduction in the MetS proportion was found in the intervention groups (p < 0.05). The loads of MetS components 3, 4, and 5 were 44–23.5%, 47.1–11.8%, and 8.8–5.9% (p > 0.05), respectively, in the in-depth intervention group, whereas in the single intervention group, they were 50.0–32.3%, 41.9–35.5%, and 9.7–22.6%, respectively. Thus, community-based in-depth nutritional counseling reduced the proportion of individuals with MetS and significantly improved several metabolic parameters in Bangladeshi adults with MetS.
3-Month Prognostic Value of the Systemic Inflammatory Response Index Combined with Blood Glucose/ Potassium Ratio Score in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Receiving Intravenous Thrombolysis
Authors: Wen Zhijun , Cai Hanyu , Chen Nan , Ren Jie , Cheng Jianhua , Huang Yirui
Published: October 2024

Objective
In recent years, an increasing number of studies have focused on the use of readily available inflammatory markers to predict the prognosis of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The systemic inflammatory response index combined with blood glucose/potassium ratio (SIRI-GPR) score is a new combination index that can reflect the inflammatory and stress status. However, whether this index can predict the prognosis of patients with AIS underwent IVT has not been reported. The purpose of our study was to investigate the role of the SIRI-GPR(systemic inflammatory response index combined with blood glucose/potassium ratio) score in predicting the prognosis of patients with AIS(acute ischemic stroke) who underwent IVT at 3 months.
Methods
We analyzed 247 patients with AIS admitted to the emergency department of the neurology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from July 2021 to July 2022. The primary outcome was a 3-month prognosis. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the possible influencing factors of 3-month poor prognosis in patients with AIS after IVT. Independent factors were included in the construction of the clinical prediction model. We assessed the nomogram models using ROC and calibration curves.
Results
A total of 119 patients with AIS were finally included in the cohort study. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed no significant association between SIRI or GPR and 3-month functional prognosis, however, the SIRI-GPR score was found to be an independent predictor of 3-month dysfunction, In addition, it was also investigated whether large artery occlusion (OR = 5.836, 95% CI 1.123 ~ 30.337, P = 0.036) and NIHSS score within 24h after IVT (OR = 1.371, 95% CI 1.167 ~ 1.612, P < 0.001) were the independent influences of poor prognosis at 3 months (P < 0.05). The nomogram prediction model we constructed showed that the SIRI-GPR score was a good predictor of 3-month prognosis for these patients.
Conclusion
The SIRI-GPR score can predict the 3-month prognosis in stroke patients treated with IVT.
Phase I First-in-Human Dose Escalation Study of the oral Casein Kinase 1α and Cyclin Dependent Kinase 7/9 inhibitor BTX-A51 in advanced MDS and AML
Authors: Ball Brian , Xiao Wenbin , Borthakur Gautam , Nguyen Le Xuan Truong , Valerio Melissa , Venkatachalam Avanthika , Marcucci Guido , Stein Anthony , Thai Dung Luong , Cook David , Chan Kyle , Persaud Sonali , Levine Ross , Abdel-Wahab Omar , Ben-Neriah Yinon , Stein Eytan
Published: October 2024

BTX-A51, a first-in-class oral small molecule inhibitor of casein kinase 1α (CK1α) and cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) 7 and 9, induces apoptosis of leukemic cells by activating p53 and inhibiting expression of Mcl1. Here, we report on the results of the phase 1 clinical trial of BTX-A51 in patients with relapsed or refractory AML and MDS. Thirty-one patients were enrolled into 8 dose-escalation cohorts at BTX-A51 doses ranging from 1mg to 42mg dosed three days/week for 21 or 28 days out a 28-day cycle. The recommended phase 2 dose was 21mg dosed three days/week for 4 weeks of a 28-day cycle. BTX-A51 increased expression of p53 and reduced expression of MCL1 and RNA polymerase II phosphorylation on pre- and post-treatment immunocytochemistry studies. Overall, 3 patients (10%) experienced complete remission with incomplete count recovery (CRi). All 3 responding patients had RUNX1 mutations and the CR/CRi rate for RUNX1-mutated patients receiving BTX-A51 at efficacious doses (11mg or higher) was 30%. Ex-vivo studies confirmed higher efficacy of BTX-A51 on RUNX1-mutated myeloblasts and demonstrate synergy with azacitidine and venetoclax. Although the overall efficacy was modest, this study lays the groundwork for future studies with improved patient selection and combination approaches.
The Holistic Model of Leukaemia Survivorship Care: derived from a qualitative exploration of leukaemia survivorship
Authors: Kirsten Shaun , Laidsaar-Powell Rebekah , Shaw Joanne , Dhillon Haryana
Published: October 2024

Purpose
Increasing survival rates have left many leukaemia survivors with debilitating side- and late-effects. However, little is known about the persistent unmet needs of people living with leukaemia.
Methods
We aimed to qualitatively explore the experiences of individuals living with leukaemia and suitability of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s (COSA) Model of Survivorship Care (2016) to reflect leukaemia survivorship. We used an inductive qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with leukaemia survivors recruited via social media and cancer advocacy organisations. Interviews were continued until information power was deemed appropriate. Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) was used to describe and interpret key themes and meta-themes in the data.
Results
Overall findings were examined alongside the COSA Model. Twenty-four leukaemia survivors were interviewed, six themes were identified: (1) leukaemia is impactful, life-altering, and unexpected; (2) leukaemia is enduring, life-limiting, and uncertain; (3) survivorship is a team effort; (4) centrality of work as identity, focus, and financial security; (5) the dynamic landscape of coping; and, (6) survivorship as adjusting. Overall, participants described leukaemia survivorship as: (1) recursive; and (2) holistic.
Conclusions
Our findings, while broadly corresponding with the COSA Model, demonstrate it lacks nuances specific to leukaemia survivorship. We recommended the HMLS be used to guide future leukaemia-specific development of the COSA Model and survivorship services.
Implications for Cancer Survivors:
We identified key domains and stages common across leukaemia survivorship, presented in our proposed Holistic Model of Leukaemia Survivorship (HMLS), addressing these domains are critical to the provision of quality survivorship care.
Per capita reproductive success decreases with group size in a communally breeding bird
Authors: Mann Quinlan M. , Grieves Leanne A. , Schmaltz Gregory , Quinn JAMES Scott
Published: October 2024

The benefits of cooperative breeding include anti-predator defense, access to resources, and inclusive fitness via kin-selection. Smooth-billed anis (Crotophaga ani) are communally breeding birds in which co-breeding females lay eggs in a shared nest. Within-group relatedness is low, so kin selection is not driving this system. Group size ranges widely, and larger groups often exhibit intense ovicide, suggesting it is costly to breed in large groups. Assuming there are tradeoffs between group size and reproductive success, we predicted that with increasing group size i) group reproductive success would increase, while ii) per-capita reproductive success would decrease, and iii) the probability of offspring surviving to a subsequent developmental stage would increase due to the presence of additional caregivers. Using data from 364 nests, we show that larger groups laid, incubated, and hatched more eggs and fledged more chicks, whereas per capita reproductive success decreased with increasing group size across all four measures. Group size did not affect the probability of offspring surviving to a subsequent developmental stage, and anis frequently breed in larger-than-optimal groups. We conclude that communal breeding in large groups is likely driven by ecological constraints, factors that increase long-term fitness of individuals, and conflicting selection pressures among individuals trying to join groups and those already in groups. Our findings highlight the complex selection pressures that likely influence communal breeding in non-kin groups with highly variable group structure.
exploring the molecular mechanism of sepsis comprehensively based on multi-omics analysis
Authors: He Wenjing , Li Chunyan , Wei Zhen , Han Songji , Zhou Suansuan , Cheng Zhe , Ta Guang
Published: October 2024

Background: Sepsis remains a life-threatening disease with a high mortality rate that causes millions of deaths worldwide every year. However, the molecular mechanism remains incompletely unknown. Bioinformatics analysis has been widely used in microarray data to identify biomarkers of sepsis and perform subsequent analysis to identify potential therapeutic interventions.
Methods: The GSE175453, GSE185263 and GSE28750 datasets were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and eQTL data comes from the eQTLGen consortium database. Limma package and ClusterProfiler analysis were used to identify differentially expressed genes and explore the functional correlation of these genes. Functional analysis and immune infiltration analysis were used to investigate the biological characteristics and immune cell enrichment in sepsis patients. Then the correlation between pyroptosis-related genes and immune cells was analyzed and the diagnostic value of the selected genes was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was first conducted to investigate the hub genes related to sepsis. Sensitivity analyses were applied to validate the reliability of MR results. Then artificial neural network models were constructed for diagnosis and immune cell infiltration analysis was performed to explore the potential molecular mechanisms. Cmap drug prediction was made to discover the therapeutic effect on sepsis.
Results: Our investigation revealed 204 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in sepsis datasets including 124 up-regulated genes and 80 down-regulated genes. The MR analysis showed six hub genes (CA1, CD96, IL18R1, ORM1, S100P, SLC26A8) may be associated with a high or low risk of sepsis. Analyzes suggested that key genes are closely related to the level of immune cell infiltration and play an important role in the immune microenvironment. We constructed an artificial neural network model with high diagnostic and studied the specific signaling pathways enriched in 6 key genes performance. Furthermore, by transcriptional regulation analysis, corresponding transcription factors of key genes were displayed and Cmap drug prediction showed expression profiles perturbed by drugs such as Entecavir, Linsitinib, SDZ-205-557, and Triacsin C had a significant negative correlation with the disease which may have therapeutic effective.
Conclusion: Our investigation revealed six key genes related to sepsis, displayed the signaling pathways enriched in the key genes to explore the molecular mechanisms of sepsis, and offered potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers, shed light on the immune microenvironment by immune infiltration analysis, and proposed prospective alternative pathways for targeted therapeutic interventions by multi-omics analysis initially.
What works better with LSTM, decomposition or deseasonalisation for rainfall forecasting?
Authors: Lama Achal , Rakshit Debopam , Singh K N , Das Pankaj , Das Ritwika , Verma Satyam , Gurung Bishal
Published: October 2024

Forecasting rainfall is crucial for countries like India where farming is the livelihood for around half of the population and rainfall is their most important water source. The intensity of rainfall varies for different seasons and is not spread evenly across the country. Over the years, different researchers used various statistical models for rainfall forecasting. This article uses the monthly rainfall series for all India and five sub-divisions, namely Central North East, North East, North West, Peninsular and West Central for modeling and forecasting. It has been observed that, as a time series, these series follow nonlinearity and non-normality but are stationary. Again, all the series are seasonal. Decomposition or deseasonalised (DS) based hybrid models may be useful for this type of complex scenario. The variational mode decomposition (VMD) is applied to the both actual rainfall series and deseasonalised series (DS) and the Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) are obtained. The Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model is fitted to these IMFs. LSTM is also applied to the deseasonalised series leading to DS-LSTM model. The traditional seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) and LSTM model also fitted directly to the actual rainfall series. The DS- -LSTM hybrid model established its superiority in forecasting compared to the standalone SARIMA, LSTM, VMD-LSTM and DS-VMD-LSTM models based on Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) in the model testing set for all the series. Hence, establishing the importance of deseasonalisation of the series before applying appropriate model to it.
Filamentation activates bacterial NLR-like antiviral protein
Authors: Zheng Jianting , Wang Yiqun , Tian Yuqing , Yang Xu , Yu Feng
Published: October 2024

Bacterial antiviral STANDs (Avs) are evolutionarily related to the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat containing receptors (NLRs) widely distributed in immune systems across animals and plants. EfAvs5, an Avs type 5 protein from Escherichia fergusonii, contains an N-terminal SIR2 effector domain, a nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD) and a C-terminal sensor domain, conferring protection against diverse phage invasions. Despite the established roles of SIR2 and STAND in prokaryotic and eukaryotic immunity, the mechanism underlying their collaboration remains unclear. Here we present cryo-EM structures of EfAvs5 filaments, elucidating the mechanisms of dimerization, filamentation, filament clustering, ATP binding and NAD+ hydrolysis, all of which are crucial for anti-phage defense. The SIR2 domains and NODs engage in the intra- and inter-dimer interaction to form an individual filament, while the outward C-terminal domains contribute to bundle formation. Filamentation potentially stabilizes the dimeric SIR2 configuration, thereby activating the NADase activity of EfAvs5. EfAvs5 is deficient in the ATPase activity, but elevated ATP concentrations can impede its NADase activity. Together, we uncover the filament assembly of Avs5 as a unique mechanism to switch enzyme activities and perform anti-phage defenses, emphasizing the conserved role of filamentation in immune signaling across diverse life forms.
Morphological Characteristics of Microenvironment in the Human Thymus During Fetal Development
Authors: Maletin Nemanja , Denda Nikola , Borocki Stefan , Golušin Zoran , Rašković Aleksandar , Fejsa Aleksandra Levakov , Amidžić Jelena
Published: October 2024

Background
The thymus is a key organ for the development of T cells. T cell precursors first migrate from the bone marrow to the thymus. During maturation, these precursors require interactions with various types of cells that form the thymic microenvironment, such as epithelial, mesenchymal, and other immune cells not belonging to the T lineage. The aim of this study was to examine the changes in the number and diameter of Hassall's corpuscles, as well as the density and distribution of epithelial cells (p63+) and macrophages (CD68+).
Methods
Twenty-five fetal thymus samples were examined, divided into five groups according to gestational age. The samples were processed using standard histological methods and immunohistochemical staining.
Results
The study showed that the number and diameter of Hassall's corpuscles gradually increased during fetal development, with a significant increase from the 14th to the 38th gestational week. The average diameter of Hassall's corpuscles was largest in the age group of 34–38 weeks. The density of p63 + epithelial cells decreased in correlation with gestational age, while the density of CD68 + macrophages significantly increased, particularly in the thymic medulla, towards the end of the fetal period.
Conclusions
An increase in the number and size of Hassall's corpuscles during fetal development was recorded, while the density of epithelial cells decreased and the density of macrophages increased.
Different environmental contexts, different responses: Evaluating the drivers of red fox occupancy patterns in Portugal
Authors: Quezado Luisa , Ferreira Eduardo , Barroqueiro Carlos , Linck Paloma , Ares-Pereira Guilherme , Pinto Nuno , Rossa Mariana , Teixeira Daniela , Carvalho João , Negrões Nuno , Torres Rita T. , Rosalino Luís Miguel
Published: October 2024

Identifying the drivers and ecological mechanisms that shape species occupancy patterns at large scales is decisive in understanding how species respond to environmental changes. In this study, we compiled camera trapping data from different scientific projects and monitoring programs to conduct the first assessment of the relevant ecological drivers of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) occupancy patterns at the national level in Portugal. Here, using single-species/single-season occupancy models, we target two regions with different environmental contexts - north and south of River Tagus. Our results show that the red fox occupancy drivers change depending on the environmental context. In the northern region (more mountainous and densely forested), occupancy patterns were mostly shaped by direct human-associated disturbance, positively associated with dogs’ relative abundance index. On the other hand, in the southern region (plain areas dominated by agroforestry systems), the variation in red fox occupancy patterns was best explained by the habitat characteristics, with foxes showing a higher probability of occupying areas with greater habitat diversity. Considering these results, we conclude that the red fox’s generalist character is highlighted by its capacity to adopt two different occupancy strategies depending on the environmental context: the use of more humanized areas, along with free-ranging dogs, in the Northern region, and the use of areas with more diversified resources in the Southern region. Therefore, our study reinforces the red fox's highly adaptive character, adding crucial information to tailor red fox management and conservation actions to the different regional environmental contexts of Portugal.
Efficacy and Safety of Eight-Week Therapy with Ashwagandha Root Extract in Improvement of Sexual Health in Healthy Men: Findings of a Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Mutha Amit Shrenikraj , Mutha Sonali Amit , Tejuja Anupama Hem , Beldar Amit Shashikant , Mulay Alok Mahendra , langade Deepak
Published: October 2024

Ashwagandha, a traditional Indian Ayurvedic remedy, an adaptogen, may improve sexual dysfunction in men and women. This 8-week prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract (ARE) on improving sexual health in healthy adult men based on Satisfying Sexual Events (SSEs), the Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI-2), the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score, semen parameters and the Quality Of Life (QOL) using the SF-12 tool. A total of 100 healthy men aged 30 to 50 years were randomly assigned to receive ARE 300 mg twice daily (n=50), or identical placebo (n=50) in a 1:1 ratio for 8 weeks. Study assessments were done at baseline, week 2, week 4, and week 8. Three participants from ARE and four participants from the placebo group were excluded due to follow-up loss. The efficacy analyses were done on Per-Protocol (PP) dataset of 93, whereas safety analyses were done on all 100 participants. Significant improvements were observed with ARE for semen volume (p=0.005), sperm number (p=0.006), sperm concentration (p=0.007), and sperm morphology (p=0.007). The improvement in scores was better with ARE for SDI-2 (p<0.05), orgasm and sexual desire domains of IIEF (p<0.05), and SF-12 (p<0.0001). No adverse events were reported in the study.
Exploring the Causal Role of Gut Microbiota and Inflammatory Proteins in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: a Mendelian randomization study with mediation analysis
Authors: Yin Ziqian , Qiu Youjia , Yang Yayi , Wang Menghan , Yue Sijia , Song Bingyi , Chen Zhouqing , Wu Jiang , Wang Zhong
Published: October 2024

Background: Observational studies have highlighted a strong association between gut microbiota (GM) and the onset of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), however, the causality remains unclear.
Method: A Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted to determine the causal effect of GM on NMOSD and to explore the role of inflammatory proteins as mediators. Genetic data from GWAS were analyzed using the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method, alongside weighted median andMR-Egger methods. Sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger intercept, leave-one-out, Cochrane’s Q-test, and MR-PRESSO, were performed to validate the MR estimations. Two-sample MR and reverse MR were utilized to assess causality and potential reverse causation.
Result: The MR analysis revealed nine significant causal links between GM and NMOSD. Four inflammatory proteins were also found to have positive causal associations with NMOSD. Sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings. However, mediated MR analysis did not find evidence supporting inflammatory proteins as mediators in the GM-NMOSD pathway.
Conclusion: The study presents evidence for a causal relationship between GM, inflammatory proteins, and NMOSD. Notably, inflammatory proteins do not mediate the pathway from GM to NMOSD, contributing to a deeper understanding of the interplay between GM and NMOSD.
The Influence of Social Determinants and 5Cs of Positive Youth Development on the Mental Health of Chilean Adolescents
Authors: Marín-Gutiérrez Mauricio , Caqueo-Urízar Alejandra
Published: October 2024

This study analyzes the influence of social determinants (SD) and positive youth development (PYD) on the mental health (MH) of Chilean adolescents. A nonexperimental, cross-sectional, correlational-explanatory design was adopted to analyze data from 612 adolescents (43.46% males and 56.54% females) aged between 11 and 19 years (M = 14.92, SD = 1.50). The SD evaluated included parental educational level, family affluence, gender, migratory status, and ethnicity. PYD was assessed via the 5Cs model (Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring). MH was conceptualized through the dual-factor model, which encompasses positive mental health (PMH) and negative mental health (NMH). The analyses included confirmatory factor analysis to assess the measurement models and structural equation modeling to examine the direct and indirect effects of the hypothesized relationships. The findings indicate that family affluence and gender are the factors most consistently associated with the dimensions of PYD and MH. Confidence and connection positively influence MH, improving PMH and reducing NMH, and mediate the relationship between SD and MH. The importance of considering the socioeconomic context and individual capabilities in mental health promotion strategies is highlighted, proposing an integral approach that addresses both the positive and negative aspects of adolescent well-being.
RETRACTED: Ecofriendly Synthesis of BiVO4 Nanoparticles from Ipomoea Campanulata Leaf Extracts: Advances in Photocatalysis and Electrochemical Sensing
Authors: C Sunil Kumar K , V Lakshmi Rnaganatha , L Soundarya T , S Chandra , G Nagaraju , C Mallikarjunaswamy
Published: October 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Is there any light at the end of the tunnel? Validation of the Perceived Hope Scale in Arabic-speaking adults living in Gaza in the midst of war, destruction and death
Authors: Fekih-Romdhane Feten , Jebreen Kamel , Swaitti Tasnim , Jebreen Mohammed , Radwan Eqbal , Kammoun-Rebai Wafa , Samra Mahmoud A. Abu , Hallit Souheil
Published: October 2024

Background: Despite its obvious relevance for clinical practice and research, it is surprising that yet no hope measure is available for use among Arabic-speaking populations, especially those most vulnerable who have been going through major humanitarian crises. This paper proposed to provide novel insights into psychometric information on hope scales, by examining, for the first time, the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Perceived Hope Scale (PHS) in Palestinians living in Gaza who have endured several months of suffering since the war began in October 2023.
Method: This study had a cross-sectional design and applied a quantitative research approach. It was carried-out over a month period (September 2024) using an anonymous self-report questionnaire that was shared through social networks and the snowball sampling technique. A total of 534 Arabic-speaking Palestinian adults aged over 18 years and currently living in Gaza took part in the study.
Results: The factorial structure of the Arabic PHS was explored using Confirmatory Factor Analyses, and showed that the fit indexes of the one-factor solution reached the standard of good model fit. Furthermore, our results suggest that the Arabic PHS possesses excellent internal consistency reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha value of .90 for the total score. Invariance was established in our sample at the metric and scalar levels in terms of sex groups. PHS scores significantly and positively correlated with religiosity, resilience and post-traumatic growth. In addition, and as expected, PHS inversely correlated with anxiety and depression.
Conclusion: Overall, our results add to the measurement assessment of the PHS, lending further support to its value as a sound measure to assess perceived hope in a new context and cultural background of Muslim, Arabic-speaking adults and fragile survivors of several decades of war that dramatically escalated over the past months.
The Hidden Carbon Debt: Rethinking Electric Vehicles in India’s Coal-Powered Future
Authors: Kavya Amaya , Yadav Seema
Published: October 2024

Electric vehicles (EVs) are often positioned as a cornerstone of sustainable mobility, promising to combat climate change by reducing emissions from transportation. However, in nations like India, where coal powers over 70% of the electricity grid, the actual environmental impact of EVs remains underexplored. This paper presents a comprehensive lifecycle assessment (LCA) of EVs in India, examining their carbon footprint from the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries to the operation and disposal phases. The findings challenge the perception that EVs are inherently eco-friendly, revealing that their lifecycle emissions are significantly impacted by the carbon intensity of India’s coal-dependent energy infrastructure. Battery production alone contributes to a substantial share of an EV’s emissions, and with India’s limited battery recycling infrastructure, the end-of-life phase adds further environmental strain. When factoring in these realities, EVs in India may deliver only marginal greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions compared to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs)—and in some cases, their emissions may even be higher. To unlock the true potential of EVs, this study emphasizes the urgent need for India to decarbonize its energy grid and implement robust battery recycling policies. By unveiling the hidden carbon costs of EVs in coal-powered regions, this paper calls for a more balanced, data-driven approach to sustainable transportation.
Beyond the Butcher: Navigating the Legal Landscape of Cultured Meat
Authors: Delerm Felix , Levy Melanie
Published: October 2024

Cultured meat, produced from cell cultures rather than slaughtered animals, is nearing consumer tables. Despite its potential for sustainability, animal welfare, and food security, cultured meat faces regulatory challenges. In 2023, Aleph Farms filed the first Europe-wide application for market access in Switzerland. This paper analyses the Swiss legal framework concerning cultured meat. It focuses on food product taxonomy and the market access authorization procedure for novel foods. It emphasizes the need for regulation to evolve with technological advancements while ensuring consumer safety.
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Kultiviertes Fleisch, das aus Zellkulturen statt aus geschlachteten Tieren gewonnen wird, liegt schon bald auf den Tellern. Trotz seines Potenzials für Nachhaltigkeit, Tierschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit steht kultiviertes Fleisch vor regulatorischen Herausforderungen. Im Jahr 2023 hat Aleph Farms in der Schweiz den ersten europaweiten Antrag auf Marktzugang gestellt. Der vorliegende Beitrag analysiert den schweizerischen Rechtsrahmen für kultiviertes Fleisch. Er konzentriert sich auf die Klassifikation und das Zulassungsverfahren für den Marktzugang neuartiger Lebensmittel. Er plädiert dafür, dass sich die Vorschriften mit dem technologischen Fortschritt weiterentwickeln, während gleichzeitig die Sicherheit der Verbrauchenden gewährleistet sein muss.
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La viande cultivée, produite à partir de cultures cellulaires plutôt que d'animaux abattus, est sur le point d'arriver dans nos assiettes. Bien qu'elle présente un fort potentiel en matière de durabilité, de bien-être animal et de sécurité alimentaire, cette viande de culture doit surmonter plusieurs obstacles réglementaires. En 2023, Aleph Farms a soumis en Suisse la première demande d'accès au marché à l'échelle européenne. Cet article examine le cadre juridique suisse applicable à la viande cultivée, en mettant particulièrement l'accent sur la taxonomie des produits alimentaires et sur la procédure d'autorisation pour les nouveaux aliments. Il souligne également la nécessité d'adapter la réglementation aux avancées technologiques, tout en garantissant la sécurité des consommateurs.
Modelling Cost-Risk Impact on Nigerian Highway Projects Using Multiple Linear Regression and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors:   Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, MALAYSIA, Aligamhe Victor Imohnikhe , Mustapa Muzani ,   Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, MALAYSIA, Ogbu Chukwuemeka Patrick ,   Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, PMB 1154, Edo State, NIGERIA, Misnan Mohd Saidin ,   Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, MALAYSIA
Published: October 2024

Cost predictive models for highway projects are relatively scarce in developing countries, despite the frequency and magnitude of project cost overruns in such countries. This study identified critical cost risks impacting highway projects and modelled their impacts on the actual cost of the projects. Historical cost data on highway projects published by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in 2017 served as a preliminary list of projects for the study, while further cost data were obtained from highway engineers and quantity surveyors across Nigeria using the snowballing technique until 103 highway projects were identified. Project participants were purposively chosen to fill out questionnaires on costrisks factors associated with highway construction projects. The relative importance index and Pareto 80/20 rule were used to analyse the collected primary data. Thereafter, multiple linear regression and artificial neural network models were developed. Findings revealed that the increase in the cost of construction materials and labour and the fluctuations in foreign exchange rates were the most significant risks impacting highway project cost performance. A comparison of the models indicated that the artificial neural networks model performed better. Hence, the artificial neural networks model is a superior technique for modelling the relationship between cost risks and cost performance of highway projects.
A Bibliometric Review of Maturity Model Studies in the Construction Industry
Authors:   Centre of Building, Construction and Tropical Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA, Chen Kun , Loo Siaw-Chuing ,   Centre of Building, Construction and Tropical Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA, Alias Anuar ,   Centre of Building, Construction and Tropical Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Published: October 2024

Maturity models have become one of the most used organisational maturity assessment tools in the construction industry. However, bibliometric and visual analysis for this field is still scarce. This study used CiteSpace to analyse 278 articles on maturity models employed in the construction industry from 2000 to 2022 in the Web of Science (WoS) core database. The categories in the WoS database divided the filtered articles into eight categories, which could be roughly divided into three fields: (1) Construction and Engineering, (2) Green Sustainability and Environment, and (3) Integrated Management. The keyword cooccurrence analysis based on frequency, centrality and burst strength revealed that “Building information modelling (BIM)”, “System” and “Impact” were relatively significant terms. This finding indicated that maturity models are a systematic assessment tool often used in the BIM domain. The analysis of the evolution of keywords also revealed that maturity-related research could be divided into five stages and that the application of maturity models at each stage focused on different areas within the construction industry. The analyses of the current review direct future research to focus more on the integration of green sustainability with other topics, explore new technologies, investigate the applicability of maturity theories and validation studies and conduct more action-oriented guided research. The results of this study guide researchers to utilise maturity models in the effort to systematically understand current research efforts and future trends of the tool in the construction industry, as well as provide references for managers of building construction companies and government personnel who develop policies for the construction industry.
Benefícios potenciais a partir da adoção das tecnologias da indústria 4.0 para sustentabilidade na indústria calçadista
Authors: Schreiber Dusan , De Oliveira Francieli , Froehlich Cristiane
Published: October 2024

O estudo teve como objetivo analisar de que forma as tecnologias da indústria 4.0 podem contribuir para a promoção de práticas sustentáveis no processo de fabricação de calçados. Para alcançar o objetivo do estudo optou-se pela estratégia de estudo de caso único, na empresa FL Calçados, abordagem qualitativa e coleta de dados por meio de entrevistas abertas, com gestores organizacionais, levantamento documental e observação sistemática participante. Os dados empíricos coletados foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo. Os principais resultados apontam que a indústria 4.0 oferece um caminho para a transformação sustentável da indústria calçadista. Questões como os custos iniciais de implementação, a necessidade de capacitar à equipe e a integração de sistemas complexos são os principais desafios para esse processo de mudança.
ABORDAGEM DA EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL NO ENSINO DE QUÍMICA: UMA ANÁLISE A PARTIR DE ARTIGOS PUBLICADOS NA REVISTA QUÍMICA NOVA NA ESCOLA (QNEsc)
Authors: S. de Oliveira Aprigio Sergiana , L. Nascimento Maria Vitória , B. Cantanhede Leonardo , C. da Silva Cantanhede Severina , C. da Trindade Junior Osiel , R. e Silva Barbosa Douglas , da Silva Araújo Lidiane
Published: October 2024

APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN CHEMISTRY TEACHING: AN ANALYSIS BASED ON ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL QUÍMICA NOVA NA ESCOLA (QNEsc). The knowledge of chemistry connected to environmental problems and sustainable development can provide an opportunity for dynamic, investigative, and directed teaching towards the recognition of chemistry itself as a science and social practice. From this perspective, this work aimed to investigate how discussions involving topics related to environmental education are conducted by researchers and/or professionals in chemical education, based on articles published in the journal Química Nova na Escola (QNEsc). The selection of articles was made considering publications from QNEsc between the years 1995 and 2022, focusing on terms such as environmental education, environment, pollution, environmental aspects, sustainability, and sustainable development present in the title, abstract, and/or keywords of the published articles. The selected texts were analyzed using Iramuteq software, applying correspondence factorial analysis (CFA), hierarchical descendant classification (HDC), similarity analysis, and word cloud using their respective abstracts. The data show that topics such as water, pesticides, waste, and plastic materials (polymers) were the most addressed by the publications, indicating a path that seeks to present and discuss proposals that value the need for sustainable actions, addressing environmental issues that directly impact the way humans use natural resources in the present and future.
Cambio monetario y penetración del capital eclesiástico en la economía agraria. Los términos de Santafé, 1610-1660
Authors: Riaño Jurado Cristhian Sebastian
Published: October 2024

En este artículo se realizará un análisis cuantitativo de una muestra de 165 ventas ocurridas en los términos de Santafé de Bogotá entre 1610-1660, los 50 años con la mayor cantidad de transacciones de tierra para el siglo xvii. Esta investigación se centrará en los medios de pago empleados en estas transacciones de carácter monetario y crediticio: el censo redimible. La información recolectada sugiere la existencia de un período de regularización monetaria que posibilitó el uso del censo redimible para el financiamiento de empresas agrícolas, el cual paralelamente dio lugar a la transferencia de rentas monetarias a favor de instituciones eclesiásticas y particulares. Entender este proceso de imposición del censo redimible permitirá comprender mejor el peso económico de la Iglesia y el grado de monetización de las economías agrícolas de la época colonial.