bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Severe COVID-19 among Children in Foshan, China
Authors: Chen Xiaoqian , Liang Yongqi , Xie Qiyuan , Jiang Suhua
Published: September 2023

Background This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, treatments, and prognosis of severe neurological impairment among children infected with severe acute respiratory disease coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following the change in epidemic prevention policy in China in December 2022.Methods A total of 9 pediatric patients with severe neurological impairment caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection from December 17, 2022 to December 31, 2022 in the First People’s Hospital of Foshan were retrospectively analyzed.Results Seven (71.43%) of the nine cases involved patients under the age of three, while the other two cases were older than three and had underlying medical conditions. All patients presented with fever and neurological symptoms such as disorders of consciousness and/or convulsive seizures. Besides, all patients showed sudden aggravation (e.g., fulminant cerebral edema) within 24 hours of fever, without respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough). Interleukin-6 (IL-6), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and D-dimer were significantly increased in all nine cases. Except for three patients who survived more than 48 hours after the first rescue treatment, five died within 48 hours after hospitalization, while one died of secondary bacterial infection after seven days of treatment. All patients suffered from shock rapidly after onset, and five patients developed multiple organ failure (respiratory, heart, liver, kidney and skeletal muscle) in a short time. In terms of in-hospital treatments, five cases were treated with glucocorticoids, three with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and two with blood purification and tocilizumab.Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause severe neurological damage in pediatric patients. Hyperpyrexia, convulsion, and inflammatory factors could serve as early warning indicators. Administering glucocorticoids immunoglobulin, blood purification and tocilizumab might have some therapeutic effects, but further research is needed to establish their effectiveness.
Structure-guided design of pyridinyl-indole 4R-tau PET radiotracers: Development of [18F]OXD-2314 for human use
Authors: Vasdev Neil , Lindberg Anton , Tong Junchao , Mason Scott , Sohn Daniel , Sandell Johan , Strom Peter , Stehouwer Jeffrey , Lopresti Brian , Viklund Jenny , Svensson Samuel , Mathis Chester
Published: September 2023

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of tau aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is helping to map and quantify the in vivo progression of AD pathology. To date, no high-affinity 4-repeat (4R)-tau PET radiopharmaceutical for imaging non-AD tauopathies exists. Herein, the properties of analogues of a first-in-class 4R-tau lead, [18F]OXD-2115, are described. Over 150 analogues of OXD-2115 were synthesized and screened for tau affinity in vitro against [3H]OXD-2115, and in silico models were used to predict brain uptake. [18F]OXD-2314 was identified as a selective, high-affinity non-AD tau PET radiotracer with favorable brain uptake, dosimetry, and radiometabolite profiles in rats and non-human primate and is being translated for first-in-human PET studies.
Delirium and Neuropsychological Recovery among Emergency General Surgery Survivors (DANE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial and collaborative care intervention
Authors: Mohanty Sanjay , Holler Emma , Ortiz Damaris , Meagher Ashley , Perkins Anthony , Bylund Peggy , Khan Babar , Unverzagt Frederick , Xu Hupuing , Ingraham Angela , Boustani Malaz , Zarzaur Ben
Published: September 2023

Background:
Delirium is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome which consists of acute and varying changes in cognition and consciousness. Patients who develop delirium are at increased risk for a constellation of physical, cognitive, and psychological disability long after the delirium has ended. Collaborative care models integrating primary and specialty care in order to address patients with complex biopsychosocial needs has been demonstrated to improve outcomes in patients with chronic diseases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of a collaborative care model on the neuropsychologic recovery of delirium survivors following emergency surgery.
Methods:
This protocol describes a multicenter (eight hospitals in three states) randomized controlled trial in which 528 patients who develop delirium following emergency surgery will be randomized to either a collaborative care model or usual care. The efficacy of the collaborative care model on cognitive, physical, and psychological recovery in this delirium survivors will then be evaluated over eighteen months.
Discussion:
This will be among the first randomized clinical trials in postoperative delirium survivors evaluating an intervention designed to mitigate the downstream effects of delirium and improve the neuropsychologic recovery after surgery. We hope that the results of this study will add to and inform strategies to improve postoperative recovery in this patient group.
Trial registration: NCT05373017 (clinicaltrials.gov)
Digital Human: Three-dimentional face model reconstruction based on Hifi3dface model with clinical two-dimentional photos
Authors: Xiao Yujia , Mao Bochun , Nie Jianglong , Liu Jiayi , Zhou Yanheng , Li Jing
Published: September 2023

Background
This study aims to explore the reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) face model based on orthodontic front and lateral image, and compare with the face-scan 3D images (the gold standard) to assess the accuracy and clinical practicability of this method.
Methods
In this study, 23 patients (mean age 20.70 ± 5.36 years) were included to obtain the front and lateral facial images. Then we accomplished 3D face reconstruction with front and lateral photos based on the Hifi3dface which is an open-source application. The reconstruction model and corresponding face scan model were imported into Geomagic Control for preprocessing and repositioning. 3D deviation analysis was conducted to obtain the root mean square error (RMSE) of the facial and perioral areas, as well as the 3D error value of 8 landmarks. The clinical utility of this method for 3D face reconstruction was evaluated through measuring the 13 soft tissue measurements in two groups.
Results
According to the 3D deviation results: the RMSEs of the 3D face reconstruction model based on Hifi3dface was (2.00 ± 0.38mm, 95%CI:1.84-2.17mm); the RMSEs at the perioral region was (2.12 ± 0.51mm, 95%CI:1.90-2.34mm). Cheek, chin and nose exhibited the greatest deviation in the reconstruction model. The mean deviation of landmarks was less than 2mm, with the majority of the error occurring in the z-direction(Z > Y > X). As for soft tissue measurements, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the two groups in nasolabial angle, nasal angle and nasal frontal angle, while the remaining measurements had no statistical difference (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
3D facial reconstruction based on Hifi3dface demonstrated an acceptable outcome, but there was still potential for improvement in terms of clinical utility. The reconstruction needs to improve, particularly in the z-axis(sagittal) direction.
Investigating the risk of reintubation by cough force assessment using cough peak expiratory flow: A single-center observational study
Authors: MURATA KENYA , shimoyama keiichiro , Tsuruya Takeshi
Published: September 2023

Background
No objective indicator exists for evaluating cough strength during extubation of tracheally intubated patients. This study aimed to determine whether cough peak expiratory flow (CPEF) can predict the risk of reintubation due to decreased cough strength.
Methods
This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who were admitted to our Emergency Intensive Care Unit between September 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021 and were under artificial ventilation management for ≥24 h. The patients were divided into two groups: successful extubation and reintubation groups, and the relationship between CPEF immediately before extubation and reintubation was investigated.
Results
Seventy-six patients were analyzed. In the univariate analysis, CPEF was significantly different between the successful extubation (90.7 ± 25.9 L/min) and reintubation (57.2 ± 6.4 L/min) groups (p< 0.001). In the multivariate analysis with age and duration of artificial ventilation as covariates, CPEF was significantly lower in the reintubation group (p < 0.01). The cutoff value of CPEF for reintubation according to the receiver operating characteristic curve was 60 L/min (area under the curve, 0.897; sensitivity, 78.5%; specificity, 90.9%; p < 0.01).
Conclusion
CPEF in tracheally intubated patients may be a useful indicator for predicting the risk of reintubation associated with decreased cough strength. The cutoff CPEF value for reintubation due to decreased cough strength was 60 L/min.
Triexciton induced RGB emission of organic-inorganic zirconium halide perovskites
Authors: Deng Zhengtao , Wang Chuying , Meng Wen , Luo Guigeng , Xu guangyong , Peng Min , Xu Bin , Nie Shuming
Published: September 2023

Materials with two or more excitons that emit different fluorescence under different excitation sources have great potential in optical applications, but luminous materials with three-exciton emission characteristics have been largely undeveloped. Here, we report a novel zero-dimensional (0D) organic-inorganic hybrid ((C2H5)4N)2ZrCl6 perovskite with multiple exciton emission properties. The zirconium-based perovskite exhibits a red emission around 620 nm, a green emission at 527 nm, and a blue emission around 498 nm. The red and green emissions come from self-trapped excitons (STEs) and d-d transition of Zr(IV), respectively, which are caused by distortion of the [ZrCl6]2- octahedrons. The emission of blue is caused by thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), which is similar to that of all-inorganic Cs2ZrCl6. The absolute photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the red and blue double emission is 83% and the absolute PLQY of green emission is 27%. With different combinations of ((C2H5)4N)2ZrCl6 samples, we achieve a variety of applications. First, a two-color luminescent anti-counterfeiting device was prepared using green ((C2H5)4N)2ZrCl6 powder. Secondly, using green and red ((C2H5)4N)2ZrCl6 powder, a white light-emitting diode (WLED) device with a color rendering index (CRI) of 95 was prepared. Finally, blue and green ((C2H5)4N)2ZrCl6 powder was used to achieve information encryption. Our work provides a potential set of multiexciton-emitting materials and is expected to expand the basic research and practical applications of multiexciton materials.
Active Components and Antifungal Activities of Extracts from Carpesium abrotanoides L. (Asteraceae)
Authors: Zhu Hongxia , Hu Linfeng , Gao Ge , Wang Yunlong
Published: September 2023

The target-directed efficient extraction and antifungal activities of extracts against seven phytopathogenic fungi from flowers, leaves and seeds of Carpesium abrotanoides L. (Asteraceae) were evaluated. In the seven tested fungi, the extracts of three parts of this plant produced by petroleum ether and chloroform, as well as extracts of flower and seed produced by ethyl acetate, had strong activities against Gibberella zeae, Phytophthora capsica and Rhizoctonia cerealis.
The Role of the Serum Uric Acid to Serum Creatinine Ratio in the 1-year Prognosis of Acute Isolated Pontine Infarction
Authors: Liu Yingli , Li Shufang , Ma Qingqing , Zhai Mingfeng , Li Zongyou
Published: September 2023

Background and PurposeRecent studies have shown that the serum uric acid to serum creatinine ratio (SUA/SCr) is associated with poor prognosis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The role of SUA/SCr as a new biomarker in acute isolated pontine infarction (AIPI) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SUA/CR and the 1-year clinical prognosis of AIPI.MethodsConsecutive patients with AIPI were enrolled, and clinical and laboratory data were collected from these patients. Patients were followed up for 12 months after the onset of the disease, and their 1-year clinical prognosis was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. Poor prognosis was defined as mRS score > 2, and the patients were classified into two groups accordingly. The characteristics of the clinical data, including demographics, laboratory data, and imaging indices, were compared between the 2 groups, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the predictive factors of the 1-year clinical outcomes of AIPI.ResultsOf the included 322 patients with AIPI, the mean SUA/SCr was 5.07±1.49. A total of 263 (81.7%) patients were included in the good prognosis group,and 59 (18.3%) were included in the poor prognosis group. SUA/SCr was higher in the poor prognosis group than inthe good prognosis group (p=0.002). After correction for confounders, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SUA/SCr [odds ratio (OR) 0.619; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.462-0.831] at admission, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR, 1.735; 95% CI, 1.464-2.055), fasting glucose (OR, 1.190; 95% CI, 1.037-1.366), and age (OR, 1.037; 95% CI, 1.011-1.064) were independently associated with a poor prognosis at 1 year of AIPI. Spearman correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between SUA/SCr and mRS score (r=-0.152, P=0.006).ConclusionsReduced SUA/SCr values may be an independent predictor of poor prognosis in AIPI at 1 year. Reduced SUA/SCr in patients with AIPI is independently associated with long-term poor prognosis.
Design of Cost-effective Energy Supply Systems for domestic Households in Developing Countries -- Pledge for utilising Thermal Energy to Electricity Conversion Systems
Authors: Snyman Lukas W.
Published: September 2023

A medium scale household in South Africa consumes about 1000 kWh on average. This amounts to about 3300 ZAR per month is spent on energy supply using grid electricity. Grid electricity in South Africa is supplied by a huge governmental organisation at about R3..00 per kWhr, including taxes. Statistical analyses indicate that the current increase of the cost of grid electricity in South Africa is about 60% per annum. Solar energy irradiation levels in South Africa are about 850 W/m2 on average in summer. This study shows that by utilising a hybrid combination of renewable energies, such as combining PV supply with solar thermal energy absorbers, converting thermal energy to electricity, and also using petroleum gas and wind turbine energy supply systems as supplements, could reduce the current cost of electricity per household in South Africa to about half of the national grid supply prize, i.e about R1.50 per kWh. The study also shows that water provides as a most viable medium to store energy overnight, instead of using expensive battery technology to perform such functions. Our research also show that Photo-Voltaic (PV) only technology can offer as viable second alternative, provided a large initial capital outlay can be made. The cost of this type of electricity utilised, capitalized over 20 years, is around 2.80 ZAR.
Diversity and abundance of amphibians in residential areas of Ludhiana and Panchkula
Authors: Singh Shelly , Singh Rajwinder
Published: September 2023

Although urbanisation offers a variety of hazards to wildlife, little is known about its impact on tropical anurans. In this study, analysed anurans in highly developed intra-urban housing regions of two districts.Three amphibian species were recorded from residential areas of both Ludhiana and Panchkula which included D. melanostictus, D. stomaticusandH. tigerinusbelonging to order anura and families bufonidae and dicroglossidae. Analysis of the collected data on the anuran community of the study area revealed in district Ludhiana, BarewalDogran (4.90 individuals) showed the maximum amphibian abundance as compared to Sherpur (4.14 individuals) and Ladhowal (3.90 individuals). However, in district Panchkula Maheshpur (4.87 individuals) showed the maximum amphibian abundance as compared to villages Railly (4.06 individuals) and Sector-26 Extension (4.32 individuals). 7.95% and 6.30% increase in amphibian population was recorded from residential areas of district Ludhiana and Panchkula, respectively. Overall, residential areas of district Panchkula were recorded to be 2.32% more abundant as compared to district Ludhiana. Positive correlation was found between amphibian population with atmospheric temperature, relative humidity and rainfall.
Temporal Trends of cardiovascular disease Mortality in Central Iran between 2001 and 2018: The Impact of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP)
Authors: Mehrabani-Zeinabad Kamran , Hassannejad Razieh , Nouri Fatemeh , Mohammadifard Noushin , Khosravi Ardeshir , Sarrafzadegan Nizal
Published: September 2023

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) death, principally ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke, is the most common cause of mortality worldwide. We aim to determine the temporal trends in CVD mortality in two large districts that consist the intervention and control areas of the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) over a period of 18 years (2000-2018).
Methods: The Iran Death Registration System (DRS), cemetery databank in Isfahan, and the population of the two areas based on housing censuses of Iran were used for this study.
IHHP was a comprehensive community-based intervention program for non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and control using population and high-risk approaches. It was performed in 2000-2007 in Isfahan and Arak districts as an intervention and control areas, respectively. Using interpolating approach, the population was estimated between census years. Incompleteness, misalignment, and misclassification in the DRS were considered and addressed accordingly. Direct method was applied to calculate age-, gender-, and residency-standardized mortality rates (SMR) based on reference population.
Results: The overall age-, gender-, and residency-standardized CVD mortality rate decreased from 586.28 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 559.39-615.76) to 410.67 (95% CI: 394.62-427.51) per 100,000 in intervention area between 2002 and 2011, a reduction of approximately 29.95%. The similar trend was observed for IHD and stroke standardized mortality rate (SMR) by 44.62% and 40.68% reduction, respectively. Control area and national data showed a rise in SMR in the first years of study followed by slight reduction from 2006. However, SMR showed increasing trend after 2011 in all regions. Nevertheless, the control area witnessed higher SMR compared with intervention area. The SMR was higher among individuals aged >75 years and among men during the study period.
Conclusion: A decreasing trend in the SMR over a period of 2002-2011 could be likely related to the IHHP comprehensive interventions that were implemented in intervention areas. These findings assert the significant role of performing such preventive strategies at the population level and high risk groups that could lead to decreasing the risk factors of CVD and ultimately impact it’s mortality.
Quantum support vector machines for classification and regression on a trapped-ion quantum computer
Authors: Suzuki Teppei , Hasebe Takashi , Miyazaki Tsubasa
Published: September 2023

Quantum machine learning is a rapidly growing field at the intersection of quantum computing and machine learning. In this work, we examine our quantum machine learning models, which are based on quantum support vector classification (QSVC) and quantum support vector regression (QSVR). We investigate these models using a quantum-circuit simulator, both with and without noise, as well as the IonQ Harmony quantum processor. For the QSVC tasks, we use a dataset containing fraudulent credit card transactions and image datasets (the MNIST and the Fashion-MNIST datasets); for the QSVR tasks, we use a financial dataset and a materials dataset. For the classification tasks, the performance of our QSVC models using 4 qubits of the trapped-ion quantum computer was comparable to that obtained from noiseless quantum-circuit simulations. The result is consistent with the analysis of our device-noise simulations with varying qubit-gate error rates. For the regression tasks, applying a low-rank approximation to the noisy quantum kernel, in combination with hyperparameter tuning in ε-SVR, improved the performance of the QSVR models on the near-term quantum device. Our results suggest that the quantum kernel, as described by our shallow quantum circuit, can be effectively used for both QSVC and QSVR tasks, indicating its resistance to noise and its adaptability to various datasets.
On Neural Quantum Support Vector Machines
Authors: Simon Lars , Radons Manuel
Published: September 2023

In SR23 we introduced four algorithms for the training of neural support vector machines (NSVMs) and demonstrated their feasibility. In this note we introduce neural quantum support vector machines, that is, NSVMs with a quantum kernel, and extend our results to this setting.
Concentration levels of VOCs in ambient air and health assessment of respiratory diseases in petrochemical cities in western China
Authors: Chang Lu , Wang Xia , Ding Haixia , Zhou Yian
Published: September 2023

99 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), except aldehydes and ketones, were measured in both PAMS and TO-15 methods in urban and suburban areas of Lanzhou, a petrochemical industry city located in northwest China, between 2021 and 2022. The collected data was analyzed to investigate the seasonal trends in air pollution and its correlation with respiratory diseases in Lanzhou. The average annual concentrations of VOCs were found to be 121 ppbv for urban living areas, 165 ppbv for industrial areas, and 114 ppbv for background areas, with industrial areas having the highest concentration. The VOCs comprise various organic compounds, including alkanes, olefins, halogenated hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydrocarbons, which serve as organic tracers of specific marker molecules or their sources. Using principal component analysis, the species were grouped by the maximum variance method, and the VOCs concentration levels were scored for different regions. The associated changes were then calculated based on the number of respiratory morbidity cases reported from public health hospitals in each region. The results indicate association between VOCs concentration levels and the onset of respiratory illnesses during the fall and winter seasons. Thus, reducing the emissions of VOCs during the fall and winter months can effectively mitigate the public health risks associated with respiratory illnesses.
Theoretical and experimental studies on sulfasalazine interactions with poly (lactic acid): Impact of hydrogen bonding and charge transfer interactions on molecular structure, electronic and optical properties
Authors: Safa Azam Naderi , Sheibani Ali , Baei Mohammad T. , Sayyad-Alangi S. Zahra
Published: September 2023

In this study, we investigated the interaction of sulfasalazine (SSZ) through different functional groups with poly (lactic acid), (PLA), in the chloroform phase through density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods. Our calculation results based on binding energy and thermodynamic parameters indicate that the interaction between SSZ and PLA in state I (-0.71 eV) via hydrogen double bond is stronger than in states II (-0.64 eV) and III (-0.51 eV). UV-Vis spectra of SSZ interaction with PLA are determined using theoretical techniques in combination with a comparative analysis of carrier and drug spectra in the chloroform phase. The interaction of SSZ with PLA leads to increased dipole moment and higher solubility with more negative Gibbs free energy (∆Gsolv) and energy gap (Eg) values. The theoretical calculations are made in order to shed light on the complex processes that resulted in the minimal variations in the maximum absorption wavelength seen in the experimental spectra. Theoretical UV-Vis analysis demonstrates SSZ interaction with PLA happens in the ultraviolet region with a maximum absorption peak at 380 nm, which is close to experimental UV-Vis analysis. The experimental and theoretical Infrared (IR) spectra demonstrated that the structure of PLA was altered in the presence of SSZ.
Effect of Lupinus albus conglutin gamma protein on experimentally induced diabetes in rats
Authors: Bhieldeen Marwa , Moustafa Yasser M. , Tawfik Afaf A. , Elsayed Sami M. , El-shaarawy Fatma F.
Published: September 2023

Early insulin resistance and a progressive loss of pancreatic β cell function combine to cause type 2 diabetes (T2D), which leads to insufficient insulin production followed by hyperglycemia. Purified from Lupinus albus seed, conglutin gamma (Cγ) is a protein that lowers blood sugar. The primary function of adipocytokines, hormones released by adipose tissue, is to alert important organs to maintain metabolic balance. This study aimed to identify and compare the role of Cγ and glimepiride in controlling hyperglycemia, insulin secretion, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia in high-fat diet and low- dose streptozotocin (STZ) induced T2D experimental rats through affecting the expression of various adipocytokines Male Spargue Dawely rat groups were divided into normal, Cγ control, T2D control, and four T2D groups that received Cγ (30, 60, and 120 mg/Kg) and Glimepiride (0.1 mg/kg) treatments. Administration of Cγ successfully eliminated hyperglycemia and increased insulin secretion and sensitivity. Additionally, when compared to (STZ + HFD) control rats, treatment with Cγ improved the expression of leptin, adiponectin, and their blood concentration, as well as the activity of the enzyme chitotriosidase. It also significantly decreased the expression of apelin, NAMPT and RBP4. The present data suggests that Cγ has an effective role on controlling hyperglycemia induced by diabetes through amelioration of leptin, adiponectin, liver enzyme levels, lipid profile and metabolic syndrome.
Research on performance of folding ornithopter based on gun-mounted compound catapult
Authors: ZHANG Chunpeng , SHAO Weiping , HAO Yongping , LIU Ziwei , Zhaowei PENG
Published: September 2023

In order to improve the flight of bionic ornithopter based on hand throwing, a medium-sized bionic ornithopter with foldable wings and its ejection device are designed. The three-dimensional model of the ornithopter and the gun is established, and the aerodynamic performance of the system is analyzed by fluent software. The system device carried out firing experiments under different ejection angles, different ejection pressures, different air humidity and different ambient temperatures. In the process of ejecting the bird gun from the muzzle to the maximum flight height, the loading shell covering the bird body would be ejected under the combined action of the air flow and the flapping wing extension. In order to avoid interference with the bird body after the ejection of the loading shell shell, So you need to meet a certain initial flight speed of the bird. Experiments show that when the incoming flow velocity is 10m/s, the foldable orphewing aircraft can reach the optimal flight height and spread attitude under the body elevation Angle of 45°, the air pressure 0.6MPa in the cylinder, the air humidity of 50%rh and the body sensing temperature of 24℃. At the same time, the initial flight speed of the bird can reach 19.4m/s, which satisfies the basic conditions for the flight of the bird.
Evaluation of Anti-diabetic Activity of Isolated Fractions of Aegle Marmelos
Authors: Kumar.Ch Sampath , Pandian P. , A.Madhukar
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of isolated fractions from Aegle marmelos. To achieve this, experiments were conducted on rats with induced diabetes using STZ. The isolated fractions were administered to the rats at different doses, specifically 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg, over duration of 28 days.
Using the accu-chek active test meter, blood glucose levels were measured to assess the anti-diabetic effects of the isolated fractions. Additionally, a comparison was made with the standard anti-diabetic medication, pioglitazone, which was given to another group of rats at a normal dose of 2.7 mg/kg.
The results of this study indicated that the isolated fractions of Aegle marmelos exhibited considerable anti-diabetic activity. Furthermore, the study also included acute and sub-acute toxicology assessments to determine the safety of the isolated fractions at higher doses. The acute toxic study demonstrated that Aegle marmelos was photochemically safe up to 300 mg/kg, while the sub-acute toxic study showed safety up to 1000 mg/kg.
Overall, these findings suggest that the isolated fractions of Aegle marmelos have promising anti- diabetic potential, making them worthy candidates for further investigation and potential therapeutic applications.
The Sources, Diffusion, and Health Risks of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water and Sediment of a Typical Underground River in South China
Authors: Lu Li , Chen Yudao , Zou Shengzhang , Wang Zhe , Fan Lianjie
Published: September 2023

Underground rivers serve as the primary source of drinking water in the karst area in South China and support their development. However, the aquifer structure of the karst region makes it easy for PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) to enter underground rivers, which causes heavy pollution and affects water quality and safety. This study chose the Qingshuiquan underground river in Nanning City as a representative to reveal the sources, diffusion, and health risks of PAHs in water and sediment of underground rivers. The results showed that the ∑16PAHs concentration ranges in groundwater and sediment were 294.44-489.91 ng/L and 380.13-1141.97 ng/g respectively. From the upstream to the downstream, PAH concentrations increased, and the proportion of PAHs with lower rings decreased. PAHs came from three sources: the high-temperature combustion of grass, wood, and coal in the upper reaches, petroleum in the middle reaches, and coal and oil combustion in the lower reaches. As ring numbers of PAHs and organic carbon content increased, PAHs were more likely to disperse into sediment. Sediment turned from source to sink, and groundwater from sink to source. PAHs in groundwater posed only carcinogenic health risks and zero non-carcinogenic health risks, with adults suffering from higher risks than children, and dermal contacts riskier than ingestion. The levels of carcinogenic health risks differed spatially, with risks in the downstream significantly higher than those in the midstream and upstream. PAH monomers such as BaP and DaA require close attention. These results can provide scientific evidence for POPs (persistent organic pollutants) prevention and control in the karst water environment.
Chewing with a cleft palate: a randomized controlled trial. Effect of timing of surgical closure of the palate on mastication in infants with clefts.
Authors: Guillaume CHAL , Verhoeven MMR , Eligh AM , Haverkamp SJ , Eijkemans RMJC , Molen AB Mink van der , Kon M , Breugem CC
Published: September 2023

Objectives- To evaluate the timing of surgical closure of the palate on overall masticatory function in infants with cleft lip- and/or palate (CL/P).
Materials and Methods- We performed a two-arm longitudinal observational study including 60 children with CL/P treated by the cleft-team in the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. The study population was divided in two groups based on timing of the palatal closure at respectively 6-8 (group A) and 10-12 (group B) months of age. Measurement was performed at the age of 9, 13 and 17 months using the Mastication Observation and Evaluation (MOE) instrument, which scored the tongue protrusion, lateral tongue movement, munching, jaw movement, chewing duration, loss of food or saliva, number of swallows, fluency and coordination of chewing in all subjects.
Results- There was no statistically significant difference in total MOE score between group A and B. Group B performed significantly better regarding lateral tongue movement at the age of 17 months in comparison to individuals with early palatal closure (group A mean = 2.45; SD = 0.506, group B mean = 2.72; SD = 0.528).
Conclusions- Early palatal closure does not result in a better overall masticatory function in children with CL/P at the age of 9, 13 and 17 months, when assessed with the MOE instrument.
Clinical Relevance- Study’s that investigate the overall mastication performance in children with CL/P are lacking. Our study is the first to evaluate this treatment outcome regarding the timing of palatoplasty.
Trial Registration Number
The CLEFED study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands (registration no: NTR3275).
Date of registration: November 2011
First proteome analysis of poplar-type propolis
Authors: Šuran Jelena , Radić Božo , Silva Dilza Trevisan , Cindrić Mario , Hozić Amela
Published: September 2023

Propolis is a natural mixture of honeybee-released and plant-derived compounds produced by honeybees. Poplar propolis is rich in bioactive polyphenolic compounds, and due to its many health benefits, it is commonly used as a food supplement or functional food ingredient. However, it is the only honeybee product whose proteome hasn’t been analyzed. Here, we report a first proteome analysis of poplar-type propolis, a challenging glue-type resinous sample for protein characterization. Raw propolis mixture was precipitated with cold acetone to obtain the protein fraction. Proteins were digested with trypsin, and generated peptides were analyzed on nano-ESI-qTOF SYNAPT G2-Si mass spectrometer (MS) by data-independent acquisition (DIA) and data-dependent acquisition (DDA). Identified peptides and inferred proteins suggest the presence of new bioactive molecules as components of propolis. The poplar-type propolis proteome is composed of a mixture of proteins from Apis and Populus genera. This is the first-ever report of the proteome of any type of propolis.
GNSS signal multi-frequency carrier phase asynchronous joint tracking
Authors: Wang Dun , Liu Peng , Peng Bo , Liu Tong , Chen Yaohui , Zhang Shuangna , Dong Qijia
Published: September 2023

Many studies have been done and proved that jointly tracking GNSS multi-frequency signals transmitted from the same satellite can improve the sensitivity and robustness of signal tracking. However, current work has not elucidated the mechanism of joint tracking loop operation by in-depth quantitative theoretical analysis. Thus a synchronous-input asynchronous-update processing method for multi-frequency carrier phase joint tracking is proposed, which is applicable to contemporary mainstream GNSS receivers adopting an asynchronous signal correlation reception structure. In this paper, a linearized mathematical model of the joint tracking loop is built, a thermal noise jitter calculation equation for the joint tracking loop is derived, the dynamic stress response characteristics of the joint tracking loop are examined, and the loop design requirements for eliminating the influence of inter-frequency frequency bias are clarified. Monte Carlo simulations and preliminary field tests validate the theoretical results using the B1C and B2a pilot signals of the MEO satellite in the BeiDou satellite navigation system (BDS). Experimental results show that the carrier phase tracking threshold of the B1C and B2b signals can be reduced by about 1 dB and 3.5 dB, respectively.
Estimation of the Ku-band accuracy of a simplified equivalent circuit for a Schottky gate SiN/AlGaN/GaN HEMT
Authors: Garber Gennadiy
Published: September 2023

We investigate the accuracy of the internal FET equivalent circuit with only one nonlinear element – the channel current generator given by the Curtice-Ettenberg model. The parameters of this simplified equivalent circuit are assigned using the 2D quasi-hydrodynamic simulations taking into account the electron velocity overshoot. Wecalculated the power-added efficiency, transducer power gain, and other amplifier parameters as functions of the maximum available power of an 18-GHz input generator by three methods: using the full 2D model for the internal FET and the large-signal equivalent circuit – complete and simplified. Comparison of these power characteristics indicates the suitability of the simplified equivalent circuit for analysis and design of Ku-band power amplifiers based on the Schottky gate AlGaN/GaN HEMT passivated with the silicon nitride layer. Since this equivalentcircuit is implemented in various commercial software packages for analysis and design of RF and microwave devices, results of the 2D quasi-hydrodynamic simulations can be used in these packages. The software of this article makes it possible to evaluate the influence of the design features of a transistor on its electrical properties already at the design stage. As an example, we give the power characteristics calculated for two values of the dielectric constant of the passivation layer (6.5 and 1); the linear interpolation and extrapolation methods allow to talk about the transistor electrical properties also at other values of the dielectric constant. We also evaluate the effect of the passivation on the avalanche multiplication of charge carriers in the semiconductor, that is, on the validity of excluding the avalanche current generator from the feedback branch of the large-signal equivalent circuit. The validity of other simplifications of the equivalent circuit is also discussed.
Intrascleral (Yamane Technique) Versus Trans-scleral (ab externo Technique) Intraocular Lens Implantation in Pediatric Aphakia: Prospective Randomized Study
Authors: Ahmed Amany E. , Hagras Sherein M. , Gaafar Walid M. , Laimon Dina N. , Zaki Nashaat Sh. , Elhesy Abdelmonaem A. , Ellayeh Adel E.
Published: September 2023

Purpose
to compare between intrascleral (Yamane Technique) and trans-scleral (ab externo technique) posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL)implantation in cases of pediatric aphakia.
Patients and methods:
a prospective interventional study included 20 aphakic eyes < 18 years old with insufficient capsular support. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups; group (1) underwent sutureless intrascleral IOL implantation using Yamane technique and group (2) underwent trans-scleral IOL implantation (ab externo technique). Outcome measures included visual acuity (uncorrected UCVA& best corrected BCVA), astigmatism (corneal and IOL-induced), Keratometric readings, IOL state and any developed surgical complications. Patients were followed for at least 6 months.
Results
There was a statistically significant improvement in UCVA and BCVA at 6th month compared to preoperative values, without significant difference between the 2 groups. Corneal astigmatism was higher in group (2) whereas IOL-induced astigmatism was higher in group (1) with no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in both parameters. IOL tilt was higher in group (1), but the difference was not significant. There was a statistically significant higher adjusted post-operative K2-reading in group (2) with no difference in adjusted post-operative K1-reading between the two groups. There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups regarding postoperative complications.
Conclusion
Both techniques for scleral fixation PCIOL resulted in comparable visual outcomes in pediatric cases with aphakia. Sutureless intrascleral fixed IOL results in lower corneal astigmatism with good IOL stability and centration.
Targeted regulation of miR-154-5p/Cullin-2 pathway by hsa_circ_0000276 in human papillomavirus type 16 positive cervical cancer cells
Authors: Zhao Weihong , Wen Songquan , Wang Xiuting , Wang Jingfang , Zhang Lili , Wang Tong
Published: September 2023

Purpose
To investigate the role of targeting and silencing miR-154-5p by hsa_circ_0000276 in regulating Cullin-2 (CUL2) expression in human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16)-positive cervical cancer (CC) cells.
Methods
Cervical tissues of individuals with normal cervix (NC), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), and HPV16-CC were collected. hsa_circ_0000276 level in cervical tissues and cell lines was determined using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). A shRNA expression vector was constructed for the circular RNA—hsa_circ_0000276. CC cells were transfected with sh-hsa_circ_0000276 or sh-NC. The cell counting kit-8, scratch healing, transwell migration assays, and flow cytometry were used to assess the proliferation, migration, invasiveness, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis of cells, respectively. Mechanistically, the targeting and regulatory activity between hsa_circ_0000276 and miR-154-5p were confirmed using the Dual-Luciferase Reporter gene assay and rescue experiments.
Results
The expression of hsa_circ_0000276 was significantly higher in CC tissues and cells. Functionally, knockdown of sh-hsa_circ_0000276 decreased proliferation, migration, and invasiveness, slowed the cell cycle, and enhanced apoptosis. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0000276 could bind miR-154-5p and prevent miR-154-5p from reducing the levels of CUL2. Notably, the application of miR-154-5p inhibitor significantly rescued hsa_circ_0000276-mediated tumorigenesis.
Conclusion
hsa_circ_0000276 is upregulated in HPV16-positive CC and promotes CC progression by regulating the miR-154-5p/CUL2 pathway, suggesting that it may be a target of CC treatment.
Experimental and Numerical Evaluation of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells with Porous Foam Distributor
Authors: Heidary Hadi , Steinberger-Wilckens Robert , Jahromi Mahbod Moein , El-kharouf Ahmad
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of metal foam employment within polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and compares it with conventional serpentine channels from both experiment viewpoints and computational fluid dynamics simulation. The experiments are designed to study the effects of material, area density, compression ratio, and final thickness of metal foam. Additionally, the influence of housing plate material and relative humidity (RH) is also tested for the first time. The results reveal that at RH = 75–100%, the best distributor design is nickel foam with a compression ratio of 70%, a final thickness of 0.5mm, and SS-304 housing plate, which delivers 3110 mA cm− 2 as limiting current density that is scarce in the literature. The PEFC with this foam distributor shows a 10% improvement in maximum power density and 45% in limiting current density compared to the serpentine channel case. While at RH = 30%, the same foam flow field with a final thickness of 1mm is a superior option. The experiments also indicate that maximum power density increases by 23% as the compression ratio rises from 0 to 70%, while reducing final thickness from 1 to 0.5 mm causes a 19% enhancement in cell performance. Simulation results reveal that metal foam is more successful in evenly reactant distribution so that the average oxygen mass fraction at the cathode catalyst layer is increased by 38% in the metal foam case compared to the serpentine channel.
Are there common tacit drivers for European Recovery and Resilience grants distribution and allocation in Health?
Authors: Vieira João , Marques João , Tavares Aida Isabel
Published: September 2023

This work aims to identify drivers for the distribution and allocation of EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) grants for Health. To achieve this, 29 variables were collected and divided into four domains. A Principal Component Analysis was done, and a linear regression analysis was estimated to test the existence of drivers of RRF distribution and allocation. Our main findings demonstrate that factors like avoidable mortality and self-reported poor health status drive grants per capita for Health, while Bismarck-type health systems, number of beds and health expenditures discourage the allocation of those grants. We have also found that certain political characteristics, such as governments constituted by a single party or a majority in parliament, may affect the distribution and allocation of RRF money for health.
In vivo antimalarial activity of Cyperus rotundus and its combination with dihydroartemisinin against Plasmodium berghei
Authors: Ounjaijean Sakaewan , Lektip Charupa , Somsak Voravuth
Published: September 2023

Background
The increase in the number of drug-resistant Plasmodium species continues to be a serious public health concern. Therefore, identification of potential novel antimalarial drugs derived from therapeutic plants could help solve this issue. This study investigated whether Cyperus rotundus aqueous crude extract (CRE) and its combination with dihydroartemisinin (DHA) were effective against Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected mice.
Methods
CRE was prepared from C. rotundus rhizomes and evaluated in acute and subacute toxicity tests on BALB/c mice. The antimalarial effectiveness of CRE was assessed at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg in a 4-day suppressive test with curative and prophylactic testing and measurement of packed cell volume (PCV), body weight (BW), rectal temperature, and mean survival time (MST).
Results
Following acute and subacute treatment, CRE caused no harmful effects or mortality in mice. When compared with that in the untreated control, infected mice administered with 400 mg/kg of CRE in a 4-day suppressive test exhibited the strongest antimalarial activity (55.30% inhibition) with prolonged MST. However, curative and prophylactic assays did not reveal CRE to have antimalarial activity. In comparison with that achieved with the single therapy, the combination of DHA and CRE at ED50/2 (1 and 200 mg/kg, respectively) produced considerable antimalarial activity at 90.08% inhibition with synergism (combination index = 0.21701). For the other parameters, CRE administration prevented malarial-induced changes in PCV, BW, and rectal temperature.
Conclusions
CRE treatment significantly inhibited malaria in the 4-day suppressive test, and CRE combined with DHA had a synergistic antimalarial effect.
Uma Introdução Amigável às Redes Neurais para Grafos
Authors: Silva Tiago , Souza Junior Amauri Holanda , Mesquita Diego Parente Paiva
Published: September 2023

Graph neural networks have driven a series of recent developments in, e.g., drug discovery, recommender systems, and social network analysis. At their core, GNNs are designed to extract numerical representations for each node in a graph, recursively combining representations of neighboring nodes. This tutorial paper covers some popular and influential GNN models, and discusses their applications in different disciplines. We hope this work will help popularize GNNs in the local community, and foster scientific advances in machine learning and data science.
A WaveNet-based convolutional neural network for river water level prediction
Authors: Chen Jun , Huang Yanhua , Wu Teng , Yan Jing
Published: September 2023

River water level prediction (WLP) plays an important role in flood control, navigation, and water supply. In this study, a WaveNet-based convolutional neural network (WCNN) with a lightweight structure and good parallelism was developed to improve the prediction accuracy and time effectiveness of WLP. It was applied to predict 1/2/3 days ahead the water levels at the Waizhou gauging station of the Ganjiang River (GR) in China, and it was compared with two recurrent neural networks (long short-term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent unit (GRU)). The results showed that the WCNN model achieved the best prediction performance with the fewest training parameters and time. Compared with the LSTM and GRU models in the 1-day ahead prediction, the training parameters were reduced from 73,851 and 55,851 to 32,937, respectively. The root mean square error (RMSE) was reduced from 0.071 and 0.076 to 0.057, respectively. The mean absolute error (MAE) was reduced from 0.052 and 0.059 to 0.038, respectively. The Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) both increased to 0.998. This result indicated that the improved model was more efficient for WLP.