bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sinorhizobium meliloti GR4 Produces Chromosomal- and pSymA-Encoded Type IVc Pili That Influence the Interaction With Alfalfa Plants
Authors: Carvia-Hermoso Cristina , Cuéllar Virginia , Bernabéu-Roda Lydia M. , Van Dillewijn Pieter , Soto María J.
Published: January 2024

Type IVc Pili (T4cP), also known as Tad or Flp pili, are long thin microbial filaments, which are made-up of small-sized pilins. These appendages serve different functions in bacteria including attachment, biofilm formation, surface sensing, motility, and host colonization. Despite their relevant role in diverse microbial lifestyles, knowledge about T4cP in bacteria that establish symbiosis with legumes, collectively referred to as rhizobia, is still limited. Sinorhizobium meliloti contains two clusters of T4cP-related genes: flp-1 and flp-2, which are located on the chromosome and pSymA megaplasmid, respectively. Bundle-forming pili associated to flp-1 have been involved in competitive nodulation of alfalfa plants but the role of flp-2 remains elusive. In this work, we have performed a comprehensive bioinformatic analyses of T4cP genes in the highly competitive S. meliloti strain GR4 and investigated the role of its flp clusters in pilus biogenesis, motility and in the interaction with alfalfa. Single and double flp cluster mutants were constructed in the wild-type genetic background as well as in a flagellaless derivative strain. Our data demonstrate that both chromosomal and pSymA flp clusters are functional in pili biogenesis, and contribute to surface translocation and nodule formation efficiency of GR4. In this strain, the presence of flp-1 in the absence of flp-2 reduces competitiveness for nodule occupation.
Sodium Glucose Co-transporter 2 Inhibitors: Pharmacology, Mechanism of Action and Efficacy in Non-diabetic Kidney Disease from Bench to Bed-Side
Authors: Abdelrahman Aly Mohamed , Awad Alaa S , Abdel-Rahman Emaad M
Published: January 2024

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are currently available for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. SGLT2i act by inhibiting renal SGLT2, thereby increasing glucosuria and lowering serum glucose. Recent trials are emerging supporting a role for SGLT2i irrespective of the diabetic status pointing towards that SGLT2i have other mechanisms of actions beyond blood sugar control. In this review, we will shed light on the role of this group of medications that act as SGLT2i in non-diabetics focusing on pre-clinical and clinical data highlighting the mechanism of renoprotection and effects of SGLT2i in the non-diabetic kidneys.
Concurrent Supra-Postural Auditory-Hand Coordination Task Affects Postural Control: Using Sonification to Explore Environmental Unpredictability in Factors Affecting Fall Risk
Authors: Dotov Dobromir , Motsenyat Ariel , Trainor Laurel J
Published: January 2024

Clinical screening tests for balance and mobility often fall short of predicting fall risk. Cognitive distractors and unpredictable external stimuli, common in busy natural environments, contrib-ute to this risk, especially in the elderly. Less is known about the effects of upper sensory-motor coordination such as coordinating one’s hand with an external stimulus. We combined move-ment sonification and affordable inertial motion sensors to develop a task for the precise meas-urement and manipulation of full-body interaction with stimuli in the environment. In a double-task design, we studied how a supra-postural activity affected quiet stance. The supra-postural task consisted of rhythmic synchronization with a repetitive auditory stimulus. The stimulus was attentionally demanding because it was being modulated continuously. The participant’s hand movement was sonified in real-time, and their goal was to synchronize their hand move-ment with the stimulus. In the unpredictable condition, the tempo changed at random points in the trial. A separate sensor recorded postural fluctuations. Young healthy adults were compared to elderly participants without known risk of falling. Results supported the hypothesis that su-pra-postural coordination would entrain postural control. The effect was stronger in the elderly, supporting the idea that diminished reserve capacities reduce the ability to isolate postural con-trol from sensory-motor and cognitive activity.
New Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Structures for Water Splitting Electrocatalysts
Authors: Cata Adina , Taranu Bogdan-Ovidiu , Ienașcu Ioana Maria Carmen , Sfirloaga Paula
Published: January 2024

Global warming and the global energy crisis are two major challenges humanity is currently confronting that are pressuring the scientific community to find efficient, low cost and environmentally sustainable solutions. Within this context, hydrogen has emerged as a clean and efficient energy carrier promising to replace the environmentally hazardous fossil fuels. The present study, of relevance to the water splitting domain, concerns the synthesis of two novel hybrid structures, based on perovskite materials functionalized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The water electrolysis catalytic activity of these new materials was evaluated in a strongly alkaline medium. Perovskite-based modified electrodes were manufactured through four different procedures. The samples displayed electrocatalytic activity for the O2 evolution reaction and the most active electrode was the one obtained by drop-casting a mixture of LaMnO3:Ag/PVP, Carbon Black and Nafion on graphite support. The study is aimed at and succeeds in increasing the scientific database concerning the role of perovskite oxides in the water splitting field.
Blood Endocan as a Biomarker for Breast Cancer Recurrence
Authors: Daiki Kentaro , Kanada Yoko , Nagata Aya , Taruno Kanae , Igarashi Katsuhide , Yamochi Toshiko , Ota Hirotaka , Sato Fumiaki , Nakamura Seigo , Kato Yoshinori
Published: January 2024

Blood-based biomarkers for early detection of recurrence have a significant clinical impact on the improved management of breast cancer patients, as cancer recurrence results in poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate if the measurement of blood endocan in breast cancer patients with high ESM1 expression could be an effective tool to detect postoperative recurrence compared with existing tumor markers. Blood was collected before and after the tumor resection from the mouse models of breast cancer, and endocan levels were measured while visualizing metastatic recurrence with noninvasive luminescence imaging. In clinical settings, blood was withdrawn from 16 breast cancer patients before and after the tumor resection, and the effect of lumpectomy on blood endocan level was evaluated. Additionally, the blood endocan from 20 patients diagnosed with postoperative recurrence was measured, and their positivity rate for endocan was compared with that for serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3). Our preclinical and clinical experiments revealed that blood endocan levels reflected tumor burden. Furthermore, over 60% of patients suffering from postoperative recurrence who tested negative for CEA or CA15-3 were positive for endocan. Our results support the clinical significance of endocan in breast cancer patients for detecting breast cancer recurrence.
Exploring the Impact of Digital Economy on Green Total Factor Productivity – Evidence from Chinese Cities
Authors: Sheng Zuoyufan , Zhu Chengpeng , Chen Mo
Published: January 2024

The digital economy promotes economic development, industrial upgrading, and environmental protection. This article calculates the green total factor productivity (GTFP) based on the SBM-DDF model and uses the entropy method and principal component analysis to calculate the digital economy index. We use panel data from 282 Chinese cities to test the driving effect of the digital economy on green total factor productivity. The study results show that the digital economy significantly increases GTFP, and the heterogeneity of this impact is further explored. We also explored the mechanism of the digital economy in promoting green. The digital economy can indirectly increase industrial production efficiency by promoting innovation in green technologies.
Silver-Assisted Hydrogen Evolution from Aluminum Oxidation in Saline Media
Authors: Buryakovskaya Olesya A. , Maslakov Konstantin I. , Borshchev Nikita O. , Ambaryan Grayr N. , Butyrin Aleksey V. , Vlaskin Mikhail S.
Published: January 2024

Swarf of aluminum alloy with high corrosion resistance and ductility was successfully converted into fine hydroreactive powders via its ball milling with silver powder and either lithium chloride or gallium. The later substances significantly intensified particle size reduction, while silver formed ‘cathodic’ sites (Ag, Ag2Al) promoting Al corrosion in aqueous saline solutions with hydrogen generation. The diffraction patterns, microphotographs, and elemental analysis results demonstrated partial aluminum oxidation in the samples and their contamination with tungsten carbide from milling balls. Those effects were responsible for obtaining hydrogen yields lower than expected. For AlCl3 solution at 60 °C, Al–LiCl–Ag, Al–LiCl, Al–Ga–Ag, and Al–Ga composites delivered (84.6±0.2), (86.8±1.4), (80.2±0.5), and (76.7±0.7)% of the expected hydrogen respectively. Modification with Ag promoted Al oxidation thus providing higher hydrogen evolution rates. The samples with Ag were tested in CaCl2 solution as well, for which the reaction proceeded much slower. At a higher temperature (80 °C) after 3 h of experiment, the hydrogen yields for Al–LiCl–Ag and Al–Ga–Ag powders were (46.7±2.1) and (31.8±1.9)%. The tested Ag-modified composite powders were considered promising for hydrogen generation and had a potential for further improvement to provide higher performance.
Applying YOLO-V8 and X-ray Morphology Analysis to Assess the Vigor of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés Seeds
Authors: Da Silva Daniel de Amaral , De Freitas Emannuel Diego Gonçalves , Abud Haynna Fernandes , Gomes Danielo G.
Published: January 2024

Agricultural crops productivity is heavily influenced by the strength of their seeds. Current methods for testing seed vigor, such as the germination rate and tetrazolium test, rely on time-consuming human visual inspections. Computer Vision, a crucial technology in smart production processes, offers an automated alternative and is increasingly applied in digital agriculture processes. Here we propose a method that combines YOLOv8 and morphological analysis of seeds using X-ray images to aid seed quality analysts in classifying seed lots based on their physiological potential. We examined the internal morphology of three seed lots and generated X-ray images to train a YOLOv8-based model with a post-segmentation module. This model assessed various parameters such as the total seed area, area filled by the embryo and endosperm, length, width, and calculated the percentage occupied by the embryo and endosperm in relation to the total seed area. Subsequently, seeds were classified into four categories based on the internal area occupied by the endosperm and embryo. Our findings reveal the robust performance of the YOLOv8 model in segmenting and classifying despite the challenges posed by a relatively small dataset. Notably, the proposed model achieved an impressive accuracy of up to 95.6% in identifying and segmenting the endosperm over 1,500 epochs with just 15 training images. The endosperm/seed area ratio, particularly within the 50-60% range covering over 50% of the samples, emerged as a significant metric for evaluating the viability of seed batches.
Fostering a Whole Institution Approach to Sustainability Through Systems Thinking: An Analysis of the State-of-the-Art in Sustainability Integration in Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Christou Odysseas , Manou Dimitra B. , Armenia Stefano , Franco Eduarfo , Blouchoutzi Anastasia , Papathanasiou Iason
Published: January 2024

Policy initiatives by the United Nations and EU institutions have emphasized the need for higher education institutions (HEIs) to fulfill a significant role in the green transition, and that they tend to fall short of the achievement of this objective. Multiple studies indicate that HEIs assign high importance to the integration of environmental sustainability on a strategic level but generally lack dedicated policies of integration in operational aspects. This paper analyzes the state of the art on research on HEI sustainability and maps institutional sustainability self-assessment models, tools, and guidelines. The mapping was conducted in four prominent research areas: 1) sustainability integration in educational activities, pedagogical perspectives, and systemic transformations; 2) benchmarking sustainability of organizational transformation and operational op-timization, and links between developmental priorities and educational settings; 3) whole-system approaches focusing on the design and implementation of whole-institution sustainability plans; and, 4) HEI sustainability culture and operations. Best practices were selected on criteria of 1) the effectiveness of self-assessment models, tools, and guidelines in each respective research area; 2) the degree of integration of systems thinking and/or modelling; and 3) the incorporation of qualitative indicators for stakeholder engagement.
Using Transient Fourier Analysis at Some EE Applications in a Slightly Different Way
Authors: Dobrucký Branislav , Šedo Jozef , Beňová Mariana , Koňarik Roman , Praženica Michal
Published: January 2024

This scientific paper presents a comprehensive investigation into transient Fourier analysis in some electrical engineering applications. The article deals with two effective approaches for solving transient analysis whose application is rather novel. The first contribution uses combined the Fourier series analytic Laplace-Carson (L­C) transform methods in the complex domain using complex time vectors, thereby significantly simplifying the calculation of the original function. As the inverse transform goes back into the time domain, it employs the Cauchy-Heaviside (C­H) method. The second contribution uses the Fourier transform (F­Τ)for transient analysis of a power converter electrical circuit with the passive and the active load. The method of complex conjugated amplitudes is used for steady-state analysis. Both contributions represent a new approach to this paper. The starting point is the Fourier series/expansions, computation of the Fourier coefficients, then continuing by solving the steady and transient states of the system and confirming the transient states using the Fourier transform. To validate our findings, the worked-out analytical results are verified by modelling in Matlab/Simulink environment.
Mycoviruses Increase the Attractiveness of Fusarium graminearum for Fungivores and Suppress Production of the Mycotoxins Deoxynivalenol
Authors: Schiwek Simon , Slonka Matthäus , Alhussein Mohammad , Knierim Dennis , Margaria Paolo , Rose Hanna , Richert-Pöggeler Katja R. , Rostás Michael , Karlovsky Petr
Published: January 2024

RNA-viruses of the genera Ambivirus, Mitovirus, Sclerotimonavirus, and Partitivirus were found in a single isolate of Fusarium graminearum. The genomes of the mitovirus, sclerotimonavirus, and partitivirus were assigned to previously described viruses, whereas the ambivirus genome putatively represents a new species, named Fusarium graminearum ambivirus 1 (FgAV1). To investigate the effect of mycoviruses on the fungal phenotype, spontaneous loss of mycoviruses during meiosis and transmission of mycoviruses into a new strain by anastomosis were used to obtain isogenic F. graminearum strains with and without mycoviruses. Notable effects observed in mycovirus-harboring strains were (i) suppression of the synthesis of trichothecene mycotoxins and their precursor trichodiene, (ii) suppression of the synthesis of the defense compound aurofusarin, (iii) stimulation of the emission of 2-methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol, and (iv) increased attractiveness of fungal mycelia for fungivorous collembolans. Increased attractiveness of mycovirus-infected filamentous fungi to animal predators opens new perspectives on the ecological implications of infection of fungi with viruses.
Prediction of Stress in Radiation Therapy: Integrating Artificial Intelligence with Biological Signals
Authors: Jeong Sangwoon , Pyo Hongryull , Park Won , Han Youngyih
Published: January 2024

Stress can reduce the accuracy of radiation therapy owing to muscle contraction and changes in breathing patterns. This study aimed to predict stress in patients before each treatment session using artificial intelligence (AI) from biological signals to enhance treatment accuracy. We measured 123 stress cases in 41 patients and calculated stress scores by analyzing seven stress-related features derived from heart rate variability obtained from photoplethysmography. The study analyzed stress score distribution and observed its trend changes throughout the treatment. Before-treatment information was used to predict changes in stress features during treatment. AI models included both non-pre-trained (Decision Tree, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Transformer) and pre-trained (ChatGPT) models. The performance was evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation, exact match ratio, accuracy, recall, precision, and F1 score. More than 90% of the patients experienced stress during radiation therapy. From all the classifications, LSTM and prompt engineering GPT4.0 had the highest accuracy (feature classification, LSTM: 0.703, GPT4.0: 0.659, stress classification: LSTM: 0.846, GPT4.0: 0.769). Our research pioneers the use of AI and biological signals for stress prediction in radiation therapy, potentially identifying patients needing psychological support, and suggesting methods to improve radiotherapy effectiveness through stress management.
Making Rivers, Producing Futures. The Rise of an Eco‐Modern River Imaginary in Dutch Climate Change Adaptation
Authors: De Jong Lotte , Veldwisch Gert Jan , Melsen Lieke Anna , Boelens Rutgerd
Published: January 2024

In the field of climate change adaptation, the future matters. Amongst others, river futures justify the way adaptation projects materialize in rivers. In this paper, we challenge the ways in which dominant paradigms and expert claims monopolise the truth concerning policies and designs of river futures, side-lining and delegitimizing alternative river futures. Currently, limited work is done to critically reflect on the power of river futures in the context of climate change adaptation. We conceptualized the power of river futures through river imaginaries: collectively performed and publicly envisioned reproductions of riverine socionatures, mobilized through truth claims of social life and social order. Through the Border Meuse project case study, a climate change adaptation project in a stretch of the river Meuse in the south of the Netherlands and a proclaimed success story of climate adaptation in Dutch water management, we elucidated how three river imaginaries: a modern river imaginary, a market-driven imaginary and an eco-centric river imaginary, merged and materialized as an eco-modern river imaginary. Importantly, not only the river futures merged, also their aligned truth regimes merged. To this end, we argue that George Orwell’s famous quote “Who controls the past, controls the future: who controls the present, controls the past” can be extended to ‘Who controls the future, controls how we see and act in the present, and how we rediscover the past’.
Radiomics in Radiology: What the Radiologist Need to Know about Technical Aspects and Clinical Impact
Authors: Ferrari Riccardo , Trinci Margherita , Casinelli Alice , Leone Edoardo , Damiano Caruso , Faggioni Lorenzo , Neri Emanuele , Galluzzo Michele
Published: January 2024

Radiomics represents the science of extraction and analysis of a multitude of quantitative features from medical imaging, unrevealing quantitative potentiality of Radiologic images.
This scientific review aims to provide radiologists a comprehensive understanding of radiomics, emphasizing its principles, applications, challenges, limits, and future prospects. Limits of standardization of actual scientific production are analyzed with the possible solutions proposed by some papers reported and commented.
As the continuous evolution of medical images is ongoing, radiologists must be aware of new perspective to perform a central role in patients management.
Temperature Relaxation in Glass-Forming Materials under Local Fast Laser Excitations during Laser-Induced Microstructuring
Authors: Minakov A. , Schick C.
Published: January 2024

The ability to control the temperature distribution T(t,r) and the rate of temperature change Rt,r inside glasses is important for their microstructuring. The lattice temperature is considered at time t, exceeding the electron-phonon thermalization time, and at a distance r from the center of the model spherical heating zone. In order to describe thermal excitations, the heat capacity of glasses must be considered as a function of time due to its long-term relaxation. A method for analytical calculation of T(t,r) and R(t,r) for glasses with dynamic heat capacity cdyn(t) is proposed. It is shown that during laser microstructuring the local cooling rate -R(t,r) significantly depends on the time dispersion of cdyn(t). It has been established that at the periphery of the model heating zone of the laser beam focus, the local cooling rate can reach more than 1011 K/s. Strong cooling rate gradients were found at the periphery of the heating zone, affecting the microstructure of the material. This effect is significantly enhanced by the time dispersion of cdyn(t). The effect associated with this time dispersion is significant even well above the glass transition temperature Tg, since even short relaxation times of the dynamic heat capacity cdyn(t) are significant.
What are the determinants of non-performing financing in Islamic banks during Covid-19?
Authors: Rahmadany An Nisaa' , Risfandy Tastaftiyan , Harahap Burhanudin
Published: January 2024

Several trading and banking sectors strive to survive the current pandemic. Despite the intense competition in the financial industry recently, Islamic banks have demonstrated remarkable growth. However, the issue of defaults in Islamic banks often arises, where debtors cannot repay the obtained financing, disrupting banking performance. This research investigates the factors influencing funding troubles in Islamic banks, especially during COVID-19. Specifically, this study examines whether factor-specific banks and macroeconomics in Islamic banks control troubled funding. The research utilizes quarterly data from Islamic banks in Southeast Asia (Malaysia and Indonesia) from 2020 to 2021. The findings indicate that liquidity risk, inefficiency, and economic growth do not significantly affect troubled financing in Islamic banks. At the same time, capital, profitability, and inflation significantly negatively impact funding troubles. These results recommend that Islamic banks increase their capital and profitability proportion to reduce the risk of funding trouble.
Comparative Study of Etomidate and Propofol for Induction of General Anesthesia
Authors:   Junior resident, Department of Anesthesiology, Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College, Latur 413512, Maharashtra, India., Gajakosh Pratima Prakash , Chauhan S D ,   Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College, Latur 413512, Maharashtra, India., Joshi V S ,   Associate professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College, Latur 413512, Maharashtra, India., Agale Sangita ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College, Latur 413512, Maharashtra, India.
Published: January 2024

Background and Objectives: Induction of anesthesia is a critical part of anesthesia practice. Sudden hypotension, arrhythmias, and cardiovascular collapse are threatening complications following injection of induction agent in hemodynamically unstable patients. Present prospective randomized study is designed to compare propofol and etomidate for their effect on hemodynamics in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Methods: Hundred ASA I and II patients of age group 18-60 years scheduled for elective surgical procedure under general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups of 50 each receiving propofol (2 mg/kg) and etomidate (0.3 mg/kg) as an induction agent. Vital parameters at induction, laryngoscopy and thereafter recorded for comparison. Results: Demographic variables were comparable in both the groups. Patients in etomidate group showed little change in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) compared to propofol (p > 0.05) from baseline value. Conclusions: This study concludes that etomidate is a better agent for induction than propofol in view of hemodynamic stability.
Anesthetic Challengesin Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient with Multiple Comorbidities Posted for Surgery Under Neuronavigation
Authors:   Senior resident, Department of Anesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh 249203, Uttarakhand, India., M Swathi , Tripathy Debendra Kumar ,   Additional professor, Department of Anesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh 249203, Uttarakhand, India., Biswas Konish ,   Senior resident, Department of Anesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh 249203, Uttarakhand, India., S Unnikannan ,   Junior Resident, Department of Anesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh 249203, Uttarakhand, India., Karjigi Deepika ,   Junior Resident, Department of Anesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh 249203, Uttarakhand, India.
Published: January 2024

Ankylosing spondylitisis a chronic, progressive autoimmune inflammatory disorderaffecting the musculoskeletal system, can have large spectrum of underlying comorbidities. The multisystem involvement with Ankylosing spondylitis and Parkinson’s disease has its own characteristic involvement of organs. Here is a case report of association of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Parkinson’sdisease with multiple comorbidities involving various other systems and anesthetic management of the same when he was scheduled for thoracic spine surgery for D9-D10 fracture under neuro-navigation in a prone position.
A Meticulous Review on Arson Inquest Using Gas Chromatography
Authors:   M.Sc. Forensic Sciences, Institute of Applied Health Science, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab 140413, India., Sharma Saniya
Published: January 2024

Arson investigation is hands down the most tedious and the robust form of investigation to go with. It is by far the multifarious and endearing type of investigation as investigating at the arson scene demands high endeavour in order to withstand from all the challenges that stood up at the scene of crime. Stringent norms have been framed by the government that defines it under section 435, 436 and 438 of IPC. In such cases, the chain of custody plays a dynamic and a crucial role as from the procurement of the most fragile samples to transporting it in the most desired form to follow the best sample preparation method before subjecting to GC analysis in order to avail the quality result. Keeping in mind the susceptibility of fire evidences American Society for Testingand Materials International has established standard guidelines for subjecting sample before GC-MS introducing solid phase micro-extraction technique linking to various GC detectors. New minds and innovation has bumped into better and more approachable forms of GC by making hybrids of it such as E-nose i.e. headspace-mass spectrometry, a strategic mass spectrometry based instrument with both qualitative and quantitative applications surpassing the bygone separation process. Revolution in the arson and analytical world is making way for non destructible techniques to serve as a better alternative to any of the GC detectors.
Study of Clinical Features, Etiology and Operative Management of Acute Intestinal Obstruction in Adults
Authors:   Professor & Head, Department of General Surgery, Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College, Nalhar, Haryana- 122107, India., Gole Gautam N. , Kumar B. Sujeeth ,   Associate Professor, Department of General Surgery, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Enathur, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631552, India., Gole Sheetal G. ,   Professor & Head, Department of Pathology, Employee’s State Insurance Corporation Medical College, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India.
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Acute bowel obstruction is an emergency. It should be diagnosed early and treated promptly, if not the patient’s life may be endangered. Hence it is essential for every surgeon to have complete knowledge of this condition. Aims & objectives: To study clinical presentation, various etiologies and management of acute intestinal obstruction in adults. Material and Methods: Present study was a hospital based prospective study conducted over period of 2 years. Hundred patients admitted with acute bowel obstruction were evaluated on basis of detailed clinical history and physical examination. Results: Presenting symptoms were pain (100%), constipation (99%), vomiting (94%), fever in 54% of the cases. Obstipation was least common symptom (40%), distension was next commonly seen sign (89%) followed by abdominal tenderness (100%). Patients with absent bowel sounds were 68%, 18% patients showed evidence of hypotension. Causes of obstruction were: adhesions (27%), obstructed external hernias (19%) followed by volvulus (15%), pseudo obstruction (3%). For postoperative adhesions appendectomy was most common cause (44.44%) followed by gynecological operations and perforation peritonitis. Conclusion: Abdominal pain was most common presenting symptom of acute intestinal obstruction. Most common sign of acute obstruction was tenderness followed by abdominal distention and absent bowel sounds. Small bowel obstruction was more common than large bowel. Most common cause of acute bowel obstruction in adults was adhesions followed by obstructed external hernias and Volvulus. In large bowel obstruction, malignancy was most common cause. Most common procedure performed for acute bowel obstruction in adults was resection and anastomosis followed by adhesiolysis.
Stochastic Reconstruction of 3D Heterogeneous Microstructure Using a Column-Oriented Multiple-Point Statistics Program
Authors: Zuo Chen , Guo Chen , Dong Shi , Yang Longhai , Zhang Haoyue
Published: January 2024

Three-dimensional (3D) microstructure reconstruction is a key approach to exploring the relationship between pore characteristics and physical properties. Viewing the training image as a prior model, multiple-point statistics (MPS) focus on reproducing spatial patterns in the simulation grid. However, it is challenging to efficiently generate 3D nonstationary models with varying microstructures. In this work, we propose column-oriented simulation (ColSIM) to achieve the stochastic reconstruction of 3D porous media. A heterogeneous system is understood as a spatially evolving process that consists of frequent transitions of small magnitude and abrupt changes of large magnitude. First, a training image selection step is suggested to find representative microstructures. Our program applies modified Hausdorff distance, t-distributed stochastic neighboring embedding, and spectral clustering to organize two-dimensional (2D) candidate images. The medoid of each group is applied to guide the following programs. Second, we introduce column-oriented searching into MPS. To save simulation time, a subset of conditioning points is checked to find desired instances. Our program suggests an early stopping strategy to address complex microstructures. Third, a contrastive loss term is designed to create 3D models from 2D slice. To automatically calibrate the volume fraction and simplify parameter specification, the computer consistently monitors the difference between the present model and the target. The performance of ColSIM is examined by 3D multiphase material modeling and 3D heterogeneous shale simulation. To achieve quantitative evaluation, we compute various statistical functions and physical descriptors on simulated realizations. The proposed ColSIM exhibits competitive performance in terms of calculation efficiency, microstructure reproduction, and spatial uncertainty.
Use of pharmacotherapy to improve weight loss in early non-responders to behavioral treatment
Authors: Tronieri Jena , Wadden Thomas
Published: January 2024

The original protocol was approved on December 19, 2018 during the funding application process (NIH/NIDDK 1K23DK116935). Two protocol amendments were made prior to the start of recruitment. First, the study medication was changed from liraglutide (the medication proposed in the original K23 funding application) to phentermine, and medication-specific sections of the protocol, including medication-related inclusion/exclusion criteria, were modified accordingly (IRB-approved May 13, 2019). The second amendment included the following minor changes (IRB-approved July 18, 2019): replacing cholecystokinin (CCK) with insulin in a neuropeptide hormone panel; adding a prespecified secondary analysis of changes in past-week VAS ratings of appetite, adding exploratory questionnaires (Philadelphia Mindfulness Questionnaire, Yale Food Addiction questionnaire, sleep hours/week); specifying that the electrocardiogram (ECG) would occur at screening and that the first BT session would start immediately after the baseline assessment visit; updating the portion size of the liquid test meal for males vs. females; and specifying that only randomized participants would complete a cardiometabolic and lipid panel at the randomization visit.
Three minor protocol amendments were made during the trial: 1) in order to reduce in-person contact in response to COVID-19, we allowed the ECG to take place any time prior to randomization (rather than only at screening) and specified that all lifestyle counseling sessions (not just make-up sessions) could be conducted remotely via videoconferencing or phone (IRB-approved July 27, 2020); 2) we replaced the term “nurse practitioner” with “research nurse” due to a change in the Center’s staff (IRB-approved April 13, 2021); and 3) we amended that HbA1c could be substituted for fasting blood glucose for the second, confirmatory assessment of diabetes at screening (IRB-approved May 14, 2021).
"Unveiling the Unquestionable Dominance of Multilocularity in Brassica Rapa var. Yellow Sarson: Pioneering Advancements in Brassica Crop Enhancement"
Authors: Bisht Charu , Prasad Birendra , Pant Usha , Verma S. K. , Gaur Amit Kumar , Gupta Shubham , Panwar Neha , Joshi Shivendra , Bisht Yashpal Singh , Prasad Himanshu , Deep Harsh
Published: January 2024

Yellow sarson (Brassica rapa var. yellow sarson) is an essential oilseed crop where the multilocular ovary trait enhances yield potential. Elucidating the inheritance pattern of multilocularity will empower breeding efforts. This study aimed to dissect the genetics governing ovary locule number in yellow sarson using crosses between multilocular (Pant Pili Sarson 1, NDYS) and bilocular (Pant Girija, B9) lines. F1, F2 and backcross generations were developed and analyzed for segregation of locule number. Results revealed monogenic dominant inheritance of the multilocular trait. All F1 progeny exhibited multilocularity, indicating dominance. The F2 population displayed Mendelian 3:1 segregation of multilocular to bilocular phenotypes, confirming control by a single dominant locus. Backcrosses to multilocular parents produced all multilocular offspring, while crosses to bilocular parents exhibited 1:1 segregation, validating the model. These findings contrast with previous reports of recessive inheritance in Brassicaceae, likely reflecting differing genetic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the single dominant gene uncovered simplifies breeding efforts to enhance this beneficial high-yielding trait. By elucidating the genetics underlying multilocularity in yellow sarson, this work empowers breeding programs seeking to improve yield through enhancement of the multilocular ovary trait
Regulation of neuronal circHomer1 biogenesis by PKA/CREB/ERK-mediated pathways and effects of glutamate and dopamine receptor blockade.
Authors: Mellios Nikolaos , Papageorgiou Grigorios , Gorgievski Victor , Maxson Gabriella , Hernandez Megan , Otero Madison , Varangis Michael , Dell'Orco Michela , Perrone-Bizzozero Nora , Tzavara Eleni
Published: January 2024

There are currently only very few efficacious drug treatments for SCZ and BD, none of which can significantly ameliorate cognitive symptoms. Thus, further research is needed in elucidating molecular pathways linked to cognitive function and antipsychotic treatment. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable brain-enriched non-coding RNAs, derived from the covalent back-splicing of precursor mRNA molecules. CircHomer1 is a neuronal-enriched, activity-dependent circRNA, derived from the precursor of the long HOMER1B mRNA isoform, which is significantly downregulated in the prefrontal cortex of subjects with psychosis and is able to regulate cognitive function. Even though its relevance to psychiatric disorders and its role in brain function and synaptic plasticity have been well established, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie circHomer1 biogenesis in response to neuronal activity and psychiatric drug treatment. Here we suggest that the RNA-binding protein (RBP) FUS positively regulates neuronal circHomer1 expression. Furthermore, we show that the MEK/ERK and PKA/CREB pathways positively regulate neuronal circHomer1 expression, as well as promote the transcription of Fus and Eif4a3, another RBP previously shown to activate circHomer1 biogenesis. We then demonstrate via both in vitro and in vivo studies that NMDA and mGluR5 receptors are upstream modulators of circHomer1 expression. Lastly, we report that in vivo D2R antagonism increases circHomer1 expression, whereas 5HT2AR blockade reduces circHomer1 levels in multiple brain regions. Taken together, this study allows us to gain novel insights into the molecular circuits that underlie the biogenesis of a psychiatric disease-associated circRNA.
Increased expression of ER stress, inflammasome activation, and mitochondrial biogenesis-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in major depressive disorder
Authors: Munshi Soumyabrata , Alarbi Ahlam M. , Zheng Haixia , Kuplicki Rayus , Burrows Kaiping , Figueroa-Hall Leandra K. , Victor Teresa A. , Aupperle Robin L. , Khalsa Sahib S. , Paulus Martin P. , Teague T. Kent , Savitz Jonathan
Published: January 2024

A subset of major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by immune system dysfunction, but the intracellular origin of these immune changes remains unclear. Here we tested the hypothesis that abnormalities in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, inflammasome activity and mitochondrial biogenesis contribute to the development of systemic inflammation in MDD. RT-qPCR was used to measure mRNA expression of key organellar genes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from 186 MDD and 67 healthy control (HC) subjects. The comparative CT (2−ΔΔCT) method was applied to quantify mRNA expression using GAPDH as the reference gene. After controlling for age, sex, BMI, and medication status using linear regression models, expression of the inflammasome (NLRC4 and NLRP3) and the ER stress (XBP1u, XBP1s, and ATF4) genes was found to be significantly increased in the MDD versus the HC group. After excluding outliers, expression of the inflammasome genes was no longer statistically significant but expression of the ER stress genes (XBP1u, XBP1s, and ATF4) and the mitochondrial biogenesis gene, MFN2, was significantly increased in the MDD group. ASC and MFN2 were positively correlated with serum C-reactive protein concentrations. The altered expression of inflammasome activation, ER stress, and mitochondrial biogenesis pathway components suggest that dysfunction of these organelles may play a role in the pathogenesis of MDD.
Brillouin laser-driven terahertz oscillator up to 3 THz with femtosecond jitter
Authors: Heffernan Brendan , Greenberg James , Hori Takashi , Tanigawa Tatsuya , Rolland Antoine
Published: January 2024

The terahertz (THz) frequency range, spanning 0.1 to 10 THz, is a field ripe for innovation with vast, developing potential in areas like wireless communication and molecular spectroscopy. Our work introduces a dual-wavelength laser design that utilizes stimulated Brillouin scattering in an optical fiber cavity to effectively generate two highly coherent optical Stokes waves with differential phase noise inherently mitigated. To guarantee robust operation, the Stokes waves are optically injected into their respective pump lasers, which also serves to greatly improve the resulting coherence. The frequency difference between the two wavelengths is converted into THz waves through a uni-traveling-carrier photodiode. This innovative design facilitates the generation of THz waves with phase noise levels of less than -100 dBc/Hz, translating to timing noise below 10 attoseconds/sqrt(Hz) at 10 kHz Fourier frequency, over a carrier frequency range from 300 GHz to 3 THz. This development in phase noise reduction establishes a new benchmark in the spectral purity of tunable THz sources. Such advances are pivotal for applications to move beyond oscillator constraints.
Catalyst-free selective oxidation of C(sp3)-H bonds in toluene on-water
Authors: Choi Siyoung , Lee Kyoungmun , Choi Yumi , Kim Jin Chul , Choi Chiyoung , Kim Jiwon , Lee Jae Kyoo , Li Sheng , Kwak Sang Kyu
Published: January 2024

The anisotropic water interfaces provide a unique environment to drive various chemical reactions not seen in bulk solutions. However, catalytic reactions by the aqueous interfaces are still in their infancy, with the emphasis being on the reaction rate acceleration on-water. Here, we report that the oil-water interface activates and oxidizes C(sp3)-H bonds in toluene, yielding benzaldehyde with high selectivity (> 99%) and conversion (> 99%) under mild, catalyst-free conditions. Collision at the interface between oil-dissolved toluene and hydroxyl radicals spontaneously generated near the water side interfaces is responsible for the unexpectedly high selectivity. Protrusion of free OH groups from interfacial water destabilizes the transition state of the OH-addition by forming π-hydrogen bonds with toluene, while the H-abstraction remains unchanged to effectively activate C(sp3)-H bonds. Moreover, the exposed free OH groups form hydrogen bonds with the produced benzaldehyde, suppressing it from being overoxidized. Our investigation shows that the oil-water interface has considerable promise for chemoselective redox reactions on-water without any catalysts.
Abnormal brain activation patterns during speech perception and production in children and adults with reading disability
Authors: CAO FAN , FU YANG , YAN Xiaohui , MAO Jiaqi , Su Haibin
Published: January 2024

Reading disability (RD) is associated with phonological deficits; however, it remains unknown how the phonological deficits change with age as reflected in foreign speech perception and production. In the current study, we compared brain activation during Spanish speech perception and production in native Chinese children and adults with or without RD using fNIRS. Our findings revealed greater similarity to a native Spanish speaker in vowels’ frequency formants in typical controls than in individuals with RD, and in children than in adults. In the brain, we found reduced developmental differences in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in individuals with RD than in controls during Spanish speech perception, suggesting slowed development in these regions. Furthermore, using multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA), we found that activation patterns in the left MTG, premotor, supplementary motor area (SMA), and IFG could serve as reliable markers of RD. We provide behavioral and neurological evidence for the developmental differences in impaired speech perception and production in RD readers which can serve as markers of RD.
Expertise-informed Generative AI Enables Ultra-High Data Efficiency for Building Generalist Medical Foundation Model
Authors: Yan Bo , Sun Yuqi , Tan Weimin , Gu Zhuoyao , He Ruian , Chen Siyuan , Pang Miao
Published: January 2024

Generalist medical foundation models, pre-trained on massive medical datasets, have shown great potential as the next generation of medical artificial intelligence (AI). However, collecting millions of medical data is extremely expensive, time-consuming, and raises concerns over the high-risk leakage of sensitive private patient information. Here, we present a general framework that enables ultra-high data efficiency in building medical foundation models by leveraging expertise-informed generative AI to scale the limited pre-training dataset. Specifically, we follow this framework and propose a new foundation model DERETFound in ophthalmology, using only 16.7% (150,786 images) of the real-world colour fundus photography images required in the latest retinal foundation model RETFound (904,170 images, Y. Zhou et al, Nature 2023). By integrating expert insights into generative AI, we generate approximately one million synthetic data that are consistent with real retinal images in terms of physiological structures and feature distribution. DERETFound achieves comparable or even superior performance to RETFound on nine public datasets across four downstream tasks, including diabetic retinopathy grading, glaucoma diagnosis, age-related macular degeneration grading, multi-disease classification, and challenging external evaluation. In addition, DERETFound demonstrates competitively high label efficiency, saving over 50% of expert-annotated training data compared to RETFound on datasets for diabetic retinopathy grading. Our data-efficient framework challenges the classic view that building medical foundation models requires the collection of large amounts of real-world medical data as a prerequisite. The framework also provides an effective solution for any other diseases that were once discouraged from building foundation models due to limited data, which has profound significance for medical AI.
Investigating topological valley disclinations using multiple scattering and null-field theories
Authors: Pernas René , Gao Penglin , Zhang Zhiwang , Chistensen Johan
Published: January 2024

Surprisingly, topological metamaterials became a frontier topic in wave physics. What began as a curiosity driven undertaking in condensed matter physics, evolved in serious possibilities to provide topologically resilient guiding of light, sound and vibrations. Topological defects, in the form of disclinations, dislocations, vortices, etc., have capitalized on man-made structures to demonstrate their wave-confining capabilities. In this report, we discuss topological edge and disclination states in valley hall sonic lattices. A prime meta-constituent is the three-legged rod or tripod as its mere rotation enables spatial symmetry breaking. For the most part, this complicated unit is numerically treated with commercially available finite element solvers. Here, we derive the structure factor for plane wave expansions and a null-field method in combination with a multiple scattering theory to study both valley edge and disclination states. We showcase how this method enables rapid evaluation of both spatial and spectral properties related to valley topological sound wave physics.