bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics and treatment response of a possible self-contamination subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a prospective investigation
Authors: Mukai Keiichiro , Yamanishi Kyosuke , Hosoi Yukihiko , Sakurai Masahiko , Ogino Shun , Maebayashi Kensei , Hayashida Kazuhisa , Matsunaga Hisato
Published: November 2024

Background
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) present invasive thoughts and repetitive behaviors affecting 1–3% of the population, divided into 3–5 symptom dimensions. Self-contamination, a subtype within the contamination/washing dimension, remains poorly understood. This study aim is to investigate pathological features and treatment response in self-contamination subtype compared to other contamination subtype and checking symptoms.
Method
Seventy-one OCD patients were categorized into self-contamination (n = 15), contaminated (n = 25), and checking symptom (control, n = 31) groups. OCD symptom severity was assessed using the Japanese version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) Symptom Checklist. Comorbidities were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Global functioning, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were measured using DSM-IV's Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAFS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Zung’s Self-rating Depression Scale, respectively. Treatment involved a standardized combination of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive-behavioral therapy, with treatment response assessed after 1 year.
Results
Subjects in the self-contamination group showed significantly lower quality of life, GAFS scores, and higher comorbidities including major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, and olfactory reference disorder. Treatment response was notably poorer in the self-contamination group. Multiple regression analysis identified four poor treatment outcome predictors: score on the Y-BOCS and the SDS, duration of illness, and prevalence of ORD.
Conclusion
The identification of the self-contamination subtype in OCD patients is crucial for understanding the pathophysiological and treatment response. Further research is needed to clarify the socio-cultural effects on the development of this putative subtype of OCD.
Advancing Depression Risk Assessment in Connective Tissue Diseases: A Multi- Classification Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Yang Leilei , Jin Yuzhan , Lu Wei , Wang Xiaoqin , Yan Yuqing , Tong Yulan , Su Dinglei , Huang Kaizong , Zou Jianjun
Published: November 2024

This study retrospectively collected clinical data from 480 patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs) at Nanjing First Hospital between August 2019 and December 2023 to develop and validate a multi-classification machine learning (ML) model for assessing depression risk. Addressing the limitations of traditional assessment tools, six ML models were constructed using univariate analysis and the LASSO algorithm, with the artificial neural network (ANN) model emerging as the best performer, demonstrating strong predictive ability across different depression severity levels (none_F1=0.849, mild_F1=0.621, moderate and severe_F1=0.571). Additionally, the study provided an interpretation of the best-performing model using SHAP and developed a user-friendly R Shiny application (https://macnomogram.shinyapps.io/ANN-CTD/) to facilitate clinical use. The findings suggest that the ANN model represents a significant advancement in assessing depression risk among CTD patients, highlighting the potential of ML in enhancing mental health management for this patient population.
Genetic Predisposition of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Population-based Genome-wide Association Study
Authors: Wang Shao-Wen , Wang Ching , Cheng Yu-Ming , Chen Chun-Yi , Hsieh Tsung-Han , Wang Chia-Chi , Kao Jia-Horng
Published: November 2024

Background/Purpose:
Although metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has been proposed to replace the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with new diagnostic criteria since 2023, the genetic predisposition of MASLD remains to be explored.
Methods
Participants with data of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the Taiwan Biobank database were collected. Patients with missing data, positive for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and alcohol drinking history were excluded. MASLD was defined if having hepatic steatosis on ultrasound, plus at least one of cardiometabolic criteria. The Taiwan biobank used two genetic chips during the period of data collection: Taiwan biobank version 1 (TWBv1) as the initial chip and TWBv2 specifically designed for the Taiwanese population. TWBv2 was used as test group and TWBv1 as validation group. NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) was used to assess the degree of liver fibrosis, and carotid plaques on duplex ultrasound were employed for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis.
Results
In a total of 16,407 (mean age 55.35 ± 10.41; 29.6% males) participants, 6,722 (41.0%) had MASLD. Eleven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were identified to be associated with MASLD. Their functions were exonic in two and intronic in nine. They were related to the PNALA3, and SAMM50 genes located on chromosome 22. The linkage disequilibrium showed a high correlation with each other. Four SNPs of PNALA3 and SAMM50 genes had increased risk of MASLD and higher levels of AST/ALT. In addition, there was no association of these two genes with glucose metabolism, but better lipid profiles in SAMM50.
Conclusions
This large GWAS study indicates that eleven SNPs of PNPLA3 and SAMM50 genes predispose the development of MASLD in Taiwanese population.
Microbial Stimulation in Apple Orchards of Different Ages on the Loess Plateau: Poor Predictability of Increased Soil N2O Emissions
Authors: Zhang Man , Li Cui , Wang Weixin , Tong Xin , Wang Kaixuan , Qiang Minmin , Zhang Qiong
Published: November 2024

Aims
The continuously expanding apple plantation and excessive nitrogen input have made it a major source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions over the past 40 years in the Loess Plateau, China. However, the difference in N2O emissions from different stand ages of orchards and its key driving factors remain unclear.
Methods
A three-year field study was set up to evaluate the soil N2O emissions and the soil properties in apple orchards of two different stand ages (young orchard: 5 years and old orchard: 25 years), and soil bacteria, fungi, ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and denitrification bacteria (nirS) were determined via amplicon sequencing.
Results
The higher N2O emissions and emission factors (EFs) were recorded in the old apple orchard under the conventional nitrogen (N) strategy. The microbial community composition in topsoil was obviously shifted by stand age (22.2% interpretation, P = 0.022) and stand age and fertilization also had a combined effect (36.6% interpretation, P = 0.003). The relative abundances of Firmicutes and Basidiomycota involved in the decomposition of plant residues increased with stand age. Nonetheless, N2O fluxes were not significantly correlated with soil nitrifiers and denitrifiers, but were strongly correlated with NO3−-N, NH4+-N, soil moisture and enzyme activity. In general, abiotic factors, especially mineral N availability, resulted in differences in N2O emissions between orchards of different stand ages.
Conclusions
The selection of future N2O emissions mitigation strategies for apple orchards should take into account both nonbiological processes and biological processes, and the assessment of N2O emissions in apple orchards should consider stand age.
Clinical significance and biological roles of lncRNA CTBP1-AS in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Qin Li , Tian Chun , Huang Liying , Qin Xiao , Ling Shaohua , Wei Jingxi , Huang Bingsheng , Li Lining , Luo Xiaoqiong
Published: November 2024

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is among the most prevalent endocrine and metabolic disorders affecting women of reproductive age. Multiple factors, including genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and lifestyle choices, are considered significant contributors to the development of PCOS. A kind of long noncoding RNA—C-Terminal binding protein 1 antisense (lncRNA CTBP1-AS) has been proven to be a new androgen receptor regulator. Previous studies showed that the lncRNA CTBP1-ASgene was highly expressed in a small sample of PCOS patients and was associated with the risk of PCOS, but its specific function and mechanism have not been clearly reported. In this study, the expression of lncRNA CTBP1-ASwas detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) in PCOS patients. In addition, lncRNA CTBP1-AS was overexpressed in KGN cells to explore its effect on granulocyte function. The results showed that the expression levels of lncRNA CTBP1-AS were increased in serum single nucleated cells and follicular fluid granulosa cells of PCOS patients compared with controls, which correlated with androgen levels and sinus follicle number; overexpression of lncRNA CTBP1-AS increased apoptosis and decreased cell migration ability, thus promoting the progression of PCOS. This study explores new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the clinical individualised diagnosis and treatment of PCOS.
Prediction of the endoleak risk after EVAR based on multimodal geometric characteristics before AAA surgery
Authors: He Wei , Peng Chen , Cai Yuzhou , Qiao Guanyu , Zhang Yaoyi , Wang Jun , Zhang Qing , Zhu Ting , Lin Feng , Fu Weiguo
Published: November 2024

Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) can effectively prevent the continuous growth and rupture of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA), but endoleak is a serious complication after the EVAR operation. Innovative techniques are presented in this work to solve this problem: (i) Local multi-dimensional anatomical features and global morphological features are conceptualized and extracted based on a statistical shape model (SSM), and (ii) Combined with morphological features and different machine learning (ML) methods, the occurrence of endoleak type I and II can be effectively predicted. The results show that the model using XGBoost achieves the best prediction performance for the occurrence of endoleak, with an AUC of 0.93 and accuracy of 0.85; further in type I and II endoleak predictions, the AUC achieves 0.90 and 0.80, and the accuracy of 0.81 and 0.74, respectively. Compared with the SOTA technologies, our ML-enabled multi-modal morphological feature extraction outperforms in predicting endoleak occurrence before surgery, avoiding excessive follow-up, and improving long-term management of patients in clinical practices.
Metagenomic insights into the mechanisms of protein degradation in the natural fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves
Authors: Wu Xue , Liu Tianze , Wang Tong , Gao Yumeng , Han Lu , Fang Song , Wang Qian , Ning Yang , Dou Yuqing
Published: November 2024

With the continuous expansion of cigar tobacco consumer groups, the sales of domestic cigar tobacco are rapidly rising, showing good development prospects, but at present, the enhancement of the aroma quality of domestic cigar raw materials is a major difficulty. In this study, macro-genomic technology was used to study the mechanism of protein degradation in cigar tobacco leaves, aiming to provide a reference for the aroma enhancement technology that achieves the fermentation effect through gene introduction into microorganisms. After 80 days of natural fermentation, proteases in cigar tobacco leaves convert proteins into amino acids. Microorganisms of the genera Sphingomonas and Pseudomonas were dominant in the protein degradation of cigar tobacco leaves, of which S14C1332, S19C1332, S25C119, S2C1332, S4C1332, and S7C1332 were functional genes, and the metabolic pathway revealed that there was a biotechnological potential of these genes to enhance the flavor of cigar tobacco leaves.
Pioneering Genome Editing in Parthenogenetic Stick Insects: CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated gene knockout in Medauroidea extradentata
Authors: Cristina Giulia Di , Dirksen Elina , Altenhein Benjamin , Büschges Ansgar , Korsching Sigrun I.
Published: November 2024

The parthenogenetic life cycle of the stick insect Medauroidea extradentata offers unique advantages for the generation of transgenic lines, as an isogenic and stable transgenic line can in principle be achieved already in the first generation. However, genetic tools for the manipulation of their genes had not been developed until now. Here, we successfully implement CRISPR/Cas9 as a technique to modify the genome of the stick insect Medauroidea extradentata. As proof-of-concept we targeted two genes involved in the ommochrome pathway of eye pigmentation (cinnabar and white, second and first exon, respectively), to generate knockout (KO) mutants. Microinjections were performed within 24h after oviposition, to focus on the monocellular (and haploid) stage of development. The KOs generated resulted in distinct eye and cuticle colour phenotypes for cinnabar and white. Homozygous cinnabar mutants showed pale pigmentation of eyes and cuticle, while homozygous white KO resulted in a completely unpigmented phenotype in developing embryos. In conclusion, we show that CRISPR/Cas9 can be successfully applied to the genome of M. extradentata by creating phenotypically different and viable animals. This genetic toolbox can now be employed to create stable genetically modified lines using a parthenogenetic non-model organism.
Effectiveness of a Remedial Educational Program on Enhancing Spelling Skills in Primary School Students with Learning Disabilities
Authors: Alamri Ayman
Published: November 2024

Background
Learning disabilities (LD) significantly challenge academic achievement, particularly in spelling proficiency among primary school students. Remedial educational programs aim to address these challenges by providing targeted interventions.
Objectives
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a remedial educational program on spelling skills among primary school students with learning disabilities. The objectives include comparing pre-test and post-test scores, investigating retention of spelling skills over time, exploring variations among subgroups, and identifying factors contributing to the program's effectiveness.
Method
A quasi-experimental design with a control group and an experimental group was utilized, involving (24) Primary students diagnosed with learning disabilities who participated in the study. The Learning Disabilities Spelling Scale (LDSS) and the program were used in the study, The statistical program (AMOS 26) and the SPSS statistical packages were used to compare the experimental and control groups in the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up, and evaluate the differences between the control and experimental groups.
Results
Findings revealed significant differences in post-test scores between the experimental and control groups indicating the effectiveness of the remedial educational program. Moreover, the experimental group showed no significant differences from post-test to follow-up assessments, supporting the sustained positive outcomes associated with the intervention.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that the Remedial Educational Program effectively enhances spelling skills among primary school students with learning disabilities. Future studies should replicate these findings with larger samples and explore the long-term effects of remedial interventions on various academic outcomes.
Menadione-mediated current amplification in yeast suspensions: Application to evaluation of metabolism inhibition and carbohydrate assimilation
Authors: Yamashoji Shiro , Mamun Md Arafat Al , Bari Md Latiful
Published: November 2024

In order to assess the activity of the live yeast, this study suggested measuring the menadione-mediated current in real-time following the addition of accelerators or inhibitors to the suspension of yeast cells. The study attempted to demonstrate the association between menadione reduction and proliferation of yeast by employing carbohydrates inciting NADH generation, substrates inhibiting NADH production, inhibitors suppressing NAD(P)H: menadione reductase, and membrane solubilizers. Amperometry technique was used to quantify the electric current generated when menadione is reduced by living yeast. The activity of the yeast can be evaluated by measuring the electric current created owing to transfer of electron to the anode by menadione reduced by active yeast cells. A current increased at a fixed voltage of 500 mV after the addition of menadione to yeast cell suspension, and the effects of carbohydrates, membrane solubilizers and inhibitors for glycolysis and NAD(P)H: menadione reductase were observed within 10 min. The inhibitory effects on the current were proportional to those on proliferation. This method is expected to be applicable to the quick determination of yeast cell activity under various stress conditions, as it was found that the current decreased in response to different types of damage to yeast.
Differential Gastric Motility, Gut Hormone, and Appetite Changes Following a Mixed Meal in People With Obesity and Healthy Controls
Authors: Hellström Per , Javidi Darius , Webb Dominic-Luc , Diaz Hetzel , Ud-din Moeen , Elias Khalid , Sundbom Magnus
Published: November 2024

Introduction:
Understanding meal-induced changes in gut hormones, gastric motility, and appetite is crucial for developing next generation obesity therapies employing permutations of gut hormone analogues. The goal of this study was to investigate how GLP-1, GIP, ghrelin, and motilin interact to influence appetite and gastric motility at physiologic conditions and elucidate differences between healthy individuals and individuals with obesity.
Methods
Fasted study subjects (healthy n = 41; obese n = 32) consumed a 270-kcal meal and wireless motility capsule. GIP, active GLP-1, acyl-ghrelin, and motilin were measured by electrochemiluminescence. MotiliGI and GIMS software were used for motility analysis, while visual analog scoring measured appetite.
Results
Gastric emptying was more rapid in individuals with obesity than healthy controls (p < 0.01). Gastric emptying time was negatively associated with both motility index and hunger contraction frequency (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) in the healthy but not in the obese In controls, gastric motility index correlated positively with ghrelin (p < 0.01) and motilin (p < 0.0001) and negatively with GIP (p < 0.05), but not GLP-1. In the obesity group, no gut hormones correlated with motility index. GIP and GLP-1 correlated with decreased hunger in both groups (p < 0.0001, p = 0.001) and (p < 0.0001, p < 0.05), along with increased satiety in controls (p < 0.0001, p = 0.001) and the obesity group (p = 0.049, p = 0.01). Ghrelin correlated positively with hunger (p < 0.0001) and negatively with satiety (p = 0.049) in controls, but not individuals with obesity. Motilin was neither associated with hunger nor satiety in either group.
Conclusion
In the gastric phase, individuals with obesity show rapid gastric emptying with altered flatline hormone and motility meal-responses. In healthy controls, GIP promotes satiety, and ghrelin and motilin promote hunger through actions on motility. Like GIP, GLP-1 promotes satiety along with trending suppression of postprandial gastric motility.
Factors associated with high fear of cancer recurrence in young- and middle-aged patients with lung cancer:A cross-sectional study applying the social-ecological model
Authors: Wang Qin , XIA Guanghui , Liu Feng , Yang Xiaoxin
Published: November 2024

Objectives
To identify the factors associated with FCR in young- and middle-aged patients with lung cancer (LC) by applying the social-ecological mode through a cross-sectional study design.
Methods A total of 16
5 patients aged 18–64 years at diagnosis, were recruited to completed the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, Brief Fatigue Inventory, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. Self-reported questionnaires and electronic medical records were used for collecting sociodemographic and clinical variables.
Results
The mean FoP-Q-SF score was 30.12 ± 10.12; 59 patients (35.8%) had high FCR as indicated by a score of ≥ 34. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that factors in the intrapersonal level including female ( p < 0.001), illness perception ( p < 0.01), and fatigue (p < 0.01), and factors in the interpersonal level including only child ( p < 0.01) and social support (p < 0.01), and the factor in the social-economic level including working status( p < 0.000), were independent predictors of high FCR.
Conclusions
Multiple factors influence FCR in young- and middle-aged patients with LC.We suggest screening and early detection of FCR based on the above predictors. Meanwhile,multidimensional perspectives, including intrapersonal, interpersonal, and social-economic levels, should be used to develop comprehensive FCR management strategies.
Dynamic Incremental Learning in Medical Imaging
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan , Wang Jianzhi , lan quan , Huang Chenxi , Xia Kaijian
Published: November 2024

The foundational models such as YOLO, Faster R-CNN, and SSD have demonstrated substantial potential in computer vision, particularly in object detection. However, their application in medical imaging faces significant challenges due to the need for fine-grained recognition of small lesions and the continuous emergence of new disease types. Directly extending these models to medical image object detection is difficult, as they often struggle with generalizing to unseen radiological findings. Additionally, incremental learning in this domain is hampered by issues such as catastrophic forgetting and background shift. Our study proposes an incremental learning-based approach to enhance the performance and stability of medical image object detection models. This method addresses the unique challenges of medical imaging, including small lesion detection and low visual contrast, by combining dynamic weighted loss, augmented pseudo labels, and confidence score distillation. Incremental learning allows the model to adapt to new data without forgetting previously learned knowledge, which is essential given the limited size and evolving nature of medical imaging datasets. The main contributions of this study include the development of a dynamic weighted loss and network tailored for medical images, which improves detection accuracy. We also generate reliable pseudo-labels and apply data augmentation to address background shift and sample imbalance. Furthermore, we introduce an object confidence knowledge distillation method to enhance detection stability. Our approach demonstrates significant improvements in detection performance, showcasing its potential for practical clinical application and its implications for future medical image analysis and diagnosis.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Fuzheng Shengjin Decoction in Lung Cancer Treatment: A Clinical Study
Authors: Liu Boning , Liu Jian
Published: November 2024

Background: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches to improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation, Fuzheng Shengjin Decoction, in lung cancer treatment.
Methods: Fifty patients diagnosed with lung cancer received Fuzheng Shengjin Decoction. Primary outcomes included changes in lung function indices, symptom improvement, and quality of life, assessed via validated questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC13). Symptom improvements in hemoptysis (42%), sputum production (68%), and cough (75%) were recorded. Lung function showed a mean increase of 0.25 liters in FEV1 and 0.18 liters in FVC. Quality of life improved, with a mean gain of 12.5 points in the EORTC QLQ-C30 Global Health Status and a mean decrease of 15.2 points in the EORTC QLQ-LC13 Lung Cancer Symptom Scale.
Results: The decoction was well tolerated, with mild side effects such as diarrhea (16%) and nausea (20%) being the most common.
Conclusion: This observational study suggests that Fuzheng Shengjin Decoction may be a promising complementary treatment for lung cancer, potentially improving symptoms, lung function, and quality of life. However, larger randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm these findings
First evaluation of [ 68 Ga]Ga-NOTA-(TMVP1) 2 for imaging VEGFR-3 in ovarian cancer patients
Authors: Chen Xi , Li Fei , Si Yao , Dai Jun , Xi Ling
Published: November 2024

Objective
To evaluate the safety and VEGFR-3 imaging effects of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-(TMVP1)2 in ovarian cancer patients.
Methods
13 patients with ovarian cancer were recruited and underwent radionuclide imaging with [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-(TMVP1)2. The safety of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-(TMVP1)2 was assessed in vivo (including vital signs, biochemical indices, ECG, allergic reactions, etc.) and its imaging effect on VEGFR-3 was explored.
Results
A total of 1 patient with primary ovarian cancer and 12 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, with an age range of 41–54 years, were included in the study. 13 ovarian cancer patients had a total of 49 18F-FDG-positive lesions, 63.3% of which were positive for [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-(TMVP1)2. The higher expression of VEGFR-3 in [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-(TMVP1)2 -positive ovarian cancer lesions was found by immunohistochemical staining, which was positively correlated. Meanwhile, [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-(TMVP1)2 is a safe radiotracer as no significant side effects have been found in the human.
Conclusions
In conclusion, [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-(TMVP1)2 enables precise molecular imaging of VEGFR-3 in ovarian cancer patients with a favourable safety profile, providing a new tool for the in vivo assessment of VEGFR-3 in ovarian cancer.
Synchronization Induction Based on Precise Identification of Cell Cycle Progression to Enhancing Polyploid Induction
Authors: Ling Aoyu , Xia Yufei , Jin Yijia , Jiang Shenxiu , Shu Jianghai , Du Kang , zhang pingdong , kang xiangyang
Published: November 2024

Asynchrony in the cell cycle is a critical limiting factor in the efficiency of polyploid induction. While cell cycle inhibitors can increase the proportion of cells suitable for chromosome doubling, efficient polyploid induction through synchronization requires precise identification of cell cycle progression. The present study, flow cytometry and EdU fluorescence labeling were used to precisely track the cell cycle progression of differentiated explants during in vitro culture. Results showed that the increase in the S phase began two days after differentiation, while the G2/M phase started on day four. Based on this, optimal treatment time points for synchronization were identified. Comet assays and other techniques were used to determine the appropriate concentration (1.5 mM) and duration (24 hours) of 5-aminouracil, which narrowed down the range of subsequent orthogonal experiments. This optimization significantly (p < 0.05) improved synchronization efficiency and increased the tetraploid induction rate to an average of 40.90%. These findings demonstrate that by precisely identifying key cell cycle phases, synchronization techniques can be efficiently optimized to enhance polyploid induction. Our findings offers a systematic method for improving breeding efficiency in woody plants and could advance the development of more efficient polyploid induction systems in plant breeding.
Research on the Improvement of Bacterial Foraging Algorithm for Flexible Job shop Scheduling Problem
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan , Wang Shuaiwen , Wang Taoliang
Published: November 2024

Machine workload is an important factor to be considered in flexible job shop scheduling, and the existing research has achieved certain results in optimizing the total workload and the maximum machine workload, but the workload balancing among machines is insufficiently considered, the workload imbalance will lead to problems such as underutilization of production potential and machine overload failure. Therefore, this paper first proposes a flexible job shop scheduling problem that considers workload balancing, and an optimization model was established with the goal of minimizing the maximum completion time(Makespan) and minimizing the workload balancing factor, aiming to fully unleash the production potential while avoiding machine overload and further improve the production efficiency. In order to effectively solve the proposed problem, a series of improvements were made to optimize the defects of the bacterial foraging optimization algorithm(BFOA), such as easy to precocious convergence and the “escape” of elite individuals, an improved bacterial foraging optimization algorithm(IBFOA) was proposed. The proposed algorithm designs and introduces Logistic-Circle chaos mapping to enhance the quality of the initial population;An adaptive dynamic step size is designed to ensure the optimization efficiency and accuracy; Improved reproduction operation to avoid precocious convergence; An adaptive migration probability is designed to avoid the "escape" of elite individuals. The results of the case testing show the effectiveness of the proposed model and the superiority of the improved algorithm.
Immunomodulatory Effects of Risperidone and Methylphenidate on Dendritic Cells in Methamphetamine Addicts: Insights from a Detoxification Study
Authors: Mosayebi Ghasem , Moazzeni Seyed Mohammad , Farahani Hadiseh , Solhi Hassan , Rafiei Mohammad , Ghazavi Ali
Published: November 2024

Background and aim:
Drug abuse can impact the function of immune cells, leading to a compromised immune system response. This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of methamphetamine and its detoxification agents on peripheral blood dendritic cells.
Methods:
Thirty individuals with methamphetamine addiction were divided into two groups. One group received treatment with Risperidone, while the second group was treated with a combination of Risperidone and Methylphenidate. The percentages of myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, as well as their surface markers, were assessed before and after the detoxification program.
Results:
The percentages of both CD11c+ and CD123+ dendritic cells in peripheral blood were significantly lower in methamphetamine addicts compared to the control group. Detoxification with Risperidone corrected this reduction, while the combination of Risperidone and Methylphenidate produced adverse effects. The expression of HLA-DR, CD11c, and CD123 markers was downregulated in the dendritic cells of methamphetamine addicts. Treatment with Risperidone restored these markers, whereas the combination therapy further exacerbated the downregulation of these markers.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that detoxification with Risperidone may help ameliorate the immunological disorders associated with methamphetamine use.
Enhancing COVID-19 Classification in Chest X-ray Images through CNN-based Model Optimization Techniques
Authors: Taneja Aadesh
Published: November 2024

This paper explores the enhancement of COVID-19 classification in chest X-ray images through the integration of advanced model optimization techniques. Utilizing a dataset compiled by researchers from Qatar University, Doha, Qatar, and the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the study employs a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture, specifically leveraging transfer learning with the VGG network. The dataset, named COVID-QU-Ex, contains 33,920 chest X-ray images, including 11,956 COVID-19 positive cases, 11,263 Non-COVID infections (Viral or Bacterial Pneumonia), and 10,701 Normal cases.
The model incorporates Global Average Pooling (GAP) to reduce overfitting and improve generalization by replacing fully connected layers. Additionally, Spatial Transformer Networks (STN) are utilized to enhance the network's spatial invariance, allowing it to better handle variations in the input images. The outcomes demonstrate a significant improvement in classification accuracy, with the optimized model achieving superior performance compared to baseline approaches. This research highlights the potential of these techniques in improving the reliability and effectiveness of COVID-19 detection in medical imaging.
Ethnic differences in root resorption induced by orthodoncic forces.
Authors: Iber-Diaz Paula , Dehesa-Santos Alexandra , Senen-Carramolino Raquel , Palma-Fernandez Juan Carlos , Iglesias-Linares Alejandro
Published: November 2024

Objectives
This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how ethnic differences influence susceptibility to external apical root resorption (EARR). The findings of this study are intended to inform the development of more personalized and effective orthodontic treatment plans, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and advancing orthodontic treatment.
Materials and Methods
This retrospective study included 200 patients divided into South European (n = 145), Latin American (n = 39), and East European (n = 16) groups. Panoramic radiographs measured EARR in upper central and lateral incisors using the Malgrem visual method and the modified by Brezniak Linge and Linge method. Crown/root ratio and apical morphology were also analyzed. Statistical tests included t-tests, chi-squared, and ANOVA (p < 0.05).
Results
Latin American patients showed a higher prevalence of pointed apex morphology (p = 0.010) and lower rates of mild/moderate EARR than South Europeans (p = 0.041). Additionally, South Europeans had a higher crown/root ratio (1.46 ± 0.20) than East Europeans (1.33 ± 0.16) for the upper lateral incisor (p = 0.007).
Conclusion
Ethnic differences affect the risk of EARR, particularly in the upper lateral incisor. Latin American patients showed a higher prevalence of pointed apex morphology and lower rates of mild/moderate EARR than Europeans. Additionally, treatment duration was linked to an increased risk of severe EARR, although no ethnic differences were observed in the most aggressive forms.
Clinical Relevance:
Recognizing ethnic variations in EARR susceptibility can help orthodontists develop risk-based, personalized treatments, potentially reducing adverse effects and improving care across diverse populations.
Weak genetic divergence and signals of adaptation obscured by high gene flow in an economically important aquaculture species
Authors: Calla Bernarda , Song Jingwei , Thompson Neil
Published: November 2024

Background: The genetic diversity of a population defines its ability to adapt to episodic and fluctuating environmental changes. For species of agricultural value, available genetic diversity also determines their breeding potential and remains fundamental to the development of practices that maintain health and productivity. In this study, we used whole-genome resequencing to investigate genetic diversity within and between naturalized and captively reared populations of Pacific oysters from the US Pacific coast. The analyses included individuals from preserved samples dating to 1998 and 2004, two contemporary naturalized populations, and one domesticated population.
Results: Despite high overall heterozygosity, there was extremely low but significant genetic divergence between populations, indicative of high gene flow. The captive population, which was reared for over 25 years was the most genetically distinct population and exhibited reduced nucleotide diversity, attributable to inbreeding. Individuals from populations that were separated both geographically and temporally did not show detectable genetic differences, illustrating the consequences of human intervention in the form translocation of animals between farms, hatcheries and natural settings. Fifty-nine significant FST outlier sites were identified, the majority of which were present in high proportions of the captive population individuals, and which are possibly associated with domestication.
Conclusion: Pacific oysters in the US Pacific coast harbor high genetic heterozygosity which obscures weak population structure. Differences between these Pacific oyster populations could be leveraged for breeding and might be a source of adaptation to new environments.
Novel growth models of three valuable timber species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: Santos João Paulo Bispo , de Resende Angélica Faria , Pereira Allana Katiussya Silva , Freitas Miguel Luiz Menezes , Ashton Mark S. , Montagnini Florencia , Brancalion Pedro Henrique Santin , Piotto Daniel , Rodrigues Ricardo Ribeiro , Souza Vinicius Castro
Published: November 2024

Native timber production offers a promising pathway to make large-scale tropical forest restoration financially viable. However, there are still many gaps in knowledge on this subject. This study develops species-specific growth models for three valuable and threatened native timber species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest – Cariniana legalis, Dalbergia nigra, and Zeyheria tuberculosa – and evaluate their timber production potential. We collected data from 14 tree plantations distributed in the states of São Paulo, Espírito Santo, and Bahia, with a total of 5,564 sampled trees. The plantations span a broad climatic gradient, with ages ranging from 1 to 50 years. We developed and compared six models for predicting tree diameter and total height. We modeled and compared the growth patterns among the species and determined their commercial rotation ages, based on time needed to reach a diameter of 35 cm. Z. tuberculosa exhibited the lowest diameter increment (0.90 cm/year) and did not reach the threshold DBH, making it more suitable for non-premium uses, such as utensils and pallets. In contrast, D. nigra demonstrated the highest growth rate (1.33 cm/year) and a first harvest age of 22 years, demonstrating that it is a promising species to produce timber for furniture, and construction. C. legalis showed a slightly lower growth rate (1.16 cm/year) and required 31 years to reach first harvest, with wood ideal for construction and furniture. These findings highlight the potential of these species for timber production in restoration projects and the importance of timely silvicultural practices to enhance growth rates and wood quality.
Boosting Optical Current in Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells Using Multi-Layer Bimetallic Plasmonic Nano-Ring Structures
Authors: Heidarzadeh Hamid , Shahabi Taha
Published: November 2024

Incorporating multi-layer bimetallic plasmonic nano-ring structures into amorphous silicon solar cells can effectively enhance the optical current by manipulating light absorption and trapping. Improving the photocurrent density in amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells is essential for enhancing their efficiency and competitiveness in thin-film photovoltaic applications. This study investigates the impact of multi-layer plasmonic nano-ring structures, composed of alternating layers of aluminum (Al) and nickel (Ni), on the optical current of a-Si solar cells. Using various nano-ring configurations for a cell with periods of 200 nm, 300 nm, and 400 nm, we analyze how different layering sequences affect photocurrent density. Results indicate that the inclusion of nano-rings significantly boosts photocurrent density and higher layer counts yielding the greatest improvements. For instance, the Al/Ni/Al/Ni/Al/Ni/Al configuration at 200 nm achieved a maximum photocurrent density of 23.88 mA/cm², a notable increase from the baseline value of 16.65 mA/cm² observed without nanoparticles. These findings highlight the role of tailored plasmonic nano-ring structures in enhancing light absorption and charge generation, providing a promising approach for optimizing a-Si solar cell performance through structural design innovations.
RETRACTED: QEFMLA-FIDO: Quantum Evolutionary Frameworks for Machine Learning Acceleration: Fisher Information-Driven Optimization in Hybrid Classical-Quantum Architectures
Authors: Kundu Sourodeep
Published: November 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Assessing human-nature connection: A systematic review and a new Wetland Wanderer Tool for auditing nature connection in wetland environments
Authors: Pratt Kate , Prahalad Vishnu
Published: November 2024

Wetlands are critical ecosystems for sustaining human wellbeing through provisioning important ecosystem services and supporting biodiversity conservation. Globally, and in Australia, wetland ecosystems are threatened due in a large part to a lack of public awareness concerning wetland values and threats. Yet there is a lack of guidance and tools in being able to assess how public awareness is generated and enhanced in wetland ecosystems. This paper draws upon human-nature connection theory to develop a new tool for nature connections, the Wetland Wanderer Tool (WWT), which is also an auditing instrument for assessing how public awareness (or, orientation) is currently being fostered in Australian wetlands, and what access is currently available in these environments for nature-based experiences. WWT is built upon a systematic review of current auditing tools assessing nature connection. The review of the 14 existing tools identified a common hierarchical structure, scaled from domains to items, to identify and assess assets within natural environments that provide orientation and access for nature connection. This common architecture, with key domains and its component audit items, was adopted for WWT following refinement to suit both the Australian context and the ‘blue spaces’ of wetlands. The application of WWT is expected to provide an inventory of existing infrastructure in order to support the planning and improving of access and orientation to connect with nature in wetland environments, such that those experiences can lead to pro-environmental behaviours that support wetland conservation.
Root traits variations of subtropical evergreen tree Ligustrum lucidum and their adaptation to soil moisture and nutrient condition stress
Authors: Cheng Yuirui , Jiang yongjun , Li mengni , Li jiabin , Liu fang , Zhang peiling , He qiufang
Published: November 2024

Aims
In the face of extreme drought and increased soil erosion brought about by global changes, the physiological changes and response mechanisms of plant root systems to environmental stresses are understood by taking the example of suitable plants in typical karst areas that are subject to the dual stresses of drought and soil infertility.
Methods
We collected roots and soils of representative woody plants (Ligustrum lucidum) in sandy shale and limestone regions with different degrees of rock desertification, correlated root functional traits with soil physical and chemical characteristics, and then concluded the root resource utilization strategy of a representative woody plant.
Results
Soil moisture and nutrients in limestone areas are lower than those in sand shale areas. With the increase of rocky desertification, soil nutrients, and water content showed a significant decreasing trend. The diameter and volume of roots in sand shale areas are higher than those in limestone areas, and there are two kinds of resource utilization methods for root formation.
Conclusions
Root functional traits of Ligustrum lucidum adopt an active resource acquisition strategy in the limestone area but a conservative resource acquisition strategy in the sand shale area. The variability of root functional traits increased with the deterioration of soil moisture and nutrient conditions which was induced by deteriorative karst rocky desertification degree. Soil moisture variability affects plant root functional traits in the long term, and soil nutrients are a major influence on the variability of plant root functional traits.
How Do Macro-Financial Factors Influence Asset Classes' Performance? An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Bonaventura Luca Di , Morini Riccardo
Published: November 2024

Asset class returns are strongly influenced by macro-financial factors such as economic growth, inflation, and market volatility. This study empirically examines these relationships by analyzing monthly data from January 1979 to August 2024 across four major asset classes and six composite indicators derived from fifteen macro-financial variables. We calculate the average excess return of each asset class first by conditioning solely on the direction of macro-factor changes, and subsequently by considering both the direction and initial levels of these factors. Two main findings emerge. First, variations in the six macro-financial factors are statistically significant drivers of the excess returns across the four major asset classes analyzed. Second, these relationships are state-dependent, as they vary with the initial conditions of the factors. These results have relevant implications for macro-based tactical asset allocation, as they demonstrate that relying solely on changes in macro-financial factors without accounting for the levels from which these changes originate may lead to misleading conclusions. For example, both equities and high yield bonds tend to underperform their unconditional historical average annualized return when inflation increases from high levels, while they generate positive excess returns when inflation rises from low levels, which do not necessitate anti-inflationary measures from central banks. Our findings underscore the importance of incorporating initial macro-financial conditions to bolster the effectiveness of macro-based tactical asset allocation strategies.
JEL Codes: E44, G10, G11.
10-GHz Ultrashort Optical pulse and Ultraflat Optical Comb Generation via a Semiconductor Mode-locked Laser
Authors: Sun Defan , Niu Yueying , Guo Fei , Zhang Ruikang , Zhao Lingjuan , Lu Dan
Published: November 2024

We report a 10-GHz ultrashort pulse and optical comb generation using a quantum well (QW) semiconductor mode-locked laser (SMLL). With a dilute waveguide design, ultrashort pulses with pulse widths as short as 726 fs were also obtained from a 10-GHz SMLL without any compression, and the shortest pulse width of 576 fs was achieved after pulse compression. Direct generation of a flat comb with a −3-dB bandwidth of 9.92 nm (>125 comb lines in a span of 1.24 THz) and a −20-dB bandwidth of 19.22 nm (>240 comb lines in a span of 2.4 THz) was obtained. A further comb span extension was obtained by pumping a highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) via the SMLL. A −20-dB bandwidth of 89.4 nm and a usable comb span of over 110 nm were demonstrated.
Efficient removal of Congo red and Alkali Blue 6b using biochar derived from wheat bran：kinetics, isotherms, and mechanism
Authors: Liang Ningjie , Zou Weihua , Li Qingyun , Han Xiuli , Chang Chun
Published: November 2024

The biochar with rich functional groups and well-developed pore structure was obtained from wheat bran (WB) via immersing and non-immersing (BC-NaK and BC-NaK-n) followed by mixed molten salt template for activation. The specific surface areas (SBET) of BC-NaK and BC-NaK-n were 851.59 m2 g− 1 and 564.22 m2 g− 1, respectively, which were used as adsorbents for the removal of anionic dyes Congo red (CR) and Alkali Blue 6b (AB6b) from aqueous solution. The results of adsorption experiments showed that BC-NaK had better adsorptive capacities than BC-NaK-n for CR and AB6b. The adsorption behaviors of CR and AB6b onto BC-NaK were better in accordance with pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir, Sips and Koble-Corrigan isotherm models. The maximum monolayer adsorptive capacities of CR and AB6b on BC-NaK reached 1150.11 mg g− 1 and 622.28 mg g− 1 at 298K, respectively. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption processes of CR and AB6b were spontaneous and endothermic. The adsorption mechanism of CR and AB6b on BC-NaK mainly included hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, π-π interactions and hydrophobic interactions. Overall, the biochar prepared from WB had superior adsorption capacities for the anionic dyes CR and AB6b, which could be promising adsorbent for organic dye wastewater.