bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemerin Promotes Proliferation of Cardiac Fibroblasts via CMKLR1/PI3k/Akt/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Cai Rui , Cao Ruifeng , Liu Yan , Zhang Nuoqi , Zhang Yang , Wang Yaling
Published: April 2024

Background:Chemerin expression has been documented to be increased in patients with heart failure (HF), animal models of myocardial fibrosis (MF), and proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). However, the mechanisms underlying the chemerin high-proliferation processes in CFs remain unknown. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects and mechanisms on chemerin that promote the proliferation of CFs.
Methods : CFs were isolated from 3-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and cultured. They were identified by immunofluorescence. Aldosterone-induced proliferation model of CFs. The role of chemerin on the proliferation of CFs were determined by EdU. PI3k/Akt/NF-κB signal transduction was inhibited by pretreatment with the PI3k/Akt/NF-κB inhibitor LY294002 and PDTC. real-time quantitative PCR（RT-qPCR）and Western blotting were used to test the expression of relevant genes.
Results:By immunofluorescence staining of vimentin, the extracted cells can be identified as CFs.
Aldosterone induces the proliferation of CFs, we found that aldosterone promoted upregulation of chemerin, CMKLR1 and PCNA expression. And then we found that CMKLR1 expression was upregulated in CFs in response to exogenous chemerin stimulation, whereas the exogenous chemerin significantly promoted the proliferation of CFs. Mechanistically, exogenous chemerin increased the phosphorylated PI3k/Akt and NF-κB levels in CFs. Alternatively, blockade of PI3k/Akt and NF-κB inhibited the promoting proliferation effects of chemerin.
Conclusions: Our study found that chemerin promoted the proliferation of CFs through upregulation of CMKLR1 receptors. We also found that chemerin promotes the proliferation of CFs via the PI3k/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. Chemerin is expected to be a target for therapy against myocardial fibrosis.
Factors associated with depressive symptom among college students based on quantile regression analysis
Authors: Xu Haibo , Liu Xin , Zhang Chaoran , Wang Zhen , Peng Lixin , Zhang Chen
Published: April 2024

Background Depressive symptom among college students is a public health issue worthy of attention. Most of the current analyses of factors associated with Depressive symptom use traditional linear regression, which cannot be mined for more information. Our research uses quantile regression to explore a more detailed picture of the influencing factors.Methods From November 26 to December 6, 2022, a cross-sectional survey was conducted at six universities in China, a cluster sampling method was adopted, and 3,156 college students were sampled and 2,580 valid questionnaires were obtained after the screening process. The study analyzed the data using quantile regression with SPSS 26.0.Results The results for 2,580 participants showed the prevalence of Depressive symptom to be 43.6%. Quantile regression showed that Depressive symptom was associated with gender, hometown, frequency of contact with family, frequency of breakfast, social support, interpersonal sensitivity, and psychological capital. Social support and psychological capital were positively associated with Depressive symptom, and interpersonal sensitivity was negatively associated with Depressive symptom. And the degree of correlation varied by quartile points, social support, psychological capital, and interpersonal sensitivity being more strongly correlated with Depressive symptom when the Depressive symptom quartile points were higher.Conclusion The findings of the study identified a number of factors that influence depressive symptom in different quartiles of college students to help address the issue of depressive symptom among college students. Severely depressed college students are more likely to receive negative effects of interpersonal sensitivity and positive effects of psychological capital and social support, therefore there is a need to pay more attention to these severely depressed students.
Causality between iron overload and osteoarthritis a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yin Liang , Zhang Fan , Bi Rongxiu , Xu Honghao , Wang Shilu
Published: April 2024

Objective:We found a significant increase in the incidence of osteoarthritis in patients with iron overload, and conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal effect of iron overload on osteoarthritis and hip arthritis. Methods: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data of liver iron content (LIC) and osteoarthritis (OA) and hip arthritis (HOA) were obtained. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used as instrumental variables and sensitive SNPS were selected for analysis. The inverse variance weighting method (IVW), weighted median method (WM), MR-Egger regression method and other methods were used to conduct MR Analysis of the two samples, and the OR value was used to evaluate the causal [i]relationship between LIC, OA and HOA.
Results: In LIC and OA, the p values of IVW model, WM model and MR-Egger model were all <0.05.
IVW results were as follows: OR=1.005, 95%CI was 1.001-1.010 P=0.012; Among LIC and HOA, the p values of IVW model, WM model and MR-Egger model are all <0.05, and the result of IVW is: OR=1.184, 95%CI is 1.092-1.285P =4.79×10-5. MR Egger and IVW methods are used to test the heterogeneity, and the results are as follows: there is heterogeneity between LIC and OA (p <0.05), but no heterogeneity between LIC and KOA (p>0.05). Sensitivity analysis by leave-one-out method showed that the results were stable. Conclusion: There is causal relationship between LIC and OA and KOA, and the probability of suffering from OA or HOA increases with the improvement of LIC.
Detection and significance of Vitamin D and Insulin-like growth factor-1 in elderly patients with frailty
Authors: Hu Xue , Song Yang , Cao Mengyu , Du Ying , Li Yi , Liu Xiangjun , Tang Jiagui , Shen Haotian , Liu Chang , Deng Fengmei , Liu Yilun , Peng Nan
Published: April 2024

Background:With the increase of the elderly population, the problem of senile frailty is becoming more and more serious. The research on frailty is still in the initial stage, and the diagnosis and intervention mechanism of frailty are still unclear. This study investigated the effects of Vitamin D and Insulin-like growth factor-1 on frailty, in order to further provide more accurate interventions for improving frailty.
Purpose:To investigate the frailty characteristics of elderly residents in Mengyang community, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. To explore the correlation between serological index and human body composition test index; correlation between body composition test index and frailty; to explore the effects of both on frailty.
Method:From July to August 2023, 433 residents in Mengyang community of Chengdu City, Sichuan Province were selected. According to the diagnostic criteria of Fried Evaluation Form, they were divided into non-frailty, pre-frailty and frailty stages. For elderly comprehensive evaluation, including the human body composition test index and physical function test project, and blood tests for Vitamin D and Insulin-like growth factor-1.
Result: Among the 433 elderly patients, 201 were males and 232 were females, aged 60 to 99 years. The median age was 69.27±4.23 in the non- frailty group (99 cases), 71.07±4.687 in the pre-frailty group (173 cases) and 75.4±7.407 in the frailty group (161 cases). The muscle content and physical function indexes of each part of the body composition decreased gradually with the increase of the degree of weakness, and P<0.05. Vitamin D and insulin-like growth factor-1 decreased gradually with the increase of frailty degree, but P > 0.05. Vitamin D and insulin-like growth factor-1 had a certain correlation with the muscle content in all parts of the body, and the muscle content in all parts of the body had a certain correlation with the indexes of body function (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Vitamin D and Insulin-like growth factor-1 are significantly positively correlated with the muscle content of each part of the body, and there is a significant correlation between the muscle content of each part and the body function. With the increase of frailty, the functional indicators of the elderly(including muscle content in various parts、Vitamin D and Insulin-like growth factor-1 levels) decreased, while the physical functional indicators also decreased with the increase of frailty.
Predicting Luminance Decay of a Micro-LED display via Machine Learnings on Temperature Distribution and LED Degradation
Authors: Chao Paul C.-P. , Lin Chi-En , Chen Hao-Ren , Nguyen Duc Huy
Published: April 2024

A new method for predicting the luminance decay of Micro Light Emitting Diode (Micro-LED) displays by machine learning models is proposed herein with experiments of temperature distribution and degradation established. Although Micro-LEDs can be used as a direct light source for large outdoor advertising billboards, harsh outdoor conditions may lead to the degradation of Micro-LED displays. As a result, a temperature model is first built to predict the temperature distribution for the surface of a Micro-LED display based on illuminated patterns and the temperature sensors installed on the back of the display, followed by the establishment of degradation models for predicting luminance decay of the display based on Micro-LED enclosure temperature, input current, and illumination time. Based on the different degradation characteristics observed for red, green, and blue light in the experiments, their degradation models are established separately. In addition, exponential curve-fitting and interpolation are conducted based on TM-21 for the high accuracy when predicting for a much longer aging period. The temperature model built exhibits a prediction error of less than 1.1°C, while an average error is kept below 1.05% (roughly 9 nits). Moreover, the predicted period using the proposed degradation model with high accuracy can reach up to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of hours. It is evident that the predicted results within this long period meets the requirement of the exponential curve defined by TM-21.
Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis of Gut Microbiome and Serum Metabolome in Unipolar and Bipolar Depression
Authors: Wang Yujing , Wang Lan , Zheng Yaxin , Wang Ran , Zhen Fengya , Cheng Zhangkai J. , Sun Baoqing , Tsui Stephen Kwok-Wing , An Cuixia
Published: April 2024

This study aims to differentiate between unipolar and bipolar depressive episodes through an integrated analysis of gut microbiome and serum metabolome. The study involved 82 patients experiencing depressive episodes, with 38 diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and 44 with Bipolar Disorder (BD). The gut microbiome and serum metabolome were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), respectively. The results revealed distinct microbial compositions and metabolic pathways between the two groups. Seventeen microbial groups and fifty serum metabolites were found to be significantly different between the two groups. Four genera and eight serum metabolites demonstrated strong diagnostic potential for differentiating BD from MDD. The study also found correlations between certain differential genera and metabolites and the severity of clinical symptoms. This integrated multi-omics approach provides a promising direction for the differential diagnosis of unipolar and bipolar depression.
Research on the structural evolution and influence mechanism of the global green trade network based on exponential random graph model
Authors: Qin Yingying , Pu Yue
Published: April 2024

With the global spread of environmental protection, green trade has become a new trend in trade development. Based on the total import and export value of green products from 227 countries (regions) from 2012 to 2020, this study uses a complex network analysis method to construct a global green trade network, study the structural characteristics and evolution of the network from three dimensions–whole, community, and node–and analyze the influence mechanism of the global green trade network using an exponential random graph model. The estimation results of the exponential random graph model show that the economic size gap, population size gap, development level, trade liberalization and language differences between countries will affect the formation of the global green trade network. The global green trade network has strong mutuality, and it is easier for countries with large differences in economic scale, countries with the same WTO member and developed countries to establish green trade relations. The common language network has a positive impact on the global green trade network. Countries should be clear about their own characteristics and position in the global green trade network, and actively develop green trade.
Effect of goat manure levels on growth performance of wild watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. Citroides) cultivated under shade house conditions
Authors: Pontsho Tseke , Maboko Mphosi , Yvonne Maila
Published: April 2024

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of different goat manure levels on the growth yield and performance of wild watermelon (Citrullus lanatus subsp.) cultivated in shade houses. Six treatments comprised different goat manure levels, namely, river sand, Hutton soil, and goat manure T0-1:3:0 (control), T1-1:3:1, T2-1:3:2, T3-1:3:3, T4-1:3:4, and T5-1:3:5. Treatments had a highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) effect on dry shoot mass (DSM) (g), fruit weight (FW) (g), and fruit diameter (FD) (mm) of wild watermelon plants. The dry root mass (DRM) (g), vine length (VL) (m), and chlorophyll content (CCL) of wild watermelon plants were not significantly affected by the application of goat manure levels. The goat manure levels in T1-1:31, T2-1:3:2, T3-1:3:3, T4-1:3:4, and T5-1:3:5 reached the cumulative DSM (6.57, 10.12, 9.17, 11.14, and 8.32). In contrast, all the goat manure levels T1-1:31, T2-1:3:2, T3-1:3:3, T4-1:3:4, and T5-1:3:5 reduced FW (183.56, 72.02, 119.05, 171.87, 9.08 g) compared to the control (1:3:0), achieved 212.14 g, while the highest (183.56, 171.87, and 119.05) were at T1-1:31, T4-1:3:4, and T3-1:3:3, respectively. The smallest FM (72.02 and 9.08 cm) was observed at 1:3:2 and 1:3:5 goat manure levels, respectively. Similarly, all the goat manure levels T1-1:31, T2-1:3:2, T3-1:3:3, T4-1:3:4, and T5-1:3:5 reduced FD (61.03, 40.24, 59.76, 69.66, and 14.40 mm) compared to the control (1:3:0), which was achieved at 78.73 mm. In conclusion, T4-1:3:4 performed well in terms of the DSM. Therefore, goat manure at T4-1:3:4 achieved the best growth performance in wild watermelon.
Determinant factors and coping strategies for depression among pregnant women: An intervention-based qualitative study in Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Ahsan Quratulain , Saleem Javeria , Ishaq Muhammad , Zakar Rubeena , Abbas Saira , Shahzad Ruhma , Khan Sohail Mahmood , Fischer Florian
Published: April 2024

Background:The present study is an intervention-based qualitative study that explores the factors causing depression among antenatal women and analysescoping strategies based on the Thinking Healthy Programme (THP) intervention in the urban setting of Lahore, Pakistan.
Methods: An exploratory qualitative evaluation approach was used in the present study. The study comprises four phases, i.e., the screening phase, exploratory phase, intervention phase, and evaluation phase. During the first phase, pregnant women aged 18-45 years were screened for anxiety and depression by using the Urdu-translated Patient Health Care Questionnaire-9. In thesecond phase, identified women were interviewed to explore the factors responsible for depression. In the third phase, theintervention was administered via the THP intervention. In the last phase, the same women were reinterviewed to analyse the outcomes of the intervention. Thematic analysis was performed for the analysis of the interviews.
Results: Three main themes emerged in the preintervention phase: 1) the impact of adverse life events on the mental health of pregnant women, 2) the adverse effects of marital relationship issues on pregnant women, and 3) depression-causing factors due to the joint family system. Furthermore, four themes emerged in the postintervention stage: 1) development of positivity in thinking and attitude, 2) learning about stress management through the provision of compassion and sharing avenues, 3) gaining self-esteem to address matters positively, and 4) improving relationships with the unborn child and family. Numerous pregnant women praised the THP project and recommended that hospitals adopt it to assist pregnant patients in the Pakistani health system.
Conclusion:The results of this study indicate that depression during pregnancy is a serious problem among women for diverse cultural and personal reasons. However, THP can be a valuable tool for helping many pregnant women who are experiencing prenatal depression recover.
AM fungi and pathogen dissimilarity predicting plant-microbial interactions strength in graminoids and forbs
Authors: Ding Zijian , Bai Long , Ren Baihui , Qin Sijun , Li Jiahuan , Guo Lizhu
Published: April 2024

Plant-microbial interactions (PMI) play a crucial role in plant growth, fitness and productivity, primarily through the mutualism and antagonism interactions between plants and soil microorganisms. The colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and pathogen are often used to speculate on the effects of microorganisms on plant growth, i.e. plant-microbial interactions (PMI). However, empirical studies demonstrate the relationship between AM fungi or pathogen and PMI effects remains limited, especially under different biotic and abiotic conditions. Here, we evaluated the colonization rates of AM fungi and pathogen across 13 grassland species under individual or communal conditions, in both overgrazed and restored soil. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between AM fungi or pathogen and PMI. Our results showed that forbs exhibited significantly higher rates of AM fungal colonization compared to graminoids in community condition and overgrazed soil while graminoid roots showed higher pathogen infestation compared to forbs in individual condition and overgrazed soil. Generally, there was a positive correlation between PMI and AM fungal colonization but a negative correlation between PMI and pathogen disease. The PMI of graminoids exhibited a negative correlation with pathogen disease in individual condition and overgrazed soil, but showed no correlation with AM fungal colonization. On the other hand, the PMI of forbs showed a positive correlation with AM colonization in both restored and overgrazed soil, as well as in both individual and community experiments. However, there was no correlation between PMI of forbs and pathogen disease. The PMI of graminoids and forbs in grassland ecosystems can be driven by distinct soil microorganisms. These insights enable us to better understand how soil mutualists and pathogen mediate PMI effects on plant growth, with implications for grassland management and restoration.
Clinical features analysis of 105 children with liver failure
Authors: Chen Leilei , Zheng Yucan , Hu Guorui , leilei chen , Lu Yan , Liu Zhi-feng
Published: April 2024

Objective To study the clinical features of pediatric liver failure and provide reference for diagnosis and prevention. Methods Clinical data of children diagnosed with liver failure at XX Hospital from 2012 to 2023 were collected and statistically analyzed.
Results Among 105 cases of liver failure in children, the age ranged from 1 day to 14 years and 11 months, with a median age of 1 year and 9 months. There were 67 males and 38 females, with acute and subacute liver failure accounting for 82.8%. The most common causes were hereditary metabolic diseases (24 cases, 22.9%), followed by infection factors (12 cases, 11.4%), and biliary diseases (10 cases, 9.5%). However, the cause remained unknown in 34.3% of cases. The most common clinical manifestations were poor appetite, fever, and jaundice. The main complications were hepatic encephalopathy, electrolyte disorders, and infection. There was no statistically significant difference in age, albumin, blood ammonia, presence of hepatic encephalopathy, ALT, and GGT between the survival group and the 28-day mortality group (P>0.05). The survival group had lower PELD/MELD scores, total bilirubin, and INR, and higher platelet count compared to the 28-day mortality group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05).
Conclusion Hereditary metabolic diseases, infection, and biliary diseases are common causes of pediatric liver failure. MELD/PELD scores can predict the prognosis of liver failure. Clinical feature analysis and MELD/PELD scores are helpful in guiding clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis assessment.
CD59 Protects Primary Human Cerebrovascular Smooth Muscle Cells from Cytolytic Membrane Attack Complex
Authors: Whinnery Carson , Nie Ying , Boskovic Danilo S. , Soriano Salvador , Kirsch Wolff M.
Published: April 2024

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is characterized by a weakening of the small and medium sized cerebral arteries, as their smooth muscle cells are progressively replaced with acellular amyloid β, increasing vessel fragility and vulnerability to microhemorrhage. In this context, an aberrant overactivation of the complement system would further aggravate this process. The surface protein CD59 protects most cells from complement-induced cytotoxicity, but expression levels can fluctuate due to disease and vary between cell types. The degree to which CD59 protects human cerebral vascular smooth muscle (HCSM) cells from complement-induced cytotoxicity has not yet been determined. To address this shortcoming, we selectively blocked the activity of HCSM-expressed CD59 with an antibody and challenged the cells with complement, then measured cellular viability. Unblocked HCSM cells proved resistant to all tested concentrations of complement, and this resistance decreased progressively with increasing concentrations of anti-CD59 antibody. Complete CD59 blockage, however, did not result in total loss of cellular viability, suggesting that additional factors may have some protective functions. Taken together, this implies that CD59 plays a predominant role in HCSM cellular protection against complement-induced cytotoxicity. Over-expression of CD59 could be an effective means of protecting these cells from excessive complement system activity, with consequent reduction in the incidence of microhemorrhage. The precise extent to which cellular repair mechanisms and other complement repair proteins contribute to this resistance has yet to be fully elucidated.
Assessing the Complexity of Cloud Pricing Policies: A Comparative Market Analysis
Authors: Liagkou Vasilliki , Fragiadakis George , Filiopoulou Evangelia , Michalakelis Christos , Tsadimas Anargyros , Nikolaidou Mara
Published: April 2024

Cloud computing has gained popularity at a breakneck pace over the last few years. It has revolutionised the way businesses operate by providing a flexible and scalable infrastructure for their computing needs. Cloud providers offer a range of services with a variety of pricing schemes. Cloud pricing schemes are based on functional factors like CPU, RAM and storage, combined with different payment options, such as pay-per-use, subscription-based and non-functional aspects, such as scalability and availability. While cloud pricing can be complicated, it is critical for businesses to thoroughly assess and compare pricing policies along with technical requirements to ensure they design an investment strategy. This paper evaluates current pricing strategies for IaaS, CaaS and PaaS cloud services and also focuses on the top leading cloud providers, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. To compare pricing policies between different services and providers, a hedonic price index is constructed for each service category based on data set collected in 2022. Using the hedonic price index a comparative analysis between them becomes feasible. The results revealed that providers follow the very same pricing pattern for IaaS and CaaS, with CPU being the main driver of cloud pricing schemes, whereas PaaS pricing fluctuates among cloud providers.
Cyanobacterial inoculation promotes growth of the aquatic plant Salvinia auriculata
Authors: Pimenta Larissa Langsdorff , Souza Grécia Andrade , Pereira Luis Carlos , Vaz Marcelo Gomes , Coelho Flávia Freitas
Published: April 2024

Clonal plants, like cyanobacteria, are widespread and perform important ecosystem functions, influencing the structure and composition of the habitats in which they occur. Some cyanobacteria perform biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and can affect plant growth as nitrogen (N) is a limiting nutrient. Therefore, to investigate whether heterocystous cyanobacteria favour individual growth and reproductive strategies (sexual reproduction and clonal growth) of Salvinia auriculata, we carried out a greenhouse experiment with the inoculation of two strains of cyanobacteria, Desmonostoc (UFLA 12) and Cronbergia (UFLA 35). S. auriculata ramets were grown in plastic pots with the following treatments: (D) Desmonostoc (UFLA 12) inoculum; (C) Cronbergia (UFLA 35) inoculum; (D + C) Cronbergia (UFLA 35) + Desmonostoc (UFLA 12) inoculum, and (Co) control, absence of cyanobacteria. Treatments (D) and (D + C) positively influenced the clonal growth of S. auriculata. Desmonostoc inoculation contributed to numerical increase in shoots, biomass gain, and shoot size. Cronbergia (UFLA 35) alone was not able to promote the growth of S. auriculata, only in consortium with Desmonostoc (UFLA 12). We conclude that the inoculation of Desmonostoc (UFLA 12) and Cronbergia (UFLA 35) favours the clonal growth of S. auriculata contributing to its more vigorous spread. The fact that Desmonostoc (UFLA 12) and Cronbergia (UFLA 35) favoured the clonal growth of S. auriculata may serve as a tool to assist in understanding the excessive growth of these plants in aquatic environments, for acting as a potential biofertiliser.
Prevalence of Aedes Mosquitoes During the Dengue Transmission Season in Haridwar City of Uttarakhand State, India
Authors: Singh R. K. , Akhtar Nasreen , Siddiqui Nida , Singh Sangeeta
Published: April 2024

An entomological investigation was conducted in the dengue-affected regions of Haridwar city, Uttarakhand, during the dengue transmission season. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of Aedesmosquitoes and identify high-risk areas in Haridwar city for the control of dengue disease. Out of 1922 residential premises, commercial establishments, and public places only 244 localities were found positive for Aedesbreeding. The House Index (HI), Container Index (CI), and Breteau Index (BI) in residential areas were 12.40, 8.08, and 20.68, respectively, while the CI in commercial and public places was 33.50. Aedes aegypti followed by Ae. albopictus and Ae. vittatus was the most dominating species and found in peri-domestic habitats. Larvae of Ae. aegypti was collected from junk materials, cemented tanks, pots, seepage water tanks, mud pots, discarded tires, tree holes, desert coolers, mani pots, plastic containers, tray of the domestic refrigerator, and flower pots. The average Man Hour Density (MHD) of Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Ae. vittatusin residential areas were 10.77, 6.81, and 0.52, while in commercial/official areas, they were 4.75, 7.95, and 1.68. Five species of Aedes mosquitoes, namely Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. vittatus, Ae. pseudotaeniatus, and Ae. thomsoni, were recorded during the study.
The examining on DNA binding activities of tetrakis-(4-tritylphenoxy)-phthalocyanine copper (II) phthalocyanine complex
Authors: Arslantaş Ali , Ağırtaş Mehmet Salih , Solğun Derya Güngördü
Published: April 2024

Cu (II) phthalocyanine complex had been previously synthesized by reacting 4-(4-tritylphenoxy)phthalonitrile compound. The structure of obtained CuPc complex had been analyzed by absorption titration, infrared and NMR spectroscopies techniques. The DNA interacting property for the complex was analyzed in various concentration of CT-DNA utilizing elctronic absorption, emission spectroscopy, gel agarose electrophoresis and thermal melting procedures. In this report, the binding constant value for the complex was also estimated. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic processes proved that CuPc interacts by CT-DNA. At the the same time, the thermal melting and electrophoresis technics were practiced to analyze the intercating property of CuPc by DNA. The thermal melting and electrophoresis assays supported that CuPc combines with DNA via an intercalative interacting mechanism. The obtained findings demonstrated that the complex connects to DNA by an intercalative interacting mode. Therefore, CuPc complex may have potential cancer therapeutic agent.
On the evaluation of synthetic longitudinal electronic health records
Authors: Achterberg Jim L. , Haas Marcel R. , Spruit Marco R.
Published: April 2024

Background:: Synthetic Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are becoming increasingly popular as a privacy enhancing technology. However, for longitudinal EHRs specifically, little research has been done into how to properly evaluate synthetically generated samples. In this article, we provide a discussion on existing methods and recommendations when evaluating the quality of synthetic longitudinal EHRs.
Methods:: We recommend to assess synthetic EHR quality through similarity to real EHRs in low-dimensional projections, accuracy of a classifier discriminating synthetic from real samples, performance of synthetic versus real trained algorithms in clinical tasks, and privacy risk through risk of attribute inference. For each metric we discuss strengths and weaknesses, next to showing how it can be applied on a longitudinal dataset.
Results:: To support the discussion on evaluation metrics, we apply discussed metrics on a dataset of synthetic EHRs generated from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) repository.
Conclusions:: The discussion on evaluation metrics provide guidance for researchers on how to use and interpret different metrics when evaluating the quality of synthetic longitudinal EHRs.
The relationship between immune cells and prostate cancer, and the mediating role of metabolites: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wu Xipeng , Zou Wenda , Liu Ziwei
Published: April 2024

Background
Research has demonstrated the significant involvement of immune cells in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). However, the precise causal relationship between immune cells and PCa remains unclear.
Methods
This study utilized bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis to investigate the causal link between immune cells and PCa. Additionally, employed mediation MR design to ascertain the potential mediating role of metabolites in the connection between immune cells and PCa outcomes.
Results
Unswitched memory B cell % lymphocyte and CD24 + CD27 + B cell % lymphocyte were positively related to PCa risk, while CD62L − monocyte absolute count and CD62L − monocyte % monocyte were negatively associated with PCa risk. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to validate these results. The mediation MR results indicate that 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropanoate (CMPF) levels may be an independent risk factor for PCa, while the succinate to acetoacetate ratio (SA ratio) was found to be a mediator for the effect of CD62L − monocyte % monocyte on PCa, with a mediation proportion of 16.6% (mediation percentage: 16.6%, 95%CI = -163% -196%).
Conclusion
The research validates the genetic causality between particular immune cells and PCa, and has emphasized the potential intermediary function of SA ratio. These noteworthy discoveries provide fresh perspectives for the clinical management of PCa.
WAPT: a friendly interactive web application for performance assessment in interlaboratory comparisons
Authors: Leal Luiz Henrique da Conceição , Rocha Werickson Fortunato de Carvalho
Published: April 2024

A free and user-friendly web application for performance assessment in interlaboratory comparisons (IC) was developed to aid IC providers with statistical analysis of results reported by participants. WAPT has three modules that can deal with univariate, categorical, and multivariate data sets. Each module provides well-established statistical methods and recent approaches to proficiency testing assessment. This brief communication presents some features of WAPT using data sets examples from: (i) proficiency testing to evaluate the performance of food and beverage analysis laboratories in the determination of benzoic acid in orange juice; (ii) proficiency testing to verify the ability of participating laboratories to correctly identify 19 salmonella serotypes; (iii) interlaboratory comparison to evaluate the effectiveness of $^1$H NMR metabolomics to generate comparable data sets from environmentally derived samples. WAPT graphs and tables are used in all examples.
Research on seismic performance and improvement of rural self-built houses
Authors: Zhang jian xiong , Liu De Wen , Sun Rui , Ding Yong , Zhao Yunlong , Wang Jia , Sun Weiwei
Published: April 2024

The traditional self-built houses with a bottom frame structure, still prevalent in rural areas, pose a significant risk of damage during earthquakes due to the structural weaknesses of the first and second floors. Despite this vulnerability, many residents continue to construct such houses due to their structural convenience. This study focuses on a rural self-built house with a frame bottom layer and three masonry upper layers. By subjecting the structure to seven seismic waves, we analyze the seismic responses of traditional seismic structures, bottom shear wall structures, foundation isolation structures, and storey separation structures. A comparative assessment of the seismic performance of these four structures under earthquake conditions is conducted. The study confirms the advantages and feasibility of implementing base shear wall and isolation technologies in rural self-built bottom frame structures. The findings reveal that bottom shear walls can mitigate seismic damage to some extent. Additionally, the implementation of isolation technology can effectively extend the structure's period and prevent site-specific vulnerabilities. When foundation isolation is applied, structural acceleration, interstory shear, interstory displacement, and base shear can be reduced from 18.261–32.098% of those observed in traditional seismic structures, indicating a significant improvement in seismic resilience. Moreover, the seismic performance of storey separation surpasses that of bottom shear walls, while foundation isolation outperforms both storey separation and bottom shear walls in terms of seismic performance.
The Effects of Fenugreek Seed on Glycemic Parameters: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta- analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Chehregosha Fatemeh , Fakhr Laleh , Tarighat-Esfanjani Ali , Maghsoumi-Norouzabad Leila
Published: April 2024

Purpose
The presented comprehensive review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aimed to analyze the effectiveness of fenugreek on fasting blood glucose (FBS), 2h postprandial glucose (2hPPG), Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), Insulin and Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).
Methods
A systematic literature search of the several databases was performed from inception to 30 October 2023, for controlled clinical trials. Data were analysed using the random-effect model, and presented as weighted (WMD) or standardized (SMD) mean difference and associated 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity between studies assessed using the Cochrane χ2 test. To identify the source of heterogeneity, meta-regression, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis used. Funnel plot, Egger's and Begg's tests also used to evaluate publication bias.
Results
A total of 26 RCTs met the eligibility criteria. The results indicated signifcant improving effects of fenugreek on FBS (WMD: − 16.75 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 23.36, − 10.15; P < 0.001), PPG (WMD: − 22.28 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 34.42 to − 10.15; P < 0.001; I² (%): 95.1%, P < 0.001), HbA1C levels (WMD: − 0.63 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 0.76 to − 0.51; P < 0.001), and insulin (SMD: − 0.42; 95% CI: − 0.79 to − 0.05; P = 0.026). However, the effect on HOMA-IR was not significant (WMD: -22.28 mg/dL; 95% CI: − 0.84 to 0.02; P = 0.061).
Conclusion
The overall results support possible protective and therapeutic effects of fenugreek on glycemic parameters. Future studies with higher quality are necessary to confirm the results of the present meta-analyses.
Effect of Double Layer Lamination Method in Vacuum Sealing Drainage for Treating Poor Incision Healing after Posterior Spinal Surgery
Authors: Huang Lishan , Wang Lin , Xu Yanxin , Luo Qihui , Liu Fang , Wu Hui , Zhang Hui
Published: April 2024

Objective: To explore the efficacy of the double layer lamination method in VSD for the treatment of poor incision healing after posterior spinal surgery.
Methods: Out of the 915 patients hospitalized in our department for posterior spine surgery between January 2021 and December 2022, 41 cases with postoperative poor incision healing treated with VSD were included in the study. The enrolled cases underwent treatment with vacuum sealing drainage and were subsequently divided into study and control groups according to their admission order. Among the cases, 20 in the study group received treatment utilizing the double layer lamination method,whereas the conventional laminating method was employed for 21 cases in the control group. This study compares the incidence of localized skin adverse reactions (skin redness, itching, skin breakdown, blistering), patch leakage, patch replenishment, dressing change, duration of tube placement, and comfort ( pipe pulling pain) at the exit end of the VSD drain in the two groups of patients.
Results: The incidence of localized skin redness and blistering at the outlet end of the VSD drain in the test group was lower than that in the control group, and the leakage of the film, the frequency of replenishment of the film and the time of placement of the tube were less than that in the control group, and the comfort was better than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The implementation of the double layer lamination method is beneficial in minimizing the occurrence of localized skin adverse reactions at the outlet end of the VSD drainage tube, reducing film leakage and the need for replenishment, reducing duration of tube placement, enhancing the comfort of VSD drainage, and positively impacting the prognosis of patients. This method exhibits promising potential for extensive application in clinical practice.
MicroRNA-32-5p promotes the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer cells
Authors: Sun Chao , Huang Lai-gang , Leng Bing , Guo Yanting , Chen Chen , Lv Ruijie , Dong Yan , Gao Tian-tian , Sun De-qing
Published: April 2024

Background
Gastric cancer (GC) is a huge threat to global health, there is no effective treatment or just delay the progression of advanced GC until now. Micro-RNAs were reported to participate in the progression of GC. However, the role and regulation mechanisms of microRNA-32-5p (miR-32-5p) in the pathogenesis of GC remain unclear.
Method
Clonal formation, MTT, caspase-3 activity, sperm DNA fragmentation, flow cytometry assay, cell adhesion, transwell assays were performed to detect the functions of miR-32-5p or anti-miR-32-5p on the growth and metastasis of GC cells. Western blot, qRT-PCR, Co-immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter analysis were performed to explore the associated mechanisms. We established mouse tumor xenografts and mouse metastasis models to explore the role of miR-32-5p and anti-miR-32-5p in vivo.
Result
MiR-32-5p significantly promoting the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells at both in vitro and in vivo levels. The underlying mechanism maybe that miR-32-5p complementary paired with the 3′-UTR of DSC2, and inhibited the expression of DSC2. Furthermore, we found that DSC2 suppressed the transcription of Cyclin B1, and induced G2/M phase arrest through inhibiting the complex of β-catenin/TCF4 in nucleus.
Conclusion
MiR-32-5p negatively regulated the DSC2 expression in GC cells, might be a potential therapeutic targeting of cancers, most especially in GC.
Three Phase Distribution Static Compensator for Power Quality Improvement Using Chimp Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Kanase Digvijay B , Jadhav H. T. , Bhosale Y. N.
Published: April 2024

ABSTARCT
In order to increase power quality, this study presents a structure of a photovoltaic (PV) array coupled with a battery functioned DC/DC boost converter feeding a three-legged VSC (Voltage Source converter) with isolation transformer. With the aid of a PV and battery, constant reactive power compensation will be provided while taking system demand into account. PV provides VSC with daytime voltage, and batteries can provide VSC with nighttime voltage. Due to the extremely low output of PV cells, DC-DC booster is used to boost the voltage up to the system demand of the voltage source converter (DSTATCOM). At night, batteries can supply power to the DC-DC booster to sustain the DC link voltage required by the VSC. The key benefit of this suggested strategy is that it will offer constant compensation throughout the entire day. The system is evaluated before and after compensation utilizing the MATLAB-SIMULINK environment by using chimp optimization method.
A method for predicting non-uniform wear of flapping driving mechanism joint considering uncertainty
Authors: Wang Keke , Jiang Deyin , Jiang Senke , Gao Zhixuan , Zhuang Xinchen , Cui Weimin
Published: April 2024

The driving mechanism of the flapping wing aircraft is a critical component which affects the aircraft performance directly. However, in practical flights, the joint of the mechanism was found with non-uniform wear, in some cases leading to the failure of the mechanism. As an essential connection component, the joint has a crucial effect on the transmitting loads and the motion rules, but the clearance of the joint is unavoidable, it will affect the performance of the mechanism. At the same time, the contact collision force triggers non-uniform wear, accelerates the functional degradation of the mechanism, and impacts the safety of the mechanism. Therefore, a method for predicting non-uniform wear of joint considering multi-source random variables is proposed in this paper, and the flapping driving mechanism is taken as an example for joint wear prediction, and the validity of the method is verified by comparing with the practical experimental joint wear. In addition, the wear reliability and sensitivity of the flapping driving mechanism considering uncertainty are also investigated, and it provides guidance for the lifetime prediction and optimization design of the flapping driving mechanism.
Healthcare resource utilisation and costs in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma: A data linkage project using a sarcoma referral centre in Australia
Authors: Bae Susie , Brnabic Alan , Mar Jasmine , Desai Jayesh
Published: April 2024

Background
Treatment landscape of advanced soft tissue sarcoma (aSTS) has been rapidly evolving in recent decades. The impact of novel treatment approaches on the healthcare system is a complex issue that needs to carefully balance the potential benefits with their associated costs. In this retrospective study we accessed multiple large administrative datasets of publicly funded health systems to describe real-world healthcare resource use (HCRU) patterns and associated costs for managing patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma in Australia.
Methods
Probalistic data linkage was performed using 361 patients with aSTS identified from a tertiary referral centre between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015, with four administrative datasets on hospital admission, emergency presentation, Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule. Two specific time settings were nominated to extract HCRU and to analyse costs: 12 months prior to the diagnosis of aSTS and 12 months post the diagnosis of aSTS. Comparison data were presented using descriptive statistics.
Results
The yearly cost per patient was AUD $42,622 before the aSTS diagnosis, increasing to AUD $69,145 after the aSTS diagnosis. The bootstrap confidence interval for the difference in all costs was AUD $24,982 (95% confidence interval (CI), $18,164 to $31,390), in excess of costs after the diagnosis of aSTS. The most substantial cost difference was driven by the inpatient care with the hospital admission costs accounting for up to 79%. The cost of subsidised medication only accounted for 1.3% of the total healthcare costs before aSTS diagnosis, rising to 5.2% after the diagnosis of aSTS. The overall cost was substantially higher for the group who received chemotherapy (AUD $39,160, 95% CI [$30,170 to $47,594] vs. AUD $13,057, 95% CI [$4,766 to $22,323]).
Conclusions
This is the first Australian study to use individual-level data in estimating the healthcare cost for patients diagnosed with aSTS. The healthcare costs are significant, predominantly driven by costs incurred from inpatient hospital care. These findings present an opportunity to inform the Australian healthcare system on the importance of optimising resources and adopting more efficient strategies for planning and delivering health services.
Health Services Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure in Sudan: A Study of a Tertiary Public Hospital 2017-2020.
Authors: AbdAlla Eltayeb , MohamedAli Hoyam , AbdAlla Rawan , Ahmed Mohammed , Mohammedkheir Manal , Malik Elfatih
Published: April 2024

Background: Financial protection should be guaranteed to ensure universal health coverage. Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure may hinder financial protection for low-income populations; however, the use of OOP expenditure in healthcare remains controversial.
Objectives: This study aimed to examine OOP expenditure and health service utilization in the setting of a Sudanese tertiary hospital as a sample.
Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review conducted at one of the largest tertiary public hospitals in Khartoum, Sudan, from 2017 to 2020. Monthly hospital records of service utilization and OOP expenditures were obtained from the statistical and financial units of the hospital. Monthly inflation rates were obtained from the Sudanese ministry of finance. The data was analyzed using SPSS V28.
Results: The average number of services provided per month for all services was significantly decreasing throughout the study period (2017–2020); however, operations showed no significant change (from 0.94± 0.58.16 to 1.19± 0.59 thousand service/ month, p-value 0.22). The monthly average OOP expenditure on all services was rising, except expenditure on outpatient services which declined from 6.36± 7.71 to 1.91± 4.86 thousand SDGs/month (p-value <0.001) and refereed clinic services which declined from 521.11± 90.78 to 53.20± 41.16 thousand SDGs/ month (p-value <0.001) between 2017 and 2020. Univariate analysis showed that inflation (p-value 0.001) was negatively associated with health services utilization, which remained significant (<0.001) after adjustment with OOP expenditure and showed no association with health services utilization in univariate analysis (p-value 0.24).
Conclusion: Health service utilization has been declining in recent years, accompanied by increasing OOP expenditure. Inflation-driven high pricing is an explanation for this pattern; however, many factors should be studied. Policymakers and governors should consider applying strategic interventions such as increasing governmental share and expanding insurance.