bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Mechanisms of Zixue Powder Ameliorate Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis through Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking
Authors: Lu Siyu , Huang Mingxuan , Li Linwei , Ge Rongguang , Gong Yuan , Zhang Zengli , chang jie
Published: April 2024

Background
Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE) is an acute central infectious neurologic disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Zixue powder, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been commonly used for the treatment of HSE. However, the specific target genes and underlying mechanisms of Zixue powder in ameliorating HSE are still not well understood. This research aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of Zixue Powder in improving HSE using network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques.
Methods
The active components and targets of the Zixue Powder were identified using the HERBdatabase. Disease targets related to HSE were obtained from the GeneCards and OMIM databases. Predicted targets and protein-to-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) server to uncover the potential underlying mechanisms involved. The core targets identified, including TNFA, CXCL8, CASP3, IL10 and INS, were further subjected to molecular docking with the active ingredient of the Zixue powder.
Results
The molecular docking results indicated that the Zixue powder strongly interacted with the core target. Network pharmacology revealed that Zixue Powder has multicomponent, multitarget, and multichannel pharmacological effects in the treatment of HSE. Network pharmacology revealed that Zixue Powder has multicomponent, multitarget, and multichannel pharmacological effects in the treatment of HSE
Conclusions
TNFA, CXCL8, CASP3, IL10, and INS are closely associated with the immune response. We propose that key components such as β-sitosterol and (L)-alpha-terpineol in Zixue Powder may function as immunomodulators in the treatment of HSV infection.
The relationship between ITCZ and the Equatorial Stratospheric Gravity Waves inferred from Radio Occultation Measurements
Authors: Ayorinde Toyese Tunde , Wrasse Cristiano Max , Takahashi Hisao , Sapucci Luiz Fernando , Barros Diego , Figueiredo Cosme Alexandre Oliveira Barros , Essien Patrick
Published: April 2024

The GNSS radio occultation (RO) temperature and refractivity data obtained from COSMIC-1, COSMIC-2, and METOP satellites for 2011-2021 was used to investigate the occurrence of equatorial stratospheric gravity waves (ESGWs) and their relationship with the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), as well as the ITCZ as a significant source of ESGWs. The ESGWs were inferred using the RO temperature profiles and the GW potential energy (Ep). The ITCZ and the peak concentrated Ep are found by taking the maximum point of the meridional refractivity and the Ep at each longitude using a Gaussian fit. The ITCZ location varies latitudinally by 10 between December-January-February (DJF) and June-July-August (JJA), and by 5 between September-October-November (SON) and March-April-May (MAM) over the world landscape and oceanic regions. The position and strength of the ITCZ vary from year to year. The inter-annual variability migrated about 5 - 15 north and south. The global ESGW Ep maxima displayed seasonal changes similar to the ITCZ. The global ESGW Ep maxima were more consistent in the NH and SH, with a significantly smaller gap than the ITCZs. Two convergences in the Ep maxima over the western Pacific and South America are suggested to be connected to the double ITCZ and El Nin˜o Southern Oscillation (ENSO), respectively. The study’s findings indicate a strong correlation between the ITCZ and Ep maxima in various seasons, implying that the ITCZ plays a significant role in driving the ESGWs. Furthermore, the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) could impact atmospheric refractivity and the ESGW Ep.
Determination of the effect of Genotype × Environment interaction on the trait seed cotton yield in upland cotton (G. hirsutum) genotypes using AMMI and GGE biplot methods
Authors: VISHNUVARDHAN KALAPATI MOHAN , Reddy Bana Venkata Ravi Prakash , Sudeepthi Konuku , Amarnath Kolimigundla , Venkateswarlu Nayakanti Chinna , Reddy Yettapu Rama
Published: April 2024

Background
Cotton is an important natural fiber crop worldwide that demands the attention of the textile industry worldwide. Seed cotton yield is a complex polygenic trait that is influenced by many genetic and environmental factors across locations and years.
Results
The present investigation was conducted in three consecutive environments to delineate the genotype × environment interaction and to assess the stability of seven cotton genotypes at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, during 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. Multivariate stability tests such as additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and genotype and genotype-by-environment interaction (GGE) models were employed to investigate the stability among cotton genotypes. The AMMI results revealed that the majority of the variation was explained by the sum of the squares of the environmental variables, followed by the sum of the squares of the genotypic variables and the sum of the GEIs for the majority of the traits studied. The first two interaction principal components explained the majority of the GEI in all traits under study. A two-dimensional GGE biplot generated using the first two principal components revealed that the GGE biplot explained 97.14% of the total variation, which was distributed as 83.73% and 13.41% of the sum of squares between principal components PC1 and PC2, respectively, for biometric trait seed cotton yield.
Conclusions
Based on which-won-where polygon, ideal genotype ranking of AMMI and GGE biplot analysis, genotype, G3 (NDLH 2035-5) was identified as having the highest yield and was most stable in all the test environments studied. However, low yielding but stable genotypes such as G4 (BGDS 1033) and G7 (Sivanandi) were also identified. Among the three environments studied, environment E1 (2018-19) was identified as the most discriminating and representative.
Thermoresponsive [(PLA)-b-(Car)] based frustum-shaped capsules with extended porosity for biosensing and biomedical applications
Authors: Pawar Chander Amgoth , Luo David Xu , Rokkala Divya , Bura Raju , Bhagyalaxmi Gundeti , Rani Rampilla Sudha , Mannam Krishna Veni , Kothamasu SURESH BABU
Published: April 2024

We present, a facile method for the synthesis of block co-polymer of [(PLA)-b-(Car)], (PLA-Poly Lactic acid and Car-Carbazole) followed by the development of cone and ice-cream cup-shaped frustums with nanoporous capsules for bio-sensing and drug loading applications. Thermoplastic polyester PLA aminated with an aromatic heterocyclic organic compound Car gives the desired shape and characteristics of the capsules with extended porosity on the surface. The size, shape, and morphology of the capsules are tunable concerning solvents and thermal treatment. Interestingly, the synthesis and development of nanoporous hollow (half-broken coconut type) capsules has been carried out without using any precursors and surfactants. Synthesis of [(PLA)-b-(Car)] has been confirmed through the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR; 1H and 13C). However, the morphology and surface properties of capsules were confirmed through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Bruner Emmett Teller (BET), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterizations. The capsule size ranges from ~200 nm to 1 µm (in diameter) and porosity scales from ~60 to 80 nm. The hollow and porous surface of the capsules with biosensing and biomedical applications can be considered as a unique and novel characteristic property of our invention. This kind of novel cone and ice cream cup-shaped hollow frustums can be used as a stimuli-responsive catalytic activity through the fluorescence measurement of cysteine and gold nanoparticle [(Cys)-(Au+)] for enhanced payload and biomedical applications.
RETRACTED: Environmental risk factors in a population with dyslexia
Authors: Duranovic Mirela , Kobelja Lidija , Andrejas Matea
Published: April 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Assessment of resistant Escherichia coli in groundwater sources and sanitary inspection for contamination risk in Bagamoyo, Tanzania
Authors: Md Joram Japhet , Msuya Hajirani Musa , Rugaika Anita Mukarugaika , Mzee Tutu , Laizer Tajiri , Mkindi Catherine Gerald , Kimaro Esther Gwae
Published: April 2024

Background
Two billion people globally are using faecal-contaminated water. E. coli poses a health risk due to its potential to cause diseases which highlights the need for understanding its antimicrobial resistance profile and associated factors for contamination.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Bagamoyo district council that involved 163 groundwater sources with sanitary inspection and isolation of E. coli was conducted using a Membrane filtration method and CHROMagar CCA. In this study, antibiotic susceptibility was carried out according to CLSI guidelines by disk diffusion methods. E. coli strain ATCC 25922 was used as the control strain in isolation and susceptibility tests.
Results
The current study found that 44.8% of groundwater samples were contaminated with E. coli, with 83.6% of isolates were resistant to antibiotics. High resistance was observed to cefazolin (56.16%), nitrofurantoin (54.79%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (45.21%), and ceftriaxone (42.47%). Also, the study reveals that 70% of E. coli isolates had multidrug resistance. On the other hand, sanitary inspection showed that 46.2% of dug wells were at a high sanitary risk level, 32.8% of tube wells with hand pumps were at High and low sanitary risk level, respectively and 73.3% of boreholes were at a low sanitary risk level. However, the study showed a high rate of E. coli contamination in boreholes at a low sanitary risk level. Also, tube wells with hand pumps and dug wells at high sanitary risk levels had a high rate of E. coli contamination. Moreover, resistant E. coli in groundwater across varying contamination risk levels revealed a significant prevalence of contamination.
Conclusion
These findings indicate that there is a potential high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in groundwater in the study area and thus the need for advocacy of proper use of antibiotics and to avoid environmental contamination of resistant bacteria in groundwater sources through improved hygiene.
Discovery of High-Expressing lncRNA-Derived sORFs as Potential Tumor-associated Antigens in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Kim Yooeun , Ha Hongseok , Kim Kwangsoo
Published: April 2024

Background This study focuses on a comprehensive analysis of ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) data to identify long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with elevated expression of small open reading frames (sORFs) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The investigation explores the emerging role of sORFs as potential tumor-specific epitopes, contributing insights to tumor immunotherapy.
Methods The identification of sORFs was facilitated using the MetamORF database, employing a meticulous analysis of ribosome profiling data within HCC-associated lncRNAs. Translation efficiency was assessed, and epitope prediction was performed using the pVACbind tool. To determine the existence of micropeptides originating from sORFs, a peptide search was conducted. validated translational activity and identified potential epitopes.
Results Our findings reveal increased translation efficiency in HCC-associated lncRNAs compared to normal tissues. Notably, ORF3418981 demonstrates the highest expression, supported by experimental evidence at the protein level. Epitope prediction identifies a putative epitope at ORF3418981's C-terminus.
Conclusion The importance of lncRNA-derived sORFs in HCC is highlighted by this work, which connects the fields of tumor immunotherapy and non-coding RNA biology. Finding particular lncRNAs that have increased translation, like ORF3418981, points to possible therapeutic targets for the treatment of HCC. These revelations offer a basis for comprehending lncRNA-derived sORFs' translational and protein-coding abilities in relation to HCC.
Multi-USV System Formation Control Based on Improved DWA Algorithm in Unknown Complex Environment
Authors: Zhang Kun , Li Yongguo , Wang Yuanrong , Xie Jia
Published: April 2024

This paper explores the challenges of multiple unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to maintain formation and effectively avoid obstacles in unknown and complex marine environments. To this end, a novel formation control strategy based on the improved VSAPF method is proposed in this paper. The core concept is to apply the improved dynamic window approach (DWA) to the formation control algorithm at the formation reference point. First, the DWA algorithm is improved. This includes a revision of the velocity window and three existing evaluation functions, while a new evaluation function is introduced. This new function expands the sampling range of velocity and improves the scoring of favorable trajectories. In addition, adaptive weighting coefficients are employed to enhance the USV's target navigation and global search capabilities in unknown environments and to effectively mitigate the local minima problem. The proposed method is applicable to USV formations with various virtual structures. Finally, extensive simulations in Matlab demonstrate the effectiveness of the improved VSAPF method. The results show that the method achieves stable formation maintenance, flexible obstacle avoidance and transformation. In addition, the improved DWA greatly improves the passage efficiency and global search capability of USVs in unknown environments.
An Improve Nonlinear Robust Control Approach for Robotic Manipulators with PSO-based Global Optimization Strategy
Authors: Yue Peihao , Xu Bowen , Zhang Min
Published: April 2024

During the trajectory tracking process of robotic manipulators, many factors including complex strong nonlinear dynamics, unknown uncertainties and external disturbances, greatly increase the difficulty of control effect. Aiming for this issue, a nonlinear active disturbance rejection controller (NADRC) is proposed for robotic manipulators. In this controller, an extended state observer is introduced on basis of the dynamic model, to observe the extend state of model uncertainties and external disturbances. Then, in combination with the nonlinear feedback control structure, the robust trajectory tracking of robotic manipulators is achieved. Furthermore. In order to optimize the key parameters of the controller, an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm (IPSO) was designed using chaos theory, which improves the tracking accuracy of the proposed NDRC strategy effectively. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy was verified through simulation experiments.
Assessment of Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors Post 5 Years from Surgery: Study from a Community Hospital in India
Authors: Mathur Vasundhara , Swaminathan Niranjana , Gupta Neha , Nathani Priyansh , Bhandarkar Prashant , Sarang Bhakti , Gadgil Anita , Roy Nobhojit
Published: April 2024

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer afflicting women with an estimated 2.1 million new cases diagnosed globally every year. Breast cancer and its treatment significantly impair the patient’s physical mental health and thereby affect their overall quality of life (QOL). Our aim was to identify differences in long-term QOL between breast conservative surgery (BCS) and modified radical mastectomy (MRM) for early breast cancer among sociodemographic and clinical subgroups of patients.
Methods: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) hospital under Universal Health Coverage scheme. We recruited patients who were surgically treated for breast cancer between 2010 to 2015 and were continuing further treatment or follow-up. Their QOL scores were measured using the 37-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy- Breast, Version 4 (FACT-B) questionnaire andwere analysed using Mann-Whitney U test. P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Among the 86 patients (46 with BCS and 41 with MRM) included in the study, the mean age was 59 ± 11.5 years with a mean follow-up period of 6.9 years. Functional well-being was significantly better for the BCS group (P<0.01). However, the QOL scores corresponding to physical, social, and emotional well-being as well as body image and attractiveness scores for BCS and MRM at the end of the follow-up period were comparable (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Functional well-being was the only component of QOL that was noted to be higher for BCS for our study population. Future work on understanding the behavioural and cognitive components of body image in this patient population is warranted.
Investigating the association between periodontal disease and Alzheimer's disease: a scoping review
Authors: Zhang Xiaocui , Chang Diemeng , Wu Yanli
Published: April 2024

Background
The objective of this study was to evaluate and present evidence from animal and human clinical studies on associations between periodontal disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to suggest potential mechanisms that might explain such associations.
Methods
An electronic search was conducted of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for articles published from 2004to 2024 in the English language. From the initial search, 357 full-text studies were assessed for eligibility. After excluding studies for technical and study limitations, a total of 39 studies were included in the summary tables and additional studies were included in the review to support evidence.
Results
A total of 39 studies on the correlation between periodontal disease (PD) and Alzheimer 's disease (AD) were included in this study. Among them, 22 articles were related studies, and 20 studies showed that there was a correlation between PD and AD. 15 articles were related to mechanism research, and the research showed that PD is associated with brain Aβ and tau protein aggregation, the inflammatory response caused by PD is closely related to AD and P. gingivalis is closely related to the development of AD. Two latest treatment studies, studies have shown that gingipain inhibitors could be valuable for treating Pg brain colonization and neurodegeneration in AD and nisin abrogation of brain microbiome dysbiosis induces beneficial effects on AD-like pathogenic changes and neuroinfammation.
Conclusions
This scoping review shows that periodontal disease (PD) is associated with the progression of Alzheimer 's disease (AD). PD has been proposed as a potentially modifiable etiological factor for AD, which opens up new therapeutic strategies for the prevention or management of AD.
Transcriptomic analysis revealed that multiple metabolic pathways involved in the synergy response to salt stress induced by exogenous GABA at different stages in tomato plants
Authors: Wu Xiaolei , Yuan Ding , Jiang Shiqing , Chen Lida , Gong Binbin , Lü Guiyun , Li Jingrui , Gao Hongbo
Published: April 2024

Background
Plant salt tolerance is controlled by complex metabolic pathways. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) can act as a signaling molecule and metabolite to enhance plant salt tolerance. However, it is not clear which metabolic pathway and gene plays a major role in the defense system under the continuous influence of salt stress. The transcriptome data and metabolite analysis of 33 samples of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedling leaves under 175 mmol·L−1 stress for 0-96 h showed that the GABA+Na (GN) group showed strong salt tolerance.
Results
The time-dependent pattern of gene enrichment showed that the gene changes were mainly concentrated at 6 h, 48 h and 96 h. The amino acid synthesis, especially GABA, and some transporter-related genes play an important role in increasing the amino acid content of GN group plants. Accumulation of L-Phenylalanine induces upregulation and flavonoid accumulation of key genes in the phenylpropane and flavonoid pathways. Gene changes in the zeatin biosynthesis pathway explained the increase in zeatin. The up-regulated expression of major ion transporters and sugar transporters indicated that GABA maintained a relatively stable osmotic pressure by accelerating ion regionalization and regulating entry of small molecules into cells. AP2/ERF, bHLH and MYB transcription factors may play a regulatory role in this process.
Conclusions
Our study proposes a new temporal time model to elucidate various metabolic pathways, as well as amino acids, sugars, ion transporter and transcription factors how do synergize in GABA at different stages of salt stress tolerance in tomato.
Urban sprawl impact assessment on the land surface temperature over the green capital of Gujarat using a geo-spatial approach
Authors: Kalyan Sandeep , Pathak Bhawana
Published: April 2024

In developing countries, examining land use land cover (LULC) change pattern is crucial to understand the land surface temperature (LST) effect as urban development lacks coherent policy planning. The variability in LST is often determined by continuously changing LULC pattern. In this study LULC change effect analysis on LST has been carried out using geometric and radiometric corrected thermal bands of multi-spectral Landsat 7 ETM + and 8 TIRS/OLI satellite imagery over Gandhinagar, Gujarat in the years 2001 and 2022 respectively. Maximum likelihood classification (MLC) was applied to assess LULC change while NDVI-based single channel algorithm was used to retrieve LST using google earth engine (GEE). Results showed a substantial change in built-up (+ 347.08%), barren land (-50.74%) and vegetation (-31.66%). With change in LULC and impervious surfaces, the mean LST has increased by 5.47 ℃. The impact of sparse built-up was seen on vegetation and agriculture as maximum temperature of > 47℃ was noticed in all LULC classes except agriculture where the temperature reached as high as > 49℃ in 2022. Since Gandhinagar is developing on a twin-city (Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad) plan this study could be used as scientific basis for sustainable urban planning to overcome dynamic LULC change impacts.
Determination of Boric acid by ICP-AES and ICP-MS in Caviars and Processed food
Authors: Shin Jae-Wook , Kim Jung-Bok
Published: April 2024

. Boric acid is authorized as food additive in EU. However, it is not authorized for use in Korea. The analytical method of boric acid in foods has not been reported in Korea. In this study, an analytical method has been developed and validated for the determination of boric acid in caviars. We established the analytical assay for boric acid in caviars by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry(ICP-MS). Caviar samples were digested in closed vessels made of PTFE in an Automatic Microwave Digestion System. We also performed a method validation including linearity, inter-day, intra-day, precision, accuracy, Limit of detection (LOD) and Limit of Quantitation(LOQ) and recovery. The calibration curve was obtained from 0.2 µg/mL to 10 µg/mL with a satisfactory correlation coefficient of 0.99. The LOD and LOQ were 0.04 µg/mL and 0.16 µg/mL. The recoveries of boric acid from spiked samples at levels of 0.5, 2 and 10 µg/mL ranged from 91.8 to 98.3% with relative standard deviation(RSD) between 0.4 and 2.4 %.
Diversity in endodontic Enterococcus faecalis from Brazil with high occurrence of ST 397 clone
Authors: LINS RENATA , FREITAS FERNANDA , VICENTE ANA CAROLINA
Published: April 2024

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the genetic relatedness of E. faecalis strains from primary endodontic infections in Brazil, test the hypothesis of clones infecting unrelated individuals, and examine the antimicrobial resistance profile.
Materials and Methods: The genetic relationship of 32 endodontic E. faecalis were investigated by multilocus sequecing typing (MLST). These isolates were collected from unrelated patients with primary endodontic infection treated in Brazil between 2010 and 2023. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion technique according to the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute.
Results: 12 sequence types (STs) were detected, of which 8 STs contained only one strain. We found clones of ST 30, ST40, ST 97 and ST 397, with a high frequency of the latter (15/32). Susceptibility to the antimicrobial agents tested varied, with the highest percentage of resistance observed for clindamycin (100%), tetracycline (34.4%), azithromycin (31.2%) and ciprofloxacin (19.2%). One isolate was multidrug resistant.
Conclusions: MLST of endodontic E. faecalis showed clones infecting different individuals in different cities up to 10 years apart with high occurrence of ST 397. This data, together with the literature, raise the concern that there may be clones specialized in endodontic infections. Further MLST studies are needed, as well as surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in endodontic isolates.
Clinical Relevance: Enterococcus faecalis is a common cause of nosocomial infections and is frequently associated with root canal infections. The identification of clones specialized in endodontic infections may lead to more effective therapeutic strategies.
Understand Public Perspectives about “Industrial worker health” Based on Weibo Data : Content Analysis and Topic Modeling Study
Authors: Wang Pingping , Yao Jin , Li Yaqiong , Zhai Yuqiang , Lu Shouting , Huang Xiaorong
Published: April 2024

Background
Promoting the construction of a healthy China is a national strategy to comprehensively enhance the health quality of the Chinese nation and achieve coordinated development between people’s health and the economy and society. Strengthening safety production and occupational health work, improving working conditions, and enhancing the health quality of industrial workers are important aspects of building a healthy China. However, there is currently a lack of research on the content of speeches on online platforms such as Sina Weibo.
Objective
This study used a web crawler approach to obtain people’s opinions about “Industrial worker health”.We investigated the value of Chinese social media and related public perceptions and response. The goal was to determine if this data is suitable for public response.Through this exploration, the paper seeks to provide evidence-based recommendations to enhance the alignment of digital public opinion with the overarching goals of the “Healthy China” strategy, ultimately promoting the health and welfare of the industrial workforce.
Methods
This paper employed cutting-edge web scraping techniques to harvest data from the prominent social media platform, Sina Weibo. Through the application of sophisticated data collection tools, specifically the “Houyi Collector”, the study focuses on the keyword “industrial workers' health” to extract relevant information from Sina Weibo, thereby capturing the pulse of online discussions regarding the health concerns and awareness of industrial laborers.The gathered dataset is then meticulously analyzed using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling technique to identify and categorize the principal themes and trends that prevail in the online conversations. This analytic approach is intended to uncover the breadth and trajectory of public attention and attitudes toward the well-being of industrial workers within the context of the “Healthy China” initiative.
Results
By illuminating the digital footprint of health-related industrial worker discourses on a major Chinese social media platform, this research contributes a nuanced understanding of the virtual labor community’s engagement with health issues.
Conclusions
The insights derived from the LDA topic modeling are set to inform stakeholders, including policymakers, health advocates, and industrial enterprises, regarding the focal points and sentiments that shape the online narrative on industrial workers’ health in China.
Virtual Reality Simulator: Unveiling the "Inner" Skills of Endoscopists
Authors: Zhao Bei , Sun Wenqi , Wu Xinrong , Li Yifan , Wang Weiwei , Dou Xiaotan , Li Wen , Wang Lei , Chen Min
Published: April 2024

Background
This study aimed to create a simulation-based assessment system for evaluating endoscopist proficiency due to the absence of evidence-based scoring systems.
Methods
After feasibility and clinical relevance assessments of simulator modules by gastroenterology experts, a colonoscopy module with relatively high operational difficulty was chosen for testing and underwent preliminary validation. Additionally, a questionnaire was designed to collect information about endoscopist experience, including the number of colonoscopy and gastroscope performed, insertion time, cecal intubation rate, early colorectal cancer detection rate. Subsequently, 38 physicians from our hospital's endoscopy center completed the questionnaire and underwent virtual reality simulator training. The endoscopist's proficiency was assessed in real-time based on scoring criteria, including total operation time, percentage of examined mucosa, time to reach the cecum, screening efficiency, proportion of time with clear vision, and total time spent on colonoscope looping.
Results
In our study, no statistically significant differences were found among endoscopy experts, specialist attending physicians, and resident physicians in terms of their experience and early cancer detection rates (P > 0.05). However, the VR system scores, including operational completion time, time to reach the cecum, and the percentage of observed mucosa, were correlated with the number of colonoscopies completed by the endoscopists (P < 0.05). Operational completion time and time to reach the cecum were strongly correlated with usual insertion times (P < 0.001), and the percentage of observed mucosa score was related to early disease detection rates. Notably, screening efficiency and endoscopic clarity scores were not correlated with physicians' disease detection rates (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
Virtual reality endoscopy can be utilized to assess endoscopist proficiency and provide targeted guidance to enhance their clinical practice. Based on these findings, further expansion and enrichment of simulator content, as well as optimization of training methods, can be pursued promisingly in the future.
Effect of an intervention for organizing mental health care in primary health care
Authors: Eshriqui Ilana , de Almeida Letícia Yamawaka , de Mendonça Joana Moscoso Teixeira , Anazawa Leandro , Belotti Lorrayne , Fortes Sandra , Sousa Ana Alice Freire , de Souza Evelyn Lima , Teodoro Claudielle de Santana , Bonfim Daiana , Junior Joel Siqueira , Bandeira Antonio Cleilson Nobre , Correia Lucas Reis
Published: April 2024

Background
The “Mental Health Care in Primary health Care (PHC)” project (SMAPS, from Portuguese) was developed in six health districts from three Brazilian states. Considering the gap and relevance of monitoring and assessing mental health (MH) care in real-world settings using data from service records, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of SMAPS on MH indicators in PHC.
Methods
This is a pilot study conducted between January 2022 and September 2023. The sample comprised 18 basic health units (BHU) in 14 municipalities, which were in one of the three Brazilian states that adhered to SMAPS and assigned to one of two groups: intervention and control (2:1). Secondary data were collected at two times using the same instrument to systematize the retrieval of aggregated data, which were extracted from management reports from BHU or municipalities departments. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics at the BHU or municipality level.
Results
The rate of referrals to MH specialties per consultation with a MH classifications record declined in intervention (75.3%) and control group (63.2%). The percentage of benzodiazepine medications dispensed for PHC decreased from 16.1–11.3% in intervention group municipalities but increased from 20.3–24.1% in control group. An inverse pattern was observed for antipsychotic, anticonvulsant, and antidepressant medications (increased from 82.2–86.2% in intervention group municipalities and declined from 77.6–74.4% in control group). There was no difference in suicide death rates on average across municipalities, but some variations were observed when analyzing each health district separately. Indicators related to the diagnosis of mental disorders and collective activities were also collected, however important inconsistencies were observed in the data collected for both groups.
Conclusion
The present pilot study points to potential effects of SMAPS for organizing MH care in PHC, especially regarding the referrals to specialty mental health care and the dispensation of psychotropic medications. Thus, contributes to the formulation of proposals for evaluating MH care based on data already available from records and reports from health services and emphasizes the need to improve the quality of MH care recording in PHC work routines.
Evidence for faulting and fluid-driven earthquake processes from seismic attenuation variations beneath Los Angeles
Authors: Nardoni Chiara , Persaud Patricia
Published: April 2024

Seismicity in the Los Angeles metropolitan area has been primarily attributed to the regional stress loading. Below the urban areas, earthquake sequences have occurred over time showing migration off the faults and providing evidence that secondary processes may be involved in their evolution. Combining high-frequency seismic attenuation with other geophysical observations is a powerful tool for understanding which Earth properties distinguish regions with ongoing seismicity. We develop the first high-resolution 3D seismic attenuation models across the region east of downtown Los Angeles using 5,300 three-component seismograms from local earthquakes recorded by a dense seismic array. We present frequency-dependent peak delay and coda-attenuation tomography as proxies for seismic scattering and absorption, respectively. The scattering models show high sensitivity to the seismicity. High scattering volumes align with zones of profuse seismicity, such as across the Cucamonga and San Andreas faults, while a channel of low scattering extends from near the San Andreas fault westward. In the vicinity of the Fontana seismic sequence, high absorption, low scattering, and seismicity migration across a fault network suggest fluid-driven processes. Our attenuation and fault network imaging characterize near-fault zones and rock-fluid properties beneath the study area for future improvements in seismic hazard evaluation.
Bridging Distribution Gaps: Invariant Pattern Discovery for Dynamic Graph Learning
Authors: Jin Yucheng , Wang Maoyi , Xiong Yun , Ren Zhizhou , Huo Cuiying , Zhu Feng , Zhang Jiawei , Wang Guangzhong , Chen Haoran
Published: April 2024

Temporal graph networks (TGNs) have been proposed to facilitate learning ondynamic graphs which are composed of interaction events among nodes. How-ever, existing TGNs suffer from poor generalization under distribution shifts thatoccur over time. It is vital to discover invariant patterns with stable predictivepower across various distributions to improve the generalization ability. Invari-ant pattern discovery on dynamic graphs is non-trivial, as long-term history ofinteraction events is compressed into the memory by TGNs in an entangled way,making invariant pattern discovery difficult. Furthermore, TGNs process inter-action events chronologically in batches to obtain up-to-date representations.Each batch consisting of chronologically-close events lacks diversity for identify-ing invariance under distribution shifts. To tackle these challenges, we proposea novel method called Smile, which stands for Structural teMporal InvariantLEarning. Specifically, we first propose the disentangled graph memory network,which selectively extracts pattern information from long-term history throughthe disentangled memory gating and attention network. The interaction historyapproximator is further introduced to provide diverse interaction distributionsefficiently. Smile guarantees prediction stability under diverse temporal-dynamic distributions by regularizing invariance under cross-time distribution interven-tions. Experimental results on real-world datasets demonstrate that Smileoutperforms baselines, yielding substantial performance improvements.
SIRT2-mediated deacetylation of Glutathione transferase alleviates oxidative damage and increases heat tolerance of Pleurotus ostreatus
Authors: Chai Qianqian , Li Huihui , Liu Yuandong , Wen Qing , Liu Qing , Qi Yuancheng , Wang Fengqin , Shen Jinwen , Hu Yanru
Published: April 2024

High-temperature stress (HS) is the most important environmental factor that affects crop growth. It seriously threatens agricultural production. Pleurotus ostreatus is cultivated in many parts of the world, and its growth is strongly affected by HS. In another study, we found that metabolic rearrangement occurred in HS, but the gene expression levels of some key enzymes remained unchanged. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the contribution of post-translational modification of proteins to HS resistance in P. ostreatus. Acetylation is a conserved and important post-translational modification of proteins in vivo, and its main function is to regulate metabolic processes. We found that the level of acetylation of P. ostreatus decreased under short-term HS treatment and increased as the duration of HS treatment increased. The acetylation omics showed that almost all metabolic enzymes were acetylated. Ten antioxidant-related proteins, four acetylated proteins, and one deacetylated protein (SIRT2) were screened and identified in the differentially modified group between heat stress and normal conditions. A low concentration of the SIRT family substrate NAM (1 mM) was added to decrease the intracellular acetylation level. We found that deacetylation under heat stress can improve the growth recovery ability of mycelia, matrix-degrading enzyme activity, and antioxidant content (NADPH and GSH). Deacetylation can also decrease the H2O2 level after heat stress. Further studies showed that SIRT2 increased the activity of GSTs by deacetylating GST1 66K, GST2 206K, and GST2 233K. We found that lysine acetylation occurred in P. ostreatus, and thus, we assessed the importance of the acetylation of non-histone proteins under HS.
Pretreatment of GPER agonist G1 protects male mice from septic-induced cardiomyopathy via increasing mitochondria fusion against dysregulated linoleic acid / arachidonic acid metabolism
Authors: Feng Xiaojing , Han Dong , Hu Li , Wang Beibei , Xia Rui , Wang Tingting , Huang Fangmin , Wu Jing
Published: April 2024

Background
G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) are involved in the sex dimorphism of sepsis- induced cardiomyopathy (SIC), but its protective role and metabolic mechanism in male remain unclear. We investigated whether GPER could attenuate SIC by improving metabolic remodeling.
Methods
Male mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery to induce SIC with pretreatment of GPER agonist G1 or without.
Results
G1 mitigate CLP-induced cardiac dysfunction, inflammatory injury and hypertrophy in male mice. G1 upregulated the expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins (OPA1 and MFN2) and DRP1-ser 637 which improved stress-induced mitochondria fragmentation. Untargeted metabolomics showed G1 pretreatment down-regulated the widely up-regulated metabolism and other activated biological processing after CLP, including the metabolism of lipid, amino acid and nucleotide, membrane transport (ABC transporters) and signal transduction (mTOR signaling pathway). Specifically, G1 modulated the linoleic acid (LA) metabolism (rich factor = 0.071, P = 0.0035) and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism (rich factor = 0.024, P = 0.0236), which might attribute to its anti-inflammatory effect.
Conclusions
GPER confers cardiac protection from structure and function injury after CLP through increasing mitochondrial fusion. Untargeted metabolomics unravels an intriguing link between GPER activation and cardiac metabolism and highlights its modulation on dysregulated metabolism, especially on homeostasis of LA/AA metabolism.
Comparison of steady-state and dynamic Laisk methods to study temperature effects on banana respiration
Authors: Ben-Zeev Bar , Shapira Or , Zait Yotam
Published: April 2024

Daytime respiration (Rd), a crucial physiological process in plants, presents significant measurement challenges due to the difficulty of isolating it from photosynthetic processes during light conditions. The Laisk method is one of the most common ways to measure Rd, is enhanced by the updated dynamic approach of the Licor-6800, which employs advanced equations for stable measurements under changing environmental conditions. Although promising for reducing uncertainties in Rd and improving measurement efficiency, its effectiveness across diverse plant species and growth conditions remains to be thoroughly tested. We evaluated the efficacy of the steady-state and dynamic Laisk methods on banana plants (Musa acuminata cv. Cavendish) at four different growth temperatures. Our study indicates that the dynamic Laisk method outperforms the steady-state approach in accurately estimating internal CO2 concentration, (Ci*) and Rd, primarily due to its ability to use extensive data for precise curve analysis. This method also reduces stomatal limitations by minimizing exposure to low light, a significant advantage in temperature-sensitive plants like bananas, where stomatal responses can affect measurement accuracy. Our findings highlight the dynamic method's reliability and effectiveness, suggesting its broader application across different plant species and growth conditions to advance our understanding of leaf CO2 fluxes.
Multivariate regression analysis affecting successful treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in western China: a retrospective study in a high-incidence area
Authors: Zhou Jian , Li Jinlan , Hu Yong , Li Shijun
Published: April 2024

Background
Guizhou, situated in western China, exhibits a high incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) alongside comparatively challenging medical and economic conditions. Our objective was to investigate the determinants influencing successful PTB treatment and their scope, aiming to provide a scientific foundation for targeted interventions and enhancing treatment efficacy.
Methods
Data encompassing all PTB cases registered in Guizhou's China Disease Prevention and Control Information System from 2017 to 2022 were analyzed. Using the successful treatment rate as the dependent variable, initial univariate analysis of independent variables was conducted, followed by multilevel binary logistic regression analysis to assess variables demonstrating statistically significant disparities.
Results
A total of 139,414 patients, with an average age of 44 years, were included in the study, comprising 89,802 males (64.41%) and 49,612 females (35.59%). Among them, 66,316 (47.57%) were etiologically positive, and 22,795 (16.35%) had comorbidities. The successful treatment rate stood at 95.77%, with a cure rate of 42.54%. 9 factors were identified to influence the successful treatment rate. These included a higher proportion of females compared to males (OR = 1.178, 95%CI = 1.111–1.249), a higher ratio of students versus farmers (OR = 1.960, 95%CI = 1.649–2.330), and a greater proportion of etiologically negative cases compared to etiologically positive (OR = 1.831, 95%CI = 1.725–1.942). Additionally, initial treatment showed higher success rates than retreatment (OR = 3.046, 95%CI = 2.836–3.272), and PTB patients without comorbidities fared better than those with comorbidities (OR = 1.303, 95% CI = 1.217–1.394). The use of fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy yielded higher success rates than non-FDC treatment (OR = 1.296, 95%CI = 1.206–1.393). Furthermore, successful treatment rates were lower among the Miao ethnic group (OR = 0.874, 95%CI = 0.809–0.945) and higher among the Buyi (OR = 1.270, 95%CI = 1.137–1.419) compared to the Han. Age also played a significant role, with lower success rates observed in the 41–60 age group (OR = 0.731, 95%CI = 0.638–0.838) and the lowest rates among those aged 61 years and older (OR = 0.604, 95%CI = 0.527–0.693).
Conclusions
Western China faces ongoing challenges in enhancing its PTB treatment capacity and should prioritize the promotion of FDC therapy. Risk factors that influence treatment outcomes for PTB include male gender, advanced age, belonging to the Miao ethnic group, occupation as a farmer, etiological positivity, retreatment status, and comorbidities such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Further investigation is warranted to explore the disparities in successful treatment rates among different ethnicities.
RETRACTED: Using network analysis to determine the soil quality indexes for land degradation
Authors: Gao Ming , Li Meng
Published: April 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
A multi-tissue and -breed catalogue of chromatin conformations and their implications in gene regulation in pigs
Authors: Yin Hongwei , Zhao Qianyi , Yang Liu , Yi Guoqiang , Fang Lingzhao , Bai Lijing , Yao Wenye
Published: April 2024

Background
Topologically associating domains (TADs) are functional units that organize chromosomes into 3D structures of interacting chromatin, and play a crucial role in regulating gene expression by constraining enhancer-promoter contacts. Evidence suggests that deletion of TAD boundaries can lead to aberrant expression of neighboring genes. In our study, we analyzed high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) datasets from publicly available sources, integrating 71 datasets across five tissues in six pig breeds.
Results
Our comprehensive analysis revealed 65,843 TADs in pigs, and we found that TAD boundaries are enriched for expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL), splicing Quantitative Trait Loci (sQTL), Loss-of-Function variants (LoFs), and other regulatory variants. Genes within conserved TADs are associated with fundamental biological functions, while those in dynamic TADs may have tissue-specific roles. Specifically, we observed differential expression of the NCOA2 gene within dynamic TADs. This gene is highly expressed in adipose tissue, where it plays a crucial role in regulating lipid metabolism and maintaining energy homeostasis. Additionally, differential expression of the BMPER gene within dynamic TADs is associated with its role in modulating the activities of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)—critical growth factors involved in bone and cartilage development.
Conclusion
Our investigations have shed light on the pivotal roles of TADs in governing gene expression and even influencing traits. Our study has unveiled a holistic interplay between chromatin interactions and gene regulation across various tissues and pig breeds. Furthermore, we anticipate that incorporating markers, such as structural variants (SVs), and phenotypes will enhance our understanding of their intricate interactions.