bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revolutionizing access to cardiovascular care for 1.4 billion people - How mobile health apps and services evolved from 2016-2020 in China and its implications
Authors: Gao Hai
Published: January 2024

Background
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) create a large disease burden in China. The country’s large population and land mass make access to CVD care difficult. The virtual model of care provided through mobile health (mHealth) can improve access to care and management of chronic CVDs on a population level. The article aims to examine the evolution of mHealth coverage, patient usage, and service development and delivery for CVD on a national level and describe its potential to impact access to cardiovascular care in developing countries.
Methods
We collected data on mHealth platforms for telemedicine of CVDs in the Chinese market in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020 from platforms available to the general public. Factors affecting access to CVD care were analyzed including 1) longitudinal changes of mHealth services provided per region; 2) medical facility coverage rate per province by mHealth apps; 3) distribution of specific cardiovascular conditions being sought on mHealth apps; and 4) the flow of patients across geographies to receive telemedicine. Descriptive statistics were used.
Findings
45.8% of tertiary hospitals were accessible by mHealth apps in 2016, this grew at an average annual growth rate of 10.7% between 2016 to 2020. Regions with a higher economic level, population, percentage of elderly, and internet penetration, rather than CVD burden, had better mHealth coverage. 34% and 67% of patients consulted doctors outside of their own provinces in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Wealthiest areas of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong were the preferred destinations (57.1% in 2016, 38.4% in 2020) for patients seeking interprovincial care. The top 3 disease types were the common chronic CVDs of hypertension, coronary artery disease and arrhythmia.
Interpretation
The uniform functionality available across provinces and apps suggest a mature technological and health service infrastructure across Mainland China, where the widespread adoption of service delivery and offerings (such as payment, tracking, telemedicine, etc.) via mHealth apps show a step toward democratizing access to care across the country. The inter-provincial flow of patients to HCPs suggests poorer and resource-scarce areas are poised to benefit more while the burden on major cities can be ameliorated; We found regions that are traditionally underdeveloped and lacking in access to care had the most increase in services available. However, adequate technological infrastructure needs to be available and mobile technology widely adopted by patients and medical facilities.
Funding
None of the authors were paid by a company or other agency for the writing of this manuscript. This study was supported by the National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding grant awarded by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to Wei Chen (grant nos.: 2022-PUMCH-B-0252 and 2022-PUMCH-C-069) for data analysis and interpretation.
Application analysis of 5G in the diagnosis of patients with congenital heart disease in Tibet, China
Authors: Jiang Honglei , Liang Li , Liu Biao
Published: January 2024

Objective
To explore the value of 5G in remote diagnosis of congenital heart disease in patients in Nagqu area of Tibet.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was performed for 51 patients with congenital heart disease who underwent 5G remote diagnosis in Nagqu area of Tibet, and the results of expert consultation, other imaging examinations (CT, MRI, etc.) and follow-up results were used as reference diagnostic criteria to evaluate the accuracy of 5G remote ultrasound diagnosis, and the images of physicians' operating experience on the examination duration were analyzed, and the differences in application experience between doctors and patients were evaluated.
Results
The duration of remote ultrasound examination in each patient was 10-27 min, with an average of (19.21±4.76) min, according to the reference standard, among the 51 cases, 46 cases were positive, 5 cases were negative, 41 cases were positive and 10 cases were negative in 5G, 46 cases were correctly diagnosed, and 5 cases were missed, including 1 case of ventricular septal defect subtrunk type, 2 cases of patent ductus arteriosus and 1 case of others, and the accuracy of the diagnosis of congenital heart disease was 90.19%, the sensitivity was 89.13%, and the specificity was 100% The missed diagnosis rate was 10.86%. All 51 cases were examined by the same physician when they had primary, intermediate and advanced experience, 20, 14 and 17 cases were examined, 3 cases, 1 case and 1 case were missed, and the examination duration was (20.71±3.32) min, (17.30±2.56) min and (14.11±3.01) min, respectively, and the overall comparison and the difference between the two comparisons were statistically significant (P<0.05）。Compared with traditional bedside ultrasound, the tension score of patients in 5G remote ultrasound examination was lower (P<0.05), but the latter's probe compression comfort and privacy protection satisfaction scores were higher (all P<0.05).
Conclusions
5G remote ultrasound examination can be used to quickly and real-time diagnose congenital heart disease in areas with scarce medical resources such as Nagqu, and the performance is better.
Needs assessment for enhancing the preparation of general practitioners enrolling in the Peruvian mandatory rural service: a cross-sectional study.
Authors: Flores-Cohaila Javier Alejandro , Copaja-Corzo Cesar , Miranda-Chavez Brayan , Rivarola-Hidalgo Marco
Published: January 2024

Background
Peru’s Rural and Marginal Urban Health Service (SERUMS) aims to improve healthcare in rural and marginal areas. Despite its objectives, a gap exists between training General Practitioners (GPs) and the competencies required for SERUMS. This study assesses GPs' self-perceived competencies and training needs for SERUMS.
Methods
A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted involving GPs who enrolled in SERUMS between 2020 and 2022. A questionnaire was developed based on the Ministry of Health's competency framework, assessing 21 minimal achievement conditions. The survey was distributed via Google Forms and included sections on sociodemographic information, SERUMS characteristics, self-perceived competencies, and training needs.
Results
Out of 190 GPs who participated, most were female, over 27 years old, and graduates from private universities with mixed-setting internships. The highest self-perceived competencies were in low-complexity problem management, communication, and professionalism. However, competencies in research, leadership, and health system management were rated lowest. The primary resource for training was self-study, with a preference for active learning methods for future training. Perceived training needs were in therapeutic competencies, the Peruvian health system, diagnostic competencies, administrative tasks, and interprofessional competencies.
Conclusions
This study reveals significant gaps in the training and competencies of Peruvian GPs for SERUMS. It emphasizes the need for a tailored curriculum incorporating active learning and focusing on clinical reasoning, leadership, and interprofessional competencies. This approach would better prepare GPs for SERUMS and enhance their self-efficacy and effectiveness in primary care. Leading to a better quality of care for these neglected populations.
WITHDRAWN: A non-small cell lung cancer patient experiencing venous thromboembolism during Osimertinib treatment, with disease recurrence and progression after therapy: a case report and literature review
Authors: zhou shuang , Liu Meihong , Wang Mingyu
Published: January 2024

Background:In advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations, the epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have significantly improved patient prognosis. The third-generation EGFR-TKI, Osimertinib, has become the standard first-line treatment. In recent years, some studies have suggested that Osimertinib may carry a higher risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the real world. There have been some related cases of Osimertinib inducing thrombus formation, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.As one of the most critical complications of cancer, the occurrence mechanisms and treatment strategies for venous thromboembolism (VTE) have been widely paid attention. Tumor promotes thrombus formation through various pathways, while the body's hypercoagulable state facilitates the growth, metastasis, and invasion of tumor cells, impacting the treatment process for cancer patients, prolonging hospitalization, and potentially leading to the death of patients.
Case Description:We report a case of a NSCLC patient with exon 19 deletion mutation of EGFR gene who developed acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) during treatment with Osimertinib. After combined anticoagulant therapy, the patient showed improvement in the condition and resolution of the thrombus. However, upon discontinuation of anticoagulation and continued use of Osimertinib, there was recurrence of venous thromboembolism, increase in the size of the cancerous lesion, and eventual death. The patient had a progression-free survival(PFS) of 8 months after the onset of VTE and an overall survival(OS) of 10 months.To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of VTE recurrence in a patient continuing Osimertinib after receiving Osimertinib combined anticoagulant therapy.
Conclusions:In this case, after taking osimertinib for half a month, the NSCLC patient developed acute venous thromboembolism, and then experienced resolution of the thrombus and reduction in cancer size with Osimertinib combined with anticoagulant therapy. Considering relevant literature, Osimertinib might contribute to and accelerate the occurrence of VTE in cancer patients. Combined anticoagulant therapy may assist in controlling both the cancerous lesion and thrombotic conditions, extending the progression-free survival. However, the recurrence and progression of the condition upon discontinuation of anticoagulation and continued Osimertinib use suggest an interrelation between tumor cell growth, metastasis, and thrombus formation, impacting the therapeutic outcomes for cancer patients and even leading to patient mortality.
Study on the effect of mechanically ground ferrous extraction tailing of nickel slag on the properties of cement-based materials
Authors: Feng Qiong , Wei Chao , Qiao Hongxia , Song Yanning
Published: January 2024

In order to realize the full resource utilization of ferronickel slag (FNS) in cement-based materials, this paper studied the influence of mechanical grinding activation on the physical and chemical properties and reactivity of ferrous extraction tailing of nickel slag (FETNS). Four grinding processes of 5min, 10min, 20min and 30min were set up to evaluate the influence of grinding process on the physical and chemical properties of FETNS with the aid of BET, XRD, Rietveld analysis and particle size distribution. The cement-FETNS composite cementitious material was prepared by replacing cement with 0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% FETNS. The influence of FETNS fineness and content on the properties of composite cementitious system were characterized by mechanical properties, reaction products, early hydration process and pore structure characteristics. The results show that the grinding process can effectively improve the pozzolanic activity of FETNS. The compressive strength of FETNS-M30 paste is higher than that of FETNS-M5 paste in the early and late stages, and the later strength is higher than that of the baseline group when the content of FETNS-M30 is 10%-25%. The pozzolanic activity of FNS-M30 powder was significantly improved and higher than that of FNS-M5 powder.Under the same content, the Ca/Si ratio of C-S-H gel in FETNS-M30 paste is small, and the degree of silicate polymerization is higher. When the FETNS-M30 content is 10%, the proportions of favorable pores d < 50nm ( harmless pores and less-harmful pores ) of FNS-M5 paste and FNS-M30 paste is 95.3% and 95.4%, respectively, indicating a denser pore structure of the FETNS-M30 paste.
Traditional Chinese Exercise for Rehabilitation from Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xu NingYang , Zhang Shi , Zhang Fan , Liu Yue , Li Hang , Zhou ZiQi , Zhang Bin , Jin SiAn , Kong DeZhao , Han XiaoMeng , Zhao Yu , Li ZiWei , Wang JianHua , Liang LiZhe , Li GuoXin
Published: January 2024

Objectives: To assess the effects of Traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) in patients undergoing rehabilitation from coronary heart disease (CHD).
Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Data sources: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, and Wan fang Database, were searched from the corresponding inception date to March 2022. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: Randomized controlled trials involving TCEs alone or in combination with conventional therapy versus conventional therapy on CHD patients undergoing rehabilitation were included.
Data synthesis: Data analysis was performed with RevMan software version 5.2.0.
Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcomes were the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and self-rating depression scale (SDS), and the secondary outcomes were 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), six-min walking test (6-MWT), and peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2).
Results: 22 studies, including a total of 2100 patients, met the study criteria. When compared with conventional therapy alone: Baduanjin combined with conventional therapy improved the SAQ (physical limitation (n=360, MD=5.72 points, 95% CI (2.02, 9.41), p=0.002, I 2=94) ；angina frequency (n=360, MD=14.49 points, 95% CI (8.43, -20.55), p＜0.00001, I 2=96)), SF-36 (general health (n=425, MD = 9.77 points, 95% CI (8.21, 11.32), p＜0.00001, I 2=0); physical function (n=425, MD = 6.73 points, 95% CI (5.49, 7.97), p＜0.00001, I 2=6)), and 6-MWT (n=336, MD= 40.80 m, 95% CI (8.80, 72.80), p=0.01, I 2=99) of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); Baduanjin combined with conventional therapy improved SAQ in patients suffering from stable angina pectoris (SAP) (physical limitation (n=110, MD = 4.13 points, 95% CI (0.38,7.88), p=0.03, I 2=0); angina frequency (n=410, MD=9.88 points, 95% CI (6.08,13.67), p<0.00001, I 2=27)). TaiChi combined with conventional therapy 2improved SF-36 in patients after PCI (general health (n=227, MD = 12.00 points, 95% CI (5.21, 18.80), p=0.0005, I 2=91%) ; physical function (n=227, MD = 12.46 points, 95% CI (7.67, 17.26), p＜0.00001, I 2=83%)).
Conclusions: Baduanjin combined with conventional therapy may improve the quality of life of patients with PCI and SAP, and the cardiopulmonary function of patients after PCI; TaiChi combined with conventional therapy may improve the quality of life of patients with PCI. However, due to the low quality of the included studies and high heterogeneity among different studies, we should take a cautious attitude towards this conclusion.
PROSPERO registration number: CRD 42022323676
Severe pneumonia increases the likelihood of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis that necessitates surgical intervention
Authors: Lv Jilin , Zhang Yunhan , Feng Wei , Xiang Xiao , Guo Zhenhua
Published: January 2024

Background
Necrotizing enterocolitis is a primary factor contributing to neonatal mortality in neonatal intensive care units. Among them, those who require surgical treatment have a higher mortality rate.
Methods
A cohort of 174 children diagnosed with NEC 2a + stage between 2012 and 2022 underwent a retrospective study. The children were divided into two groups: a surgical group (89 individuals), and a medical treatment group (85 individuals). Data extraction from patient records is used to analyze biochemical and clinical variables.
Results
In comparison to the medicine treatment group, the operation group had a lower gestational age (212 (203, 223) days, as opposed to 216(209, 229) days, P = 0.023).The prevalence of severe pneumonia in the surgical group was greater compared to the non-surgical group (87% versus 66%, P = 0.001). The operation group exhibited a lower hemoglobin level (145.86 ± 38.25 VS 159.69 ± 37.46, P = 0.017), along with a reduced platelet level (194 (128, 250) VS 229 (181, 281), P = 0.003). Severe pneumonia (OR = 3.364, 95% CI:1.420–7.966), decreased hemoglobin (OR = 0.988, 95% CI 0.978–0.997), and reduced platelet count (OR = 0.995, 95%CI: 0.991–0.999) were identified as separate risk factors for NEC. The mortality rate of children with NEC was significantly higher when surgical intervention was performed, which was found to be a separate risk factor for their mortality (OR = 7.881, 95% CI :(2.671–23.254), P < 0.001).
Conclusion
Our study suggests that infants with extremely low birth weight who have severe pneumonia have a higher likelihood of developing severe NEC that necessitates surgical intervention. This correlation could be due to the existence of intestinal ischemia and injury caused by hypoxia.
Breast cancer patients participating in the Swiss mammography screening program "donna" exhibit extended survival
Authors: Kuklinski David , Blum Marcel , Subelack Jonas , Geissler Alexander , Eichenberger Alena , Morant Rudolf
Published: January 2024

Study goal: We compared the survival rates of women with breast cancer (BC) within vs. outside the mammography screening program (MSP) “donna”.
Methods: We merged data from the “donna” MSP with the data from corresponding cancer registries to categorize BC cases as within MSP (screen-detected and interval carcinomas) and outside the MSP. We analyzed the tumor stage distribution, tumor characteristics and the survival of the women. We further estimated hazard ratios using Cox-regressions to account for different characteristics between groups and corrected the survival rates for lead-time bias.
Results: We identified 1,057 invasive (ICD-10: C50) and in-situ (D05) BC cases within the MSP and 1,501 outside the MSP between 2010 and 2019 in the Swiss cantons of St. Gallen and Grisons. BC within the MSP had a higher share of stage I carcinoma (46.5% vs. 33.0%, p<0.01), fewer metastases at diagnosis (2.7% vs. 11.6%, p<0.01), and a smaller (mean) tumor size (19.1mm vs. 24.9mm, p<0.01). The 10-year survival rates were 92.2% for women within and 73.9% for women outside the MSP (p<0.05). A significant survival difference persisted when the same tumor stages were compared. Lead-time corrected hazard ratios were 0.391 (p<0.01) for overall survival and 0.293 (p<0.01) for BC related survival.
Conclusion: Women participating in the “donna” MSP had a significantly higher overall and BC related survival rate than women outside the program. Detection of BC at an earlier tumor stage only partially explains the observed differences.
Cytosolic N-terminal formyl-methionine deformylation derives cancer stem cell features and tumor progression
Authors: Hwang Cheol-Sang , Kim Dasom , Lee Jongeun , Seok Ok-Hee , Lee Yoontae
Published: January 2024

Eukaryotic cells can synthesize formyl-methionine (fMet)-containing proteins not only in mitochondria but also in the cytosol to some extent. Our previous study revealed substantial upregulation of N-terminal (Nt)-fMet-containing proteins in the cytosol of SW480 colorectal cancer cells. However, the functional and pathophysiological implications remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that removal of the Nt-formyl moiety of Nt-fMet-containing proteins (via expressing Escherichia coli PDF peptide deformylase) resulted in a dramatic increase in the proliferation of SW480 colorectal cancer cells. Proliferation coincides with the acquisition of cancer stem cell features, including reduced cell size, enhanced self-renewal capacity, and elevated levels of the cancer stem cell surface marker CD24 and pluripotent transcription factor SOX2. Furthermore, deformylation of Nt-fMet-containing proteins promoted the tumorigenicity of SW480 colorectal cancer cells in an in vivo xenograft mouse model. Taken together, these findings suggest that cytosolic deformylation has a tumor-enhancing effect. This highlights its therapeutic potential for cancer treatment.
Integration of Multimodal Data Sources for Enhanced Skin Disease Classification and Cancer Prediction: A Study Leveraging Pre-Trained Models on HAM_10000 Metadata and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Images.
Authors: Khan Aamir , S. Nisha Chandran , Gangodkar D.R.
Published: January 2024

Skin diseases, disorders, and deficiencies are fundamental issues in the human body. Over the last few decades, they have become widely prevalent, often leading to cancer. This spectrum of ailments ranges from benign conditions to potentially life-threatening cancers, posing significant challenges to global health. Accurate classification of these diseases and timely prediction of malignant transformations are crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment planning. In our research paper, we propose an innovative approach that levitation multimodal data integration to enhance the precision of skin disease classification and improve the prediction of cancerous transformations. The study utilizes the HAM_10000 Metadata, a dataset comprising diverse skin lesions, along with 100 high-resolution images of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). Pre-trained models, specifically multi-model CNNs, are employed to extract intricate patterns and features. By amalgamating information from these heterogeneous sources and implementing advanced machine learning techniques, the results highlight the effectiveness of this integrative methodology. This approach can revolutionize the fields of dermatology and oncology by providing patients with skin diseases accurate, efficient, and early diagnoses of skin disease. Through this method, it was discovered that SCC images might hold a higher priority for skin cancer identification, achieving an accuracy rate of 92% on the original dataset.
WITHDRAWN: Effect of Seed Priming by using Gibberellic Acid (GA3) on Growth, Yield and Quality attributes traits of radish (Raphanus sativus) under soil less cultivation.
Authors: Kumar Harendra , Agarwal Ankur , Sahay Devi , Ballabh Basant , Prakash Om
Published: January 2024

Seed priming is a technique which used to induce metabolic germination processes. Among plant growth regulators salicylic or gibberellic acids play a vital role in the aspects of biochemical processes during maturation (germination) and plant growth and development. The aim of present experiment was to find out the effect of GA3 on growth and yield attributes of radish (Raphanus sativus) under soil less cultivation. An experiment was conducted during September to November 2020 at DIBER, DRDO, Haldwani, Nainital (Uttarakhand). under present experiment the results found that maximum plant height (62.27cm), leaf length (38.33cm), Root length (29.27cm), Root width (6.80cm), Girth of root (8.93cm), Edible length of root (13.57cm), Total yield of /plant (342.00g), Yield of root /plant (234.00g), yield of leaf/plant(112.00g), Dry wt. of root (45.37g), dry wt. of leaf 10.69(g), TSS(9.00), and Chlorophyll content(50.93) found in GA3 concentration and time duration (10ppm and 1 hours) while highest No. of leaf (11.67), Germination %(84) was observed in GA3 (30ppm and 1 hours).
Pan-cancer analysis unveiling the diagnostic, prognostic, and immunological role of crotonylation in human cancers
Authors: Wang Xiaowei , Wang Yubang , Zhao Jinyu , Chan Shixin , Zhan Ying , Meng Tao , Xu Yuanhong
Published: January 2024

Background
Crotonylation is an important acylation modification, which regulates multiple physiological processes, such as RNA processing, nucleotide metabolism, chromatin reorganization, protein activity regulation, and protein localization. However, the managing mechanisms of crotonylation in cancer remain unknown. In the present study, a systematic pan-cancer analysis was performed to explore its diagnostic, prognostic, and immunological value across cancers.
Method
We consulted various public databases including Firehose database, UCSC Xena database, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype Tissue Expression Project, TIMER2.0, and TISCH databases for the extraction of pan-cancer data on crotonylation. We identified the mutation frequency, compared the mutation types, and depicted mutation profiles of crotonylation-associated genes. By the methods of GSVA and GSEA, we deeply excavated the biological role of crotonylation in pan-cancer, and clarified the association between crotonylation and drug resistance.
Result
Based on the TCGA data, we found that most of the crotonylation-related genes were differentially expressed in tumors, which was caused by somatic copy number alterations (SCNA) and DNA methylation. To reveal the functional role of crotonylation, we devised a novel term potential index (PI). PI was lower in tumor tissues than in normal tissues and had close correlations with different molecular subtypes and clinical features in most cancers. Moreover, PI was negatively correlated with multiple metabolic pathways and immune function, but positively associated with some important malignancy features or pathways. These findings contributed to gaining insight into the underlying mechanisms of tumor development and provided new ideas and approaches for anti-tumor therapy.
Conclusion
We found that crotonylation has excellent abilities to diagnose and predict prognosis in a variety of cancers. Furthermore, crotonylation may reshape the tumor microenvironment and induce an “immune desert” status, and therefore the potential of crotonylation-based cancer therapies has been underscored which simultaneously helps facilitate the capacity to predict the response to immunotherapy. As a result, crotonylation is expected to be an important target for future cancer treatments.
Detection of structural pulmonary changes with real-time and high-fidelity analysis of expiratory CO2
Authors: Sassmann Teresa , Kovacs Gabor , Douschan Philipp , Foris Vasile , Gumpoldsberger Maximilian , John Nikolaus , Zeder Katarina , Zirlik Andreas , Olschewski Horst , Pienn Michael
Published: January 2024

Background
There is an unmet need for easily available sensitive markers of structural lung disease. Assessment of lung diffusion capacity with foreign gases is currently state-of-the-art, however, results are unspecific and the methods are technically demanding. We developed a fully-automatic algorithm to analyze high-fidelity expiratory CO2 flows from resting ventilation and compared the derived readouts with the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) regarding their diagnostic accuracy.
Methods
This pilot study enrolled clinically well characterized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and controls without lung disease from a pulmonary hypertension clinic and investigated them by means of our newly developed algorithm. We evaluated dead-, mixed- and alveolar space volumes (DSV, MSV, ASV, respectively), their respective ventilatory equivalents for CO2 (EqCO2) and the fraction of expiratory CO2 (FECO2) over expired volume (VE) as primary readouts for diagnosis of structural lung disease and pulmonary hypertension.
Results
We enrolled 52 subjects, 11 COPD (7 men; median (IQR) age 64 (63–69) years), 10 ILD (7 men; 61 (54–77) years), 10 PAH patients (1 man; 64 (61–73) years) and 21 healthy controls (9 men; 56 (52–61) years; 11 non-smokers). Patients, compared to controls, showed higher MSV (221 (164–270) mL vs. 144 (131–167) mL, p < 0.001) and higher EqCO2 of the whole exhalation (38 (34–42) vs. 30 (29–35), p < 0.001), respectively. While EqCO2 was elevated in all diseased groups, MSV was only increased in COPD and ILD but not in PAH. MSV and maximum FECO2/VE slope were significantly correlated with DLCO (ρ=-0.69 and ρ = 0.72, respectively; both p < 0.001). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, MSV distinguished diseased from healthy subjects with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.69–0.93) with an optimal cut-off at 191 mL (sensitivity 68%, specificity 90%), and the parenchymal diseases COPD and ILD from PAH with AUC 0.74 (95% CI: 0.55–0.92), optimal cut-off at 210 mL; sensitivity 71%, specificity 80%).
Conclusions
Fully-automatic high-fidelity expiratory CO2 flow analysis is technically feasible, easy and safe to perform, and may represent a novel approach to detect structural changes of the lung parenchyma and/or pulmonary hypertension without need for foreign gas.
Diurnal-Scale Time Lag between Canopy Temperature and Environmental Factors of Winter Wheat
Authors: Xu Qi , Wu Tiankui , Zhang Xing , Huang Jialiang , Chen Yinwen , Zhang Zhitao , Li Xianwen , Chen Junying , Zhao Xiao
Published: January 2024

Exploring and quantifying the lag effect between environment factors and canopy temperature can improve the accuracy of using environmental factors to predict canopy temperature. In order to quantitatively analyze the lag relationship, we continuously monitored the canopy temperature (Tc) of winter wheat, and simultaneously collected the data of such environmental factors as net radiation (Rn), atmospheric temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH) and soil heat flux (SHF). With the synchronous diurnal time series, we analyzed the lag relationships between Tc-Rn, Tc-Ta, Tc-RH and Tc-SHF using the bivariate plot; calculated the lag time at jointing stage, heading stage and filling stage using time-lagged correlation analysis; established the Tc lag response model based on Rn, Ta, RH and SHF respectively using the least square. The results indicated that: in sunny days, (1) the hysteresis loops of Tc-Rn, Tc-Ta, Tc-RH were approximately bow-shaped, Tc-SHF was approximately “figure-8”-shaped, and their directions were anticlockwise, clockwise, anticlockwise and clockwise; (2) in the jointing, heading and filling stages of wheat, Tc was 50 min behind Rn; Ta 40, 30 and 30 min behind Tc respectively; RH 30, 40 and 10 min behind Tc respectively; and no lag was found between Tc and SHF; (3) lag effect could improve the accuracy of the Tc response model, because in the jointing, heading and filling stages, the Radj2(adjusted coefficient of determination) of Tc response model based on Rn (Rn-Tc) had increased 13.46%, 13.64% and 12.32% respectively; the Radj2 of Ta-Tc increased 9.02%, 6.31% and 5.56%; and the Radj2 of RH-Tc increased 6.53%, 9.33% and 1.61%. This study may provide some reference for the research on mechanism influencing canopy temperature change.
Hypoxia-Related lncRNA Correlates with Prognosis and Immune Microenvironment in Uveal Melanoma
Authors: Chen Yu , Chen Shen , Cheng Quan , Ji Dan
Published: January 2024

Background
Genes related to hypoxia are correlated to the prognosis of a variety of solid malignant tumors. However, How hypoxia related lncRNA function in Uveal Melanoma is still rare.
Methods
From TCGA database, eighty UVM samples were incorporated. Prognostic HRL was screened by COX univariate analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. HRL characteristics were constructed using Lasso analysis. Gene enrichment analysis revealed the linkage of HRLs to immune features. CCK8 assay was adopted to measure the propagation of MuM2B cells, while tumor invasion and migration were appraised by Transwell and Wound-healing experiments. Inflammatory factors and macrophage polarization were evaluated by qPCR.
Results
621 prognostic HRLs were screened and was constructed in 12 HRLs. Risk score showed salient correlation with survival time of UVM patients. In addition, HRL was correlated with diverse key immune checkpoints, revealing possible targets for immunotherapy. Immune-related pathways were highly enriched in high-risk group. Protective HRL, LINC02367, was saliently associated with microenvironment and survival time of UVM patients. In vitro assays demonstrated LINC02367 significantly affected the propogation and migration of MuM2B. LINC02367 modulates macrophage polarization through inflammatory factor levels thereby affecting the immune microenvironment
Conclusions
In our study, a novel HRL signature was developed to predict the prognosis of UVM patients. HRLs are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for UVM.
Integrated Bioinformatics, Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking to Explore the Mechanisms of Taohong Siwu Decoction in the Treatment of Tendinopathy
Authors: Li Pengfei , Pan Shinong
Published: January 2024

Objective: This study aims to investigate the potential mechanism of Taohong Siwu Decoction (THSWD) in the treatment of tendinopathy using bioinformatics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking methods.
Methods: The human tendinopathy expression microarray dataset was obtained from the GEO database. Bioinformatics methods were employed to screen differentially expressed genes. Disease-associated genes related to tendinopathy were identified using relevant databases. Potential targets of THSWD for treating tendinopathy were identified and subjected to functional and pathway enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of potential therapeutic targets was constructed, along with a drug components-disease target-signaling pathway network.
Results: A total of 867 tendinopathy-related targets were confirmed, while 45 active ingredients of THSWD resulted in retrieval of 216 corresponding tendinopathy targets. THSWD primarily modulates signaling pathways such as IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway associated with diabetic complications, as well as other signaling pathways for effective treatment of tendinopathy. Molecular docking simulations demonstrated high binding activity between core active compounds and hub genes.
Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of THSWD on tendinopathy is achieved through a multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway approach involving primarily the IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications.
Computational and Experimental Static Stability Analysis of Rectangular Prisms
Authors: Bergeron Keith , Fagley Casey , Ghoreyshi Mehdi , Siefers Timothy
Published: January 2024

Rectangular prism-shaped cargo containers are investigated for future aerial delivery and helicopter sling load operations. The aerodynamic stability characteristics of two representative container shapes, the Twenty-foot-equivalent (TEU) and Internal Slingable Unit (ISU®)-90, are analyzed using a combined computational simulation and wind tunnel experimentation campaign. Integrated forces and moments, as well as static stability, are examined for the two shapes at Mach of 0.15, and 0.2. Six models are used in total, three for each of the two container shapes, with axial, normal, and side orientations. The findings provide insights into the aerodynamic stability of rectangular prisms as cargo containers in various flight conditions, which have implications for aerial delivery and helicopter sling load operations. Specifically, the computational simulations and experimental surface flow measurements identify flow separation and reattachment processes which directly influence longitudinal, lateral and directional stability characteristics.
Modulation of dysbiotic vaginal complications by cervical mucus revealed in linked human vagina and cervix chips
Authors: Gutzeit Ola , GULATI Aakanksha , IZADIFAR Zohreh , STEJSKALOVA Anna , RHBINY Hassan , COTTON Justin , BUDNIK Bogdan , SHAHRIAR Sanjid , GOYAL Girija , JUNAID Abidemi , INGBER Donald E.
Published: January 2024

Background
The cervicovaginal mucus which coats the upper surface of the vaginal epithelium is thought to serve as a selective barrier that helps to clear pathogens, however, its role in modulating the physiology and pathophysiology of the human vagina is poorly understood. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common disease of the female reproductive tract that increases susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, preterm birth, and both maternal and neonatal infections is characterized by the presence of a wide array of strict and facultative anaerobes, often including Gardnerella vaginalis.
Objective
To assess the role of cervical mucus in preventing dysbiosis-associated complications and preserving vaginal health.
Study Design:
To better understand the role of cervicovaginal mucus in vaginal health, we used human organ-on-a-chip (Organ Chip) microfluidic culture technology to analyze the effects of cervical mucus produced in a human Cervix Chip and then transferred to a human Vagina Chip BV model. Both chips are lined by primary human organ-specific (cervical or vaginal) epithelium interfaced with organ-specific stromal fibroblasts.
Results
Our data show that mucus-containing effluents from Cervix Chips protect Vagina Chips from inflammation and epithelial cell injury caused by co-culture with a dysbiotic microbiome containing G. vaginalis. Proteomic analysis of proteins produced by the Vagina Chip following treatment with the Cervix Chip mucus also revealed a collection of differentially abundant proteins that may contribute to the vaginal response to a dysbiotic microbiome, which could represent potential diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets for the management of BV.
Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of cervical mucus in controlling human vaginal physiology and pathophysiology, and demonstrates the potential value of Organ Chip technology for studies focused on the health and diseases of the female reproductive tract.
Morphological and morphometric anatomy of the lesser occipital nerve and its possible clinical relevance
Authors: Sağlam Latif , Coşkun Osman , Gayretli Özcan
Published: January 2024

The lesser occipital nerve (LON) has one of the most variations among occipital nerves. We aimed to investigate morphological and morphometric features of LON. Twenty-four cadavers were dissected bilaterally. LON was classified into 3 types. The number of branches and the perpendicular distances of the point where LON emerged from the posterior border of sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) to vertical and transverse lines passing through external occipital protuberance (EOP) were determined. The shortest distance between LON and greater auricular nerve (GAN), and linear distance of LON to its branching point were measured. The most common variant was Type 1 (30 sides, 62.5%), followed by Type 2 (12 sides, 25%) and Type 3 (6 sides, 12.5%), respectively. On 48 sides, 2-9 branches of LON were observed. The perpendicular distance of said point to vertical and transverse lines was meanly 63.69±11.28 mm and 78.83±17.21 mm, respectively. The shortest distance between LON and GAN was meanly 16.62±10.59 mm. The linear distance of LON to its branching point was meanly 31.24±15.95 mm. The findings reported in this paper may help clinicians in estimating the location of the nerve and/or its branches for block or decompression surgery as well as preservation of LON during related procedures.
Policy dimension for promoting inter and intra-varietal diversity and evolutionary crop populations
Authors: Joshi Bal Krishna , Neupane Shree Prasad , Gauchan Devendra , Karkee Ajaya , Ayer Dipendra , Mengistu Dejene Kassahun
Published: January 2024

The value of broad genetic base cultivars is often underestimated in the formal seed system, which primarily emphasizes uniform, monogenotyped varieties to ensure food security. To gather insights on the significance of farmer's varieties, cultivar mixtures, and evolutionary populations, a comprehensive approach involving surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, and literature reviews was undertaken. Current legal frameworks in seed systems and variety handling predominantly serve the interests of seed companies, breeders, and extension officials, with limited consideration for the needs and preferences of farmers. This results in farmer's varieties, characterized by their high genetic variation, as well as cultivar mixtures and evolutionary populations, receiving limited support within the policy framework. These broad genetic base cultivars have been cultivated and preserved by farmers for generations and exhibit resilience to diverse environmental conditions. The formal seed system, which has gained prominence, has separated farmers from a crucial aspect of their agricultural heritage. It is now managed by government offices and private seed companies, necessitating financial contributions from farmers to participate in the seed system. To encourage the cultivation of site-specific varieties with substantial genetic diversity, there is a need to promote these varieties, whether registered or unregistered, through a legal framework that encompasses all agricultural produce, not solely seeds. Such a framework acknowledges the capacity of farmers to independently maintain and cultivate their seeds, contributing to the preservation of genetic diversity and sustainable agriculture.
Performance assessment of solar flat plate collector with wavy shaped riser tubes
Authors: Shivanayak Lakshmikant , S Gowreesh subramanya , Re N sreenivasalu
Published: January 2024

Using riser tubes with a wavy shape, the effectiveness of flat plate solar collectors (FPSCs) was examined experimentally. For the investigations, a set of riser tubes with pitches of 10, 20, and 40 mm and a Reynolds number that varied between 5500 to 14,500 were used. The improvement of the Nusselt number for the 40 mm pitch with respect to the plain tube data is 6.97% and 16.9% at Reynolds numbers of 5500 and 14,500, respectively. In comparison to plain tube, the Nusselt number is increased to 16.27% and 31.46% for a 10 mm pitch at Reynolds numbers of 5500 and 14,500, respectively. At a pitch of 40 mm and a Reynolds number of 14,500, the plain tube collector's effectiveness is increased to 75%.
Causal role of immune cells in ischemic stroke: a Mendelian Randomization study
Authors: Dong Chenlan , Li Lin , Xiang Xiaolei , Hu Xiaowei , Hu Huiqin , Chu Lisheng
Published: January 2024

Background
Conventional observational designs face challenges in studying this relationship, as confounding factors, reverse causality, minor exposure factors and multiple tests cannot be completely eliminated. There is currently a lack of MR studies concerning immune cells and the risk of ischemic stroke. This particular study offers a novel perspective on risk prediction for ischemic stroke.
Objective
To investigate the causal relationship between immune cells and ischemic stroke through Mendelian randomization analysis.
Methods
A complete two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was utilized to ascertain the causative relationship between immune cells and ischemic stroke. Using publicly available genetic data, we investigated the causal association between 731 immune cells and the risk of ischemic stroke. Four immune characteristics were included: relative cells (RC), absolute cells (AC), median fluorescence intensity (MFI), and morphological parameters (MP). MR-Egger, Weighted median, Inverse variance weighted (IVW), Weighted mode, Simple mode, and MRPRESS were utilized for analysis. Heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy tests were also conducted.
Results
Mendelian randomization analysis showed that 32 of the 731 immune cells had a robust causal relationship with ischemic stroke, among which 15 immune cells such as IgD−CD27− %B cell (β = 0.033, 95%CI = 1.002 ~ 1.065, p = 0.037), IgD+ CD24 + AC (β = 0.045, 1.010 ~ 1.082, p = 0.012), CD25hi CD45RA−CD4 not Treg %T cell (β = 0.022, 95%CI = 1.002 ~ 1.042, p = 0.028) and soon. CD62L−HLADR++ monocyte AC (β =-0.053, 95% CI = 0.914 ~ 0.985, p = 0.005), CD33br HLA DR+ CD14− AC (β =-0.017, 95% CI = 0.972 ~ 0.995, p = 0.004), EM DN (CD4−CD8−) %DN (β =-0.014, 95% CI = 0.975 ~ 0.997, p = 0.014), etc. There exists a strong inverse causal link for ischemic stroke.
Conclusion
Our study has demonstrated a close genetic link between immune cells and ischemic stroke. Fifteen immune cells such as IgD−CD27− %B cell, IgD+ CD24+ AC, CD25hi CD45RA−CD4 not Treg %T cell have robust positive causal associations with ischemic stroke, and seventeen immune cells such asCD62L− HLA DR++ monocyte AC, CD33br HLA DR+ CD14− AC, EM DN (CD4−CD8−) %DN have robust positive causal associations with ischemic stroke. A strong inverse causal relationship with ischemic stroke offers direction for forthcoming clinical studies.
RETRACTED: Maternal Attachment in Mothers with Preterm Infants: The Role of Resilience and Perception of Infant Vulnerability
Authors: Topal Sümeyra , Çaka Sinem Yalnızoğlu
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Transcriptomics and gut microbiome analysis of the edible herb Bidens pilosa as a functional feed additive to promote growth and metabolism in tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)
Authors: Chen Che-Chun , Lin Chung-Yen , Lu Hsin-Yun , Liou Chyng-Hwa , Ho Ying-Ning , Huang Chang-Wen , Zhang Zhong-Fu , Kao Chih-Hsin , Yang Wen-Chin , Gong Hong-Yi
Published: January 2024

Background
To reduce the use of antibiotics and chemicals in aquaculture, an edible herb - B. pilosa - has been selected as multifunctional feed additives to address this issue. Although there has been considerable research into the effects of B. pilosa on poultry, the wider effects, particularly on the growth and gut microbiota in fish, remain largely unexplored. We aim to investigate the interactive effects between the host on growth and the gut microbiota using transcriptomics and gut microbiota in B. pilosa-fed tilapia.
Results
In this study, we added 0.5% and 1% B. pilosa to the diet and observed that the growth performance of tilapia was significantly increased after 8 weeks of feeding. Comparative transcriptome analysis was performed on RNA sequence profiles obtained from liver and muscle tissues. Functional enrichment analysis showed that B. pilosa regulates several pathways and genes including amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, endocrine system, signal transduction and metabolism of other amino acids. The expression of selected growth-associated genes was validated by qRT-PCR. The qRT-PCR result indicated that B. pilosa may enhance growth performance by activating the expression of liver igf1 and muscle igf1rb genes and inhibiting the expression of the muscle negative regulator myostatin b (mstnb). Enhancement of endocrine Igf1/Igf1rb signaling and suppression of Mstn signaling both induced the expression of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), myod1, myogenin and mrf4, to promote muscle growth in tilapia. The predicted function of the gut microbiota showed several significantly different pathways that overlapped with the KEGG enrichment results of differentially expressed genes in the liver transcriptomes. This suggests that gut microbiota may be able to influence liver metabolism through the gut-liver axis in B. pilosa-fed tilapia.
Conclusions
In conclusion, dietary B. pilosa can regulate endocrine igf1 signaling and myostatin signaling to activate expression of MRFs to promoter muscle growth, and alter the composition of gut bacteria, which can then affect liver amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, the endocrine system, lipid metabolism, metabolism of other amino acids, and signal transduction of the host, ultimately enhancing growth performance. Our results suggest that B. pilosa has the potential to be a functional additive that can be an alternative to reduce antibiotics as growth promoter in aquaculture organisms.