bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of anti‐diabetes drug metformin in Turkiye using wastewater‐based epidemiology
Authors: Yavuz Guzel Evsen , Atasoy Aydin Aslı , Gören İsmail Ethem , Unuvar Necdet , Daglioglu Nebile
Published: February 2024

Metformin is the most commonly used drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), which is dramatically increasing due to factors such as increasing obesity, physical inactivity, and aging of the population. Metformin analysis was carried out in composite wastewater samples seasonally collected from wastewater treatment plants in 10 cities in 2019 and 2020 30 cities in 2021 in Turkiye. Metformin was measured in all wastewater samples, with an average concentration of 97.81 μg/l in 2019, 75.19 μg/l in 2020, and 69.13 μg/l in 2021. This study was utilized to predict metformin usage in different sociodemographic regions in Turkiye using a wastewater‐based epidemiology (WBE) approach. As a result of the analysis, the average metformin consumption in Turkiye was estimated to be 22.2 ± 9.6 [1.9–63.8] g/d/1,000 persons (mean ± SD [range]). Furthermore, these estimates were compared with data for time, sociodemographic characteristics, and patient numbers. Assessing the correlation with estimates and the socioeconomic classes of the cities in question revealed that cities with high‐income levels had the lowest metformin use rate. Finally, the study provides supporting data aiding the development of public health strategies for decreasing the overall load of T2D across Turkiye.
Asynchrony in terrestrial insect abundance corresponds with species traits
Authors: Powell Kathryn E. , Oliver Tom H. , González‐Suárez Manuela , Botham Marc S. , Harrower Colin A. , Comont Richard F. , Middlebrook Ian , Roy David B.
Published: February 2024

Asynchrony in population abundance can buffer the effects of environmental change leading to greater community and ecosystem stability. Both environmental (abiotic) drivers and species functional (biotic) traits can influence population dynamics leading to asynchrony. However, empirical evidence linking dissimilarity in species traits to abundance asynchrony is limited, especially for understudied taxa such as insects. To fill this knowledge gap, we explored the relationship between pairwise species trait dissimilarity and asynchrony in interannual abundance change between pairs of species for 422 moth, butterfly, and bumblebee species in Great Britain. We also explored patterns differentiating traits that we assumed to capture ‘sensitivity to environmental variables’ (such as body mass), and traits that may reflect ‘diversity in exposure’ to environmental conditions and lead to niche partitioning (for example, habitat uses, and intra‐annual emergence periods). As expected, species trait dissimilarity calculated overall and for many individual traits representing response and exposure was positively correlated with asynchrony in all three insect groups. We found that ‘exposure’ traits, especially those relating to the phenology of species, had the strongest relationship with abundance asynchrony from all tested traits. Positive relationships were not simply due to shared evolutionary history leading to similar life‐history strategies: detected effects remained significant for most traits after accounting for phylogenetic relationships within models. Our results provide empirical support that dissimilarity in traits linked to species exposure and sensitivity to the environment could be important for temporal dissimilarity in insect abundance. Hence, we suggest that general trait diversity, but especially diversity in ‘exposure’ traits, could play a significant role in the resilience of insect communities to short‐term environmental perturbations through driving asynchrony between species abundances.
A test of balanced fitness limitations theory: Pollen limitation in plants
Authors: Rosenheim Jay A. , Williams Neal M. , Rapp Joshua M. , Schreiber Sebastian J.
Published: February 2024

When reproductive success is determined by the relative availabilities of a series of essential, non‐substitutable resources, the theory of balanced fitness limitations predicts that the cost of harvesting a particular resource shapes the likelihood that a shortfall of that resource will constrain realized fitness. Plant reproduction through female function offers a special opportunity to test this theory; essential resources in this context include, first, the pollen received from pollinators or abiotic vectors that is used to fertilize ovules, and, second, the resources needed to provision the developing seeds and fruit. For many plants realized reproductive success through female function can be readily quantified in the field, and one key potential constraint on fitness, pollen limitation, can be assessed experimentally by manually supplementing pollen receipt. We assembled a comparative dataset of pollen limitation using only studies that supplement pollen to all flowers produced over the plant's reproductive lifespan. Pre‐ and post‐pollination costs were estimated using the weight of flowers and fruits and estimates of fruit set. Consistent with expectations, we find self‐incompatible plants make greater pre‐pollination investments and experience greater pollen limitation. However, contrary to theoretical expectations, when variation due to self‐compatibility is accounted for by including self‐compatibility in the statistical model as a covariate, we find no support for the prediction that plants that invest more heavily in pre‐pollination costs are subject to greater pollen limitation. Strong within‐species, between‐population variation in the expression of pollen limitation makes the quantification of mean pollen limitation difficult. We urge plant ecologists to conduct more studies of pollen limitation using whole‐plant pollen supplementation to produce a richer comparative dataset that would support a more robust test of the balanced limitations hypothesis.
Metal‐Free Regioselective Chlorosulfenylation of Indoles by Dimethylsulfoxide and 1,2‐Dichloroethane
Authors: Palit Kuntal , Panda Niranjan
Published: February 2024

Direct chloromethylthiolation of the C(sp2)−H bonds of indole was achieved with the commonly used solvents dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dichloroethane (DCE). Initially, chlorodimethylsulfonium ion is generated in situ from the reaction of DMSO and DCE on simple heating at 120 °C and is used for electrophilic methylthiolation followed by chlorination, enabling the synthesis of 2‐chloro‐3‐methylthioindoles.
Evaluation of the energy and exergy of a trans‐critical CO2 cycle driven by a double flash geothermal power plant
Authors: Castellanos Humberto Garcia , Aryanfar Yashar , Hammoodi Karrar A. , Ghriss Ons , Keçebaş Ali , Bouabidi Abdallah , Ahmad Shabbir , Ragab Adham E.
Published: February 2024

Facing the dual challenges of environmental impact and the finite nature of fossil fuels, the shift toward sustainable energy sources is imperative. Geothermal energy, a renewable and underutilized resource, offers a promising alternative. This study ventures into a novel domain, exploring the integration of trans‐critical CO2 (tCO2) cycle with a double‐flash geothermal (DFG) cycle, an area not extensively covered in existing research. This study aims to develop a recovery system that utilizes a tCO2 cycle powered by a DFG cycle. A crucial part of this study involves conducting a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the system's energy and exergy performance. This analysis focuses on understanding the impact of changes in key system design parameters, such as energy efficiency, exergy efficiency, net power output, and total exergy destruction rate, to determine the optimal values for these parameters. The results indicate that the recovery system shows a significant improvement of 22% in energy efficiency over the basic cycle. However, there is a decrease in exergy efficiency in the recovery system, which represents a 5.26% decline. As a result, this study paves the way for innovative approaches in geothermal energy use, suggesting potential breakthroughs in renewable technologies.
Assessment and optimization of a single flash geothermal system recovered by a trans‐critical CO2 cycle using different scenarios
Authors: Aryanfar Yashar , Castellanos Humberto Garcia , Akhgarzarandy Farshad , Keçebaş Ali , Algarni Salem , Alqahtani Talal , Irshad Kashif , Tag‐Eldin Elsayed M.
Published: February 2024

In the evolving landscape of sustainable energy, optimizing geothermal power systems presents a critical challenge. This study explores the energy and exergy efficiencies of a power production system utilizing a single‐flash geothermal cycle integrated with a trans‐critical CO2 cycle. The study's methodology involves a detailed examination of key performance parameters—separator pressure, CO2 turbine intake pressure, and steam turbine output pressure. Utilizing the EES software environment, the study innovatively employs a combination of Genetic Algorithm (GA), Nelder–Mead Simplex (NMS) method, and Direct algorithm (DA). When using GA, NMS and DA, the system's exergy efficiency increases from 32.46% in the default operating mode to 39.21%, 36.16%, and 38.82%, respectively. One of the notable outcomes is the identification of optimal separator pressure for maximum energy efficiency. Furthermore, the study reveals that increasing the CO2 turbine's inlet pressure adversely impacts the system's efficiency. The study's results contribute significantly to the field of renewable energy, offering practical guidelines for enhancing the performance of geothermal power systems.
Fire risk assessment of Kashan's commercial and shopping centers using fire risk assessment method for engineering (FRAME)
Authors: Rabiei Hadiseh , Zare Asma , Ahmadian Taheri Somayeh , Ebrahimi Niloofar , Mazaheri Tehrani Ashraf , Malakoutikhah Mahdi
Published: February 2024

Commercial buildings are considered as high‐risk units in fire due to the existence of expensive equipment and large presence of people with different ages. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the fire risk of commercial and shopping centers in Kashan using the fire risk assessment method for engineering (FRAME). This cross‐sectional study was conducted using FRAME in 15 commercial and shopping centers in Kashan, Iran. The risk assessment data and FRAME checklist were collected by observation and interviews. Data analysis was conducted using Excel and Geographic Information System (GIS) software. The results of 46 checklists showed that the mean score of fire risk R for property was equal to 3.12, for people 3.81 and for activities 1.86. Also, the lowest risk for the property, people and activities belongs to Golestan Center with a score of 1.40, Valiasr with a score of 1.25 and Ataee with a score of 1.15, and the highest risk for the property, people and activities belongs to Mir Seyfi Center with a score of 5.80, Shafagh with a score of 9.96 and Sabz was 2.62, respectively. The present study showed the lack of proper ventilation system, lack of emergency exits, and lack of automatic fire alarm and extinguishing system were the factors affecting fire risk. Therefore, in order to prevent disasters and uncontrollable critical conditions, it is necessary to review the equipment of these buildings and to design and implement fire detection and alarm equipment and different ways of fire control in these centers.
Direct oral anticoagulants compared to warfarin in long‐term management of cerebral venous thrombosis: A comprehensive meta‐analysis
Authors: Ranjan Redoy , Ken‐Dror Gie , Sharma Pankaj
Published: February 2024

Objectives

We compared the safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) with those of warfarin in the long‐term (≥6 months) treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT).

Methods

We searched electronic databases up to November 2023 to compare the use of DOACs and warfarin in CVT management. Modified Rankin scores (mRS), new intracranial hemorrhage, all‐cause mortality, recurrence and nonrecanalisation events were used to assess outcome. RevMan v5.4 software and the Cochran‐Mantel‐Haenszel method were utilized to analyse data.

Results

A total of 25 studies involving 2301 patients were identified as having treated CVT with either DOACs or warfarin. Good long‐term mRS scores 0–2 (risk ratio [RR] = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.98–1.03; p = 0.61), new intracranial hemorrhage (RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.48–2.08; p = 0.99), all‐cause mortality (RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.50–1.98; p = 0.99), nonrecanalisation (RR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.77–1.18; p = 0.65) and recurrence venous thrombosis events (RR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.33–1.22; p = 0.17) were similar between the two treatment arms. Subgroup analysis found recurrence of venous thrombosis was lower in the rivaroxaban group compared to warfarin (2.2% vs. 8.5%, RR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.11–0.98; p = 0.05).

Conclusion

DOACs and warfarin provide comparable long‐term safety and efficacy profiles. DOACs may be preferred over warfarin due to their ease of clinical management.
Comparisons of rainfall partitioning and canopy interception modelling in pure and mixed forests on the Chinese Loess Plateau
Authors: Wu Xiaofei , Zhu Miyuan , Zhang Zhongdian , Huang Mingbin
Published: February 2024

Rainfall partitioning is a key process in forest ecosystems that affects the forest hydrological cycle and ecological services. However, little is known about the rainfall partitioning in Pinus tabuliformis (PT), Robinia pseudoacacia (RP), and Pinus tabuliformis×Robinia pseudoacacia (PT × RP) forests, which are widely distributed on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) for controlling soil and water losses. The objectives of this study were to compare the rainfall partitioning and conduct interception modelling in PT, RP, and PT × RP forests, using data from the Ansai and Changwu sites on the CLP. The sites feature similar weather conductions and both pure and mixed forests of the same age. The tree density of PT × RP was moderate at the Ansai site but higher at the Changwu site compared to PT and RP. We quantitatively measured the throughfall (Tf), stemflow (Sf), and interception loss (Ic) for the forests at the two sites during the growing season (May–October, 2022), and simulated Ic using the Revised Gash Analytical Model (RGAM) and Liu model. The results showed that measured Ic for PT × RP (26.0% of the total gross rainfall, Pg) was larger than for RP (22.0% of Pg) but smaller than for PT (27.8% of Pg) at the Ansai site, and vice versa for the Tf and Sf (RP > PT × RP > PT), while the measured Ic for PT × RP (33.7% of Pg) at the Changwu site was larger than both for PT (31.1% of Pg) and RP (19.5% of Pg). The Tf and Sf for PT × RP was smaller than for PT and RP. Given the similar weather conditions, differences in Ic for the pure and mixed forests at each site were attributed to canopy storage capacity, wet canopy evaporation rate, and tree density. Additionally, the RGAM and the Liu model effectively simulated and captured the differences in Ic for PT, RP, and PT × RP. However, the RGAM performed better with a relative error less than −7.3%, Nash‐Sutcliffe model efficiency ranging from 0.82 to 0.95, and root mean square error less than 0.5 mm. According to the RGAM, evaporation from the wet canopy during rainfall events and after rainfall cessation were the two most influential components. The results of this study suggest that mixed forest can optimize rainfall partitioning compared to pure forests, but a reasonable density should be adopted to increase rainwater replenishment to the forest floor.
Mechanisms of isotopic control of precipitation in the Yellow River source region
Authors: Ye Linlin , Lin Xinrui , Zhu Guofeng , Liu Yuwei , Qiu Dongdong , Zhang Wenhao , Liu Jiawei , Lu Siyu
Published: February 2024

The study of water vapour sources and water cycle patterns in the Yellow River source region is of great significance for ensuring water resource security in the arid and semi‐arid regions of northern China. We established a precipitation stable isotope observation system in the Yellow River source region for three consecutive years (2020–2022), systematically analysed the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of precipitation stable isotopes 2H and 18O in the Yellow River source region and their interrelationships with environmental factors and topography, and explored the regional water vapour transport pathways by using the HYSPLIT model and combining with the global reanalysis data. The results show that: (1) the δ18O and δ2H values of precipitation in the Yellow River source region follow the seasonal pattern, with the first half of the year being richer than the second half of the year; (2) the spatial variations of δ18O of precipitation in the Yellow River source region show a low in the southwest and a high in the northeast; (3) the water vapour source in the source area is basically stable, and the complex transport paths and the cross‐effects of the local factors determine the stable isotope characteristics of the water, and the stable isotope characteristics of the water are determined by the cross‐effects of the local factors, because the source of the water vapour and the local factors such as the height will not change significantly in the short term. Since the source of water vapour and local elevation factors will not change significantly in the short term, the precipitation pattern in the source area of the Yellow River can be considered to be basically stable.
Quantifying hydrological responses to monsoon‐controlled precipitation across the soil‐groundwater‐stream continuum with long‐term high‐frequency hydrometric monitoring
Authors: Dai Xin , Xie Yueqing , Liao Aimin , Wang Chuan , Lin Jin , Wu Jichun
Published: February 2024

Stream water, groundwater and soil water in the riparian zone are closely linked. Their responses to rainfall events controlled by monsoon climate are variable and intertwined, which are still not well known. To address this knowledge gap, we established a monitoring transect adjacent to a headwater stream in Huashan Catchment, eastern China, with typical monsoon climate. We monitored precipitation, stream stage, groundwater level and soil moisture content at intervals of maximum 30 min. We then conducted an event‐based analysis of rainfall event characteristics and diverse response metrics, and assessed their correlations and interrelationships through correlation and regression analysis. Our 2‐year monitoring results show that water level responses occurred in most rainfall events. They had smaller threshold of rainfall amount and timing but longer time to peak response. Stream responses exhibited smaller response magnitude and intensities than groundwater responses. Rainfall amount and event duration were the most critical driving factors for groundwater responses. Soil moisture responses varied with depth. Only large storms could propagate into topsoil and generate rapid responses. Middle soil moisture responses had more frequent response occurrence and more variable response magnitude, while deep soil moisture responses had smaller response magnitude, longer time to peak response and larger wetting front movement velocity. Attenuated initial response timing with depth identified preferential flow, reflecting heterogeneity in the soil profile. Monsoon‐controlled heavy rainfall improved hydrologic connectivity in the soil‐groundwater‐stream continuum (SGSC), mediating the influence of heterogeneity on soil moisture responses and potentially contributing more subsurface flow to catchment runoff. Overall, this study aimed to reveal the mechanism of hydrological responses to monsoon‐controlled precipitation across the SGSC.
Differentiation of COVID‐19 pneumonia from other lung diseases using CT radiomic features and machine learning: A large multicentric cohort study
Authors: Shiri Isaac , Salimi Yazdan , Saberi Abdollah , Pakbin Masoumeh , Hajianfar Ghasem , Avval Atlas Haddadi , Sanaat Amirhossein , Akhavanallaf Azadeh , Mostafaei Shayan , Mansouri Zahra , Askari Dariush , Ghasemian Mohammadreza , Sharifipour Ehsan , Sandoughdaran Saleh , Sohrabi Ahmad , Sadati Elham , Livani Somayeh , Iranpour Pooya , Kolahi Shahriar , Khosravi Bardia , Khateri Maziar , Bijari Salar , Atashzar Mohammad Reza , Shayesteh Sajad P. , Babaei Mohammad Reza , Jenabi Elnaz , Hasanian Mohammad , Shahhamzeh Alireza , Ghomi Seyed Yaser Foroghi , Mozafari Abolfazl , Shirzad‐Aski Hesamaddin , Movaseghi Fatemeh , Bozorgmehr Rama , Goharpey Neda , Abdollahi Hamid , Geramifar Parham , Radmard Amir Reza , Arabi Hossein , Rezaei‐Kalantari Kiara , Oveisi Mehrdad , Rahmim Arman , Zaidi Habib
Published: February 2024

To derive and validate an effective machine learning and radiomics‐based model to differentiate COVID‐19 pneumonia from other lung diseases using a large multi‐centric dataset. In this retrospective study, we collected 19 private and five public datasets of chest CT images, accumulating to 26 307 images (15 148 COVID‐19; 9657 other lung diseases including non‐COVID‐19 pneumonia, lung cancer, pulmonary embolism; 1502 normal cases). We tested 96 machine learning‐based models by cross‐combining four feature selectors (FSs) and eight dimensionality reduction techniques with eight classifiers. We trained and evaluated our models using three different strategies: #1, the whole dataset (15 148 COVID‐19 and 11 159 other); #2, a new dataset after excluding healthy individuals and COVID‐19 patients who did not have RT‐PCR results (12 419 COVID‐19 and 8278 other); and #3 only non‐COVID‐19 pneumonia patients and a random sample of COVID‐19 patients (3000 COVID‐19 and 2582 others) to provide balanced classes. The best models were chosen by one‐standard‐deviation rule in 10‐fold cross‐validation and evaluated on the hold out test sets for reporting. In strategy#1, Relief FS combined with random forest (RF) classifier resulted in the highest performance (accuracy = 0.96, AUC = 0.99, sensitivity = 0.98, specificity = 0.94, PPV = 0.96, and NPV = 0.96). In strategy#2, Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) FS and RF classifier combination resulted in the highest performance (accuracy = 0.97, AUC = 0.99, sensitivity = 0.98, specificity = 0.95, PPV = 0.96, NPV = 0.98). Finally, in strategy #3, the ANOVA FS and RF classifier combination resulted in the highest performance (accuracy = 0.94, AUC =0.98, sensitivity = 0.96, specificity = 0.93, PPV = 0.93, NPV = 0.96). Lung radiomic features combined with machine learning algorithms can enable the effective diagnosis of COVID‐19 pneumonia in CT images without the use of additional tests.
Thermoplastic polyurethane/POSS nanohybrids: Synthesis, morphology, and biological properties
Authors: Ozimek Jan , Malarz Katarzyna , Mrozek‐Wilczkiewicz Anna , Hebda Edyta , Pielichowski Krzysztof
Published: February 2024

Recent studies show good osteoinductive properties of polyurethanes modified with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS). In this work, three types of POSS; propanediolisobutyl‐POSS (PHI‐POSS), disilanolisobutyl‐POSS (DSI‐POSS), and octahydroxybutyl‐POSS (OCTA‐POSS) were chemically incorporated into linear polyurethane based on an aliphatic isocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), to obtain new nanohybrid PU‐POSS materials. The full conversion of POSS was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR‐ATR) spectra of the model reactions with pure HDI. The materials obtained were investigated by FTIR, SEM‐EDS, and DSC. The DSC studies showed the thermoplasticity of the obtained materials and apparently good recovery. 30‐day immersion in SBF (simulated body fluid) revealed an increase in the rate of deposition of hydroxyapatite (HAp) for the highest POSS loadings, resulting in thick layers of hydroxyapatite (~60–40 μm), and the Ca/P ratio 1.67 (even 1.785). The structure and properties of the inorganic layer depend on the type of POSS, the number of hard segments, and those containing POSS, which can be tailored by changing the HDI/poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG) ratio. Furthermore, the obtained composites revealed good biocompatibility, as confirmed by cytotoxicity tests conducted on two cell lines; normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and primary human osteoblasts (HOB). Adherent cells seeded on the tested materials showed viability even after a 48‐h incubation. After this time, the population of viable, and proliferating cells exceeded 90%. Bioimaging studies have shown the fibroblast and osteoblast cells were well attached to the surface of the tested materials.
The different roads not taken: Considering diverse foregone alternatives motivates future goal persistence
Authors: Kim Hye‐young , Urminsky Oleg
Published: February 2024

Decisions are rarely made in isolation. Instead, deliberation often occurs in the context of prior related choices. This article finds that goal‐inconsistent foregone alternatives, options that were previously considered but not chosen, shape how consumers subsequently pursue their goals. Going beyond previous research on foregone alternatives and consumer satisfaction, the current research suggests that how consumers mentally construe foregone goal‐inconsistent alternatives impacts how they evaluate their prior goal‐consistent choices, which will, in turn, impact their motivation to continue making goal‐consistent choices. Specifically, we find the foregone alternative diversity effect: consumers who consider having previously foregone diverse (vs. similar) goal‐inconsistent alternatives in favor of a goal‐consistent action then believe that they have made a greater sacrifice, which had more of an impact on their focal goal. As a result, they are then more likely to subsequently make goal‐consistent choices. Our findings hold across different types of goals (exercise: Study 1, healthy eating: Studies 2, 3, and 5, weight loss: Study 4), and both real and hypothetical choices. We also identify theoretically motivated boundary conditions for the observed effect of considering foregone alternatives.
The effects of choline supplementation in mothers with hypothyroidism on the alteration of cognitive–behavioral, long‐term potentiation, morphology, and apoptosis in the hippocampus of pre‐pubertal offspring rats
Authors: Sheikhi Siamak , Aghazadeh Razieh , Sayyadi Hojjat , Pourheydar Bagher , Saboory Ehsan , Bagheri Morteza , Derafshpour Leila
Published: February 2024

The mother's thyroid hormone status during gestation and the first few months after delivery can play a crucial role in maturation during the brain development of the child. Transient abnormalities in thyroid function at birth indicate developmental and cognitive disorders in adulthood. Choline supplementation during gestation and the perinatal period in rats causes long‐lasting memory improvement in the offspring. However, it remains unclear whether choline is able to restore the deficits in rats with maternal hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of choline supplementation on the alteration of cognitive‐behavioral function, long‐term potentiation (LTP), and morphological changes as well as apoptosis in pre‐pubertal offspring rats. To induce hypothyroidism, 6‐propyl‐2‐thiouracil was added to the drinking water from the 6th day of gestation to the 21st postnatal day (PND). Choline treatment was started twice a day on the first day of the gestation until PND 21 via gavage. LTP recording and Morris water maze (MWM) test were conducted at PND 28. Then, the rats were sacrificed to assess their brains. The results revealed that developmental thyroid hormone deficiency impaired spatial learning and memory and reduced LTP (both: P < 0.001). Choline treatment alleviated LTP (P < 0.001), as well as learning and memory deficits (P < 0.01) in both male and female hypothyroid rats. However, no significant changes were observed in the number of caspase‐3 stained cells in choline‐receiving hypothyroid groups. The results revealed that developmental thyroid hormone deficiency impaired spatial learning and memory and reduced LTP. Choline treatment alleviated LTP, as well as learning and memory deficits in both male and female hypothyroid rats.
Non‐Invasive Tumor Grade Evaluation in Von Hippel–Lindau‐Associated Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging‐Based Study
Authors: Zahergivar Aryan , Yazdian Anari Pouria , Mendhiratta Neil , Lay Nathan , Singh Shiva , Dehghani Firouzabadi Fatemeh , Chaurasia Aditi , Golagha Mahshid , Homayounieh Fatemeh , Gautam Rabindra , Harmon Stephanie , Turkbey Evrim , Merino Maria , Jones Elizabeth C. , Ball Mark W. , Turkbey Baris , Linehan W. Marston , Malayeri Ashkan A.
Published: February 2024

Background

Pathology grading is an essential step for the treatment and evaluation of the prognosis in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Purpose

To investigate the utility of texture analysis in evaluating Fuhrman grades of renal tumors in patients with Von Hippel–Lindau (VHL)‐associated ccRCC, aiming to improve non‐invasive diagnosis and personalized treatment.

Study Type

Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained cohort.

Population

One hundred and thirty‐six patients, 84 (61%) males and 52 (39%) females with pathology‐proven ccRCC with a mean age of 52.8 ± 12.7 from 2010 to 2023.

Field Strength and Sequences

1.5 and 3 T MRIs. Segmentations were performed on the T1‐weighted 3‐minute delayed sequence and then registered on pre‐contrast, T1‐weighted arterial and venous sequences.

Assessment

A total of 404 lesions, 345 low‐grade tumors, and 59 high‐grade tumors were segmented using ITK‐SNAP on a T1‐weighted 3‐minute delayed sequence of MRI. Radiomics features were extracted from pre‐contrast, T1‐weighted arterial, venous, and delayed post‐contrast sequences. Preprocessing techniques were employed to address class imbalances. Features were then rescaled to normalize the numeric values. We developed a stacked model combining random forest and XGBoost to assess tumor grades using radiomics signatures.

Statistical Tests

The model's performance was evaluated using positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, F1 score, area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic curve, and Matthews correlation coefficient. Using Monte Carlo technique, the average performance of 100 benchmarks of 85% train and 15% test was reported.

Results

The best model displayed an accuracy of 0.79. For low‐grade tumor detection, a sensitivity of 0.79, a PPV of 0.95, and an F1 score of 0.86 were obtained. For high‐grade tumor detection, a sensitivity of 0.78, PPV of 0.39, and F1 score of 0.52 were reported.

Data Conclusion

Radiomics analysis shows promise in classifying pathology grades non‐invasively for patients with VHL‐associated ccRCC, potentially leading to better diagnosis and personalized treatment.

Level of Evidence

1

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Utility of Prostate Health Index Density for Biopsy Strategy in Biopsy‐Naïve Patients With PI‐RADS v2.1 Category 3 Lesions
Authors: Kim Min Je , Park Jung Jae , Kang Kyung A , Park Sung Yoon , Kim Chan Kyo
Published: February 2024

Background

Category 3 lesions in PI‐RADSv2.1 pose diagnostic challenges, complicating biopsy decisions. Recent biomarkers like prostate health index (PHI) have shown higher specificity in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) than prostate‐specific antigen (PSA). Yet their integration with MRI remains understudied.

Purpose

To evaluate the utility of PSA and PHI with its derivatives for detecting csPCa in biopsy‐naïve patients with category 3 lesion on initial prostate MRI scan.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

One hundred ninety‐three biopsy‐naïve patients who underwent MRI, PSA, and PHI testing, followed by both targeted and systematic biopsies.

Field Strength/Sequence

Turbo spin‐echo T2‐weighted imaging, diffusion‐weighted single‐shot echo‐planar imaging, and dynamic contrast‐enhanced T1‐weighted fast field echo sequence imaging in 3 T.

Assessment

PHI density (PHID) and PSA density (PSAD) derived by dividing serum PHI and PSA with prostate volume (MRI based methodology suggested by PI‐RADSv2.1). Risk‐stratified models to evaluate the utility of markers in triaging patients for biopsy, including low‐, intermediate‐, and high‐risk groups.

Statistical Tests

Independent t‐test, Mann–Whitney U test, Mantel–Haenszel test, generalized estimating equation, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used. Statistical significance defined as P < 0.05.

Results

CsPCa was found in 16.6% (32/193) of patients. PHID had the highest area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.793, followed by PHI of 0.752, PSAD of 0.750, and PSA of 0.654. PHID with two cut‐off points (0.88/mL and 1.82/mL) showed the highest potential biopsy avoidance of 47.7% (92/193) with 5% missing csPCa, and the lowest intermediate‐risk group (borderline decision group) at 38.9% (75/193), compared to PSA and PHI.

Data Conclusion

PHID demonstrated better potential in triaging patients with category 3 lesions, possibly aiding more selective and confident biopsy decisions for csPCa detection, than traditional markers.

Evidence Level

4

Technical Efficacy

Stage 5
Membrane‐bound CD95 ligand modulates CD19‐mediated B cell receptor signaling and EBV activation
Authors: Liu Mu , Huang Chenxu , Zhou Xingchen , Jiang Congwei , Liu Shuai , Gao Ying , Kuang Linlin , Lei Zhangmengxue , Jia Ran , Xu Jin , Legembre Patrick , Liang Xiaozhen
Published: February 2024

Post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are associated with Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection in transplant recipients. Most of lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from EBV‐immortalized B cells or PTLDs are sensitive to CD95‐mediated apoptosis and cytotoxic T cell (CTL) killing. CD95 ligand (CD95L) exists as a transmembrane ligand (mCD95L) or a soluble form (sCD95L). Using recombinant mCD95L and sCD95L, we observed that sCD95L does not affect LCLs. While high expression of mCD95L in CTLs promotes apoptosis of LCLs, low expression induces clathrin‐dependent CD19 internalization, caspase‐dependent CD19 cleavage, and proteasomal/lysosomal‐dependent CD19 degradation. The CD95L/CD95‐mediated CD19 degradation impairs B cell receptor (BCR) signaling and inhibits BCR‐mediated EBV activation. Interestingly, although inhibition of the caspase activity restores CD19 expression and CD19‐mediated BCR activation, it fails to rescue BCR‐mediated EBV lytic gene expression. EBV‐specific CTLs engineered to overexpress mCD95L exhibit a stronger killing activity against LCLs. This study highlights that engineering EBV‐specific CTLs to express a higher level of mCD95L could represent an attractive therapeutic approach to improve T cell immunotherapy for PTLDs.
Theta oscillations within right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex contribute differently to speech versus limb inhibition
Authors: Johari Karim , Berger Joel I.
Published: February 2024

Evidence suggests that speech and limb movement inhibition are subserved by common neural mechanisms, particularly within the right prefrontal cortex. In a recent study, we found that cathodal stimulation of right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC) differentially modulated P3 event‐related potentials for speech versus limb inhibition. In the present study, we further analyzed these data to examine the effects of cathodal high‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD‐tDCS) over rDLPFC on frontal theta ‐ an oscillatory marker of cognitive control ‐ in response to speech and limb inhibition, during a Go/No‐Go task in 21 neurotypical adults. Electroencephalography data demonstrated that both speech and limb No‐Go elicited prominent theta activity over right prefrontal electrodes, with stronger activity for speech compared to limb. Moreover, we found that cathodal stimulation significantly increased theta power over right prefrontal electrodes for speech versus limb No‐Go. Source analysis revealed that cathodal, but not sham, stimulation increased theta activity within rDLPFC and bilateral premotor cortex for speech No‐Go compared to limb movement inhibition. These findings complement our previous report and suggest (1) right prefrontal theta activity is an amodal oscillatory mechanism supporting speech and limb inhibition, (2) larger theta activity in prefrontal electrodes for speech versus limb following cathodal stimulation may reflect allocation of additional neural resources for a more complex motor task, such as speech compared to limb movement. These findings have translational implications for conditions such as Parkinson's disease, wherein both speech and limb movement are impaired.
Isolation, identification, and in vitro probiotic characterization of forty novel Bifidobacterium strains from neonatal feces in Erzurum province, Türkiye
Authors: Güler Muhammet Akif , Çetin Bülent , Albayrak Bülent , Meral‐Aktaş Hacer , Tekgündüz Kadir Şerafettin , Kara Mustafa , Işlek Ali
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND

Neonatal feces are one of the most important sources for probiotic isolation. The purpose of this study was the isolation and identification of Bifidobacterium spp. from neonatal feces and the evaluation of in vitro probiotic properties of strains including safety tests.

RESULTS

A total of 40 isolates were obtained from 14 healthy newborns' feces in Erzurum province, Türkiye. By their rep‐PCR patterns and 16S rRNA gene sequences, isolates were identified as 26 Bifidobacterium breve and 14 Bifidobacterium longum. Fifteen of the isolates tolerated bile salts and showed high resistance to simulated gastric juice. Isolates exhibited varying rates of auto‐aggregation and hydrophobicity. In addition, most of the isolates displayed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Salmonella Typhimurium RSHMB 95091, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027. However, only one strain showed bile salt hydrolase activity and two strains showed the ability to produce H2O2. Bifidobacterium strains were generally sensitive to the tested antibiotics and lacked kanamycin, gentamicin, and streptomycin resistance genes, and hemolytic and DNAse activities. On the other hand, it was determined that five strains had various virulence genes including gelE, esp, efaAfs, hyl, and ace.

CONCLUSION

Results of the present study suggested that B. longum BH28, B. breve BH4 and B. breve BH5 strains have the potential as probiotic candidates for further studies. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Nutritional and physicochemical characteristics of Asiatic hard clam powder prepared by different cook‐drying processes: a comparative study
Authors: Viji Pankyamma , Binsi Puthanpurakkal Kizhakethil , Sireesha Senapathi , S. J. Laly , Ninan George
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND

Asiatic hard clam (Meretrix meretrix) is an underutilized bivalve resource. This study discusses dried clam powders prepared from this resource to enhance its utilization and improve nutritional security in protein‐deficient populations. Dried clam powder was prepared from Asiatic hard clam and the effects of different pre‐cooking methods (boil‐dried clam powder, BDCP; steam‐dried clam powder, SDCP; and microwave‐dried clam powder, MDCP) on nutritional (proximate composition, amino acid profiling, mineral profiling, fatty acid profiling) and physicochemical qualities were investigated.

RESULTS

Different pre‐cooking methods significantly influenced the characteristics of the clam powder. The MDCP sample showed the highest concentration of amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, Na, K, Ca and Mg content compared to BDCP and SDCP. The boiling process led to a loss of nutritional quality in terms of amino acids and macrominerals. The MDCP displayed the highest solubility in water (30.10%) but its oil and water absorption characteristics were the lowest among all the samples. Boil‐cooked clam powder displayed the highest oil binding (2.03 mL g−1 protein) capacity. Boiling and steaming processes resulted in malondialdehyde generation compared to microwaving. Different pre‐cooking processes did not influence the colour attributes significantly, but the control sample prepared without pre‐cooking (CCP) had a significantly lower L* value (32.34), resulting in a darker product. In vitro digestibility of the clam powder varied in the order MDCP > SDCP > BDCP > CCP.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated that nutritionally rich protein powder can be prepared from Asiatic hard clam. Based on the results, microwave pre‐cooking is considered the best pre‐cooking method to preserve the nutritional qualities of clam powder. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Comparative analysis on the performance of different types of input‐ and command‐shaping controllers in minimizing payload residual vibration of an overhead crane with an inclined supporting track
Authors: Alfares Mohammed , Alhazza Khaled
Published: February 2024

Reducing the effects of external disturbance on overhead crane systems is crucial, as they can impair the controller performance and cause excessive vibrations or oscillations of the payloads. One such external disturbance is the inclination of the supporting track of the crane trolley, which causes the system dynamics model to change. An open‐loop control strategy is widely utilized to control the payload sway motion and generally does not require any alterations in the physical structure of a system or the installation of sensors and/or actuators. Input and command shaping are two common open‐loop control techniques applied to control overhead cranes. In this paper, the effect of moving an overhead crane system along an inclined supporting track is investigated. In addition, the ability of different types of input‐ and command‐shaping control schemes to suppress the residual vibrations due to trolley track inclination is demonstrated. Two types of input‐shaping controllers, which are double‐step, zero vibration, and one command waveform (WF) shaper based on a trigonometric function, are used and tested. A linear equation of motion of the overhead crane resting on an inclined surface is developed to simulate the overhead crane and payload motion. The effectiveness of the different types of open‐loop controllers to suppress residual vibrations is verified by both simulation and experimental results. In addition, a new WF command shaper is proposed and designed to overcome track inclination while eliminating payload residual vibration. A comprehensive comparative analysis, both numerically and experimentally, is performed on the new proposed shaper to measure its effectiveness in handling inclination when compared to other types of open‐loop controllers. The new shaper outperforms other controllers in eliminating payload residual vibration for a wider range of inclination angles.
Insight into hydration inhibition mechanism of amino trimethylene phosphonic acid on tricalcium silicate from first‐principles calculations
Authors: Zhang Yue , Xin Zhaorui , Ding Zhiheng , Wang Pan , Wang Muhan , Wang Xinpeng , Xu Qingqing , Xu Jing , Li Zhongjuan , Guan Jing , Hou Dongshuai
Published: February 2024

Although amino trimethylene phosphoric acid (ATMP) has been widely used as a retarder for Portland cement, its effect on cement hydration is poorly understood at the atomic level. In this study, we combine static calculation and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulation to reveal the mechanism of the effect of ATMP on the initial stage of C3S hydration from multiple perspectives, quantitatively analyze the structural reconstruction and charge migration at the ATMP/C3S interface in the aqueous environment. By adsorbing on the surface of C3S, ATMP occupies the adsorption site of water molecules. Compared with the pure C3S surface, the addition of ATMP delays the hydroxylation of the C3S surface and inhibits the formation of Ca‐Ow bonds. This work gives new insights into understanding the hydration of C3S with ATMP and offers new approach of designing new cement retarder at the molecular level.
Opportunities and challenges of interdisciplinarity in river water environmental ethics and integrated river basin management
Authors: Xia Jun , Xue Ying , Li Pengjun , Song Jiyun , Wang Gangsheng , Luo Wenguang
Published: February 2024

This paper examines the ethical issues of water environment in the context of river management in practical engineering and technological applications. In particular, three important issues are discussed in this paper referring to two actual engineering cases in ancient and modern China, that is, the construction of ancient Dujiangyan irrigation project in Sichuan, China, and the modern practice of integrated operation of flood control and pollution prevention in Huai River Basin. The three issues include how to consider the trade‐offs between flood control and irrigation, how to balance flood control and contamination prevention related to sudden water pollution incident, and how to ensure the protection of water environments and ecology in rivers under the grand challenges of natural environmental changes and high‐intensity human activities. Finally, this paper concludes by emphasizing the future development of water environmental ethics and its interdisciplinary integration with modern science & technology in smart river management in China.
Effective sample size: A measure of individual uncertainty in predictions
Authors: Thomassen Doranne , le Cessie Saskia , van Houwelingen Hans C. , Steyerberg Ewout W.
Published: February 2024

Clinical prediction models are estimated using a sample of limited size from the target population, leading to uncertainty in predictions, even when the model is correctly specified. Generally, not all patient profiles are observed uniformly in model development. As a result, sampling uncertainty varies between individual patients' predictions. We aimed to develop an intuitive measure of individual prediction uncertainty. The variance of a patient's prediction can be equated to the variance of the sample mean outcome in hypothetical patients with the same predictor values. This hypothetical sample size can be interpreted as the number of similar patients that the prediction is effectively based on, given that the model is correct. For generalized linear models, we derived analytical expressions for the effective sample size. In addition, we illustrated the concept in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In model development, can be used to balance accuracy versus uncertainty of predictions. In a validation sample, the distribution of indicates which patients were more and less represented in the development data, and whether predictions might be too uncertain for some to be practically meaningful. In a clinical setting, the effective sample size may facilitate communication of uncertainty about predictions. We propose the effective sample size as a clinically interpretable measure of uncertainty in individual predictions. Its implications should be explored further for the development, validation and clinical implementation of prediction models.