bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences Changes in Cerebellar Functional Connectivity of Parkinson's patients with visual hallucinations
Authors: Qu Liangcheng , Liu Chuan , Cao Yiting , Yin Kuiying , Liu Weiguo , Shi Jingping
Published: September 2023

Recent studies have discovered that functional connections are impaired in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) accompanied by hallucinations(PD-H), even at the preclinical stage. The cerebellum has been implicated as playing a role in cognitive processes. However, the functional connectivity (FC) between cognitive sub-regions of the cerebellum of PD patients with hallucinations needs to be further clarified. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from three groups (17 PD-H, 13 no hallucinations accompanying the (PD-NH), and 26 healthy controls (HC) ) was collected in this study to explore the role of cerebellar FC changes in the cognitive performance. Additionally, we define cerebellar FC as a training feature for classifying all subjects using Support Vector Machine(SVM). We found that PD-H patients' cerebellum(Vermis_4_5 ) FC had increased within the left side of the precuneus(PCUN) compared to HC, cerebellum(Vermis_1_2) had increased within bilateral opercular part of the inferior frontal gyrus(IFGoprec) and triangular part of the inferior frontal gyrus(IFCtriang), left side of postcentral gyrus(PoCG), Inferior parietal lobe(IPL), and PCUNs compared to PD-NH. In the training results of machine learning, cerebellar FC has also been proven to be an effective biomarker feature, with a recognition rate of over 90% for PD-H. These findings indicate that cortico-cerebellar FC in PD-H and PD-NH patients were significantly disrupted with different distributions. The proposed pipeline offers a promising low-cost alternative for the diagnosis of preclinical PD-H and can be useful for other degenerative brain disorders.
Exploring the Marginal Effects of Climate Change on Farming System Choice: A Farm-Level Space-for-Time Approach
Authors: Ribeiro Paulo Flores , Santos José Lima
Published: September 2023

Climate change is expected to affect the agricultural sector in ways that are often unclear to predict. If in the short- medium-terms farmers may adapt to climate change by adjusting agricultural practices, in the long-term these adjustments may become insufficient, forcing farmers to change their farming systems. The extent and direction in which these farming system transitions will occur is still a subject underexplored in the literature. We propose a new framework to explore the marginal effect of climate change on the choice of the farming system, while controlling the effect of other drivers known to also influence farming system choice. Using a spatial-explicit farming system choice-model developed by a previous study in an extensive agricultural region of southern Portugal, we applied a space-for-time approach to simulate the effect of climate change on the future dynamics of the farming systems in the study area. Results suggest that climate change will force many farmers to change the farming system in a foreseeable future. The extent of the projected changes in farming systems is likely to trigger significant social, economic, or environmental impacts, which should require early attention from policy makers.
Optimal Design and Performances Enhancement of a FiberOptic Displacement Sensor
Authors: Elrawashdeh Zeina , Prelle Christine , Lamarque Frédéric , Revel Philippe , Galland Stéphane
Published: September 2023

This paper describes the optimal design of a miniature fiber-optic linear displacement sensor. It is characterized by its ability to measure displacements along a millimetric range with sub-micrometric resolution. The sensor consists of a triangular reflective grating and two fiber-optic probes. The measurement principle of the sensor is presented. The design of the sensor's triangular grating has been geometrically optimized by considering the step angle of the grating to enhance the sensor's resolution. The optimization method revealed a global optimum at which the highest resolution is obtained
Compatibility between Conservation Agriculture and the System of Rice Intensification
Authors: Carnevale Zampaolo Francesco , Kassam Amir , Friedrich Theodor , Parr Adam , Uphoff Norman
Published: September 2023

Conservation Agriculture (CA) and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) are both agroecologically-oriented production systems that support more productive, sustainable, and resource-conserving farming, with synergies arising from their respective assemblages of reinforcing agronomic methods. Application of CA principles enhances the growth, yield, and performance of the crops grown under the cropping system as well as the health and resilience of the whole ecosystem. SRI practices create more favorable conditions for the development of crop plants below- and above-ground, conditions that can be enhanced by CA management. SRI practices such as reduced plant density m-2 can elicit better phenotypic expression of the genetic potentials of crops grown with CA.. For these two agronomic systems to converge at field level, some of their respective practices for plant, soil, water, and nutrient management need to be modified or aligned. One such adaptation is to practice SRI in CA systems on permanent, no-till, mulch covered raised beds, with rainfall or irrigation water in the furrows between the beds furnishing and controlling water; and providing weed suppression and improved nutrient recycling. SRI rice cropping can benefit from the CA practices of no-tillage, soil mulch cover, and diversified cropping, both in paddies and on raised beds. Several examples have shown that this convergence of cropping systems is feasible for smallholding farmers as well as for larger-scale producers, and also that SRI practices within a CA system are amenable to considerable mechanization. This review article examines the compatibility between CA and SRI, considering examples of their being utilized in complementary ways. Further research and experimentation are needed to identify and assess appropriate practices for capitalizing upon their synergies.
THE SEARCH FOR VALUE IN THE NEW TURKISH CINEMA: CREATING VALUE OR CREATING APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS FOR IT
Authors: ATEŞ Cenk
Published: September 2023

Abstract

This study problematizes New Turkish Cinema through the concept of “value” and takes Zeki Demirkubuz and Reha Erdem from the universe of independent directors as an example. The fact that both directors have common philosophical projections in their films makes this choice meaningful. The question sought to be answered in the study is how both directors responded in their films to the attempt to overcome the sense of worthlessness created by modernism on the individual. This study, which was designed on a qualitative pattern and used the parameters of philosophical analysis, was limited to the cinema of Zeki Demirkubuz and Reha Erdem, and it was assumed that the effort to create new value to overcome nihilism in New Turkish Cinema could not be mentioned apart from these two directors. The findings show that Zeki Demirkubuz and Reha Erdem’s films show new life possibilities to the audience, and they focus on the creation or constitution of a space of freedom for a new creation, not exploration in the search for value. In other words, it can be said that both directors, following the footsteps of Nietzsche, Camus and Sartre, give priority to ‘destruction’ rather than ‘construction’ in their films and that this destruction is functional in terms of showing the audience new life possibilities.
Panel Data Regression: Equity Financing and Debt-based Financing Islamic Commercial Banking in Indonesia
Authors: Rinda Sari Isnaini Ulfa , Wahyudi Rofiul
Published: September 2023

This paper investigates the impact of equity financing and debt-based financing on profitability in Islamic Commercial Banks. Panel data regression is used to determine the effect of equity-based financing and debt-based financing on Islamic commercial banks' profitability in Indonesia. The data used in this study are the aggregate financial statements of Islamic commercial banks during 2015-2019. The research findings show that partially debt and equity-based financing does not affect ROA and ROE of Islamic Commercial Banks. However, simultaneously the statistical results show a difference where debt and equity-based financing do not affect ROA. Meanwhile, debt and equity-based financing simultaneously affect ROE
Automatic non-HD license plate recognition with dual attention mechanism
Authors: Yang Danchun , He Hui. , Xie Guoping , Xing Haihua
Published: September 2023

Due to the influence of weather such as image blurring, license plate deformation, rain and snow, etc., in response to the problem of high- precision automatic detection and recognition of non-HD license plates in complex environments, on the basis of the more popular detection and recognition deep network, the introduction of dual attention mechanism for license plate recognition is proposed Model At_LPRNET, and on this basis, an integrated end-to-end network of integrated end-to-end network of detection and recognition is constructed that is organically combined with the license plate detection batch The license plate recognition test results of non-HD license plate datasets such as chinese city parking dataset(CCPD) show that the At_LPRNET model has stronger multi-resolution feature extraction capabilities, and the integrated network design combined with the multi-task cascaded convolution detection The integrated network design combined with the multi-task cascaded convolution detection model multi-task cascaded convolutional networks(MTCNN) can further improve license plate recognition Accuracy. Schemes, the average accuracy of the license plate recognition of the proposed model is 13.1% higher, and it can still achieve no less than 84% under challenging, rainy, foggy, very dark or bright conditions Recognition accuracy.
Expression analysis of lncRNAs in pituitary adenoma
Authors: Ghafouri-Fard Soudeh , Bahranian Arefe , Nicknam Amir , Hussen Bashdar Mahmud , Eslami Solat , Jamali Elena , Dilmaghani Nader Akbari , Sharifi Guive , Taheri Mohammad
Published: September 2023

Recent investigations have demonstrated abnormal expression of non-coding RNAs in pituitary adenomas. Cntribution of many lncRNAs to the pathogenesis of these tumors has not been evaluated yet. HOTTIP, ANRIL, PANDAR, PCGEM1 and HOTAIR are among lncRNAs with established roles in the pathogenesis of human cancers, particularly those originated from endocrine organs. The current study aims at assessment of expression of these lncRNAs in pituitary adenomas in comparison with the adjacent non-cancerous pituitary tissues. HOTAIR expression was absent from the majority of adenoma and non-tumoral samples. Expression of HOTTIP was significantly higher in non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) samples compared with paired normal samples (expression ratio (95% CI)= 2.1 (1.13-2.1), P value=0.03). Expression of PANDAR was higher in total adenoma samples compared with paired normal samples (expression ratio (95% CI)= 1.91 (1.16-3.13), P value=0.02). Expression of ANRIL was higher in NFPA samples compared with paired normal samples (expression ratio (95% CI)= 1.94 (1.05-3.6), P value=0.048) and in total adenoma samples compared with paired normal samples (expression ratio (95% CI)= 1.82 (1.11-2.98), P value=0.025). The current study raises the possibility of contribution of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of at least some subtypes of pituitary adenomas and warrant further functional studies in this field.
Effects of child loss on depression in the Chinese elderly: social activities as mediator
Authors: XIE Peixi , SHANG Xintong
Published: September 2023

Objectives
Some elderly individuals with child loss experience have successfully reduced their level of grief, whereas others have experienced long-term depression. This study investigates the relationship between child loss and depression in the Chinese elderly and assesses the mediating role of social activities in this relationship.
Methods
This study uses data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. A total of 5306 respondents aged 60 y and above were enrolled; of this number, 688 individuals experienced child loss, whereas 4618 reported no such. Both a linear regression model (for CES-D scores) and a logistic regression model (for dichotomous depression symptoms) were employed to verify the effect of child loss on depression. The Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) decomposition technique was applied to determine the extent to which family support and social support potentially mediate the correlation between child loss and depression.
Results
Senior participants with child loss experience were more likely to be depressed than senior participants with no child loss experience. Among the effects of child loss on the elderly, 2.17% led to more severe depression symptoms due to reduced participation in social activities, and social activities mediated the relationship between child loss and depression. Depression experienced by the elderly with child loss experience exhibited significant heterogeneity by gender and marital status.
Conclusion
Significant differences in depression and social activity were found between senior participants with child loss experience and those without. Future research needs to assess depression in bereaved elderly individuals and design intervention plans that include sensible socialization.
Hypothermia and motorised scooter injuries emergency presentations: Implications for socio-ecological indicators of health and wellbeing in older people
Authors: Montayre Jed , Maneze Della , Warner Bradley , Chow Josephine , Salamonson Yenna
Published: September 2023

Objectives:
To examine factors and outcomes of community-dwelling older people who presented in the Emergency Departments (EDs) with either hypothermia or motorised mobility scooter-related injuries
Methods:
A quantitative, cohort retrospective review of electronic medical records was employed to examine ED records using the FirstNet database.
Results:
A total of 374 ED records of patients admitted for hypothermia or motorised scooter accident at were identified in this study. The mean age was 73.5 years, with more than half (56%) were males, similarly, and over half (55%) were living without a partner. Majority of those admitted for hypothermia arrived in the EDs by ambulance (93% versus 63%, p<.001), had longer duration of stay in the hospital (82% versus 45%, p<.001) and were less likely to be discharged home (47% versus 92%, p<.001) compared with those admitted due to motorised scooter injuries. Moreover, more than a quarter (28%) of those hospitalised for hypothermia died compared to no deaths from scooter injuries. The regression analysis also showed that those admitted for scooter injuries were almost eight times (AOR: 7.76, 95% CI: 4.04 - 14.90) more likely to be discharged home compared to those admitted for hypothermia.
Discussion and Implications:
Identifying the factors and predictors of ED presentation of older people has implications to practice and health policies, particularly in the delivery of public health services. Findings from this study provided important insights, although from non-causal measures, on how the built environment impacts the health and wellbeing outcomes for older people.
Kinetically Controlled Metal–Elastomer Nanophases for Environmentally Resilient Stretchable Electronics
Authors: Choi Won Jin , Chae Soosang , Nebel Lisa , Cho Changhee , Besford Quinn , Knapp André , Makushko Pavlo , Zabila Yevhen , Pylypovskyi Oleksandr , Jeong Min Woo , Avdoshenko Stanislav , Sander Oliver , Makarov Denys , Chung Yoon Jang , Fery Andreas , Oh Jin Young , Lee Tae-Il
Published: September 2023

Nanophase mixtures, leveraging the complementary strengths of each component, are vital for composites to overcome limitations posed by single elemental materials. Among these, metal-elastomer nanophases are particularly important, holding various practical applications for stretchable electronics. However, the methodology and understanding of nanophase mixing metals and elastomers are extremely limited due to difficulties in blending caused by thermodynamic incompatibility. Here, we present a controlled method using kinetics to mix Au atoms with dimethylsiloxane chains on the nanoscale. We found that the chain migration flux and metal deposition rate are key factors, allowing the formation of reticular nanophases when kinetically in-phase. Moreover, we observed spontaneous structural evolution, resulting in gyrified structures akin to the human brain. The hybridized gyrified reticular nanophases exhibit strain-invariant metallic electrical conductivity up to 156% areal strain, unparalleled durability in organic solvents and aqueous environments with pH 2–13, and remarkable mechanical robustness, ideal for environmentally resilient devices.
A nomogram model in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis diagnosis based on a retrospective study
Authors: Qian Jiao , Yang Yue , Wang Lisa , Wang Yilan , Li Shixiao , Qin Jiajia , Zhu Qiqi , Wang Jing , Yu Sufei , Shen Bo
Published: September 2023

Backgroud:With the easing of governmental COVID-19 restrictions, an upward trend was found for Aspergillus isolation in hospitalized patients .
Objectives:Our research aims to analyze the clinical significance of Aspergillus positivity in respiratory tract samples and construct a diagnostic model in clinical practice.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed Aspergillus-positive patients in the three time periods before and after the relaxation of COVID-19 measures. Patients were admitted in into death or survival group to analyze independent risk factors for mortality. Based on the current standards, we divided patients into Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis( IPA) group and colonization group, in an attempt to identify the risk factors for IPA.The independent risk factors of death and IPA were determined through logistic regression analysis.A nomogram model was constructed to evaluate the predictive value of risk factors in IPA diagnosis.Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between the laboratory indicators of the IPA and the colonization.
Resluts: There were 60% (125/208）patients with COVID-19 infection. We found that the overall in-hospital mortality rate was 33.6% (70/208). IPA (p<0.001), old age (p=0.011), mechanical ventilation requirement (p<0.001),and corticosteroids expose (p=0.002) were independent risk factors for mortality, while antifungal treatment had a protective effect (p<0.037).The proportion of IPA in death and survival group were 80% and 48%(p<0.001), respectively.The nomogram was established based on respiratory tract bronchial disease , recurring fever, the use of at least two types of antibiotics, and number of positive Aspergillus culture has significant diagnostic value for IPA(AUC:0.813,sensitivity0.823,specificity:0.714) .Moreover, there were statistical differences between the IPA and colonization group in serum GM level, BDG level, neutrophil absolute value ,blood glucose level , and blood urea nitrogen level(BUN).
Conclusion:Due to the rapid progression and high mortality rate of IPA, Aspergillus positivity in respiratory tract samples should be cause for concern.In our study,we created a nomogram model in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis diagnosis. When patients with underlying respiratory diseases , recurring fever and use different types of antibiotics, it is best to monitor of laboratory indicators, such as cultures,GM and BDG tests .If there is a high clinical suspicion, we recommend starting empirical treatment with triazole drugs.
Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 is required for human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell-mediated rheumatoid arthritis therapy
Authors: Liu Guangyang , Wang Herui , Zhang Chenliang , Li Xin , Mi Yi , Chen Yaoyao , Xu Liqiang , Miao Li , Long Haomiao , Liu Yongjun
Published: September 2023

Background Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) can relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. However, we did not know whether TNFR1 expressed by hUC-MSCs contributes to therapy as a neutralizer of TNF-α or whether TNFR1 has more roles. This study aimed to explore the functions of TNFR1 in hUC-MSC-mediated RA therapy. Methods We knocked down TNFR1 in hUC-MSCs and compared the ability of MSCs to inhibit TNF-α production by PBMCs. hUC-MSCs with or without TNFR1 knockdown were infused into collagen-induced arthritis mice to compare RA therapeutic effects. The inflammatory cytokine levels at different timepoints after cell treatment were measured, and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed to observe the pathological differences. After confirming the importance of TNFR1 in RA treatment, we stimulated hUC-MSCs with different inflammatory cytokines to observe how TNFR1 responds and compare whether any genes were influenced by the presence or absence of TNFR1. Results In vitro PMBC experiments showed that the inhibition of TNF-α production was dependent on TNFR1 expression. hUC-MSCs could relieve symptoms of RA in animals in a TNFR1-dependent manner. Inflammatory cytokine simulation revealed that TNFR1 was reduced after 24 h of stimulation in hUC-MSCs, while siTNFR1-MSCs showed upregulation of TNFR1 after the same treatment. In addition, impairment of TNFR1 expression led to different expression levels of p65, TLR2, HGF, and KGF in MSCs. Conclusions Reduced TNFR1 alters gene expression and leads to the loss of therapeutic effects.
Discontinuation of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among people in serodifferent relationships: Findings from a programmatic surveillance study within a large-scale HIV program in Nigeria
Authors: Anyasi Helen , Idemudia Augustine , Badru Titilope , Onyegbule Stanley , Isang Etiemana , Sanwo Olusola , Pandey Satish Raj , Chiegil Robert , Bateganya Moses , Schwartz Katie , Njuguna Njambi , Khamofu Hadiza , Plotkin Marya , Iyortim Isa , Persaud Navindra
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND: As Oral PrEP scales across countries, more information about uptake, use pattern and client preference emerge from pilots, demonstration studies and national programmes. The findings are useful for refining service provision and providing learnings on how oral PrEP and other prevention products or methods can be effectively incorporated into routine health services. Our study examines factors associated with discontinuation of PrEP across two large scale programs in Nigeria to present findings representative of real-world programmatic implementation.
METHODS: Through programmatic surveillance of program implementation data from two large-scale HIV projects in Nigeria, we explored early discontinuation of PrEP and associated factors among HIV-negative individuals who initiated PrEP between January 2020 and July 2021 using multivariable logistic regression.
RESULTS: Of 26,325 HIV-negative individuals who started PrEP, 84% (22,034) discontinued PrEP within the first month. Factors associated with early discontinuation of PrEP were commencing oral PrEP in the community, being unmarried, engaging in high-risk sexual behaviour, and inconsistent use or non-use of condoms.
CONCLUSION: Early discontinuation of PrEP was high, especially for individuals who commenced in the community and reported marital status as “never married”. It was also high among individuals who reported inconsistent use or non-use of condoms. We recommend the strengthening of follow-up counselling to re-assess risk determination, especially between initiation and the first follow-up visit within the health facilities as well as the community-based distribution sites.
Comparison of REM-Related Obstructive Sleep Apnea with NREM-Related Obstructive SleepApnea in Terms of Possible Disease Complications and Demographic Indicators
Authors: Adimi Parisa , Mohammadi Fatemeh , Raad Nasim , Rashvandi Zahra , khoundabi Batoul
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a relatively common disease associated with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, obesity, glucose intolerance, and impotence. Patients who develop apnea only in REM sleep, despite a low AHI index, may have more complications from this disease. Less arousal during REM sleep is a natural mechanism to restore and strengthen sleep-seeking power. Therefore, due to the frequent interruption of REM sleep in patients of this group, a higher EDS is expected. As we know, the more sleepy people are, the more cardiovascular complications they have. Therefore, it is recommended to start treatment with a lower AHI earlier.
Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 489 participants with OSA referred to the sleep clinic. Patients were divided into two groups according to the AHI REM/AHI NREM ratio. The case group (REM) was patients with AHI REM/AHI NREM ratio ≥ 2, and the control group (NREM) was patients with AHI REM/AHI NREM ratio ≤2. Demographic factors and underlying diseases and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were compared between the two groups.
Results: The mean of AHI in REM group (38.7/h) and NREM group (34.7/h) was not statistically different. The proportion of people with blood pressure in the NREM group was significantly higher than REM group (P=0.030). There was no significant difference in the proportion of people with diabetes in both NREM and REM groups. The average number of awakenings in sleep was also higher in the NREM group than in the REM group and this difference was significant (P=0.044). The difference in mean ESS and percentage of O2 saturation less than 90 in two groups was not significant. Of course, in the case of ESS, due to the non-significance of its mean in the studied groups, it seems that the dispersion of ESS tends towards numbers less than 10 in the REM related group, if we pay attention to the median and mode. The mean desaturation index in the NREM group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.001). The ratio of choking in REM group was significantly higher than NREM group (p=0.045). Also, the proportion of patients with sweating and bruxism was higher in the REM group than NREM group and the difference is significant at the 10% level.
Conclusions: AHI and ESS were similar in REM group and NREM group in this study, although more sleepiness was expected for the REM- OSA and thus more complications. In addition, other interventional findings HRV, circulation time and hypoxia burden should be considered to investigate morbidity and mortality in future studies.
Near-zero stiffness accelerometer with buckling of tunable electrothermal microbeams
Authors: Hussein Hussein , Wang Chen , Esteves Rui Amendoeira , Kraft Michael , Fariborzi Hossein
Published: September 2023

Pre-shaped microbeams, curved or inclined, are widely used in MEMS for their interesting stiffness properties. These mechanisms allow a wide range of positive and negative stiffness tuning in their direction of motion. A mechanism of pre-shaped beams with opposite curvature, connected in a parallel configuration, can be electrothermally tuned to reach a near-zero or negative stiffness behavior at the as-fabricated position. The simple structure helps incorporate the tunable spring mechanism in different designs for accelerometers, even with different transduction technologies. The sensitivity of the accelerometer can be considerably increased or tuned for different applications by electrothermally changing the stiffness of the spring mechanism. Opposite inclined beams are implemented in a capacitive micromachined accelerometer. The measurements on fabricated prototypes showed more than 55 times gain in sensitivity compared to their initial sensitivity. The experiments showed promising results in enhancing the resolution of acceleration sensing and the potential to reach unprecedent performance in micromachined accelerometers.
Ecotoxicity of heavy metals in soil around long-term e-waste recycling sites in Tema and Ashaiman areas of Ghana
Authors: Klutse Charles Kofi , Quayson Mustapha Abeiku , Forson Amos , Nuveadenu Christian , Asare Ebenezer Aquisman
Published: September 2023

The effect of e-waste recycling activities on soil quality was assessed for four e-waste sites in Ghana. Samples of top- and sub-soil were collected from dismantling and burning sections and prevalence and distribution of selected metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The concentrations of the metals analysed were above the background concentrations except Cd, which was detected at the same level as the background levels. Levels of Cu and Pb increased with increasing soil depth. Levels of Cd, Zn, As, and Ni decreased with increasing soil depth. Hg levels showed no recognizable trend in its distribution relative to soil depth. The pollution indices evaluated revealed deterioration of the soil quality at the e-waste sites. Geo-accumulation indices suggest that the soil is very highly polluted with Pb, highly polluted with Cu, and moderately polluted with As, Hg, Cd, and Zn. The enrichment factor values indicate that soil from the studied sites was very highly enriched with Pb (i.e., EF of 9.60 to 63.14; median being 28.51) and significantly enriched with Cu and Hg (i.e., EF of 3.09 to 21.86; median 7.72 for Cu and EF of 1.48 to 25.5; median 10.57 for Hg). The contamination factor analysis revealed very high contamination of soils with Pb. The metals Cu, Zn, As, Ni, Cd, and Hg exhibited moderate to considerable contamination. This study is part of the continuous effort to assist policymakers with scientific information needed to influence policy decisions on environmental management.
Which Messengers Do Medical Students Prefer for Receiving Health Information: Development and Psychometrics of Using Health Messengers Questionnaire
Authors: Karimian Zahra , Moradi Mehravash , Zarifsanaiey Nahid , Kashefian-Naeeini Sara
Published: September 2023

Introduction:
Those media messages that directly or indirectly tackle individual and social health issues are known as health messages. Individuals vary in their selection of health messengers. This research aimed to construct an instrument to measure the preferences of medical students in selecting health messengers and in the next step to validate the aforementioned questionnaire.
Method
This research is a descriptive survey with an approach to construct a questionnaire. The statistical population included all students studying at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2022. 500 participants were involved in the study. To determine the types of health messengers and review the texts, a group of 15 primary items consisting of the 6 components of academic sources (2 items), official news sources (2 items), mass media (3 items), internet search (2 items), messenger applications (4 items), and unofficial media (2 items) were compiled. A 4-point scale was developed the content validity of which was confirmed using CVI and CVR method and the reliability index was calculated to be 0.818. Factor analysis was also used to determine the construct validity and factor loading of each item.
Results
The study encompassed participants with varying university degrees. Using factor analysis, together with KMO = 0.810 and Bartlett's sphericity index P < 0.001, saturation and the suitability of the test were confirmed. Students' preferences based on factor load were social media (28.92%), official and unofficial health sources (10.76%), academic sources (9.08%), internet search (8.18%), and mass media (7.13%), respectively. Among social media, Telegram (0.760) had the highest factor load followed by WhatsApp (0.663) and Instagram (0.678).
Conclusion
Students prefer messengers that are free from time and space restrictions. Therefore, in order to develop health knowledge and information, mobile-based methods or enrichment of social media should be given higher priority.
Monitoring the Cutting Condition of Structurally Distinct Aluminum Oxide Grinding Wheels Using Acoustic Emission Signals and the Hinkley Criterion
Authors: Lopes Wenderson Nascimento , de Aguiar Paulo Roberto , Antônio Zaqueu R. Fernando , Silva Anderson , Silva Mauro Gomes da , de Araújo Thabatta Moreira Alves
Published: September 2023

Acoustic emission sensors (AE) have been extensively utilized as an indirect method for condition monitoring of grinding wheels, the essential tools in the grinding process. Statistical parameters like root mean square (RMS) and Counts have been employed to process these signals, aiming to characterize the cutting state of the wheel and determine the optimal moment for interrupting the dressing operation. However, the Hinkley criterion statistic, despite being employed in scientific studies such as structural health monitoring, has not yet been explored for monitoring the dressing operation of aluminum oxide wheels. In light of this, the present study aims to assess the efficacy of the Hinkley criterion statistic in extracting features from AE signals collected during the dressing operation of structurally distinct aluminum oxide wheels. Dressing tests were conducted using two wheels, each subjected to different dressing conditions. The AE sensor-generated signals were subsequently collected and digitally processed, followed by the computation of the Hinkley criterion statistic. In the temporal domain, the Hinkley criterion statistic enables the precise extraction of detailed information regarding the behavior of AE signals during grinding wheel dressing procedures, eliminating the need for intricate frequency domain analysis. The outcomes unequivocally demonstrate the effectiveness of the Hinkley criterion statistic in classifying the wheel as either dressed or undressed, thereby facilitating the determination of the optimal moment to halt the dressing operation. Importantly, the method proves its efficiency in categorizing the dressing condition of structurally diverse wheels, even when subjected to varying dressing parameters. Consequently, its implementation promises enhanced efficiency and cost-effectiveness in dressing operations. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that this method exhibits potential for generalization, making it suitable for monitoring the dressing process across a wide array of wheel types. Ultimately, this methodology plays a pivotal role in optimizing the grinding process.
Evolutionary pressures shape soft tissue sarcoma development and radiotherapy response
Authors: Blomain Erik , Soudi Shaghayegh , Somani Anish , Subramanian Ajay , Oladipo Eniola , New Christin , Kenney Deborah , Nemat-Gorgani Neda , Avedian Raffi , Steffner Robert , Mohler David , Hiniker Susan , Chin Alex , Kalbasi Anusha , Binkley Michael , de Rijn Matt van , Moding Everett
Published: September 2023

Evolutionary pressures play a key role in tumorigenesis, progression, and response to therapy. However, the selection pressures and subclonal dynamics of soft tissue sarcomas during their natural history remain to be defined. Additionally, although radiotherapy plays a crucial role in obtaining local control for many solid tumors, the effect of radiation on tumor evolution has been challenging to study due to a lack of longitudinal tumor samples before and after treatment. We integrated temporal genomic profiling of 120 spatially distinct tumor regions from 20 patients with pleomorphic sarcomas, longitudinal circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis, in silico tumor simulation, and evolutionary biology computational pipelines to study sarcoma evolution both during tumorigenesis and in response to radiotherapy. We found that the majority of unirradiated sarcomas displayed initial linear evolution followed by subsequent branching evolution with distinct mutational processes during early and late sarcoma development. We observed evidence of strong selection pressures during sarcoma development with further selection for resistant subclonal populations during radiotherapy using metrics of genetic divergence between regions. We demonstrated dramatic changes in subclone abundance following radiotherapy with subclone contraction tied to alterations in calcium signaling. Finally, ctDNA analysis accurately measured tumor subclone abundance and enabled non-invasive longitudinal monitoring of subclonal changes. These results highlight the natural history of soft tissue sarcomas and suggest that targeting resistant subclonal populations could improve outcomes in patients treated with radiotherapy.
Ibuprofen attenuates senolytic effects of exercise in human skeletal muscle
Authors: Kuo Chia-Hua , Jean Wei-Horng , Ang Pei-Yao , Goto Kazushige , Lin Chao-An , Dewi Luthfia , Liao Yu-Chieh , Ye Mengxin , Nicholls Andrew , Huang Chih-Yang
Published: September 2023

Muscle regeneration after injury requires inflammation. In this study, we examine the role of inflammation on the exercise-induced senolytic effect in human skeletal muscle by ibuprofen treatment using a placebo-controlled counterbalanced crossover trial. Twelve men aged 20-26 consumed ibuprofen (total dose: 1200 mg) or placebo before and after high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) at 120% maximum aerobic power (total work ~ 70 kJ). Multiple muscle biopsies were taken for tissue analysis before and after HIIE. p16INK4a+ cells were located surrounding myofibers in human muscle. We found a quick decreased p16INK4a mRNA levels (-82%, p = 0.01, d = 1.23) of p16INK4a+ cells in muscle tissues at 3 hours post-exercise and persisting to 24 hours. Ibuprofen delayed this senolytic effects of HIIE in muscle tissues. A strong correlation between p16INK4a mRNA and CD11b mRNA in muscle tissues (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) suggests a possibility that the senolytic effect of exercise lowered pro-inflammatory myeloid differentiation in human muscles. The result of the study suggests the role of inflammation in the senolytic effect of high intensity exercise in human skeletal muscle. This transient proinflammatory stimulus results in lowered basal inflammation persisting over an extended period.
Pollution characteristics, sources and toxicity evaluation of PAHs in atmospheric PM2.5 in Shenyang
Authors: Yuan Chunli , Sun Lina , Liang Shan , Li Huizhu , Wang Nan , Wang Chuang , Lu Changhao , Xia Shuang
Published: September 2023

This study was to assess the pollution levels, compositional characteristics, sources, and toxicity changes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM2.5 in Shenyang. 98 samples were analyzed for PAHs at seven locations in Shenyang on December 15–21, 2020, and April 8–16, 2021. The detection rate of PAHs was 100% for 98 samples, in which Fla, Pyr, Phe, Chr and Flu with medium and low rings were predominant. During the heating period, the total concentration of PAHs ranged from 59.05 to 131.15 ng/m3, and the average concentration was 95.03 ng/m3. The concentration of PAHs in the non-heating period was 13.38 ~ 47.52 ng/m3, and the average value was 35.51 ng/m3. The highest concentration of PAHs was found in residential areas in southern Shenyang. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model showed that the sources of PAHs in Shenyang were motor vehicle exhaust emissions, coal and biomass combustion, and oil pollution emissions. During the heating period, coal and biomass combustion contributed 44.2%, while motor vehicle exhaust emissions accounted for 44.8% in the non-heating period. According to the evaluation of the toxic equivalent concentrations of PAHs, the toxic concentrations in all areas of Shenyang except rural areas were all higher than the standard concentrations prescribed by China and WTO. The toxic equivalent concentrations in residential areas were highest. These results presented the PAHs concentration in Shenyang and provided implications for air pollution control measurements.
Atmospheric nitrogen deposition affects forest plant and soil system carbon: nitrogen: phosphorus stoichiometric flexibility: A meta-analysis
Authors: Jiang Xiyan , Wang Xiaojing , Qiao Yaqi , Cao Yi , Jiao Yan , Yang An , Liu Mengzhou , Ma Lei , Song Mengya , Fu Shenglei
Published: September 2023

Aims To investgate how increased nitrogen (N) deposition influences the balance and distribution of carbon (C), N, and phosphorus (P) in forest plant–soil–microbe systems, and whether these effects relate with different N forms and environment factors.
Methods We conducted a global meta-analysis from 101 articles to get 751 observations (including plant, soil and microbial biomass C, N and P nutrients and stoichiometry) under different N addition levels (0–50, 50–100, >100 kg ha-1 year-1 of N), duration (0–5, >5 year), forms (understory, canopy), and status (ammonium N, nitrate N, organic N, mixed N).
Results and conclusions N addition had an substantial effects on the plant-soil-microbial C:N:P stoichiometry. Specifically, N addition considerably increased plant N:P (leaf: 14.98%, root: 13.29%), plant C:P (leaf: 6.8%, root: 25.44%), soil N:P (13.94%), soil C:P (10.86%), microbial biomass N:P (23.58%), and microbial biomass C:P ratios (12.62%), while simultaneously decreased plant C:N ratio (leaf: 6.49%, root: 9.02%). Notably, soil C:N ratio exhibited opposite changes under low N and high N addition. Plant C:N:P ratios were most affected by short-term N addition, while soil C:N:P ratios responded primarily to long-term N treatment. Additionally, organic N had a stronger impact on soil C:N and C:P ratios, whereas ammonia N significantly affected the soil N:P ratio. Positive correlations were identified among N:P and C:P ratios across plants, soil, and microbes, highlighting their interdependence within the ecosystem. Moreover, N deposition not only influenced the flexibility of C:N:P stoichiometry but also intensified P limitation among microorganisms in forest plant-soil-microbial systems.
ANMS: Asynchronous Non-Maximum Suppression in Event Stream
Authors: Zhou Qianang , Xiong Junlin , Li Youfu
Published: September 2023

Non-Maximum Suppression (NMS) is an essential post-processing algorithm that is widely used in frame-based tasks. However, executing NMS in asynchronous event streams results in frequent discontinuities and high computational complexity, which limits the performance of asynchronous event-based algorithms, such as corner event detection. To address this issue, this paper proposes a general-purpose Asynchronous NMS pipeline (ANMS) and applies it to corner event detection. The proposed pipeline extracts fine feature streams from the output of original detectors and automatically adjusts the strength of suppression to accommodate varying motion speeds. The ANMS operates with a latency of less than 0.2ms on most detectors, without affecting real-time detection. To test ANMS comprehensively, a scoring method was designed for detectors without corner scores, and a simulated sequence was created to supplement the real dataset. Evaluation on the public dataset indicates that ANMS improves the performance of popular detectors with negligible latency. Additionally, the pipeline is a natural extension of NMS, and is applicable to other asynchronous scoring tasks for event cameras. The C++ implementation of ANMS-based detectors has been rreleased here: https://github.com/ZhouQianang/ANMS.
Scratching the surface of Scotland's prehistoric rock art: A multiscalar methodology for holistic analysis of context and design
Authors: Barnett Tertia , Valdez-Tullett Joana , Bjerketvedt Linda Marie , Alexander-Reid Frederick , Hoole Maya , Jeffrey Stuart , Robin Guillaume
Published: September 2023

Prehistoric rock carvings are one of Scotland’s most enigmatic and poorly understood monument types. This article discusses the pioneering approach used by Scotland’s Rock Art Project to enhance understanding of the abstract motifs through multiscalar computational analyses of a large dataset co-produced with community teams. The analysis incorporates data from across the country in order to investigate inter-regional differences and similarities in the nature and contexts of the carvings. Innovative application of complementary analytical methods identified subtle regional variations in the character of the rock art and motif types. This variability suggest an understanding of the rock art tradition that was widely shared but locally adapted, and reflects connections and knowledge exchange between specific regions.
Comparative assessment of okra and non-okra leaf cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes for drought tolerance
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad , Rehman Abdul , Naeem Muhammad , Khan Mueen Alam , Raza Humayun , Ahmed Hafiz Ghulam Muhu-Din , Ul-Allah Sami , Iqbal Asad
Published: September 2023

Cotton production worldwide is adversely affected by drought stress, and the variation in drought tolerance among genotypes can be attributed to differences in their physiological, morphological, and root-related parameters. In upland cotton, there are two major leaf types: okra and non-okra. To investigate genetic variations related to drought tolerance, a study was conducted using two cotton genotypes from each leaf type (IUB 14052, IUB 14053, isolines of IUB-13, and MM-58 for okra leaves; IUB-13 and MM-58 for non-okra leaves) under both normal and drought conditions for two seasons. The experiment followed a factorial layout with a completely randomized design. Cotton genotypes were examined for root, morphological, physiological, and fibre-related variables using genotype × treatment × year interactions. Traits such as transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll contents, leaf area, seed cotton yield, number of nodes, fibre strength and ginning out-turn were higher in okra leaf type genotypes as compared to non-okra leaf type genotypes. As a result, genotypes of okra showed less reduction during drought in all parameters indicated above. Furthermore, under drought conditions, root parameters such as primary root length, lateral root numbers, root fresh weight, and root dry weight increased in okra leaf type accessions, indicating that okra leaf cotton genotypes have a greater drought tolerance capacity. Correlation studies demonstrated a negative correlation between stomatal conductance and leaf area in okra leaf genotypes. This correlation ultimately led to an increase in boll weight and seed cotton yield for okra leaf genotypes. This relationship underscores the role of resource allocation and stomatal conductance in enhancing the overall drought tolerance and productivity of okra leaf cotton genotypes.
FTO attenuates the cytotoxicity of cisplatin on KGN cells by regulating the Hippo/YAP1 signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Rongli , Yang Xinyuan
Published: September 2023

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a devastating condition for women under 40 years old. Chemotherapy, especially the cisplatin, has been demonstrated to promote the apoptosis of granulosa cell in primary and secondary follicle, and then leading to POF. Our previous studies have demonstrated that fat mass- and obesity-associated (FTO) plays an essential role in protecting granulosa cells from cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity. Various studies have suggested that the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway plays a significant role in regulating cell apoptosis and proliferation. And YAP1 was the main downstream target of Hippo signaling pathway, which was negatively regulated by Hippo signaling pathway. However, whether the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway is involved in the protective effect of FTO on granulosa cells remains unclear. In this study, we found that, after cisplatin treatment, the apoptosis of granulosa cells increased in a concentration-dependent manner, accompanied by the downregulation of FTO and YAP1. Furthermore, overexpression of FTO decreased cisplatin induced granulosa cell apoptosis, inhibited the Hippo/YAP kinase cascade induced phosphorylation of YAP1, and promoted the entry of YAP1 into the nuclei. The downstream targets of YAP1 (CTGF, CYR61, and ANKRD1) were also increased. Si-RNA mediated down-regulation of FTO promoted cisplatin induced granulosa cells apoptosis, activated the Hippo/YAP kinase cascade, and inhibited the YAP1 entry into nuclei. And these effects were completely reversed by the small molecule inhibitor of YAP1-verteporfin (VP). Co-ip assay showed that there was a strong interaction between proteins of FTO and YAP1.Taken together, these data suggested that FTO-YAP1 played a positive role in regulated injured granulosa cells proliferation, induced by cisplatin.