bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Meaning of Life and its Influence on Adolescent Mobile Phone Addiction: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Zhao Yue
Published: May 2023

With the popularization of mobile Internet devices, more and more teenagers use smartphones. The use of mobile phones can not only bring convenience to young people, but at the same time, improper use and dependence may also lead to the risk of addiction and harm the physical and mental health of young people. With the development and influence of positive psychology, the meaning of life plays an important role in preventing adolescents' psychological and behavioural problems. Individuals with a high sense of life are less likely to become addicted to mobile phones. Based on this, it is possible to prevent and alleviate the problem of mobile phone addiction by enhancing the sense of life, improving self-control, and paying attention to positive psychology and group counselling interventions.
Estimation of Kinetic Parameters in Dynamic FDG PET Imaging Based on Shortened Protocols Using Simulated Annealing Method : A virtual clinical study
Authors: Reshtebar Niloofar , Hosseini Seyed Abolfazl , Zhuang Mingzan , Sheikhzadeh Peyman
Published: May 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the estimation of kinetic parameters and production of related parametric Ki images in FDG PET imaging using the proposed shortened protocol (three 3-min routine static images in 20-min, 60-min, and 90-min post injection) by means of the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm.
Methods: Six realistic heterogeneous tumors and various levels of [18F] FDG uptake were simulated by XCAT phantom. An irreversible two-tissue compartment model (2TCM) using population-based input function (PBIF) was employed. The SA optimization algorithm was applied to estimate micro- and macro-parameters (K1, k2, k3, Ki).
Results: A highly significant correlation (> 0.9) as well as limited bias (< 5%) were observed between kinetic parameters generated from two methods (two-tissue compartment full dynamic scan (2TCM-full) and two-tissue compartment by SA algorithm (2TCM-SA)). The analysis showed a strong correlation (> 0.8) between (2TCM-SA) Ki and SUV images. In addition, the tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) metric in the parametric (2TCM-SA) Ki images was significantly higher than SUV, although the SUV images provide better Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) relative to parametric (2TCM-SA) Ki images.
Conclusions: Proposed shortened protocol by SA algorithm can estimate the kinetic parameters in FDG PET scan with high accuracy and robustness. It was also concluded that the parametric Ki images obtained from the 2TCM-SA as a complementary image of the SUV possess more quantification information than SUV images and can be used by the nuclear medicine specialist. This method has the potential to be an alternative to a full dynamic PET scan.
Chip-scale, CMOS-compatible, high energy passively Q-switched laser
Authors: Singh Neetesh , Lorenzen Jan , Sinobad Milan , Wang Kai , Liapis Andreas , Frankis Henry , Haugg Stefanie , Francis Henry , Carreira Jose , Geiselmann Michael , Gaafar Mahmoud , Herr Tobias , Bradley Jonathan , Sun Zhipei , García-Blanco Sonia , Kärtner Franz
Published: May 2023

Chip-scale, high-energy optical pulse generation is becoming increasingly important as we expand activities into hard to reach areas such as space and deep ocean. Q-switching of the laser cavity is the best known technique for generating high-energy pulses, and typically such systems are in the realm of large bench-top solid-state lasers and fiber lasers, especially in the long wavelength range >1.8 µm, thanks to their large energy storage capacity. However, in integrated photonics, the very property of tight mode confinement, that enables a small form factor, becomes an impediment to high energy application due to small optical mode cross-section. In this work, we demonstrate complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) compatible, rare-earth gain based large mode area (LMA) passively Q-switched laser in a compact footprint. We demonstrate high on-chip output pulse energy of >150 nJ in single transverse fundamental mode in the eye-safe window (1.9 µm), with a slope efficiency ~ 40% in a footprint of ~9 mm2. The high energy pulse generation demonstrated in this work is comparable or in many cases exceeds Q-switched fiber lasers. This bodes well for field applications in medicine and space.
Fuzzy Information Recognition and Translation Processing in English Interpretation based on Artificial Intelligence Recognition Technology
Authors: Yin Li
Published: May 2023

Interpretation is an oral expression that converts the information heard and understood in the source language into the target language quickly and accurately, thus completing the role of information transmission. However, language contains too much fuzzy information, so it is inevitable to have fuzzy information in interpretation. The characteristics of fuzzy information, the differences between different languages and cultural backgrounds, and the unpredictability of interpretation have brought great challenges to interpretation. This paper proposes an improved generalized maximum likelihood ratio algorithm (GLR) for fuzzy information processing in English. To improve interpretation accuracy, this study analyzes the characteristics of language databases, vocabulary, grammar, and translation. More specifically, the principle of natural language processing research via intelligent recognition technology is introduced in this study. Secondly, the author introduces the role of vague language in oral communication. Then, this paper introduces the fuzzy language processing method via the improved GLR method in detail. Finally, the experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness of the method.
Peer support for people starting dialysis without preparation – a non-randomised controlled feasibility trial
Authors: Wood Eleri , Elias Robert
Published: May 2023

Background
People who present late to specialist renal services miss out on full preparation for dialysis and go on to experience a range of disadvantages including increased mortality and morbidity and reduced treatment options. Because people from black and other ethnic minorities are more likely to present late, these disadvantages drive health inequalities related to ethnicity. Support from peers with lived experience of kidney disease might ameliorate some of these disadvantages. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and investigate the effects of peer support for ‘late presenters’ with a view to informing the design of a randomised controlled trial.
Methods
The study design was a non-randomised pilot trial of four weeks of weekly peer support in addition to standard care for late presenters, using the six months prior to commencement of the intervention as a control comparison phase. All individuals starting maintenance renal replacement therapy (RRT) within 90 days of presentation to the unit were targeted for recruitment. Outcome measures included clinical data, patient reported outcomes, and patient activation.
Results
21 consented to participate giving a recruitment rate of 75%. 100% of recipients of peer support felt it had been useful. 84% were happy with the amount of peer support received despite only 25% receiving the intervention exactly according to protocol. Analysis suggested no differences between intervention groups on clinical or patient reported outcome measures.
Conclusions
This novel study shows that peer support is a feasible intervention for people who start dialysis without preparation. It should be offered at more than one time-point and for flexible duration in order to optimise take up and efficiency. Although this is a feasibility study the results suggest no significant need for further study before widespread adoption of peer support as an intervention for late presenters due to high patient appetite and no evidence of safety concerns.
Trial Registration
ISRCTN63482335 19/04/2023 / IRAS ID: 204510 10/10/2016
Accounting Practices and Fiscal Decentralization's Impact on Corruption: A BRICS Perspective
Authors: Yeboah Benjamin , Appiah Kingsley , Yeboah Michael , Adoma-Worae Thomas , Kponyo Benita Selassie
Published: May 2023

This study builds on the corruption strand literature so espoused in isolation on accounting practice and decentralization, as it recognizes the two variables in conjunction with other key economic indicators from the BRICS economy perspective. Data from the BRICS economies that spanning 2005 to 2018 were analyzed using the panel cointegration estimation technique. The study concluded that resilient accounting practices and decentralization under strong democracy are barriers to corruption in the BRICS countries. However, some prior conclusions attest that quality accounting practices and strong decentralization can facilitate corruption. Our findings elucidate the crucial relevance of improving both accounting practices and fiscal decentralization as feedback mechanisms in reducing corruption. BRICS economies should take advantage of the outcomes of this study by designing appropriate policies that consider strengthening both accounting practices and decentralization as barriers to corruption.
EZH2 inhibition sensitizes retinoic acid-driven senescence in Synovial sarcoma
Authors: Mushtaq Muhammad , Liaño-Pons Judit , Yuan Ye , Ruiz-Pérez María Victoria , Kashuba Elena , Brodin Bertha , Arsenian-Henriksson Marie
Published: May 2023

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is driven by a unique chromosomal translocation t(18;X) leading to expression of the SS18-SSXfusion oncoprotein, a transcriptional regulator with both activating and repressing functions. Here we investigated the role of PRAME (Preferentially Expressed Antigen in Melanoma), a protein highly expressed in SS but with a poorly understood function. PRAME is a repressor of retinoic acid (RA) signaling, forming a complex with RA-receptor (RAR) and Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2). In silico analyses show that expression of PRAME is associated with suppression of RA signaling in SS. The SS18-SSX fusion protein directly targets the PRAME promoter and expression of SS18-SSX and PRAME are positively correlated. As there are no pharmacological inhibitors against PRAME, we used GSK343 for inhibition of EZH2 in combination with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) to reconstitute RA signaling. PRAME formed complexes with EZH2 and RAR, while exposure to GSK343 disrupted the PRAME-EZH2 interaction. Combination treatment with GSK343 and ATRA decreased cell proliferation and resulted in cellular senescence. Knockdown of PRAME suppressed the response to ATRA treatment in SS. Our data connect SS18-SSX with RA signaling and the EZH2 complex, providing insights into how this fusion oncoprotein disrupts normal cellular homeostasis.
Anthropogenic climate change poses a disproportional burden to fetal growth in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Zhu Zhenghong , Zhang Tuantuan , Benmarhnia Tarik , Chen Xin , Wang Huailin , Wulayin Maimaitiminjiang , Knibbs Luke , Yang Song , Xu Lianlian , Huang Cunrui , Wang Qiong
Published: May 2023

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are vulnerable to climate change and associated extreme temperatures, where the health of pregnant women and fetuses could be particularly affected. However, the extent to which anthropogenic climate change contributes to their health has not been documented. Utilizing 451,252 mother-infant pairs from 31 LMICs during 1990–2014, we show highly robust and spatially-heterogeneous associations between pregnancy extreme temperature exposure and the increased risk of reduced birth weight and low birth weight (LBW). Anthropogenic climate change contributed approximately 68.05%, 86.41%, and 76.79% of extreme heat-related LBWs in Southern Asia, Western Africa, and Eastern Africa, respectively, whereas it reduced extreme cold-related LBWs in Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. The exposure-response relationship and the contribution from anthropogenic climate change are determined largely by the climate mean states in different regions. Our study provides compelling evidence that anthropogenic climate change disproportionately modulates extreme temperature-related fetal growth in LMICs.
China's Carbon Emissions Peaking Pathway in the Post-COVID-19 Era
Authors: Liu Da , Wang Shengyan , zhao Xudong , Wang Jiaying
Published: May 2023

Several countries have weakened the carbon emission objectives to immediately revive the economy in the post-COVID-19 era. Therefore, it is a challenge worth addressing to readjust the economic development and carbon emissions after the COVID-19 pandemic. From the perspective of China's carbon emissions, this study shapes a multi-objective dynamic optimization model based on the material capital input and R&D support aspects. The proposed model imitates China's economic development, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The model provides theoretical suggestion for the government to revive economic development and reduce carbon emissions. In addition, this research paper compares the evolutionary path of carbon peak under the two scenarios. The first scenario requires maintaining the pre-epidemic development state and pace of carbon emission reduction, referred to as the baseline scenario (BS). The second scenario is termed the optimal scenario (OS) based on the model calculation. The study findings exhibit that China is not able to accomplish the 2030 CO2 emission peak objective, under the BS. However, China under the OS shall expectedly accomplish the 2030 carbon peak objective ahead of schedule, while the peak CO2 emissions shall be around 11.28 billion tons. Reportedly, at least 788 million tons of CO2 reduction contrasted with the BS. Further, there is an 80.35% decline in energy intensity as compared to 2005. Consequently, the study results contribute theoretical guidance for the "green recovery" of China's economy and the adjustment of carbon emission reduction’s path after the COVID-19 epidemic. Consistent with this, the research method also contributes to the theoretical research on carbon emissions at the national level while extending a new research perspective for the economic- and environmental fields.
Weizmannia coagulans functions as a heat-stress protective probiotic via modulation of the pyridoxal-oxalate interaction
Authors: Miyamoto Hirokuni , Ito Kayo , Honda Fuyuko , Matsuura Makiko , Ishii Chitose , Tsuji Naoko , Nakaguma Teruno , Ito Toshiyuki , Suda Wataru , Shindo Chie , Nakanishi Yumiko , Ohno Hiroshi , Kikuchi Jun , Kurotani Atsushi , Michibata Ryounosuke , Yamada Ryouichi , Takahashi Yosuke , Kodama Hiroaki , Satoh Takashi
Published: May 2023

Global warming has become an urgent issue, and heat stress protective materials should be developed to manage human life and animal husbandry. Here, the heat stress protective effects of the thermostable probiotic Weizmannia coagulans SANK70258 were clarified using a broiler model under thermal conditions in an artificial climate facility. Probiotic exposure promoted growth under the thermal conditions. Based on machine learning (ML) data obtained after omics analysis, structural equations and causal inference for broiler growth under heat-stress estimated the strong relationship with pyridoxal involved in the reduction of hepatic oxalic acid, which is responsible for cold sensitivity. In addition, the relative abundance of the genus Pseudomonas, which may be decrease pyridoxal, were at a low level after exposure of W. coagulans under heat-stress. Thus, this study highlights a novel aspect of W. coagulans as a probiotic candidate that modulates the mechanism of heat tolerance related to the cold sensitivity.
Physico-chemical, mineral, and chemical variation of dredged sediments caused by electrokinetic remediation
Authors: Zein-Eddin Ahmad , Kanbar Hussein J , Ammami Mohamed-Tahar , Benamar Ahmed
Published: May 2023

Sediment contamination is a growing worldwide issue that poses significant risks to human health. Among other remediation techniques, electrokinetic remediation (EKR) is a novel method for addressing both organic and inorganic pollutants. Dredged sediments can be reused in an environmentally sustainable manner after removing or reducing unwanted chemicals. This study aims to examine treat carbonate-rich estuarine sediments by EKR and to assess the consequent physico-chemical, mineral, organic, and chemical changes. To achieve this, a series of laboratory experiments were carried out on dredged sediments from Tancarville, France, using a 360 ml setup. The electric current, voltage, electroosmotic flow, pH, and electric conductivity were monitored during treatment. The treated sediments were then sectioned and analyzed for physico-chemical properties as well as mineral (mainly carbonate), organic, and metal contents. The results showed that the variations in running parameters affected the pH of the medium, leading to changes in carbonate dissolution. This, in turn, reduced buffering capacity and removed associated metals. Moreover, calcium and other released metals could be transported within the system or competing with other surface-bound metals. Statistical data indicated that the physico-chemical processes that occur in the anode and cathode chambers depended largely on the experimental conditions (mainly current density and voltage gradient). Although Cl and Mn contents were reduced from the sediments without any direct link to pH, Mg was only redistributed in the sediments within the setup. Finally, by monitoring physico-chemical parameters, characterizing sediment composition before and after treatment, and applying statistical approaches, the remediation process was better understood. This methodology can be used to treat sediments and other environmental matrices effectively.
Do animation videos increase participation in national health surveys? A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Christensen Anne Illemann , Lau Cathrine Juel , Poulsen Hanne Stald , Ekholm Ola
Published: May 2023

Background: Declining response proportions in surveys have been observed internationally. Improving response proportions is important for the generalizability of the outcome. The aim of this study is to examine the potential of animation videos to improve response proportions and sample composition in health surveys.
Methods: A randomized trial was embedded in the Danish National Health Survey 2021 (n=186,113) where the use of animation videos in the digital invitation letter was tested as a mean to increase participation. The effect of both targeted videos and a general video was tested. The sample was randomized into 4 groups; 1) individuals with non-western background and a non-Danish citizenship (n=9,956), 2) men aged 16-24 years (n=12,481), 3) women aged 75 years or older (n=7,815) and 4) the remaining individuals (n=155,861). The 4. group was divided into 2 equal sized groups; a group receiving the general video and a control group receiving no video. Each of the first 3 groups was subsequently divided into 3 subgroups with 25% receiving the target group video, 25% receiving the general video and 50% receiving no video.
Results:
The use of animation videos resulted in similar or slightly lower response proportions overall compared to the control group. The different animation videos were found to have heterogeneous effects on response proportions. A positive effect was found among men aged 16-24 years before the delivery of the postal reminder for the targeted animation video compared to no video (odds ratio: 1.13; 95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.26). Overall, the targeted animation videos tended to produce higher response proportion than the general animation video. The difference was only statistically significant among young men aged 16-24 years before the delivery of the postal reminder.
Conclusions:
The heterogeneous effects of the videos suggest that there is some potential for the use of animation videos to improve response proportions and sample composition. The content, target group and timing of evaluation seem to be important for the animation videos to be successful. This warrants further research to better identify in which contexts, in which subgroups and under which circumstances, animation videos are useful to increase response proportions.
Direct Medical Cost of Breast Cancer Care in Lome: Case of Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital and International Cancer Centre
Authors: KETEVI Ameyo Ayoko , Adani-Ifè Solange , Bassowa Akila , Bessolo Lysiane , Andele Komlan Alessi , Katende Bidilukinu , Douaguibe Baguilane , Ajavon Dede Régine Diane , Rahim Achraf Adou , Aboubakari Abdoul Samadou , Akpadza Koffi
Published: May 2023

Introduction: With 11.7% new cases worldwide in 2020, female breast cancer is not only the first among gynaecological cancers, it is also the first cancer worldwide. Also, disease stage during diagnosis is an important cost predicting factor.
Methods: It was a transversal descriptive study carried out in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital (SO UH) and in the International Cancer Centre of Lome (ICCL) during July and august of the year 2022.
Results: Only 146 patients were enrolled in our study, with a participation rate of 30.87%. The mean age of the patients was 48.9 ± 11.7 years with extremes of 25 and 77 years. Fifty one patients (39%) were resellers. Sixty four patients (43.8%) attended secondary education. The median cost of breast cancer diagnosis was 182080 FCFA ]55680; 487680] FCFA. The median cost of chemotherapy was 1640790 FCFA ]199820; 5208885] FCFA. The median cost of surgical treatment of breast cancer was 230 320 FCFA ]135240; 368060] FCFA. The median cost of hormonal treatment was 206200 FCFA ]36750; 494850] FCFA. The median cost of radiotherapy was 1 765 000 FCFA ]1715000; 2030 000] FCFA. Of the 146 patients, 46 had not undergone any other complementary tests apart from diagnostic tests. The median cost of the tests carried out as part of the pre-therapeutic assessment and follow-up was 21 500 FCFA (0; 824 760] FCFA. The direct medical cost of breast cancer management was 119200 FCFA [36616- 1604669] FCFA for patients with health insurance (17.1% of patients).
Conclusion: The direct medical cost of breast cancer treatment is higher than the average household income in Togo. The question of what measures could be taken to increase adherence to treatment by patients living with this cancer and to reduce the large number of long-lost patients is still pending.
Implementation Early Design of Prototype EEWS Development in Indonesia
Authors: Pramono Sigit , Utama Muhammad Reza July , Swastikarani Rika , Sabtaji Agung , Wijaya Angga , Utomo Fajar Budi , Sakti Artadi Pria , Rudiyanto Ariska , Reza Dewintha Tresna , Owen Robert , Miftakhunnisa Aurora Fajri , Adi Suko Prayitno , Muzli Muzli , Karnawati Dwikorita
Published: May 2023

Tectonic regimes in Indonesia caused the potential occurrence of the earthquake with the variated impact in Indonesia. It could be a threat to people, infrastructure, and economic aspects in Indonesia. All source types such as subduction zones are the big-one event that has been considered to anticipate as part of mitigation implementation for reducing potential victims. Almost all the regions in Indonesia have the probability to be a destructive region by earthquakes. One cluster that is related to that potential threat is Java Island and Sunda strait. The earthquake early warning system (EEWS) is a part mitigation system that has the goal to reduce the impact of destruction by infrastructure collapsed by the earthquake. BMKG (Meteorological Climatological and Geophysical Agency) has committed to making the area denser instruments distribution in the earthquake early warning area. It will spread close to the subduction zone and fault distribution Strong Motion accelerometers and intensitymeter sensors have been installed since 2010, then 2019 have been initiated to develop EEWS in Indonesia for instrument response. Sunda strait and the Southern part of Java Island are a region which has the potential to produce destructive earthquakes which have an impact until the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta city. The sequence of EEWS development in Indonesia will be started with the utilization of EEWS for some kind of operational system in transportation. It is very important due to the direct impact to people's safety and their lives. Besides using the existing 303 sensors which consist of an accelerometer and intensitymeter, in this project BMKG will use a new 1 accelerometer and 50 intensitymeter sensors in Banten Province, West Java Province, Lampung Province and Jakarta Province. Processing module in this system uses a modified eBEAR module which has many different methods rather than the basic eBear module. The mode of dissemination system is developed by variated modes such as web-based, cube receiver, and mobile phone applications. While developing modules and applications, the empirical formula will be formed by the research of local characteristics to represent actual conditions in certain areas of Indonesia's Earthquake Early Warning System. The EWS is a big challenge for BMKG, due to many things that must be done in order to have a successful EEWS program according to Indonesian conditions.
Nuclear isoform of RAPH1 interacts with FOXQ1 to promote progression and radioresistance in triple-negative breast cancer through the STAT3 pathway
Authors: Xing Peng , Liu Qun , Cao Yu , Wei Xiaolin , Dong Huiting , Cui Mengyao , Guan Shu , Liu Bo , Wang Xu
Published: May 2023

Radioresistance limits the efficacy of radiotherapy against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely related to tumor radioresistance. In this work, we attempted to identify the key EMT-related transcription factor(s) that can induce radioresistance in TNBC cells. A set of 44 EMT transcription factors were analyzed in parental and radioresistant TNBC cell lines. The function of FOXQ1, a differentially expressed transcription factor, was determined in TNBC radioresistance. FOXQ1-interacting proteins were identified by co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. Compared with parental cells, FOXQ1 was significantly upregulated in radioresistant TNBC cells. Silencing of FOXQ1 increased the radiosensitiviy of radioresistant TNBC cells both in vitro and in vivo. FOXQ1 associated with a nuclear isoform of RAPH1 (named RAPH1-i3) in radioresistant TNBC cells. Overexpression of RAPH1-i3 enhanced TNBC cell proliferation and migration, and most interestingly, induced radioresistance in parental TNBC cells when co-expressed with FOXQ1. Mechanistically, co-expression of RAPH1-i3 and FOXQ1 activated the STAT3 signaling pathway and increased the expression of CCND1, MCL1, Bcl-XL, MMP2, and MMP9. Depletion of RAPH1-i3 impaired the radioresistance of radioresistant TNBC cells. Additionally, RAPH1-i3 upregulation was associated with advanced tumor stage and reduced disease-free survival in TNBC patients. These results collectively show that RAPH1-i3 interacts with FOXQ1 to promote TNBC progression and radioresistance via activation of STAT3 signaling. RAPH1-i3 and FOXQ1 may represent therapeutic targets for overcoming the radioresistance of TNBC.
Liver glycogen as a sensitive indicator of food limitation in Delta Smelt
Authors: Dhayalan Tena , Tran Franklin , Hung Tien-Chieh , Senegal Taylor , Mora Vanessa , Lewis Levi , Teh Swee , Hammock Bruce Graham
Published: May 2023

Assessing habitat quality is a major goal of conservationists and restoration practitioners, but to associate habitat quality with biomarkers of vagile animals, the biomarkers must respond rapidly. Here we identified a biomarker capable of rapidly detecting food limitation in the imperiled Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), a pelagic fish endemic to the San Francisco Estuary (SFE). We conducted an experiment with fed and unfed treatments of hatchery-raised, sub-adult Delta Smelt that were sampled at 12 time points: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, and 21 days. We then compared four biomarkers using Day 21 fish: RNA/DNA in liver, triglycerides in liver, glycogen in liver, and glycogen in muscle. Of the three liver endpoints, glycogen had the largest, most significant difference between treatments at Day 21, so we compared it to muscle glycogen across all time points. Liver glycogen declined after just one day of fasting and remained depressed in the fasting treatment across all subsequent time points. Muscle glycogen also responded rapidly, taking only two days to decline in the fasting treatment, but the difference was small and inconsistent across subsequent time points. When applied to hatchery-released Delta Smelt collected from the SFE, we found that liver glycogen concentrations were less than half that of the fed hatchery fish, consistent with the hypothesis of food limitation in the wild, but also several other potential causes. This study highlights the utility of biochemically determining liver glycogen concentrations of wild-caught Delta Smelt to provide insight into local habitat quality.
Increase in Clostridioides difficile infection resulting from over usage of antibiotics during COVID 19 pandemic
Authors: PILLAI SREEHARI KARUNAKARAN , Shuriqy Naseem
Published: May 2023

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) due to Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) are a significant public health problem globally. The emergence of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019 has exacerbated the situation. Elderly and chronically ill individuals are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are increasingly recognized as essential symptoms of COVID-19. Bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients are prevalent, and the rates of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) are high and associated with antibiotic use. The study aims to investigate the correlation between CDI and community antibiotic usage patterns during COVID-19 in 2021 compared to the previous year to identify the impact on overall CDI infection rates. The study design is a non-interventional retrospective study evaluating antibiotic usage patterns in CDI patients during the pandemic, and the data will be analysed based on the number of patients and test positivity rates. The preliminary findings of the study reveal a 27% increase in the number of symptomatic CDI infections in 2021 as compared to pre-COVID years.
The Eastern Mediterranean Sea as dominant driver of interannual rainfall variability in the Sahel
Authors: Gaasbeek Timmo , Ent Ruud van der , Coumou Dim , Keulers Sander , Haarsma Rein
Published: May 2023

Many factors have been suggested to explain variability and change in Sahel rainfall. Of those, sea surface temperature (SST) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) and zonal wind and moisture flux south of the Sahel show strong correlations. Based on observational and reanalysis data on temperature, pressure, wind and moisture flux, this paper identifies a mechanism that explains and connects both correlations. The mechanism hinges on the Jebel Marra massif and the Ethiopian highlands, where the mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) develop that bring most of the rain to the Sahel. We find that cold SST anomalies in the EMS between June and September cause a greater trans-Sahara temperature contrast and coincide with high pressure over Libya, resulting in stronger northerlies towards Sudan. This prevents Tropical Atlantic moisture from reaching the MCS genesis regions, which reduces the seasonal northward spread of Sahel rainfall and of the Atlantic intertropical convergence zone, which in turn suppresses the development of the west-African westerly jet and the African westerly jet and inhibits Atlantic moisture from reaching the MCS genesis region, thus further reducing Sahel rainfall. Anomalous moisture transport from the Mediterranean does not play a role. Mediterranean SST variability raises questions about the future development of Sahel rainfall.
WITHDRAWN: Immunogenicity of a cold-chain friendly and long-term stable HIV multi-epitope protease cleavage sites (MEPCS)-mRNA-LNP vaccine.
Authors: Mandal Subhra , Ghosh Jayadri , Lohani Saroj , Zhao Miaoyun , Cheng Yilun , Luo Ma , Li Qingsheng
Published: May 2023

The failure of HIV vaccine clinical trials calls for novel vaccine development strategies. Studies on HIV highly exposed seronegative sex workers showed that focused virus-specific CD8+ T-cell responses are associated with the protection. Following the unconventional HIV vaccine approach targeting 12 highly conserved sequences surrounding the protease cleavage sites (PCS), we designed multi-epitope PCS mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (MEPCS-mRNA-LNP) to promote more efficient antigen presentation. The modified LNP formulation produced stable and cold-chain-friendly MEPCS-mRNA-LNP. The mice study showed the vaccinated group generates PCS-specific CD8+ memory T-cells with cytotoxic function, both systemically and at the HIV-targeted tissue sites (like HESN group), with T-polyfunctional response. As expected, little to no significant activation of CD4+ T-cells was observed. The proof-of-concept study indicates that the MEPCS-mRNA LNP vaccine approach induces immunological memory against highly conserved HIV pro-polyprotein (limiting HIV’s mutability). The MEPCS-mRNA LNP vaccine could be a potential candidate for an effective prophylactic HIV vaccine.
Satellite monitoring of war urban damage with a temporal knowledge-guided deep learning scheme
Authors: Zhang Liqiang , Hou Zhengyang , Qu Ying , Shi Qian , Yu Qiwei , Zhao Yuanyuan , Tang Hong , Wang Yuebin , Li Xingang , Li Yang , Peng Shuwen , Yao Xin , Zhou Chenghu
Published: May 2023

Since 1990, between 40 and 68 countries, home to 46–79% of the population in the world were involved in armed conflict per year [1–3], which have caused huge socio-economic costs and severe casualties. Geotargeting is a central challenge for comprehensive assessments of wars and humanitarian assistance: it remains a difficult task to rapidly identify severe destructive zones with traditional or satellite-based methods. To overcome the challenge, we propose the first tempo- ral knowledge-guided detection scheme (TKDS) for satellite urban destruction monitoring. By integrating the proposed pixel-based Transformer model (PtNet) into the efficient TKDS scheme (TKDS-PtNet), we achieve the best destruction detection performance in the Syrian civil war and Russia-Ukraine war with high or medium resolution satellite imagery. Even using medium-resolution satellite images, the performance of the TKDS-PtNet model outperforms the state-of-the-art methods by 44.4 (more than twice as high as the latter, 72.4 vs 28.0) in terms of F1 score in six Syrian cities, and 36.1 (84.6 vs 48.5) in four Ukrainian cities. Our findings located 1,652 severely damaged buildings in Mariupol, Ukraine, including various urban infrastructures such as 81.5% (1,346) houses/apartments, 4.0% (66) industrial, as well as 11 garages, 2 schools, 2 kindergartens, and 1 sports center. Our scheme provides a low-cost, reliable, highly flexible, and generalizable solution for urban destruction monitoring in data-sparse environments. It can be applied to any urban context to near real-time monitor damage caused by wars, earthquakes, or extreme weather events, and approximate the spatio-temporal distribution of the damages to aid relief efforts, in addition to the estimation of potential rehabilitation costs.
Certain subclasses of analytic functions and bi-univalent functions defined
on the unite disc
Authors: Lashin Abdel Moneim , Badghaish Abeer , Algethami Badriah
Published: May 2023

In this paper, Motivated by $q$- calculus, we introduce and investigate new
subclasses of the analytic and bi-univalent functions defined in the open
unit disk $U$. Estimates on the first two Taylor-Maclaurin coefficients $$ and $\left \vert a_{3}\right \vert $ for the
functions belong to these new classes are obtained. Certain special cases
are also indicated.
Factors associated with adolescents' perception of four types of domestic violence in Honduras/Central America during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authors: Espinoza-Turcios Eleonora , Sosa-Mendoza Carlos Antonio , Zambrano Lysien Ivania , Chinchilla-Castañeda Kathya , Castro-Ramos Henry Noel , Armada-Pacheco José , Mejia Christian R.
Published: May 2023

Introduction: The confinement measures applied during the pandemic brought as a consequence an increase in domestic violence, this problem has not been investigated from the perspective of adolescents in Central America.
Objective: To determine the factors associated with adolescents' perception of four types of domestic violence in Honduras during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methodology: Cross-sectional analytical study, secondary database, inquired about the perception of four types of domestic violence during the highest peak of the first wave of the pandemic. A multivariate analysis including socio-familial variables was performed, and descriptive and analytical results were obtained.
Results: Of the 3272 young people surveyed, verbal violence was associated with a basic educational level (p<0.001), alcohol consumption (p<0.001) and that the father (p=0.040), mother (p<0.001) or siblings (p<0.001) had suffered violence at home. For psychological violence, the father (p=0.031), the mother (p<0.001) or the siblings (p<0.001) had suffered domestic violence. For physical violence, basic education level (p=0.002), the father (p=0.005), the mother (p<0.001) or the siblings (p<0.001) had suffered violence at home. Sexual violence was associated with drug use in the last six months (p<0.001).
Discussion: Multiple associations were found with four types of violence perceived by adolescents, which should serve to generate psychological support programs for this group, which has problems due to the stage of life they are in.
Conclusion: Honduran adolescents were exposed to four types of violence in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the associated factors were educational level, alcohol and other drug consumption, and a history of violence in the first degree of consanguinity.
Coexistence of native and invasive species: The case of the critically endangered pygmy raccoon from Cozumel Island
Authors: Lara-Godínez Sofía Ana Lucrecia , Valenzuela-Galván David , González-Romero Alberto , Cuaron Alfredo D. , Sosa Vinicio J. , Vázquez Luis Bernardo
Published: May 2023

Given the growing anthropogenic disturbances of habitats, species are facing several threats and this makes it very important to know the impact of these disturbances on the presence of species. Our objective was to understand the patterns and drivers of the spatial use of the pygmy raccoon Procyon pygmaeus, a carnivore endemic to Cozumel Island and considered critically endangered with extinction. Considering that the loss and fragmentation of natural habitats in Cozumel has increased in recent decades and with this, a greater presence of feral dogs on inland areas of the island has also been evident, we used multi-seasonal single-species occupancy models to assess the effect of two variables on pygmy raccoon activity: a) the type and degree of habitat disturbance and b) the interactions between potentially competing and also endemic species (dwarf coati Nasua nelsoni and common opossum Didelphis virginiana cozumelae) and an invasive predator (feral dog, Canis lupus familiaris). Additionally, we compare the temporal patterns of the activity of the studied species. We found a difference in the probability of detection of the pygmy raccoon throughout the years, and the type of habitat was driving the probability of occupancy of the pygmy raccoon. The overlap between the temporal activity patterns of the pygmy raccoon and the competing species was high, while it was low with that of the invasive predator, the dog, which showed a pattern almost entirely diurnal. We found that habitat disturbance or the presence of dogs on the island has not yet reached a sufficient threshold to negatively impact the spatial use patterns of the pygmy raccoon. but we consider that these scenarios might change dramatically if disturbance or the presence of dogs increases in habitats with a higher presence of pygmy raccoon. Our results have relevant implications for understanding its ecological requirements and limitations and for planning actions for its conservation.
Lineage specific extracellular vesicle-associated protein biomarkers for the early detection of high grade serous ovarian cancer
Authors: Trinidad Camille , Pathak Harsh , Cheng Shibo , Tzeng Shin-Cheng , Madan Rashna , Sardiu Mihaela , Bantis Leonidas , Deighan Clayton , Jewell Andrea , Zeng Yong , Godwin Andrew
Published: May 2023

High grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) accounts for ~ 70% of ovarian cancer cases. Non-invasive, highly specific blood-based tests for pre-symptomatic screening in women are crucial to reducing the mortality associated with this disease. Since most HGSOCs typically arise from the fallopian tubes (FT), our biomarker search focused on proteins found on the surface of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by both FT and HGSOC tissue explants and representative cell lines. Using mass spectrometry, 985 EV proteins (exo-proteins) were identified that comprised the FT/HGSOC EV core proteome. Transmembrane exo-proteins were prioritized because these could serve as antigens for capture and/or detection. With a nano-engineered microfluidic platform, six newly discovered exo-proteins (ACSL4, IGSF8, ITGA2, ITGA5, ITGB3, MYOF) plus a known HGSOC associated protein, FOLR1 exhibited classification performance ranging from 85–98% in a case-control study using plasma samples representative of early (including stage IA/B) and late stage (stage III) HGSOCs. Furthermore, by linear combination of IGSF8 and ITGA5 based on logistic regression analysis, we achieved a sensitivity of 80% (99.8% specificity). These lineage-associated exo-biomarkers have potential to detect cancer while localized to the FT when patient outcomes are more favorable.
Diversity, prevalence and virulence of Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose on cassava leaves in the northern region of Brazil
Authors: Machado Stella de C. S. , Veloso Josiene S. , Câmara Marcos P. S. , Vieira Willie A. S. , Castlebury Lisa A , Amaral Ana Gabriele Gurgel , Jumbo Luis O Viteri , Oliveira Eugenio E , Santos Gil
Published: May 2023

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), is a staple crop widely cultivated by small farmers in developing countries. However, despite the low required level of technology required for its management, it can be affected by several diseases, with anthracnose as the main threat. There is little information about the main species of Colletotrichum that infect cassava in Brazil. Thus, the objective of this work was to study the diversity, prevalence and virulence of Colletotrichum species that cause anthracnose in cassava leaves in northern Brazil. Twenty municipalities of Pará and Tocantins states were selected and leaves with symptoms were collected in those locations. Pure cultures were isolated in the laboratory. Species were identified using phylogenetic analyses of multiple loci and their pathogenicity, aggressivity and virulence levels were assessed. Our results found a greatest diversity of Colletotrichum associated with anthracnose in cassava plants of the “Formosa” cultivar on Tocantins and Pará states. We determined the presence of Colletotrichum chrysophilum, C. truncatum, C. siamense, C. fructicola, C. plurivorum, C. musicola and C. karsti; with C. chrysophilum as the most aggressive and virulent. Our findings provide accurate identifications of species of Colletotrichum causing anthracnose in cassava crops and provide important information for a more effective control of this disease and the adoption of anthracnose management strategies. These include the development of cultivars with resistance genes to the different pathotypes prevalent in the areas of cultivation, which will potentially reduce production costs.
Assessment and prediction of the nutritional index in septic patients: a propensity score-matched analysis
Authors: Liu Qiang , Zhang Jie
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives: Traditional nutrition assessments to septic patients were effective but complex, TCBI was as a new score for assessing nutritional status and as the predictor for outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease, its application was still relatively narrow. At present, there was no report on the application of this score in septic patients. We conducted this research to measure the effect of this score on short-term including 28-days mortality and 90-days mortality and long-term for 1-year outcomes in patients with sepsisMethods The median of TCBI was set as cut-off value to divide patients into two groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to eliminate the bias caused by baseline characteristics between low-value group (TCBI < 1198) and high-value group (TCBI ≥ 1198). We estimated the trend of TCBI value and mortality by the restricted cubic spline, and examined the changes in survival time between different groups of TCBI via the Kaplan–Meier method. We use log-rank test to evaluate statistics significance. Hazard ratio was explored by cox regression model after PSM.Results In non-matched cohort, compared with patients in the low TCBI group, in high TCBI group, the patients were more younger, more heavier, higher incidence of chronic diseases, such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, some parameters have statistical significance among age, body weight, suffering from diabetes, sapsii score. There was no significance in the length of stays between two different groups. Short-term and long-term mortality all were statistically significant. Between two groups, the 28-days mortality in high TCBI group was 13.67% vs 24.43%, at the 90-days endpoint time, the percentage was 19.82% vs 33.56%, and to the 1-year durations, the proportion of deaths was 29.61% vs 46.12%. Kaplan-Meier survival curve tested the trend of the survival probability as up to endpoint time. In non-matched cohort, the low TCBI s group (TCBI < 1198) was a greater risk of mortality, we examined two groups survival probability with time, the related log-rank test result was statistical with p < 0.001.Excluding baseline characteristics bias via propensity score matching, The low TCBI group still went with lower survival probability, and the same trend was consisted with the matched cohort (log-rank test p = 0.014).all potential risk factors after propensity score matching were included in multiple cox proportional hazards regression model, 28-days hazard ratio was more obvious among three outcomes with mortality risk, the hazard ratio was 1.668, and confidence interval was (1.132–2.457). In this model, the high TCBI group was always considered as the control group, all p-value showed statistical difference.Conclusions We tested TCBI in predicting the mortality for sepsis, the lower TCBI group was went with the higher mortality hazard in short-term and long-term. There was no statistical significance in different TCBI groups about length of stays in ICU.