bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scalp myiasis presenting as forehead edema in a returning traveller from Belize
Authors: Martínez-Lacalzada Miguel , Vera Isabel , Álvarez-Martínez Miriam José , Aylagas Cristian , Almuedo-Riera Alex , Antequera Alba , Balerdi-Sarasola Leire , Camprubí-Ferrer Daniel , Muñoz Jose , Rodríguez-Valero Natalia
Published: September 2023

Objective: We present a case of furuncular myiasis in a returning traveller from Belize, characteristically presented with forehead/eyelid edema and two crusted papules on the scalp, atypical symptoms that led to an incorrect initial diagnosis of rickettsial infection.
Clinical case: A 60-year-old Venezuelan woman with no previous medical history presented with a 4-day history of the forehead and left eyelid edema and two subcentrimetric crusted lesions on the scalp frontoparietal area after tourism travel to Belize in the preceding month. She presented to a dermatological clinic 10 days after her arrival and a diagnosis of rickettsial infection was suspected based on clinical and epidemiological information, prescribing treatment with oral corticosteroids and doxycycline. After posterior evaluation in our outpatient clinic vaseline occlusion was carried out due to suspicion of scalp myiasis and antibiotic was suspended. Both larvae could be removed and the patient showed complete resolution of symptoms and recovery from the skin infestation.
Conclusion: The diagnosis of scalp myiasis in the context of atypical symptoms is challenging. Health professionals should be aware of this possible aetiology in facial/forehead edema in returning travellers from endemic regions.
Associations of polyﬂuoroalkyl chemicals and chronic bronchitis in the U.S. adults
Authors: Chen Chen , Han Guiling , Yang Ting , Zhang Shunan
Published: September 2023

Perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs), present everywhere in the environment, have been proven to impact the respiratory system of children and adolescents adversely. Nevertheless, their effects on chronic bronchitis (CB), one of the most common clinical phenotypes of COPD, have not been characterized. We aimed to evaluate relationships between serum PFCs and CB in adults, including the presence of self-reported CB, respiratory symptoms, and levels of inflammatory biomarkers in the blood. Participants aged ≥ 40 years (N = 2862) in cross-sectional research from the 2007–2012 NHANES were considered and investigated their serum levels of 12 major PFC. Multivariable logistic or linear regression was used for the analyses of relationships between serum PFCs and CB, and subgroup analyses of the participants were carried out based on their self-reported asthma. In multivariable-adjusted models, we found that serum levels of total PFCs as well as several individual PFCs, such as PFUA, PFDE, PFOS, PFNA, MPAH, PFOA, and PFHxS, especially the PFUA and PFDE, were negatively correlated with the prevalence of CB, respiratory symptoms, and inflammatory biomarkers in the whole population. Subgroup analyses showed the potential modification effects of asthma on the associations of PFCs levels with respiratory symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers, including a statistically significant negative correlation with respiratory symptoms (chronic cough, coughing phlegm, wheezing, and shortness of breath) and levels of inflammatory blood biomarkers (CRP, WBC, and NEU) only in participants without asthma; and a statistically significant positive correlation with respiratory symptoms (chronic cough, coughing phlegm, and shortness of breath) and eosinophil (EOS) counts in participants with asthma. Our preliminary findings suggested that there are associations between serum levels of PFCs and CB-related clinical indicators in adults aged ≥ 40 years and that asthma factors may influence those relationships. Further replications of the associations in generalizable prospective cohort studies are warranted.
Peridomicillary peculiarities of rural communities in Goiás-Brazil, with families affected by arboviruses
Authors: Silva Adivânia Cardoso da , Baumman Luis Rodrigo Fernandes , Scalize Paulo Sergio
Published: September 2023

Arboviral diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya infect populations in countries with predominantly tropical and subtropical environments, where their vectors are adapted. This research aimed to identify potential favorable sites to Aedes aegypti reproduction at rural communities where dengue, Zika and chikungunya prevalence is high, geographically located in Goiás-Brazil, and to analyze the relationship between breeding sites quantity and these three arboviruses seroprevalence. In 137 families from 13 rural communities, information was obtained between October/2021 and November/2021. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively trough Pearson's correlation and Cluster analysis. 92.7% of the households, possessed, at least one potential mosquito breeding ground. Water containers, despite of being uncovered, retain water and create an ideal environment for mosquito's evolutionary cycle. Potential breeding grounds were observed related, mainly, to the lack or absence of precariousness of basic sanitation services. The community with the highest number of breeding grounds and suspected vectors of Aedes aegypti was also the one that resulted in the highest number of patients with dengue fever. The presence of places for Aedes aegypti development in the studied environment may be responsible for arboviruses spread, affecting a significant part of the population. Therefore, the present study might warn municipal health authorities for implementing public policies such universal sanitation, as a measure that indirectly provides vector control especially Aedes aegypti, when it also proliferates in rural areas, risking the population health.
Role of EVs as promotors for activation of leukemia-derived dendritic cell (DCleu)-mediated antileukemic immune response against AML-blasts
Authors: Lin Li , Görgens André , Mussack Veronika , Pepeldjiyska Elena , Hartz Anne , Aslan Hazal , Rackl Elias , Rank Andreas , Schmohl Jörg , Krämer Doris , El-Andaloussi Samir , Pfaffl Michael , schmetzer helga
Published: September 2023

Myeloid leukemia blasts can be converted into dendritic cells of leukemic origin (DCleu), which effectively activate and enhance immune-cells against leukemic blasts. EVs modulate a plethora of physiological and pathological activities. EVs secreted by dendritic cells (DCs) can activate T lymphocytes, displaying potential as promoters of adaptive immune responses. DC/DCleu generation of healthy donors’ (n=9) and AML patients’ (n=9) whole blood (WB) were treated with Kit M (GM-CSF and PGE1) (vs. control), T-cell enriched mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) with treated vs un-treated WB and antileukemic functional assays were quantified via flow cytometry. Qualitative and quantitative characterization EVs from DC/MLC culture supernatants (DCS/MLCS) in healthy and AML samples were measured. Kit M significantly increased frequencies of (mature) DC/DCleu compared to control without induction of blast proliferation. Kit M increased significantly activated (leukemia-specific) cells of the adaptive and innate immune system after T cell-enriched MLC compared to control. EVs were qualitatively and quantitatively different in DCS/MLCS with Kit M treated vs untreated from healthy vs AML samples by TEM, fNTA and MBFCM. These EVs findings and correlations with clinical parameters contribute to understand the functional role of EVs in DCS/MLCS from healthy and AML samples, with respect to develop new EV biomarkers.
Successful management of intraoperative cesarean section bleeding due to cervical arteriovenous malformation: a case report
Authors: Poonyakanok Vitcha , Jarutatsanangkoon Kridtin , Talungchit Pattarawalai
Published: September 2023

Background
Cervical arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an exceedingly rare condition that can cause antepartum hemorrhage, resulting in perinatal and maternal morbidity. Diagnosing this condition definitively prior to delivery can prove challenging, especially when extensive bleeding necessitates emergency surgery.
Case presentation:
We report a case of a 30-year-old primigravida woman, at a gestational age of 31+ 2 weeks, who presented to the hospital with an initial episode of third-trimester antepartum hemorrhage. A speculum examination revealed a 500 mL blood clot and fresh blood in the vagina. Notably, the cervical os appeared closed and devoid of any abnormal lesions. Her antenatal care history and second-trimester ultrasonography were unremarkable. Despite a thorough clinical examination and ultrasonography, the cause of the antepartum hemorrhage remained elusive. An emergency cesarean section was initiated 30 minutes postadmission due to a subsequent episode of bleeding accompanied by hypovolemic shock and a fetal NICHD category III assessment. Following the delivery of the fetus, a pulsatile tubular structure was identified at the endocervix. Suture ligation was executed, followed by Bakri balloon insertion, effectively controlling the bleeding with an estimated blood loss of 1200 mL. After transfusing 4 units of packed red blood cells, the patient’s postpartum course progressed without complications. The newborn was discharged 49 days postdelivery. A pathological biopsy confirmed the intraoperative diagnosis of AVM.
Conclusion
Cervical AVM, although rare, poses a life-threatening risk. Obstetricians should remain vigilant regarding this condition, especially when faced with inexplicable antepartum hemorrhage, even in primigravida cases. Our case underscores the effectiveness of a combined approach—suture ligation and balloon tamponade—in managing the hemorrhage arising from this condition.
Exploring the relationship between malnutrition and the Systemic Immune-inflammation Index in older inpatients: a study based on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
Authors: Ma Yu-Cen , Ju Yan-Min , Cao Meng-Yu , Yang Di , Zhang Ke-Xin , Liang Hong , Leng Ji-Yan
Published: September 2023

Background Malnutrition is a prevalent and major challenge among senior citizens, possibly due to the continual low-grade inflammatory state of the body. A novel inflammatory parameter, the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), is highly valuable in evaluating and predicting the prognosis of a wide range of diseases. This study aims to explore the significance of the SII in assessing malnutrition in older inpatients.
Methods This retrospective study included 500 senior hospitalized patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment database of the First Hospital of Jilin University. The Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire was used to evaluate the nutritional status of patients. The SII was calculated using complete blood counts, and we performed natural logarithm transformation of the SII [ln(SII)]. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between ln(SII) and undernutrition. To ensure the stability of the findings, a sensitivity analysis was conducted.
Results The 500 patients had a mean age of 77.29±9.85 years, and 68.6% were male. In accordance with the MNA, 30.4% of the patients were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, and patients in this group had considerably greater levels of ln(SII) than patients with normal nutritional status (P < 0.001). Age, history of coronary heart disease, body mass index (BMI), calf circumference, body composition parameters, scale testing results, and polypharmacy were all added sequentially to a multivariable logistic regression model. The findings demonstrated that ln(SII) was an independent risk factor for the possibility of malnutrition or undernutrition in older individuals. (OR 3.984, 95% CI = 2.426-6.543, P< 0.001). Other metrics from the geriatric comprehensive assessment, including BMI, calf circumference, fat ratio, activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, and geriatric depression scale scores, were also independently correlated with nutritional status.
Conclusions According to our research, a high SII is an independent predictor of older inpatient malnutrition, and the SII aids in screening for malnutrition and may be a potential target for intervention. Geriatric comprehensive assessment parameters such as BMI, calf circumference, fat ratio, activities of daily living and depression were also linked to malnutrition.
Identification and validation of a prognostic signature based on six immune-related genes for colorectal cancer
Authors: Zheng Lifeng , Xu Ziyu , Zhang Wulou , Zhou Shu , lin Hao , Zhang Yepeng , Liu Zonghang , Gu Xi
Published: September 2023

Background
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy with high death and morbidity rates. Even though the significant efficacy of immunotherapy is well-established, it is only beneficial for a limited number of individuals with CRC.
Methods
Differentially expressed immune-related genes (DE-IRGs) were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Immport databases. The prognostic signature comprising DE-IRGs was developed by means of Univariate, Lasso, and Multivariate Cox-regression analyses. Following this, a nomogram integrating the independent prognostic factors was also developed. CIBERSORT was applied to ascertain the immune cell infiltration (ICI). Furthermore, wound healing, colony formation, migration, and invasion assays were executed to study the involvement of ACTG1 in CRC.
Results
A signature including six DE-IRGs was developed. It could estimate the rate of overall survival (OS) accurately for the TCGA and GSE38832 cohorts. The risk score (RS) of the signature was an independent factor for OS. Moreover, a nomogram encompassing age, RS, and pathological T could accurately predict the long-term OS probability of individuals with CRC. The high-risk group had an elevated proportion of ICI relative to the low-risk group, including native B cells. Additionally, ACTG1 expression was upregulated, which supported the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of CRC cells.
Conclusions
An immune-related prognostic signature was developed for predicting OS and to ascertain the immune status in individuals with CRC. It could provide new insights into accurate immunotherapy for individuals with CRC. Moreover, ACTG1 can possibly serve as a new immune biomarker.
The risk of urinary incontinence among women with obese in China： a meta-analysis
Authors: Shang Xin , Zhao Mingzhu , Fu Yu , Guo Panpan , Jin Xiaoqin , Wang Chenxiao , Wang Ping , Wang Ying , Yan Shuxun
Published: September 2023

Objective
The objective of this meta-analysis is to assess the potential association between obesity and overweight, and the susceptibility to Urinary Incontinence (UI) among Chinese women.
Methods
We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and WANFANG Database to obtain observational study published between the establishment of the database and 10 July 2023. We used the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Quality Assessment Program of the American Institute for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ) to evaluate the quality of the study. When P > 0.1 and I2 ≤ 50%, a fixed effect model is used. Otherwise, a random effects model is applied. Funnel plots and Egger's test were used to explore publication bias. All statistical analyses were conducted in Stata 14.0.
Results
This meta-analysis comprises 13 observational studies involving a total of 76,606 individuals. The pooled analysis reveals no statistically significant association between overweight and the risk of UI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97–1.56; I2 = 94.6%, P = 0.000). Among Chinese women, obesity significantly increases the likelihood of developing urinary incontinence (OR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.55–2.58; I2 = 88.8%, p = 0.000). Subgroup analysis demonstrates no significant association between obesity and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) among obese women in China (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 0.98–1.75; I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.806). Nevertheless, obesity is significantly associated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) (OR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.47–2.01; I2 = 34.3%, P = 0.201). Subgroup analysis of regional types shows that obesity in southern and northern China, eastern, central and western regions is associated with a high risk of UI.
Conclusions
Obesity is found to be positively associated with an elevated likelihood of UI in Chinese women. This study can provide basis for the prevention and treatment of UI, and provide better prevention and management for alleviating the symptoms of UI in Chinese adult women.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of dipotassium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate as anionic surfactant inside in synthesis the Emulsion polymer Lattices
Authors: Khattab Asaad Faisal , Ismael Yonis Ahmed , Habab Ahmed Taher El
Published: September 2023

The presence of anionic surfactant in mixture with a non-ionic surfactant usually results in an increase in the cloud point of the non-ionic component. Indicating that the ionic component is forming mixed micelles with the non-ionic surfactant. In this study the anionic surfactant is dipotassium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate designated as (DPDDPEDS), was synthesized. The structure was characterized by using spectroscopic measurements. In addition, its surface properties and foaming properties were investigated. The results indicated that DPDDPEDS exhibits excellent surface activity. It was found that the DPDDPEDS as anionic surfactant have low krafft point approximation 10 ºC.
Bioinformatics analysis of GPCRs: A window into breast tumorigenesis and metastasis
Authors: Khan Safir Ullah , Hernández-González Karla Daniela , Murillo-González Fatima Elizabeth , Zaheer Saima , Méndez-Tenorio Alfonso , Luna-Arias Juan Pedro
Published: September 2023

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known signal transducers and are increasingly implicated in tumorigenesis, but their precise roles in breast cancer progression remain underexplored. We scrutinized the mRNA expression profiles of fifty GPCRs in breast tumor tissue compared to normal tissue. Prominently, PTGFR, VIPR1, ADGRL2/3, LPAR1, and S1PR1 were found to be downregulated in breast cancer tissues, while ADGRL2 and CELSR1 exhibited upregulation. LPAR1, TSHR, and S1PR2/4 expression significantly influenced HPV and lncRNA entry in breast cancer compared to normal counterparts. We also explored correlations between GPCRs and various clinicopathological attributes, encompassing menopausal age, receptor status, nodal status, P53 status, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), Scarf–Bloom–Richardson grade (SBR), and nottingham prognostic index (NPI). Survival analysis unveiled thirty-three GPCRs that significantly influenced prognosis, with a high net alteration frequency of 84.41% across all 50 GPCRs. Our investigation unraveled complex co-expression associations between GPCRs and genes involved in pivotal signaling pathways, growth factor receptors, PKCs, GEFs, and markers indicative of metastasis and proliferation. Moreover, our study identified potential interactions between rutin, cucurbitacins, ellagic acid, and tilliroside with the targeted GPCRs. P2RY8, LPAR3, S1PR5, LPAR2, CELSR3, and GRM8 may function as oncogenes whereas, ADGRL2, LPAR1/4/6, and GRM6/7, PTGFR, TSHR, SMO, CCKBR, S1PR2/4 and CHRM1/3 may be tumor-suppressors for breast cancer.
Control of antibody orientation on graphene using porphyrin linker molecules for high-performance graphene-based immuno-biosensors
Authors: Yin Tianyi , Ramadan Sami , Xu Xi , Huang Zhiping , Rosa Bruno Gil , Gaboriau David , Merali Nabeel , Keshavarz Meysam , Mustafa Ahmad Bin Muhammad , Song Jiapeng , Alodan Sarah , Chen Michael , Hammer Matthew , Petrov Peter , Frampton Adam , Skinner Stephen , Alford Neil , Klein Norbert
Published: September 2023

The appropriate orientation of antibodies on the graphene surface is critical for the high performance of graphene biosensors. In this paper, we show that a predominantly vertical orientation of antibodies to the graphene surface can be achieved by functionalizing the surface with tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP). We used this method to detect exosome biomarkers using a graphene field effect transistor (GFET) platform, and achieved a two orders of magnitude improvement in the detection limit of a GFET biosensor compared with that achieved by conventionally used 1-pyrene butanoic acid succinimidyl ester (PBASE). Through experimental analysis and computational simulation, we revealed that the antibody can highly exhibit vertical orientation on TCPP-functionalized graphene, while mixed orientations on PBASE-functionalized graphene. We further validated the high efficiency of TCPP method by detecting pancreatic cancer exosome biomarkers in clinical samples. This biofunctionalization method could enable the ultrasensitive detection of disease biomarkers on a graphene surface.
Multimodal system for recording individual-level behaviors in songbird groups
Authors: Rüttimann Linus , Rychen Jörg , Tomka Tomas , Hörster Heiko , Rocha Mariana D. , Hahnloser Richard H.R.
Published: September 2023

In longitudinal observations of animal groups, the goal is to identify individuals and to reliably detect their interactive behaviors, including their vocalizations. However, to reliably extract individual vocalizations from their mixtures and other environmental sounds remains a serious challenge. Promising approaches are multimodal systems that exploit signal redundancy and make use of animal-borne wireless sensors. In this vein, we designed a modular recording system (BirdPark) that yields synchronized data streams. We recorded groups of songbirds with multiple cameras and microphones and recorded their body vibrations with custom low-power frequency-modulated (FM) radio transmitters. We developed a custom software-defined radio receiver with a multi-antenna demodulation technique that increased the signal-to-noise ratio of the received radio signals by 6.5 dB and reduced the signal loss rate due to fading by a factor of 63 to only 0.01% of the recording time compared to single-antenna demodulation. Nevertheless, neither a single vibration sensor nor a single microphone is sufficient by itself to detect the complete vocal output of an individual. Even in the minimal setting of an animal pair, an average of about 3.7% of vocalizations remain undetected within each sensor modality. Our work emphasizes the need for high-quality recording systems and for multimodal analysis of social behavior.
Uptake, effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in the immunocompromised population: A population-based cohort study in England
Authors: Chen Daniel , Copland Emma , Hirst Jennifer , Mi Emma , Dixon Sharon , Coupland Carol , Hippisley-Cox Julia
Published: September 2023

Immunocompromised individuals face increased risks of severe COVID-19 outcomes, underscoring the importance of receiving COVID-19 vaccination. However, there's a lack of comprehensive real-world data on their COVID-19 vaccine uptake, effectiveness, and safety profile. We analysed data in the QResearch UK database from 01/12/2020 to 11/04/2022. We included 12,274,948 people aged ≥ 12 years in our analysis, of whom 583,541 (4.8%) were immunocompromised, defined as on immune-modifying drugs, chemotherapy, organ transplants, or dialysis. Overall, 93.7% of immunocompromised patients received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Uptake reduced with increasing deprivation (Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.78 [95% CI 0.77–0.79] in the most deprived quintile compared to the least for the first dose). Using a nested case-control design, estimated vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalisation 2–6 weeks after the second and third doses compared to the unvaccinated was 78% (95%CI 72–83) and 91% (95%CI 88–93) for the immunocompromised, versus 85% (95%CI 83–86) and 86% (95%CI 85–89) respectively for the general population. COVID-19 vaccines were protective against intensive care unit admission and death in both groups. There were no differing risks of adverse events during the first 28 days after each dose between the two populations. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing vaccination prioritisation for immunocompromised individuals to maximise protection against severe COVID-19-related outcomes.
Disturbance feedforward compensation based on Modelica modeling with the Self-immunity study of a quadrotor UAV
Authors: ZHOU HAO , BAO XIAOPENG , LIANG QIAO , ZHANG HONGGANG
Published: September 2023

Due to the nonlinearity, underactuated, strong coupling, multi-data flow direction, and vulnerability to internal and external disturbances, the widely used PID control technology has been very difficult. Some emerging nonlinear control theory algorithms have good simulation performance, but they rely heavily on exact mathematical models, require a large amount of computation, and take a long time to solve. Therefore, based on the advantages of non-causal declarative modeling in Modelica language, this paper focuses on the analysis and implementation of the mechanism of observation, estimation, and compensation of nonlinear ADRC disturbances, PID-NLADRC linear nonlinear combined control strategy is designed to realize the flight control of a four-rotor UAV. The multi-target applications, such as fixed-point hover, cone spiral trajectory tracking and air obstacle avoidance fillet moment trajectory tracking, are verified respectively. The simulation results show that the designed PID-NLADRC control strategy has better performance than the Cascade PID control strategy in suppressing the fixed-point hover disturbance, it is fully verified that the PID-NLADRC control strategy has a smaller Euclidean range deviation and stronger disturbance rejection ability for tracking trajectories with different properties such as plane or space, smooth or transient, it can better meet the requirements of fast, accurate and robust flight control of four-rotor UAV.
A High Performance Random Forest Machine Learning Algorithm for QoS- Based Web Services Composition
Authors: Choudhury Ziaul Haque
Published: September 2023

Service-based architecture becomes a key software interface for complex applications which can be dynamically and flexibly compounded by integrating existing Web services with standard protocols from various providers. New web services can adversely affect the quality of service and customer satisfaction through their rapid introduction into a competitive business environment. Hence, it remains a constant problem in state of the art research how to collect, aggregate and employ data on individual quality of service (QoS) components to obtain the optimum quality of service of a composite service that responds to customer needs. This study proposes a Random Forest (RF) Algorithm for high-performance machine learning web services composition (WSC) problem. In this experiment, the validation is done using value iteration, iterative policy evaluation, and policy iteration algorithm. In this experiment, we illustrate WSC difficulties how to solve and demanding an entire sequence of 1000,000 Web services can be measured using an Intel Core i7 device with a 32GB RAM, requiring the selection of 10,000 services from the current system and less than 130 seconds. Besides, only seven individual web services pose a real WSC problem that needs processing power of less than 0.03 seconds.
Analysis of soil fertility and heavy metal characteristics in open-pit mining areas in northern Shaanxi
Authors: Wang Na , Liu Zhe , Sun Yingying , Lu Nan , Luo Yuhu
Published: September 2023

The northern Shaanxi region stands as the primary coal production hub in Shaanxi Province. Assessing the risk of heavy metal contamination in this mining area is of paramount importance for ensuring the sustainable development of the regional ecosystem and safeguarding human health. This study specifically focused on the Hongliulin mining area, where a total of 40 soil samples were meticulously collected and analyzed from within a 1000-meter radius extending from the tailings dam. The findings revealed that soil pH within the 0-1000m range generally leaned towards the alkaline side. In terms of soil nutrient content, encompassing factors such as soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), alkali nitrogen (AK), available phosphorus (AP), and quick-acting potassium (AK), the variations fell within the following ranges: 2.23~13.58 g/kg, 0.12 ~ 0.73 g/kg, 0.18 ~1.15 g/kg, 9.54 ~35.82 g/kg, 2.89 ~ 6.76 mg/kg, 3.45~11.25 mg/kg, and 5.86~130.85 mg/kg. Collectively, these values indicate relatively low levels of soil nutrients. Within the 0-500m range of soil samples, the average concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb, and As were 0.778, 0.198, 24.87, and 17.92 mg/kg, respectively. These concentrations exceeded the established soil background values of Shaanxi Province and emerged as the primary pollutants in the study area. Within this same range, the mean values of eight heavy metals (Pi) were ranked in the following descending order: 1.726 (Hg), 1.400 (As), 1.129 (Cr), 1.109 (Pb), 0.623 (Zn), 0.536 (Cd), 0.309 (Cu), and 0.289 (Ni). With the exception of Hg, As, Cr, and Pb, which exhibited slight pollution, the other heavy metals were found to be within acceptable pollution limits for this sampling range, in line with the results obtained using the geo-accumulation index method. The average potential ecological risk index (RI) for the eight heavy metals in the study area stood at 185.0, indicating a moderate overall pollution level. When assessing individual elements, the proportions of ecological risk attributed to Hg, As, Pb, and Cd were 34.57%, 27.44%, 25.11%, and 23.11%, respectively. This suggests that the primary potential ecological risk elements in the study area are Hg and As, followed by Cd and Pb. Notably, heavy metals Hg and Pb, as well as As and Pb, exhibited significant positive correlations within the sampling area, suggesting a common source. An analysis of the relationship between soil physicochemical properties and heavy metals indicated that soil pH, organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus were closely linked to heavy metal concentrations. The soil in the sampling area has undergone significant disturbances due to human activities, resulting in heavy metal pollution and nutrient deficiencies.
A unique sigma/anti-sigma system involved in dormancy and revival of bacterial sporangiospores
Authors: Ohnishi Yasuo , Tezuka Takeaki , Mitsuyama Kyota , Date Risa
Published: September 2023

Bacterial spores convert from dormant to active cells upon exposure to environmental stimuli; however, their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report a unique sigma/anti-sigma system involved in the dormancy and revival of sporangiospores in the filamentous bacterium Actinoplanes missouriensis. We propose that the sigma factor σSsdA activates transcription of a subset of genes for the maintenance of dormancy, including the oxidative stress response, directly or indirectly in sporangiospores. The cognate anti-sigma factor SipA does not seem to be a switch for spore revival; rather, it seems to modulate σSsdA function to achieve appropriate transcription levels of σSsdA-dependent genes during and/or after sporangium formation. Both SipA and σSsdA possess an anti-sigma factor antagonist domain, thereby enabling interactions between the anti-sigma factor domain of SipA and the anti-sigma factor antagonist domain of σSsdA. We also identified a two-component regulatory system (RsdK-RsdR) indirectly activated by σSsdA as a key factor that represses revival of spores, more specifically, initiation of sporangium dehiscence. Thus, RsdK-RsdR plays a pivotal role in a molecular mechanism that delays the initiation of awakening of sporangiospores. This study reveals a previously unknown aspect of the general biological phenomena of cell dormancy and awakening.
LDCT Screening Results among Health Check-ups Population
Authors: Bao Ting , Liu Bingqing , Li Ruicen , Li Zhenzhen , Ji Guiyi , Wang Youjuan , Yang Hanwei , Li Weimin , Huang Wenxia , Huang Yan , Tang Huairong
Published: September 2023

Objective
To compare the LDCT screening results between eligible and ineligible screening candidates in preventive health check-ups population.
Study Design and Setting
Using a real-world LDCT screening results among people who took yearly health check-up in health management center of West China Hospital between 2006 and 2017. Objects were classified according to the China National Lung Cancer Screening Guideline with Low-dose Computed Tomography (2018 version) eligibility criteria. Descriptive analysis were performed between eligible and ineligible screening candidates.
Results
The proportion of ineligible screening candidates was 64.13% (10259), and among them there were 4005(39.04%) subjects with positive screenings, 80 cases had a surgical lung biopsy. Pathology results from lung biopsy revealed 69 cancers (true-positive) and 11 benign results (false-positive). The difference of the false-positive biopsy rate between ineligible screening candidates (13.75%) and eligible screening candidates(15.00%) was no statistically significant (P>0.05). Further, in ineligible screening candidates, the proportion of current smokers was higher among males compared to females (53.85% vs. 4.88%, P<0.05). Of the 69 lung cancer patients detected in ineligible screening candidates, lung adenocarcinoma accounts for a high proportion of lung cancers both in male (75.00%) and female (85.00%).
Conclusion
The proportion of ineligible screening candidates was high in health check-ups population.
Effect of Thermocycling on Acetal Resin vs PEEK Surface Hardness and Flexure Strength of Implant-Retained Overdenture Bars. In Vitro Study
Authors: Salem Sherihan , AlSourori Ali Abdulghani , Mostafa Marwa Hassan
Published: September 2023

Background: Implant-supported mandibular overdentures with bar attachments are considered an excellent option for a completely edentulous mandible. It provides a long-lasting and reliable solution to restore function and aesthetics to the patient. These enhancements are related to a reduced rate of bone ridge resorption, improved retention, and support for the prosthesis, all of which lead to better mastication, function, and overall health. Many materials can be used for the construction of bar attachments, among which are peek and acetal resin materials. The choice between Peek and acetal bar attachments eventually depends on the application, considering factors such as load-bearing requirements, biocompatibility, adaptability, and ease of use.
Methods: Twelve 3D printed edentulous mandible model each of them received two implants .Models was then divided into two equal groups. Group1: PEEK bars were fabricated by thermo pressed technique while Group 2: Acetal resin bars were fabricated by thermo pressed technique. Surface hardness and flexure strength were then evaluated and statistically analyzed before and after thermocycling.
Results: PEEK Group revealed significant higher surface hardness than Acetal resin before and after thermocycling. Regarding flexure strength PEEK showed insignificant increase than Acetal before thermocycling, however the PEEK group displayed much higher values than the Acetal group following the thermocycling, resulting in a significant difference between the two groups.
Conclusions: Bar made of PEEK showed more promising surface hardness and flexure strength than Acetal resin bar
In Situ synthesis of regular channel structure PSC-TiO2 with a remarkably photocatalytic degradation tetracycline efficiency
Authors: LI TAO , Deng Zhihua , Yang Longyan , Huang Jianxiu , Wang Rongfeng , Wang Dawei , Li Huijuan
Published: September 2023

Incorporating carbon doping and regular channel structure peanut shell carbon-TiO2 (PSC-TiO2) is a challenge because the carbon is usually amorphous phase and TiO2 is agglomerated. Here, we propose an in situ synthetic strategy for the regular channel structure PSC-TiO2 by TiCl4 hydrolysis method, and the obtained PSC-TiO2 composites was used for tetracycline (TC) removal. The morphology and structure of as-prepared PSC-TiO2 composites were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis) techniques. All results confirm the regular channel PSC-TiO2 synthesized successfully. As a result of unique channel structure the resulting PSC-TiO2 exhibits remarkably sunlight adsorption-photocatalytic efficiency for the degradation of TC. For 150 mg/L TC solution, the removal efficiency of TC in the PSC-TiO2 (87.0%) was higher than that in the PSC adsorption (39.4%) and pure TiO2 (70.7%) within 60 min. The obtained 15%PSC-TiO2 composite (400 °C, 2h) showed higher light absorption efficiency, C-O-Ti band and regular channel morphological structure, which resulted in the synergistic effect of PSC adsorption and TiO2 photocatalysis performance, and the current study provides a new insight for regular channel PSC-TiO2 preparation and application.
Circulating Calprotectin as a Potential Biomarker of Persistent Olfactory Dysfunctions in Post-COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Francavilla Beatrice , Velletrani Gianluca , Fiorelli Denise , Maurantonio Sara , Passali Francesco Maria , Bernardini Sergio , Girolamo Stefano Di , Nuccetelli Marzia
Published: September 2023

Objective and Design:
This longitudinal prospective study aims to investigate the potential of circulating calprotectin (cCLP) as a biomarker in persistent olfactory dysfunctions following COVID-19 infection.
Materials and Methods
Thirty-six patients with persistent hyposmia or anosmia post COVID-19 were enrolled (HT0) and re-evaluated after three months of olfactory training (HT1). Two control groups included 18 subjects without olfactory defects post COVID-19 (CG1) and 18 healthy individuals (CG2). Nasal and blood samples were collected to assess circulating calprotectin levels.
Results
Higher calprotectin levels were observed in serum and nasal supernatant of hyposmic patients (HT0) compared to control groups (CG1 and CG2). Post-olfactory training (HT1), olfactory function improved significantly, paralleled by decreased calprotectin levels in serum and nasal samples.
Conclusions
Circulating calprotectin holds potential as a biomarker in persistent olfactory dysfunctions after COVID-19. The decrease in calprotectin levels post-olfactory training implies a role in monitoring and evaluating treatment responses. These findings contribute to the growing literature on potential biomarkers in post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunctions and underscore the importance of investigating novel biomarkers for personalized patient management. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to validate the application of calprotectin assay in nasal diseases and its correlation with nasal cytology.
Association of inflammatory cytokines expression in cerebrospinal fluid with the severity and prognosis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Gu Tianyan , Pan Jingyu , Chen Ling , Li Kai , Wang Li , Zou Zhihao , Shi Qinghai
Published: September 2023

Objective
To investigate the potential diagnostic and prognostic implications of inflammatory cytokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) patients upon their initial hospital admission.
Methods
Our cohort comprised 100 patients diagnosed with acute SICH, who presented to the Department of Neurosurgery. Additionally, 50 individuals, devoid of central nervous system (CNS) pathology and treated concomitantly at our facility, were enlisted as controls. CSF specimens, acquired upon hospital entry, underwent quantitative assessment of 10 inflammatory cytokines employing the Mesoscale Discovery Platform (MSD, Rockville, MD, USA) electrochemiluminescence technology, with subsequent validation via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results
Distinct elevation of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α levels was evident in the CSF of the SICH subgroup relative to controls. Elevated Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores among SICH patients were concomitantly linked with diminished CSF concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α, indicating an inverse relationship. Notably, CSF inflammatory cytokine concentrations were consistently elevated in SICH patients manifesting with hydrocephalus compared to those without. Elevations in IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α in the CSF were significantly pronounced in the poor prognosis cohort (Glasgow Outcome Scale, GOS 1–3) relative to their counterparts with a favorable prognosis (GOS 4–5). The AUC values for the aforementioned cytokines in predicting SICH prognosis were 0.750, 0.728, 0.717, and 0.743, respectively.
Conclusions
The initial CSF levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α upon admission offer significant insights into the severity of neural damage and serve as robust indicators for prognostication in SICH patients.
Study on water injection intensity classification of irregular horizontal-vertical well groups
Authors: Hu Yin , hongjun Qu
Published: September 2023

Horizontal wells with artificial fractures have been proven to be an effective method to develop tight reservoirs. However, inappropriate water injection might lead to non-uniform waterflooding in the group of horizontal producers and vertical injectors. Therefore, the objective of the current study is to optimize the flowrate of vertical injectors in the combination of horizontal and vertical wells. First, a series of numerical models with different relative positions of horizontal and vertical well were built in a tight reservoir. Through numerical simulation and three-dimension (3D) visualization technique, the controlling area of the horizontal well was divided into three areas where injectors follow different flowrates to increase the sweep area and avoid water breakthrough. Then, a numerical model with one horizontal well and three vertical wells was established to study the flowrate ratio between the injectors from different controlling areas. Simulation results show that three injectors with 6:3:1 of flowrate ratio can obtain an extra 2997.6 m3 cumulative oil production than that with 1:1:1 of flowrate ratio.
3-n-Butylphthalide suppresses neuroinflammation through BDNF signaling in postoperative cognitive dysfunction in mice
Authors: miao xiaofei , Zhou Zangong , feng wei , yu ning
Published: September 2023

Aims: Effects of 3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP) on neuroinflammation in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) have not been well studied. This study aimed to investigate the effects of NBP treatment on surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice.
Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice, aged ten months, were subjected to tibialfracture surgery while under isoflurane anesthesia in order to mimic orthopedic surgery performed on humans. Tests to assess behavior were conducted at the specified time intervals. We observed structural changes in hippocampal neurons, mitochondria and Golgi apparatus by transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of IBA1, TNF-α, IL-1β, and apoptotic proteins were determined using Western blot and ELISA.
Results: The results indicated that NBP treatment ameliorates surgery-induced cognitive impairment. Moreover, NBP treatment inhibits microglial activation and reverses neuronal, mitochondrial and Golgi damage in the hippocampus of POCD mice. Furthermore, NBP decreases neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of mice with POCD.
Conclusion: Our research indicates that NBP could be a promising target for therapeutic intervention in POCD.
Deep learning tree and forest biomass from sub-meter resolution images
Authors: Li Sizhuo , Brandt Martin , Tong Xiaoye , Oehmcke Stefan , Igel Christian , Gieseke Fabian , Nord-Larsen Thomas , Fensholt Rasmus , Chave Jerome , Ciais Philippe
Published: September 2023

Computational visual intelligence has been shown to be able to comprehend the content of images, which has been widely used to foster a digitized society, but is often underutilized in applications related to the green transition and climate change mitigation. Here, we evaluate the capacity of convolutional neural networks (CNN) to interpret spatial semantic patterns in optical RGB images to directly estimate forest biomass, an essential climate parameter previously assessed from structural measures of trees. Trained with forest inventory plots, the CNN model demonstrates its learning via interpreting the composition of biomass at tree level, differing from traditional approaches reliant on conversions of aggregated parameters without explanatory rationale. The CNN approach yields consistently low bias across wide biomass ranges, whereas traditional models show insufficiency without information on tree height. Visually interpretable models link advanced computational tools with the power of data, facilitating the sustainable management of resources for a carbon-neutral society.
Effect of Zn Content and SPS Process Parameters on the Microstructure and Hardness of Mg-Zn Alloys
Authors: Hashemi Seyed Mahdi , Hosseinpour Mehrnoosh , Salehi Fatemeh , Jafari Hassan , Parvizi Soroush
Published: September 2023

This research investigated the microstructure and hardness of binary Mg-xZn (x=1, 3, 5) alloys produced by the spark plasma sintering process at different temperatures, times, and pressures. Taguchi quality function was used to model the process and obtain the optimal input parameters. Optical and scanning electron microscopes were used to analyze the microstructure and grain size of the alloys. Microstructural analyses revealed that the grain sizes directly increased by the Zn content. Meanwhile, the intermetallic phase of MgZn was formed in the alloys containing 3 and 5 wt. % Zn. Density and hardness measurements were employed for all alloys. The results also indicated that the highest hardness value was 92.5 HV for the alloy containing 1 wt. % Zn, while the highest relative density, 1.21, referred to the alloy containing 5 wt. % Zn, when the temperature, time, and applied pressure had the minimum values. Furthermore, by increasing temperature and pressure, the porosities were reduced. The grain size initially dropped and then ascended by merging the grains to form larger ones due to the enhanced diffusion kinetics.