bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial resistance pattern of anaerobic bacteria causing lower respiratory tract infections.
Authors: Shariff Malini , Khawung Elizabeth
Published: August 2023

Background
Anaerobes are indigenous flora of the human body but have the potential to cause serious diseases. Anaerobic bacteria are involved in all morbid conditions of respiratory infections, and the frequencies of isolation are high in pneumonia and at the time of acute exacerbation of chronic lower airway infection. These are often missed due to the complexity of their isolation and identification. Hence, this study aimed to study anaerobes causing respiratory tract infections and determine their antibiotic susceptibility.
Materials & Methods
Clinical specimens such as bronchial aspirates and pleural aspirates collected from patients with respiratory diseases attending Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute were processed, the anaerobes isolated were identified, and their susceptibilities to various groups of antimicrobials were studied using standard microbiological methods.
Results
Three hundred forty-four patients were included in the study, 124 males and 147 females. Of these 344 patients, 165 yielded anaerobes in their clinical samples. Ninety patients had more than one type of anaerobic organism. Hence, a total of 271 isolates were recovered belonging to as many as 16 genera. The MIC of seven antibiotics on 154 isolates was tested. The isolates belonged to the genera Bacteroides, Prevotella, Veillonella, and Actinomyces, among others. Variable resistance was observed to most classes of antibiotics by many genera.
Conclusions
Metronidazole is commonly used against anaerobes, but the study showed that the isolates were 20–30% resistant to the antibiotic. Starting this as an empirical therapy might lead to treatment failure.
Plasma Proteomic Characterization of Colorectal Cancer Patients with FOLFOX Chemotherapy by Integrated Proteomics Technology
Authors: Wang Xi , Zhang Keren , He Wan , Zhang Luobin , Gao Biwei , Xu Ruilian , Tian Ruijun
Published: August 2023

Background Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a prevalent form of cancer, and the effectiveness of the main postoperative chemotherapy treatment, FOLFOX, varies among patients. In this study, we aimed to identify potential biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of CRC patients treated with FOLFOX through plasma proteomic characterization.Methods Using a fully integrated sample preparation technology SISPROT-based proteomics workflow, we achieved deep proteome coverage and trained a machine learning model from a discovery cohort of 90 CRC patients to differentiate FOLFOX-sensitive and FOLFOX-resistant patients. The model was then validated by targeted proteomics on an independent test cohort of 26 patients.Results We achieved deep proteome coverage of 831 protein groups in total and 536 protein groups in average for non-depleted plasma from CRC patients by using a Orbitrap Exploris 240 with moderate sensitivity. Our results revealed distinct molecular changes in FOLFOX-sensitive and FOLFOX-resistant patients. We confidently identified known prognostic biomarkers for colorectal cancer, such as S100A4, LGALS1, and FABP5. The classifier based on the biomarker panel demonstrated a promised AUC value of 0.908 with 93% accuracy. Additionally, we established a protein panel to predict FOLFOX effectiveness, and several proteins within the panel were validated using targeted proteomic methods.Conclusions Our study sheds light on the pathways affected in CRC patients treated with FOLFOX chemotherapy and identifies potential biomarkers that could be valuable for prognosis prediction. Our findings showed the potential of mass spectrometry-based proteomics and machine learning as an unbiased and systematic approach for discovering biomarkers in CRC.
Generation of porcine circovirus type 4 virus-like particles and their use to detect serum antibodies
Authors: Fang Zheng , Sun Mingxia , Wang Shanghui , Cai Xuehui , An Tongqing , Wang Haiwei , Tu Yabin
Published: August 2023

Porcine Circovirus type 4 (PCV4), first identified in 2019 as a newly emerging pathogen, has been found in several provinces of China, as well as in Korea and Thailand. Since PCV4 is not included in immunization programs, epidemiological investigations should be conducted for PCV4-positive antibodies detection. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are commonly employed for serological analysis of pathogen infections. However, there are no reports on using PCV4 VLPs in PCV4 infection investigation. In this study, we successfully generated self-assembled PCV4 VLPs using an E.coli expression system and purified the PCV4 VLPs through a two-step purification process. Subsequently, we utilized the purified VLPs as encapsulated antigens to develop an indirect ELISA. The established ELISA method showed high specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability, making it suitable for PCV4 antibodies investigation of serum samples. Finally, the ELISA was applied to detect 422 serum samples from regions in China, of which 134 tested positive. Therefore, PCV4-VLPs-based ELISA could effectively detect antibodies against PCV4 in serum samples, contributing to a better understanding of PCV4 epidemiology.
Testing the Validity of Philips Curve in Nigeria
Authors: Lawal Jamiu Oluwatosin
Published: August 2023

The study tested for the validity of Philips curve in Nigeria. The study utilizes time series data covering the periods between 1986 and 2021. Prior to the estimation procedures, the stochastic properties of the time series data were examined using Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) and Philip-Perron (PP). The results of the time series properties indicate that the variables are combination of both I(0) and I(1) in the same specification which prompt the use of autoregressive distributive lags (ARDL) developed by Pesaran et al (2001). In addition, granger causality was performed to test for causal relationship. Both in the short run and long run, the results show a significant positive impact of unemployment on inflation. This implies that Philips curve that shows trade-off between inflation and unemployment rate does not hold in Nigeria both in the short-run and long-run. The granger causality test revealed no causation relationship between inflation and unemployment rate in Nigeria. The recommendations include among others the following: Government should create more job opportunities. This can be done by investing in other sectors of the economy such as the agricultural and industrial sectors. The monetary authority should moderate its current policy stance, lower interest rates, and control the growth of money in order to boost investment and economic growth. This would encourage small-scale businesses to emerge and thus reduce the unemployment rate in the country.
A semiempirical method optimized for modeling proteins
Authors: Stewart James J. P.
Published: August 2023

Context In recent years, semiempirical methods such as PM6, PM6-D3H4, and PM7 have been increasingly used for modeling proteins, in particular enzymes. These methods were designed for more general use, and consequently were not optimized for studying proteins. Because of this, various specific errors have been found that could potentially cast doubt on the validity of these methods for modeling phenomena of biochemical interest such as enzyme catalytic mechanisms and protein-ligand interactions. To correct these and other errors, a new method specifically designed for use in organic and biochemical modeling has been developed.Methods Two alterations were made to the procedures used in developing the earlier PMx methods. A minor change was made to the theoretical framework, which affected only the nonquantum theory interatomic interaction function, while the major change involved changing the training set for optimizing parameters, moving the focus to systems of biochemical significance. This involved both the selection of reference data and the weighting factors, i.e., the relative importance that the various data were given. As a result of this change of focus, the accuracy in prediction of heats of formation, hydrogen bonding, and geometric quantities relating to noncovalent interactions in proteins was improved significantly.
Oblivious Network Intrusion Detection Systems
Authors: Sayed Mahmoud AbdelHafeez , Taha Mostafa
Published: August 2023

A main function of network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDSs) is to monitor network traffic and match it against rules. Oblivious NIDSs (O-NIDS) perform the same tasks of NIDSs but they use encrypted rules and produce encrypted results without being able to decrypt the rules or the results. Current implementations of O-NIDS suffer from slow searching speeds and/or lack of generality. In this paper we present a generic approach to implement a privacy-preserving O-NIDS based on hybrid binary gates. We also present two resources-flexible algorithm bundles built upon the hybrid binary gates to perform the NIDS's essential tasks of direct matching and range matching as a proof of concept. Our approach utilizes a Homomorphic Encryption (HE) layer in an abstract fashion, which makes it implementable by many HE schemes compared to the state of the art where the underlying HE scheme is a core part of the approach. This feature allowed using already-existing HE libraries that utilize parallelization techniques in GPUs for faster performance. We achieved a rule encryption time as low as 0.012\% of the state of the art with only 0.047\% of its encrypted rule size. Also, we achieved a rule matching speed that is almost 20,000 times faster than the state of the art.
Nomogram for predicting distant metastasis and prognosis in HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients without lymph node metastasis
Authors: zhang weifang , Liu Bo , Shang Fangjian , Yang Chenhui , liu yunjiang
Published: August 2023

Background
HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients without lymph node metastasis (N0) but with distant metastasis (DM) are rare. This study aims to explore the risk factors of N0 patients with distant metastasis and build nomogram to predict the occurrence and prognosis of distant metastasis.
Methods
Patients with HR+/HER2- N0 breast cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2017 were retrospectively collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis were performed to identify risk factors for DM. Nomogram was constructed based on multivariate regression results. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to identify the prognostic factors of DM patients, and Nomogram was constructed to predict 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year BCSS. The performance of nomogram was evaluated by concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curve and decision curve analyses (DCAs).
Results
A total of 63005 patients were enrolled, including 1208 patients (1.3%) with DM. Race, T stage, location, grade and PR were independent risk factors for DM. The area under curve (AUC) values of the development cohort and validation cohort were 0.835 and 0.836, respectively. Seven significant prognostic factors including age, race, grade, ER, PR, surgery, and site of metastasis were included to build nomogram to predict 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year BCSS. The C-index of the development cohort and validation cohort were 0.70 and 0.68, respectively.
Conclusions
Our nomogram can predict the occurrence and prognosis of DM in HR+/HER2- N0 patients, providing guidance for individualized survival assessment and appropriate treatment for the special population.
Pachychoroid Spectrum Diseases: Long-term Visual Outcomes, with a Focus on Risk Factors Affecting Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
Authors: Azuma Keiko , Tanaka Nobuya , Aoki Shuichiro , Kitamoto Kohdai , Ueda Kohei , Inoue Tatsuya , Obata Ryo
Published: August 2023

Purpose: To analyze the long-term visual outcomes of pachychoroid spectrum diseases (PSD).
Design: Retrospective study.
Methods: We reviewed the medical charts of consecutive patients with PSD, including focal choroidal excavation (FCE), pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy (PPE), central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), and pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV). The patients visited the Tokyo University Hospital from January 2008 to April 2022. Survival analyses were performed, in which loss of vision was defined as visual acuity (VA) of 0.2 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) or worse, 0.5 logMAR or worse, or VA worsening by 0.3 logMAR or greater. Moreover, we further investigated factors associated with visual prognosis, particularly in the CSC group.
Results: A total of 741 eyes of 638 patients were included in this analysis. The CSC or PNV group showed significantly worse visual prognosis than the FCE&PPE group for VA to 0.2 logMAR or worse (P=0.0117 or 0.0001, respectively) and for VA worsening by 0.3 logMAR or greater (P=0.0283 or 0.0037, respectively). In the CSC group, unlike age, sex, or treatment history, the duration of subfoveal fluid existence ≥12 months (continuous or intermittent) was significantly associated with visual prognosis (P<0.0001).
Conclusions: Among PSD, CSC and PNV were associated with a higher risk of vision loss in the long term than FCE and PPE. The duration of subretinal fluid existence was identified as a significant factor affecting long-term visual outcomes in CSC.
Simulation study of the punching forming process and die wear of spur gears
Authors: Chen Zhiyuan , Guo Zenghui , Fang Bin , Gao Liying , Su Guosheng , Liu Bingqiang
Published: August 2023

As an important transmission component, the spur gear has been widely used in automobiles and various mechanical equipment. However, spur gears are produced by the hobbing and shaving, which inevitably reduces the service strength and service life of the gear. In this paper, the punching forming process of spur gear is presented. Compared with the traditional gear machining process, the process not only avoids the destruction of the metal flow line and significantly improves the material utilization rate. The effect of tooth filling and equivalent strain accumulation on gear forming quality were discussed by finite element simulation. The effects of upper die punching speed, lower die preheating temperature and friction coefficient on lower die wear during forming were studied by response surface method. The optimum process parameters of punching of spur gear were lower die preheating temperature of 280℃, friction coefficient of 0.27, upper die feed speed of 8.3 mm/s, respectively.It is predicted that about 110,000 gears can be produced before the wear failure of the lower die. On the basis of the finite element simulation results, the gear punching test is carried out. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results, and the metal flow line at the tooth is uniform and continuous, which verifies the reliability of the punching process. This study provides a feasible way for plastic forming of spur gear.
The Properties of Soilless Culture Substrates Determine the Evolutionary Direction of Rhizosphere Microbial Communities in Potato Breeding, Having Potential Impact on Breeding
Authors: Yan Kan , Ma Yanni , Bao Songming , Li Wandi , Wang Yunjiao , Sun Chao , Lu Xin
Published: August 2023

Background
Coconut bran and vermiculite are commonly used substrates in the process of potato germplasm breeding under soilless cultivation conditions, each possessing distinct physicochemical properties and indigenous microbial reservoirs. In comparison to natural soil, there is a lack of evaluation and limited understanding of the root-associated microbial communities in soilless cultivation environments. As soilless cultivation is increasingly applied in agriculture, the evolution of these microorganisms can significantly impact the breeding environment and the microecological environment within the regions involved in breeding.
Results
The physicochemical characteristics of the substrates significantly influence the composition and evolution of indigenous bacterial communities under similar treatments. Substrate permeability has almost no effect on the microbial community, while WSN (water-stable aggregates), TN (total nitrogen), AK (available potassium), and TOC (total organic carbon) are identified as the most critical influencing factors. They show a positive correlation with bacterial communities but a negative correlation with fungal communities. Coconut bran exhibits higher values for these four indicators. During the two stages of mixed fermentation after basal fertilization and 50 days of potato cultivation, coconut bran consistently maintains higher bacterial diversity and abundance while possessing lower fungal diversity and abundance. Coconut bran substrates exhibit a more complex microbial network and higher bacterial-fungal negative correlations. Each group is enriched with specific functional biomarkers, where coconut bran substrates are associated with polysaccharide degradation and denitrification-related microorganisms, along with an abundance of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs). In contrast, vermiculite substrates are enriched with Dyella, a microorganism involved in rock weathering, but also contain a higher abundance of plant pathogens, particularly potato pathogenic bacteria and fungi (Pectobacterium and Botryotinia).
Conclusion
Coconut bran and vermiculite, as distinct soilless cultivation substrates, play a crucial role in shaping the microbial community composition during various stages of potato breeding. Higher levels of WSN, TN, AK, and TOC in coconut bran substrates provide a healthier microecological environment. These findings offer potential insights into the selection of soilless cultivation substrates for healthy and sustainable potato breeding and the adjustment of beneficial microbial community composition.
Novel extracorporeal treatment for severe neonatal jaundice: A mathematical modelling study of allo-hemodialysis
Authors: Maheshwari@rriny.com Vaibhav , de Ferris Maria Esther Díaz González , Filler Guido , Kotanki Peter
Published: August 2023

Background: Severe neonatal jaundice (SNJ) causes long-term neurocognitive impairment, cerebral palsy, auditory neuropathy, deafness, or death. We developed a mathematical model for allo-hemodialysis, a novel potential treatment for SNJ.
Methods: With allo-hemodialysis, the neonate’s blood flows through hollow fibers of a miniature 0.075m2 hemodialyzer, while the blood of a healthy adult (“buddy”) flows counter-currently through the dialysate compartment. Kinetics of unconjugated bilirubin in allo-hemodialysis were simulated with neonate blood flow rates of 12.5 and 15mL/min (for a 2.5kg and 3.5kg neonate, respectively), and 30mL/min for the buddy. We only simulated unconjugated bilirubin kinetics because the conjugated form is easily excreted and non-toxic. The bilirubin production rates in neonate and buddy were set to 6 and 3mg/kg/day, respectively. Neonatal bilirubin conjugation was set to zero. Buddy bilirubin conjugation rate was calculated to obtain normal steady state bilirubin levels.
Results: Model simulations suggest that a 6-hour allo-hemodialysis session can reduce neonatal bilirubin levels by more than 35% and that this modality is particularly effective in neonates with low serum albumin levels. Also, neonatal extracorporeal blood flow affects the bilirubin kinetics. Due to the high bilirubin conjugation capacity of an adult’s healthy liver and the larger distribution volume, the buddy’s bilirubin level increases only transiently during allo-hemodialysis.
Conclusions: Our modelling suggests that a single allo-hemodialysis session lowers neonatal unconjugated bilirubin levels effectively. If corroborated in ex-vivo, animal, and clinical studies, this bilirubin reduction could lower the risks associated with SNJ, especially kernicterus, and possibly avoiding the morbidity associated with exchange transfusions.
Intriguing Type-II g-GeC/AlN Bilayer Heterostructure for Photocatalytic Water Decomposition and Hydrogen Production
Authors: Ferdous Naim , Islam Md. Sherajul , Alam Md. Shahabul , Zamil Md. Yasir , Biney Jeshurun , Vatani Sareh , Park Jeongwon
Published: August 2023

Adapting two-dimensional (2D) van der Walls bilayer heterostructure is an efficient technique for realizing fascinating properties and playing a key role in solar energy-driven water decomposition schemes. By means of first-principles calculations, this study reveals the intriguing potential of a novel 2D van der Walls hetero-bilayer consisting of GeC and AlN layer in the photocatalytic water splitting method to generate hydrogen. The GeC/AlN heterostructure has an appropriate band gap of 2.05 eV, wherein the band edges are in proper energetic positions to provoke the water redox reaction to generate hydrogen and oxygen. The type-II band alignment of the bilayer facilitates the real-space spontaneous separation of the photogenerated electrons and holes in the different layers, improving the photocatalytic activity significantly. Analysis of the electrostatic potential and the charge density difference unravels the build-up of an inherent electric field at the interface, preventing electron-hole recombination. The ample absorption spectrum of the bilayer from the ultra-violet to the near-infrared region, reaching up to 8.71\(\times\)105 /cm, combined with the resiliency to the biaxial strain, points out the excellent photocatalytic performance of the bilayer heterostructure. On top of rendering useful information on the key features of the GeC/AlN hetero-bilayer, the study offers informative details on the experimental design of the van der Walls bilayer heterostructure for solar-to-hydrogen conversion applications.
Wealth at Birth and its Effect on Child Academic Achievement
Authors: Kaestner Robert , Faundez Luis
Published: August 2023

In this article, we examine the association between family wealth and academic achievement of children ages 5 to 12. We examine whether wealth prior to birth and at ages 4 or 5 affects child achievement during two periods of childhood, ages 5 to 8 and ages 9 to 12, for a large and relatively recent cohort of children. We also examine associations between different forms of wealth (e.g., home equity) and child achievement. Finally, we assess whether wealth prior to birth mediates racial/ethnic disparities in child achievement and disparities in achievement by maternal education/ability (AFQT). Results of our analysis indicate that overall wealth, either at birth or at ages 4 or 5, has no significant or economically important effect on child achievement test scores. We find limited evidence that wealth in the form of financial assets is positively associated with achievement test scores, particularly when measured at ages 4 or 5, but effect sizes are small. Consistent with the lack of significant associations between wealth and achievement test scores, we find that wealth does not mediate racial/ethnic disparities in achievement test scores or disparities in achievement test scores by maternal education/ability (AFQT).
JEL Codes: I21, I24
Spatio-Temporal Impact of ENSO Phenomenon on Rainfall and Crops Productivity Over Arsi Zone
Authors: TULLU GEZAHEGN MERGIA , Habtegebriel Abebe Kebede
Published: August 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Triglyceride-Glucose Index as Predictor for Hypertension, CHD and STROKE Risk among non-Diabetic patients: A NHANES Cross-Sectional Study 2001-2020
Authors: Sawaf Bisher , Swed Sarya , Alibrahim Hidar , Bohsas Haidara , Dave Tirth , Nasif Mohamad Nour , Hafez Wael , Tashrifwala Fatema Ali Asgar , Jabban Yazan Khair Eldien , Al-Rassas Safwan , Saleh Heba haj , Zaidi Abdul Rehman Zia , Alghalyini Baraa , Mohamed shaymaa abdelmaboud , Mohamed Waleed Farouk , Farwati Amr , Seijari Mohammed Najdat , Battikh Naim , Robles-Velasco Karla , Cherrez-Ojeda Ivan
Published: August 2023

Background
This study aimed to investigate the association between the TyG index and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), congestive heart failure (CHF), heart attack (HA), stroke, and hypertension (HTN) among non-diabetic patients in the USA.
Methods
In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, we used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 to 2020. Our study sample comprised non-diabetic NHANES participants aged ≥ 18 years. To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index for predicting the onset of CHD, CHF, HA, stroke, and HTN, we conducted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Results
A total of 10,937 non-diabetic individuals participated in our study. Individuals with a TyG index greater than 8.96 displayed noteworthy elevations in various parameters, including BMI, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL, and Apo-B levels (p < 0.001). Additionally, 360, 359, 385, 237, and 3254 patients were found to have CHD, stroke, HA, CHF, and HTN, respectively. We evaluated the predictive ability of the TyG index for each endpoint, obtaining the following area under the curve (AUC) values: 54.75% for CHF (95% CI: 0.542–0.614), 52.32% for stroke (95% CI: 0.529–0.584), 55.67% for HA (95% CI: 0.595–0.646), 55.59% for HTN (95% CI: 0.574–0.597), and 50.31% for CHD (95% CI: 0.592–0.646) (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
The TyG index showed a strong correlation with cardiovascular risk factors in nondiabetic individuals, suggesting its potential as a predictor of cardiovascular risk. However, its use as a standalone screening tool is limited because of its low predictive value.
Effects of College Students’ Sports Tourism on Leisure Satisfaction
Authors: Cho Dongwook
Published: August 2023

Background
Leisure, sports, and tourism have been significant economic drivers for the United States of America and other countries around the world. One demographic that participates in sports tourism is the college student. Understanding the leisure satisfaction of college students who participate in sports tourism can provide a different perspective on the field.
Method
In order to analze the data, a total of 331 college students responded to the survey by utilizing the convenient sampling method. However, 91 of them were removed from the analysis because they did not have any experience of sports tourism. Thus, a total of 240 college students filled out the leisure satisfaction survey (LSS). The Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric tests were utilized to examine the demographic characteristics, pre-event research on sports tourism destinations, and visiting of local attractions on the leisure satisfaction subscales in the psychological, educational, social, relaxation, physiological, and aesthetic categories.
Results
Female students who participated in sports tourism had a significantly higher level of leisure satisfaction (p < .05) than males on the LSS educational and aesthetic subscales. Those who visited additional attractions and used additional amenities while attending a sports tourism event had a significantly higher level of leisure satisfaction (p < .05) on the LSS subscales of educational, social, relaxation, and aesthetic satisfaction compared with those who did not. Those who did research on additional attractions and amenities before attending a sports tourism event had a significantly higher level of leisure satisfaction (p < .05) on all subscales except for the physiological category when compared with those who did not do such research.
Conclusions
It is vital to understand the leisure satisfaction of a tourist experience. Sports commissions and promoters need to make sure online information on additional amenities besides the sporting event can be easily found. The study’s findings suggest that promotion of the aesthetic, social, educational, and relaxing aspects of the tourism location could be a focus. Sports commissions and promoters need to make sure online information on additional amenities besides the sporting event can be easily found.
Parkinson’s disease increases coronary artery disease risk in elderly Korean patients: a population- based study
Authors: Yoon Bora , Kim Hwa Jung
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to investigate the association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in elderly patients. Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Senior Cohort database (2002–2015), PD patients were matched with controls based on age, sex, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus (DM) in a 1:10 ratio. Incidence rates of CAD were observed, and a stratified Cox proportional-hazards regression model was utilized. The analysis included 101,838 participants (9,258 PD patients and 92,580 matched controls). The PD group showed an incidence rate of 66 per 1000 person-years, while the matched control group had 47 per 1000 person-years. After adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, and DM, the PD group exhibited an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.39 (95% confidence interval 1.34–1.45) for CAD compared to the matched controls. Subgroup analyses, stratified by age group, sex, and comorbidities, consistently revealed a significantly higher risk of CAD among PD patients than in the matched control groups. These findings suggest that PD increases the risk of CAD in Koreans, independent of age, sex, or the presence of other health conditions. making PD a potential independent risk factor for CAD.
Genome-wide Identification, characterization and evolutionary analysis of SNF1-related kinase 1 (SnRK1) and late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins gene family in Hordeum vulgare under drought stress
Authors: Maghraby Amaal , AlZalaty Mohamed
Published: August 2023

The SNF1-related kinase 1 (SnRK1) and late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins were identified, characterized and analyzed in H. vulgare. Results of qRT-PCR indicates the HvSnRK1 and HvLEA were up regulated with fold change 6.12 and 7.58, respectively under drought stress. Genome-wide analysis, were identified 13 SnRK1 and 7 LEA proteins in H. vulgare. Domain analysis confirmed the presence of the Protein kinase domain and LEA_4 on HvSnRK1 and HvLEA proteins, respectively. Motifs and genes structure analysis indicates, that genes with closer phylogenetic relationships exhibited more similar genetic structures. The most HvSnRK1 proteins were located in the cytoplasm whereas HvLEA proteins were located in the nucleus and mitochondria. 16 microRNAs were predicted against 7 HvSnRK1 genes whereas 1 microRNAs were predicted against 1 HvLEA gene. Predicted SnRK1 and LEA proteins models have a C-score range from − 0.75 and − 1.48 to -0.69 and − 0.20, respectively, which suggesting the structures of SnRK1 and LEA proteins are constructed with high accuracy. SnRK1 genes were found on chromosome 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. LEA genes were found on chromosome 1, 3 and 4. Ka/Ks ratio were indicated that the SnRK1 and LEA genes were primarily influenced by purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis were classified SnRK1 and LEA proteins into three clades for each one. Synteny analysis of SnRK1 and LEA proteins were have collinearity orthologous relationship in Z. mays. The gene ontology enrichment analysis were confirmed the functional role of SnRK1 and LEA as a stress responsive.
The impact of pre-operative cholecystostomy on laparoscopic excision of choledochal cyst in paediatric patients
Authors: Chung Patrick Ho Yu , Yeung Fanny , Ma Marco King In , Wong Kenneth Kak Yuen
Published: August 2023

Purpose This aim of this study was to identify the pre-operative risk factors for conversion during laparoscopic excision of choledochal cyst in paediatric patients.
Methods A retrospective single-centre study was carried out. All paediatric patients (<18 years) who underwent laparoscopic excision of choledochal cyst between 2004 to 2021 were reviewed. The outcome was conversion to open surgery and pre-operative factors that affected the conversion rate were analyzed.
Results Sixty-one patients were included. Conversion was required in 24 cases (39.3%). There was no difference in the conversion rate between the first (before 2012, n=30) and second (after 2012, n=31) half of the series (36.7% vs 42.0%, p=0.674). Majority was type 1 cyst (86.8%) and the median cyst size was 4.6 cm (IQR: 2.2 – 6.4 cm). Antenatal diagnosis was available in 18 patients (29.5%). The median age at operation was 23.0 months (IQR: 8.0 – 72.0 months). Pre-operatively, 19 patients (31.1%) suffered from cholangitis and 5 (8.2%) of them required cholecystostomy. Comparing patients with successful laparoscopic surgery (L) and converted cases (C), there were no differences in the age at operation (p=0.74), cyst size (p=0.35), availability of antenatal diagnosis (p=0.23) and cholangitic episodes (p=0.40). However, a higher percentage of patients required cholecystostomy in the converted group (L vs C = 2.7% vs 16.7%, p= 0.05). Using logistic regression analysis, it was also a risk factor for conversion (OR = 3.5 [1.37 – 5.21], p=0.05).
Conclusion Pre-operative cholecystostomy is associated with a higher chance of conversion during laparoscopic excision of choledochal cyst in children
Uncertainty measurement for complex event prediction in safety-critical systems
Authors: Peixoto Maria J. P. , Azim Akramul
Published: August 2023

Complex events originate from other primitive events combined according to defined patterns and rules. Instead of using specialists' manual work to compose the model rules, we use machine learning (ML) to self-define these patterns and regulations based on incoming input data to produce the desired complex event. Complex events processing (CEP) uncertainty is critical for embedded and safety-critical systems. This paper exemplifies how we can measure uncertainty for the perception and prediction of events, encompassing embedded systems that can also be critical to safety. Then, we propose an approach (ML\_CP) incorporating ML and sensitivity analysis that verifies how the output varies according to each input parameter. Furthermore, our model also measures the uncertainty associated with the predicted complex event. Therefore, we use conformal prediction to build prediction intervals, as the model itself has uncertainties, and the data has noise. Also, we tested our approach with classification (binary and multi-level) and regression problems test cases. Finally, we present and discuss our results, which are very promising within our field of research and work.
Sigma-Delta Selective Harmonic Elimination in Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverters Using FPGA-Enabled Recurrent Neural Network-Newton Raphson Algorithm
Authors: Dakka Obulesu , Patthi Sridhar , Rao JVG Rama , Kumar Parveen
Published: August 2023

Harmonics produce nonlinearity, compromising system stability. Numerical approaches are effective yet time-consuming for solving dynamic nonlinear harmonic issues. This paper suggests employing a mix of the Recurrent Neural Network and Newton-Raphson (RNN-NR) techniques to address nonlinear harmonic problems. Inspired by the brain, RNNs are powerful problem prediction and pattern modelling algorithms. RNNs are able to effectively handle newly collected inputs even in the absence of NR-based mathematical models. Harmonics can be eliminated by Sigma-Delta Selective Harmonic Elimination (SD-SHE) PWM, which is used by Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverters (CHB-MLI). SD-SHE PWM notches the cascaded multilevel inverter's output waveform at varying angles to decrease harmonics. The neural network is trained using the MATLAB RNN programme. To implement its stages, Xilinx Vivado transfers the RNN to a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The nonlinearity problem is solved when the neural network is operated on an FPGA, and the design can be easily modified to meet the requirements of different applications.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Tongue
Authors: MAHALAKSHI A. L
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue is the most common oral cancer. Most cases occur on the lateral border of the tongue and only very rarely on the dorsum. The most common type of tongue cancer is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Squamous cells are the flat, skin-like cells that cover the lining of the mouth, nose, larynx, thyroid, and throat. Squamous cell carcinoma is the name for a cancer that starts in these cells. SCCs are classified according to the location where they appear, being frequently found in the skin, head and neck, esophagus, lung, cervix, and more rarely in the pancreas, thyroid, bladder, and prostate 1. This case report highly suggests that poor nutritional status and lifestyle habits (Tobacco chewing) will have a major impact on the health status of the individual.
Case Presentation
We present the case of a 45-year aged Woman who was referred to the oncology department for the examination of an oral ulcer. The MRI -Neck Contrast report of the client reveals that Symmetry between, both sides of the tongue, and the lesion are in the anterior 2/3rd posterior, and 1/3rd and left lateral border of the tongue. Now admitted for further management of the condition. This case report explains about the oral ulcer associated with the oral intake of tobacco chewing products, is a major factor to develop oral & tongue cancer. The following investigations revealed the diagnosis of cancer tongue which is always associated with a high intake of tobacco consumption which indicates the poor lifestyle habit. LSH of tobacco consumption has developed an oral ulcer in the lateral side of the tongue developing ulcers with complaints of pain in the tongue.
Conclusion:
We herein report a Squamous cell Carcinoma of Tongue associated with Tobacco Chewing
Understanding User Intent Modeling for Conversational Recommender Systems: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Farshidi Siamak , Rezaee Kiyan , Mazaheri Sara , Rahimi Amir Hossein , Dadashzadeh Ali , Ziabakhsh Morteza , Eskandari Sadegh , Jansen Slinger
Published: August 2023

Context: User intent modeling is a crucial process in Natural Language Processing that aims to identify the underlying purpose behind a user’s request, enabling personalized responses. With a vast array of approaches introduced in the literature (over 13,000 papers in the last decade), understanding the related concepts and commonly used models in AI-based systems is essential.
Method: We conducted a systematic literature review to gather data on models typically employed in designing conversational recommender systems. From the collected data, we developed a decision model to assist researchers in selecting the most suitable models for their systems. Additionally, we performed two case studies to evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed decision model.
Results: Our study analyzed 59 distinct models and identified 74 commonly used features. We provided insights into potential model combinations, trends in model selection, quality concerns, evaluation measures, and frequently used datasets for training and evaluating these models.
Contribution: Our study contributes practical insights and a comprehensive understanding of user intent modeling, empowering the development of more effective and personalized conversational recommender systems. With the Conversational Recommender System, researchers can perform a more systematic and efficient assessment of fitting intent modeling frameworks.
The identification of signature genes and their relationship to immune cell infiltration in age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Chen Jinquan , Zhang Longbin , Luo Yiling , Jiang Yuling , Peng H
Published: August 2023

Background
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prevalent source of visual impairment among the elderly population, and its incidence has risen in tandem with the increasing longevity of humans. Despite the progress made in anti-VEGF therapy, the clinical outcomes have proven to be unsatisfactory.
Method
We obtained differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of AMD patients and healthy controls from GEO database. GO analysis and KEGG analysis were used to enrich the differential genes. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WCGNA) is used to screen modules related to AMD expression. SVM, random forest, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were used to screen hub gene. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) is used to explore the pathway through which these hub genes are enriched. CIBERSORT was used to analyze the relationship between hub gene and immune cell infiltration. Finally, West blotting and RT-PCR were used to explore the expression of Hub gene in AMD mice.
Results
We screened 1084 differential genes in GSE29801, of which 496 genes were up-regulated. 1084 differential genes were introduced into WCGNA analysis, and 94 genes related to AMD were obtained. 79 overlapping genes were obtained by VEEN plot. The 79 genes were introduced into three machine learning methods to screen the Hub gene, and the gene screened by the three methods was TNC,FAP,SREBF1,and TGF-β2. We verified their diagnostic function in GSE29801 and GSE103060 gene sets respectively. Then the pathway of hub gene co-enrichment was obtained by GO analysis and KEGG analysis. CIBERSORT analysis showed that these hub genes were associated with immune cell infiltration. Finally, we found increased expression of TNC, FAP, SREBF1, and TGF-β2 mRNA and protein in the retina of AMD mice.
Conclusion
We found that four hub genes, FAP, TGF-β2 and SREBF1,and TNC, have diagnostic significance in patients with AMD and are related to immune cell infiltration. Finally, we found up-regulated of these hub genes mRNA and protein in the retina of AMD mice.
Prevalence, risk factors, and severity of suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yang Haidong , Chen Wanming , Xu Li , Yang Man , Luan Linshu , Zhang Xiaobin
Published: August 2023

Background: Suicidal ideation is a pressing public health concern, particularly among adolescents. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with suicidal ideation in urban Chinese adolescents, addressing an important gap in current research.
Methods:This study employed an online survey to examine the demographic characteristics and mental health status of secondary school students in Lianyungang City. The assessment included the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to evaluate suicidal ideation in adolescents. Additionally, anxiety symptoms were assessed using the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, while social support was measured using the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS).
Results:Among 3443 adolescents, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was 22.1%, with a significantly higher proportion of suicidal ideation among female adolescents than males (P < 0.001). Binary regression analysis revealed that female sex (OR = 1.828, 95% CI: 1.500–2.229, P < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (OR = 9.417, 95% CI: 7.006–12.659, P < 0.001), troubled parental relationships (OR = 1.988, 95% CI: 1.587–2.492, P < 0.001), and spending more than 5 hours on electronic devices weekly (OR = 1.582, 95% CI: 1.238–2.022, P < 0.001) were identified as risk factors for suicidal ideation. Conversely, family support was found to be a protective factor against suicidal ideation (OR = 0.890, 95% CI: 0.862–0.920, P < 0.001). Furthermore, older age, higher annual household income, and spending less than 5 hours per week using electronic devices were linked to a lower severity of suicide ideation; whereas female sex and anxiety symptoms were associated with a higher severity of suicidal ideation (all P < 0.05).
Conclusions: This study highlights high adolescent suicidal ideation rates and recommends gender-specific interventions, anxiety management, family support, and addressing excessive electronic device use for improvement in well-being.
Maternal image and the mental health of left-behind children
Authors: Li Kai , Zou Xue , He yu , Yin Fang
Published: August 2023

To explore the maternal image of left-behind children (LBC) and the impact of mothers’ absence on their mental health, we randomly selected 2,623 participants (546 LBC and 2,077 non-LBC) whom we tested using the Mental Health Inventory of Middle-School Students (MMHI-60) and the Maternal Image Scale. The scores of LBC on the Positive Maternal Image Scale were significantly lower than those of non-LBC; the scores of LBC on the Negative Maternal Image Scale were significantly higher than those of non-LBC, and the mental health level of LBC was significantly lower than that of non-LBC. In addition, positive maternal image (PMI) and negative maternal image (NMI) fully mediate the time mothers spend at home and their children’s mental health. The findings indicate that as mothers spent less time at home, the maternal image of LBC became damaged; the children’s mental health also declined.
Relationship of Central Corneal Thickness and Central Corneal Epithelial Thickness with Anthropoemetric and Biochemical Data in Individuals with Impaired Glucose Metabolism
Authors: Boyacı İhsan , Demirci Göktuğ
Published: August 2023

Background Measure central corneal thickness (CCT) and central corneal epithelial thickness (CCET) with anterior segment-optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in individuals with impaired glucose metabolism and to analyze, the effect of impaired glucose metabolism on the cornea.Methods 140 eyes of 70 participants, including 20 healthy controls, 17 insulin resistant, and 33 prediabetic, were evaluated by AS-OCT. Glucose metabolism was examined using a 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Anthropoemetric measurements, physical examinations, and blood pressure were recorded of all participants. The biochemical parameters were studied.Results The mean age of the participants was 37.93 ± 12.30 years, and the mean HbA1c was 5.50 ± 0.38%. CCET measurements were significantly different and higher in the prediabetic group (p < 0.01). A significant positive correlation was found between both CCETR and CCETL and age, HbA1c, and fasting plasma glucose (p < 0.05). There was found a significant positive correlation was found between CCETR and total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (p < 0.05). Anthropoemetric parameters were significantly different in prediabetics (p˂0.001 and p˂0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between body fat percentage and CCT (p˂0.05). CCET showed a significant positive correlation with neck circumference (p < 0.05).Conclusions It may be suggested that impaired metabolic processes during prediabetes may affect CCET. We believe that prediabetes detection should not be limited to HbA1c and OGTT; A multifactorial algorithm could be developed. AS-OCT may be an easily accessible and useful tool for the early diagnosis of prediabetes.