bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacterial Vaccines with Regulated Delayed Attenuation
Authors: Platonov M. E. , Lipatnikova N. A. , Dentovskaya S. V. , Anisimov A. P.
Published: April 2024

Over the past 200 years since the moment of E. Jenner’s discovery, vaccination continues to be the leading strategy for protection against infectious diseases, but commercially available live attenuated and inactivated vaccines have a number of serious drawbacks. Bacterial strains should be completely attenuated in live vaccines, while maintaining a high degree of immunogenicity. However, the majority of attenuation methods currently used makes potential vaccine strains more susceptible to the action of various host defenses, reducing the ability to persist in the body of the vaccinated individual in quantities and for periods sufficient for formation of long-term and intense immunity. Inactivation of microorganisms underlying the production of killed vaccines, applying various reagents and /or physical factors, can disrupt the native conformation of antigenic epitopes located on bacterial cell surface, which leads to a decrease in immunogenicity. This review examines a promising biotechnological platform for the development of vaccines based on the methodology of regulated delayed gene expression and repression of genes, which was developed to resolve the above-mentioned contradictions.
Epidemiological Situation on Cholera in the Russian Federation in 2023 and Forecast for 2024
Authors: Popova A. Yu. , Noskov A. K. , Ezhlova E. B. , Kruglikov V. D. , Monakhova E. V. , Chemisova O. S. , Lopatin A. A. , Ivanova S. M. , Podoynitsyna O. A. , Vodop’yanov A. S. , Levchenko D. A. , Savina I. V.
Published: April 2024

The paper presents an analysis and assessment of risks of complication of epidemiological situation regarding cholera in the Russian Federation and a forecast for 2024. It briefly characterizes the dynamics of the epidemic process around the world during the last decade (2013–2022). The forecast of cholera importation into the Russian Federation, due to activity of the epidemic process in endemic countries, has been confirmed. In 2023, two cases of cholera importation from India were reported. It was established that the toxigenic strains isolated from patients belonged to the currently dominant in the world “post-Haitian” group, including in India and Bangladesh, with the genotype ctxB7 tcpACIRS rtxA4a VSP-IIΔ0495-0512. Furthermore, non-toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 strains were isolated from samples of biological material from persons arriving from India, containing preCTX prophage and distinct from the strain (ctxAB– tcpAEТ–) isolated from a patient with acute intestinal infection (Zaporozhye Region, Melitopol). Nontoxigenic NAG vibrios were isolated from 13 patients with acute intestinal infections, which is 1.9 times more than in 2022. Regardless of importations, a strain of V. cholerae O1 (ctxB1+tcpAEТ) of the “pre-Haitian” group was isolated from a water sample of a surface reservoir. 52 non-toxigenic V. сholerae O1 strains were found on the territory of 11 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which is 18.9 % more than in 2022. In 2024, epidemiological risks of cholera importation from endemic countries to any administrative territory of the Russian Federation remain. The risks of epidemic manifestations of cholera are especially high in the territories of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation which are under ongoing emergency, due to migration processes, and the impact of other risk-forming factors that contribute to an increase in the degree of contact of the population with water bodies contaminated with cholera vibrios. If epidemic foci of cholera are to emerge in a neighboring country, there will be a high probability of spread of this infection in the stated constituent entities of the Russian Federation and in other territories of southern Russia. In the absence of epidemic manifestations of cholera, the possibility of occasional detection of toxigenic O1 serogroup strains in water samples due to unidentified introductions from cholera-affected areas cannot be ruled out.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury After Retrograde Nailing of Periprosthetic Distal Femur Fractures
Authors: Martinez Frank A. , Yuan Brandon J.
Published: April 2024

Case:

A 51-year-old man and 64-year-old woman with bilateral cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasties (CR-TKAs) who sustained unilateral periprosthetic distal femur fractures above their CR-TKA and experienced knee instability secondary to an iatrogenic posterior-cruciate-ligament (posterior cruciate ligament [PCL]) injury from retrograde intramedullary nailing. Both patients recovered knee stability after undergoing revision surgery.

Conclusion:

Many CR-TKA designs have sufficient medial-lateral intercondylar distance to place a retrograde nail, femoral components with a relatively posterior transition from the trochlear groove to the intercondylar box will necessitate a nail starting point closer to the PCL origin. This may contribute to iatrogenic postoperative knee instability for patients with CR-TKA designs.
A re-evaluation of how well each country is doing in terms of achieving the SDGs: An objective approach based on multi-criteria-decision-analysis
Authors: Yavuz Selahattin , Esen Şefika Betül
Published: April 2024

Adopting Agenda 2030, the UN issued a set of sustainable development report consisting of 17 goals. The indices created by these goals are beneficial in defining the position of a particular country across the years; however, it is relatively complex to compare its position to other countries. This is not just because it requires an extensive analysis but also because the weight of each goal must be different. It is hard to determine which goal is more important than the others, as it differs from one specialist to another. Then how should we determine the goal weights without falling into the trap of subjective suggestions? That is our question for this research paper. Therefore, we use the multiple-criteria decision-making approach (MCDM) in order to characterise each country's position more accurately. Doing so, we get diverse weights instead of just using the SDGs' arithmetical averages. Therefore, our findings show slightly different rankings than the UN’s SDG report 2022.
A Sealability Study on Bismuth-Tin Alloys for Plugging and Abandonment of Wells
Authors: Hmadeh Lewaa , Manataki Andriani , Jaculli Marcelo Anunciação , Elahifar Behzad , Sangesland Sigbjørn
Published: April 2024

The use of bismuth alloys as a barrier material for plugging and abandonment (P&A) has gained traction in the literature due to the large number of wells scheduled to be plugged and abandoned. In addition, many questions have been raised regarding the sealing efficiency of cement in the long run. Within this context, this work performs a thorough study of the sealability of plugs made with the eutectic bismuth-tin alloy. This effort is divided into three fronts: laboratory tests to verify the pressure resistance and leakage rate of these plugs, microscopy analyses to corroborate the tests’ insights through observations of the alloy microstructure, and numerical simulations to capture and model the involved phenomena aiming to reproduce real well scenarios in the future. Results show that bismuth-tin plugs exhibit better pressure resistance and lesser leakage rates than cement plugs, which indicates that this material is a suitable candidate. Better sealing properties are achieved when the plugs are set under higher curing pressures than the atmospheric pressure, an observation that is confirmed when observing the microstructures formed. Finally, a suitable material model that captures the expansion upon solidification is proposed, and the effect of thermal expansion on the plug and pipe assembly is observed.
A New Generalized Truncated K–series Fractional Derivative
Authors: LEMNAOUAR Mohamed Reda , LOUARTASSI Younes , ZINE Rabie , Sousa J. Vanterler da C.
Published: April 2024

This paper proposes a new fractional derivative denoted by K–Fractional Truncated Derivative (K–FTD). K–FTD generalizes several existing fractional derivatives found in the literature including the conformable derivative, the truncated alternating derivative, the truncated M-fractional derivative, and the truncated M- series fractional derivative. Furthermore, it also satisfies the same properties of ordinary derivatives, such as linearity, product rule, and chain rule. In this respect, some classical results of the ordinary derivative such as Rolle’s theorem and the mean value theorem are extended. Then, the K–fractional integral is introduced, and the truncated K–fractional derivative, as well as the fractional integral of some orders α ∈ (n; n + 1], are defined. Finally, analytical solutions have been obtained for some differential and partial differential equations of fractional order α ∈ (0; 1] to demonstrate the described approach.
Laparoscopic and Endoscopic cooperative surgery as Rescue-treatment for Advanced gastric Cancer in patients Unfit for Surgery (LE-RACUS): protocol for a phase 1 clinical study
Authors: Maltzman Henrik , Omae Masami , Klevebro Fredrik , Baldaque-Silva Francisco , Rouvelas Ioannis
Published: April 2024

Background
The standard treatment for advanced gastric cancer without metastasis is gastrectomy in combination with chemotherapy. Some patients cannot tolerate such treatment because of old age or comorbidities. In this study, we want to test the feasibility of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Cooperative Surgery (LECS) as a less invasive treatment option. In LECS, the tumor margin is marked endoscopically followed by surgical removal under endoscopic guidance. Currently, LECS is primarily used in Asian countries as a treatment for gastrointestinal stromal cell tumors.
Methods
The study will be conducted as a prospective single-center, phase 1 trial. The primary objective will be the safety of LECS, defined as Clavien-Dindo score ≥ III. The secondary objectives will be any complications, postoperative bleeding/perforation, operation time, radicality, mortality, hospital stay, and health-related quality of life.
The inclusion criteria will be patients with gastric cancer cT2-T4aN0M0, Borrman type 1-2 < 5 cm, or type 3 < 2 cm that the tumor board assesses as not fit for gastrectomy. Exclusion criteria will be Borrman type 4 and lesions in the cardia. The patients will be followed up with an outpatient appointment 30 days after the procedure.
Discussion
LECS is a promising treatment option for patients with gastric cancer who cannot tolerate gastrectomy. Compared to gastrectomy, LECS is a less invasive procedure with a documented low complication rate. No previous prospective studies have been conducted to evaluate LECS for advanced gastric cancer.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06105515. Registered 23 October 2023
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06105515?cond=Gastric%20Cancer&term=NCT06105515&aggFilters=status:not%20rec&rank=1
Artificial neural network-based automatic detection of food intake via heart rate variability signal
Authors: Ali M. Khawar , Zhou Tong , Guo Lei , Lin Qi , Chen Jiande DZ
Published: April 2024

Intestinal electrical stimulation (IES) and vagus nerve stimulation have been proposed for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. The treatment can be improved if the stimulations are applied immediately after the food intake. The purpose of this study was to develop and enhance the automated food intake detection system using dynamic analysis of heart rate variability via artificial neural network (ANN). The ECG signal was recorded from 34 healthy subjects for 20 min each during following four events: sitting silently, reading, watching emotional movie, intaking food. The HRV parameters were generated from the recorded ECG signal and used to train and test as well as to optimize the ANN for the detection of food intake event. The results of Leave One Subject Out-Leave One Out (LOSO-LOO) with linear, tanh and ReLU were compared in the first step. The best ANN was tested for optimization by removing the input HRV parameters with mutual information score of less than 0.01 and with a decreased number of neurons in the hidden layer. LOSO-LOO, Leave One Subject Out (LOSO), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) algorithms were also compared to identify the best ANN for automatic detection of food intake. The results indicated that (i) tanh algorithm outperformed both the linear and ReLU algorithms. (ii) Removing the input features with low mutual information score (<0.01) increased the performance of the ANN. (iii) The performance of ANN improved further by decreasing the number of neurons in the hidden layer from 10 to 8. (iv) LOSO outperformed both SVM and RF methods. However, LOSO-LOO was even better than LOSO in terms of sensitivity. In conclusion, the ANN using LOSO-LOO with 8 neurons in the hidden layer and 11 HRV features can be used to effectively detect food intake and may be used in a real-time IES system for treating obesity and diabetes.
Quantum Geometry in Hexagonal Circuit QED Lattice with Triple-leg Stripline Resonators
Authors: Moon Kyungsun , Kim Dongmin , Rhim Jun-Won
Published: April 2024

In this study, we investigate various geometric aspects of a photonic hexagonal lattice made of triple-leg stripline resonators (TSRs) in a circuit QED system.
The inherent two-fold degenerate spatial modes of the TSR act as two distinct orbitals in our 2D lattice system.
Remarkably the energy spectra of the system exhibits the dispersive quadratic band-touching to the top and bottom flat bands.
Our analysis reveals how the system harnesses destructive interference to establish flat bands via stabilized compact localized states (CLSs).
We further explore the real-space topology corresponding to the flat bands by finding proper non-contractible loop states (NLSs).
Additionally, in a zigzag-structured hexagonal lattice, we demonstrate the induction of topological flat edge modes at zero energy by analyzing the Zak phase.
We also elucidate the quantum geometric origin of other dispersive edge bands that arise from the singular point of the flat band.
Assessment of the impact of the Three Gorges Project on the ecosystem service value
Authors: LIU QIANXI , Liu Di , Zhang Conglin
Published: April 2024

The investigation into the impact of the Three Gorges Project on ecosystem services is crucial for ecological conservation, sustainable developmen and ecological management decisions. While numerous studies have focused on assessing the current state of regional ecosystem services, there remains a gap in research related to simulating the spatiotemporal changes and impact pathways. The objective of this paper is to uncover the direct and indirect impact pathways of ecosystem service value (ESV) in the reservoir area altered by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam project, by using the structural equation model (SEM) method. Additionally, this study aims to identify spatial and temporal changes in ecosystem service relationships over the 30 years before and after the dam's construction, utilizing self-organizing maps (SOM). The results of the study reveal that land use and land cover (LULC) factors predominantly exert direct negative effects on ESV. In comparison, socioeconomic development (ECO) and meteorological development (MET) factors have a nuanced impact on ESV, with MET factors exhibiting the strongest positive effect on ESV through the pathway MET → LULC → ESV. Furthermore, the application of SOM indicates that between 1990 and 2020, the patterns of ecosystem service bundles were spatially heterogeneous. Additionally, trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem service bundles are relevant to hydrological regulation services. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of how various factors interact and influence ESV through multiple pathways. The intricate relationships among ecosystem services highlighted in the study are valuable for guiding ecological management at various scales.
Kallistatin enhances the phagocytic function of macrophages by decreasing the expression of CD24 in gastric cancer cells via the HIF-1α signaling pathway
Authors: Huang Wei , Qu Gaowen , Liang Min , Xiao Yao , Jiang Zhaojun , Lin Mingzhen , Deng Zihao , Li Weiyi , Qiu Yezhenghong , Yao Wenxia , Yu Guifang , Zhou Xinke , Ma Caiqi
Published: April 2024

Gastric cancer, the most frequently diagnosed type of primary cancers, is associated with a high mortality rate, and imposes a significant burden on patients and society. Recent studies have found that the kallikrein-binding protein kallistatin (KS) is involved in cancer progression. However, the effects of KS on macrophages in the immune microenvironment of gastric cancer remains elusive. In the present study, we found that overexpression of KS could enhance macrophages to engulf gastric cells in vitro. We also identified that, through immunohistochemical analysis, there was an increase in CD24 expression in gastric cancer, which was associated with unfavorable prognoses. Next, it was revealed that KS overexpression could downregulate the expression of CD24 by Sanger sequencing. In vitro experiments revealed that KS overexpression resulted in the inhibition of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α signaling pathway, as well as decreased expression of CD24. HIF-1α downregulation also decreased the transcription and expression of CD24 in vitro, with a magnitude similar to that seen upon KS overexpression. Furthermore, activation of AKT-HIF-1α reversed the inhibitory effect of KS overexpression, restoring the transcription and expression of CD24. Collectively, KS decreases CD24 expression via the AKT-HIF-1α pathway, altering the anti-phagocytic pattern of gastric cancer cells towards tumor-associated macrophages and strengthening innate immunity, thereby influencing the prognosis of gastric cancer. In summary, our findings have identified KS as a novel factor in the pathway that reduces CD24 expression, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in tumor immune evasion and supplying a potential drug for gastric cancer immunotherapy.
The Salicylic Acid and Jasmonic Acid-mediated Different Fate of Nickel Phytoremediation in Two Populations of Alyssum inflatum Nyár
Authors: Modarresi Masoud , Karimi Naser , Chaichi Mehrdad , Chahardoli Azam , Najafi-Kakavand Shiva
Published: April 2024

The availability of nickel (Ni) in root environment and its absorption by plants is a serious concern for plant products and human health. In stressful conditions, phytohormones such as salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) play an essential role in modulating the physio-biochemical processes of plants. The current study was conducted to investigate Ni phytoremediation and accumulation potential in the presence of SA (0, 50 and 200 µM) and JA (0, 5 and 10 µM) in two populations of Alyssum inflatum, as a Ni-hyperaccumulator plant, under various Ni doses (0, 100 and 400 µM). Accordingly, by measuring Ni levels in shoot and root, values of bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC), biological concentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) were calculated to quantify Ni accumulation and translocation between plant organs. Furthermore, the amount of histidine (His), citric acid (CA) and malic acid (MA) as important chelators of Ni in shoots and roots were explored. The results displayed that plant mass and chlorophyll content declined in plants under high Ni concentration, while the amount of MA, CA and His increased. However, SA and JA moderated the harmful impact of Ni on physiological parameters and reduced organic acids and His contents in both populations. The values of phytoremediation indexes in both populations exposed to Ni (400 µM) were above one. In presence of the SA and JA, a decreasing trend was observed in these indexes. Overall, the results indicated that SA and JA could reduce phytoremediation potential in the two populations through different mechanisms.
Clinical application of the caudal-to-dorsal priority combined with cephalic approach in laparoscopic radical resection of right colon cancer
Authors: TengTeng Li , Xu Sun , HaiXiao Fu , Kai Wang , Wei Fu , Zhang Xuan
Published: April 2024

Objective The objective of this study is to examine the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic total colonic mesenteric resection for radical right hemicolectomy, utilizing a caudal-to-dorsal priority access approach in combination with a cephalic approach.Methods This study aims to conduct a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 56 patients diagnosed with right hemi-colon cancer, who underwent radical right hemi-colon resection through laparoscopic total colonic mesenteric resection with caudal-to-dorsal priority, combined with cephalic approach, between January 2021 and June 2022.Results All 56 cases were completed without any instances of open surgery. The average operative time was (153.8 ± 42.5) minutes, with an average intraoperative bleeding of (53.3 ± 21.3) mL. The average time to first gas after surgery was (58.3 ± 13.6) hours, while the average time to return to a liquid diet was (68.5 ± 19.6) hours. The average postoperative hospital stay was (6.1 ± 3.0) days. Following surgery, two cases of lymphatic fistula and one case of anastomotic bleeding were reported. Following conservative treatment, all cases were cured, and no perioperative deaths were reported. Post-operative pathological results indicated that all cases were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, with an average of 20.1 ± 5.9 lymph nodes cleared. Tumor staging revealed 8 cases in stage I, 19 cases in stage IIA, 11 cases in stage IIB, 12 cases in stage IIIA, and 6 cases in stage IIIB. During the 12-month postoperative follow-up, no instances of recurrence, metastasis, or death were observed.Conclusions The utilization of a caudal-to-dorsal priority in conjunction with a cephalic approach during laparoscopic radical resection of right hemicolectomy is a secure and viable method that aligns with the fundamental principles of radical oncology. This technique can aid in reducing the learning curve for surgeons performing laparoscopic right hemicolectomy and in guaranteeing surgical safety.
A fast and effective stiffness prediction method for Short Fiber Reinforced Composites with skin-core structure
Authors: Zhao Runtian , Wang Zhihui , Li Xiaodong , Gao Haifeng , Wu Ting , Li Yinhui , Liu Jianglin , Chen Zhanchun , Feng Jun , Liang Jianguo
Published: April 2024

The extrusion procedure used to manufacture Short Fiber Reinforced Composites (SFRCs) results in significant anisotropy in the components due to the skin-core structure. While there are existing accurate stiffness prediction methods available, there is still a need in engineering for an efficient and cost-effective prediction method. This work proposes an efficient, low-cost and effective stiffness prediction method for skin-core structure using the orientation averaging method and series-parallel model. Initially, the sample underwent analysis using industrial CT and metallographic microscopy to ascertain the fiber characteristics and skin-core dimensions. Furthermore, it is presumed that the skin and core are distinct materials, and their stiffness is determined using the orientation averaging method. Finally, the stiffness of the sample was determined by employing a series-parallel model for analyzing stress-strain transmission, which involved merging the skin and core components. Experimental and finite element results confirm the method's accuracy, boasting a calculation time of 31.36 seconds and a maximum stiffness error below 10%. This method is expected to be applied to automotive, construction, and other engineering fields to meet the demand for fast, cost-efficient, and effective stiffness prediction of SFRCs.
Changes of fatty acid metabolism in FA 26:0, FA 22:2 and FA 24:1 are associated with leukoaraiosis in the elderly
Authors: Song Yige , Lin Feng , Cao Hongli , Song Wangting , Liao Fengye , Deng Yanping , Wu Ning , Hong Weimin , Fat Tin Agassi Sze , Chen Xianyang
Published: April 2024

Background:
Cerebrovascular diseases in the elderly are associated with abnormal lipids metabolism. Although cerebral small vascular disease like Leukoaraiosis (LA) is reported to be common among the elderly with occurrence and progression of neurological disease, there are no effective treatments and even biomarkers screening for LA due to the limited understanding of its biochemical processes. Here, we employ untargeted and targeted lipidomic strategies to provide insights into LA onset associated with lipid disturbance.
Results:
A total of 122 participants were recruited, following exclusion criteria and propensity score matching, the final cohort consisted of 16 LA patients and 18 control subjects (CK). Untargeted lipid profiling identified 50 significantly different metabolites between LA and CK groups. Pathway enrichment and structural equation modeling demonstrated that fatty acid (FA) metabolism had significant impacts on LA onset. Compared with CK group, targeted free fatty acid (FFA) profiling revealed a significant decrease of FA C22:2 as well as FA 24:1 and increase of FA 26:0 in LA group, which were proved as potential biomarkers by logistic regression and decision curve models. WGCNA coupling with correlation analysis unveiled FA 26:0 mainly came out of ceramide (18:1/26:0), and FA 24:1 was initiated from phosphatidylcholine hub-transformed by lysophosphatidic acid (20:5), and FA 22:2 was mainly generated through glycerolipid.
Conclusion:
Our results demonstrated potential FFA biomarkers for LA screening, and illuminated preliminary metabolism process from lipid disturbance to FFAs alternation in LA patients, implying regulation of FA 26:0, FA 22:2 and FA 24:1 constituting in-depth mechanism for further studies of LA.
Role of PPAR modulators on seizure control and neurobehavior in status epilepticus model in rats
Authors: Sinha Surabhi , Sarangi Sudhir Chandra , Sharma Deeksha , Pattnaik Soumya Sucharita , Arora Ankit , Nag Tapas Chandra , Nambirajan Aruna , Tripathi Manjari
Published: April 2024

This study explored the impact of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor modulators (PPAR-m) on seizure control and epileptogenesis in a lithium-pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) model in Wistar rats. Following optimal dose determination, the effects of fenofibrate, pemafibrate, and saroglitazar alone and with antiseizure medications were examined, including seizure evaluation and neurobiological assessments on day-21 post-SE induction. The optimal doses found for fenofibrate, pemafibrate, and saroglitazar were 200, 1.5, and 3 mg/kg, respectively. Drug-treated groups exhibited improved seizure control, memory-impairment attenuation, reduced neurodegeneration, astrocyte activation, myelin, and axonal damage, along with elevated protein (PPAR-α and HMGCS2) expression, and lower levels of epileptogenesis markers compared to SE-control (p<0.001). Perampanel+PPAR-m and fenofibrate+valproate exerted improved seizure control, lesser neurodegeneration, reactive astrocytes, and higher HMGCS2 protein expression compared to ASMs alone. PPAR-m adjuvant therapy with valproate and perampanel has significant seizure control and neuroprotective potential as compared to ASM alone treatment in SE.
Assessing the impact of apnea duration on the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and hearing loss
Authors: Jo Yong Seok , Lee Jeon Mi
Published: April 2024

The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and hearing loss (HL) remains uncertain. We examined this association by retrospectively reviewing 90 patients diagnosed with OSA who underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) and pure-tone audiometry. Patients with OSA were compared with non-OSA individuals, identified via the STOP-BANG questionnaire (SBQ) and age-sex 1:1 matching. The results indicated elevated hearing thresholds across all frequencies in the OSA group. Further categorization of patients with OSA into HL and non-HL groups revealed a significant increase in apnea duration in the HL group for all-frequency and high-frequency cases (p=0.038, 0.006). Multiple linear regression, adjusting for age and sex, revealed a significant influence of apnea duration on HL in both all-frequency and high-frequency cases (ß=0.404, p=0.002; ß=0.425, p=0.001). These findings underscore the reduced auditory function in patients with OSA and highlight the potential of apnea duration as a marker of chronic hypoxic damage linked to OSA.
Tackling Misinformation in Mobile Social Networks A BERT- LSTM Approach for Enhancing Digital Literacy
Authors: Wang Jun , 王 俊 , Yu Airong
Published: April 2024

The rapid fusion of mobile Internet with the media industry has exponentially accelerated the production and dissemination of misinformation, significantly impacting society. Mobile social networks, in particular, act as fertile grounds for the rapid spread of false news, demanding innovative oversight mechanisms to mitigate this digital epidemic. Our study introduces a robust detection model for false news in mobile social networks, leveraging the synergistic capabilities of Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. BERT's prowess in contextual word vector extraction, combined with LSTM's sequential data processing strength, provides a nuanced understanding of news content authenticity. We present empirical evidence showcasing the superior performance of our model, which outstrips conventional classifiers like random forest and logistic regression, with an impressive accuracy of 93.51%, recall of 91.96%, and an F1 score of 92.73%. Beyond mere detection, our approach advocates for the empowerment of users, fostering enhanced digital literacy through the development of critical skills necessary to discern credible information. By integrating BERT and LSTM, our model not only effectively flags misinformation but also serves as an educational tool, guiding users towards informed decision-making in the realm of mobile social networks. This research underscores the pivotal role of advanced computational techniques in the fight against misinformation, spotlighting the transformative potential of AI in bolstering digital literacy in an era inundated with ambiguous information.
Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide is independently associated with cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Hayashida Hiroyuki , Haruyama Naoki , Fukui Akiko , Yoshitomi Ryota , Fujisawa Hironobu , Nakayama Masaru
Published: April 2024

The association between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality have not been well characterized in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We prospectively investigated whether BNP was associated with CV events or mortality beyond cardiac alterations in 1,078 patients with CKD. Participants were divided into the following 3 groups according to circulating BNP concentration: <40 pg/mL, low; 40–100 pg/mL, middle; and > 100 pg/mL, high. Primary outcome was fatal or nonfatal CV events, and alternative outcome was a composite of fatal or nonfatal CV events, or non-CV deaths. During a median follow-up of 2.6 years, CV and composite events occurred in 158 and 248 participants, respectively. Cox analyses after adjustment for covariates, including cardiac parameters, showed that the hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for CV events of middle and high groups were 0.99 (0.62, 1.57) and 1.68 (1.03, 2.74), respectively, compared with low group. Additionally, similar results were obtained for composite events; the HRs (95% CIs) of middle and high groups were 1.12 (0.78, 1.61) and 1.53 (1.03, 2.28), respectively, compared with low group. Thus, in CKD, high BNP concentrations were independently associated with CV events and mortality, independent of cardiac alterations.
The evolution of spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall erosivity in Henan Province, central China
Authors: Sheng-feng WANG , Xin-miao XU , Long-wei LEI
Published: April 2024

With the development of urbanisation, arable land has been drastically reduced and soil has been eroded, which has a negative impact on the food economy and agricultural development in some areas. Henan Province covers four basins, the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Huaihe River, and the Haihe River, with complex water conditions, and is a key agricultural region in China. Therefore, this paper uses 53 years of day-by-day rainfall data from 1969–2022 at 112 rainfall stations in Henan Province, and adopts the Zhang Wenbo erosivity model and the rainfall erosivity model of the First National Water Conservancy Census to calculate the erosive power of rainfall and combines with the multi-year The average rainfall was analysed using the Kriging interpolation method in the Geostatistical Wizard of ArcGIS, and the corresponding spatial distribution maps of rainfall and rainfall erosive force were derived. Wavelets and Mann-Kendall were used to analyse the fact of sudden changes, trends and cycles of rainfall and rainfall erosivity in the study area. Theresults show that the average rainfall (1969–2022) in Henan province is 718.26 mm, and the average rainfall erosivity (R) is 3213.46 MJ·mm/(hm2·h). R values are positively correlated with rainfall intensity and amounts, and show an upward trend year by year. The spatial distribution of R shows a gradual increase from northwest to southeast, which is closely related to the topography. There is a cyclic change in the rainfall in the study area, with the first primary cycle being the first cycle in every 53 years. The results of the study can be useful for other regions in central China.
The carpal tunnel syndrome caused by Arthrinium phaeospermum infection: first case report and literature review
Authors: Li Miaozhong , Li Yuning , Xueyuan Li
Published: April 2024

Background: The carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) caused by atypical infectious is a therapeutic and diagnostic challenge. Because non-specific clinical presentation often result in misdiagnosis and incorrect therapy, failing to elicit an accurate exposure.
Case presentation: This article reports a case of deep infection leading to CTS manifestations. A male patient was admitted for numbness and pain of the left hand. Left carpal tunnel release, median nerve decompression, synovectomy of the carpal tunnel were performed. Inflamed synovium and effusion were submitted for bacterial culture and metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS). The causing pathogen was identified as Arthrinium phaeospermum and the patient recovered after surgical debridement and 10 months of antimicrobial therapy.
Conclusions: Diagnosis of fungi infection of the hand is challenging as the presentation mimics other conditions without much histological findings. NGS is proposed of great importance adjunctive diagnostic approach for identifying atypical infectious quickly.
3D-printed Patient-Specific Implants made of Polylactide (PLDLLA) and β-Tricalcium Phosphate (β-TCP) for Corrective Osteotomies of The Distal Radius
Authors: Jakimiuk Adam , Maintz Michaela , Müller-Gerbl Magdalena , Thieringer Florian M. , Keller Marco , Guebeli Alissa , Honigmann Philipp
Published: April 2024

The most common surgical procedure to manage the malunion of the bones is corrective osteotomy. The current gold standard for securing the bone segments after osteotomy is the use of titanium plates and allografts which has disadvantages such as possible allergic reaction, additional operations such as extraction of the graft from other sites and removal operation. The utilization of resorbable materials presents an opportunity to mitigate these drawbacks, but has not yet been thoroughly researched in literature. This study assesses viability of using biodegradable, 3D-printed patient-specific implants made of Poly(-L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) (PLDLLA) and β-Tricalcium Phosphate (β-TCP) as an alternative material in an in-vitro biomechanical study involving ex vivo biomechanical compression testing, biodegradation testing, and calorimetric measurements.. These implants possess a unique shape, resembling a wedge and are fixated as a connection between the osteotomized bone using resorbable screws. Following point-of-care virtual planning, bio-mechanical compressive tests with (n = 5) ex vivo radii equipped with PLDLLA/ β-TCP implants were performed to prove sufficient stability of the connection. All PLDLLA/ β-TCP implants withstood a compressive force of at least 1’211 N which exceeds the maximum force reported in literature in case of a fall from the height of 1 m. Furthermore, the results showed a consistent surface chemistry and slow degradation rate. The outcomes are encouraging, establishing the groundwork for an innovative distal radius corrective osteotomy surgical method. However, further research is necessary to thoroughly evaluate the long-term biodegradability and mechanical efficacy of the implants.
Effect of packaging on tourism perception in drug tourism: moderating effect of anti-drug information
Authors: Shim Jimin , Lee Won Seok , Moon Joonho
Published: April 2024

The aim of this research is to scrutinize the behavioral characteristics of tourists who engage in drug tourism. This research explores the relationships among packaging, antidrug information, attitudes, and behavioral intentions in the domain of drug tourism. This research employed antidrug information as the moderating variable. This research collected the data using a survey via the clickworker platform. The number of valid observations was 200. To test the research hypotheses, this work implemented the Hayes process macro Model 7. The results showed that packaging positively impacts both attitudes and behavioral intentions. Additionally, antidrug information significantly moderates the association between packaging and attitude. Moreover, attitude exerts a positive effect on behavioral intention. This research sheds light on the literature by presenting the behavioral characteristics of tourists in the case of drug tourism. Additionally, the practical implications of this work are discussed.
Prediction model for weight control experience in Korean men with obesity in their 30s and 40s
Authors: Han Myeunghee
Published: April 2024

Background
Obesity is an abnormal and potentially dangerous condition caused by excess body fat accumulation. The number of people with obesity is increasing worldwide. Obesity is the primary cause of various diseases; therefore, it is crucial to make efforts to control and maintain a healthy body weight. Identifying the factors that influence men with obesity to attempt to control and not control their weight is essential. The objective of this study was to create a prediction model for weight control experience among Korean men in their 30s and 40s.
Methods
We analyzed data from the 2022 Community Health Survey and included 12,311 men who were overweight or obese. The men were divided into two groups based on their weight control experience: 1) Yes group (n = 9,405) and 2) No group (n = 2,906). Chi-square and independent t-tests were used to compare general and health-related characteristics between the groups. Decision tree analysis was used to build a prediction model for weight control experience. A split-sample test was conducted to validate the model.
Results
Several predictive models were generated based on the total number of participants, age, and body mass index as the first separating factors. The major factors affecting weight control among men with obesity in their 30s and 40s in Korea include subjective body shape, age, body mass index, education level, completion of hypertension management education, awareness of blood glucose levels, and smoking status. Subjective body shape was confirmed to significantly affect weight control experience.
Conclusions
It is necessary to support individuals in maintaining and managing an ideal weight by promoting a desirable perception of their body shape. In addition, there is an urgent need to provide obesity prevention and management education to those who have no weight control experience, particularly those at high risk, as identified in this study.
Operative Treatment of Isolated Epiphyseal Fracture of The Distal Fibula：1 Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Jiang Zhongbo , Yue Liang , Wang Deheng , Liang Yanchen , Jing Cheng , Guo Yanbo
Published: April 2024

Ankle injuries are the most common pediatric injury. Ankle epiphyseal fractures are also common in children, but isolated distal epiphyseal fibular fractures of the distal fibula are clinically rare. We describe one unusual case of an adolescent with a completely displaced Salter-Harris type II distal fibular epiphyseal fracture. The attempt of closed reduction failed, and the patient required open reduction and internal fixation. The localized periosteum and the superior peroneal retinaculum were avulsed from the distal fibular metaphysis, with the peroneal tendons underneath exposed but no obvious subluxation. To the best of our knowledge, this combination of injuries has not been previously reported.
Rifabutin loaded Inhalable β-glucan micro particle based drug delivery system for pulmonary TB
Authors: Ahmad Firoz , Ahmad Shad , Upadhyay Tarun Kumar , Sharma Deepak , Singh Sanjay , Khubaib Mohd , Singh Jyotsna , Saeed Mohd , Ahmad Irfan , Sharma Rolee
Published: April 2024

Inhalable micro particle-based anti TB drug delivery systems are being investigated extensively for Tuberculosis [TB] treatment as they offer efficient and deep lung deposition with several advantages over conventional routes. It can reduce the drug dose, treatment duration and toxic effects and optimize the drug bioavailability. Yeast derived β-glucan is a β-[1–3/1–6] linked biocompatible polymer and used as carrier for various biomolecules. Due to presence of glucan chains, particulate glucans act as PAMP and thereby gets internalized by receptor mediated phagocytosis by phagocytes including macrophages. In this study, β-glucan microparticles were prepared by adding l-leucine as excipient, and exhibited 70% drug [Rifabutin] loading efficiency. Further, the sizing and SEM data of particles revealed a size of 2–4 µm with spherical dimensions. The FTIR and HPLC data confirmed the glucan composition of particles. The mass median aerodynamic diameter [MMAD] and Gravitational standard deviation [GSD] data indicated that these particles are inhalable in nature and have better thermal stability as per DSC thermogram. These particles were found to be non-toxic upto a concentration of 80µg/ml and are readily phagocytosed by macrophage cells in vitro as well as in vivo by alveolar macrophage. This study provides a framework for future design of inhalable β-glucan based drug carriers as a host-directed, targeted drug delivery system against Pulmonary TB.
Completed genome and emergence scenario of the multidrug-resistant nosocomial opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis ST215
Authors: Widerström Micael , Kellgren Therese , Dwibedi Chinmay , Sundell David , Öhrman Caroline , Sjödin Andreas , Monsen Tor , Rydén Patrik , Johansson Anders
Published: April 2024

Background
A multidrug-resistant genetic lineage of Staphylococcus epidermidis named ST215 causes prosthetic joint infections and other deep surgical site infections in Northern European residents. Increases in the rate and breadth of resistance among S. epidermidis strains are a concerning global trend. We used whole-genome sequencing to characterize ST215 in a healthcare setting.
Results
We used publicly available diverse S. epidermidis genomes with a global distribution as a reference and generated 11 short-read genomes of S. epidermidis ST215 from a university hospital in Sweden. One ST215 isolate genome was finished using long-reads, resulting in a circular 2,676,787 bp chromosome and a 2,326 bp plasmid. We generated 11 short-read genomes of ST2, which is another common multidrug-resistant genetic lineage at the same hospital and at multiple locations worldwide. Using genome data, we established genetic relationships between the ST215, ST2, and reference genomes. We investigated the function of recombination during evolution from a recent common ancestor of ST2 and ST215 and found signals of multiple recombination events with an average size of 30–50 kb. By comparing the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for 31 antimicrobial drugs with the genome content encoding antimicrobial resistance in the ST215 and ST2 isolates, we found highly similar phenotypical antimicrobial resistance traits between the isolates, with 22 resistance genes being shared between all the ST215 and ST2 genomes. The ST215 genome contained 29 genes that were historically identified as virulence genes of S. epidermidis ST2. We established that in the nucleotide sequence stretches identified as recombination events, virulence genes were overrepresented in ST215, while antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were overrepresented in ST2.
Conclusions
We found that the two phylogenetically distinct lineages, ST215 and ST2, of S. epidermidis have evolved similarly and acquired antibiotic resistance and virulence genes through recombination events. The ST215 lineage exemplifies the recent evolutionary emergence of a multidrug-resistant healthcare-associated pathogen, and there is a thin line between commensal bacteria and successful pathogens.
Ball Velocity Variation on Tennis Forehand Stroke the Arm Joint Coordination Characteristics
Authors: xiaogang ma , bing shi
Published: April 2024

Objective: To explore the influence of different ball speeds on the coordination characteristics of forehand arm.
Methods: Two 3D high-speed cameras and video analysis system of Beijing Sport University were used to obtain 3D kinematic data of forehand stroke arms of 16 professional tennis players facing three ball speeds (80km·h-1/100km·h-1/120km·h-1). Vector coding technique was used to calculate the ratio of shoulder-elbow and elbow-wrist coupling angles in three-dimensional plane.
Results: The shoulder horizontal flexion and elbow flexion were different phase and elbow dominance, elbow flexion and wrist rotation were in phase and wrist dominance, shoulder adduction and abduction - elbow flexion and elbow extension-elbow flexion and elbow extension-wrist flexion and elbow extension pattern were dominant. Elbow extension-wrist extension-in-phase and elbow-led, elbow-extension-in-wrist rotation out-wrist dominant modes 80km·h-1<100km·h-1<120km·h-1(P<0.05). Shoulder adduction, abduction and elbow extension in the swing phase and shoulder flexion and elbow extension in the swing phase were 80km·h-1>100km·h-1>120km·h-1(P<0.05). The horizontal speed component, the angle of the racket face and the length of the hitting area increase with the increase of the ball speed, while the longitudinal speed component and the trajectory Angle of the racket head decrease with the increase of the ball speed.
Conclusion: Under the three ball speed conditions, the coordination characteristics of the hitting arm showed a gradual "zero" effect from the near end to the far end. The degree of "freezing" of shoulder joint freedom increases with the increase of ball speed. Under the condition of high ball speed, the loss of shoulder joint strength may be compensated mainly by trunk torsion. The dominant pattern of elbow joint and wrist joint increased with the increase of ball speed. The index variability of batting time mainly shows that the batting mode increases with the speed of the ball, and gradually changes from topspin batting to flat batting.