bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extensive Frontal Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Opening for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: An Open-Label Prospective Study
Authors: Chang Kyung Won , Kang Sungwoo , Jeon Seun , Ye Byoung Seok , Chang Jin Woo
Published: January 2024

Background: Focused ultrasound (FUS)-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening is safe and potentially beneficial in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) for the removal of amyloid plaques and behavioral improvement. We aimed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and potential benefits of repeated extensive BBB opening.
Methods: In this open-label prospective study, six patients with AD were enrolled at the Severance Hospital in Korea from July 2022 to July 2023. FUS-mediated BBB opening was performed three times at 2-month intervals targeting the bilateral frontal lobe regions (Average 43.1 cm3). We performed 18F-florbetaben (FBB) positron emission tomography within 4 weeks before the first procedure and within 2 weeks after the third procedure. We calculated the FBB standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs).
Results: All patients completed the study without any acute treatment-related adverse events. Global FBB-SUVR decreased in four patients (amyloid-decrease group) and increased in two patients (amyloid-increase group) after BBB opening, compared with baseline. Compared with the amyloid-decrease group, the amyloid-increase group demonstrated a higher clinical dementia rating sum of boxes but a lower global FBB-SUVR at baseline. The amyloid-increase group demonstrated higher pretrial variability in the mini-mental status examination than the amyloid-decrease group.
Conclusions: Repeated and extensive BBB opening in the frontal lobe is safe and feasible for patients with AD. However, meticulous exclusion is required for patients with cognitive fluctuations and less prominent amyloid accumulation, which could be attributed to concomitant Lewy body pathology.
Research on Evaluation of Wuhan Air Pollution Emission Level Based on Entropy weight Method
Authors: Wang Na , Zhang Yaxin
Published: January 2024

Along with the increasing development of society and economy, it is becoming more and more important to keep the balance for environment and development. In this context, air pollution control has become a key factor affecting economic and social development. Taking Wuhan’s air pollution situation as a sample and using the entropy method, this paper constructs an evaluation model of air pollution emission level, and evaluates the air pollution emission level of Wuhan. We can find that the total emissions of air pollution for Wuhan shows a gradual upward trend over time, which not only brings about economic growth, but also brings about the increasing emission of air pollution. And the air pollution in Wuhan mainly comes from industrial pollution. Meanwhile, among the weights of air pollution emission indicators, sulfur dioxide emission indicators and industrial sulfur dioxide emission indicators account for a large weight. It can be seen that although the overall pollutant emission level of Wuhan shows a downward trend, while paying attention to economic growth, we need to pay more attention to emission reduction and fossil energy consumption. Therefore, the government can reduce air pollution by focusing on detecting major polluting industries, promoting industrial technological progress and innovation, and strengthening the effective implementation of emission trading system.
Climate change diverts atmospheric rivers toward densely populated Asia
Authors: Liang Ju , Collins Matthew , Pan Zhihua , Wang Jing , Pan Xuebiao , Huang Binxiang , Long Buju , He Qijin , Dong Wanlin
Published: January 2024

The recent and unprecedented flood events in the populated regions of Asia have raised concerns about how atmospheric rivers (ARs), an important agent of extreme precipitation over the region, will change under global warming. An ensemble of high-resolution general circulation models projects that ARs and their associated precipitation penetrate Asia further in the next three decades. ARs are thermodynamically enhanced at mid-latitudes and dynamically inhibited at low latitudes, which induce more frequent ARs and their associated extreme precipitation across the subtropics and midlatitudes of South Asia and East Asia. In these regions, the population exposure to AR-associated extreme precipitation is projected to increase significantly and be amplified by the increased population density, particularly in the urban areas of northern China, northern India and Bangladesh (by 24–59%). Hence, promoting preparedness for adapting to changes in AR-related hydrological environments is crucial for these regions in the next few decades.
Impact of microwave vacuum drying on quality of Liang (Gnetum gnemon var. tenerum) leaves powder
Authors: Anisong Nata , Siripongvutikorn Sunisa , Wichienchot Santad , Puttarak Panupong
Published: January 2024

Microwave vacuum drying is gaining popularity to maintain more active compounds compared with conventional drying. Liang (Gnetum gnemon var. tenerum) is a native plant with high consumer preference in Thailand. However, scientific information on the tenerum variety is not well documented. This study analyzed the effect of microwave vacuum drying on the quality of Liang leaves powder. Results showed that microwave vacuum drying at 50–60°C 3600 W for 12 min (G1) preserved better green color and maintained moisture content (%) and water activity (aw). G1 gave less moisture content and aw as 5.83 ± 0.07 and 0.42 ± 0.00, respectively compared to G2 which used lower temperature and longer drying time at 40–50°C, 2400 W for 15 min. Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were not detected in either sample but pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Coliforms were reported. The nutritional value of 100 g of powdered Liang leaves provided energy of 348–360 Kcal. G1 contained 25.5 g of protein with high and complete essential amino acids plus branched-chain amino acids and more carotenoids as β-carotenes (3,920 µg/100 g), with total dietary soluble and insoluble fiber 40.7 g/100 g. Consumers generally preferred the commercial green tea matcha drink rather than the Liang leaves drink, which had a strong unfamiliar smell and odor. Nevertheless, Liang leaves exhibited high potential as an ingredient to promote health benefits.
Joint optimization of UAV communication connectivity and obstacle avoidance in urban environments using a double-map approach
Authors: ZHONG Weizhi , Wang Xin , LIU Xiang , LIN Zhipeng , Ali Farman
Published: January 2024

Cellular-connected unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which have the potential to extend cellular services from the ground into the airspace, represent a promising technological advancement. However, the presence of communication coverage black holes among base stations (BS) and various obstacles within the aerial domain pose significant challenges to ensuring the safe operation of UAVs. This paper introduces a novel trajectory planning scheme, namely the double-map assisted UAV(DMAU) approach, which leverages deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to address these challenges. The mission execution time, wireless connectivity, and obstacle avoidance are comprehensively modeled and analyzed in this approach, leading to the derivation of a novel joint optimization function. By utilizing an advanced technique known as dueling double deep Q network (D3QN), the objective function is optimized, while employing a mechanism of prioritized experience replay (PER) strengthens the training of effective samples. Furthermore, the connectivity and obstacle information collected by the UAV during flight are utilized to generate a map of radio and environmental data for simulating the flying process, thereby significantly reducing operational costs. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively circumvents obstacles and areas with weak connections during flight, while also considering mission completion time.
Active Surveillance of Cytomegalovirus Infection, Pneumocystis Pneumonia, and Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Kim Jeong Soo , Lee Dong Yeop , Lee Se JU , Baek Ji Hyeon , Lee Jin-Soo , Kim Ah Jin , Cha Hyung geun , Kang Dong Yoon , Im Jae Hyoung
Published: January 2024

Diagnosing opportunistic infections is important in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, incidence and risk determination are challenging because biopsy is difficult. Therefore, this study comprehensively analyzed the risk factors using active surveillance data. Active surveillance included weekly serum cytomegalovirus, sputum Pneumocystis jirovecii, and galactomannan test testing. The incidence and risk of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) were determined from clinical features. Among 210 patients who underwent active surveillance, serum cytomegalovirus, sputum pneumocystis, and galactomannan antigens were detected at least once in 29.0%, 7.6%, and 59.0% of patients, respectively, with first detection at medians of weeks 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 1–4), 0 (0–0.25), and 0 (0–1), respectively. PCP and CAPA occurred in 1.4% and 14.3% of patients, respectively, with diagnoses at medians of weeks 0 (0–0.5), and 2 (1–3) weeks. Treatment for CMV was started at a median of 4 (3–5) weeks. High-dose steroids were risk factors for cytomegalovirus viremia and CAPA. Cytomegalovirus viremia tended to develop and be diagnosed later than CAPA. Compared to CAPA, the incidence of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) was low in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
Kataegis in clinical and molecular subgroups of primary breast cancer
Authors: Staaf Johan , Veerla Srinivas
Published: January 2024

Background
Kataegis is a hypermutation phenomenon characterized by localized clusters of single base pair substitution (SBS) reported in multiple cancer types. Despite a high frequency in breast cancer, large scale analyses of kataegis patterns and associations with clinicopathological and molecular variables in established breast cancer subgroups are lacking.

Methods
WGS profiled primary breast cancers (n=791) with associated clinical and molecular data layers like RNA-sequencing data were analyzed. Kataegis frequency, recurrence, and associations with genomic contexts and functional elements, transcriptional patterns, driver alterations, homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), and prognosis were investigated in tumor subgroups defined by ER, PR, and HER2/ERBB2 status.

Results
Kataegis frequency was highest in the HER2-positive(p) subgroups, including both ER-negative(n)/positive(p) tumors (ERnHER2p/ERpHER2p). In TNBC, kataegis was neither associated with PAM50 nor TNBC mRNA subtypes, nor with distant relapse in chemotherapy treated patients. In ERpHER2n tumors, kataegis was associated with aggressive characteristics including PR-negativity, molecular Luminal B subtype, higher mutational burden, higher grade, and expression of proliferation-associated genes. Recurrent kataegis loci frequently targeted regions commonly amplified in ER-positive tumors, while few recurrent loci were observed in TNBC. SBSs in kataegis loci appeared enriched in regions of open chromatin. Kataegis status was not associated with HRD in any subgroup, or with distinct transcriptional patterns in unsupervised or supervised analysis.

Conclusions
Kataegis is a common hypermutation phenomenon in established breast cancer subgroups, particularly in HER2p subgroups, coinciding with an aggressive tumor phenotype in ERpHER2n disease. In TNBC, the molecular implications and associations of kataegis are less clear, including its prognostic value.
Machine learning-based model used for predicting Portal vein thrombosis risk for patients with cirrhosis
Authors: Meng Peipei , Zhou Yang , Liu Xiaoli , Wu Tong , Yu Hao , Ji Xiaomin , Hou Yixin
Published: January 2024

We aimed to assess the risk of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis (HBC) using artificial neural networks (ANN). PVT can exacerbate portal hypertension and lead to complications, increasing the risk of mortality. Unfortunately, accurate prediction models for PVT in hepatitis B cirrhosis patients are currently insufficient. To address this gap, we conducted a study at Beijing Ditan Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, involving 986 hospitalized patients. The patients were randomly divided into a training set (685 cases) and a validation set (301 cases) using a 3:1 ratio. Through univariate analysis, we determined independent factors that influence the occurrence of PVT, which were then utilized to develop an ANN model. The performance of the ANN model was assessed using various indicators, such as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and concordance index (C-index). In the training group, PVT developed within three years in 19.0% of patients, and within five years in 23.7% of patients. Similarly, in the validation group, PVT developed within three years in 16.7% of patients, and within five years in 24.0% of patients. The ANN model incorporated nine independent risk factors, including age, presence of ascites, manifestation of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), occurrence of gastrointestinal varices with bleeding, Child-Pugh classification, alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, albumin (ALB) levels, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet count (PLT). Importantly, the AUC of the ANN model was significantly higher at 0.9718 compared to existing models such as MELD and CTP (all p<0.001). Our ANN model effectively classified patients into high ,medium, and low risk groups for PVT development over a span of 3 and 5 years. These findings were further validated in an independent cohort.
Platelet ADP receptor (P2RY1) polymorphism and the risk of inadequate platelet response to aspirin: Study in patients with ischemic stroke
Authors: Christopher Rita , Sundaravadivel Pandarisamy , Chandra Sadanandavalli Retnaswami , Ramakrishnan Subasree
Published: January 2024

An estimated 5–60% of patients experience inadequate antiplatelet effects after taking aspirin. We investigated the gene variants that might determine the outcome of the aspirin response in stroke patients. A total of 293 ischemic stroke patients who were taking 150 mg of aspirin for more than 7 days, were enrolled and only 230 patients with serum salicylate levels > 30 µg/mL were included. Variants in COX1 (rs1236913 C > T), COX2 (rs20417 G > C), GpIIb/IIIa (rs5981 T > C), P2RY1 (rs701265 A > G & rs1371097 C > T), PEAR1 (rs2768759 C > A), ITGB3 (rs2317676 A > G) and UGT1A6 (rs1105879 A > G & rs2070959 A > C) were genotyped. Platelet aggregation tests were carried out by light transmittance aggregometry using adenosine-di-phosphate and arachidonic acid as agonists. The ‘T’ allele of P2RY1 (rs1371097 C > T) polymorphism was significantly associated with inadequate platelet response as measured by platelet aggregometry (OR, 95%, 1.71, 1.122–2.61; p = 0.0131). Presence of a single copy of the ‘T’ allele in P2RY1 (rs1371097 C > T) increased the risk of inadequate response by 3.46 times (adjusted OR (95%), 3.46 (0.043); p = 0.043).
Ce6-modified Fe Ions-doped Carbon Dots as Multifunctional Nanoplatform for Ferroptosis and Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy of Melanoma
Authors: Li Haiqiu , Dou Yichen , Yang Hang , Xing Hanlin , Zhu Cheng , Wang Tao , Xuan Zhaopeng , Yang Mingxi
Published: January 2024

Background
Despite the higher sensitivity of melanoma towards ferroptosis and photodynamic therapy (PDT), the lack of efficient ferroptosis inducers and the poor solubility of photosensitizers restrict their synergistic strategies. With unique advantages, carbon dots (CDs) are expected to serve as innovative building blocks for combination therapy of cancers.
Results
Herein, an ferroptosis/PDT integrated nanoplatform for melanoma therapy is constructed based on chlorin e6-modified Fe ions-doped carbon dots (Fe-CDs@Ce6). As an novel type of iron-carbon hybrid nanoparticles, the as-prepared Fe-CDs can selectively activate ferroptosis, prevent angiogenesis and inhibit the migration of mouse skin melanoma cells (B16), but have no toxicity to normal cells. The nano-conjugated structures facilitate not only the aqueous dispersibility of Ce6, but also the self-accumulation ability of Fe-CDs@Ce6 within melanoma area without requiring extra targets. Moreover, the therapeutic effects of Fe-CDs@Ce6 are synergistically enhanced due to the increased GSH depletion by PDT and the elevated singlet oxygen (1O2) production efficiency by Fe-CDs. When combined with laser irradiation, the tumor growth can be significantly suppressed by Fe-CDs@Ce6 through cyclic administration. The T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) capability of Fe-CDs@Ce6 also reveals their potentials for cancer diagnosis and navigation therapy.
Conclusions
Our findings indicate the multifunctionality of Fe-CDs@Ce6 in effectively combining ferroptosis/PDT therapy, tumor targeting and MRI imaging, which enables Fe-CDs@Ce6 to become promising biocompatible nanoplatform for the treatment of melanoma.
Modeling of axisymmetric ultrasonic waves reflected from circumferential cracks in a pipe based on a rigorous analytical theory and implementation on distributed devices
Authors: Huan Huiting , Liu Lixian , Liu Jianpeng , Huang Liping , Peng Cuiling , Wang Hao , Mandelis Andreas
Published: January 2024

Inspection of defects in pipelines can be materialized by measuring ultrasonic guided waves the properties of which are conventionally analyzed with complicated finite-element methods (FEM). They require complete geometric discretization and result in large memory consumption in a single analysis, thus are clumsy and inapplicable on distributional devices. This work developed a comprehensive analytical modality to perform rapid assessment of reflection for guided waves in a pipe and used low-cost microprocessors. The mechanism of crack reflection was modeled with the reciprocity theorem and novel rigid-ring dynamic approximation. The analytical approach successfully estimated the coefficient dependence of crack depth with an accuracy comparable to that from FEM. The reflection coefficient dependence of the crack-depth was estimated correctly with up to 0.037 error. The developed algorithm was further implemented on an embedded device for calculation estimation. It shows the complete analytical theory sufficiently reduces computational complexity by orders of magnitude while retaining good accuracy for in-situ pipeline management.
Life cycle assessment of artisanal small-scale kaolin mining and its associated health implications among miners
Authors: Memon Muhammad Burhan , Yang Zheng , Tao Ming , Wu Xingyu
Published: January 2024

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is regarded as a means to enhance and uplift living standards in rural areas, often serving as the primary livelihood for local communities, however, the environmental burden associated with ASM cannot be ignored. Compared to other minerals, studies emphasizing the environmental and health impacts of kaolin mining and its beneficiation are limited. This research employed the life cycle assessment (LCA) tool to evaluate the environmental consequences and health problems associated with artisanal and small-scale kaolin mining (ASSKM) based on ReCipe 2016 Midpoint (H) and IPCC GWP 20a methods. Foreground data was collected from the mining site and the background data was accessed using the Ecoinvent v3 database. Standardized results showed a higher contribution of marine ecotoxicity, followed by human carcinogenic toxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, and human non-carcinogenic toxicity. Contribution analysis revealed that electricity, diesel, and steel consumption contributed heavily among the above impact categories. Based on the sensitivity analysis results, the key measures to tackle environmental impacts involve improving kaolin beneficiation and mining operations. Among the health issues, musculoskeletal problems were recognized as the most affected problem encountered by miners followed by skin irritation and respiration problems however hearing loss and eye irritation showed lower scores. This study seeks the attention of stakeholders, environmentalists, policymakers, and licensing authorities, urging them to develop policies that promote environmentally sustainable practices in ASM within the region.
Percutaneous Lumbar Pedicle Screw Placement Using the Ideal Skin Entry Point and Novel C-Arm Fluoroscopy Technology: A Technical Note
Authors: Yang Baojia , He Jianrong , Zhang Ming , Zhou Zhou , Li Zhengliang
Published: January 2024

Objective: This study aimed to introduce an optimal skin entry point, determined via novel two-dimensional fluoroscopy-guided technology, with an intention to decrease screw placement and fluoroscopy times during the learning curve of percutaneous pedicle screw placement.
Methods:The radiologic background and principles of the novel C-arm fluoroscopy technology, as well as the methodology for determining the appropriate skin entry point using a self-designed body surface locator are described, as well as an evaluation study of the technique in patients. In the study, a total of 120 percutaneous lumbar pedicle screws were placed from L-3 to S-1 in adult patients. Postoperative fine-cut CT scans were acquired to evaluate the pedicle screw placement. The K-wire placement time and fluoroscopy count were recorded by the operating room staff.
Results: The presented technique has become the standard for percutaneous screw placement in the prone position in our department. Out of 120 guidewires and screws inserted in the evaluation study, there were no instances of new or worsening neurological symptoms or deficits, resulting in an overall clinical accuracy of 100%. The average implantation time for each guide wire was 3.64 minutes, and the average number of fluoroscopies per spinal level was 8.13.
Conclusions:The findings of this study suggest that selecting the optimal skin entry point can enhance the performance of this technique. Specifically, it can ensure more accurate and safe percutaneous lumbar pedicle screw placement, reduce the procedure and fluoroscopy times, and is feasible based on our clinical experience.
Construction of a bioinformatics-based prognostic model related to liquid-liquid phase separation in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wang Hanlin , Chen Xiu , Kong Weibo , Dang Yan , Xu Junrui , Zhang Renquan
Published: January 2024

It was reported that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) related genes (LRGs) were involved in the prognosis of a variety of tumors. We aimed to investigate the impact of LRGs on lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients' prognosis, providing further insights for patient treatment and prognosis. TCGA-LUAD, GSE31210 and GSE131907 were applied in this study. Differentially expressed LRGs (DE-LRGs) were identified by intersecting the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) obtained through differential expression analysis with the LRGs acquired from the online database. A total of 17 DE-LRGs were gained by intersecting 5,445 DEGs and LRGs obtained from the online database. Subsequently, TACC3, TPX2, PRC1, FGFR2, ORC1, and PLK4 were identified as prognostic genes for constructing a risk model. The high-risk patients exhibited shorter survival time compared to the low-risk patients in both TCGA-LUAD and GSE31210. The nomogram of pathologic stage and riskScore demonstrated good predictive ability for the 1/3/5-year survival rate of LUAD patients. Next, immune analysis indicated TPX2 exhibited the strongly positive correlation with M0 and M1 macrophages, which displayed the important role of macrophages in the phase separation mechanism. Single cell analysis revealed higher expression levels of prognostic genes in T lymphocytes. We speculated that prognostic genes contributed to tumor development by affecting T-cell activity. Eventually, we verified the differential expression of prognostic genes by testing the expression of clinical samples. In conclusion, TACC3, PRC1, ORC1, and PLK4 were identified to be associated with LLPS on LUAD in this study. It provided further insights into the treatment of LUAD.
Artificial intelligence-powered spatial analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes as a predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced biliary tract cancer
Authors: Yoo Changhoon , Bang Yeong Hak , Lee Choong-kun , Bang Kyunghye , Kim Hyung-Don , Ryoo Baek-Yeol , Kim Kyu-pyo , Jeong Jae Ho , Park Inkeun , Lee Dong Ki , Choi Hye Jin , Chung Taek , Jeon Seung Hyuck , Shin Eui-Cheol , Oum Chiyoon , Kim Seulki , Lim Yoojoo , Park Gahee , Ahn Changho , Finn Richard , Ock Chan-Young , Shin Jinho
Published: January 2024

The combination of anti-PD-1/L1 with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GemCis) has recently shown significant survival benefits in randomized phase 3 trials for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, no biomarker predictive of benefit has been established for anti-PD-1/L1 in BTC. Here, we evaluated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) using artificial intelligence-powered immune phenotype (AI-IP) analysis in advanced BTC treated with anti-PD-1. Data and images of BTC cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were initially analyzed to evaluate the transcriptomic and mutational characteristics of various AI-IPs in BTC. The inflamed IP showed increased cytolytic activity scores and an interferon-gamma signature compared to the non-inflamed IP. Next, pre-treatment H&E-stained whole-slide images from 339 advanced BTC patients who received anti-PD-1 monotherapy as second-line treatment or beyond, were retrospectively utilized for AI-IP analysis. Overall, AI-IPs were classified as inflamed (high intratumoral TIL [iTIL]) in 40 patients (11.8%), immune-excluded (low iTIL and high stromal TIL) in 167 (49.3%), and immune-deserted (low TIL overall) in 132 (38.9%). The inflamed IP group showed a significantly higher overall response rate compared to the non-inflamed IP groups (27.5% vs. 7.7%, P < 0.001). Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were significantly longer in the inflamed IP group than in the non-inflamed IP group (OS: 12.6 vs. 5.1 months, P = 0.002; PFS: 4.5 vs. 1.9 months, P < 0.001). IP classified by AI-powered spatial TIL analysis was effective in predicting the efficacy outcomes of advanced BTC patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapy. Further validation is necessary in the context of anti-PD-1/L1 plus GemCis.
The Correlation between Proximal femur Fracture and Bone Mineral Density in the Elderly
Authors: Chen Beibei , Liang Hairui , Zhang He , Sun Ming , Xu Rongda , Duan Siyu , Cai Zhencun
Published: January 2024

By summarizing the characteristics of bone mineral density (BMD) in older adults with proximal femoral fractures, to explore the relationship between (BMD and type of proximal femoral fractures in older adults. And to compare the BMD of the affected and unaffected sides of the femur, in order to pave ways for the prevention and treatment of proximal femoral fractures. A total of 876 patients with proximal femoral fractures (446 with femoral neck fractures and 430 with trochanteric fractures) were admitted to central hospitals affiliated to Shenyang Medical College over a three-year period. All patients underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to evaluate the BMD of the lumbar spine and both sides of the femur. Differences in BMD were compared between the trochanteric and neck fracture groups, as well as between the affected and unaffected sides of the femur in all patients. The trochanteric fracture group had lower mean lumbar spine BMD (T-score: -2.66 ± 1.63) than the femoral neck fracture group (-1.56 ± 1.42) (P༜0.001). The trochanteric fracture group also had lower mean total BMD of both femurs (T-score: -2.74 ± 1.38) than the femoral neck fracture group (-1.73 ± 1.57) (P༜0.05). In the trochanteric fracture group, the BMD of the affected femur (T-score: -2.22 ± 1.49) was higher than that of the healthy femur (T-score: -3.28 ± 1.58) (P༜0.001). In the femoral neck fracture group, the affected femur had higher BMD (T-score: -1.68 ± 1.26) than the healthy femur (T-score: -2.02 ± 1.09) (P༜0.001). The mean BMD of the affected femur was higher than that of the healthy femur in all patients (T-score: -1.88 ± 1.76 vs. -2.66 ± 1.33) (P༜0.001). Patients with trochanteric fractures have lower BMD than those with femoral neck fractures, and should receive treatment for osteoporosis in addition to fracture management. BMD of the healthy femur was lower than that of the affected femur in Patients with proximal femoral fractures, and it is necessary to prevent the occurrence of secondary fractures on the healthy femur.
A hybrid finite-discrete element method for modelling cracking processes in sandy mudstone containing a single edge-flaw under cyclic dynamic loading
Authors: Zhang Xiaolong , Xu Wenjie , Zhang Xiaoping , Yu Yan , Xu Chong
Published: January 2024

Rock mass deformation and failure are macroscopic manifestations of crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence. However, simulating the transition of rocks from continuous to discontinuous media under dynamic loads remains challenging. This study proposes a hybrid finite-discrete element method (HFDEM) to model crack propagation. Uniaxial compression tests on sandy mudstone with a single edge-flaw are simulated using HFDEM, and the results are compared with laboratory tests. The effects of pre-existing flaw inclination angle and dynamic loading frequency on the crack process are investigated. Results show that under dynamic loading, rock samples exhibit significantly higher compressive strength compared to quasi-static loading, which increases with dynamic frequency. Crack initiation angle also increases with flaw inclination angle and dynamic frequency. Experimental and numerical simulation results demonstrate crack initiation at the defect's tip, formation of wing cracks, and a combination of tensile and shear failure modes. The comparative analysis shows that HFDEM successfully captures crack interaction mechanisms and accurately simulates the overall failure behavior of cracked specimens. This study provides valuable insights into crack development and failure of rocks under seismic loads, offering guidance for engineering practices.
Quality markers based on chromatographic fingerprinting and anti-neuroinflammatory screening: A spectrum–effect correlation for Nardostachys jatamansi DC. with anti-neuroinflammatory potential
Authors: Xue Bian-Xia , Liu Xiao-Jie , Duan Cong-Yan , Zhang Li-Hua , Wang Shao-Xia , Wu Hong-Hua
Published: January 2024

Backgroud
Nardostachys jatamansi DC. (NJ) has long been prescribed to treat neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, in traditional Chinese medicine and other orient ethnomedicinal systems. However, the anti-neuroinflammatory components and the quality markers (Q-markers) underlying NJ remained unclear.
Objective and design
This study aimed to reveal the Q-markers of NJ in treating neuroinflammation-related diseases by developing ‘spectrum–anti-neuroinflammatory effect’ correlation for NJ against neuroinflammation.
Methods
First, a Griess method was applied to evaluate the anti-neuroinflammatory potentials of common NJ extracts and components, discovering the dominant anti-neuroinflammatory component of NJ (NJ_1A). The spectrum–effect correlation of NJ_1A was then accomplished by Pearson’s correlation, GCA, and PLSR modeling between the UPLC–PDA fingerprints and the inhibitory rates of batches of NJ_1A on NO production in BV-2 cells. Finally, the potentially effective constituents were screened and their anti-neuroinflammatory potentials were further verified.
Results
The fingerprint similarity of NJ_1A as well as the content of nardosinone would gradually decrease along with the prolongation of the NJ storage time. Ten promising anti-neuroinflammatory-correlated peaks were screened accordingly by the spectrum–effect correlation of NJ_1A. And seven of them were identified and validated to exert varying degrees of anti-neuroinflammatory effect. Finally, nardosinone, desoxo-narchinol A, and nardosinonediol stood out to be the major active constituents and key Q-markers for NJ_1A in treatment of neuroinflammation.
Conclusion
The current study demonstrated that spectrum–effect correlation was a powerful approach to investigate the active components dedicated for the anti-neuroinflammation underlying NJ, and provided a solid basis for the Q-markers of NJ against neurodegenerative diseases.
Simulation and experimental study on vascular hemodynamics of atherosclerotic plaque
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Sun Xu , Lin Guochang , Wang Jun , Yao Yongtao
Published: January 2024

For atherosclerotic diseases, a large number of associated plaque rather than single plaque are found in diseased vessels during clinic diagnosis. For the study of hemodynamic parameters, this paper uses a simplified model to simulate the fluid-structure interaction during a non-Newtonian blood flowing through arteries with different degrees of stenosis caused by atherosclerosis. The influence of the geometry and location of the anterior plaque on the hemodynamic parameters of the posterior plaque have mainly been discussed. The effects of fluid wall shear stress, gradient, normal stress and shear rate on the posterior plaque were studied by changing of the plaque spacing, the stenosis rate, the spatial angle in diseased artery. The simulation results obtained by the ideal model can reveal more complex blood flow characteristics of arterial stenosis. It shows that with the increase of plaque spacing, V, WSS, WNS and SR increased by an average of about 3.2–6.6%. And when δ1 > 60%, the variables V, WSS, WNS, SR, and WSSG increase by more than 37%.These findings are of great significance to the development and prediction of plaque rupture in the diseased vessels.
Optimal Duration of Medical Expulsive Therapy for Lower Ureteral Stones : a Critical Evaluation
Authors: ERDOĞAN Erhan , ŞİMŞEK¹ Gamze , AŞIK¹ Alper , YAŞAR¹ Hikmet , ŞAHİN¹ Cahit , SARICA¹ Kemal
Published: January 2024

Aim
To evaluate optimal duration of Medical Expulsive Therapy (MET) application for distal ureteric stones on a time period based manner.
Patients and Methods
: 89 patients with 5–10 mm distal ureter stones received tamsulosin (0.4 mg) for MET and diclofenac sodium (75 mg) for analgesia. Patients were evaluated once a week for four weeks. Radiologic evaluation of stone passage was evaluated by kidney ureter bladder (KUB) and ultasonography where non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) was also performed if needed.
Results
While 23 cases (28.4%) were SF after first week, 23 were SF (28.4%) after two weeks, 9 cases (11.1%) after three and lastly 7 cases (8.6%) became SF after four weeks. 19 (23.5%) cases were not SF after 4 weeks. A positive relationship was found between the time period elapsed for stone passage and ureteral wall thickness (UWT) along with hydronephrosis. Additionally, mean number of renal colics and emergency department (ED) visits were found to be higher in patients passing their stones in the 4th week along with the ones who could not pass their stones.
Conclusions
Following the initiation of MET, SFR were higher in the first three weeks for distal ureteric stones for sizing 5–10 mm. indicating that waiting for a longer period of time will result in an unnecessary analgesic and MET treatment with increased risk of emergency department visits, additional costs and loss of time. Other available treatment options could be considered in such cases who are not SF at the end of the first three weeks.
Characteristic changes of prefrontal and motor areas in patients with type 2 diabetes and major depressive disorder during a motor task of tai chi chuan: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
Authors: Zhang Jiaming , Li Yuxi , Liu Xiaobo , Zhong Dongling , Xue Chen , Fan Jin , Xie Cheng , Li Juan , Jin Rongjiang
Published: January 2024

Aim
This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the characteristic changes of prefrontal and motor areas during a tai chi chuan task in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and major depressive disorder (MDD) using real-time functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Methods
Three parallel groups (T2DM with DD group, T2DM group, and healthy group) were included in the study, who were recruited from December 10, 2022, to May 31, 2023. All the groups conducted a motor task of tai chi chuan designed by Eprime 3.0, and fNIRS was used to monitor brain activation, functional connectivity (FC) and lateralization of prefrontal and motor areas in participants.
Results
Ninety older adults (aged ≥ 60) participated in this study, including 30 patients with T2DM and MDD, 30 patients with T2DM, and 30 healthy subjects. The T2DM with MDD group showed altered cerebral function compared to T2DM group and healthy groups, including decreased activation, abnormal lateralization index and left-sided lateralization ratio of prefrontal and motor areas, and decreased FC among supplementary motor area, motor area, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
Conclusions
Patients with T2DM and MDD showed characteristic functional changes in prefrontal and motor areas during a motor task of tai chi chuan which contributed to our understanding of the neuropathology of depression in T2DM patients. This study first confirmed the ability to evaluate real-time brain function of wearable fNIRS which merits further validation in larger sample size.
Finite element modeling and comparative mechanical analysis of several hoeing tools
Authors: Shen Huajie , Zhang Kangkang , Shao Kaiqing , Huang Donghai , Lian Caiping , Zhang Fengwu , Miao Yuan
Published: January 2024

To investigate the material selection basis of hoeing tools, the finite element software ANSYS Workbench was used to compare the material mechanical properties of several typical hoeing tools. Herein, ash wood (Fraxinus chinensis Roxb.), beech wood (Zelkova schneideriana Hand-Mazz), fir wood (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.), oak wood (Cyclobalanopsis glauca (Thunb.) Oerst.), and locust wood (Sophora japonica (L.)) were selected for the hoe handles, and manganese 13 steel, type 45 steel, and spring steel were selected for the cutterhead. The corresponding finite element model was established by Solidworks software, and the force of the hoe tool under general working conditions was presented by ANSYS Workbench simulation, and then the dynamic performance of different materials was analyzed and compared by the comprehensive scoring method. The results of hoeing effect, hoe shank strength and cutter head strength show that the hoeing tool using spring steel as cutter head has higher strength, the hoeing tool using ash wood, beech wood, and Robinia wood as hoe shanks is better than that of zelkova wood and fir wood, and the choice of the material combination of "beech wood shanks + spring steel cutterhead" enables the hoeing tool to realize the best mechanical properties.
Voltage and frequency stability of microgrids considering harmonic distortions
Authors: de Melo Igor Delgado , Teixeira Mariana , Medina Rai N.
Published: January 2024

Traditional power flow algorithms have been widely used for evaluating voltage and frequency stability of microgrids. However, few research papers are found within the context of harmonic analysis and the impact of power quality degradation in the microgrids stability. This paper presents a novel approach for the voltage stability assessment and harmonic analysis in microgrids based on the formulation of an optimal power flow model. In the proposed approach, the objective function determines the maximum loadability factor of the network considering limits for the total harmonic distortion, voltage magnitudes and system frequency. The optimization problem is solved by interior-point method. Simulations are carried out using the IEEE 33-bus test system, modified in order to include distributed generators connected to the grid considering VSI (Voltage Source Inverters) with their frequency droop characteristics. Computational tests are performed considering microgrids in grid-connected and islanded operation modes. Results are validated based on a comparative analysis with the RSCAD (Real-Time Simulation Software Package) software to prove the effectiveness of the proposed formulation.
Physiological and molecular mechanisms of leaf response to high-temperature stress in high-temperature-resistant soybean varieties
Authors: Li Jiajia , Zhi Xianguan , Chen Haoran , Chen Linying , Lu Yun , Liao Wei , Tian Zhuo , Wu Meiyan , Shan Yajing , Wang Heng , Yan Long , Liu Bingqiang , Wang Xiaobo
Published: January 2024

Background
With increasing global temperature, high temperature (HT) has become one of the main factors limiting soybean yield and quality. Exploring HT resistance-related functional genes and their corresponding molecular mechanisms is of great value. Previous physiological mechanism studies have shown that, compared with HD14 (HT sensitive), JD21 is an HT-resistant variety, and further analysis of the transcriptome and proteome has revealed the HT tolerance mechanism of JD21 anthers. Moreover, we found that compared with those of HD14 (28.72%), the leaves of JD21 also exhibited high HT resistance, and the degree of leaf wilting in JD21 plants after HT stress was 11.02%; however, the regulatory mechanism of the response of these plants to HT stress is still unclear.
Results
In this study, comparative transcriptome analysis of JD21 and HD14 soybean leaves after HT stress and field control plants was performed by RNA-seq technology. The results showed that the number of upregulated DEGs in JD21 and HD14 was greater than the number of downregulated DEGs after HT stress, and the number of up- or downregulated DEGs in JD21 was greater than that in HD14. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that many DEGs were involved in various molecular functions and metabolic pathways. QRT‒PCR analysis verified that the gene expression pattern determined via RNA–seq was reliable. In addition, through expression level and conserved domain analyses, 22 key candidate genes related to the response of soybean leaves to HT stress were screened.
Conclusions
The leaf gene expression networks of HT-resistant (JD21) and HT-sensitive (HD14) plants were constructed under HT stress and control conditions. Some DEGs responding to HT stress were screened through transcriptome sequencing. The GO annotations and KEGG pathways of these genes were analyzed to explore the regulatory mechanism of the response of soybean leaves to HT stress. Further through conserved domain analysis, several key candidate DEGs involved in the response to HT stress were identified. This study provides important data for further study of the molecular basis of the effect of HT on soybean leaves at the transcriptional level.
Investigating the relationship between psychological factors (fear of movement and pain catastrophizing) and the functional performance of athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome
Authors: pirayeh nahid , Talebi Mostafa , Saadat Maryam , Norouzi Sadegh
Published: January 2024

Introduction:
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints accounting for 20–40% of knee problems in adults and active young people. Individuals with PFPS may suffer from anxiety, depression, pain catastrophizing, and fear-related pain. Therefore, a deep understanding of the relationship between psychological factors and functional impairment in these people may improve the choice of treatment strategies and help prevent this disorder from becoming a chronic condition. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between psychological factors (fear of movement and pain catastrophizing) and the functional performance of athletes with PFPS.
Methods
Sixty-one male athletes with an average age of 18 to 45 years and a history of PFPS for more than 3 months voluntarily participated in this study. At first, the participants completed the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Then, their function was tested using the Kujala Patellofemoral Scale (KPS) and the tests of step down, bilateral squat, single-leg hop, modified star excursion balance test, and side hop test.
Results
The results of our study showed that all examined functional tests have a weak correlation with the score of TSK and PCS. However, the score of KPS had a strong to moderate correlation with the scores of TSK and PCS.
Discussion
In this study, psychological factors had a significant relationship with functional test results and the self-reported functional measure. Therefore, according to the results of this study, therapists are advised to adopt approaches that consider psychological factors, such as the biopsychosocial approach, in managing the treatment of people with PFPS.
Diagnostic Performance of Target-position Murray Law based Quantitative Flow Ratio (target-μFR) vs Vessel-μFR in Patients with stable Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Huang Wenhao , Liu Yajun , Wang Qianqian , Jin Hongfeng , Tang Yiming , Wang Jiangting , Liu Xiaowei , Guo Yitao , Ye Chen , Tang Lijiang , Du Changqing
Published: January 2024

Background: We aim to compare with the diagnostic performance of target-position quantitative flow ratio derived from Murray Law (target-μFR) and vessel quantitative flow ratio derived from Murray Law (vessel-μFR) using the fractional flow reserve (FFR) as reference standard. This study may provide more evidence for the novel clinical usage of target-μFR in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
Methods: Six hundreds and fifty-six patients (685 lesions) with known or suspected coronary artery disease were screened for this retrospective analysis between January 2021 to March 2023. A total of 161 patients (190 lesions) underwent quantitative coronary angiography and FFR evaluations. Both of target-μFR and vessel-μFR were compared the diagnostic performance using the FFR≤0.80 as the reference standard.
Results: Both target-μFR (R=0.90) and vessel-μFR (R=0.87) demonstrated a strong correlation with FFR, and both methods showed great agreement with FFR. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.937 for target-μFR and 0.936 for vessel-μFR in predicting FFR≤0.80. FFR≤0.80 were predicted with high sensitivity (92.98%), specificity (91.01%) and the Youden index (0.840) using the cutoff value of 0.83 for target-μFR. A good diagnostic performance (sensitivity 86.44%, specificity 88.51% and Youden index 0.750) was also demonstrated by vessel-μFR which the cutoff value was 0.80.
Conclusion: The target-μFR has the similar diagnostic performance with vessel-μFR. The accuracy of μFR does not seem to be affected by the selection of the measurement point. Both of the virtual model could be used as computations tools for diagnosing ischemia and to aid clinical decision-making.