bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment of an indirect ELISA detection method for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus NSP4
Authors: Zhao Mengmeng , Lv Chen , Pang Jiankun , Yang Zhiyu , Sha Huiyang
Published: February 2025

The non-structural protein 4 (NSP4) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is equipped with 3C-like serine protease (3CLSP) activity, influencing crucial aspects such as virus replication, host IFN-β suppression, host cell apoptosis induction, and PRRSV detection facilitation. In response to wild or attenuated PRRSV strains, antibodies against non-structural proteins are generated, while inactivated vaccines fail to elicit such responses. Employing the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method targeting non-structural proteins helps discern the immune effects of inactivated versus wild or attenuated vaccine strains. The study focused on the NSP4 protein from the PRRSV XH-GD strain (GenBank No. EU624117.1), which was cloned, expressed, and leveraged as a coating protein for establishing an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection method. This method showcased outstanding specificity, repeatability, and sensitivity, exhibiting a notable agreement rate of 91.74% with the PRRSV IDEXX ELISA kit. The successful development of the NSP4 indirect ELISA not only supports the detection of PRRSV antibodies but also provides a robust platform for ongoing antibody monitoring in pig farming. Utilizing PRRSV NSP4 for ELISA antibody detection offers a more sustainable approach for continuous surveillance. The high agreement between this method and commercial kits lays a solid groundwork for effectively differentiating between inactivated and attenuated vaccines, enhancing the management and monitoring of PRRSV in pig populations.
Working memory capacity moderates the effect of hearing aid experience on phonological processing performance
Authors: Ning Ruijing , Holmer Emil , Danielsson Henrik , Signoret Carine , Micula Andreea , Rönnberg Jerker
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Individuals with acquired hearing impairment often experience declines in phonological processing abilities, a phenomenon thought to be mediated by working memory capacity (WMC). However, the role of hearing aid use in this context remains underexplored. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed (1) to tease apart the effect of hearing impairment and hearing aid use on phonological processing performance, and (2) to investigate the effect of hearing aid use on phonological processing in more detail, while considering the involvement of WMC.

Method

Using mixed effect models, we investigated rhyme judgment performance and its reliance on WMC among three groups of participants: a group of hearing aid users (n = 202), a group of hearing-impaired individuals without hearing aid (n = 54), and a group of normal hearing controls (n = 201). We also examined how years of hearing aid use was associated with rhyme judgment performance and its reliance on WMC in hearing aid users.

Results

We found that hearing impairment was associated with increased dependence of rhyme judgment performance on WMC regardless of the use of hearing aids. Furthermore, hearing aid use was overall positively associated with rhyme judgment performance, with this relationship influenced by variations in WMC.

Conclusion

WMC influences the effectiveness of hearing aids for phonological processing. This role may result from working memory’s involvement in the processing of output signals from hearing aids, as well as in the strategies hearing aid users implement to deal with phonological processing tasks.
Prognostic value of serum lipids in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia
Authors: Wang Shijie , Wang Qian , Lv Shuxin , Qin Ling
Published: February 2025

Background and purpose

Dyslipidemia has been linked to acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), with abnormal lipid metabolism observed during treatment. However, its role in APL pathogenesis remains unclear. This study investigates the relationship between serum lipid levels and clinical features, risk stratification, bleeding tendency, and prognosis of newly diagnosed APL patients, focusing on the role of the PTK2 gene in regulating lipid metabolism and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Materials and methods

We analyzed 90 newly diagnosed APL patients and 99 controls. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, survival analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, were used to assess lipid correlations with APL. Subgroup analyses explored specific clinical impacts, and functional experiments validated PTK2’s role in lipid metabolism.

Results

Elevated triglycerides (TG) were positively associated with high-risk APL, while reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels correlated with lower risk. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was an independent prognostic marker, with lower levels linked to poorer outcomes. PTK2 expression significantly promoted APL cell proliferation, migration, and lipid metabolism, highlighting its role in APL pathogenesis. PTK2 regulates lipid metabolism-related factors, such as LDL and fibrinogen, through molecular pathways.

Conclusion

Dyslipidemia is closely related to APL, with TG and LDL-C levels being key prognostic indicators. PTK2 plays a crucial role in lipid metabolism regulation and APL progression, providing a new molecular basis for risk assessment and targeted therapy. These findings offer potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies.
The median effective dose of ciprofol combined with a low-dose sufentanil for gastroscopy in obese or nonobese patients: a dose-finding study using Dixon’s up-and-down method
Authors: Zhao Jie , Zhang Yixiao , Su Guowei , Wang Shaoyi , Zhang Xiaolin , Wang Guoxiang , Chen Gang
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Understanding the different pharmacodynamic responses to narcotics in patients with or without obesity is particularly important for the safety of gastroscopy sedation. This study aimed to determine the median effective dose (ED50) of ciprofol combined with low-dose sufentanil to inhibit the response to gastroscope insertion in obese or nonobese patients.

Methods

A total of 27 obese patients (BMI 30–40 kg/m2) and 25 nonobese patients (BMI 18–25 kg/m2), aged between 18 and 65 years, with ASA physical status of 1–2, were included in this study. All patients underwent painless gastroscopy and received intravenous sufentanil at a dose of 0.1 μg/kg, followed by ciprofol administration. The initial dose of ciprofol for the first patient in both groups was 0.4 mg/kg, the subsequent dose was determined by the response of the previous patient to gastroscope insertion (cough, choking, body movement, etc.) using Dixon’s up-and-down method. The dose was increased or decreased by 0.05 mg/kg depending on the observed responses. Data collection continued until 7 crossover points were obtained. Probit regression and bootstrapping methods were employed to calculate the median effective dose (ED50) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The ED50 values were then compared between the obese and nonobese patient groups.

Results

The ED50 of ciprofol combined with sufentanil inhibiting response to gastroscope insertion in patients with obesity was 0.186 mg/kg with 95% CI of 0.153∼0.209 mg/kg, was significantly lower than patients with nonobese was 0.237 mg/kg with 95% CI of 0.206∼0.253 mg/kg (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The ED50 values of ciprofol combined with sufentanil inhibiting response to gastroscope insertion in patients with obesity was lower than in patients with normal weight.

Trial registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=202873, identifier ChiCTR2300074216.
A review of recent advances in anesthetic drugs for patients undergoing cardiac surgery
Authors: Sun Yutian , Sun Xiangyou , Wu Haibo , Xiao Zhaoyang , Luo Wei
Published: February 2025

Inducing and maintaining general anesthesia requires a diverse set of medications. Currently, heart surgery anesthetic management does not adhere to any one standard protocol or set of drugs. To ensure steady circulatory function while providing sufficient sedation, anesthetic medications are carefully selected for cardiovascular operations. Among the opioids used most often in cardiac surgery are fentanyl, sufentanil, and remifentanil. As a cardiac anesthesiologist, your key responsibilities will be to maintain your patient’s blood pressure (BP) and oxygen levels, reduce the frequency and intensity of ischemia events, and make it easy for them to get off of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and supplemental oxygen fast. Additionally, new knowledge gaps have been identified as a result of developments in cardiac anesthetics, which must be addressed. The goal of the most recent developments in cardiac anesthesia has been to decrease risks and increase accuracy in patient outcomes during cardiac surgeries. Furthermore, new methods and tools are contributing to the evolution of cardiovascular anesthesia toward a more dynamic, patient-centered approach, with an eye on boosting safety, decreasing complications, and facilitating better recovery for patients. New medications and methods have emerged in the field of anesthetic pharmacology, aiming to improve anesthesia management, particularly for patients who have cardiovascular disease. Optimal cardiovascular stability, fewer side effects, and enhanced surgical recovery are achieved by use of these medications. We have reviewed all the different kinds of cardiac anesthetic techniques and medications in this research. We have also examined the many new anesthetic medicines that have been produced and used for individuals with cardiovascular issues. Next, we covered prospects in the realm of cardiovascular anesthesia and novel cardiac anesthetic drugs.
Improved YOLO v5s-based detection method for external defects in potato
Authors: Li XiLong , Wang FeiYun , Guo Yalin , Liu Yijun , Lv HuangZhen , Zeng Fankui , Lv Chengxu
Published: February 2025

Currently, potato defect sorting primarily relies on manual labor, which is not only inefficient but also prone to bias. Although automated sorting systems offer a potential solution by integrating potato detection models, real-time performance remains challenging due to the need to balance high accuracy and speed under limited resources. This study presents an enhanced version of the YOLO v5s model, named YOLO v5s-ours, specifically designed for real-time detection of potato defects. By integrating Coordinate Attention (CA), Adaptive Spatial Feature Fusion (ASFF), and Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) modules, the model significantly improves detection accuracy while maintaining computational efficiency. The model achieved 82.0% precision, 86.6% recall, 84.3% F1-Score and 85.1% mean average precision across six categories — healthy, greening, sprouting, scab, mechanical damage, and rot — marking improvements of 24.6%, 10.5%, 19.4%, and 13.7%, respectively, over the baseline model. Although memory usage increased from 13.7 MB to 23.3 MB and frame rate slightly decreased to 30.7 fps, the accuracy gains ensure the model’s suitability for practical applications. The research provides significant support for the development of automated potato sorting systems, advancing agricultural efficiency, particularly in real-time applications, by overcoming the limitations of traditional methods.
Real-world stress and control: integrating ambulatory physiological and ecological momentary assessment technologies to explain daily wellbeing
Authors: Lohani Monika , Dutton Samuel , Imel Zac E. , Hill Patrick L.
Published: February 2025

The current study sought to advance our understanding of the connections between stress, perceived control, affect, and physiology in daily life. To achieve this goal, we integrated hourly ambulatory physiological and experiential data from young adult participants who experienced work or academic stressors over the course of a day. Participants wore a cardiovascular monitor that recorded heart rate data continuously for 8 h while hourly random Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) data were collected in personally relevant settings via mobile phones to learn about stress, perceived control, and affect. The current findings provide a critical advance by demonstrating clear evidence for moderation by perceived control, wherein affective wellbeing was strongly associated with heart rate when one experienced a stressor outside their control. The innovative approach utilized in the current study in real-world settings provides further support for the value of integrating individuals' self-report and physiological experiences (e.g., the role of perceived control), as the information gained can provide critical insights into stress physiology (e.g., heart rate) and wellbeing (e.g., negative affect) connections. The present study thus provides a critical advance to the literature by connecting the literature on daily affect, perceived control, and physiological data streams. This innovation is particularly noteworthy given the general paucity of work that employs ambulatory assessments of physiological responses to daily life.
Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the electroconvulsive related anxiety questionnaire for psychiatric patients
Authors: EghbalManesh Azadeh , Ebadi Abbas , Zoladl Mohammad , Rasoul Zadeh Haghighi Zahra
Published: February 2025

Introduction

ECT is one of the most effective treatments for psychiatric patients. The results of several studies have reported ECT-related anxiety, which makes the patients ignore the advantages of the treatment and subsequently avoid it. Adopting an appropriate instrument to evaluate and manage this anxiety is so significant. Since there is no valid questionnaire to assess the patients' anxiety for ECT in Persian, we aimed to translate the EARQ into Persian and evaluate its validity and reliability in the present study.

Methods

In this methodological study, 170 patients with MDD, BMD, and schizophrenia aged 20–73 were recruited through convenience sampling and completed the 17-item EARQ in 2023. We used all aspects of face, content, and construct validity for the questionnaire. McDonald's Omega was calculated for the domains and 17 items to assess the reliability of the questionnaire.

Results

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed three factors, death anxiety, physical concern, and mental concern. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated moderate fit indices to support the three domains: CMIN/DF = 4.8 (p < 0/05), RMSEA = 0.152, CFI = 0.92, and NFI = 0.91; GFI = 0.72. In our study, McDonald's Omega was 0.965 for death anxiety, 0.91 for physical concerns, 0.964 for brain concerns, and a total of 0.98.

Conclusions

The EARQ has acceptable validity and reliability, so specialists can use it to assess patients' anxiety before ECT and, according to the score, use suitable interventions to eliminate it.
Strengthening social skills: developing a social competence intervention for physical education using intervention mapping—protocol paper
Authors: Schüller Iris , Wergin V. Vanessa , Mess Filip
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The promotion of social competences using multi-method approaches is an understudied area in education and psychology. This study addresses the gap by developing and presenting a program to enhance social competences using theory-derived program and assessment designs.

Materials and equipment

Bartholomew’s Intervention Mapping (IM) approach, initially used for health promotion, was innovatively applied to a psychological and educational context. The development process and implementation challenges are presented in this article.

Methods

The six-step IM process was adapted to create a comprehensive program design that models social behavior, specifically for Physical Education in schools. The program targets perceptive-cognitive, emotional-motivational, and behavioral components of social competence, along the social competence model by Kanning. Results on effect sizes have yet to be calculated.

Discussion

The IM process was time-consuming and extensive but provided a systematic structure, methodological quality, and traceability of effects. Future adaptations of this program could include extensions to different situational contexts and specific need groups, such as classes with a history of bullying or psychological conditions. This study contributes valuable insights into using the IM approach for promoting behavioral change in a systematic and evidence-based manner.
The impact of the relationship between government and pharmaceutical enterprises on social contribution during the public health emergency: an empirical study
Authors: Zhuang Qian , Wang Huan , Bai Qiqi , Liang Jingwen
Published: February 2025

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines and specific drugs are seen as indispensable solutions to ending or responding to the pandemic, and pharmaceutical enterprises are in the spotlight. The Chinese government has made active efforts to guide pharmaceutical enterprises to make appropriate social contribution during the public health emergency. This study explores how government-enterprise relationship promotes this process.

Methods

Using the financial and textual data of China's listed pharmaceutical companies and policy data from the official website of the Chinese health-related government departments, this study drew the social contribution through text analysis, and established the response index of pharmaceutical companies to the government—the government-enterprise alignment index (GE_Ali) based on the formula of elasticity for reference. Then a series of regressions are used to do the empirical tests.

Results

This study found the more responsive pharmaceutical companies were to government, the greater their contribution to society during the pandemic, mainly through increasing the intensity of drug R&D, production and promotion, and the good communication mechanism between the two formed a mediating effect.

Discussion

The nature of state ownership, the presence of embedded party organizations, and the location in the provincial capital city had significant effects on the realization of a high level of government-enterprise alignment positively affecting the social contribution. This study confirms that the Chinese government has made enterprises a part of social governance, which is a global hotspot, through the embedding of party organizations. It also indicates that the government needs to re-recognize its key role in shaping social contribution, especially in distinguishing its responsibilities between normal and emergency situations.
Worldwide research trends of pregnancy hypertension in epigenetics field
Authors: Yuan Didi , Huang Yangqing , Liu Hanqi , Tang Haotian , Liu Junwen
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Hypertension in pregnancy (HIP) poses significant health risks for both mothers and infants. Development of HIP is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, with epigenetic modifications partially explaining underlying mechanisms. Bibliometric tools aid researchers in quickly gaining insights into field dynamics and trends.

Methods

In this investigation, we conducted a search for relevant publications in the Web of Science Core Collection database using specific keywords. We employed Citespace and WOSviewer software for analysis of interconnections and co-occurrence of information across publications, countries, authors, institutions, keywords and cited literature. Ultimately, we identified 4,316 research papers on hypertension in pregnancy within the epigenetics domain (HIPE).

Results

Our analysis revealed that China had the highest number of publications (n = 1,353, 31.35%), while the University of Melbourne was the most prolific institution (n = 107, 2.48%). Among author analysis, Tong S emerged as highly productive (n = 41, 0.95%). Preeclampsia (PE) emerged as being extensively studied among various types of HIP. High-frequency keywords associated with HIP mechanisms included oxidative stress, proliferation, apoptosis and invasion. Regarding epigenetics-related terms, DNA methylation, mRNA and ncRNA exhibited distinct heat burst periods. The number of HIPE papers demonstrated an upward trend observed through three stages of growth.

Discussion

Our bibliometric-based study provides novel insights into current research progress on HIP from an epigenetic perspective, serving as a source of new ideas and inspiration for future investigations of HIP diseases.
Reconstructing signal during brain stimulation with Stim-BERT: a self-supervised learning model trained on millions of iEEG files
Authors: Menon Karthik , Tcheng Thomas , Seale Cairn , Greene David , Morrell Martha , Desai Sharanya Arcot
Published: February 2025

Brain stimulation has become a widely accepted treatment for neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. These devices not only deliver therapeutic stimulation but also record brain activity, offering valuable insights into neural dynamics. However, brain recordings during stimulation are often blanked or contaminated by artifact, posing significant challenges for analyzing the acute effects of stimulation. To address these challenges, we propose a transformer-based model, Stim-BERT, trained on a large intracranial EEG (iEEG) dataset to reconstruct brain activity lost during stimulation blanking. To train the Stim-BERT model, 4,653,720 iEEG channels from 380 RNS system patients were tokenized into 3 (or 4) frequency band bins using 1 s non-overlapping windows resulting in a total vocabulary size of 1,000 (or 10,000). Stim-BERT leverages self-supervised learning with masked tokens, inspired by BERT’s success in natural language processing, and shows significant improvements over traditional interpolation methods, especially for longer blanking periods. These findings highlight the potential of transformer models for filling in missing time-series neural data, advancing neural signal processing and our efforts to understand the acute effects of brain stimulation.
Assessing vitamin D's impact on pregnancy success: a predictive model for assisted reproductive technology outcomes
Authors: Jiang Songwei , Chen Zushun , Li Liuming
Published: February 2025

Objective

To investigate the correlation between vitamin D levels and clinical pregnancy rates in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures and to assess the utility of vitamin D levels in developing a predictive model for assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes.

Methods

A total of 188 infertile patients receiving their initial IVF or ICSI treatment at our reproductive center between June 2020 and July 2021 were selected for data collection. Vitamin D levels and other relevant ART-related factors were used to construct a predictive model.

Result

The multivariate regression analysis revealed that several independent variables significantly impacted ART pregnancy outcomes, including infertility age, vitamin D level, reproductive anti-Müllerian hormone, antral follicle count, Gn dose, daily endometrial thickness after human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) administration, and number of retrieved eggs. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for this comprehensive model was 75.34%, with a standard error of 0.045 and p-value of 0.003 (95% confidence interval 0.712–0965). Furthermore, the multivariate regression analysis identified specific independent variables that might influence vitamin D levels, such as the number of embryos obtained, daily endometrial thickness after HCG administration, and clinical pregnancy.

Conclusion

The developed predictive model integrating serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D level and ART-related factors holds significant clinical value in forecasting pregnancy outcomes.
Exploring the supply side dynamics of agritourism in Tamil Nadu
Authors: Sennimalai Sarath , Rao Badiya Venkata , Sivakumar S. D.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Agritourism is an emerging sector with the potential to drive rural development, economic diversification, and cultural heritage preservation. In Tamil Nadu, agritourism remains underexplored from a supply-side perspective. This study investigates the motivations, operational challenges, and expectations of farmers engaged in agritourism to understand its sustainable development potential.

Methods

A mixed-methods approach, guided by grounded theory, was adopted to examine supply-side dynamics. Data were collected from 20 agritourism farm owners in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu through structured questionnaires using a five-point Likert scale. Qualitative insights were also gathered through in-depth interviews to supplement quantitative findings.

Results

Findings reveal that farmers are primarily motivated by economic sustainability, additional income generation, rural heritage preservation, and farm diversification. However, key barriers include inadequate agritourism licensing, insufficient public awareness, and limited marketing efforts. Farmers also face challenges in accessing institutional support and navigating regulatory frameworks.

Discussion

To promote sustainable agritourism, the study recommends the establishment of a dedicated agritourism development committee, the formulation of specific government guidelines, and the integration of agritourism awareness into school curricula. These measures can enhance visibility, create employment opportunities, and ensure the long-term sustainability of agritourism in Tamil Nadu. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, aiming to strengthen agritourism as a viable rural enterprise.
Cold water ingestion ameliorates increase in core temperature and discomfort during simulated motor racing in a hot environment: a randomized trial
Authors: Bird Stephen Richard , Troynikov Olga , Watson Chris , Cohen Marc , Sostaric Simon
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Formula One and other motor car racing drivers race for prolonged periods in hot conditions wearing protective apparel that impairs heat loss. They are thus at risk of a significantly elevated core temperature. The aims of this study were to determine whether the voluntary ingestion of cold fluid aided thermoregulation more effectively than the voluntary ingestion of ambient temperature fluid in a simulated motor racing environment.

Methods

Eight male participants commenced two 120-min simulated motor racing trials in an environmental chamber (40°C, 50% humidity). During one trial they were provided with 1 L of ambient temperature water (AWT), whilst in the other trial the water temperature was ∼5°C (CWT). A drinking schedule of “1 sip every four minutes” was advocated. Participant core temperature, skin temperature and heart rate were recorded continuously, whilst thermal comfort, response time and cognitive function were assessed at 30-min intervals.

Results

All participants successfully completed their CWT, but only two completed the full 120-mins of their AWT (AWT trial duration ranged from 80 to 120 min). Despite encouragement to drink more, both the rate of consumption (AWT 333 ± 103 v CWT 436 ± 99 ml/h) and total volume of water consumed (AWT 585 ± 233 v CWT 872 ± 198 ml) were less in the AWT (p < 0.005). At the 75-min point of the trials, participant core temperatures had increased by 1.26 ± 0.29 in AWT and 0.81 ± 0.30 in CWT. Furthermore, at the point of trial cessation, core temperature in the AWT had increased by 1.69 ± 0.36°C, but only 1.17 ± 0.52°C in the CWT (p < 0.05). Participants reported less discomfort and a lower rating of perceived exertion during the CWT. In both trials, response time to the cognitive test decreased as the trials progressed, with no evident difference in response time nor cognitive function between the two trials.

Discussion

The ingestion of cold water was associated with an ability to continue with volitional performance and associated with an ameliorated increase in core temperature as well as providing psychological benefits of cold “refreshment”.
Clinical efficacy of one-hole split endoscopy vs. unilateral biportal endoscopy for the treatment of single-segment lumbar spinal stenosis: a retrospective study with 2-year follow-up
Authors: Qing Peidong , Guo Wenlong , Xie Shiming , Zhao Shengxin , Cui Liqiang , Li Mingfan , Gong Shuangquan , Hu Youpeng
Published: February 2025

Background

One-hole split endoscopy (OSE) is a novel endoscopic technique proposed by Chinese scholars in recent years. Currently, data is lacking regarding the long-term efficacy of OSE for treating lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). This study aimed to compare the long-term efficacy of OSE and unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) in LSS treatment.

Methods

The clinical data of 77 patients diagnosed with LSS at our hospital between January 2020 and March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Forty-one patients were treated with OSE, and 36 were treated with UBE. Perioperative indicators such as operation time, blood loss, fluoroscopy times, incision length, hospital stay, follow-up time, complications, and C-reactive protein level preoperatively and 3 days postoperatively were recorded. Visual analog score (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were recorded preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively to evaluate pain and functional disability. The dural sac cross-sectional area (CSA), lumbar range of motion (ROM), and sagittal translation (ST) of the surgical segment were recorded preoperatively and 3 days postoperatively to evaluate lumbar stability. Clinical efficacy was assessed at the final follow-up using the modified Macnab criteria.

Results

VAS and ODI scores significantly improved at each postoperative follow-up in both groups compared with preoperative values (P < 0.05), with no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05). However, OSE had a shorter operation time, less blood loss, and shorter incision length than UBE (P < 0.05). Postoperative CSA was significantly increased compared to the preoperative CSA (P < 0.05), with no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05). Postoperative ROM and ST increased; however, there was no significant difference compared to preoperative values (P > 0.05). The complication rates in the OSE (n = 2, 4.88%) and UBE (n = 2, 8.33%) groups were not significantly different (x2 = 0.023; P = 0.880). Clinical efficacy was assessed at the last follow-up using the modified MacNab criteria. Thirty-eight (92.68%) and 34 (94.44%) patients in the OSE and UBE groups, respectively, demonstrated excellent or good efficacy, with no significant difference in the efficacy rate between the groups (x2 = 0.151, P = 0.985).

Conclusion

OSE and UBE showed satisfactory long-term efficacy and safety for LSS treatment. However, OSE has a shorter operation time, less blood loss, and shorter incision length, and can be an alternative to UBE.
Pruning and Flower Thinning Influence the Storability of CH201/FRED® Pears
Authors: Gabioud Rebeaud Séverine , Cotter Pierre-Yves , Raemy Marlyse , Dubois Sébastien , Büchele Felix , Neuwald Daniel , Monney Philippe
Published: February 2025

CH201/FRED® is a novel red-blush pear cultivar with long-term storage potential and a prolonged shelf life. However, it is prone to controlled atmosphere (CA)-related disorders, particularly cavities. This study explored the impact of the balance between vegetative growth and crop load on the development of CA-related disorders during storage. Treatments involving the removal of two-thirds of floral bouquets (Fl_Th) and the shortening of branches by two-thirds (Pr) at the bud stage (late balloon stage) promoted the growth of 1-year-old shoots, which correlated with an increased incidence of cavities and reduced calcium levels in the pears. The Fl_Th treatment resulted in larger fruits with a higher total soluble solid content, a greater force required to puncture the skin and flesh, and a higher incidence of cavities than the Pr treatment. These findings demonstrate that both crop load and the leaf area-to-crop load ratio significantly influence the susceptibility of CH201/FRED® pears to CA-related disorders during storage.
N6-Methyladenosine (m6A)-Circular RNA Pappalysin 1 (circPAPPA) from Cashmere Goats: Identification, Regulatory Network and Expression Potentially Regulated by Methylation in Secondary Hair Follicles Within the First Intron of Its Host Gene
Authors: Bai Man , Shen Jincheng , Fan Yixing , Xu Ruqing , Hui Taiyu , Zhu Yubo , Zhang Qi , Zhang Jialiang , Wang Zeying , Bai Wenlin
Published: February 2025

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most abundant modifications in eukaryotic RNA molecules and mediates the functional exertion of RNA molecules. We characterized the circPAPPA and validated its potential m6A modification sites in secondary hair follicles (SHFs) of cashmere goats. Furthermore, we generated integrated regulatory networks of the circPAPPA along with enrichment analysis of signaling pathways. We also explored the potential relationship of circPAPPA expression with the first intron methylation of the PAPPA gene in SHFs of cashmere goats. Host source analysis revealed that circPAPPA is derived from the complete exon 2 of the PAPPA gene, spliced in reverse orientation, and predominantly localized in the cytoplasm of SHF stem cells in cashmere goats. The circPAPPA was verified to contain at least four m6A modification sites in SHFs of cashmere goats, including m6A-450/456, m6A-852, m6A-900, and m6A-963. The generated regulatory network indicated complex and diverse regulatory relationships of m6A-circPAPPA with its putative regulatory molecules, including miRNAs, mRNAs, and proteins. Enrichment analysis of signaling pathways showed that m6A-circPAPPA might play multiple functional roles in the growth and development of SHF in cashmere goats through the putative regulatory network mediated by its target miRNAs and regulatory proteins. The first intron methylation of the PAPPA gene most likely is significantly involved in the dynamic expression of m6A-circPAPPA in cashmere goat SHFs. Results from this study provided novel information to elucidate the biological roles and functional regulatory pathways of m6A-circPAPPA in SHF development and the growth of cashmere goat fiber.
Photoperiod Management in Farm Animal Husbandry: A Review
Authors: Li Chenyang , Shu Hang , Gu Xianhong
Published: February 2025

This review aims to examine the effects of the photoperiod on farm animals and to provide insights into how lighting management can optimize production performance, reproduction, and welfare. The production performance of farm animals is influenced by a variety of factors, such as diet, breed, and environment. Among these, lighting is a crucial component of the feeding environment. With the advancement of intensive farming, lighting measures are increasingly receiving attention. The photoperiod regulates the biological rhythms of animals and affects the secretion of hormones within the animal’s body, particularly melatonin. Melatonin regulates the secretion and release of several other hormones through various pathways, such as growth hormone, prolactin, and gonadotropins. Therefore, the environmental light cycle participates in a variety of physiological activities within animals. An appropriate photoperiod can enhance the production performance, reproduction performance, and welfare conditions of farm animals. Choosing the appropriate lighting duration based on different animals, physiological stages, and production purposes can enhance the economic benefits of farms. In this review, we summarized the recent findings on the impact of photoperiods in different farm animal feeding environments on animal husbandry, although research on the suitable photoperiod for some animals might be outdated and is also discussed in this article. For lactating dairy cows, calves, poultry, pigs (excluding boars), and rabbits, continuous light exposure exceeding 12 h per day can be implemented to enhance growth and production performance. In contrast, for boars and goats, daily light exposure should be limited to less than 10 h to optimize reproductive and productive efficiency. Overall, this review aimed to provide theoretical support for research on the optimal photoperiod for farm animals.
Nanomaterial-Based Strategies to Combat Antibiotic Resistance: Mechanisms and Applications
Authors: Parvin Nargish , Joo Sang Woo , Mandal Tapas K.
Published: February 2025

The rapid rise of antibiotic resistance has become a global health crisis, necessitating the development of innovative strategies to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Nanomaterials have emerged as promising tools in this fight, offering unique physicochemical properties that enhance antibiotic efficacy, overcome resistance mechanisms, and provide alternative therapeutic approaches. This review explores the diverse nanomaterial-based strategies used to combat antibiotic resistance, focusing on their mechanisms of action and practical applications. Nanomaterials such as metal nanoparticles, carbon-based nanomaterials, and polymeric nanostructures exhibit antibacterial properties through various pathways, including the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disruption of bacterial membranes, and enhancement of antibiotic delivery. Additionally, the ability of nanomaterials to bypass traditional resistance mechanisms, such as biofilm formation and efflux pumps, has been demonstrated in numerous studies. This review also discusses the synergistic effects observed when nanomaterials are combined with conventional antibiotics, leading to increased bacterial susceptibility and reduced required dosages. By highlighting the recent advancements and clinical applications of nanomaterial–antibiotic combinations, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of how nanomaterials are reshaping the future of antibacterial therapies. Future research directions and challenges, including toxicity and scalability, are also addressed to guide the development of safer, more effective nanomaterial-based antibacterial treatments.
Oxidative Stress on the Ground and in the Microgravity Environment: Pathophysiological Effects and Treatment
Authors: Zhang Xinyuan , Zhu Huaiying , Zhang Jinhua
Published: February 2025

With the continued exploration of the universe, there is an increasingly urgent need to address the health challenges arising from spaceflight. In space, astronauts are exposed to radiation, confinement and isolation, circadian rhythm dysregulation, and microgravity conditions that are different from those on Earth. These risk factors jeopardize astronauts’ health, thus affecting the quality of space missions. Among these factors, gravitational changes influence the balance between oxidation and antioxidants, stimulating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), finally leading to oxidative stress (OS). OS leads to oxidative damage of biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, and DNA, which causes the development of various diseases. The occurrence of OS is increased in microgravity and affects multiple systems, including the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of OS, the physiological effects on different systems caused by OS in microgravity environment, and potential treatments for OS. Finally, treatment strategies for oxidative stress in microgravity are summarized, providing some promising approaches for protecting the health of astronauts in future space exploration.
Multi-Domain Features and Multi-Task Learning for Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential-Based Brain–Computer Interfaces
Authors: Chen Yeou-Jiunn , Chen Shih-Chung , Wu Chung-Min
Published: February 2025

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) enable people to communicate with others or devices, and improving BCI performance is essential for developing real-life applications. In this study, a steady-state visual evoked potential-based BCI (SSVEP-based BCI) with multi-domain features and multi-task learning is developed. To accurately represent the characteristics of an SSVEP signal, SSVEP signals in the time and frequency domains are selected as multi-domain features. Convolutional neural networks are separately used for time and frequency domain signals to extract the embedding features effectively. An element-wise addition operation and batch normalization are applied to fuse the time- and frequency-domain features. A sequence of convolutional neural networks is then adopted to find discriminative embedding features for classification. Finally, multi-task learning-based neural networks are used to detect the corresponding stimuli correctly. The experimental results showed that the proposed approach outperforms EEGNet, multi-task learning-based neural networks, canonical correlation analysis (CCA), and filter bank CCA (FBCCA). Additionally, the proposed approach is more suitable for developing real-time BCIs than a system where an input’s duration is 4 s. In the future, utilizing multi-task learning to learn the properties of the embedding features extracted from FBCCA can further improve the BCI system performance.
The Influence of Motion Data Low-Pass Filtering Methods in Machine-Learning Models
Authors: Wang Shuaijie , Pitts Jessica , Purohit Rudri , Shah Himani
Published: February 2025

This study assessed the effect of filter parameters on gait characteristics and the performance of machine-learning models. Overground walking trials (n = 99) with and without perturbations (slips, trips) were collected for 33 healthy older adults. Kinematics were collected by a motion capture system. Different Butterworth low-pass parameters were applied to the raw data, including three orders (2–6) and nine cutoffs (4–20 Hz). Spatiotemporal gait outcomes were then calculated to develop classification models to automatically identify the trial type (gait, gait–slip, or gait–trip) using Logistic Regression, Support Vector Classification, and Random Forest Classification. A 3 × 9 ANOVA showed main effects of order and cutoff (p < 0.01 for all) on gait characteristics during both perturbed and regular walking trials. However, the gait characteristics were different between them. The filter parameters significantly affected the performance of classification models using different classifiers, with significant main effects of the filter order (p < 0.05) and cutoff (p < 0.01) on AUC and overall accuracy for all of the models. Our results suggest that the standard Butterworth filter (fourth-order, cutoff: 6 Hz) is suitable for the development of classification models with low–medium complexity, while for models with high complexity (i.e., ensemble models), a filter with a higher order and cutoff (sixth-order, cutoff 10–12 Hz) might yield better performance.
A Comprehensive Review of Deep Learning Techniques in Mobile Robot Path Planning: Categorization and Analysis
Authors: Hoseinnezhad Reza
Published: February 2025

Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) has emerged as a transformative approach in mobile robot path planning, addressing challenges associated with dynamic and uncertain environments. This comprehensive review categorizes and analyzes DRL methodologies, highlighting their effectiveness in navigating high-dimensional state–action spaces and adapting to complex real-world scenarios. The paper explores value-based methods like Deep Q-Networks (DQNs) and policy-based strategies such as Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) and Soft Actor–Critic (SAC), emphasizing their contributions to efficient and robust navigation. Hybrid approaches combining these methodologies are also discussed for their adaptability and enhanced performance. Additionally, the review identifies critical gaps in current research, including limitations in scalability, safety, and generalization, proposing future directions to advance the field. This work underscores the transformative potential of DRL in revolutionizing mobile robot navigation across diverse applications, from search-and-rescue missions to autonomous urban delivery systems.
A Data-Driven Battery Degradation Estimation Method for Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) Satellites
Authors: Park Kyun-Sang , Yun Seok-Teak
Published: February 2025

Battery degradation is a critical challenge in the operation and longevity of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites because of its direct impact on mission reliability and power system performance. This study proposes a data-driven approach to accurately estimating the degradation of satellite batteries by integrating a transformer network model for voltage prediction and unscented Kalman filter (UKF) techniques for online state estimation. By utilizing on-orbit telemetry data and machine-learning-based modeling, the proposed method provides processing-time improvements by addressing the limitations of traditional methods imposed by their reliance on predefined conditions and user expertise. The proposed framework is validated using real satellite telemetry data from KOMPSAT-5, demonstrating its ability to predict battery degradation trends over time and under varying operational conditions. This approach minimizes manual data processing requirements and enables the consistent and precise monitoring of battery health.
Theoretical Aspects of Thin Film Optical Spectra: Underlying Models, Model Restrictions and Inadequacies, Algorithms, and Challenges
Authors: Stenzel Olaf , Wilbrandt Steffen
Published: February 2025

Any calculation of thin film optical spectra requires the formulation of certain model assumptions. In general, those model assumptions concern geometrical features as well as material properties. We review important facets of the thin film optics’ “standard model” that provides the basis of generally accepted relevant modern spectra calculation routines. Moreover, we discuss phenomena arising when certain model assumptions are violated. Examples are provided by the Goos–Hänchen shift, the polarization leakage, interaction with partially coherent light, rough surfaces, as well as the emergence of thickness-dependent, time-dependent, or non-linear optical material parameters. Corresponding challenges in coating characterization and design are discussed, and future prospects are identified.
Assessment of Fire Dynamics in the Amazon Basin Through Satellite Data
Authors: Barbosa Humberto Alves , Buriti Catarina Oliveira , Kumar Tumuluru Venkata Lakshmi
Published: February 2025

The Amazon region is becoming more vulnerable to wildfires occurring in the dry season, a crisis amplified by climate change, which affects biomass burning across a wide range of forest environments. In this study, we examined the impact of seasonal fire on greenhouse (GHG) emissions over the study region during the last two decades of the 21st century by integrating calibrated and validated satellite-derived products of estimations of burned biomass area, land cover, vegetation greenness, rainfall, land surface temperature (LST), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) through geospatial techniques. The results revealed a strong impact of fire activity on GHG emissions, with abrupt changes in CO and NO2 emission factors between early and middle dry season fires (July–September). Among these seven variables analyzed, we found a positive relationship between the total biomass burned area and fire-derived GHG emission factors (r2 = 0.30) due to the complex dynamics of plant moisture and associated CO and NO2 emissions generated by fire. Nevertheless, other land surface drivers showed the weakest relationships (r2~0.1) with fire-derived GHG emissions due to other factors that drive their regional distribution. Our analysis suggests the importance of continued research on the response of fire season to other land surface characteristics that represent the processes driving fire over the study region such as fuel load, composition, and structure, as well as prevailing weather conditions. These determinants drive fire-related GHG emissions and fire-related carbon cycling relationships and can, therefore, appropriately inform policy fire-abatement guidelines.