bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing community awareness of antimicrobial use and resistance through Community Conversations in rural Ethiopia
Authors: Lemma Mamusha , Alemu Biruk , Amenu Kebede , Wieland Barbara , Knight-Jones Theodore
Published: May 2024

Background
Enhanced availability of veterinary drugs in Ethiopia has led to a growing use of these drugs in food-producing animals. However, the use of drugs in livestock production is not commonly supervised. In addition, smallholder livestock keepers often lack sufficient training and information about how the drugs work and their appropriate usage to achieve the intended impact.
Methods
We used Community Conversations to raise awareness and knowledge about antimicrobial use among rural communities. This revealed perceptions and practices of rural households regarding the use of antimicrobials and the risk of drug resistance in livestock. We used women-only, men-only, and mixed-gender discussion groups to explore the gendered perceptions and practices of community members regarding antimicrobial use and resistance.
Results
The discussions with rural communities identified factors that contribute to the misuse of antimicrobials, including poor regulatory system, limited diagnostic capacity, and inadequate knowledge and information among community members regarding the appropriate usage of antimicrobials and the potential resistance emergence.
Conclusions
Raising awareness about antimicrobial use and the potential emergence of resistance is an effective approach to promoting behavior change among rural communities concerning the use of antimicrobials and enhancing livestock management practices. The insights gained from understanding the perceptions and practices of rural communities regarding the use of antimicrobials can help in developing targeted education and training programs for stakeholders involved in the antimicrobial supply chain.
Exploring magma composition variability at various tectonic settings, using global volcanic rock composition data with the DashVolcano tool
Authors: Oggier Frederique , Widiwijayanti Christina , Costa Fidel
Published: May 2024

The relationships between plate tectonics, volcanoes, and the magma compositions their erupt are very important for understanding the whole-earth geodynamics. To understand how these first order phenomena are related requires the integration of global datasets from different sources and tools that would allow to visualize and access the data in an efficient manner, which is a challenging task. Here we report a new version of the application tool called DashVolcano which has linked the global record of all Holocene volcanoes from the Global Volcanism Program with the major element composition of erupted rocks from GEOROC and PetDB databases (~ 140,000 rock samples in total) according to tectonic settings. The tool allows to visualize the rock compositions at a global scale with a map view, and to plot their compositions using classical classification diagrams (TAS, AFM) for individual volcanoes or for a region of interest. Moreover, radar plots permit the visualization of the relative abundance of rock types per volcano or per region of interest and how they compare to various tectonic settings. The DashVolcano application allows to explore a range of questions related to the abundance of erupted magma types in different tectonic settings, the differences in rock composition within or between a chosen region(s), volcano(es), and tectonic settings. DashVolcano should be a useful tool for research and teaching, and it is a good example of the challenges and opportunities of linking large databases at a global scale. DashVolcano is publicly available at https://dashvolcano-qpmiyp54bq-as.a.run.app/
Revolutionizing Corneal Staining Assessment: Advanced Evaluation through Lesion-aware Fine-Grained Knowledge Distillation
Authors: Yuan Jin , Deng Yuqing , Cheng Pujin , Xu Ruiwen , Ling Lirong , Xue Hongliang , Zhou Shiyou , Huang Yansong , Lyu Junyan , Wang Zhonghua , Wong Kenneth , Zhang Yimin , Yu Kang , Zhang Tingting , Hu Xiaoqing , Li Xiaoyi , Lou Yan , Tang Xiaoying
Published: May 2024

Corneal staining is crucial for evaluating ocular surface diseases, yet existing AI models for CSS (Corneal Staining Score) assessments struggle with detailed lesion identification and lack applicability in real-world clinical settings. Moreover, the output of current AI-assist staining evaluation system only provides categories of grades, leading to potential “plateau” effect, which could misrepresent treatment response in clinical practices. Addressing these gaps, we developed the Fine-grained Knowledge Distillation Corneal Staining Score (FKD-CSS) model, which effectively distills fine-grained features into the CSS grading process and outputs continuous, nuanced scores for thorough assessments. Trained on 1471 images from 14 centers of heterogenous sources, FKD-CSS demonstrates robust accuracy with a Pearson's r of 0.898 against ground-truth and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.881 in internal validation, rivaling senior ophthalmologists. Additionally, the model achieved expert performance with considerable Pearson's r (0.844–0.899) and AUCs (0.804–0.883) in external tests in six regions of China using 2376 corneal staining images of dry eye across 23 hospitals, and generalizes to multi-ocular-surface-disease test (Pearson's r: 0.816, AUC: 0.807), underscore its efficiency and explainability for CSS assessment. These results highlight FKD-CSS's potential as a precise, valuable tool for staging and outcome measurement of ocular surface diseases.
Enhancing the Productivity and Assembly Line Balancing Through Takt Time Implementation
Authors: Khalil Muhammad , Din Muhammad Shihab Ud , Ali Abdul Basit , Tahir Muhammad
Published: May 2024

In Pakistan, automotive sector is setting leaps in term of expansion, and achieved a phenomenal growth of 171% between the years 2014 and 2018. Keeping in view, the high demand and production of the sector, it is crucial to generate fruitful revenue from it. For this purpose, the production lines efficiency and productivity should be significantly optimized. Nowadays majority of industries are shifting towards green manufacturing with the application of lean manufacturing tools such as implementation of Takt Time. The proposed study is carried out at Honda Pakistan to reduce the cycle time of KIRA machine through line balancing techniques (Largest Candidate Rule, Longest-Task-Time Heuristic and Mathematical Modelling), capacity calculation, and validated the results via Rockwell Arena simulation software. Moreover, cost benefit analysis is committed to check economic effect of proposed model. Further, after implementation of proposed model, the cycle time of KIRA is reduced from 68.8 sec to 59.08 sec (takt time), and production rate is enhanced from 2800 parts to 3263 parts per day. Lastly, bottleneck is resolved, ultimately leading to increase in line efficiency and station utilization, while on other hand balance delay and line smoothing index are decreased.
Development and validation of the Educational Psychology Workplace Motivation (EPWM) scale; A measure to evaluate educational psychologists’ working-life contexts, patterns, and motivation for change.
Authors: Sewell Alexandra , Coley Fiona , Gossman Peter , Park Jane
Published: May 2024

This research builds on recent interest in Educational Psychologists’ (EPs) working-life contexts, patterns, and motivations. It seeks to deepen the knowledge made through Department for Education research (DfE, 2023) by presenting the development and validation of the Educational Psychology Workplace Motivation (EPWM) scale. The paper reports the application of the theory of motivational interviewing to the construction of the EPWM scale. The measure development process, including content validity and construct validity, is described, highlighting the rigorous validation procedures adopted. Suggestions for further strengthening the measure's rigor, such as establishing criterion validity through comparison with other measures, are discussed. Additionally, the analysis of data collected from 201 practicing EPs provides further insights into work-life contexts and patterns. The findings suggest that EPs often work beyond their contracted hours, have high caseloads, and produce a significant number of reports each academic year. The data also reveal a tendency for more time to be spent on school visits compared to home visits, shedding light on the locations of EPs' direct contact work. By making the EPWM scale available as an open-access resource, the study encourages further development and adaptation by the EP research community. In relation to recent renewed interest in EP working life experiences and motivations (DfE, 2023), the validation of the measure serves as a complementary step towards understanding EPs' work-life experiences and aims to stimulate further research in this area.
Integrative Analysis of miRNA Expression Profiles Reveals Distinct and Common Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Broad Diagnostic Groups of Severe Mental Disorders
Authors: Poschmann Jeremie , Solomon Pierre , Kaurani Lalit , Budde Monika , Guiné Jean-Baptiste , Krüger Dennis , Centeno Tonatiuh , Burkhardt Susanne , Fourgeux Cynthia , Adorjan Kristina , Heilbronner Maria , Kalman Janos , Kohshour Mojtaba Oraki , Papiol Sergi , Reich-Erkelenz Daniela , Schaupp Sabrina , Schulte Eva , Senner Fanny , Vogl Thomas , Anghelescu Ion-George , Arolt Volker , Baune Bernhard , Dannlowski Udo , Dietrich Detlef , Fallgatter Andreas , Figge Christian , Juckel Georg , Konrad Carsten , Reimer Jens , Reininghaus Eva , Schmauß Max , Spitzer Carsten , Wiltfang Jens , Zimmermann Jörg , Schütz Anna-Lena , Sananbenesi Farahnaz , Sauvaget Anne , Falkai Peter , Schulze Thomas , Fisher Andre , Heilbronner Urs
Published: May 2024

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role as regulators of various biological processes and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. In this study, we investigate the expression patterns of miRNAs in the PsyCourse Study (n=1,786), contrasting three broad diagnostic groups: Psychotic (Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders), Affective (Bipolar Disorder I, II and recurrent Depression), and neurotypic healthy individuals. Through comprehensive analyses, including differential miRNA expression, miRNA transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS), and predictive modelling, we identified multiple miRNAs unique to Psychotic and Affective groups as well as shared by both. Furthermore, we performed integrative analysis to identify the target genes of the dysregulated miRNAs and elucidate their potential roles in psychosis. Our findings reveal significant alterations of multiple miRNAs such as miR-584-3p and miR-99b-5p across the studied diagnostic groups, highlighting their role as molecular correlates. Additionally, the miRNA TWAS analysis discovered previously known and novel genetically dysregulated miRNAs confirming the relevance in the etiology of the diagnostic groups. Importantly, novel factors and putative molecular mechanisms underlying these groups were uncovered through the integration of miRNA-target gene interactions. This comprehensive investigation provides valuable insights into the molecular underpinnings of severe mental disorders, shedding light on the complex regulatory networks involving miRNAs.
ZFTA fusion oncoproteins drive tumorigenesis through transcriptional condensates
Authors: Arabzade Amir , Shirnekhi Hazheen , Varadharajan Srinidhi , Ippagunta Siri , Laboe Nicolas , Gee David , Bhimsaria Devesh , Emanus Erik , Kardian Alisha , Phillips Aaron , Cambell George , Park Cheong-Gil , Freyaldenhoven Toler , Chandra Bappaditya , Xia Youlin , Bonten Erik , Achari Anushree , Kandikonda Suresh , Carisey Alexandre , Deneen Benjamin , Bertrand Kelsey , Tripathi Swarnendu , Shirinifard Abbas , Petersen Becky , King Sharon , Stabley Daniel , Pitre Aaron , Kriwacki Richard , Mack Stephen
Published: May 2024

Over 95% of EPNs that arise in the cortex are driven by a gene fusion involving the zinc finger translocation associated (ZFTA) protein. Using super-resolution and lattice light sheet microscopy, we demonstrate that the most frequent fusion variant, ZFTA-RELA(ZR), forms dynamic nuclear condensates that are required for oncogene expression and tumorigenesis. Mutagenesis of ZR reveals key intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) that govern condensate formation. Condensate-modulating ZR IDR mutations impaired genomic occupancy at oncogenic loci, and inhibited the recruitment of transcriptional effector proteins, such as MED1, BRD4 and RNA polymerase II. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we resolved the protein structure of the critical zinc finger found in ZR, and characterized its significance for condensate formation, genomic binding, and oncogene activation. Our data leverages microscopy, genomics, cell biology, animal modeling, structural biology, and machine learning approaches to provide mechanistic insights into the processes that govern oncogene expression in ZFTA fusion-driven tumors.
Relation Cross-fusion Attention Assistance Networks for Multi-hop Question Answering over Knowledge Graphs
Authors: Lv Yana , Bao Haomiao , Du Xiuli , Qiu Shaoming
Published: May 2024

Multi-hop knowledge graph question answering aims to find answer entities from the knowledge graph based on natural language questions. This is a challenging task as it requires precise reasoning about entity relationships at each step. When humans perform multi-hop reasoning, they usually focus on specific relations between different hops and determine the next entity. However, most algorithms often choose the wrong specific relations, causing the system to deviate from the correct reasoning path. In multi-hop question answering, the specific relation between each hop is crucial. The existing TransferNet model mainly relies on question representation for relational reasoning, but cannot accurately calculate the specific relational distribution, which will profoundly affect question answering performance. On this basis, this paper proposes an interpretable assiatance framework, which makes full use of relation embedding and question semantics, and uses the attention mechanism to cross-fuse the relevant information of them to assist in calculating the relation distribution of each hop. Extensive experiments are conducted on two English datasets, WebQSP and CWQ, demonstrating that the proposed model outperforms state-of-the-art models by a large margin.
Transcriptome and metabolome conjoint analysis revealed that PaGLK affects photosynthesis and composition of root exudates in poplar
Authors: Bai Xiang-dong , Zheng Yu , Cao Li , Wang Wei , Jiang Jing , Yu Qi-bin , Yang Chuan-ping , Liu Gui-feng
Published: May 2024

Background
Photosynthetic carbon fixation is the main source of root exudates. GOLDEN2-LIKE (GLK) genes play an important role in photosynthetic carbon fixation. Previous studies have found that expression-inhibited the PaGLK in poplar reduce its net photosynthesis. However, the relationship between GLK genes, root exudates and photosynthetic carbon fixation and how photosynthesis affects root exudate in poplar are not clear.
Result
In this study, we performed comparative transcriptome and metabolome analyses of overexpression and suppression transgenic poplar. GO enrichment analysis showed that the downregulation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in suppression lines was mainly related to photosynthesis in biological processes. Specifically, photosynthesis-antenna proteins, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, and photosynthesis were significantly enriched in KEGG pathways. Gene expression showed consistent trends in real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and transcriptome, indicating reliable transcriptome. Differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) of root exudates were mainly enriched in amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism and fatty acid metabolism pathways. After correlating DEGs and DEMs, we found that most genes and metabolites showed positive regulation.
Conclusion
This study shows that the new factors change composition of root exudates.
Causal relationship between trunk and lower limb fat mass and interver tebral disc disorders: A two-sample mendelian randomization study
Authors: Huang Zhihao , Tian Kunzong , Tian Zhiqi , Wang Yongming , Jiang Yuting
Published: May 2024

Background: Intervertebral disc disorders (IVDDs) represent a significant cause of disability worldwide, with their etiology being multifactorial, including genetic predispositions and lifestyle factors such as obesity. The significance of body fat distribution in the onset of intervertebral disc disorders (IVDDs) has been recognized, yet the causal relationship remains poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of this relationship by investigating the association between fat mass distribution in the trunk and low limb and the risk of IVDDs using Mendelian randomization (MR).
Methods: A comprehensive analysis was conducted using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables to assess the genetic predispositions to increased fat mass in specific body regions (trunk and low limb) and their associations with IVDDs. The study began with reading 9,851,866 SNPs for trunk and low limb fat mass and 21,304,570 SNPs for IVDDs. Through a series of data cleaning steps, including linkage disequilibrium clumping, SNP merging, allele harmonization, and checks against the Phenoscanner database for confounding factors, the number of relevant SNPs was reduced to 353 for trunk fat mass, and 346 and 337 for left and right leg fat mass, respectively. The final causal analysis was performed using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method and MR-Egger method, along with sensitivity analysis to test the robustness of the findings.
Results: The IVW method demonstrated a significant positive causal relationship between trunk fat mass and IVDDs (OR = 1.274, 95% CI: 1.186-1.368, p < 0.001), while the MR-Egger method showed no statistical significance (p = 0.214). However, both methods revealed a consistent and statistically significant association for low limb fat mass with IVDDs. Specifically, the IVW method indicated OR of 1.461 (95% CI: 1.330-1.605, p < 0.001) for left leg fat mass and 1.467 (95% CI: 1.331-1.618, p < 0.001) for right leg fat mass. The presence of heterogeneity and potential pleiotropy was assessed, with findings supporting the stability and reliability of the causal inferences.
Conclusion: This study confirmed a positive causal relationship between trunk and lower limb fat mass and the risk of IVDDs, highlighting the importance of considering body fat distribution in the prevention and management of IVDDs. The findings suggested that interventions aimed at reducing trunk and lower limb fat mass could potentially lower the risk of developing IVDDs. This research added valuable insights into the genetic and physiological links between body fat distribution and IVDDs, paving the way for targeted preventive strategies and therapeutic interventions.
Short-term pregnancy outcomes and drug interactions after simultaneous exposure to Nematavir/Ritonavir (Paxlovid) and immunosuppressants in pregnant women
Authors: Zhu Ximei , Huang Qianyun , Mo Liqian , Fu Fangfang , Zhou Shouning , Feng Yan , Yang Caihua
Published: May 2024

Background In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, pregnant women, especially those who have been receiving long-term immunosuppressive therapy, are considered at high risk for developing severe COVID-19. However, there are limited available data regarding the safety of Paxlovid for the treatment of novel coronavirus infection during pregnancy. Moreover, it should be noted that the ritonavir component of paxlovid acts as a potent cytochrome P4503A (CYP3A) inhibitor that can significantly increase the blood concentrations of various drugs metabolized by paxlovid. When combined with immunosuppressive agents, this interaction may lead to drug toxicity and other adverse reactions. This article presents three cases illustrating short-term pregnancy outcomes and drug interactions resulting from simultaneous exposure to both paxlovid and immunosuppressive agents.
Methods Through an initial series of reports on three pregnant women concurrently exposed to paxlovid and immunosuppressive drugs, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, we conducted an analysis of short-term delivery outcomes and discussed potential interactions between paxlovid and immunosuppressive drugs. By integrating pharmacogenomics and therapeutic drug concentration monitoring, this study facilitates the formulation, adjustment, and monitoring of drug therapy while also providing a comprehensive review of the literature.
Results After simultaneous exposure to paxlovid and immunosuppressive agents during pregnancy, the short-term pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of the two pregnant women were favourable, consistent with the majority of studies. Unfortunately, one pregnant woman delivered a preterm infant at 26+ gestational weeks (GW), resulting in adverse outcomes unrelated to the administration of paxlovid. Furthermore, the use of paxlovid in pregnant women significantly inhibited the metabolism of cyclosporine and tacrolimus, leading to increased drug exposure and potential side effects. This interaction is associated with genetic polymorphisms, such as those in the CYP3A5*3, CYP3A4*18B, and ABCB1 genes, and with a unique physiological state during pregnancy.
Conclusions Pregnant women who concurrently use paxlovid, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus should promptly adjust the drug dosage to mitigate potential drug toxicity. Given the distinctive physiological conditions during pregnancy, it is advisable to incorporate genetic testing into pharmacokinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring. The integration of these two strategies constitutes a pivotal approach to achieving precision medicine for pregnant women.
­­­A novel quantum algorithm for Biological Sequence Alignment using Quantum Accelerated Mapping in Seed-and-Extend Technique.
Authors: Prousalis Konstantinos , Ntalaperas Dimitris , Georgiou Konstantinos , Kalogeropoulos Andreas , Stavropoulos Thanos G. , Karamanidou Theodora , Aggelis Lefteris , Konofaos Nikos , Papalitsas Christos
Published: May 2024

A novel quantum algorithm for use in Biological Sequence Alignment is presented and analyzed. The large amounts of data extracted from genome sequencing, de novo assembly sequencing, resequencing, and transcriptome sequencing at the DNA or RNA level, foreshadow the need for higher computing power as well as more sophisticated alignment methods. Modern and faster sequencing techniques in genomics have led to the reconsideration of current methods of designing or implementing alignment protocols. Novel quantum computing accelerators may provide drastic solutions in this field reaching the desired levels of gate operation maturity. This paper proposes a computer vision-based approach, using the unprecedented power of entanglement in a dot-matrix, to address the high demand for fast harnessing of biological data. A quantum accelerated protocol is demonstrated and tested using the Qiskit software framework of IBM. Runtime tests verify the expectations to obtain a potentially advantageous sequence alignment algorithmic process in terms of accuracy, completeness and computing complexity. The performance has been tested under various conditions and promises a clear and viable advantage.
Universal formal asymptotics for localized oscillation of a discrete mass-spring-damper system of time-varying properties, embedded into a one-dimensional medium described by the telegraph equation with variable coefficients
Authors: Gavrilov Serge N. , Poroshin Ilya O. , Shishkina Ekaterina V. , Mochalova Yulia A.
Published: May 2024

We consider a quite general problem concerning a linear free oscillation of a discrete mass-spring-damper system. This discrete subsystem is embedded into a one-dimensional continuum medium described by the linear telegraph equation. In a particular case, the discrete subsystem can move along the continuum one at a sub-critical speed. Provided that the dissipation in both discrete and continuum subsystems is absent, if parameters of the subsystems are constants, under certain conditions (the localization conditions), a non-vanishing oscillation localized near the discrete subsystem can be possible. In the paper we assume that the dissipation in the damper and the medium is small, and all discrete-continuum system parameters are slowly varying functions in time and in space (when applicable), such that the localization condition is fulfilled for the instantaneous values of the parameters in a certain neighbourhood of the discrete subsystem position. This general statement can describe a number of mechanical systems of various nature. We derive the expression for the leading-order term of a universal asymptotics, which describes a localized oscillation of the discrete subsystem. In the non-dissipative case, the leading-order term of the expansion for the amplitude is found in the form of an algebraic expression, which involves the instantaneous values of the system parameters. In the dissipative case, the leading-order term for the amplitude, generally, is found in quadratures in the form of a functional, which depends on the history of the system parameters, though in some exceptional cases the result can be obtained as a function of time and the instantaneous limiting values of the system parameters. In previous studies, several non-dissipative particular cases of the problem under consideration are investigated using a similar approach, provided that only one parameter of the discrete-continuum system is a slowly time-varying non-constant quantity, whereas all other parameters are constants. We show that asymptotics obtained in previous studies are particular cases of the universal asymptotics. The existence of a universal asymptotics in the form of a function is a non-trivial fact, which does not follow from the summarization of the results obtained for particular cases. Finally, we have justified the universal asymptotics by numerical calculations.
Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Contacts are apical hotspots of lipid peroxidation driving ferroptosis
Authors: Sassano Maria Livia , Tyurina Yulia (Y) , Diometzidou Antigoni , Vervoort Ellen , Tyurin Vladimir , More Sanket , Rovere Rita La , Giordano Francesca , Bultynck Geert , Bayir Hülya , Kagan Valerian (E) , Scorrano Luca , Agostinis Patrizia
Published: May 2024

Peroxidation of membrane phospholipids (PLs) is a hallmark of ferroptosis. ER and mitochondria have been implicated in ferroptosis, but whether intracellular PL-peroxidation ensues at their contact sites (EMCSs) is unknown. Using super-resolution live imaging we charted the immediate spatiotemporal events triggered by ferroptosis at the inter-organelle level. EMCSs expand minutes after the formation of localized and activated lipid-peroxides that secondary spread to mitochondria, promoting mitochondrial ROS accumulation and fission. Oxidative lipidomics unravels that EMCSs host distinct pro-ferroptotic polyunsaturated (PUFA)-PLs, including doubly PUFA-acylated PLs, demonstrating the persuasive propensity of EMCS to PL-peroxidation. Genetic disruption of EMCSs blunts PL-peroxidation and ferroptosis, while EMCS stabilization enhances them. Analysis of human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) data shows that expression of EMCShigh-gene signature associates with the ferroptosis-susceptible TNBC subtype harboring heightened levels of oxidized-PLs. Our data reveal EMCSs as apical orchestrators of lethal lipid-peroxidation production and suggest that empowering EMCSs can promote ferroptosis in vulnerable cancer cells.
Use of Submerged Machining in Milling Process
Authors: Dias Luiz Roberto Muñoz , Diniz Anselmo Eduardo
Published: May 2024

Various means of lubrication and/or cooling, as well as different ways of applying these fluids have already been implemented in machining in order to try to save costs during the manufacturing process, as well as not exposing the operator's health to irreversible damage by inhaling the vapor of these fluids. This work aims to study two new lubrication and cooling methods, never tested before: milling with the part submerged in neat oil and milling with the part submerged in aqueous fluid. The motivation for this study is to minimize the thermal cyclic variation of milling, which accelerates wear of the cutting tool and which should be reduced by submerging the part in these fluids. Machinability was then evaluated in terms of tool life, surface roughness and cutting power among 6 lubrication-cooling processes, namely, submerged with neat oil, submerged with aqueous fluid, abundant aqueous fluid (conventional machine jet), minimum volume of oil (MVO), minimum quantity of fluid with compressed air (MQF) and dry cutting. The above processes were also evaluated under different cutting speeds and different cutting widths (ae). The results showed that the submerged process with neat oil was the one that provided the greatest chip removal per tool life, followed by the submerged process with aqueous fluid, which fully met the expectations of this research. The mechanisms causing tool wear were attrition, abrasion and thermal cracks which were predominant in processes with aqueous fluid.
Hemispherotomy: cortical islands of deep sleep in awake humans
Authors: Massimini Marcello , Massimini Marcello , Colombo Michele , Colombo Michele , Favaro Jacopo , Favaro Jacopo , Mikulan Ezequiel , Mikulan Ezequiel , Pigorini Andrea , Pigorini Andrea , Zauli Flavia Maria , Zauli Flavia Maria , Sartori Ivana , Sartori Ivana , d'Orio Piergiorgio , d'Orio Piergiorgio , Castana Laura , Castana Laura , Toldo Irene , Toldo Irene , Sartori Stefano , Sartori Stefano , Sarasso Simone , Sarasso Simone , Bayne Timothy , Bayne Timothy , Seth Anil , Seth Anil
Published: May 2024

Hemispherotomy is a surgical procedure that disconnects a large portion of the cerebral cortex from cortical and subcortical inputs in patients with severe refractory epilepsy. Whether the disconnected cortex - inaccessible to behavioral assessment - supports consciousness remains unknown. Functional MRI studies have indicated preserved resting-state networks within the disconnected hemisphere, raising the possibility that it may represent an ‘island of awareness’. However, these networks can also persist in unconscious states, such as anesthesia and deep sleep.
Here we assess the capacity of the disconnected cortex to support consciousness by exploring its electrophysiological state, before and after hemispherotomy, in ten awake pediatric patients.
After surgery, the disconnected cortex–but not the contralateral cortex–entered a state dominated by slow oscillations (<2 Hz) resembling those observed during deep sleep; further, the spectral exponent, a previously validated marker of consciousness indexing the 1/f-like decay of the power spectral density, assumed values typically found in unconscious brain-injured and anesthetized adults. When compared to a reference pediatric sample, spectral exponent values were compatible with wakefulness in the contralateral cortex but attained levels typical of deep sleep over the disconnected cortex, suggesting that the disconnected cortex is not an island of awareness.
The effects of Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs) and Lactobacillus salivarius on changes in gut microbial biodiversity and their potential role on Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Postlarvae
Authors: Najnine Farhana , Wang Meng , Han Hongcao , Cai Junpeng
Published: May 2024

White-leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is the most important species in the shrimp industry, with its production virtually all from aquaculture. Nevertheless, it frequently suffers from diseases, indicating the inadequacy of existing control measures. Recent, evidence has shown that probiotics play an important role in disease control by maintaining the composition of the gut microbiota. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the probiotic potential of Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs) strain BDN-1F2 and Lactobacillus salivarius strain GZPH2 in rearing shrimp postlarvae (PL) with a control group without any treatment. The results showed that compared to BDN-1F2, GZPH2 only had a better effect on length growth while BDN-1F2 performed significantly better in weight gain and survival rate (P < 0.05). The 16S high throughput sequencing results showed that BDN-1F2 was significantly more effective than GZPH2 at building a healthy gut microbial communities, including the reduction of pathogenic bacterial taxa Gammaproteobacteria/Vibrionales and the increment of beneficial bacterial taxa Alphaproteobacteria/Rhodobacteraceae. Furthermore, BDN-1F2 also lowered Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios, which theoretically supported better PL growth performance in this group. In addition, the relative abundances of predicted functional microbial genes involving amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate were very high in BDN-1F2 group than in groups GZPH2 and control. To our knowledge, this is the first report to compare between two probiotics, BALOs strain BDN-1F2 and Lactobacillus salivarius strain GZPH2 and an investigation of changes in intestinal microbial community structure as well as their effects on shrimp survival and growth performance.
The spatial heterogeneity of public health resources: a study of the socioeconomic, demographic, and natural geographic conditions of ethnic minority regions in southwestern China
Authors: Wang Zheng , Lu Huaxiang , Liu Xi , Chen Qiuli , Liu JunJun , Liu Nannan , He Haoyu
Published: May 2024

Background
The inequitable distribution of health resources causes disparities in people's access to healthcare services, impacting residents’ health status and quality of life. As a result, the allocation of health resources has become a critical concern for governments when formulating healthcare policies. China is a developing country with uneven development among cities and rural areas, which lead the problem of inequity in health resources is noticeable, especially in less developed areas. Hence,we aimed to explore the spatial distribution of the average number of physicians and hospital beds in Guangxi and used spatial models to analyse the impact of economic, demographic and altitude factors on the distribution of health resources. These findings may provide a basis for the government to improve health policies.
Methods
We described the spatial patterns of the number of hospitals (NH), the number of hospital beds per 10,000 people (NHB), the number of practising physicians per 10,000 people (NPP), in Guangxi. Then, we explored the economic and demographic factors that may influence the spatial distribution of NHB and NPP through the geographically weighted regression (GWR) and multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) models.
Results
Guangxi’s NH (Moran's I = 0.127, p = 0.006), NHB (Moran's I = 1.363, p = 0.001), and NPP (Moran's I = 1.289, p < 0.001) exhibited significant autocorrelation and heterogeneity in spatial distribution, significantly clustering and forming hotspots in Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin and Wuzhou. The MGWR model showed spatial regression of NHB with the proportion of population ≥ 60 years old (EV = 0.337, p = 0.001), years of schooling (EV = 0.409, p = 0.002), general public income (EV = 0.228, p = 0.023) and average elevation (EV = 0.225, p = 0.042), while NPP was related to population density (EV = 0.230, p = 0.009), proportion of population ≥ 60 years old (EV = 0.250, p = 0.003), total social consumption (EV = 0.241, p = 0.010), etc. There were significant spatial regression relationships between GDP per capita (EV = 0.324, p < 0.001) and the proportion of urban dwellers (EV = 0.172, p = 0.033).
Conclusions
The spatial heterogeneity of healthcare resources in Guangxi is related to the enqual development of its socioeconomic, culture and population and is affected by topographical factors. The healthcare resources in Guangxi are clustered in areas with a relatively good degree of social development, such as Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin and Wuzhou, with both absolute and relative deficiencies and with different factors influencing the number of beds per capita and the number of doctors per capita. Moreover, feasible ways to meet the demand for medical resources in different regions should be explored.
Fast Image Recoloring for Red-Green Anomalous Trichromacy with Contrast Enhancement and Naturalness Preservation
Authors: Zhou Haiqiang , Huang Wangkang , Zhu Zhenyang , Chen Xiaodiao , Go Kentaro , Mao Xiaoyang
Published: May 2024

Color vision deficiency (CVD) is an eye disease caused by genetics that reduces the ability to distinguish colors, affecting approximately 200 million people worldwide. In response, image recoloring approaches have been proposed in existing studies for CVD compensation, and a state-of-the-art recoloring algorithm has even been adapted to offer personalized CVD compensation; however, it is built on a color space that is lacking perceptual uniformity, and its low computation efficiency hinders its usage in daily life by individuals with CVD. In this paper, we propose a fast and personalized degree-adaptive image-recoloring algorithm for CVD compensation that considers naturalness preservation and contrast enhancement. Moreover, we transferred the simulated color gamut of the varying degrees of CVD in RGB color space to CIE L*a*b* color space, which offers perceptual uniformity. To verify the effectiveness of our method, we conducted quantitative and subject evaluation experiments, demonstrating that our method achieved the best scores for contrast enhancement and naturalness preservation.
Morphological variation of the kelp Ecklonia radiata in northeastern New Zealand and across its Australasian range
Authors: Hanns Benjamin , Blain Cailtin , Shears Nick
Published: May 2024

Understanding the drivers of morphological plasticity, a key mechanism allowing species to flourish under a range of conditions, can provide important information on how a species will adapt to climate-change. The kelp Ecklonia radiata is the dominant canopy-forming macroalgae in temperate Australasia, occurring across a wide environmental range. Previous assessments of morphological variation across Australasia have not included northeastern New Zealand (NENZ) populations, where E. radiata exhibits an anomalous long-stipe morphology. Morphology in NENZ E. radiata over nine locations was quantified to examine variability and its relationship with environmental drivers: depth, wave exposure, turbidity and temperature. Published literature was then reviewed to assess variation across Australasia in relation to similar large-scale environmental drivers. In NENZ, morphology was driven by depth, wave exposure, and turbidity, but not temperature. Thalli had short stipes and relatively long lamina at shallow depths (<2 m) and across depths at highly wave exposed sites. Stipe length increased with depth and the long stipe morphology dominated deeper depths (4-12 m) at sheltered to moderately exposed sites. However, this relationship varied in relation to turbidity, with more turbid sites having shorter stipes across all depths. Regional variation in morphology across Australasia was most strongly related to wave climate rather than temperature with the long-stipe morphology characterising regions with low energy wave climates such as NENZ. This study highlights the high levels of variability in E. radiata morphology and its complex relationship with environmental stress. If Australasia’s wave climate is to increase in severity, our findings suggest morphological variability expressed across Australasian E. radiata populations will shrink.
Applying a “medical deserts” lens to cancer care services in the North-West region of Romania – a mixed-methods analysis
Authors: Brînzac Monica Georgiana , Ungureanu Marius I. , Baba Cătălin O.
Published: May 2024

Background
Medical deserts pose significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, leading to unmet healthcare needs and exacerbated health issues, particularly in underserved regions.
Methods
This study aims to characterise cancer care services in the North-West region of Romania through the lens of medical desertification, employing a mixed-methods approach.
Quantitative analysis of secondary data from 2009 to 2022, along with qualitative data from interviews with cancer patients and healthcare professionals, reveals disparities in access to cancer care across counties within the region.
Results
While Cluj-Napoca exhibited a robust cancer infrastructure, areas like Satu-Mare and Sălaj faced limitations in accessing cancer services, contributing to medical desertification. The qualitative analysis highlighted the prevalence of medical deserts in oncology, with inadequate human resources, facility deficiencies, prolonged waiting times, high costs, and socio-cultural barriers hindering access to cancer care.
Recommendations for improvement include revising treatment protocols, enhancing palliative care, implementing prevention strategies, promoting collaboration among healthcare professionals, and digitalizing the healthcare system. However, challenges persist, including shortage of oncology specialists, geographical disparities in cancer prevalence, and limited access to advanced treatment modalities in rural areas.
Conclusions
Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive approaches, including strategic resource allocation, workforce development, infrastructure investments, access to innovative treatments, and digital health technologies. Collaboration among policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities is crucial to mitigating medical deserts and improving cancer outcomes.
Despite limitations, this study provides valuable insights into cancer care services and underscores the need for concerted efforts to overcome medical desertification and ensure equitable access to high-quality cancer care.
Gastroprotective effect of water extract of Muscari neglectum on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats
Authors: Soydan Menekse , Arabaci Gulnur , Utlu Necati , Halici Mesut Bünyamin , Senocak Esra Aktas , Kiliclioglu Metin
Published: May 2024

Muscari Mill. is used raw and cooked for gastric diseases, expectorants, wart treatment, and urine enhancers. No scientific study has been found on the effect of Muscari neglectum (MN) water extract on stomach diseases. Here, the effect of water extract of MN plant on some biochemical and histopathological parameters on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats was examined. In this study, 60 male Sprague Dawley rats were used for 24 acute toxicity and 36 gastric ulcer models (n = 6). They were divided into 6 groups as intact; indomethacin, famotidine, indomethacin and MN (100, 200, 400 mg/kg). The results of the gastric tissues examined biochemically, macroscopically and histopathologically showed that all doses of MN extracts prevented indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal damage and the 400 mg/kg dose had the strongest antiulcer effect with 69%. When SOD, GSH, CAT and MDA levels were investigated, the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer group had a decrease in SOD, CAT and GSH levels and an increase in MDA levels. Additionally, LC-MS/MS analysis of the water extract of MN was performed and 14 phenolic compounds were determined. Biochemical analyses and histopathological examinations revealed that the water extract of MN has a good protective effect against gastric ulcer due to its high antioxidant content.
Providing healthcare under the threat of gang-violence: a survey of Haitian healthcare providers
Authors: Belt Rachel , Jacques Nadege , Pierre Larry , Greig Elizabeth , Rahimi Kazem
Published: May 2024

In addition to having some of the worst health outcomes in the region, Haiti faces a political and economic crisis. The most recent humanitarian crisis includes an increase in homicides and kidnappings in the capital Port-au-Prince. This study is a cross-sectional, mixed methods online survey of health workers and medical students in Port-au-Prince from May 20 – September 15, 2023. It provides evidence of the kidnapping risk healthcare workers face and shares the perspective of a medical community operating in a challenging context to provide a continuity of care under the threat of violence. The survey of Haitian health workers and students show a significant risk of kidnapping with 44% of respondents reporting that they had a colleague kidnapped in the previous 2 years. 5 of the 249 respondents had been kidnapped and all were young, female health workers. 74% of health workers and students surveyed reported they plan to continue their profession abroad. Although tele-training was viewed as a positive opportunity to continue training cadres of medical professionals, health workers shared numerous limitations present for the expansion of tele medicine in the Haitian context. In addition to describing the experience of the Haitian healthcare professional during this crisis and documenting barriers to tele training and tele medicine, this survey documents design considerations for mobile phone surveys with healthcare providers working in areas affected by conflict.
Model Predictive Sliding Mode Control of Direct Current Motors
Authors: Eghbal Najmeh , Seyedeh-Solmaz Rostami-Sani-Moghaddam-Ghare-Ghuyunlu
Published: May 2024

In this paper, a cascade controller is designed for controlling the speed of a direct current motor, which includes a combination of a model predictive controller and a sliding mode controller. The main goal is to precisely control the speed and angle of the motor shaft by adjusting the input voltage, taking into account the voltage limitations. We design a model predictive sliding mode controller in such a way that in the inner loop, the model predictive controller controls the voltage to follow the reference current, and in the outer loop, the sliding mode controller generates the reference current to follow the desired speed. The sliding mode controller, with its resistance to external disturbances, reduces their effects and the uncertainties of modeling. By extracting the reference current based on the speed tracking error and the presence of uncertainty, the optimal terminal voltage of the motor is predicted in the inner loop, leading to the tracking of the desired rotational speed by the motor. This paper also proves the stability of the system in the presence of the motor terminal input voltage constraint, and the simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed controller in dealing with uncertainty and external disturbances.
CircMETTL3 inhibits H2O2-induced senescence, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in ARPE-19 cells via miR-100/BMPR2 axis
Authors: Xin Xiangyang , Zhao Xin , Ling Feng , Qin Liru , Liu Xinyue , Liu Changhe
Published: May 2024

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common degenerative eye disease that eventually leads to irreversible vision loss. CircRNAs have received increasing attention for their regulatory role in AMD. In this study, whole transcriptome sequencing identified differentially expressed circRNA (circMETTL3) in AMD. Previous studies have unlocked the potential mechanism of circMETTL3 in cancer, but its role in AMD has not been studied. ARPE-19 cells treated with H2O2 were used as the AMD cell model. The senescence, oxidative stress, and DNA damage of ARPE-19 cells were determined by SA-b-gal staining, DCFH-DA staining, and IF assay. The levels of RPE-specific markers or mRNA levels were assessed using western blot assay. The potential mechanism of circMETTL3 was investigated by luciferase reporting assay and RIP assay. CircMETTL3 was revealed to decrease in AMD cell models. The addition of circMETTL3 decreased SA-b-gal staining and ROS production and facilitated cell viability in H2O2-treated ARPE-19 cells. Moreover, γH2AX level was suppressed, and TJP1, BEST1 and CTNNB1 protein levels were increased by circMETTL3 addition. In addition, circMETTL3 could bind to and negatively regulate miR-100. miR-100 silencing reduced senescence, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in H2O2-treated ARPE-19 cells. Furthermore, BMPR2 was targeted by miR-100. Inhibition of BMPR2 promoted H2O2-induced cell damage in ARPE-19 cells. In sum, these findings demonstrated that the circMETTL3/miR-100/BMPR2 axis plays a vital regulatory role in AMD development.