bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neonatal Hearing Rescreening in a Second Level Hospital: Problems and Solutions
Authors: Gomez-Delgado Marta , Sequí-Sabater Jose Miguel , Marco-Sabater Ana , Lora-Martin Alberto , Aparisi-Climent Victor , Sequi-Canet Jose Miguel
Published: July 2023

Second-level hospitals face peculiarities that hinder the implementation of the hearing rescreening protocol, which are not uncommon in other settings. This study analyzes the hearing rescreening process in this kind of hospital. A total of 1130 individuals were included. In this cohort, 61.07% were newborns in the hospital who failed their first otoemission test after birth (n=679) or were unable to have the test performed (n=11), then being referred to outpatient clinic. The remaining 38.93% were individuals who were born in another hospital with their first test conducted in the outpatient clinic (n=440). A high amount of rescreenings were made outside the recommended time frame, mainly in children referred from another hospital. There was a high rate of lost to follow-up especially with otolaryngologist referrals. Neonatal Hearing screening in second level hospitals is difficult because of the staffing and time constraints. This results in longer than recommended turnaround times and interferes with the timely detection of hearing loss. This is particularly serious in outpatients. Referral of children with impaired screening to out-of-town centers leads to unacceptable loss of follow-up. A legislative support for all these rescreening issues is necessary. We discuss these findings and propose some solutions.
Factors Influencing Ammonia Concentrations above Corn Fields after Dairy Manure Application
Authors: Sherman Jessica F. , Young Eric O. , Jokela WIlliam E.
Published: July 2023

Ammonia-nitrogen (NH3 -N) loss from agriculture decreases crop yield potential and environ-mental quality. Incorporating animal manures by chisel plowing (CP) can reduce NH3 loss but may increase erosion and compaction potential compared to lower disturbance methods. Vertical tillage (VT) is designed to reduce disturbance and conserve more crop residue than CP, however its effect on NH3 loss from manure application is largely unknown. Six trials in corn production systems were conducted to evaluate the impacts of manure incorporation method (CP, VT, or broadcast) and weather conditions on NH3-N concentrations during 2013 to 2016 at a research farm in central Wisconsin, USA. Passive samplers were used to measure NH3-N concentrations at 30-cm above the ground during the first 0 to 24 and 24 to 48 hr post-application/incorporation. Average NH3 -N concentrations for CP and VT were 44 to 86% of surface broadcast and similar for most trials, while crop residue coverage was greater for VT than CP (39 and 22% of control plots, respectively). Concentrations of NH3 -N were correlated with the amount of plot area covered by manure for the first (r = 0.56, P<0.0001) and second measurement periods (r = 0.85, P<0.0001). Results show that VT had comparable NH3-N concentration reductions to CP while conserving more crop residue.
Characteristics of Shisa family genes in Zebrafish
Authors: Liu Yansong , Du Na , Qian Beibei , Zou Congcong , Yu Zhouxin , Xu Fei , Wang Lijuan , Qin Sishi , You Feng , Tan Xungang
Published: July 2023

The Shisa family is a type of single-transmembrane adaptor proteins containing an N-terminal cysteine-rich domain and a proline-rich C-terminal region. Nine Shisa subfamily genes have been proposed in most vertebrates; however, some of them might be species-specific. The number of Shisa genes present in zebrafish remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the evolutionary relationships among Shisa family genes in zebrafish (TU strain) using phylogenetic and syntenic analyses. The function of shisa-2 was preliminarily examined via CRISPR/Cas13d-mediated knockdown. Following identification in zebrafish,10 Shisa family genes, namely shisa-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9a, and 9b, were classified into three main clades and six subclades. Their encoding proteins contained a cysteine-rich N-terminal domain and a proline-rich C-terminal region containing different motifs. A specific syntenic block containing atp8a2 and shisa-2 was observed to be conserved across all species. Furthermore, all these genes were found to be expressed during embryogenesis. shisa-2 was expressed in the presomitic mesoderm, somites, and so on. shisa-2 was identified as a regulator of the expression of the somite formation marker mesp-ab. Overall, our study provides new insights into the evolution of Shisa family genes and the control of shisa-2 over the convergent extension cells of somatic precursors in zebrafish.
Analysis of Measurement of Financial Difficulties and Financial Report Fraud (A Case Study at PT Asabri (Persero) 2010-2018)
Authors: Kusuma Fajar Yulianto Dwi , Rahmawati Isna Putri
Published: July 2023

This study aims to examine the financial health condition and whether there is an indication of fraudulent financial statements or not at PT ASABRI (Social Insurance for the Armed Forces of the Republic) in 2010-2018 by using the Altman Z-Score, Springate S-Score, Grover G-Score, Beneish M-Score, and Dechow F-Score methods. PT ASABRI became the object of the study due to the result of an audit conducted by the BPK (The Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia) in 2021 that found fraud in financial management and investment funds at PT ASABRI. To measure financial distress, the researchers used the Altman, Springate, and Grover models. While to examine financial statement fraud, the researchers used the Beneish and Dechow models. The results revealed that each model showed varied results. In the financial distress model, the Altman Z-Score could show financial distress 4 times while the Springate S-Score showed financial distress 5 times in 9 years of observation. Moreover, the other models showed different results. The Grover G-Score model did not indicate any financial distress at PT ASABRI. While in the fraud model, the Beneish M-Score could detect indications of fraudulent statements at PT ASABRI 5 times in 8 years of observation. Different conditions occurred in the Dechow F-Score model that did not show fraudulent financial statements at PT ASABRI in 9 years of observation, from 2010 to 2018.
ANALISIS STRUKTUR GEDUNG DPRD KOTA BUKITTINGGI MENGGUNAKAN SNI BETON BERTULANG 2847:2019 DAN SNI GEMPA 1726:2019
Authors: Medriosa Hamdeni , Wirahadi Kusuma Wau Antonius
Published: July 2023

Perancangan struktur merupakan unsur yang penting pada pembangunan suatu gedung agar dapat menghasilkan gedung yang kuat, aman dan ekonomis. Secara keseluruhan struktur bangunan gedung terdiri dari dua bagian yaitu struktur bagian atas yang berupa lantai, balok, kolom, dinding dan atap sedangkan struktur bagian bawah berupa pondasi. Bangunan Gedung DPRD kota Bukittinggi ini akan dianalisa menggunakan sistem Struktur Rangka Pemikul Momen Khusus (SRPMK) berdasarkan tata cara perhitungan struktur beton bertulang menggunakan (SNI 2847-2019). Analisis beban gempa menggunakan metode respon spektrum berdasarkan tata cara perencanaan ketahanan gempa untuk struktur bangunan gedung dan non gedung menggunakan (SNI 1726-2019). Analisa Beban desain minimum dan kriteria terkait untuk bangunan gedung dan struktur lain menggunakan (SNI 1726-2020). Pemodelan pada penelitian ini menggunakan  software berbasis finite elemen 3D menggunakan SAP2000. Hasil penelitian ini menjelaskan bahwa pemodelan memenuhi persyaratan terhadap desain gempa SNI-1726-2019 dan desain beton bertulang SNI 03-2847-2019.
Kompetensi pedagogik guru sekolah dasar sebagai pendukung program merdeka belajar
Authors: Kuntarto Eko , Maryono Maryono , Sholeh Muhammad
Published: July 2023

This study aims to access the composition of the pedagogic competence of elementary school teachers as a supporter of teaching practice guidance (PLP) for PGSD students in carrying out school-based MBKM (Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka) activities. The research instrument is a Teacher Competency Assessment Questionnaire which is designed with an online platform. The contents of the questionnaire are prepared based on the dimensions and indicators of pedagogical competence criteria which refer to the National Assessment of Indonesian Teacher Competence. Questionnaires were given to 40 PLP mentoring teachers who were selected based on a purposive random sampling technique, based on several criteria. The research method uses quantitative and qualitative. Based on the results of the study, it shows that: the pedagogic competence of elementary school teachers as supporters of the school-based MBKM program is in the middle order position.
Technical And Internal Load Responses in 3-A-Side Full-Court Basketball Games: The Effects of Coaches' Verbal Feedback
Authors: Mengi Elif
Published: July 2023

The aim of the current study was to examine the acute effects of three different feedback conditions (positive feedback, negative feedback and no feedback) on heart rate, lactic acid, rate of perceived exertion responses and frequencies of technical actions on basketball players during 3-a-side full-court games. Twelve young basketball players (Mean age: 16.5 ± 1.5 years; height: 181± 5.9 cm; body mass: 71.4 ± 7 kg; training experience: 5.4 ± 2.1 years) voluntarily participated to the study. The players underwent anthropometric measurements followed by the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1. Then, players performed 3-a-side full-court games under three different conditions with positive verbal feedback, negative verbal feedback and no feedback randomly at 2-day intervals. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to assess differences among responses to 3-a-side full-court games in terms of heart rate, lactic acid, rate of perceived exertion responses and the number of technical actions performed. No significant differences were found between the three feedback conditions nevertheless lactic acid results showed clinical significance in the negative feedback group (5.4±1.7) compared to the group without feedback (6.5±1.8). The findings of this study reveal that positive, negative verbal feedback given by the coach or no feedback does not have an acute effect on basketball players' game performance and internal load responses.
Effect of joint distraction exercises with elastic band during warm-up on maximum strength performance in male bodybuilders: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Toprak Çağlın Erhan
Published: July 2023

We aimed to evaluate the effect of joint distraction exercises with elastic band as a warm-up method versus an only standard warm-up on lower-body maximal strength performance in male bodybuilders and to determine possible moderator variables affecting performance. In the study, seventeen male bodybuilders who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated. The bodybuilders performed two sets of four joint distraction exercises with 30 seconds of rest following the standardized warm-up versus the standardized warm-up only. The maximal strength performance of bodybuilders was measured with an interval of 96 hours. Joint distraction exercises with the elastic band following the standardized warm-up moderately increased lower-body maximal strength performance of the bodybuilders (p = 0.00; Cohen’d = 0.45, 95%CI = 0.30-0.60). In addition, age (p = 0.34, β = 0.03), height (p = 0.92, β = 0.00), body weight (p = 0.61, β = 0.00), training experience (p = 0.66, β = -0.02) and body mass index (p = 0.55, β = 0.01) were not moderator variables for this training method. Our study showed that joint distraction exercises with elastic bands could acutely improve lower-body maximal strength performance in male bodybuilders regardless of anthropometric characteristics. Practitioners and coaches may prefer this training method before strength training to increase the strength performance of their athletes.
Photocatalytic degradation of Emtricitabine, Lamivudine, and Tenofovir in water using the UV/TiO2/H2O2 hybrid system
Authors: Zvinowanda Caliphs , Ncube Pauline , Ntuli Freeman
Published: July 2023

This study was aimed at investigating the removal of antiretroviral (ARV) drug residues of emtricitabine (FTC), lamivudine (LVD), and Tenofovir (TFV) from water using the UV/TiO2/H2O2 hybrid system. Evaluations of operational factors, degradation kinetics, scavenger effects, degradation pathways, and reusability of the catalyst were the key objectives of the study. The central composite design (CCD) of the response surface methodology (RSM) was used for statistical analysis and process optimization. Five variables (pH, pollutant concentration, TiO2 loading, H2O2 dosage and time) were optimized. The removal realized was 92.56% (FTC), 91.67% (LVD), and 94.83% (TFV) respectively under optimum conditions. The degradations obeyed the pseudo-first-order model with the rate constant (k1) of 0.10773 min− 1 (FTC), 0.0513 min− 1 (TFV,) and 0.04756 min− 1 (LVD). pH and H2O2 had positive influence on pollutant removals up to optimum conditions. The •OH and h+ were the major contributors to pollutant degradations. The degradation of target compounds in water has not yet been reported using the UV/TiO2/H2O2, as far as the authors are aware. Moreover, the reaction kinetics and degradation pathway of FTC and TFV have not yet been studied. The research shows that the UV/TiO2/H2O2 hybrid system may provide an alternative treatment method for the ARVs in water.
Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 from Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Misra Gauri , Manzoor Ashrat , Upadhyay Archana , Katiyar Amit , Bhushan Brij , Anvikar Anup , Chopra Meenu
Published: July 2023

The various strains and mutations of SARS-CoV-2 have been tracked using several forms of genomic classification systems. The present study reports high-throughput sequencing and analysis of 99 SARS-CoV-2 specimens from UP-west using sequences obtained from the GISAID database, followed by phylogeny and clade classification. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Omicron lineages BA-2-like (55.55%) followed by Delta lineage-B.1.617.2 (45.5%) were predominantly circulating in this area Signature substitution at positions S: N501Y, S: D614G, S: T478K, S: K417N, S: E484A, S: P681H, and S: S477N were commonly detected in the Omicron variant-BA-2-like, however S: D614G, S: L452R, S: P681R and S: D950N were confined to Delta variant-B.1.617.2. We have also identified three escape variants in the S gene at codon position 19 (T19I/R), 484 (E484A/Q), and 681 (P681R/H) during the fourth and fifth waves in India. Based on the phylogenetic diversification studies and similar changes in other lineages, our analysis revealed indications of convergent evolution as the virus adjusts to the shifting immunological profile of its human host. Our knowledge to date indicates that this study is the first attempt that comprehensively maps the circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains from Western UP using an integrated approach of whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.
A critical role for cortical amygdala circuitry in shaping social encounters
Authors: Russo Scott , Aubry Antonio , Durand-de Cuttoli Romain , Fisher-Foye Rachel , Parise Lyonna , Cathomas Flurin , Burnett C , Yang Yewon , yuan chongzhen , Lablanca Alexa , Chan Kenny , Lin Hsiao-yun , Froemke Robert , Li Long
Published: July 2023

Aggression is an evolutionarily conserved behavior that controls social hierarchies and protects valuable resources like mates, food, and territory. In mice, aggressive behaviour can be broken down into an appetitive phase, which involves approach and investigation, and a consummatory phase, which involves biting, kicking, and wrestling. By performing an unsupervised weighted correlation network analysis on whole-brain c-Fos expression, we identified a cluster of brain regions including hypothalamic and amygdalar sub-regions and olfactory cortical regions highly co-activated in male, but not female aggressors (AGG). The posterolateral cortical amygdala (COApl), an extended olfactory structure, was found to be a hub region based on the number and strength of correlations with other regions in the cluster. Our data further show that estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1)-expressing cells in the COApl exhibit increased activity during attack behaviour, and during bouts of investigation which precede an attack, in male mice only. Chemogenetic or optogenetic inhibition of COApl ESR1 cells in AGG males reduces aggression and increases pro-social investigation without affecting social reward/reinforcement behavior. We further confirmed that COApl ESR1 projections to the ventrolateral portion of the ventromedial hypothalamus and central amygdala are necessary for these behaviours. Collectively, these data suggest that in aggressive males, COApl ESR1 cells respond specifically to social stimuli, thereby enhancing their salience and promoting attack behaviour.
A dynamic Bayesian optimized active recommender system for
curiosity-driven partially “Human-in-the-loop” automated experiments
Authors: Biswas Arpan , Liu Yongtao , Creange Nicole , Liu Yu-Chen , Jesse Stephen , Yang Jan-Chi , Kalinin Sergei , Ziatdinov Maxim , Vasudevan Rama
Published: July 2023

Optimization of experimental materials synthesis and characterization through active learning methods has been growing over the last decade, with examples ranging from measurements of diffraction on combinatorial alloys at synchrotrons, to searches through chemical space with automated synthesis robots for perovskites. In virtually all cases, the target property of interest for optimization is defined apriori with the ability to shift the trajectory of the optimization based on human-identified findings during the experiment is lacking. Thus, to highlight the best of both human operators and AI-driven experiments, here we present the development of a new type of human-AI collaborated experimental workflow, via a Bayesian optimized active recommender system (BOARS), to shape targets on the fly with human real-time feedback. Here, the human guidance overpowers AI at early iteration when prior knowledge (uncertainty) is minimal (higher), while the AI overpowers the human during later iterations to accelerate the process with the human assessed goal. We showcase examples of this framework applied to pre-acquired piezoresponse force spectroscopy of a ferroelectric thin film, and in real time on an atomic force microscope, with human assessment to find symmetric hysteresis loops. It is found that such features appear more affected by subsurface defects than the local domain structure. This work shows the utility of human-AI approaches for curiosity-driven exploration of systems across experimental domains.
Inverse Dynamics and Energy Analyses of Wheelchair Locomotion in Subjects With Spinal Cord Injury: Differences Between Comfortable and Fast Speeds
Authors: Jaimes Kristy Alejandra Godoy , Duarte Marcos , Menegaldo Luciano Luporini
Published: July 2023

Manual wheelchair users are predisposed to overuse injuries resulting from repetitive movement. This study comprehensively evaluates kinematics, dynamics, and energy during manual wheelchair propulsion at two distinct speeds, utilizing OpenSim. Four participants with paraplegia were instructed to propel a wheelchair at self-selected comfortable and fast velocities. A SmartWheel device was used to measure hand reaction forces and propulsion torque. Kinematics was monitored using 18 reflective markers and two clusters, captured by a Motion Analysis system with 12 cameras. Joint angles and torque curves for rapid and comfortable conditions were compared employing Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM). The average speed attained by the subjects for the comfortable and fast velocities were respectively 1.26 ± 0.18 m/s and 2.41 ± 0.32 m/s. The fast velocity necessitated a higher propulsive torque (7.91 vs. 26.17 Nm, p < 0.05), tangential (24.25 vs. 84.30 N, p < 0.05), and radial forces (28.62 vs. 63.58 N, p < 0.05) exerted on the wheel. Compared with slow, fast velocity average power input from the arm to the wheel (20.57 vs. 113.48 W, p < 0.05) and the average system’s power gain during the propulsion phase (20.30 vs. 114.88 W, p < 0.05) were larger. However, the mechanical efficiency, calculated as the ratio between the two powers, was similar.
6-gene machine learning-found signature for the differentiation of pancreatic ductal carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis patients on peripheral blood mononuclear cells RNA-Seq data
Authors: Carrillo-Perez Francisco , Caba Octavio , Jiménez-Luna Cristina , Ortuño Francisco , Castillo-Secilla Daniel , Herrera Luis Javier , Prados Jose , Rojas Ignacio
Published: July 2023

Background: Pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) has a poor prognosis given that it is usually found in a late stage. Finding a relevant and informative panel of biomarkers is crucial to diagnose the disease, and therefore, improving patient prognosis.In this work we explore the use of machine learning for finding a biologically relevant signature that can accurately differentiate between PDAC, chronic pancreatitis (CP), and control patients in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) RNA-Seq expression data.
Results: Patients data were collected from two different sources: extracellular vesicle long RNA (exLR) and PBMCs RNA-Seq data. The minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance (mRMR) algorithm was used to find a significant gene signature and a support vector machine (SVM) was trained to classify the classes. We firstly leverage an important dataset of exLR samples using feature selection methodologies to find a 15-gene signature that accurately classifies the classes with an F1-Score of ≈ 80% in both the exLR and the PBMCs datasets. Furthermore, we select six genes from the 15-gene list that have significant biological relevance for PDAC description, and train a machine learning classifier that obtains an F1-Score of 71.0% in a Leave-One-Out CV validation.
Conclusion: We propose a relevant signature that can be used to accurately differentiate between the PDAC and CP in a non-invasive and cheap method, which can improve patient prognosis by providing an earlier diagnosis.
Assessing the impact of immersive virtual reality technology on the psychological recovery of patients with Parkinson’s disease depression: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chen Xinyan , Chen Lina , Chen Xiaochun , Ye Qinyong , Cai Guoen , Zeng Yuqi
Published: July 2023

Background: Depression in Parkinson’s disease (DPD) has a high incidence rate in Parkinson's patients. It is common non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease, which seriously affects patients’ quality of life. Thus, improving Parkinson's depression is important for improving patients’ quality of life. Psychotherapy for depression is limited for many reasons, and only a few patients are able to benefit. Many studies have proven that relaxation therapy, play, and exercise therapy are effective treatment for depression. VR has rapidly developed as a form of rehabilitation in recent years, due to its immersive characteristics and accessibility. Further, it has been applied to the psychological treatment of phobia and anxiety. However, there is no relevant research on the treatment of Parkinson's depression with VR, The aim of this study is to assess the effect of immersive VR-assisted training on DPD patients.
Methods: The study design is a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Seventy-four DPD patients will be recruited and chosen as subjects, then randomly allocated into two groups. The VR group (n=37) will accept VR-assisted training (40min) 3 times/week for 8 weeks. The non-VR training group (n= 37) will receive treatment as usual (TAU). The outcome measures will be measured before intervention, at 8 weeks, at 3 months, and at 6 months post-intervention. The primary outcomes will include Hamilton Depression Scale-24 (HAM-D24). The secondary outcomes will include the short-form 36 item health survey questionnaire (SF-36), neuroinflammation factors (BDNF, IL-6, CRP), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Discussion: The traditional treatment of depression has limited resources and requires a lot of time and energy. It is not suitable for PD patients with mobility difficulties and in remote areas. VR is able to make up for limitations in traditional treatment methods. An advantage of VR is that it makes patients more invested in active participation. This study may provide an improved method for the clinical treatment of DPD patients, which is helpful for clinical decision-making and future practice.
Trial registration: The study has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200065843, 16 November 2022.
The behavioural ecology of optimism: exploring potential consequences of judgement bias in mice
Authors: Bračić Marko , Bierbaum Louisa , Peng Maja , Nimalavachchlan Lavanja , Siewert Viktoria , Kaiser Sylvia , Sachser Norbert , Richter S. Helene
Published: July 2023

When confronted with ambiguous information, some individuals respond as expecting positive and others as expecting negative outcomes. Based on such decisions in ambiguous situations, a behavioural test was developed in animal welfare science that allows researchers to characterise animals as more “optimistic” or “pessimistic”. Recent studies using this judgement bias test detected consistent individual differences in “optimism levels”. However, the ecological and evolutionary relevance of these differences is not yet clear. In this proof-of-principle study with laboratory mice, we aimed to explore the potential ecological consequences of being more optimistic or pessimistic. Specifically, we investigated whether “optimists” make different foraging choices under predation risk than “pessimists”. To address this, we first characterised female mice (C57BL/6J) as more optimistic or pessimistic by using two established judgement bias tests. Then we assessed individual differences in the tendency to choose high-risk/high-reward or low-risk/low-reward conditions by using a newly developed test based on predator cues (rat odour). We show that this novel test is a suitable tool to investigate individual differences in ecologically relevant risk-taking: First, the test imposed a risk-foraging trade-off for mice because the risky condition clearly induced more avoidance and risk assessment. Second, individuals showed highly repeatable differences in their choice of the risky or safe option. Considering our main aim, we did not find evidence that optimistic and pessimistic mice make different foraging decisions under predation risk. A potential explanation is that optimists, although expecting positive outcomes, might not take more risks when it can jeopardise their survival.
A Broad-spectrum Gas Sensor based on Correlated Two-Dimensional Electron Gas
Authors: Liao Zhaoliang , Hong Yuhao , Wei Long , Zhang Qinghua , Deng Zhixiong , Liao Xiaxia , Zhou Yangbo , Wang Lei , Li Tongrui , Liu Junhua , Xiao Wen , Hu Shilin , Wang Lingfei , Li Lin , Huijben Mark , Chen Kai , Koster Gertjan , Rijnders Guus
Published: July 2023

Designing a broad-spectrum gas sensor capable of identifying gas components in complex environments, such as mixed atmospheres or extreme temperatures, is a significant concern for various technologies, including energy, geological science, and planetary exploration. The main challenge lies in finding materials that exhibit high chemical stability and wide working temperature range. Materials that amplify signals through non-chemical methods could open up new sensing avenues. Here, we present the discovery of a broad-spectrum gas sensor utilizing correlated two-dimensional gas (C-2DEG) at a delta-doped LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface with LaFeO3. Our study revealed that a back-gating on this 2DEG can induce a non-volatile metal to insulator transition, which consequently can activate the 2DEG to sensitively and quantitatively probe very broad gas species, no matter whether these are polar, non-polar, or inert gases. Such C-2DEG sensor remains stable in almost any atmosphere within a wide temperature range, and its readout is a simple measurement of electric resistance change, thus providing a very low-cost and high-efficient sensing technique.
A molecular analysis of substituted phenylethylamines as potential microtubule targeting agents through in-vitro microtubule-polymerization activity
Authors: De Abreu Isadora Rocha , Barkdull Allison , Munoz James R. , Smith Robert P. , Craddock Travis J. A.
Published: July 2023

Natural phenethylamines are trace amine neurotransmitters associated with dopamine transmission and related illnesses such Parkinson’s disease, and addiction. Synthetic phenethylamines can have psychoactive and hallucinogenic effects due to their high affinity with the 5-HT2Areceptor. Evidence indicates phenethylamines can directly alter the microtubule cytoskeleton being structurally similar to the microtubule destabilizing agent colchicine, however little work has been done on this interaction. As microtubules provide neuron structure, intracellular transport, and influence synaptic plasticity the interaction of phenethylamines with microtubules is important for understanding the potential harms, or potential pharmaceutical use of phenethylamines. We investigated 110 phenethylamines and their interaction with microtubules. Here we performed molecular docking of these compounds at the colchicine binding site and ranked them via binding energy. The top 10% of phenethylamines were further screened based on pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties derived from SwissADME and LightBBB. Based on these properties 25B-NBF, 25C-NBF, and DMBMPP were tested in in-vitro microtubule polymerization assays showing that they alter microtubule polymerization dynamics in a dose dependent manner. As these compounds can rapidly cross the blood brain barrier and directly affect cytoskeletal dynamics, they have the potential to modulate cytoskeletal based neural plasticity. Further investigations into these mechanisms are warranted.
Novel Hyperchaotic Image Encryption Method Using Machine Learning-RBF
Authors: Zhou Shuang , Zhang Hongling , Zhang Yingqian , Zhang Hao
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we put forward a novel hyperchaotic image encryption method using machine learning-RBF. First, a new 4D continuous hyperchaotic system in light of the weak resistance of low-dimensional continuous chaotic systems to degradation is designed, which has a simpler structure, wider chaotic range, better distribution, and higher complexity compared with other chaotic systems based on Hopfield-type neural networks. Additionally, it has good randomness and is implemented on the hardware digital signal processing. Then, based on this system, we put forward a new image encryption method using machine learning-radial basis function (RBF) neural network and true random numbers. Results show that compared with some other algorithms, our method is more secure and withstand common attacks.
A systematic review of the drug-drug interaction between Statins and Quinolones
Authors: Zhou Jifang , Yu Lixia , Xu Huimin
Published: July 2023

Background
Statins are widely used in cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a common lipid-lowering drug, while quinolones are widely used for the treatment of infectious diseases. It is common to see CVD in combination with infectious diseases, therefore it is often the case that statins and quinolones are used in combination. Data suggest combinations of statin and quinolone may be associated with potentially life-threatening myopathy, rhabdomyolysis and acute hepatitis. This systematic review aims to characterize data regarding patients affected by the statin-quinolone interaction.
Methods
The purpose of this systematic review was to collect and evaluate the evidence surrounding statin-quinolone drug interactions and to discuss related risk mitigation strategies. The following databases were searched: PubMed (Medline), Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. The systematic electronic literature search was conducted with the following search terms:"statins" AND "quinolones" AND "drug interactions".
Results
There were 16 case reports that met the criteria for qualitative analysis. Patients were involved in the following adverse reactions: rhabdomyolysis (n = 12), acute hepatitis (n = 1), muscle weakness (n = 1), hip tendinopathy (n = 1), or myopathy (n = 1). In the included literature, patients vary in the dose and type of statins they take, including simvastatin (n = 10) at a dose range of 20–80 mg/d and atorvastatin (n = 4) at a dose of 80 mg/d. There were 2 patients with unspecified statin doses, separately using simvastatin and atorvastatin. The quinolones in combination were ciprofloxacin (n = 9) at a dose range of 800–1500 mg/d, levofloxacin (n = 6) at a dose range of 250–1000 mg/d, and norfloxacin (n = 1) in an unspecified dose range. Eighty-one percent of the case patients were over 60 years of age, and about 1/3 had kidney-related diseases such as diabetic nephropathy, post-transplantation, and severe glomerulonephritis. Nearly two-third of the patients were on concomitant cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors, or organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) inhibitors.
Conclusion
Patients treated with statin-quinolone combination should be monitored more closely for changes in aspartate aminotransferase or creatine kinase (CK) levels, and muscle symptoms, especially in patients with ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, with simvastatin and high-dose atorvastatin, over 60 years of age, with kidney-related diseases, and on concomitant CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Data navigation on the ENCODE Portal
Authors: Hitz Benjamin , Kagda Meenakshi , Lam Bonita , Litton Casey , Small Corinn , Sloan Cricket , Spragins Emma , Tanaka Forrest , Whaling Ian , Gabdank Idan , Youngworth Ingrid , Strattan J. Seth , Hilton Jason , Jou Jennifer , Au Jessica , Lee Jin-Wook , Andreeva Kalina , Graham Keenan , Lin Khine , Simison Matt , Jolanki Otto , Sud Paul , Assis Pedro , Adenekan Philip , Miyasato Stuart , Zhong Weiwei , Luo Yunhai , Myers Zachary , Cherry J.
Published: July 2023

Spanning two decades, the Encyclopaedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) is a collaborative research project that aims to identify all the functional elements in the human and mouse genomes. To best serve the scientific community, all data generated by the consortium is shared through a web-portal (https://www.encodeproject.org/) with no access restrictions. The fourth and final phase of the project added a diverse set of new samples (including those associated with human disease), and a wide range of new assays aimed at detection, characterization and validation of functional genomic elements. The ENCODE data portal hosts results from over 23,000 functional genomics experiments, over 800 functional elements characterization experiments (including in vivo transgenic enhancer assays, reporter assays and CRISPR screens) along with over 60,000 results of computational and integrative analyses (including imputations, predictions and genome annotations). The ENCODE Data Coordination Center (DCC) is responsible for development and maintenance of the data portal, along with the implementation and utilisation of the ENCODE uniform processing pipelines to generate uniformly processed data. Here we report recent updates to the data portal. Specifically, we have completely redesigned the home page, improved search interface, added several new pages to highlight collections of biologically related data (deeply profiled cell lines, immune cells, Alzheimer’s Disease, RNA-Protein interactions, degron matrix and a matrix of experiments organised by human donors), added single-cell experiments, and enhanced the cart interface for visualisation and download of user-selected datasets. Along with this, we also provide a brief summary of data generated using the ENCODE uniform processing pipelines. Finally we have added extensive help pages, tutorials and documentation to assist researchers from a variety of backgrounds in exploring the universe of ENCODE data.
The Association between Normal Weight Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Older Korean Adults
Authors: Kim Jeonghyeon , Kang Seamon , Kang Hyunsik
Published: July 2023

Background: Body mass index (BMI) has its drawback in that it is unable to distinguish between the distribution and quantity of fat mass and lean mass. Normal weight obesity (NWO) refers to a special phenotype of having excessive body fat despite a normal BMI. This cross-sectional study examined the association between NWO and metabolic syndrome in older Korean adults aged ³65 years.
Methods: Data for the current study (612 men and 479 women) was obtained from the 2008-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. NWO was defined as a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2 and body fat of ³26.0% in men and body fat of ³36.0% in women. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the revised National Cholesterol Education Program definition, with a modified waist circumference threshold of >90 cm for Korean men or >85 cm for Korean women.
Results: People with NWO had an increased risk for metabolic syndrome (odds ratio, OR=2.531, 95% confidence interval, CI=1.287~4.980, p=0.007 in men; OR=1.970, 95% CI=1.020~3.850, p=0.043 in women) compared to people with NWNO (OR=1). When all covariates, including age, sex, education, income, smoking, heavy alcohol intake, serum vitamin D, physical activity, and nutrient intake of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and fat-to-lean mass ratio, were controlled, however, the risk of NWO for metabolic syndrome was no longer significant in both genders.
Conclusions: The current findings suggest that older adults with NWO should be monitored in clinical settings for early intervention.
Analysis of UGT Gene Family and Functional Involvement in Drought and Salt Stress Tolerance in Phoebe bournei
Authors: Zhu Zhening , Zhang Yanzi , Li Jingshu , Yang Sijia , Pan Jinxi , Guan Hengfeng , Bakari Almas , Chen Shipin , Cao Shijiang
Published: July 2023

Background
Uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases (UDP-GTs, UGTs), regulated by UGT genes, play a pivotal role in glycosylation, a prevalent compound modification pathway observed in plant secondary metabolism. Glycosylation is known to contribute significantly to hormone homeostasis, plant detoxification processes, and secondary metabolite production in plants. Despite extensive studies on the UGT gene family in numerous species, a comprehensive investigation of the UGT family in Phoebe bournei remains unreported. Thus, we conducted a systematic analysis to identify 156 PbUGT genes and provide a comprehensive examination of this family by investigating homology, conserved protein regions, gene structure, chromosomal location, and tissue-specific expression patterns.
Results
We identified 156 UGT genes within the entire P. bournei genome, all of which contained the PSPG box. The PbUGT family consists of 14 subfamilies, consistent with Arabidopsis thaliana. We observed varying expression levels of PbUGT genes across different tissues in P. bournei, with the following average expression hierarchy: leaf > stem xylem > stem bark > root xylem > root bark. Covariance analysis revealed stronger covariance between P. bournei and closely related species. Additionally, PbUGT genes exhibited differential expression under drought and salt stresses, with specific expression patterns observed under each stress condition.
Conclusions
Our findings shed light on the transcriptional response of PbUGT factors to drought and salt stresses, thereby establishing a foundation for future investigations into the role of PbUGT transcription factors.
Scaling theory of fractal complex networks: Bridging local self-similarity and global scale-invariance
Authors: Fronczak Agata , Fronczak Piotr , Samsel Mateusz , Makulski Kordian , Łepek Michał , Mrowinski Maciej J.
Published: July 2023

We show that fractality in complex networks arises from the geometric self-similarity of their built-in hierarchical community-like structure, which is mathematically described by the scale-invariant equation for the masses of the boxes with which we cover the network when determining its box dimension. This approach - grounded in both scaling theory of phase transitions and renormalization group theory - leads to the consistent scaling theory of fractal complex networks, which reveals a collection of scaling exponents and different relationships between them. The exponents can be divided into two groups: microscopic (hitherto unknown) and macroscopic, characterizing respectively the local structure of fractal complex networks and their global properties. Interestingly, exponents from both groups are related to each other and only a few of them (three out of seven) are independent, thus bridging the gap between local self-similarity and global scale-invariance of fractal networks. We successfully verify our findings in real networks situated in various fields (information – the World Wide Web, biological – the human brain, and social – scientific collaboration networks) and in several fractal network models.
Immune signature of the Chlamydia vaccine CTH522/CAF®01 translates from mouse to human and induces durable protection
Authors: Olsen Anja , Rosenkrands Ida , Jacobsen Christina , Cheeseman Hannah , Kristiansen Max , Dietrich Jes , Shattock Robin , Follmann Frank
Published: July 2023

The clinical development of an effective Chlamydia vaccine requires in-depth understanding of how well protective pre-clinical immune signatures translate to humans. Here we report the first comparative immunological characterization of CTH522/CAF®01 in mice and humans. We find a range of immune signatures that translate from mouse to humans, including a Th1/Th17 cytokine profile and antibody functionality. Interestingly, we identified vaccine-induced T cell epitopes, conserved among serovars and previously found in infected individuals. Using the mouse model, we show that the common immune signature protected against ascending infection in mice and vaccine induced antibodies could delay bacterial ascension to the oviduct, as well as development of pathology, in a T cell depleted mouse model. Finally, we demonstrate long-lasting immunity and protection of mice one year after vaccination. Based on the results obtained in the present study, we propose to further investigate CTH522/CAF®01 in a phase IIb study.
Lamividune and Entecavir for acute Hepatitis B. A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Henriquez-Camacho Cesar , Gomez Ana Isabel Hijas , Risco Carlos Risco , Lapuente Maria Angeles Ruiz , Escudero Rosa
Published: July 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Enhanced antibiotic removal by waste coffee grounds prepared via water washing and KOH activation
Authors: Lee Min Gyu , Kim Younghun
Published: July 2023

This paper proposed a method to remove amoxicillin (AMX) from waste coffee grounds (CGs) using environmentally friendly activated biochar-based adsorbents. KOH-activated adsorbents (activated CGs or ACGs) were prepared by washing with water to avoid using toxic chemicals. The maximum adsorption capacity and kinetics of the ACGs were evaluated using the Freundlich isotherm, Langmuir isotherm, adsorption density, and pseudo-second-order equation. ACG-4a (activated by KOH after washing with water) exhibited a significantly higher adsorption capacity (740.7 mg/g), whereas ACG-4b (activated by KOH after washing with NaOH) exhibited a lower capacity (549.5 mg/g). The specific surface area of the adsorbent is key to the adsorption performance. A comparison of the adsorbents revealed that the ACGs exhibited the highest AMX-adsorbing capacity. Their use has important environmental implications for water pollution mitigation and ecosystem preservation.
Sensibility of LISEM with different disaggregation efficiency equations to simulate sediment yield
Authors: Schlesner Alexandre Augusto , Bernardi Felipe K. , Werle Larissa , Dambroz Alice P. B.
Published: July 2023

The Limburg Soil Erosion Model (LISEM) is an environmental planning and diagnostic tool that, through the simulation of the processes of sediment disintegration, transport and deposition provided by runoff, calculates erosion and sediment yield (SY) in watersheds on an event scale. Currently, the model presents options for adjusting the disaggregation process using efficiency coefficients in the form of equations that act as modulators of the disaggregation provided by the main disaggregation equation of the model, which obeys the principle of the transport capacity by the power of the flow. In simulations for catchments with cohesive soils and rough reliefs, these coefficients may be limiting for the good estimation of SY in erosion modeling. Through hydrological monitoring of a hydrographic basin with agricultural activity of 1.2 km² hydrological variables of flow, suspended sediment concentration and precipitation intensity were obtained for a period of three years, as well as the physical characterization of the relief, soil and land use over the basin. Through the monitored hydrological database, 20 events were calibrated using the three disaggregation efficiency equations and the SY modeling performance was evaluated, in order to choose the one that best represents the disaggregation processes for cohesive soil conditions. From the three equations tested, the one that is used in the EUROSEM model represented by y = 0.79 * exp (-0.85 * COH) satisfactorily predict the SY for 17 of the 20 simulated events, compared to the one originally used in the LISEM model, developed for non-cohesive materials, and also in relation to that used in the MMF model, results obtained respecting the soil cohesion values observed in the field. For three simulated events the adjustment was not satisfactory due to the characteristics of the SY of these events, which do not follow the predictive logic of the erosive process proposed by the model. Thus, the availability of better equations to represent the conditions of the disaggregation for cohesive soils opens new perspectives for the use of the model in studies of the erosive processes in basin scale, and to determine the relationship between the estimated SY as a reflection of the management practices and conservationists adopted on the slopes.
Mildew Detection for Stored Wheat using Gas Chromatography–Ion Mobility Spectrometry and Broad Learning Network
Authors: Fu Mai-xia , Lian Fei-yu
Published: July 2023

Most of the existing methods for wheat mildew detection are biochemical methods, which have the problems of complicated procedures and slow speed. In this paper, a novel wheat mildew detection and classification model is proposed by combining gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) with a broad learning network (BLN) model. Firstly, the GC-IMS fingerprint spectrum of wheat samples with different degrees of mildew are collected by GC-IMS spectrometer, and then an effective and efficient incremental learning system without the need for deep architecture is constructed to identify these fingerprint spectrums. In the BLN model, ridge regression of the pseudo-inverse is designed to find the desired connection weights, and the new weights can be updated easily by only computing the pseudo-inverse of the corresponding added node. To improve the classification accuracy of the BLN model, incremental learning and the spatial attention mechanism (SAM) are introduced into the model. Experimental results show that the training time of the proposed model is greatly reduced compared to existing deep learning models. Under the small sample set condition, the mean average accuracy (mAP) of wheat mildew types reaches 90.32%, the identification precision of early wheat mildew reaches 95.34%. The comprehensive index shows that the neural network model proposed in this paper can be used as an alternative model for deep learning in similar areas of image recognition. The experiment also proved that GC-IMS combined with a broad learning model is an efficient and accurate method for wheat mildew detection.