bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coevolution With Host Fishes Shapes Parasitic Life Histories in a Group of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae: Quadrulini).
Authors: Neemuchwala Sakina , Johnson Nathan A. , Pfeiffer John M. , Lopes-Lima Manuel , Gomes-dos-Santos André , Froufe Elsa , Hillis David M. , Smith Chase H.
Published: July 2023

Ecological interactions among species often lead to parasitic lineages coevolving with host resources, which is often suggested as the primary driver of parasite diversification. Freshwater mussels are bivalves that possess a parasitic life cycle requiring larval encystment on freshwater vertebrates to complete metamorphosis. The North American freshwater mussel tribe Quadrulini has a suite of life history adaptations including highly specialized patterns of host use, infection strategies, and variable larval morphologies. However, the evolution of life histories has yet to be explored using phylogenetic comparative methods. In this study, we use a holistic approach incorporating biogeographical, ecological, molecular, and morphological datasets to reconstruct the evolution of Quadrulini. Comparative phylogenetic analyses suggested the diversification of Quadrulini has been driven, at least in part, by codiversification with their primary host fishes in Ictaluridae. Major diversification events in both ictalurids and quadrulines were estimated to have occurred in the Mississippi River basin throughout the Miocene. Life history characteristics associated with parasitism were supported to have coevolved with host repertories, supporting the hypothesis that ecological interactions with host fishes have shaped the evolution of highly specialized traits in this group. Our findings demonstrate the importance of ecological interactions with host resources in shaping the evolutionary history of freshwater mussels.
Factors affecting retention and relapse in orthodontics
Authors: Najjar Hussam E. , Alasmari Renad Mohammed , Manie Asrar Mohammed Al , Balbaid Khalid Nassir , Alzaher Kuthar Hassan , Assiri Ashwaq Talal , Alqarni Sundus Saad , Turkistani Abdullah Abdul Aziz , Anzi Sarah Khalid Al , Alkhudhayr Bassam Abdullah , Alfaifi Shatha Ahmed
Published: July 2023

Orthodontic treatment aims to achieve stable and harmonious occlusion by correcting malocclusions and aligning teeth. However, the long-term success of orthodontic treatment relies heavily on the effectiveness of the retention phase. Retention involves maintaining the corrected tooth positions and preventing relapse, which refers to the tendency of teeth to return to their original maloccluded positions over time. The retention phase applied after treatment is important to obtain stable results. Various factors can influence the retention phase and contribute to relapse in orthodontics. Periodontium, soft tissue pressures, growth, and occlusion are among these factors affecting stability. Understanding these factors is crucial for orthodontists to design appropriate retention protocols and enhance treatment outcomes. To achieve successful long-term stability, orthodontists must comprehensively evaluate and address the factors during the retention phase. This review article will discuss factors that affect retention and relapse in orthodontics.
An open-label, multicenter, randomized, parallel, single-dose, comparative bioavailability study of two triamcinolone hexacetonide injectable suspensions in patients with knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Anand Kaushal , Kumar Praganesh , Haveri Sameer , Acharya Shivani , Tripathi Anadya P. , Bhole Milind , Malhotra Deeksha
Published: July 2023

Background: Triamcinolone hexacetonide (THA), a synthetic glucocorticoid with low solubility, can provide sustained pain relief and less systemic side effects in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This study aimed to characterize pharmacokinetic profile of THA-test product containing 20 mg/ml injectable suspension and compare its bioavailability with the standard reference in Indian patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Methods: In this open-label, randomized, multicenter study, 44 adult patients were randomized (1:1; test n=23, reference n=21) to receive a single dose of test or reference products. The primary objective was to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile and compare bioavailability of both products via serum triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) concentration. Secondary objectives included safety and tolerability evaluation, impact on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and efficacy of test and reference products in reducing index knee pain.
Results: Both products were absorbed with a median Tmax of 23.9 hours. Comparative bioavailability analysis demonstrated no statistically significant formulation effect for ln-transformed Cmax (1098.052 pg/ml for test, 1333.850 pg/ml for reference) and AUC0-t (159112.561 pg×h/ml for test, 211531.035 pg×h/ml for reference) for TCA. T/R ratio for Cmax was 82.3% and T/R ratio for AUC0-t was 75.2%, with >100% inter-subject variability for both Cmax and AUC0-t. Additionally, recovery time of cortisol levels of test and reference arms was 96 hours and 456 hours, respectively. Both products significantly reduced knee pain (p<0.0001).
Conclusions: The test product provided lower systemic exposure and faster recovery of serum cortisol levels than the reference, while still providing similar beneficial effect in sustained index knee pain reduction.
Estimating and mapping natural hazards and risk reduction provided by coastal ecosystems
Authors: Arkema Katie , Bailey Allison , Chávez Cerón Valeria , Guerrero Compeán Roberto , Menéndez Fernandez Pelayo , Reguero Borja , Ruckelshaus Mary , Silver Jessica
Published: July 2023

We present two case studies in which coastal vulnerability modeling was used to quantify the role those coastal ecosystems play in reducing risk to coastal communities now and with future sea-level rise. These analyses were used to inform post-disaster reconstruction and coastal resilience building efforts as well as climate change adaptation strategies. Our goal is to quantify the role that coastal habitat plays in reducing risk to people and shoreline under current conditions and with future sea level rise (SLR). With SLR, we find that the extent of shoreline most exposed to coastal hazards would more than double, and the total population would nearly triple in The Bahamas. Similarly, the population living along high-risk shorelines increases by over 10x if habitat is lost and sea level rise is accounted for in the Mesoamerican Reef.
Dynamics of full-coupled chains of a great number of oscillators with a large delay in couplings
Authors:   Regional Scientific and Educational Mathematical Center of the Yaroslavl State University, Kashchenko Sergej
Published: July 2023

The subject of this work is the study of local dynamics of full-coupled chains of a great number of oscillators with a large delay in couplings. From a discrete model describing the dynamics of a great number of coupled oscillators, a transition has been made to a nonlinear integro-differential equation, continuously depending on time and space variable. A class of full-coupled systems has been considered. The main assumption is that the amount of delay in the couplings is large enough. This assumption opens the way to the use of special asymptotic methods of study. The parameters under which the critical case is realized in the problem of the equilibrium state stability have been distinguished. It is shown that they have infinite dimension. The analogues of normal forms — nonlinear boundary value problems of Ginzburg–Landau type have been constructed. In some cases, these boundary value problems contain integral components too. Their nonlocal dynamics describes the behavior of all solutions of the original equations in the balance state neighbourhood. Methods. As applied to the considered problems, methods of constructing quasinormal forms on central manifolds are developed. An algorithm for constructing the asymptotics of solutions based on the use of quasinormal forms for determining slowly varying amplitudes has been created. Results. Quasinormal forms that determine the dynamics of the original boundary value problem have been constructed. The dominant terms of asymptotic approximations for solutions of the considered chains have been obtained. On the basis of the given statements, a number of interesting dynamical effects have been revealed. For example, an infinite alternation of direct and reverse bifurcations when the delay coefficient increases. Their distinguishing feature is that they have two or three spatial variables.
Definite Formulae, Negation-as-Failure, and the Base-Extension Semantics of Intuitionistic Propositional Logic
Authors: Gheorghiu Alexander V. , Pym David J.
Published: July 2023

Proof-theoretic semantics (P-tS) is the paradigm of semantics in which meaning in logic is based on proof (as opposed to truth). A particular instance of P-tS for intuitionistic propositional logic (IPL) is its base-extension semantics (B-eS). This semantics is given by a relation called support, explaining the meaning of the logical constants, which is parameterized by systems of rules called bases that provide the semantics of atomic propositions. In this paper, we interpret bases as collections of definite formulae and use the operational view of them as provided by uniform proof-search—the proof-theoretic foundation of logic programming (LP)—to establish the completeness of IPL for the B-eS. This perspective allows negation, a subtle issue in P-tS, to be understood in terms of the negation-as-failure protocol in LP. Specifically, while the denial of a proposition is traditionally understood as the assertion of its negation, in B-eS we may understand the denial of a proposition as the failure to find a proof of it. In this way, assertion and denial are both prime concepts in P-tS.
Structural Rules in Natural Deduction with Alternatives
Authors: Restall Greg
Published: July 2023

Natural deduction with alternatives extends Gentzen–Prawitz-style natural deduction with a single structural addition: negatively signed assumptions, called alternatives. It is a mildly bilateralist, single-conclusion natural deduction proof system in which the connective rules are unmodi_ed from the usual Prawitz introduction and elimination rules — the extension is purely structural. This framework is general: it can be used for (1) classical logic, (2) relevant logic without distribution, (3) affine logic, and (4) linear logic, keeping the connective rules fixed, and varying purely structural rules. The key result of this paper is that the two principles that introduce kinds of irrelevance to natural deduction proofs: (a) the rule of explosion (from a contradiction, anything follows); and (b) the structural rule of vacuous discharge; are shown to be two sides of a single coin, in the same way that they correspond to the structural rule of weakening in the sequent calculus. The paper also includes a discussion of assumption classes, and how they can play a role in treating additive connectives in substructural natural deduction.
Evolved distal tail protein of skunaviruses facilitates adsorption to exopolysaccharide-encoding lactococci
Authors: Millen Anne M. , Magill Damian , Romero Dennis , Simdon Laura
Published: July 2023

Aim: Lactococcal skunaviruses are diverse and problematic in the industrial dairy environment. Host recognition involves the specific interaction of phage-encoded proteins with saccharidic host cell surface structures. Lactococcal plasmid pEPS6073 encodes genes required for the biosynthesis of a cell surface-associated exopolysaccharide (EPS), designated 6073-like. Here, the impact of this EPS on Skunavirus sensitivity was assessed.

Methods: Conjugal transfer of pEPS6073 into two model strains followed by phage plaque assays and adsorption assays were performed to assess its effect on phage sensitivity. Phage distal tail proteins were analyzed bioinformatically using HHpred and modeling with AlphaFold. Construction of recombinant phages carrying evolved Dits was performed by supplying a plasmid-encoded template for homologous recombination.

Results: pEPS6073 confers resistance against a subset of skunaviruses via adsorption inhibition. IFF collection skunaviruses that infect strains encoding the 6073-like eps gene cluster carry insertions in their distal tail protein-encoding (dit ) genes that result in longer Dit proteins (so-called evolved Dits), which encode carbohydrate-binding domains. Three skunaviruses with classical Dits (no insertion) were unable to fully infect their hosts following the conjugal introduction of pEPS6073, showing reductions in both adsorption and efficiency of plaquing. Cloning the evolved Dit into these phages enabled full infectivity on their host strains, both wild type and transconjugant carrying pEPS6073, with recombinant phages adsorbing slightly better to the EPS+ host than wild type.

Conclusion: The 6073-like EPS potentially occludes the phage receptor for skunaviruses that encode a classical Dit protein. Skunaviruses that infect strains encoding the 6073-like EPS harbor evolved Dits, which likely help promote phage adsorption rather than just allow the phage to circumvent the putative EPS barrier. This work furthers our knowledge of phage-host interactions in Lactococcus and proposes a role for insertions in the Dit proteins of a subset of skunaviruses.
On the Mass of the Nucleons from "First Principles"
Authors: Roza Engel
Published: July 2023

The mass of the nucleons is calculated from first principles by defining the quark as a non-gravitational particle, subject to Dirac’s equation with non-canonical gamma matrices. Unlike the canonical electron-type, this Dirac particle has two real dipole moments, which allows a structural modelling of hadrons. It is shown how such modelling reveals striking correspondences and differences between dually related particles and properties like electrons and quarks, photons and gluons, pions and nucleons, spin and isospin and protons and neutrons. It is a stepping stone to the actual calculation, which competes in precision with lattice QCD. The appendix contains a Lorentz covariance proof of hadrons composed by such particular Dirac-type quarks.
Chemical Composition of the Foam Enfolding Juveniles of Aphrophora alni (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae)
Authors: Szterk Arkadiusz , Flis Sylwia , Ofiara Karol , Strus Bartosz
Published: July 2023

The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of nymphal envelopes (foam) collected from hemipterans from spittlebug belonging to the species Aphrophora alni (Hemiptera family Aphrophoridae). Foam was collected in Poland in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship in 2020- 2022. Foam was collected from nymphs, feeding on young leaves of black alder trees (Alnus glutinosa), from 12 different areas. For the first time, the chemical composition of the foam produced by the spittlebug was quantitatively analyzed, identifying from 73.76 to 93.21 percent. The analyzed samples consisted mainly of a carbohydrate polymer similar in sugar unit composition to fucoidate isolated from brown seaweed. The most important sugar units identified were fucose (17.0 % - 35.6 % of the dry weight of the secretion), glucose (6.1 % - 16.2 %), mannose (1.5 % - 9.9 %), rhamnose (0.4 % - 1.3 %) and xylose (0.06 % - 0.1 %). In addition, various fatty acids, myo-inositol, pinitol, aliphatic hydrocarbons, waxes and aliphatic derivatives of 2(3H)-furanone were found. The collected foam contained from 0.05 % to 0.1 % of dry matter. Significant changes in the chemical composition of nymphal envelopes were found depending on the year of collection, which is probably strongly related to climate change.
Foliar Selenium Application to Reduce the Induced-Drought Stress Effects in Coffee Seedlings: Induced Priming or Alleviation Effect?
Authors: Sousa Gustavo Ferreira de , Silva Maila Adriely , Carvalho Mariana Rocha de , Morais Everton Geraldo de , Benevenute Pedro Antônio Namorato , Van Opbergen Gustavo Avelar Zorgdrager , Van Opbergen Guilherme Gerrit Avelar Zorgdrager , Guilherme Luiz Roberto Guimarães
Published: July 2023

Drought stress has been considered a major problem in coffee crops, and the higher occurrence of unpredictable environmental events has highlighted the vulnerability of agricultural systems. Several reports have indicated selenium (Se) as a plant biostimulant against environmental stress, including drought. The effects of Se in plants are related to the modulation of enzymatic activity, energetics and osmoprotectants plant content, and nutrient balance in plants. However, investi-gating the effective time of Se application is crucial for better understanding its effects on coffee plants, a drought-sensitive crop. This study aimed to investigate the role of Se supply in improving drought tolerance in coffee seedlings while also evaluating the best timing for Se application. Five times of Se foliar application were assessed during induced drought stress by PEG-6000 using the day of imposing stress as a default, plus two control treatments: i) with osmotic stress and without Se; ii) without osmotic stress and Se. The treatments were compared with both control treatments. Results demonstrated that the osmotic stress (OS) promoted mild stress in the coffee plants, as ex-pected. Plants under stress showed reduced GR and SOD activity compared with the non-stressed ones, and the OS induces starch degradation, which is potentialized by Se foliar supply, mainly when Se is applied before inducing the stress. The decline in the starch content might be considered a strategy to provide energy to coffee seedlings. The seedlings that received foliar Se application 8 days before the stress exhibited higher CAT, APX, and SOD than those that did not receive OS nor Se application. The results obtained in this study suggest that the previous Se foliar spray is more effective than the Se supply after OS to overcome the adverse condition. On the other hand, the post-stress application seems to impose extra stress on the plants, leading them to reduce the water potential.
Comprehensive Knowledge of HIV/AIDS in Angola and Related Factors
Authors: Ramos Neida Neto Vicente , Fronteira Inês Santos Estevinho , Martins Maria do Rosário O.
Published: July 2023

HIV/AIDS infection increases vulnerability to ill-health states and has a major impact on the general health status. This study aims to describe Angolan adolescents and adults’ comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its associated factors based on the 2016 demographic and health survey (DHS). Data from 19,785 individuals between the ages of 15 and 49 years old, who re-sponded to all the DHS questions between October 2015 and March 2016 were included in this study. Multivariable analysis using logistic regression was used to compute the adjusted odds ratio and respective 95% confidence intervals. In Angola, 47.7% of the respondents had general com-prehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The odds of having comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS were higher among individuals who watch television (aOR: 2.40; 95% CI: 2.11, 2.72) or read journals and magazines (aOR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.72, 2.30) more than once a week and, people with primary or higher-level education (aOR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.67, 2.00). Similarly, for people living in urban areas (aOR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.34, 1.71). These results may reflect important inequities and can assist decision-makers in advocating to continue to invest in health literacy for HIV but also in the development of tailored interventions in this area.
Fructose-Induced Insulin Resistance in Adult Rats and Moderate-Intensity Training during Peri-Pubertal Period Improves Metabolic Dysfunction
Authors: Silveira Sandra da Silva , Moreira Veridiana Mota , Peres Maria Natália Chimirri , Saavedra Lucas Paulo Jacinto , Tófolo Laize Peron , Andrade Flávio Andrade , Ribeiro Domingos Tatiane Aparecida , Da Silva Franco Claudinéia Conationi , Mendes Christian Moreira , Malta Ananda , Almeida Douglas Lopes , Mathias Paulo Cezar de Freitas
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of fructose consumption during the peri-pubertal period on the later onset of metabolic syndrome in rats. Additionally, the study sought to explore the potential of moderate-intensity physical training as a non-pharmacological approach to mitigate the fructose effects. Male rats, 30 days old, received 10% fructose, and were submitted to concomitant moderate-intensity training until 60 days old. They were divided into 4 groups: sedentary control (SC), sedentary fructose (SF), trained control (TC), and trained fructose (TF). Fructose consumption mainly affected adult animals, resulting in glucose intolerance, increased periepididymal fat, and increased total cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin levels. Furthermore, these rats exhibited reduced sympathetic nerve activity. The moderate running led to a decrease in periepididymal and retroperitoneal adipose tissue, as well as a reduction in total cholesterol and improved glucose tolerance. Peri-pubertal rats that received combination treatments exhibited lower levels of glucose and insulin during an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. The results indicate that 10% fructose supplementation during peripuberty predisposes to metabolic syndrome in adulthood. However, simultaneous moderate-intensity exercise training attenuates these effects and induces positive changes in glycemic homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and autonomic nervous system activity.
Evaluation of Water Mobility and Microstructure Changes of Frozen Pork Thawed by Different Thawing Methods
Authors: Guo Hui , Yuan Ci , Huang Zulong , Gui Hui , Yan Yiqiong , Xiong Guoyuan , Pu Shunchang
Published: July 2023

The effect of seven different thawing methods (atmospheric temperature thawing (AT), microwave thawing (MT), microwave magnetic nanoparticles thawing (MMT), microwave vacuum thawing (MVT), far-infrared thawing (FT), far-infrared magnetic nanoparticles thawing (FMT) and far-infrared ultrasonic thawing (FUT)) on water mobility and microstructure of frozen pork was examined. The results showed that the thawing loss, cooking loss, and centrifugal loss of MVT treatment were lower than those of other thawing methods. The results of LF-NMR and NMRI showed that in MVT and FUT treatment, the proportion of bound water and non-flowing water increased, while the proportion of free water decreased. The microstructure was significantly improved by microwave or far-infrared thawing assisted by magnetic nanoparticles, and the frozen pork samples had a more compact and granular microstructure. In summary, MVT and FUT improved the quality of thawed meat and have broad potential applications in thawing meat.
Optimal Design and Operation of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Oakland University
Authors: Alhawsawi Edrees Yahya , Habbi Hanan , Hawsawi Mansour , Zohdy Mohamed
Published: July 2023

This research paper presents a comprehensive study on the optimal planning and design of hybrid renewable energy systems for microgrid (MG) applications at Oakland University. The HOMER Pro platform analyzes the technical economic and environmental aspects of integrating renewable energy technologies. The research also focuses on the importance of addressing unmet load in the MG system design to ensure the university's electricity demand is always met. By optimizing the integration of various renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaic (PV), energy storage system (ESS), combined heat and power (CHP), and wind turbine energy (WT), the study aims to fulfill the energy requirements while reducing reliance on traditional grid sources and achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed MG configurations are designed to be scalable and flexible, accommodating future expansions, load demands changes, and technological advancements without costly modifications or disruptions. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of technical, economic, environmental factors, and addressing unmet load, this research contributes to the advancement of renewable energy integration within MG systems. It offers a complete guide for Oakland University and other institutions to effectively plan, design and implement hybrid renewable energy solutions, fostering a greener and more resilient campus environment. The findings demonstrate the potential for cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions, providing valuable guidance for Oakland University in its search of energy resilience and environmental surveillance which has a total peak load of 9.958MW. The HOMER simulation results indicate that utilizing all renewable resources, the estimated net present cost (NPC) is a minimum of 30M$, with a levelized energy cost (LCOE) of 0.00274$/kWh. In addition, the minimum desired load will be unmeted on some days of September.
An InSAR-Based Method for Predicting Long-Term Land Subsidence in Goafs through the Concatenation of Multiple Short-Term Monitoring Data
Authors: Li Jinyang , Zang Mingdong , Xu Nengxiong , Mei Gang , Yang Sen
Published: July 2023

The land subsidence occurring in goafs after coal mining is a protracted process. The accurate prediction of long-term land subsidence in goafs relies heavily on the availability of long-term monitoring data. However, the scarcity of continuous long-term land subsidence monitoring data subsequent to the cessation of mining significantly hinders the accurate prediction of long-term land subsidence in goafs. To address this challenge, this study proposes an innovative method based on Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) for predicting long-term land subsidence of goafs following coal mining. The proposed method employs a concatenation approach that integrates multiple short-term monitoring data from different coal faces, each with distinct cessation times, into a cohesive and uniform long-term sequence by normalizing the subsidence rates. The method was verified using actual monitoring data from the Yangquan No.2 mine in Shanxi Province, China. Initially, coal faces with same shapes but varying cessation times were selected for analysis. Using InSAR monitoring data collected between June and December of 2016, the average subsidence rate corresponding to the duration after coal mining cessation of each coal face was back-calculated. Subsequently, a function relating subsidence rate to the duration after coal mining cessation was fitted to the data. Finally, the relationship between cumulative subsidence and the duration after coal mining cessation was derived by integrating the function. The results indicated that the relationship between subsidence rate and duration after coal mining cessation followed an exponential function for a given coal face, whereas the relationship between cumulative subsidence and duration after coal mining cessation conformed to the Knothe time function. Notably, after the cessation of coal mining, significant land subsidence persisted in the goaf of the Yangquan No.2 mine for a duration ranging from 5 to 10 years. The cumulative subsidence curve along the long axis of the coal face ultimately exhibited an inclined W-shape. The proposed method enables the quantitative prediction of residual land subsidence in goafs, even in cases where continuous long-term monitoring data are insufficient, thus providing valuable guidance for construction decisions above the goaf.
Efficient Surrogate Modeling Based on Improved Vision Transformer Neural Network for History Matching
Authors: Zhang Daowei , Li Heng
Published: July 2023

For history-matching problems, simulations of reservoir models usually involve high computational costs. Surrogate modeling based on deep learning has proved to be an efficient method to accelerate simulation and decrease computational costs. In this paper, we design a deep-learning-based surrogate model, improved from the vision transformer neural network (ViT-NN), for solving history matching problems. The proposed surrogate model named improved vision transformer neural network (IViT-NN) has three main fundamental parts, which are feature extraction (FE), flattened linear projection (FLP), and multistep dimension-reduction (MSDR). Specifically, realizations of permeability field of the reservoirs can be entered into the IViT-NN surrogate model to obtain the corresponding production data quickly. Case studies are performed to investigate the performance and generalization of this surrogate model. The results indicate that the proposed surrogate model based on IViT-NN can be used for obtaining production data accurately and efficiently. Further, the trained surrogate model is used for history matching as well as production forecasting without using additional reservoir simulations, as compared with the method using full reservoir simulations. The posterior results of the estimated permeability field or corresponding productions obtained by reservoir simulation and the surrogate model are approximate, which demonstrates that the IViT-NN surrogate model is applicable for history matching.
Investigations on the use of different electrolytes in modified electrochemical machining
Authors: Singh Gurwinder , Singh Rupinder , Rao PS , Kumar Vinay
Published: July 2023

An inter-electrode gap (IEG) is a crucial factor in the stability, efficiency, and surface quality of the conventional electrochemical machining (C-ECM) process. In C-ECM, the accountable tool replica is generated (with the preserved equilibrium gap between the tool and the workpiece (W/P)), which limits the effective use of this technique as a tool room process. Some studies highlighted that the slit between the tool and the W/P in modified electrochemical machining (M-ECM) alters the tool duplication situation and helps in maintaining the IEG of C-ECM. But less has been reported on the use of different electrolytes, and the effect of slit thickness to maintain IEG in M-ECM. This study highlights the investigations performed (in terms of material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (Ra), porosity (%), and other surface characteristics) on the use of different slit thicknesses in M-ECM with NaNO3 and NaCl as electrolytes. This study suggests that a 1.5mm slit thickness (of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastic having a 6×6mm profile) resulted in the highest MRR, minimum Ra in M-ECM irrespective of electrolyte used (due to more flow of charge). The results were supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis.
Prevalence and risk factors of pre-senile lens opacities in the 1969-73 Vellore Birth Cohort
Authors: Paul Padma , Antonisamy Belavendra , John Neena , Braganza Andrew , Kuriakose Thomas , Isaac Rita , Abraham Lekha , Amritanand Anika , Samuel Prasanna , Chelliah Hepsy , Gowri Mahasampath , Magdalene Nancy , Cherry Jophy , Paul Thomas , Jebasingh Felix , Arulappan Geethanjali , Thomas Nihal , Vasan Senthil , Murthy Gudlavalleti V S , Gilbert Clare
Published: July 2023

PurposeTo estimate the prevalence and determine predictors of lens opacities (LO) among South Asian Indians aged 41-44 years.MethodsThis cross sectional study included 1080 participants from the Vellore Birth Cohort, Vellore, South India. All individuals underwent anthropometric measurements, detailed ophthalmic examination including assessment of LO by LOCS III classification; and biochemical metabolic measurements. ‘Any cataract’ was defined as any opacity type with a score of >2 or evidence of cataract surgery in either eye. Questionnaire based assessments included information on ocular history, life-style factors, socio-economic and educational status, cooking fuel and sunlight exposure. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between risk predictors and LO.ResultsThe mean age (SD) of participants was 41.8 (1.0) years; 53.8% were male and 50% were rural residents. The overall prevalence of ‘any cataract’ was 13.8% (148/1075); 95% confidence interval (CI) (11.8,16.0); 59.1% (51.1, 67.4) had nuclear, 16.9% (11.2, 23.9) had cortical, 4.1%(1.5, 8.6) had posterior sub capsular, 18.9% (12.9, 26.2) had mixed cataracts; and 0.7% ( 0.02, 3.7) were pseudophakic. Increased risk for LO was observed with a history of asthma (aOR 4.51; 2.1, 9.7), HbA1C of ≥6.5% (adjusted or aOR 2.29; 95%CI 1.4, 3.7), hypertension (aOR 1.73;1.1, 2.7) and, in a subgroup (n= 372), lower 25(OH) vitamin D levels (≤20 ng/dL)(aOR 5.56; 2.3, 13.2).ConclusionsA higher prevalence of LO at a younger age in South Asian Indians predicts earlier onset. History of asthma, higher HbA1C, hypertension and lower 25(OH) vitamin D levels were associated with LO.
Consultation preferences and continuity of care of people with glucose management needs in an online interpersonal support context——a large-scale survey of China’s online health communities
Authors: Lu Antong , Han Yingshi , Fan Guanhua
Published: July 2023

Objectives
Continuity of care (CoC), entailing consistent, coherent, and integrated healthcare delivery by healthcare providers throughout a patient's lifetime, is multifaceted, encompassing relational, informational, and managerial dimensions. This study delves into the prevailing consultation preferences, continuity of care, and influential determinants among Chinese patients requiring blood glucose management, with the aim of optimizing healthcare consultations and enhancing continuity of care.
Methods
Questionnaires were disseminated across multiple digital health platforms, yielding a total of 548 valid responses. Employed analytical methods included descriptive statistical analysis, scale reliability assessment, chi-square tests for multiple response frequency cross-tabulation, independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses, quantile regression modeling, and multiple linear regression, all executed through IBM SPSS25.
Results
Approximately 58.21% of participants underscored the importance of a physician familiar with their comprehensive medical history, while 58.03% prioritized physicians who take the time to listen. Conversely, 41.7% and 40.0% of participants, respectively, reported lacking access to physicians exhibiting these characteristics during actual consultations. Individuals with suboptimal quality of life or medication adherence reported lower CoC than their counterparts (p < 0.01). Continuity of care was significantly higher among those with access to a familiar physician (p < 0.01). Regarding online health consultations, frequent users exhibited higher CoC compared to infrequent or non-users (p < 0.01). The influence of four variables - quality of life, medication adherence, access to a familiar physician, and frequency of online health consultations - on continuity of care was statistically significant at the quantile point.
Conclusion
This research offers critical insights for healthcare practitioners and policy designers to bolster continuity of care. Factors such as diminished quality of life, inadequate medication adherence, absence of a familiar physician, and infrequent or non-existent online health consultations potentially contribute to low continuity of care.
Assessment of Osteoprotegerin and RANKL Levels and Several Cardiovascular Risk Scoring Systems in Acromegaly
Authors: Kocabas Gokcen Unal , Yurekli Banu Sarer , Simsir Ilgin Yildirim , Ozgur Su , Aksit Murat , Bozkaya Giray
Published: July 2023

Purpose
The OPG/RANKL (Osteoprotegerin/Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B) system, which plays a crucial role in bone metabolism, is also associated with vascular calcification. Acromegaly is characterized by excessive secretion of growth hormone and insulin -like growth factor and studies have demonstrated an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with acromegaly. In this study our objective was to investigate the relationship between OPG/RANKL and various cardiovascular risk scoring systems.
Methods
We recruited 44 consecutive acromegaly patients and 41 age- and gender-matched healthy controls for this study.
Results
While RANKL levels were significantly higher in the acromegaly group compared to the controls, OPG levels were not found to be significantly different between the two groups, Furthermore, within the acromegaly group, RANKL levels were significantly higher in patients with active acromegaly compared to those with controlled acromegaly.
Osteoprotegerin levels showed a positive correlation with Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in the acromegaly group. Linear regression analysis revealed association of OPG with FRS (adjusted R2 value of 21.7%)
Conclusion
In conclusion, OPG and RANKL may serve as potential markers for assessing cardiovascular calcification and predicting the cardiovascular risk status in acromegalic patients.
The predictive value of individual anatomical measurement of scapula in the diagnosis of rotator cuff injury
Authors: Zhao Jiajun , Yang Shihao , Zhang Zhen , Zuo Tantan , Yu Jie , Fan Dongxiao
Published: July 2023

Background Rotator cuff injuries, which cause health problems especially in athletes and older adults, may be linked to factors like age, overuse, muscle imbalance, and potentially, certain shoulder joint shapes, though the impacts of the Critical Shoulder Angle (CSA) and the Lateral Acromion Angle (LAA) are still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between the individual anatomical structure of the scapula and rotator cuff injuries.
Methods A total of 71 patients suffering from shoulder ailments were examined, with 40 individuals having rotator cuff injuries and the remaining 31 not. Both groups were evaluated based on gender, age, critical shoulder angle (CSA), and lateral acromion angle (LAA). Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing rotator cuff injury, and the ROC curve was plotted to assess the diagnostic efficiency of LAA and CSA for this injury.
Results The age [(54.8 ± 11.5) years] and CSA [(40.6 ± 4.7) °] of the rotator cuff injury group were considerably higher than those without [(47.7 ± 11.4) years and (36.8 ± 5.5) °] (P<0.05), whereas the LAA [(70.9 ± 7.0) °] was lower (P<0.05). Age (OR=0.952, 95% CI: 0.911 ～ 0.994, P=0.027), LAA (OR=1.114, 95% CI: 1.034 ～ 1.199, P=0.004), and CSA (OR=0.844, 95% CI: 0.752 ～ 0.947, P=0.004) emerged as significant factors of rotator cuff injury. The study established optimal cutoff values of age, LAA, and CSA at 55.50 years, 72.67°, and 37.10°respectively, and the AUC predicting rotator cuff injury was 0.680 (95% CI: 0.554 ～ 0.805, P=0.010), 0.719 (95% CI: 0.597 ～ 0.840, P=0.002) 0.737 (95% CI: 0.612 ～ 0.862, P=0.001). LAA and CSA showed decent predictive value for rotator cuff injury (AUC>0.7), but age was a poor predictor. Conclusion Both CSA and LAA are influential factors of rotator cuff injury. An increase in the CSA of the shoulder joint and a decrease in LAA could indicate the presence of a rotator cuff injury.
Trial registration Retrospectively registered
Enhanced natural gas sweetening with ultralow H2S concentration via polycarbonate-silica mixed matrix membranes
Authors: Sadeghi rahman , Hassanajili Shadi
Published: July 2023

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) are brought up as prospecting media to sweeten natural gas in recent decades. But the majority of experiments have conducted on CO2/CH4 gas pair separation and, H2S removal from CH4 through MMMs has been paid less consideration. Thereupon, polycarbonate (PC) permeability and permselectivity as a cheap and abundant polymer and two PC-based MMMs were investigated under various operational conditions for this gas couple. The influence of operational parameters including transmembrane pressure, feed temperature, H2S inlet concentration and physical aging on the permeability of mixed gas and selectivity of the H2S/CH4 pair were assessed. It was observed that addition of silica nano particles causes more H2S permeability and selectivity. As a result, it can be used for methane upgradation. Membranes fabricated of silica modified by PDMS showed the highest permeability of H2S and also the superior selectivity of H2S/CH4. Therefore, it could be possibly applied to mitigation of H2S concentration in the outlet gas stream. Additionally, the two fabricated MMMs demonstrated H2S transport in a facilitative manner.
Machine learning model for the prediction of gram-positive and gram- negative bacterial bloodstream infection based on routine laboratory parameters
Authors: Zhang Fan , Wang Hao , Liu Liyu , Su Teng , Ji Bing
Published: July 2023

Background
Bacterial bloodstream infection is responsible for the majority of cases of sepsis and septic shock. Early recognition of the causative pathogen is pivotal for administration of adequate empiric antibiotic therapy and for the survival of the patients. In this study, we developed a feasible machine learning (ML) model to predict gram-positive and gram-negative bacteremia based on routine laboratory parameters.
Methods
Data for 2118 patients with bacteremia were obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care dataset. Patients were randomly split into the training set and test set by stratified sampling, and 374 routine laboratory blood test variables were retrieved. Variables with missing values in more than 40% of the patients were excluded. Pearson correlation test was employed to eliminate redundant features. Five ML algorithms were used to build the model based on the selected features. Additionally, 132 patients with bacteremia who were treated at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University were included in an independent test cohort to evaluate the model.
Results
After feature selection, 32 variables remained. All the five ML algorithms performed well in terms of discriminating between gram-positive and gram-negative bacteremia, but the performance of convolutional neural network (CNN) and random forest (RF) were better than other three algorithms. Consider of the interpretability of models, RF was chosen for further test (ROC-AUC = 0.768; 95%CI = 0.715–0.798, with a sensitivity of 75.20% and a specificity of 63.79%). To expand the application of the model, a decision tree (DT) was built utilizing the major variables, and it achieved an AUC of 0.679 (95%CI = 0.632–0.723), a sensitivity of 66%, and a specificity of 67.82% in the test cohort. When tested in the Qilu Hospital cohort, the ROC-AUC of the RF and DT models were 0.666 (95%CI = 0.579–0.746) and 0.615 (95%CI = 0.526–0.698), respectively. Finally, a software was developed to make the RF- and DT-based prediction models easily accessible.
Conclusion
The present ML-based models could effectively discriminate between gram-positive and gram-negative bacteremia based on routine laboratory blood test results. This simple model would be beneficial in terms of guiding timely antibiotic selection and administration in critically ill patients with bacteremia before their pathogen test results are available.
Government Digital Policy Breaks the Mystery of “Limited Participation” in China's Home Finance Market
Authors: Xing Lu , Han Donghao , Xie Hui
Published: July 2023

This study examines whether household financial market participation at the urban dimension is impacted by the digital economy, which has important implications for promoting the shift from savings to investment among Chinese households and alleviating the long-standing issue of under-participation in Chinese household financial markets. We find that the digital economy can further make a contribution to household financial market participation rates by increasing the proportion of households with smart Internet access devices and household financial information attention. Additionally, the digital economy greatly influences urban household financial market participation rates and high financial literacy households' financial market participation rates.
Classification codes: G38;D14;E65
Ultrasound imaging features in primary biliary cholangitis
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Hu Xing , Chang Jing , Li Weihua , Huang Chunyang , Zhang Haiping , Shen Jianjun , Shang Ning , Meng Fankun
Published: July 2023

Background
The aim of our study was to analyze the characteristics of ultrasound images corresponding to each histological stage of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).
Methods
We prospectively analyzed 75 confirmed cases of PBC and used liver biopsy as the gold standard to determine disease stage.
Results
The typical ultrasound images of PBC patients were characterized by a thickening of the portal vein wall (PVW) and periportal hypoechoic band (PHB) width with increasing histological stages, and significant increases in the left hepatic lobe diameter (LHLD) in stage II (by 64.0%) and stage III (by 69.2%). PHB width (r = 0.857, p < 0.001), PVW thickness (r = 0.488, p < 0.001), and spleen area (r = 0.8774, p < 0.001) were positively correlated with histological stage. Significant changes were noted in the liver surface, liver echogenicity, and liver edge between different stages.
Conclusions
Ultrasound imaging characteristics of PBC patients varied according to the histological staging. LHLD, PVW thickness, and PHB width were significantly correlated with the histological stage. A combination of high- and low-frequency ultrasound imaging can provide relevant cues on the degree of PBC progression and important clinical reference values.
Successful pregnancy in a female with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the cervix who received biopsy and chemotherapy alone without recurrence after 16 years: a case report and literature review
Authors: Yu Xiuzhang , Qie Mingrong , Huang Liyan , Hou Minmin
Published: July 2023

Background: Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) of the uterine cervix is rare, but the population affected is mostly underage females. The scope of surgery has now evolved from extensive to limited, and organ-preserving surgery combined with chemotherapy is recommended to preserve the patient's fertility. However, reports of birth outcomes are rare.
Case: A minor woman with cervical ERMS who underwent only an outpatient biopsy of the lesion, who had no residual lesion on subsequent multipoint cervical biopsy and who refused radical surgery or cervical conization, after which the patient received a nonclassical regimen of chemotherapy. The patient stopped the chemotherapy on her own, but the patient conceived spontaneously 16 years later with a good pregnancy outcome and no recurrence.
Conclusions: This case suggests that preservation of reproductive function is often feasible in immature women with cervical EMS, and the prognosis is usually good as long as the primary tumor can be surgically removed and the lesion is free of residual disease. We also look forward to reports of subsequent growth and pregnancy outcomes in other children with reproductive tract RMS. In cervical ERMS, accurate evaluation of the disease and development of an individualized treatment plan are crucial, and the protection of reproductive function and psychological well-being deserves special attention.