bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Advanced Reproductive Age on Mitochondrial Metabolism of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Infertile Women: Implications for Mitochondrial Transplantation.
Authors: Wang Dandan , Chen Weixi , Chang Yajie , Yao Deyang , Liu Guihua , Huang Rui , Fang Cong , Zhou Chuanchuan , Jia Lei , Zhang Zhiqiang , Mai Huisi , Liang Xiao-yan
Published: November 2023

The decline in oocyte quality due to mitochondrial dysfunction is a frequent cause of infertility in women of advanced reproductive age. Autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells could serve as a source of transplanted mitochondria for infertility treatment. However, the status of transplanted mitochondria may affect therapeutic potential. Although the effects of donor age and long-term culture on BMSC quality have been previously documented, it remains unclear whether advanced reproductive age and in vitro culture affect the mitochondrial metabolism of BMSCs from infertile women.Methods: BMSCs from young (25-30 years) and older (38- 45 years) infertile women were cultured and collected at passage 4 (P4) to P7. We evaluated their surface markers, proliferation capacity, mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR), reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane potential (activity), ultrastructure, and the transcriptomic analysis of 38 mitochondrial processes (mito-processes).Results: Both age groups of BMSCs exhibited the stable expression of surface markers, decreased proliferation capacity, and increased mitochondrial OCR and ROS production with increasing passage. There were no differences between the two age groups in terms of these indexes. For transcriptomic analysis, only two mito-processes changed for BMSCs from the older group at consecutive passages, showing upregulation of ROS defense (MPV17L) and mitochondrial carrier (UCP2). In contrast, in the young group, P5 BMSCs showed upregulation of nine mito-processes, including OXPHOS, apoptosis, translation, and P6-P7 showed consistent upregulation of calcium signaling and transport (EFHD1) and downregulation of four mito-processes in total. Compared with the older group, the young group showed differences in fifteen mito-processes, most of which negatively affected mitochondrial metabolism.Conclusions: Advanced reproductive age has little impact on the mitochondrial metabolism of BMSCs from infertile women. Early-passage BMSCs are recommended for further application under the premise of controlling individual differences. Our work provides valuable guidance for the clinical application of autologous mitochondria from BMSCs, particularly for older women seeking infertility treatment.
Bioactive compounds enrichment in rabbit doe’s diet pre-and during pregnancy improved productive and reproductive performance and cost-effectiveness under hot climates
Authors: El-Speiy Mohamed Elsayed , Zeitoun Moustafa Mohamed , El-Sawy Mohamed A. , Sadaka Tarek A. , Abou-Shehema Bahaa A. , Abdella Mohamed M. , Shahba Hossam A. , Habib Mahmoud R.
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effect of diet supplementation with a symbiotic (SY), bee pollen (BP), honey bee (HB), date palm pollen (DPP) and their mixture (MIX) on female rabbit productive and reproductive performances under desert hot climates. Seventy-two Californian does of 5 months age and average body weight of 3250 ± 78.2g was randomly allotted into six groups. All does were orally received 3 ml distilled water for 10 days before mating and 28 days during pregnancy. Treatments were repeated for four consecutive parities. The first group was served as control (C) given distilled water only, however the second, third, fourth and fifth groups were supplemented with 3ml distilled water containing0.2 ml SY, 200 mg DPP,200 mg BP, 0.2 ml HB/doe per day, respectively. While, the sixth group does were given all previous ingredients (MIX). Sexual receptivity rate, fertility rate, kindling rate, and newborn traits were recorded. Also, maternal feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and digestibility coefficients were recorded. Treatment increased maternal body weight and daily gain with highest values (P < 0.05) in BP, SY, and MIX does. All treatments enhanced feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with control. Number services per conception decreased (P < 0.01), while litter size and weight and survival at birth and weaning increased (P < 0.01) in treated than control does. Treated does produced more milk than control. All digestibility coefficients were improved (P < 0.01) in treated does. In conclusion, supporting rabbit does pre- and during pregnancy with diets supplemented with a mixture of honey bee, date palm pollen, bee pollen, and synbiotic improved the productive and reproductive performances of rabbit does and their offspring.
Vaccination impairs de novo immune response to omicron breakthrough infection, a precondition for the original antigenic sin
Authors: Pusnik Jernej , Zorn Jasmin , Monzon-Posadas Werner , Peters Kathrin , Osypchuk Emmanuil , Blaschke Sabine , Streeck Hendrik
Published: November 2023

Several studies have suggested the imprinting of SARS-CoV-2 immunity by original immune challenge without addressing the formation of the de novo response to successive antigen exposures. As this is crucial for the development of the original antigenic sin, we assessed the immune response against the mutated epitopes of omicron SARS-CoV-2 after vaccine breakthrough. Our data demonstrated a robust humoral response in thrice-vaccinated individuals following omicron breakthrough which was a recall of vaccine-induced memory. The humoral and memory B cell responses against the altered regions of the omicron surface proteins were impaired. The T cell responses to mutated epitopes of the omicron spike protein were present due to the high cross-reactivity of vaccine-induced T cells rather than the formation of a de novo response. Our findings, therefore, underpin the speculation that the imprinting of SARS-CoV-2 immunity by vaccination may lead to the development of original antigenic sin if future variants overcome the vaccine-induced immunity.
SpatialPrompt: spatially aware scalable and accurate tool for spot deconvolution and domain identification in spatial transcriptomics
Authors: Yadav Pankaj , Swain Asish , Pandit Vrushali , Sharma Jyoti
Published: November 2023

Efficiently mapping of cell types in situ remains a major challenge in spatial transcriptomics. Most spot deconvolution tools ignore spatial coordinate information and perform extremely slow on large datasets. We introduce SpatialPrompt, a spatially aware and scalable tool for spot deconvolution and domain identification. SpatialPrompt integrates gene expression, spatial location, and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset as reference to accurately infer cell-type proportions of spatial spots. At the core, SpatialPrompt uses non-negative ridge regression and graph neural network to efficiently capture local microenvironment information. Our extensive benchmarking analysis using human prefrontal cortex dataset demonstrated superior performance of SpatialPrompt over 11 existing tools. On mouse hippocampus dataset, SpatialPrompt achieves spot deconvolution and domain identification within 2 minutes for 50,000 spots. Overall, domain identification using SpatialPrompt was 44 to 150 times faster than existing methods. We build a database housing 40 plus curated scRNA-seq datasets for seamless integration with SpatialPrompt for spot deconvolution.
Evaluation of The Effect of Thermocycling on The Trueness And The Precision of Digital Fabricated Complete Denture Bases
Authors: Helal Mohamed , Zeidan Ahmed
Published: November 2023

Background
Many denture base materials are available nowadays in the market, with little data available regarding its dimensional stability after exposure to the oral environment.
Purpose
was to evaluate the effect of thermocycling on the trueness and precision of digital fabricated complete denture bases (CDBs) (milled and 3-dimensional (3-D) printed CDBs) and conventional CDB.
Materials and methods
Maxillary completely edentulous stone model was used and scanned for production a standard tessellation language (STL) file that was imported to a metal milling machine software to produce the metal model that was used to fabricate 30 CDBs, according to the construction technique the CDBs were divided into three groups (n = 10 each) as follows: Group 1, CAD-CAM milled CDBs; Group 2, 3-D printed CDBs; and Group 3, conventional compression molded CDBs. The CDBs of all groups were scanned after fabrication, and the different CDBs were scanned and evaluated CDBs before and after thermocycling using the superimposition technique. Data were analyzed using one-way-ANOVA, Tukey’s post hoc, and paired t tests.
Results
Before and after thermocycling there were a significant difference in the trueness between the CAD-CAM milled, 3-D printed, and conventional compression molded CDBs (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the precision within each type of different CDBs before and after thermocycling (P < 0.05). Conclusion: the trueness of the CAD-CAM milling system in CD fabrication is superior to that of the 3-D printing and conventional compression molding systems either before or after thermocycling. The thermocycling had significant effect on the precision of milled CAD-CAM, 3-D printed and conventional compression molded CDBs. Conventional compression molding system in complete denture construction is the most negatively affected fabrication method by thermocycling in the aspect of trueness and precision.
Continuity of care and enhanced support for women experiencing antenatal distress: A pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: John James Rufus , Pickup Wendy , Diaz Antonio Mendoza , Cibralic Sara , Heys Aleisha , Schmied Virginia , Barnett Bryanne , Eapen Valsamma
Published: November 2023

Background
Evidence suggests that enhanced midwifery care may lead to reduction of antenatal distress among pregnant women. Nevertheless, the access/uptake and outcomes for expectant mothers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds may be limited. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of enhanced midwifery care in reducing antenatal distress among pregnant women presenting with elevated but sub-clinical symptoms of depression in an ethnically diverse, socio-economically, and geographically disadvantaged area in the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD).
Methods
A multisite, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial was conducted with a follow-up period of 6 months. Participants included pregnant women attending the Fairfield and/or Liverpool Antenatal clinic with an Edinburgh Depression Scale (EPDS) score of 10–12 and a psychosocial assessment during the first antenatal visit. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention group or usual care group. The enhanced midwifery care was led by a dedicated Research Midwife (RM) that provided care coordination/navigation and social care support from pregnancy to the early postnatal period whereas the usual care group received routine antenatal care. Primary outcomes included reduction in mental ill-health symptoms assessed via EPDS and Kessler’s Psychological distress (K10) assessments whereas secondary outcomes included improvement in parenting confidence (Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale (KPCS)). Linear mixed-effects model was used to examine the effects of treatment on outcomes. Fixed-effects such as time, treatment, and time-by-group interactions were also assessed separately for each outcome variable whilst adjusting for confounders.
Results
37 mothers were recruited into the study, 18 were randomised to the intervention group and 19 to the usual care group. Findings of the mixed-effects model showed significant within group differences in EPDS scores as indicated by the significant effect of time but no significant effect of treatment. Further, there were no significant effects of time, treatment, or significant interactions between time and treatment group for K10 and KPCS.
Conclusion
Findings showed non-significant improvements in antenatal distress and parenting confidence among expectant mothers in the enhanced midwifery care model group compared to usual care. Larger and appropriately powered trials are needed to determine whether small differences in care can reach statistical and clinical significance.
Trial registration:
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12623000698673).
MODIS-NDVI (2001-2020) response to natural factors and engineering activities along railway in Sichuan-Tibet Region
Authors: Zhang Jingxiao , Zhang Ruixue , Sun Shao-qi , Pablo Ballesteros-Pérez
Published: November 2023

The ecological environment of Sichuan-Tibet region is sensitive and fragile, the impact of railway construction on its ecological environment cannot be ignored. This research used the NDVI, a theoretical model of spatial-temporal pattern evolution of vegetation cover along the railway and its driving factors was innovatively proposed by integrating Geodetector and other methods. And the model was applied to an empirical study of the vegetation coverage along the major railway projects in Sichuan-Tibet region from 2001 to 2020, based on the MODIS-NDVI dataset. The results showed that: (1) There is significant spatial heterogeneity in the response of vegetation dynamics to natural and anthropogenic factors along the railway. (2) There are two-factor and nonlinear enhancement interaction of the driving factors on vegetation cover, and the interaction effect is greater than the independent effect. (3) Human activities can not only negatively affect vegetation growth and lead to vegetation degradation, but also positively promote vegetation restoration. The general theoretical model proposed in this study not only provides data support for ecological environment monitoring and restoration in Sichuan-Tibet area and areas with similar geographical characteristics, but also provides theoretical support for the study of vegetation dynamic change along major international railway projects.
Systemic lupus erythematosus combined with Wilson’s disease: A case report and literature review
Authors: Yang Zhenle , Li Qian , Liu Suwen , Zong Zihan , Yu Lichun , Sun Shuzhen
Published: November 2023

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Wilson’s disease (WD) are both systemic diseases that can affect multiple organs in the body. The coexistence of SLE and WD is encountered rarely in clinical practice, making it challenging to diagnose. Case report We present the case of a 9-year-old girl who initially presented with proteinuria, haematuria, pancytopenia, hypocomplementemia, and positivity for multiple autoantibodies. She was diagnosed with SLE, and her blood biochemistry showed elevated liver enzymes at the time of diagnosis. Despite effective control of her symptoms, her liver enzymes remained elevated during regular follow-up. Laboratory tests revealed decreased serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels, along with elevated urinary copper. Liver biopsy demonstrated chronic active hepatitis, moderate inflammation, moderate-severe fibrosis, and a local cirrhosis trend. Genetic sequencing revealed compound heterozygous mutations in the ATP7B gene, confirming the diagnosis of SLE with WD. The girl received treatment with a high-zinc/low-copper diet, but her liver function did not improve. Upon recommendation following multidisciplinary consultation, she underwent liver transplantation. Unfortunately, she passed away on the fourth day after the surgery. Conclusions SLE and WD are diseases that involve multiple systems and organs in the body, and SLE complicated with WD is encountered rarely in the clinic, so it is easy to misdiagnose. Because penicillamine can induce lupus, it is not recommended. Liver transplantation is indicated for patients with liver disease who do not respond to medical treatment with WD. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal timing of liver transplantation for patients with SLE complicated with WD.
Quantitative Assessment of Future Land Use Changes' Impact on Flood Risk Components: Integration of Remote Sensing, Machine Learning, and Hydraulic Modeling
Authors: Gholami Farinaz , Li Yue , Zhang Junlong , Nemati Alireza
Published: November 2023

Flood is one of the most devastating natural hazards that has intensified due to land use land cover (LULC) changes in recent years. Flood risk assessment is crucial task for disaster management activities in flood-prone areas. In this study, we proposed a flood risk assessment framework that combines flood vulnerability, hazard, and damages under long-term LULC changes in the Tajan watershed, northern Iran. The research analyzed historical land use change trends and predicted changes up to 2040 by employing GIS, remote sensing, and land change modeling. The flood vulnerability map was generated using the Random Forest model, incorporating historical data from 332 flooded locations and 12 geophysical and anthropogenic flood factors under LULC change scenarios. The potential flood damage costs in residential and agricultural areas, considering long-term LULC changes, were calculated using the HEC-RAS hydraulic model and a global damage function. Results revealed that unplanned urban growth, agricultural expansion, and deforestation near the river downstream amplify flood risk in 2040. High and very high flood vulnerability areas would increase by 43% in 2040 due to human activities and LULC changes. Estimated annual flood damage for agriculture and built-up areas was projected to surge from $162 million to $376 million and $91 million to $220 million, respectively, considering 2021 and 2040 land use change scenarios in the flood-prone region. The research highlights the importance of land use planning in mitigating flood-associated risks, both in the studied area and other flood-prone regions.
Data Imbalance in Cardiac Health Diagnostics Using CECG-GAN
Authors: Yang Yang , Lan Tianyu , Wang Yang , Cao Ziyue , Li Fengtian , Gao Fei , Wang DianLi , Zhang Zhijun , Chen Xing
Published: November 2023

Heart disease is the world's leading cause of death. Diagnostic models based on electrocardiograms (ECGs) are often limited by the scarcity of high-quality data and issues of data imbalance. To address these challenges, we propose a Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (CECG-GAN). This strategy enables the generation of samples that closely approximate the distribution of ECG data. Additionally, CECG-GAN addresses waveform jitter, slow processing speeds, and dataset imbalance issues through the integration of a Transformer architecture. We evaluated this approach using two datasets: MIT-BIH and CSPC2020. The experimental results demonstrate that CECG-GAN achieves outstanding performance metrics. Notably, the Percentage Root Mean Square Difference (PRD) reached 55.048, indicating a high degree of similarity between generated and actual ECG waveforms. Additionally, the Fréchet Distance (FD) was approximately 1.139, the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) registered at 0.232, and the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) was recorded at 0.166.
Identification of Cu-N2 sites for Zn-air batteries in harsh electrolytes: from computer virtual screening to practical application
Authors: Li Huanxin , Xu Chenxi , Li Kaiqi , Xu Junwei , Sharma Subash , Zhang Jincan , Mao Boyang , Zhang Hao , Luo Bingcheng , Gong Yi , Yang Kai , Huang Zhongyuan , Wang Jianan , Xi Kai , Fu Chaopeng , Zhao Yunlong , Chai Guoliang , He Guanjie , Parkin Ivan
Published: November 2023

Non-precious-metal catalysts possess promising potential to replace noble metals (e.g. Pt, Ru, Ir etc.) in broad catalytic areas; however the selection of efficient ones based on experimental results is extremely time-consuming and capital sensitive. Herein, we employ a computer-based method for virtual screening (VS) of chemical structures to discover new electrocatalysts via an efficient standard protocol. Specifically, we discovered a thermodynamically stable and highly active Cu-N2 Lewis acid site by combining molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The MD simulations rapidly screen out the structures that are both thermodynamically stable and stable in harsh electrolytes, while the DFT calculations filter out the ones with high overpotential by evaluating the adsorption energies for oxygen-related adsorption intermediates based on “Volcano plots” theory. The as-predicted Cu-N2 Lewis acid site was experimentally synthesized in a hollow nitrogen-doped octahedron carbon framework (Cu-N2@HNOC), in which an ultra-high loading of single Cu atoms (13.1 wt%, ICP-MS, the highest on record) is achieved. As a result, a flexible solid-state Zn-air battery was fabricated with Cu-N2@HNOC as the cathode catalyst that realized prolonged cycling, achieving a record high maximum power density of 78.1mW/cm2. Our strategy is widely applicable to seek valuable catalysts via VS for a wide range of applications, e.g. electrocatalysis, biocatalysis, and industrial catalysis, and suggests that the VS is more efficient than most experimental approaches.
Spatial and Frequency based Data Hiding Steganography: Performance analysis Utilizing Various Classified Messages
Authors: Sr Tarek , Eltokhy Mostafa , Abouelazm Atef E. , El-Bendary Mohsen A. M. , haggag Ayman
Published: November 2023

The proposed visions for the sixth generation wireless communications network indicate that it will have the ability to transmit massive amounts of data in a very short time. These visions require the sixth-generation network to have a high level of security. This paper focuses on the confidentiality and privacy of data on the sixth-generation wireless communications network. The paper provides a comparison between two techniques of data hiding and showing that may be used with modern security technologies in sixth-generation networks, namely LSBsteganography and SVD watermarking.This comparison between the two technologies is to determine the strength and reliability of each technology in hiding and showing data without affecting it during transmission over the network. This paper provides the comparison by implementing some simulation experiments using these technologies on different types of data such as images, numerical data, and text messages. The simulation results showed the strength and reliability of each technology in hiding and showing data, as well as the impact of each technology on the transmitted data and whether it caused any loss or not.
Study on critical parameters of gob-side entry retaining by roof cutting and pressure relief in inclined coal seams
Authors: Shi Weiping , Li Zhaoying , Liu Changtao , Lv Yanwei , Zhang Haoran , Yang Tao
Published: November 2023

The study explored how to improve gob side entry retaining by roof cutting in inclined coal seams with thick, inclined, and hard roofs. The research focused on optimizing key parameters through theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and field monitoring at the 1301 headentry of Great Wall No.6 Mine. Firstly, based on the expansion coefficient of rock crushing and masonry beam theory, the theoretical minimum values for the roof-cutting height and angle of the 1301 headentry are derived. Secondly, the theoretical derivation results were further optimized by creating a model of gob side entry retaining using roof cutting in the 1301 working face with the help of PFC2D numerical software. The response characteristics of stress, displacement, and fabric tensor of the roof were compared and analyzed under different roof-cutting heights and angles to enhance the accuracy of the results. The analysis shows a logarithmic relationship between roof-cutting height and pressure relief, where the pressure relief effect decreases as roof-cutting height increases. There is an "S" relationship between the roof-cutting angle and the pressure relief effect; as roof-cutting height increases, the pressure relief effect initially increases and then decreases. The best roof-cutting height and angle for gob side entry retaining in the 1301 headentry of No.6 Great Wall Mine are 13m and 10°, respectively, according to theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. The field monitoring shows that the control effect of surrounding rock under the parameters of roof cutting is good. The deformation of the rock surrounding the retaining roadway is significantly reduced, which effectively meets the mining requirements of the next working face. This verifies the effectiveness of the optimized roof-cutting parameters and provides a theoretical basis and practical reference for selecting parameters for gob side entry retaining through roof cutting in similar conditions.
EBV-associated epigenetic signature in a colorectal cancer multicase family.
Authors: Hamad Reem , Yousif Ommniyah , Idris Razaz , Yousif Rayan S , Kamal Bidour , Ammar Lamees , Ibrahim Tomader A. , Sultan Ali A. , Suleiman Suleiman H. , Ibrahim Muntasir
Published: November 2023

Background: EBV is the first culprit virus that has been linked to human cancers. It has been shown recently to act through various epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA hypermethylation, EBV-related miRNA, and RNA editing enzymes.
Methods: Whole exome sequencing of an extended multi-case colorectal cancer family revealed a potential oncogenic viral etiology. Investigation of such putative involvement in the same family was carried out by interrogating exome sequences of the tumor tissue for the presence of EBV signatures, in addition to immune histochemistry analysis and PCR of the LMP and EBER genes. Due to previously encountered strong signals for the involvement of APOBEC3b as an RNA editing enzyme, quantitative PCR was performed to quantify APOBEC3b. Various bioinformatics tools have also been used to detect virus-related miRNAs.
Results: The EBV 2 sequence was retrieved from patient tumor sequences and detected by PCR and immunohistochemistry in the tumor samples. APOBEC3b was found to be sixfold higher in the sample than in controls, which explains the high C/T transition occurrence among tumor sequences. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that has-miR-29 b and has-miR-130 were among the top related miRNAs to EBV and colorectal cancer which was further supported by expression analysis.
Conclusions: These results, in addition to expanding the list of EBV-related cancers, highlight potential epigenetic mechanisms that might help explain the oncogenic functionality of the virus and the ontology of tumor complexity.
Enhancement of complement-dependent cytotoxicity by linking factor-H derived SCRs 19-20 to CD20 antibodies
Authors: Stoiber Heribert , Prantl Lena , Heider Philipp , Bergmeister Lisa , Bohn Jan-Paul , Wolf Dominik , Banki Zoltan , Bosch Andreas , Plach Maximilian , Huber Georg , Schroedel Silke , Thirion Christian
Published: November 2023

Antibody-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) on malignant cells is regulated by several complement regulating proteins (CRP), including the inhibitory complement factor H (fH). FH consists of 20 short consensus repeat elements (SCRs) with specific functional domains. Previous research revealed that the fH-derived SCRs 19–20 (SCR1920) can displace full-length fH on the surface of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, which sensitizes CLL cells for e.g. CD20-targeting therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) induced CDC. Therefore, we constructed lentiviral vectors for the generation of cell lines that stably produce mAb-SCR-fusion variants starting from the approved parental mAbs Rituximab, Obinutuzumab and Ofatumumab, respectively. Flow-cytometry revealed that the modification of the mAbs by the SCRs does not impair the binding to CD20. Increased in vitro lysis potency compared to their parental mAbs was corroborated by showing specific and dose dependent target cell elimination by CDC when compared to their parental mAbs. Lysis of CLL cells was not affected by the depletion of NK cells, suggesting that antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity plays a minor role in this context. Overall, this study emphasizes the crucial role of CDC in the elimination of CLL cells by mAbs and introduces a novel approach for enhancing CDC by directly fusing fH SCR1920 with mAbs.
Prevalence of Anemia and its associated factors among 6- 59 months age Children visiting Public Hospitals at Afar Region, Northeast Ethiopia: A Hospital-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Hailu Molla , Wudu Muluken , Gebriye Dagne , Birhanu Tarikua , Bekalu yemane
Published: November 2023

Background
Anemia is a severe global public health problem, especially in developing nations like Ethiopia. The Afar region is notable for its regular droughts, pastoral populations, and lack of safe drinking water. Despite its significance, no study on childhood anemia has been conducted, notably in the Afar Region. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among 6- to 59-month'-old children at Afar Region public hospitals in northeastern Ethiopia.
Method
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was employed among 306 6- to 59-month-old children using the systematic random sampling method who visited Afar region public hospitals from February 30 to April 30, 2023. The data entry was done using EpiData version 4.2 and Anthroplus software for anthropometric measurement, respectively. Moreover, data analysis was done through SPSS version 26. Binary logistic regression models were fitted to identify predictors of anemia. A P value ≤ 0.05 was deemed to be statistically significant.
Result
The overall prevalence of anemia among children under the age of five was 46.41% (95% CI: 43.8–48.9%). Of those anemic children, 62 (43.66%), 60 (42.25%), and 60 (14.08%) were mild, moderate, and severely anemic, respectively. Having an illiterate mother (AOR = 7.06, 95% CI = 2.81, 19.30), having the lowest family monthly income (AOR = 5.19, 95% CI = 1.24, 21.75), having a family size greater than five (AOR = 3.76, 95% CI = 2.82, 5.98), being in the age of 24–35 months (AOR = 3.12, 95% CI = 1.47–7.11), being in rural residence (AOR = 6.11, 95% CI = 1.49,8.99), having previous parasite infection diagnosis (AOR = 3.76,95% CI = 2.16,11.31), having early weaning feeding (AOR = 2.51,95% CI = 2.36–6.51), having malaria diagnosis before 3 months (AOR = 3.37,95% CI = 2.16–11.31), and having diarrhea in the last two weeks (AOR = 2.98,95% CI = 1.57–3.81) were important predictors of under-five age group anemia.
Conclusion
Anemia in children under the age of five was classified as severe in the current study and is regarded as a critical public health issue. It implies that more efforts should be made to increase safe water supply, food security, exclusive breastfeeding, deworming, and malaria control operations.
Effects of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 on Osteogenic Differentiation of MC3T3-E1 Cells Prepared by Coaxial Electrospinning
Authors: Liu Geng , Chen Chun Xia , Chang Xue , Huang Jin Mei
Published: November 2023

Objective
To examine the effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) on osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells prepared by coaxial electrospinning.
Methods
The coaxial electrospinning technique was used to prepare the shell-core electrospun scaffold (PP-B) loaded with BMP-2 protein, which served as the study cluster. In addition, the electrospun scaffold (PP) was prepared with the same shell material and employed as the control cluster. The effects of the two clusters on the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells were compared.
Results
Compared with the control cluster, no significant differences were observed in the stent diameter and contact angle within the study cluster (P > 0.05). The cumulative release of BMP-2 in vitro increased with time, indicating continuous BMP-2 release from the PP-B stent. In contrast to the complete medium, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level under the extract of the PP-B stent was higher, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). After 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of cell culture, an increase in CCK-8 was observed in both clusters, but there was no significant difference in the level change between the two clusters (P > 0.05), indicating that there was no significant toxicity in both clusters of materials. However, ALP activity increased in both clusters after 7 and 14 days of cell culture, and the change was more pronounced in the study cluster than in the control cluster, with a significant difference (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
No remarkable toxicity was observed in the cells for PP and PP-B scaffolds, and BMP-2 was continuously released in vitro by the scaffolds. Furthermore, PP-B scaffolds significantly enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells.
High Adalimumab Dose at Beginning Maintenance Therapy in Crohn’s disease Patients
Authors: Peng Xiang , Xu Zhao-yuan , Wei Ming , Yao Jia-Yin , Zhang Min , Zhi Min
Published: November 2023

Introduction:
Adalimumab is used to treat Crohn's disease, but the high dosage is controversial.
Methods
In this retrospective study we compared patients with Crohn's disease who had not previously received or had received infliximab treatment with high doses (subcutaneously injected with 80mg of adalimumab every other week) and standard doses (subcutaneously injected with 40mg of adalimumab every other week). The primary outcome was 12th -week clinical remission rate with two different dosage regimens, while the secondary outcome included the time to treatment failure and the incidence of adverse events.
Results
144 patients had not used infliximab before and 86 patients had used infliximab before. In the infliximab-naïve group, there were no significant differences in the 12th-week clinical remission rate (78.0% vs 73.8%, OR 1.36, 95%CI 0.56–3.54, P = 0.509), and treatment failure for two regimens were similar (HR 0.49,95%CI [0.19,1.22], P = 0.123). However, in the infliximab-exposed group, the high dose of adalimumab provided a significantly higher clinical remission rate (72.7% vs. 47.6%, OR 3.31, 95%CI 1.28–8.57, P = 0.035,) and lower risk of treatment failure (HR 0.33, 95%CI [0.13, 0.85], P = 0.019), The incidence of adverse events was comparable between two regimens (34.1% vs. 29.7%, P = 0.556).
Conclusions
The high dosage of adalimumab doesn’t provide additional clinical benefits to infliximab-naïve CD patients with the standard dosage. However, it can increase the clinical remission rate and reduce the risk of treatment failure in infliximab-exposed CD patients, without increasing the incidence of adverse events.
A Novel Approach to Decision Making in Rice Quality Management using Interval-Valued Pythagorean fuzzy Schweizer and Sklar power aggregation operators
Authors: Khalid Usman , Binyamin Ahsan , Ali Jawad
Published: November 2023

The Pythagorean fuzzy set is an extension of the traditional fuzzy set which offers an effective approach to addressing the complex uncertainty in decision-analysis processes, making it applicable across a broad spectrum of applications. Given the limitations of available facts, decision experts often face challenges in precisely defining the grades of belongingness (BG) and non-belongingness (NG) using crisp values. In such situations, opting for interval-valued belongingness and non-belongingness grades proves to be a suitable choice. This work uses the notion of power aggregation operators through Schweizer and Sklar (SS) operations to build aggregation operators for interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy (IVPF) sets. This paper introduces several aggregation operators within the IVPF framework, such as the IVPF SS power weighted average operator, the IVPF SS power geometric operator, and the IVPF SS power average operator. The existence of SS t-norms and t-conorms in the IVPF framework for addressing multi-attribute decision-making problems gives the generated operators the ability to make the information aggregation approach more adaptable compared to other current ones. The application of the proposed approach holds the potential to enhance crop yield, optimize resource utilization, and contribute to the overall sustainability of agriculture. Additionally, sensitivity and comparative analyses are provided to clarify the stability and dependability of the results acquired through this approach.
Performance, kinetic characteristics and bacterial community of short-cut nitrification and denitrification system at different ferrous ion conditions
Authors: Chang Ben-ze , Zhang Shuai , Chen Dong-zhi , Gao Kai-tuo , Yang Guang-feng
Published: November 2023

In order to explore the operation performance, kinetic characteristics and bacterial community of the short-cut nitrification and denitrification (SND) system, the SND system with pre-cultured short cut nitrification and denitrification sludge was established and operated under different ferrous ion (Fe (II)) conditions. Experimental results showed that the NH4+-N removal efficiency (ARE) of SND system was 97.3% on Day 5 and maintained a high level of 94.9%±1.3% for a long operation period. When the influent Fe(II) concentration increased from 2.3mg L-1 to 7.3mg L-1, the sedimentation performance, sludge concentration and organic matter removal performance were improved. However, higher Fe(II) of 12.3mg L-1 decreased the removal performance of nitrogen and CODCr with the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes decreased to 30.28% and 19.41% , respectively. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes were the dominant phyla in SND system. Higher Fe(II) level of 12.3 mg L-1 increase the RA of denitrifying genus Trichococcus (33.93%), and the denitrifying genus Thauera and Tolumonas dominant at Fe(II) level of no more than 7.3 mg L-1.
Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Pollution Evaluation of Soil Heavy Metals in Wulongdong National Forest Park
Authors: chen xiaolong , Wong Cora Un In , Zhang Hongfeng
Published: November 2023

Objective
To find out the spatial distribution characteristics and pollution status of soil heavy metal content in Wulongdong National Forest Park.
Method
On the shady and sunny slopes, 3 altitude gradients of 900, 1000, 1069 m were selected respectively, and 6 sampling points were set up to collect soil samples in layers,The contents of 7 heavy metal elements in soil including Cr, Cd, Hg, Ni, Se, As, Pb were determined. Referring to the national background values of soil elements, the single factor index method, Nemerow index method and pollution load index method were used to comprehensively evaluate the pollution status of heavy metals in soil.
Conclusion
In the 0-20 cm soil layer of Wulongdong National Forest Park, three heavy metal elements, Ni, Cd and Hg, have reached the pollution level, among which Ni is slightly polluted, and Cd and Hg are moderately or above polluted. The soil on the sunny slope was slightly polluted by heavy metals, and the soil on the shady slope was not polluted by heavy metals.
The frequency of ctDNA with KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutations in colorectal cancer is associated with the mutation site
Authors: Yoshimura Fumihiro , Yoshida Yoichiro , Yamada Teppei , Tanaka Keita , Hayashi Takaomi , Shimaoka Hideki , Kajitani Ryuji , Munechika Taro , Matsumoto Yoshiko , Sakamoto Ryohei , Aisu Naoya , Yoshimatsu Gumpei , Hasegawa Suguru
Published: November 2023

Early prediction of metastatic risk after tumor resection for colorectal cancer (CRC) is critical to improve treatment outcomes. Although circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is an important biomarker in CRC patients, methods and cutoff values have not been clearly established. In this study, we examined the relationship between mutatnt allele frequency (MAF) and the genetic mutation site and factors that influence the prediction of recurrence by ctDNA. This study included 422 CRC patients who underwent surgery. ctDNA was sampled from blood samples of 102 CRC patients with KRAS, NRAS and BRAF mutation and analyzed using the digital polymerase chain reaction system. Preoperative, postoperative day 1, postoperative day 7, and postoperative day 30 MAF was examined for each gene mutation sites. Kruskal–Wallis test revealed significant differences in MAF between mutated codon sites at all MAF assessment times (p < 0.001). The MAF values of KRAS codon 146 at all time points were significantly higher than for the other mutation sites. This study revealed that MAF values differed significantly depending on the site of mutation, even for the same gene. These results indicate that MAF cutoff values need to be established not only for each gene but also for each mutation site.
To What Extent Can Mastication Functionality Be Restored Following Mandibular Reconstruction? A Simulation Study
Authors: Aftabi Hamidreza , Sagl Benedikt , Lloyd John , Prisman Eitan , Hodgson Antony , Fels Sidney
Published: November 2023

Advanced cases of head and neck cancer involving the mandible often require surgical removal of diseased sections and subsequent replacement with donor bone. During the procedure, the surgeon has to decide which soft tissues structures to resect (especially muscles). This requires balancing tradeoffs related to issues such as surgical access and post-operative function; however, the latter is often difficult to predict, especially given that long-term functionality also depends on the impact of post-operative rehabilitation programs. To assist in surgical decision-making, we present an approach to estimating effects of typical muscle resections on key aspects of post-operative function. We validate our dynamic biomechanical models of the reconstructed mandible using literature data and use these models to estimate the degree of functionality that might be achieved following post-operative rehabilitation. We find significant potential for restoring mandibular functionality, even in cases involving large defects. This entails an average trajectory error below 2 mm, bite force comparable to a healthy individual, improved condyle mobility, and a muscle activation change capped at a maximum of 20%. These results suggest that there is significant potential for improving post-operative rehabilitation to gain greater restoration of jaw function.
Emerging Trends in Federated Learning: From Model Fusion to Federated X Learning
Authors: Ji Shaoxiong , Tan Yue , Saravirta Teemu , Yang Zhiqin , Liu Yixin , Vasankari Lauri , Pan Shirui , Long Guodong , Walid Anwar
Published: November 2023

Federated learning is a new learning paradigm that decouples data collection and model training via multi-party computation and model aggregation.As a flexible learning setting, federated learning has the potential to integrate with other learning frameworks.We conduct a focused survey of federated learning in conjunction with other learning algorithms. Specifically, we explore various learning algorithms to improve the vanilla federated averaging algorithm and review model fusion methods such as adaptive aggregation, regularization, clustered methods, and Bayesian methods. Following the emerging trends, we also discuss federated learning in the intersection with other learning paradigms, termed federated X learning, where X includes multitask learning, meta-learning, transfer learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. This survey reviews the state of the art, challenges, and future directions.
Women’s experiences and perceptions of the menstrual cycle on strength training performance – a conventional content analysis
Authors: Augustsson Sofia Ryman , Findhé-Malenica Anna
Published: November 2023

Background
During the menstrual cycle, hormones vary greatly and can affect physical performance during training. However, research regarding women's experience of strength training performance during the different phases of the menstrual cycle appears to be limited. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore women's experience and perception of strength training performance during the different phases of the menstrual cycle.
Methods
In this study, a qualitative study design was used where five women of childbearing age (24–32 years) with experience in strength training kept an exercise diary during a menstrual cycle. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using qualitative conventional content analysis, with an inductive approach.
Results
From the analysis, four overarching themes describing the content of the text emerged: “Varying mental and physical experiences in the early follicle phase", "Peak performance during the late follicle phase", "Breakpoint at ovulation" and "Varying mental and physical experiences during the luteal phase".
Conclusion
In conclusion, from the woman's perspective, performance in strength training seems to be dependent on the different phases of the menstrual cycle but the experiences vary between individuals. Thus, it may be important to be aware of the performance alteration during one’s individual cycle to best adapt the training. In addition, the results of this study highlight the need for a holistic approach in understanding and managing both the physiological and psychological problems that can occur during the different phases of the menstrual cycle.
Diagnostic value of corneal optical densitometry in keratoconus
Authors: Yang Min , Tian He , Xue Chao , Li Jing
Published: November 2023

Purpose
To investigate the clinical significance of the correlation between optical densitometry and both biomechanical and morphological parameters in keratoconus and to verify the diagnostic value of optical densitometry in keratoconus.
Method
This cross-sectional study included 436 eyes of 251 patients with keratoconus. Corneal optical densitometry, morphological parameters and biomechanical parameters were measured. Spearman's correlation analysis was employed to investigate the association between optical densitometry and both biomechanical and morphological parameters.
Result
Optical densitometry of the anterior (0–2 mm and 2–6 mm), central (0–2 mm), posterior (2–6 mm) and total (2–6 mm) layers correlated positively with SPA1, while the posterior layer (0–2 mm) correlated negatively. Optical densitometry of the anterior layers 2–6 mm, 6–10 mm, and the central layer 6–10 mm negatively affected AL1, while the posterior layer 0–2 mm positively affected it. Optical densitometry of the anterior, central, and posterior layers 0–2 mm and 2–6 mm positively influenced morphological parameters K1, K2 and Km. Optical densitometry of the center (0–2 mm) and posterior (2–6 mm) layers negatively influenced TCT. Optical densitometry of the anterior (0–2 mm and 2–6 mm), center (0–2 mm), posterior (2–6 mm) and total (2–6 mm) layers correlated positively with ACE and PCE, whereas the posterior layer (0–2 mm) correlated negatively.
Conclusion
Optical densitometry was correlated with biomechanical and morphological parameters in keratoconus, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic indicator for assessing keratoconus progression and treatment efficacy.