bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of glucose-containing dialysate during dialysis in maintenance haemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: He Li , Chen Hui , Chen Lin , Zhang Yingjun , Liu Mingming , Liu Li
Published: April 2024

Background：Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and approximately 26%～47% of haemodialysis patients have diabetes. At present, most haemodialysis treatments use glucose-free dialysate. Howerver, the use of glucose-free dialysate resulted in an increased incidence of asymptomatic hypoglycemia during dialysis treatment.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of glucose-containing dialysate during dialysis in Maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients combined with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted to select 16 MHD patients with type 2 diabetes from March 2023 to April 2023. Patients were randomly divided into a glucose-containing dialysate group (n=8) and a glucose-free dialysate group (n=8). A Flash Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) was used for blood glucose monitoring. The target time in range (TIR) of blood glucose levels, the frequency of dialysis hypoglycaemia and the changes in blood pressure and heart rate were compared between the two groups within 14 days.
Results: In the glucose-containing dialysate group, the blood glucose TIR was greater than that in the glucose-free dialysate group within 14 days (50.50% vs. 30.75%, P < 0.05), on dialysis days (75.70% vs. 57.76%, P < 0.05) and on nondialysis days (74.67% vs. 57.76%, P < 0.05). Hypoglycaemia occurred less frequently in the glucose-containing dialysate group than in the glucose-free dialysate group during 4 hours of dialysis treatment (43 vs. 205). The frequency of hypoglycaemia in the glucose-containing dialysate group was significantly lower than that in the glucose-free dialysate group at the second hour of dialysis (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in blood pressure or heart rate fluctuation between the two groups.
Conclusion: Glucose-containing dialysate is beneficial for blood glucose management in MHD patients with type 2 diabetes, and the clinical application of glucose-containing dialysate in MHD patients with type 2 diabetes should be improved.
All-magnonic repeater based on bistability
Authors: Wang Qi , Verba Roman , Davídková Kristýna , Heinz Björn , Tian Shixian , Rao Yiheng , Guo Mengying , Guo Xueyu , Dubs Carsten , Pirro Philipp , Chumak Andrii
Published: April 2024

Bistability, a universal phenomenon found in diverse fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics, describes a scenario in which a system has two stable equilibrium states and resets to one of the two states. The ability to switch between these two states is the basis for a wide range of applications, particularly in memory and logic operations. Here, we present a universal approach to achieve bistable switching in magnonics, the field processing data using spin waves. As an exemplary application, we use magnonic bistability to experimentally demonstrate the still missing magnonic repeater. A pronounced bistable window is observed in a 1 μm wide magnonic conduit under an external rf drive characterized by two magnonic stable states defined as low and high spin-wave amplitudes. The switching between these two states is realized by another propagating spin wave sent into the rf driven region. This magnonic bistable switching is used to design the magnonic repeater, which receives the original decayed and distorted spin wave and regenerates a new spin wave with amplified amplitude and normalized phase. Our magnonic repeater is proposed to be installed at the inputs of each magnonic logic gate to overcome the spin-wave amplitude degradation and phase distortion during previous propagation and achieve integrated magnonic circuits or magnonic neuromorphic networks.
Oral carbohydrate 2 hours vs long fasting in risk of reflux and aspiration: a randomized controlled trial conducted on volunteers
Authors: Zhang Gang , Huang Xiaoyan , Feng Ji , Yang Guang , Yao Fu
Published: April 2024

Background: There is controversy over whether carbohydrate drinks should be allowed before surgery due to concerns about aspiration.
Methods: Volunteers were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (E) or control group (C). Group E drank less than 400ml of carbohydrate after 6 hours of fasting, while group C continued to fast without any beverage. They received ultrasound evaluation every hour. The primary outcome was the incidence of risk stomach.
Results: The total incidences of risk stomach in group E and C were 100% vs 13%, 70% vs 10%, 13.3% vs 6.6%, 10% vs 6.6% at T0, T1, T2, T3 respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups at T2 and T3. The gastric volume of group E and C were 36.08 ± 16.90 vs 1.01 ± 16.89, 25.67 ± 20.67 vs 0.54 ± 18.10, 6.89 ± 18.32 vs -1.70 ± 15.32, 2.74 ± 16.48 vs -0.70 ± 17.57 at T0, T1, T2, T3 respectively. The VAS of hunger and thirst in the two groups were 0.60 ± 0.62 vs 1.00 ± 0.70, respectively.
Conclusion: Oral carbohydrate more than 2 hours before surgery did not increase the incidence of risk stomach and reduced preoperative hunger and thirst.
Trial registration: This was also registered prior to patient enrollment at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. (http://www.chictr.org.cn; Registration date: 7/2/2021; Registration number: ChiCTR2100043166; Principal investigator: Gang Zhang).
A Biomimetic Multi-Component Subunit Vaccine via Ratiometric Loading of Hierarchical Hydrogels
Authors: Scott Evan , Du Fanfan , Yuk Simseok , Qian Yuan , Vincent Michael , Bobbala Sharan , Abbott Tirzah , Kim Hyeohn , Li Haoyu , Yi Sijia , Qiao Baofu , Li Yang
Published: April 2024

The development of subunit vaccines that mimic the molecular complexity of attenuated vaccines has been limited by the difficulty of intracellular co-delivery of multiple chemically diverse payloads at controllable concentrations. We report on hierarchical hydrogel depots employing simple poly(propylene sulfone) homopolymers to enable ratiometric loading of a protein antigen and four physicochemically distinct adjuvants in a hierarchical manner. The optimized vaccine consisted of immunostimulants either adsorbed to or encapsulated within nanogels, which were capable of noncovalent anchoring to subcutaneous tissues. These 5-component nanogel vaccines demonstrated enhanced humoral and cell-mediated immune responses compared to formulations with standard single adjuvant and antigen pairing. The use of a single simple homopolymer capable of rapid and stable loading and intracellular delivery of diverse molecular cargoes holds promise for facile development and optimization of scalable subunit vaccines and complex therapeutic formulations for a wide range of biomedical applications.
The Degradation Mechanism of Multi-Resonance Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Materials
Authors: You Youngmin , Jhun Byung Hak , Kim Hwang Suk , Kim Joonghyuk , Park Yerin , Lee Eunji , Moon Hyejin , Oh Changjin , Jung Yongsik , Choi Seunghee , Baik Mu-Hyun
Published: April 2024

1,4-Azaborine-based arenes gained prominence as electroluminescent emitters that exhibit thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). These materials display exceptionally narrow emission spectra and high photoluminescence quantum yields, benefits arising from the multi-resonance (MR) effect. The practical application of MR-TADF emitters is often constrained by their limited operational stability. In this study, we explore the mechanism responsible for the degradation of a series of MR-TADF molecules. Electroluminescent devices employing these compounds show varied operational lifetimes, which do not align with either the excitonic stability of the emitter molecules or the degree of roll-off in external quantum efficiency. Our bulk electrolysis study reveals a considerable instability of the radical cationic forms of the MR-TADF compounds. A direct correlation is observed between device lifetime and the Faradaic yield for oxidative degradation of the emitter molecules. Comprehensive chemical analyses suggest that the degradation byproducts originate from intramolecular cyclization in the radical cation, preceded by intermolecular hydrogen atom transfer. Quantum chemical calculations indicate that this intramolecular cyclization accelerates the overall reaction, implying that cyclization reactivity is crucial for the intrinsic stability of the MR-TADF compound upon hole trapping. Our study offers an explanation for the beneficial effects of deuteration on the intrinsic stability and lays the groundwork for developing mechanism-based strategies to design MR-TADF compounds with greater operational longevity.
Learning curves of novice residents on cataract surgery simulator: the E3CAPS pedagogic study
Authors: Ducloyer Jean-Baptiste , Poinas Alexandra , Duchesne Léa , Caillet Pascal , Lejus-Bourdeau Corinne , Meur Guylène Le , Weber Michel , Ivan Catherine , Limousin Nadège , Desmidt Thomas , Pladys Patrick , Pisella Pierre-Jean , Bernard Anne , Lardy Hubert , Gohier Philippe , Martin Ludovic , Mouriaux Frederic , Lebranchu Pierre , Khanna Raoul Kanav
Published: April 2024

Introduction Training novice ophthalmology residents on the EyeSi® simulator increases cataract surgery safety. However, there is no consensus regarding how much training residents should perform before their first time on patients. We evaluated the French national training program through the analysis of the learning curves of novice residents. Methods Prospective multicentric pedagogic study conducted with French novice residents. Each resident completed the recommended four two-hour training sessions and performed a standardized assessment simulating standard cataract surgery before the first session (A0), at the end of the first (A1), second (A2), third (A3) and fourth (A4) sessions. For each surgical step of each attempt, the following data were collected: score, odometer, completion time, posterior capsular rupture and ultrasounds delivered. Results Sixteen newly nominated ophthalmology residents were included. Median score progressively increased from 95 [IQR 53; 147]) at A0 to 425 [IQR 411; 451] at A4. Despite a significant progression, the “emulsification” step had the lowest A4 scores 86 [IQR 60; 94] without reduction in completion time, odometer or ultrasounds delivered. The rate of posterior capsular rupture decreased linearly from 75% at A0 to 13% at A4 during “emulsification” and from 69–0% during “irrigation and aspiration”. At A4, only 25% [8; 53] of residents had > 80 at each step and only 75% [47; 92] had > 400/500 overall. Conclusion A training program consisting of four two-hour sessions on the EyeSi simulator over four consecutive days effectively enhances the surgical skills of novice ophthalmology residents. Undergoing more training sessions may improve scores and decrease the incidence of surgical complications, particularly at the emulsification step of cataract surgery. The learning curves presented here can reassure residents who are progressing normally and help identify those who need a further personalized training program. ClinicalTrials registration number: NCT05722080 (first registration 10/02/2023)
Analysis and examination of the properties and behavior of floating electrode dielectric barrier discharge plasma for medical application
Authors: Razaghiha Elahe , lotfi Mohammad Reza , khani Mohammadreza , Shokri Babak
Published: April 2024

Today, plasma is extensively utilized in biomedicine. Given its widespread use, the presence of unknown variables, and potential hazards like electric shock and burns, this research explores the electrical, optical, and chemical aspects of plasma generated through floating electrode dielectric barrier discharge (FE-DBD). The aim is to ensure the device's electrical safety and evaluate its chemical and thermal properties. Additionally, this study investigates the parameters of the produced plasma. It provides an immunometric assessment and characterization of discharge plasma from the floating electrode dielectric barrier, facilitating device optimization and advancing our understanding of plasma characteristics for tailored biomedical applications.
Study on Overlying Rock Movement and Mine Pressure Behavior in Shallow-buried Close Coal Multi-seam Mining
Authors: Hu Shaoping , Yu Tianbiao
Published: April 2024

In order to reveal the failure morphology and mine pressure behavior of each overburden strata during shallow buried close multi-coal seam mining, this research takes the Shenmu Zhangjiamao mining area as the engineering background, the migration characteristics of shallow buried close-range overburden structure and the distribution law of mine pressure were studied. The results show that: with the gradual mining of 2− 2 coal seam, the front-rear supporting pressure of the unmined coal seam increases first and then decreases, and the compaction strength of the collapsed overburden in the middle of the mined-out area increases gradually. With the mining of 2− 3 coal seams, the displacement of the direct roof of the lower mined-out area and the rock layer of the upper compaction area increases gradually. The peak stress of the concentrated stress area on both sides of the 2− 3 coal seam gradually decreases with the increase of layer spacing. The compaction stress of overburden in the upper goaf decreases gradually, and the peak value of compaction stress in the middle of the lower goaf increases gradually. Through the measured results of the borehole stress sensor, the obvious influence range of the advance support pressure is about 40 m.
Performance of Structural Concrete Containing Sedimentary Rocks
Authors: Lim Wee Fong , Lee Yang Pin Kelvin , Ho Nyok Yong , Lam Kok Pang
Published: April 2024

In 2014, Singapore commissioned the Jurong Rock Caverns (JRC) for the storage of liquid hydrocarbons. The construction of this first commercial underground storage facility in Southeast Asia had extracted about four million cubic metres of rocks which comprised mainly sedimentary rocks (SR). To offset the development costs of JRC and reduce the reliance on imported natural aggregates, studies were conducted to evaluate its applications in construction. One of the studies has shown that it could be processed into aggregates for road construction. However, SR aggregates found to be susceptible to the alkali-silica reaction (ASR) which posed a concern for concrete production. A preliminary study was carried out to find a way to mitigate this phenomenon and the introduction of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) yielded the best outcome. Further study was undertaken to investigate various concrete mixes that contained 100% SR aggregates and different replacement levels of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with GGBS. The structural performance of these mixes was assessed through a series of mechanical tests. The test results demonstrated that GGBS was effective in suppressing the ASR-induced expansions while meeting the specifications of structural concrete. A comparable performance was also observed when the proposed mixes were benchmarked against the conventional concrete made up of granite aggregates and OPC. This study has led to the development of a new and sustainable construction material in Singapore which offers an alternative to the imported aggregates and a circular economy approach to alleviate the pressing issue of landfill.
Evaluation of HIV Viral Load Surveillance System in Adama Public Health Research, and Referral Laboratory Centre, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Bamedo kedir Geda
Published: April 2024

Background: HIV/AIDS remains a major public health problem in Ethiopia, with large number of people infected. We evaluated the Oromia Regional Health Bureau's achievement of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 global goals of 2025 in response to HIV/AIDS end and the third 95% of people on treatment with suppressed viral load status, to the 2030 SDGs of "ending AIDS" as a public health treat.
Methods: We used a cross-sectional mixed method study with HIV viral load data from 2019 to 2020 in Adama Public Health Research and Referral Laboratory Centre from May to June, 2021, using a semi-structured questionnaire to collect information from the viral load database, 39 key informant interviews from 14 health centers ART focal persons, and surveillance officers. We evaluated system attributes using the CDC 2001 guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems.
Results: Of the 79,517 HIV/AIDS data reviewed, about 43.4% were 35-49 years old, while 68.2% were females. Approximately 2% were pregnant women, and 1.7% were breastfeeding mothers. Overall, the viral suppression rate was 95.4%. Standardized documents and materials were in use for the viral load surveillance system function. Data completeness was 60%, data timeliness was 95%, and sensitivity was 98%. There was no consistent feedback.
Conclusions: This study confirmed that the region's overall HIV viral load suppression rate was 95.4%. The majority of system attributes were functioning properly. However, data quality was only 50%. Health workers in ART facilities and surveillance officers required training on data usage, regular feedback and training on data quality and completeness are needed for health centre based health workers.
Mechanical Performance Study of PVA Fiber-Reinforced Seawater and Sea Sand Cement-Based Composite Materials
Authors: Diao Rongdan , Cao Yinqiu , Michel Mushagalusa , Wang Ang , Sun Linzhu , Yang Fang
Published: April 2024

Due to the swift progress in the construction sector, there is a global concern about the potential scarcity of river sand and freshwater resources. The development of new construction materials is considered an inevitable trend for industry growth. PVA fibers, known for their strong corrosion resistance, cost-effectiveness, and high toughness, have the potential to enhance the corrosion resistance and seismic performance of structures in marine environments. However, their mechanical properties and durability in the seawater and sea sand environment are not well understood. Therefore, the investigation of the impact of seawater and sea sand on the mechanical properties and durability of PVA fiber-reinforced cement composites is considered crucial. A mechanical performance analysis of PVA fiber-reinforced seawater and sea sand fiber cement composites was conducted in this study. PVA fiber volume fractions of 0%, 0.75%, and 1.5%, cement composite matrix strength grades of C30 and C50, and curing periods of 28 days, 90 days, and 180 days were examined, investigating their influence on the bending toughness of PVA fiber-reinforced seawater and sea sand cement composites. Material failure modes, crack propagation patterns, and load-deflection curves were obtained through experiments, and various bending toughness indices of the beams were calculated. Specific conclusions include the influence of different seawater concentrations at different curing periods on the initial cracking load and bending toughness of materials with varying strength grades and fiber content; the formulation of calculation formulas for predicting bending strength and corresponding deflection, which fit well with the experimental results; and the development of a calculation model for the bending toughness index of PVA fiber-reinforced seawater and sea sand cement composites, providing an effective prediction of material bending toughness.
Seismic damage evaluation and failure mechanisms of historical masonry walls based on numerical method
Authors: Xu Dunfeng , Xie Qifang , Hao Wenming
Published: April 2024

Masonry walls, which serve as a distinct structural element in numerous historical buildings, have frequently been damaged or even collapsed because of unexpected events such as earthquakes. The paper analyzes the seismic damage evaluation and failure mechanisms of historical masonry tower walls located in Xi’an, China. For this purpose, three-dimensional finite element models of historical masonry tower walls were established based on numerical method and analyzed through the explicit dynamic procedures. The numerical model is firstly verified by the testing results from the scaled historical tower wall specimen. The comparison results show a high accuracy in load-displacements relationship and the error does not exceed 3%. Then, the damage indexes (DI) based on the different damage models are calculated and the performance levels of historical Chinese tower walls are proposed accordingly. The effects of vertical compressive stresses, height width ratios and opening ratios on the seismic damage evaluation of the historical tower masonry walls are also analyzed. Finally, the shear bearing capacity of masonry tower walls based on calculation formulas are calculated and the stiffness of the wall under different aspect ratios are further analyzed.
Development of a RT-DETR-based model for detecting two wheelers helmet
Authors: Liu Liwei , Yue Xinbo , Lu Ming , He Pingge
Published: April 2024

The field of helmet detection faces challenges due to small targets, complex backgrounds, and confusion with neighbouring objects. This paper proposes a faster real-time two-wheeler helmet detection model based on the real-time detection transformer (RT-DETR) to address these issues. FRT-DETR includes a new FasterRNet structure designed using model re-parameterisation technique to improve detection performance while meeting real-time requirements for practical applications. Secondly, the proposal introduces a mixed global attention (MGA) module to address the issue of object confusion with neighbouring objects. The module combines channel and spatial information, as well as local and global information, resulting in a significant improvement in network performance. A new module called the cross-stage partial parallel atrous convolution (CSPPAC) is proposed to increase the receptive field. This is achieved by using convolutions with different atrous rates to capture multi-scale information and enhance feature representation. Additionally, the detection performance for small-sized helmet objects is improved through the use of a new channel-gated up-sample and down-sample to strengthen meaningful features and suppress redundant and irrelevant features. The experimental results indicate that FRT-DETR enhances the mean average precision (mAP) by 2.3% and increases the inference speed to 111.3 frames per second (FPS). These improvements significantly enhances the model's capability in detecting small objects and dense scenes, meeting the real-time requirement while ensuring detection accuracy. Therefore, it provides an effective solution for real-time detection of two-wheeler helmets.
Congenital Bilateral Periostitis: Differential diagnosis and a case report
Authors: Elia Anna , Kostin Egor , Charalambous Elena , Orfanos Ioannis
Published: April 2024

Background
Periostitis, characterized by radiological findings of periosteal new bone formation, can result from various factors including trauma, drugs, infection and tumors. Among infants up to six months of age, common causes of periostitis include physiologic periostitis of the newborn, Caffey disease, periostitis related to prostaglandin use, and congenital syphilis. The differential diagnosis of bilateral symmetrical periostitis in newborns and infants within this age range is important as it contributes to the possibility for early treatment.
Case presentation:
A 3-month-old girl, born at 38 weeks by natural birth and with unremarkable prenatal history, presented with multiple episodes of vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, saddle nose, prominent forehead, maculopapular rash with vesicles in both palms, and a palpable liver. Her weight was below the 3rd percentile on growth charts. The infant's syphilis serum screening test was reactive, leading to further testing. Treatment with crystalline penicillin G was administered, and diagnostic investigations revealed symmetrical periostitis affecting the diaphysis of bilateral femorae and tibiae.
Conclusion
This case report highlights the importance of considering congenital syphilis in the differential diagnosis of bilateral symmetrical periostitis in newborns and infants up to six months of age. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial. This case report adds to the orthopedic literature by presenting a unique case of congenital syphilis-associated periostitis, emphasizing the significance of considering this etiology in similar clinical scenarios. Increasing awareness of such cases can lead to prompt diagnosis and intervention, ultimately contributing to better clinical outcomes in affected infants.
Biochar reduces containerized pepper blight caused by Phytophthora capsici
Authors: Yu Ping , Qin Kuan , Crosby Kevin , Ong Kevin , Gentry Terry , Gu Mengmeng
Published: April 2024

Phytophthora blight caused by Phytophthora capsici is a serious disease affecting a wide range of plants. Biochar as a soil amendment could partially replace peat moss and has the potential to suppress plant diseases, but its effects on controlling phytophthora blight of container-grown peppers have less been explored, especially in combination of biological control using Trichoderma. In vitro (petri dish) and in vivo (greenhouse) studies were conducted to test sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB) and mixed hardwood biochar (HB) controlling effects on pepper phytophthora blight disease with and without Trichoderma. Sugarcane bagasse biochar and HB were blended with the commercial substrate (CS, peat-based) at 10% (SBB10, by volume), and 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% (HB10, HB30, HB50, and HB70, by volume), respectively, and CS (CS100) was used as the control. Both in vitro and in vivo studies used randomized complete block design with three treatment factors: pathogen (without or with inoculation of P. capsici), biochar (different biochar treatments), and Trichoderma (without or with inoculation). In vitro results showed that Trichoderma inhibited P. capsici growth while biochar did not have significant beneficial effects. In vivo results showed that plants grown in HB30 and HB50 had similar or higher plant growth index and shoot dry weight than the control regardless of pathogen presence. In the presence of the pathogen, plants grown in HB30, HB50, and HB70 had significantly lower disease severity, and disease incidence ratings than the control, while Trichoderma did not show beneficial effects on controlling the disease. In conclusion, HB replacing 30% and 50% peat moss in substrate could reduce pepper blight disease caused by P. capsici without negatively affecting plant growth.
Simulating the effect of rainwater harvesting on flood mitigation: the case of Asunción, Paraguay
Authors: Thiessen-Anttila Annette , Castier Marcelo , Barreto Paula De Barros
Published: April 2024

This work uses computer simulations to assess the effect of rainwater harvesting on the mitigation of flash floods in Asunción, Paraguay, where local rainfalls frequently cause damages, disruptions, and personal harm. Minute-by-minute rainfall data available for the year 2017 were used to select the storms for this study. Terrain, hydrographic, land cover, buildings information, and street maps were retrieved from various freely available sources. One of the hydrographic basins in the municipality of Asunción was chosen for analysis. Terrain and buildings data were merged so that the simulations predict how the built structures divert water flow. An effective rainfall equation was derived to account for the collective effect of thousands of rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS), which were assumed to be installed under different scenarios. The HEC-RAS software (Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) was used. Three specific locations within the simulated basin were selected for a detailed study. Two peak flow rates were observed in most scenarios: the first of them is the immediate outcome of the rainfall and the second results from the downhill water flow. According to the simulations, the RWHS delay the largest peak flow rate by a few minutes (from 3 to 21 min, depending on the case), which might guide the possible deployment of early warning systems. In a scenario of RWHS with large tanks, installed on every roof – taken as the upper limit of what could be accomplished – reductions of up to 52.2% and 73.3% in the first and second peak flow rate, respectively, were calculated under a heavy rainfall. Under a moderate rainfall, these values were 45.5% and 78.1%. If it is considered that only 50% of the roof area is connected to RWHS, with smaller storage tanks, the peak flow rate reductions are of up to 17.7% (first peak) and 17.8% (second peak) under a heavy rainfall. Under a moderate rainfall, the corresponding values were 23.1% and 40.3%. The overall conclusion is that the effect of RWHS on flood mitigation, as measured by the peak flow rate, is highly dependent on the rain intensity and location. This points out the need for detailed analyses prior to decisions about public policies that might promote the installation of RWHS.
Does mild cognitive impairment accelerate age-related changes in physical function and body composition? A three-year longitudinal follow-up study
Authors: Makizako Hyuma , Akaida Shoma , Tateishi Mana , Shiratsuchi Daijo , Kiyama Ryoji , Kubozono Takuro , Takenaka Toshihiro , Ohishi Mitsuru
Published: April 2024

This prospective study examined the impact of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on age-related changes in physical function and body composition among community-dwelling older adults. Older adults aged 70 years and above (n = 180) completed at baseline and three-year follow-up assessments of physical function and body composition. Participants were divided into the MCI and non-MCI groups based on baseline status. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), adjusting for age and gender, was used to analyze the group (MCI and non-MCI) by time (baseline and three-year follow-up) interaction. No variables had significant group by time interactions. Stratified analyses by gender confirmed a significant group by time interaction on BMI (F = 5.63, p = 0.02) and ASMI (F = 6.33, p = 0.01) among women (adjusted for age). The close associations of MCI with shrinking and muscle mass loss have important implications for targeting interventions among MCI women.
Pain and the Perception of Space in Fibromyalgia: Effects of Pain in Estimations of Distance
Authors: Scandola Michele , Beccherle Maddalena , Polati Enrico , Pietroni Giorgia , Rossato Elena , Schweiger Vittorio , Moro Valentina
Published: April 2024

The Economy of action hypothesis postulates that bodily states rescale the perception of the individual’s environment’s spatial layout. The estimation of distances and slopes in navigation space (i.e. the space reachable by locomotion) is influenced by sensations relating to body condition and the metabolic cost of the actions. The results of the studies investigating the impact of pain on distance estimation remain inconclusive. 28 women suffering from chronic pain and fibromyalgia (FM), and 24 healthy controls (HC) were assessed for musculoskeletal, neuropathic, and visceral pain. In a VR-mediated task, they observed a 3D scenario and estimated the distance of a flag positioned at different distances (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5m) on virtual ramps with either a 4% or 24% inclination. Overestimation of distances in the steeper ramp condition was expected, if participants executed the task by internally simulating the movement. The results showed a dissociation between the effects of musculo-skeletal and visceral-neuropathic pain on distance estimations. According to the Economy of action hypothesis, the HCs estimated the distances as being farther away when the ramp was more inclined (i.e. at 3m and 5m and with a 24% inclination). Furthermore, visceral and neuropathic pain were found to affect the performance of this group. In contrast, there was no effect related to the different ramp inclinations in the FM group, indicating that in the presence of chronic widespread pain, automatic, bodily-based estimations of the potential cost of actions in space are compromised.
Examining complex cancer etiologies within the Korean population: A high-throughput multivariable Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Jung Keum Ji , Spiller Wes , Song Dae Sub , Shin Jong Won , Lee Kyoungho , Jee Sun Ha
Published: April 2024

Background
Despite an extensive body of observational research related to risk factors for cancer incidence, it is unclear whether the estimated associations are causal or a result of unmeasured confoundingfactors. To consider this possibility, this study explored a range of candidate epidemiological factors associated with the onset of cancer within a Mendelian randomization framework.
Methods
Multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analyses were conducted using data from the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II Biobank and the Korean Genome Epidemiologic Study. Analyses were performed to investigate 13 cancer-related risk factors and 13 types of cancer. Initially, univariate Mendelian randomization analyses were performed for each factor, estimating its association with cancer. Subsequently, a set of factors was explored using MVMR.
Results
By analyzing factors related to the onset of cancer, it was determined that smoking is associated with lung cancer, while hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity is significantly linked to gastric cancer, liver cancer, and cervical cancer. PSA levels are estimated to be causally related to prostate cancer, while bilirubin has emerged as a novel factor showing a positive association with lung cancer. To confirm the causal effect between HBsAg and cancer, a MVMR was conducted, controlling for bilirubin and gamma-glutamyl transferase. The results indicated a positive association between HBsAg and cervical cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer. Conversely, breast cancer and pancreatic cancer showed a negative association. In the case of breast cancer, individuals with HBsAg at the age of over 50 years exhibited a significantly lower risk, with an odds ratio of 0.87 (P = 3.07 × 10-16).
Conclusions
Smoking status, HBsAg, and PSA levels replicated findings from previous studies suggesting causal relationships. However, bilirubin and HBsAg demonstrated positive causal associations with some cancers, while HBsAg exhibited negative associations with other cancers. Further research is warranted to explore the cancer-specific causality of HBsAg.
St. Gallen early breast cancer management recommendations are becoming more applicable to most countries even with different levels of income and healthcare scenarios, Egypt as an example
Authors: Khaled Hussein , Nada Yousry Wasef , Ramadan Kareem Mohamed , Fekry Shawkat , Seleam Mohamed Samy , Lotayef Mohamed
Published: April 2024

Purpose: One of the most important meetings in the field of developing clinical guidelines for early management for breast cancer is the 18th St. Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference that was held in March 2023. To tailor these guidelines to suit clinical practice of oncologists in Egypt, an Egyptian Panel were asked to vote on most of the questions of the original St. Gallen consensus.
Methods: The panel consisted of 76 different oncology specialists. 100 questions were assembled and then projected on the monkey survey website. The answers were analyzed in relation to the answers of the St. Gallen panel, 2023.
Results and conclusions: A consensus (≥ 50% approval) among Egyptian panel was reached in answering 71/100 questions denoting the need of more research tackling different problems in taking care of patients having early breast cancer. Comparing answers of both St. Gallen and Egyptian panel to common questions, no consensus was only in 9 out of the 100 questions. So, St. Gallen recommendations are becoming more and more applicable to most countries even with different levels of income and healthcare scenarios.
The Brazilian model for dental age estimation: Willems’ model revisited
Authors: Franco Ademir , Moreira Débora Duarte , Cidade Rafael , Machado Marcos , Bueno Juliano , Malschitzky Carolina , Boedi Rizky Merdietio
Published: April 2024

Objectives
1) to test the Willems’ dental age estimation method in different geographic samples of the Brazilian population, and 2) to propose a new model combining the geographic samples in a single reference table of Brazilian maturity scores.
Material and methods
The sample consisted of 5017 panoramic radiographs of Brazilian males (n = 2443) and females (n = 2574) between 6 and 15.99 years (mean age = 10.99 ± 2.76 years). The radiographs were collected from the Southeastern (SE) (n = 2920), Central-Western (CW) (n = 1176), and Southern (SO) (n = 921) geographic regions. Demirjian’s technique, was applied followed by Willem’s method and the proposed new model.
Results
Willems’ method led to mean absolute errors (MAE) of 0.79 and 0.81 years for males and females, respectively. Root mean squared errors (RMSE) were 1.01 and 1.03 years, respectively. The Brazilian model led to MAE of 0.72 and 0.74 years for males and females, respectively, and RMSE of 0.93 years for both sexes. The MAE was reduced in 70% of the age categories. Differences between regions were statistically (p < 0.05) but not clinically significant.
Conclusion
The new model based on a combined population had an enhanced performance compared to Willems’ model and led to reference outcomes for Brazilians. Clinical relevance: Assessing patients’ biological development by means of dental analysis is relevant to plan orthopedic treatments and follow up. Having a combined-region statistic model for dental age estimation of Brazilian children contributes to optimal dental age estimation practices.
Raising Awareness and Education of Genetic Testing and Counseling through Fotonovelas among Latina Women At Risk for Hereditary Breast or Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Barajas Rolando , Barajas Clara B. , Ramos Yaideliz M. Romero , Trillos Sara Gómez , Sawhney Sabrina , Campos Claudia , Hurtado-de-Mendoza Alejandra , Rotunno Melissa , Gillanders Elizabeth
Published: April 2024

Background
Latinas are less likely to receive genetic counseling and genetic testing (GCT) compared to non-Latina Whites because of systemic and patient-level barriers. We developed and tested fotonovelas to increase awareness of GCT among Latinas at-risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC).
Methods
Content for the fotonovelas was drawn from an existing culturally-targeted narrative video focused on improving GCT use among Latinas at-risk of HBOC. Using mixed-methods, we interviewed cancer patients (n = 10) and their relatives (n = 10) to assess the preliminary efficacy of the fotonovelas through pre-and post-fotonovela items assessing self-rated knowledge of GCT and willingness to discuss cancer with family. Health workers (n = 10) provided feedback on the fotonovela content. McNemar's test was used to examine differences in the proportions of the outcomes pre- and post-fotonovelas. Interviews were transcribed and coded in Dedoose using a consensual qualitative research approach.
Results
Reading the fotonovelas increased self-rated knowledge of GCT by 22% (p = 0.16), from 50–60% in patients and from 63–100% among relatives. Analogously, reading the fotonovela increased willingness to talk about cancer with family by 33% (p = 0.02), from 70–100% in patients and from 38–75% in relatives. We identified six themes, some centered around the fotonovela’s message, feedback, and perceived barriers to GCT. Overall, participants liked the use of fotonovelas to increase GCT awareness and cancer conversations with family.
Conclusions
Fotonovelas could potentially be used as educational tools to increase GCT awareness and cancer conversations among Latino families at-risk of HBOC.
A Rate of Penetration (ROP) Prediction Method Based on Improved Dung Beetle Optimization Algorithm and BiLSTM-SA
Authors: Xiong Mengyuan , Zheng Shuangjin , Cheng Rongsheng , Bai Kai , Wang Lihui , Zhang Haijun , Wang Guona
Published: April 2024

In the field of oil drilling, accurately predicting the Rate of Penetration (ROP) is of great significance for improving drilling efficiency and reducing costs. However, traditional prediction methods may not fully exploit the potential information in drilling data, and the existing machine learning prediction methods may suffer from insufficient prediction accuracy due to lack of full optimization of the model. To address this issue, this study proposes an end-to-end Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory network (BiLSTM) incorporating the Self-Attention mechanism (SA). This method, based on data-driven foundations and the understanding of the relationships among various parameters through the Bingham equation, improves prediction accuracy, with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.309 and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.790 on the test set. In order to further optimize the BiLSTM-SA model, this paper proposes an improved Dung Beetle Optimizer algorithm (SODBO) tailored to practical needs. Based on the Dung Beetle Optimizer algorithm, SODBO uses Sobol sequences to initialize population positions and simultaneously integrates the Golden Sine algorithm and dynamic subtraction factors to enhance optimization capabilities. After using SODBO to optimize the BiLSTM-SA, the RMSE of the model's test results is reduced to 0.065, and the R2 is increased to 0.963, which is a significant improvement compared to the original model. In practical drilling applications, the optimized model demonstrates good prediction performance.
A case report of empyema caused by Enterococcus gallinarum
Authors: Liu Min , Liu Jixiang , Wu Juanjuan , Liu Shuang , Sun Lu , Li Fajiu , Li Chenghong
Published: April 2024

Background: Enterococcus gallinarum is an infrequently intestinal symbiotic pathogen associated with nosocomial infection in immunocompromised individuals. To date, rare cases of pulmonary infection attributable to Enterococcus gallinarum were reported. Herein, we presented the first case of empyema resulting from Enterococcus gallinarum infection.
Case presentation: An 81-year-old male presented with fever and dyspnea upon admission. Chest CT scan and thoracic ultrasonography confirmed the presence of right pleural effusion. Thoracoscopy revealed extensive adhesion, purulent fluid, and necrotic materials within the thoracic cavity. Enterococcus gallinarum was identified through pleural effusion culture. The patient underwent an intrathoracic injection of urokinase along with thoracic drainage. Following surgery, He took oral linezolid for over 1 month. Undergoing comprehensive treatment, the patient exhibited favorable recovery.
Conclusions: Enterococcus gallinarum could traverse the impaired gut barrier and cause extraintestinal infection in the immunosuppressive host. We reported the first case of empyema due to Enterococcus gallinarum infection. It should be suspected in patients with impaired immune function and invasive therapies, without responding to conventional antibiotic treatment. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment are crucial for the outcome of patients.
Teaching Utilization of Spatial Analysis Tools while conducting Family Adoption and Survey Training for Medical Undergraduates in a rural medical college of Maharashtra, India [TOOLS FAST]
Authors: Baviskar Mandar , Potdar Priyanka , Baviskar Padmakar , Baviskar Bharati , Raj Shivam , Phalke Deepak , Bhalwar Rajvir
Published: April 2024

Background
Family Adoption Programme (FAP) envisions training students in longitudinal community based tracking and care of families. Mapping data of Family Adoption Program can help identify families that need specific interventions. Incorporation of basic spatial analysis skills during family survey using open source tools like EpiCollect5 and Google MyMaps can be feasible, relevant and novel skill for undergraduate medical students. We designed the TOOLS FAST workshop to accomplish this.
Aim
To assess the reactions and learning of students undergoing TOOLS FAST workshop.
Methods
A longitudinal study was conducted in 100 First MBBS students who were divided in five smaller groups of 20. Each group underwent a one day workshop on Spatial Analysis tools (Data Form making, Data Collection, Geo-tagging houses in Epicollect5, Basic of GIS & map generation in MyMaps). Gagne’s Nine Steps of Instructions were used while conducting the workshop. Each group was then given an assignment in the community in order to apply spatial tools and submit their report within the month. The outcome measures were Pre & Post test scores, grades received in the assignment on basis of five point Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) framework given by Wu, and feedback from the students.
Results
The mean post-test values (8.6, SD = 1.62) showed a significant improvement (t=-19.836,df = 99, p < 0.001) as compared to pre-test (3.73, SD = 1.51) values. All groups could complete the assignment satisfactorily. Over 90% students gave positive feedback.
Conclusion
Adoption of open source tools like Epicollect5 and Google MyMaps is feasible, relevant and novel skill for undergraduate medical students and can be incorporated in Family Adoption Programme to attain higher levels of learning.
Crocodile optimization algorithm for solving real-world optimization problems
Authors: Yan Fu , Zhang Jin , Yang Jianqiang
Published: April 2024

This paper proposes a novel nature-inspired algorithm, called the crocodile optimization algorithm (COA), which mimics the hunting strategies of crocodiles. Two important hunting processes of crocodiles are built, i.e., premeditation and waiting, during which the crocodile individuals gain and share information so that they can trace the prey; attacking and hunting, in this phase, crocodiles attacking and hunting their prey by implementing the “death roll” strategies. The search mechanisms of the proposed COA are differently compared to the existing methods inspired by the hunting behavior of crocodiles. The performance of the proposed COA is validated by utilizing twenty-nine standard test functions, including unimodal functions, multimodal functions, fixed-dimension multimodal functions, and composite functions, with qualitative and quantitative analysis, and its practical effectiveness in solving real-world problems is evaluated using five engineering optimization problems. The simulation results are compared with 2 algorithms also inspired by the hunting behavior of crocodiles and 9 other algorithms. The results and analysis suggest that COA is a competitive technique in handling unimodal, multimodal, and composite problems, and the Friedman ranking test statistical results revealed that COA is an excellent method for solving different kinds of complex problems. Finally, the outcomes of five engineering applications highlight the superiority and potential of COA in solving challenging real-world problems.
Association between a body shape index and stroke: a cross- sectional study
Authors: You Jun , He Yiwen , Xu Min , Fan Zhenjie , Wang Zhiyong , Qian Min
Published: April 2024

Background
Globally, stroke remains a top cause of mortality and morbidity, highlighting the critical need for new predictive biomarkers to assess risk. A body shape index (ABSI) is increasingly recognized as a possible predictor of cardiovascular risk, though its connection with stroke incidence remains unclear.
Methods
This research utilizes data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), covering a representative sample of the US population from 2005 to 2018. A weighted multivariable logistic regression method was used to investigate the relationship between ABSI and stroke incidence, including subgroup analyses to investigate potential interactions involving coronary heart disease (CHD).
Results
Following covariate adjustment, the incidence of stroke and ABSI were found to correlate significantly positively (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.81). This association remained consistent when ABSI was categorized into quartiles. Subgroup analysis indicated an interaction effect among patients with CHD (P for interaction = 0.002).
Conclusion
A significant association between ABSI and stroke incidence was demonstrated in our study. however, the relationship between ABSI and stroke may be attenuated or masked in patients with CHD.