bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Aerobic Exercise and Diet for Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity
Authors: AL-Mhanna Samer Badri , Rocha-Rodriguesc Sílvia , Mohamed Mahaneem , Aldhahi Monira I. , Afolabi Hafeez Abiola , Yagin Fatma Hilal , Alhussain Maha H. , Gülü Mehmet , Abubakar Bishir Daku , Ghazali Wan Syaheedah Wan , Alghannam Abdullah F. , Badicu Georgian
Published: August 2023

Background
Lifestyle changes involving diet and exercise are recommended for patients diagnosed with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the effectiveness of combining aerobic exercise and diet (AEDT) in obese T2DM patients has not been studied in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to systematically evaluate the effects of AEDT on individuals with obesity and T2DM. Methodology: A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases was conducted for this meta-analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using the random effects model for continuous variables, and the results were presented as mean differences (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results
Out of the 16,129 studies identified, 15 trials involving a total of 2,454 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The findings revealed significant reductions in body mass index, body weight, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride levels, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose, fasting plasma insulin, leptin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p < 0.005) compared to the standard treatment (ST) group. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in adiponectin levels in response to AEDT (p < 0.005). However, when evaluating obesity-related factors, no significant differences were observed between the AEDT and ST groups for parameters such as fat mass, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (p > 0.05).
Conclusions
AEDT could be considered an additional therapy in conjunction with conventional clinical treatments due to its significant positive impact on obese T2DM patients. Nevertheless, further robust evidence is necessary to determine whether AEDT is an effective intervention for reducing the need for aggressive pharmacological approaches in individuals with obesity and T2DM.
Acute Ischemic Stroke in Tsutsugamushi: Understanding the Underlying Mechanisms and Risk Factors
Authors: Kim Dain , Cho Yeon Hee , Bong Jeong Bin , Kim Young Seo , Shin Byoung-Soo , Kang Hyun Goo
Published: August 2023

Background: Tsutsugamushi (scrub typhus) is an acute infectious febrile disease common in the Asia-Pacific region. Common symptoms of tsutsugamushi include lymphadenopathy, fever, and myalgia, and it rarely causes acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, we hypothesized that tsutsugamushi infection could trigger AIS.
Method: We retrospectively examined patients diagnosed with AIS within 2 weeks of tsutsugamushi diagnosis at three hospitals over a 15-year period. We categorized patients who developed AIS while being treated for tsutsugamushi as the case group and those (of similar age and sex) who did not develop AIS as the control group. The case and control groups consisted of 22 and 66 participants, respectively. When a scattered pattern was observed or lesions were found in two or more vascular territories on diffusion-weighted imaging, the pattern was defined as embolic. Other patterns were defined as nonembolic.
Results: Among the 19 patients, excluding three with transient ischemic stroke, 15 (78.9%) showed an embolic pattern. Although fever was common in the control group, it was less common in the case group. A higher D-dimer level at the time of hospitalization was associated with the development of AIS in patients with tsutsugamushi.
Conclusions: AIS in patients with tsutsugamushi showed an embolic rather than a non-embolic pattern on brain magnetic resonance imaging. It was more likely to occur in patients with risk factors for stroke. Tsutsugamushi patients with AIS were likely to have no fever or high D-dimer levels. We hypothesized that D-dimers play an important role in the pathophysiology, where tsutsugamushi infection increases the likelihood of AIS.
Research on rockburst prevention systems based on the attenuation law of coal and rock vibration wave energy
Authors: Rong Hai , Wang Zijian , Konicek Petr , Pan Liting , Tang Guoshui , Kajzar Vlastimil , Wang Yadi
Published: August 2023

During the coal and rock mass fracture process, elastic properties are released and vibration waves are radiated outward. The energy attenuation characteristics of these waves can describe the cumulative damage and elastic energy accumulation of the mass. To investigate coal and rock mass failure characteristics and energy attenuation rules during rockburst, numerical simulation and laboratory testing were utilized to study the energy transfer laws under various parameters. Six variables, including elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, bulk density, cohesion, internal friction angle, and porosity, were selected to simulate the rockburst energy release process under different parameter combinations by adding surface pressure to the model. The coal and rock mass energy attenuation coefficient was obtained by fitting the node energy straight line using the least squares method. The above six variable’s influence weights on the vibration wave energy transfer were obtained using the analytic hierarchy process program written in MATLAB, and a comprehensive calculation formula was proposed. Using the energy attenuation coefficient, the rock layer energy diffusion distance was calculated and compared with the roof collapse rock layer step distance, resulting in the roof rock layer cutting distance determination. By roof rock strata precutting, rockburst occurrence can be prevented, ensuring safe and efficient coal mine production.
Current Research on Chemical Composition, Analytical Methods, and Quality Standards of Amorphophallus konjac
Authors: Ting-ting Hu , Li Jin-yang
Published: August 2023

Amorphophallus konjac, a traditional Chinese medicine, possesses remarkable anti-tumor properties, exerting effects such as scattered stasis detumescence, detoxification, and pain relief. This medicinal herb is frequently employed in contemporary clinical settings to treat malignant tumors. However, the cultivation and processing of this herb lack standardisation, making it challenging to control its quality effectively. The current quality control standards for Amorphophallus sinensis Belval are not uniform, the detection methods are relatively limited, and the specificity is comparatively weak. Consequently, these standards fail to meet authenticity requirements, identify counterfeit products, and evaluate the quality of Amorphophallus sinensis Belval herbal materials and related medications. To enhance clinical efficacy, it is essential to review the existing analysis and identification methods as well as the quality control standards. This review aims to serve as a valuable resource for enhancing and optimising the quality evaluation system for Amorphophallus sinensis Belval, facilitating improved clinical outcomes.
Identification of a novel monopartite begomovirus associated with leaf curl disease of Citharexylum spinosum in India
Authors: Diksha Damini , Sidharthan V Kavi , Baranwal V K
Published: August 2023

The present study reports the complete genome of a novel monopartite begomovirus, named tentatively as “Citharexylum leaf curl virus” (CitLCuV), associated with leaf curl disease of Citharexylum spinosum in India. CitLCuV genome (2,767 nucleotide) contained the typical genome organization of Old World begomoviruses and shared the maximum nucleotide sequence identity of 89.2% with a rose leaf curl virus (RoLCuV) isolate. In addition, two small non-canonical open reading frames (C5 and C6) were determined in the complementary strand of CitLCuV genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the relatedness of CitLCuV to papaya leaf crumple virus and RoLCuV. Recombination analysis detected a possible recombination event in CitLCuV genome. Based on begomovirus species demarcation criteria, CitLCuV can be regarded as a novel begomoviral species.
Oculomotor Inhibition Markers of Working Memory Load
Authors: Kadosh Oren , Inbal Kfir , Snir Hadar , Bonneh Yoram
Published: August 2023

Involuntary eye movements occur constantly even during fixation and were shown to convey information about cognitive processes. They are inhibited momentarily in response to external stimuli (oculomotor inhibition, OMI), with a time and magnitude that depend on stimulus saliency, attention, and expectations. It was recently shown that the working memory load for numbers modulates the microsaccade rate; however, the generality of the effect and its temporal properties remain unclear. Our goal was to investigate the relationship between OMI and the working memory load for simple colored shapes. Participants (N = 26) maintained their fixation while their eyes were tracked; they viewed briefly flashed colored shapes accompanied by small arrows indicating the shapes to be memorized (1/2/3). After a retention period, a probe shape appeared for matching. The microsaccade rate modulation and temporal properties were analyzed for the memory encoding, maintenance, and retrieval phases. Microsaccade inhibition was stronger when more shapes were memorized, and performance improved when microsaccades were suppressed during maintenance and retrieval. This occurred even though the physical stimuli were identical in number under all conditions. Thus, oculomotor inhibition may play a role in silencing the visual input while processing current stimuli and is generally related to processing time and load.
Detecting Outliers in Ionospheric Correction Model for GNSS Precise Positioning
Authors: Dao Tam , Harima Ken , Carter Brett , Currie Julie , McClusky Simon , Brown Rupert , Rubinov Eldar , Barassi John , Choy Suelynn
Published: August 2023

Global Navigation Satellite System fast precise positioning can be achieved with accurate ionospheric corrections computed from an adequate number of GNSS stations in a local region. Our previous study showed that using 15 well-distributed GNSS stations within a 5° latitude x 10° longitude region, a local regression model for ionospheric corrections can achieve a mean accuracy of 5 cm. In low-latitude regions, the presence of electron density gradients over short distances can lead to outliers in the map of ionospheric corrections and decrease its accuracy. In this study, we explored outlier detection in ionospheric correction mapping through statistical residuals during a four-month test in 2021. Our findings indicate that the residuals of the local ionospheric model conform to the Laplace distribution. To determine outliers, we use an empirical rule for the Laplace distribution, setting thresholds at µ ± 3b, µ ± 3.5b, and µ ± 5.8b for data retention rates of 95%, 97%, and 99.7%, respectively. Here, µ represents the location parameter, which corresponds to the median of data, and b is the scale parameter, calculated as the medium absolute deviation. We found that while removing outliers can improve model accuracy, it may result in unavailable prediction due to a lack of data. For example, applying a µ ± 3.5b threshold for outlier removal led to approximately 2.5% of recording time having no ionospheric corrections map in low-latitude regions, however, the local model has the potential to improve its mean accuracy by up to 50% for both low and mid-latitudes.
Impact of graft kidney weight to recipient body weight ratio on long-term graft survival after living-donor kidney transplantation
Authors: Shin SeongWook , Lee Juhan , Yang Seok Jeong , Kim Hyun Jeong , Yang Jaeseok , Kim Beom Seok , Kim Myoung Soo , Huh Kyu Ha
Published: August 2023

Background
The relative size of kidney allografts is well known to be associated with graft function, but controversies remain about its effect on long-term graft survival. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mismatch between graft kidney weight and recipient body weight on long-term graft survival.
Methods
We retrospectively evaluated 1397 consecutive adults undergoing live donor kidney transplantation between January 2000 and May 2019 at Severance Hospital, Republic of Korea. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to graft kidney weight to recipient body weight ratio (KW/BW) quartile. The median follow-up duration was 145 months.
Results
Kidney transplant recipients with a high KW/BW had significantly higher death-censored graft survival rates up to 10 years after transplantation than patients with a low KW/BW. On Cox multivariable regression analysis, pre-transplantation diabetes, older donor age, and 1st and 2nd KW/BW quartiles were independent risk factors for death-censored graft failure. The 1st KW/BW quartile had the lowest mean estimated glomerular filtration rate throughout the follow-up period.
Conclusions
Higher KW/BW was associated with better long-term graft function and graft survival after living-donor kidney transplantation.
Point Cloud Based Model-free Path Planning Method for grinding Large Complex Forging Parts
Authors: Yan Shouxin , Wang Wei , Su Pengfei , Wang Qilong , Zheng Lianyu
Published: August 2023

Large and complex forgings, serving as crucial load-supporting components in the fields of energy, ships, transportation, etc., demand high dimensional accuracy and surface quality during post-processing. The automation of grinding for such large and complex forgings presents a common and pressing challenge within the forging industry. One of the main obstacles lies in the substantial thermal deformation and various random forging defects, making the automatic generation of grinding paths a difficult task. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for identifying random defects in large and complex forgings. By combining the RANdom Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm with the Modified Iterative Closest Point (M-ICP) algorithm, we register the standard component point cloud with the forging point cloud, thereby obtaining the point cloud representing the random defects that require grinding. Subsequently, we classify the random defect point cloud based on defect area size and establish a strategy for generating grinding paths. Utilizing the positional coordinate information within the random defect point cloud, we directly generate robot grinding paths without relying on a CAD model. Finally, we conduct robot grinding experiments on large and complex forgings. The experimental results demonstrate that the model-free generation method for grinding paths accurately identifies the characteristics of random forging defects, efficiently plans robot grinding paths, and significantly improves grinding efficiency and quality. This approach offers an intelligent solution for the post-processing of large and complex forgings.
Usefulness of impulse oscillometry in predicting the severity of bronchiectasis
Authors: Choi Ji Soo , Kwak Se Hyun , Kim Min Chul , Seol Chang Hwan , Heo Seok-Jae , Kim Sung Ryeol , Lee Eun Hye
Published: August 2023

Background: Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease that leads to airway inflammation, destruction, and airflow limitation, which reflects its severity. Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a non-invasive method that uses sound waves to estimate lung function and airway resistance. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of IOS in predicting the severity of bronchiectasis.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the IOS parameters, clinical characteristics, and results of other examinations in 145 patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis between March 2020 and May 2021. Disease severity was evaluated using the FACED score, and patients were divided into mild and moderate/severe groups.
Results: Forty-four patients (30.3%) were in the moderate/severe group, and 101 (69.7%) were in the mild group. The mean predicted forced expiratory volume in one second was 78.0% in the mild group and 54.5% in the moderate/severe group. Patients with moderate/severe bronchiectasis had a higher airway resistance at 5 Hz (R5) (0.53 vs. 0.41, p <0.001), a higher difference between the resistance at 5 and 20 Hz (R5 − R20; 39.85 vs. 26.81, p <0.001), a higher resonant frequency (Fres) (22.52 vs. 17.54, p <0.001), and a higher reactance area (AX) (2.44 vs. 1.06, p <0.001) than patients with mild bronchiectasis. R5 ≥0.43, R20 ≥0.234, R5 − R20 ≥28.3, AX ≥1.02, reactance at 5 Hz (X5) ≤−0.238, and Fres ≥20.88 revealed significant univariable relationships with bronchiectasis severity (p-values <0.05). Among these, only X5 ≤−0.238 exhibited a significant multivariable relationship with bronchiectasis severity (p = 0.039). The receiver operating characteristic curve for the severity of bronchiectasis based on IOS parameters exhibited an area under the curve of 0.809.
Conclusions: The IOS parameters can effectively reflect airway resistance and elasticity in patients with bronchiectasis and serve as valuable tools for predicting bronchiectasis severity.
Assessing genetic diversity of soybean based on smartphone image-derived canopy parameter
Authors: Ri Myong-Kwang , Jong Kwang-O , Sin Ye-Kwang , Jang Yu-Mi , Ri Kum-Sil , Ho Dal , Kim Song-Kuk
Published: August 2023

Convenient and accurate characterization of field-grown crops is an urgent need not only for effective use of germplasm resources but also further for breeding programs. In this study, smartphone image-derived canopy parameter was utilized to study the genetic relationships among 18 soybean accessions at early growing period. Field experiments were conducted in two consecutive years (2021 and 2022). Canopy cover rate (CCR) per plant that is canopy parameter and relative indicator were estimated using image analysis software from top-view image without any significant alteration of plant morphology. CCR can be used as the indirect and comprehensive index for investigating morphological and biomass traits at early growing period in field-grown soybean accessions. Principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) were performed for grouping soybean accessions. For DA, average of percentage of correctly classified on the basis of CCR was 88.9% of grouped cases by PCA. Results of HCA based on CCR were more similar to the ones suggested by the PCA than ones of clustering based on morphological and biomass traits. Overall results suggest that CCR can be used as the useful index for diversity in field-grown crop genotypes. This study provides not only an innovative method for comprehensive evaluation of crop genetic resources using image-derived parameter, but also an approach to promote genetic improvement of crop varieties.
Biological studies of a substituted bipyridine-coordinated Zn(II) ion: In vitro cytotoxicity, ROS-induced apoptosis, anti-metastatic and nuclease-like activity plus in silico binding affinity towards cancer-related proteins
Authors: Anjomshoa Marzieh , Sahihi Mehdi , Janczak Jan , Karami-Mohajeri Somayyeh , Farsinejad Alireza , Arabnezhad Mohammad-Reza , Amirheidari Bagher
Published: August 2023

A new dimethyl-substituted bipyridine-Zn(II) complex was synthesized and structurally characterized. Single-crystalline structure of the complex was successfully elucidated as [Zn(2Mebpy)3](ClO4)2•1.5(dioxane) by X-ray diffraction, where 2Mebpy represents 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine. Also, the three-dimensional electrostatic potential maps (3D ESP) were plotted for [Zn(2Mebpy)3]2+ cation and [Zn(2Mebpy)3](ClO4)2 molecule. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the complex, compared with cisplatin, was evaluated towards the human breast (MCF-7) and glioblastoma (U-87MG) cancer cells as well as normal murine embryo cells (NIH/3T3). Noteworthily, great cytotoxicity and selectivity of the Zn(II) complex against MCF˗7 cells was confirmed by IC50 value of 5.1±0.5 μM and selectivity index of 3.2 over 48 h. The complex-induced MCF-7 and U-87 cells death mostly proceeded through an apoptotic pathway in a dose-dependent manner as evidenced by the flow cytometric results. The complex demonstrated potential anti-metastatic activity against MCF-7 cells as evidenced by inhibition of colony formation and cell migration. The apoptotic mechanism in the complex-treated MCF-7 cells was probably associated with the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The comet assay results also showed that the complex could induce DNA damage in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the complex exhibited hydrolytic cleavage of pUC19 DNA, which may be responsible for their observed cytotoxic effect to some extent. Finally, binding affinity of the complex towards cancer therapeutic targets such as anti-apoptotic proteins, estrogen receptor α, tubulin, and topoisomerase II was predicted by in silico molecular docking. In conclusion, the complex can be introduced as a potential therapeutic agent in breast cancer. This work indicate that other metal-cored complexes baring bypyridine derivatives can also exhibit promissing anticancer effects, opening the window towards a battery of similar candidate structures.
Muscle transcriptome sequencing revealed thermal stress responsive regulatory genes in farmed rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822)
Authors: Pokanti Vinay Kumar , Rasal Kiran D. , Acharya Arpit , Dey Diganta , Sonwane Arvind A. , Reang Dhalongsaih , R Rajeshkannan , Pawar Sachin S. , Kurade Nitin P. , Bhendarkar Mukesh P. , Krishnani Kishore K. , Nagpure Naresh S. , Brahmane Manoj P.
Published: August 2023

Rohu, Labeo rohita is one of the most important aquaculture species in the Indian subcontinent. The physiological responses to thermal stress or climate change at the molecular level are less understood in rohu. In the present work, transcriptome sequencing was carried out in muscle tissue of the rohu in response to heat stress (35ºC) in comparison with the control (28ºC). A total of 125 Gb of sequence data was generated and the raw-reads were filtered and trimmed, that resulted in 484 million quality reads. Reference-based assembly of reads was performed using L. rohita genome and a total of 90.17% of reads were successfully mapped. A total of 37,462 contigs were assembled with an N50 value of 1854. The differential expression analysis revealed a total of 107 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (15 up-, 37 down-, and 55 neutrally-regulated) as compared to the control group (Log2FC>2, P<0.05). Gene enrichment analysis of DEGs indicates that transcripts were associated with molecular, biological, and cellular activities. The randomly selected differentially expressed transcripts were validated by RT-qPCR and found consistent expression patterns in line with the RNA-seq data. Several transcripts such as Serpine 1(HSP47), HSP70, HSP90alpha, Rano class II histocompatibility A beta, PGC-1 and ERR-induced regulator, Proto-oncogen c-fos, myozenin2, Alpha-crystallin B chain-like protein, Angiopoietin-like protein 8, Acetyl-CoA carboxylases, etc. have been identified in muscle tissue of rohu that are associated with stress/immunity. This study identified the key biomarker Serpine 1(HSP47), which showed significant up-regulation (~2 to 3-fold) in muscle tissue of rohu exposed to high temperature. This study can pave a path for the identification of stress-responsive biomarkers linked with thermal adaptations in the farmed carps.
Proposal of a diagnostic algorithm for radiation-induced dropped head syndrome in long-term childhood cancer survivors based on a prospective study in a specialized clinical setting and a review of the literature
Authors: Rieken Sarah , Kronziel Lea Louisa , Langer Thorsten , Boppel Tobias , Trillenberg Peter , Gebauer Judith
Published: August 2023

Purpose
To prospectively assess incidence of Dropped Head Syndrome (DHS) in childhood cancer survivors (CCS) and to develop and evaluate a diagnostic algorithm for DHS
Methods
A systematic literature search for DHS in combination with neck radiotherapy (RT) exposure was performed. Analyses and combination of the most common examination methods were integrated into a diagnostic algorithm. All CCS visiting the local late effects clinic between May 2020 and April 2022 were included in the study. CCS exposed to neck RT with ≥ 19 Gray (Gy) received standardized clinical and neurological assessment and, in CCS with abnormal results, an MRI scan to confirm muscle atrophy.
Results
206 CCS were included of which 42 were exposed to neck RT ≥ 19 Gray (Gy). In the overall cohort and in the subgroup following RT, 2.4% and 12% of CCS were affected by DHS, respectively. Results of clinical and neurological assessment correlate well with MRI results. Neck circumference and neck/thigh ratio were lower after neck RT. Over 50% of CCS experienced neck disability and pain.
Conclusions
A relevant proportion of CCS exposed to neck RT is affected by DHS. High concordance of MRI results with the neurological examination supports the clinical value of the diagnostic algorithm. Measurement of neck circumference might be an easy tool for assessment of neck muscle atrophy in survivors at risk.
Implications for Cancer Survivors
Integration of a diagnostic algorithm for DHS in standard long-term follow-up care facilitates diagnosis as well as initiation of early treatment and obviates the need for invasive examinations.
Eculizumab as rescue therapy in a context of dramatic NMOSD attack: report of two cases
Authors: San-Galli Aurore , Chaumont Hugo , Bourgeois Quentin , Roger Juliette , Lobjois Quentin , Cabre Philippe
Published: August 2023

Early administration of plasma exchanges (PE) combined with intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) is considered the best treatment for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) attack. However, up to 20% of patients fail to respond, suggesting the existence of idiosyncratic factors yet to be understood. We report cases of two women who suffered devastating Aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G-positive (AQP4-IgG+) NMOSD attacks, worsening despite optimal treatment up to life-threatening, for which eculizumab was successfully administrated as a rescue therapy. The first case describes a fulminant onset of the disease with pan-medullary and bulbar lesions leading to tetraplegia and respiratory failure within a few days, directly refractory to PE/IVMP. The second case described the 4th attack within two years of an aggressive disease, currently treated with mycophenolate mofetil, with early post-mitoxantrone relapse. For both patients, acute administration of eculizumab immediately after usual treatment failure seemed to have rapidly aborted the inflammatory cascade, saving them from imminent death. In addition to its proven efficacy in preventing relapses in AQP4-IgG + NMOSD, eculizumab could also rapidly stop an attack before the installation of irreversible lesions or death. This raises therapeutic issues relative to the management of such complement inhibitor treatment as rescue therapy, and questions about pathophysiological mechanisms of resistance to PE.
A unique role for Clostridium perfringens in the digestion of HMOs
Authors: McDonald Andrew , Lisacek Frederique
Published: August 2023

Background: The development of a stable human gut microbiota occurs within the first year of life. Many open questions remain about how microfloral species are influenced by the composition of milk, in particular its content of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Objectives: The objective is to investigate the effect of the human HMO glycome on bacterial symbiosis and competition, based on the glycoside hydrolase (GH) enzyme activities known to be present in microbial species.
Methods: We extracted from UniProt a list of all bacterial species catalysing glycoside hydrolase activities (EC 3.2.1.-), cross-referencing with the BRENDA database, and obtained a set of taxonomic lineages and CAZy family data. A set of 13 documented enzyme activities was selected and modelled within an enzyme simulator according to a method described previously in the context of biosynthesis.
Results: A diverse population of experimentally observed HMOs was fed to the simulator, and the enzymes matching specific bacterial species were recorded, based on their appearance of individual enzymes in the UniProt dataset. Pairs of bacterial species were identified that possessed complementary enzyme profiles enabling the digestion of the HMO glycome, from which potential symbioses could be inferred. Conversely, bacterial species having similar GH enzyme profiles were considered likely to be in competition for the same set of dietary HMOs within the gut of the newborn. We generated a set of putative biodegradative networks from the simulator output, which provides a visualisation of the ability of organisms to digest HMO and mucin-type O-glycans. B. bifidum, B. longum and C. perfringens species were predicted to have the most diverse GH activity and therefore to excel in their ability to digest these substrates. The expected cooperative role of Bifidobacteriales contrasts with the surprising capacities of the pathogen.
Conclusions: These findings indicate that potential pathogens may associate in human gut based on their shared glycoside hydrolase digestive apparatus, and which, in the event of colonisation, might result in dysbiosis. The methods described can readily be adapted to other enzyme categories and species as well as being easily fine-tuneable if new degrading enzymes are identified and require inclusion in the model.
AI-Powered Expedition: Navigating the Cosmos for Habitable Planets through Advanced ML Techniques
Authors: Patil Tanaya , Patil Gautam , Arora Sandhya
Published: August 2023

The scientific community has been captivated for decades by the search for a planet beyond Earth that is suitable for habitation. Exploring the intersection of recent Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancements and exoplanet research, this paper investigates the accelerated identification of habitable exoplanets, tracing its historical development and underlying motivations. Drawing upon a range of strategies including Exoplanet detection, habitable zone analysis, AI-based data analysis, and robotic exploration, this paper employs AI techniques to identify prospective habitable exoplanets, evaluating key factors for planetary habitability while encompassing methodologies like exoplanet characterization and AI-driven observational strategies. The study encompassed several essential analyses, including radial velocity analysis for both Kepler and Mars, modelling the habitable zone around stars in the case of Kepler 542-b, determining suitable liquid water conditions on Kepler 542-b, analysing atmospheric composition for general exoplanet potential (as well as specifically for Mars), estimating surface temperatures along with mass and size on Mars, employing a machine learning algorithm using SVM for classifying microorganisms on Kepler 452-b, utilizing Bayesian inference to create probabilistic models considering temperature, magnetic fields, and radiation levels (infrared, X-rays, gamma rays) on Mars. Additionally, a regression model was developed to predict potential life on Mars by 2050. Constant values were used due to limited data availability. Nevertheless, these findings lay a solid foundation for future research endeavours and explorations in our quest to find liveable planets. It emphasizes the importance of ongoing research and its role in preparing for future explorations and potential colonization beyond Earth.
Participatory identification of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) promising genetic resources in Ivory Coast
Authors: Yepié Oro Flora , Koffi Kouamé Kévin , Akaffou Sélastique Doffou , Zoro Bi Irié Arsène
Published: August 2023

Ivory Coast ranks first and third in the world in cashew nut production and processing, respectively. Despite this performance, the profitability of Ivorian cashew orchards remains low, due mainly to a lack of improved varieties and the use of inappropriate farming practices. To address this problem, farmer-participatory selection of promising trees was conducted for three consecutive years (2019–2021) in four administrative regions covering the main cashew production zones of the country. Investigations were carried out on 121 cashew trees using eight quality traits indicated by farmers, six yield components and two traits of industrial interest. High phenotypic variability was noted for most of the traits analyzed (coefficient of variation > 25% for 12/15 traits). A total of 42 trees was identified as promising trees. Considering the yield trait, 9, 22, and 11 trees were classified as good (15–20 kg nut/year), best (21–30 kg nut/year), and elite (> 30 kg nut/year), respectively. From the combined analysis of quality criteria, five trees (L45, A15, R22, J27, and H23) were proposed for local distribution to farmers. Five trees with good industrial qualities in addition to interesting yields (17.28–28.95 kg nut/year) have been proposed for cultivation for double purposes: A45 and G14 for nut and beverages; and A34, A41, F21, and L22 for nut and the cashew nut shell liquid. The trees G27, I11, l12, and G24 with high sugar contents (37.71–26.24 Brix) can be grown for beverages. Phenetic analysis showed only two distinct groups, suggesting a narrow genetic basis of cashew trees in Ivorian orchards. Additional studies and means for a better valorization of these genetic resources are suggested.
Evaluating swine disease occurrence on farms using the state-space model based on meat inspection data: a time-series analysis
Authors: Narita Tsubasa , Kubo Meiko , Nagakura Yuichi , Sekiguchi Satoshi
Published: August 2023

Background
Data on abnormal health conditions in animals obtained from slaughter inspection are important for identifying problems in fattening management. However, methods to objectively evaluate diseases on farms using inspection data has not yet been well established. It is important to assess fattening management on farms using data obtained from slaughter inspection. In this study, we developed the state-space model to evaluate swine morbidity using slaughter inspection data.
Results
The most appropriate model for each disease was constructed using the state-space model. Data on 11 diseases in slaughterhouses over the past 4 years were used to build the model. The model was validated using data from 14 farms. The local-level model (the simplest model) was the best model for all diseases. We found that the analysis of slaughter data using the state-space model could construct a model with greater accuracy and flexibility than the ARIMA model. In this study, no seasonality or trend model was selected for any disease. It is thought that models with seasonality were not selected because diseases in swine shipped to slaughterhouses were the result of illness at some point during the 6-month fattening period between birth and shipment.
Conclusion
Evaluation of previous diseases helps with the objective understanding of problems in fattening management. We believe that clarifying how farms manage fattening of their pigs will lead to improved farm profits. In that respect, it is important to use slaughterhouse data for fattening evaluation, and it is extremely useful to use mathematical models for slaughterhouse data. However, in this research, the model was constructed on the assumption of normality and linearity. In the future, we believe that we can build a more accurate model by considering models that assume non-normality and non-linearity.
Associations between structural covariance network and antipsychotic treatment response in schizophrenia
Authors: Nakajima Shinichiro , Tsugawa Sakiko , Honda Shiori , Noda Yoshihiro , Wannan Cassandra , Zalesky Andrew , Tarumi Ryosuke , Iwata Yusuke , Ogyu Kamiyu , Plitman Eric , Ueno Fumihiko , Mimura Masaru , Uchida Hiroyuki , Chakravarty Mallar , Graff-Guerrero Ariel
Published: August 2023

Schizophrenia is associated with widespread cortical thinning and abnormality in the structural covariance network, which may reflect connectome alterations due to treatment effect or disease progression. Notably, patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) have stronger and more widespread cortical thinning, but it remains unclear whether structural covariance is associated with treatment response in schizophrenia. We therefore organized a multicenter magnetic resonance imaging study to assess structural covariance in a large population of TRS and non-TRS, who had been resistant and responsive to non-clozapine antipsychotics, respectively. Whole-brain structural covariance for cortical thickness was assessed in 102 patients with TRS, 77 patients with non-TRS, and 79 healthy controls (HC). Network based statistics were used to examine the difference in structural covariance networks among the three groups. Moreover, the relationship between altered individual differentiated structural covariance and clinico-demographics was also explored. Patients with non-TRS exhibited greater structural covariance compared to HC, mainly in the fronto-temporal and fronto-occipital regions, while there were no significant differences in structural covariance between TRS and non-TRS or HC. Higher individual differentiated structural covariance was associated with lower general scores of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale in the non-TRS group, but not in the TRS group. These findings suggest that reconfiguration of brain networks via coordinated cortical thinning is related to treatment response in schizophrenia. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm if greater structural covariance could serve as a marker for treatment response in this disease.
Inferring transcriptional activation and repression activity maps in single-nucleotide resolution using deep-learning
Authors: Hait Tom Aharon , Elkon Ran , Shamir Ron
Published: August 2023

Recent computational methods for inferring cell type-specific functional regulatory elements have used sequence and epigenetic data. Active regulatory elements are characterized by open-chromatin state, and the novel experimental technique ATAC-STARR-seq couples ATAC-seq assays, which capture such genomic regions, with a functional assay (STARR-seq) to selectively examine the regulatory activity of accessible DNA. ATAC-STARR-seq may thus provide data that could improve the quality of computational inference of active enhancers and silencers. Here, we propose a novel regression-based deep learning (DL) model that utilizes such data for predicting single nucleotide activation and repression maps. We found that while models using only sequence and epigenetics data predict active enhancers with high accuracy, they generally perform poorly in predicting active silencers. In contrast, models building also on data of experimentally identified enhancers and silencers do substantially better in the identification of active silencers. Our model predicts many novel enhancers and silencers in the model lymphoblastoid cell line GM12878. Epigenetic signatures of the novel regulatory elements detected by our model resemble the ones shown by the experimentally validated enhancers and silencers in this cell line. ChIP-seq enrichment analysis in predicted novel silencers identify a few significant enriched transcriptional repressors such as SUZ12 and EZH2, which compose the PRC2 repressive complex. Intersection with GWAS data found that the novel predicted enhancers are specifically enriched for risk SNPs of the Lupus autoimmune disease. Overall, while silencers are still poorly understood, our results show that our DL-model can be used to complement the experimental results on regulatory element discovery.
Prognostic Value of Preoperative Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma After Hepatectomy: A Single ‑ Center Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ogawa Daisuke , Miyata Tatsunori , Yumoto Shinsei , Shiraishi Yuta , Matsumoto Takashi , Takematsu Toru , Tsukamoto Masayo , Nakagawa Shigeki , Mima Kosuke , Nitta Hidetoshi , Hayashi Hiromitsu , Baba Hideo
Published: August 2023

Aim
Patients with malignant tumors are prone to develop nutritional disorders. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a new prognostic indicator for assessing the nutritional status. This study was performed to evaluate whether the preoperative GNRI can serve as a prognostic factor in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) undergoing curative surgery.
Methods
This study included 123 consecutive patients with ICC who were treated with curative surgery. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to calculate the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), and Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate prognostic factors.
Results
Of the 123 patients, 82 were male and 41 were female. The median age of the patients was 70 years, and the median follow-up period was 37.0 months (interquartile range, 16.2–71.7 months). The patients were classified by the median GNRI into a low GNRI group (GNRI < 105) and high GNRI group (GNRI ≥ 105). The patients in the low GNRI group had a significantly poorer prognosis in terms of RFS and OS than the patients in the high GNRI group (RFS, p = 0.0201; OS, p < 0.0001). Lymph node metastasis [hazard ratio (HR), 4.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.46–8.85], postoperative complications (HR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.32–4.31), and a low GNRI (HR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.42–4.50) were independent poor prognostic factors for OS.
Conclusion
The GNRI may be a useful prognostic indicator in patients with ICC undergoing curative hepatectomy.
Intra-articular Injection of Ascorbic Acid Enhances microfracture-mediated Cartilage Repair
Authors: chen zhian , Lv Xiaoyu , Zhang Sihe , Duan Peiya , Zhou Tianhua , Yin Zheng bo , Dong Shuangbin , Lin Hui , Pang Rongqing , 谭 洪波
Published: August 2023

Objective:Previous studies have confirmed that Ascorbic Acid(AA) can promote cartilage repair and improve cartilage differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. However, the use of microfractures(MFX) combined with AA in the repair of cartilage damage has not been studied. The aim of this study is to explore the beneficial effects of the combination of MFX and AA in cartilage repair.
Methods:Sixty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups (12 knees each): MFX group and MFX combined with 4 different concentrations of AA treatment group (1mg/ml, 3mg/ml, 10mg/ml, 30mg/ml). Construct a rabbit knee trochlear groove osteochondral defect (diameter 5 mm, depth 2 mm), and perform MFX surgery after the osteochondral defect. Inject different concentrations of AA into both knee joint cavities immediately, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after surgery. At 6 and 12 weeks after surgery, rabbits were euthanized for gross observation, International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) score, micro-computed tomography examination, histological and immunohistochemical detection, and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of TGF-β1, AKT/Nrf2, and VEGF mRNA.
Results:After 6 weeks of surgery, gross observation and Micro-CT showed that compared to MFX, the 10mg/ml group had better healing of cartilage defect areas and subchondral bone, with higher ICRS scores, while the 30mg/ml group had lower ICRS scores; Histology and immunohistochemistry showed that compared to MFX, the 10mg/ml regenerated cartilage had a higher thickness and type 2 collagen content, while the 30mg/ml group showed a small amount of regenerated cartilage and higher type 1 collagen expression. At 12 weeks after surgery, gross observation, histology, and immunohistochemistry showed the same results as at 6 weeks, with 10mg/ml exhibiting more transparent morphology. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed that after AAinjection, the mRNA levels of TGF and VEGF were significantly downregulated.
Conclusion:Injection of AA into the joint cavity has a positive effect on cartilage repair mediated by MFX. Among them, when the injection concentration of AA is 10mg/ml, it is the most effective in promoting cartilage repair mediated by MFX; Meanwhile, intra-articular injection of AA promotes the synthesis of type II collagen and the formation of glycosaminoglycans by downregulating the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and VEGF.
Network Analysis of Work-Family Balance, Perceived Stress and Turnover Intentions in Female Medical Workers
Authors: Lin Yin , li Jia
Published: August 2023

Recently, increased stress and turnover tendency among female healthcare workers due to work-family imbalance have become key issues affecting the sustainable and healthy development of the healthcare system. It is warranted to explore the network relationships between work-family balance, perceived stress and turnover intentions to target the turnover of female healthcare workers. The Work-Family Balance Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale and the Turnover Intentions Scale were used to survey 436 female healthcare workers, and network analysis of the data via R software. The network analysis showed that turnover intentions had strong connections with perceived stress, adjustment, defense and conversion, while feeble connections with feedback and compensation (controlling for age, marital status and child-rearing). This suggested the degree of work impact, intrusion, or conflict on the family was the key factor influencing the level of stress and turnover intention in female medical professionals, with less consideration given to whether employment might contribute resources to the family.
Channel Coordination Attention for Crop and Weed Segmentation Neural Networks
Authors: Bai Xinfeng , Xue Yuming , Dai Hongli , Wang Luoxin , Bai Xin , Hu Xiaofeng , Li Bo
Published: August 2023

Convolutional neural network is widely used in the field of intelligent agricultural production, but in weed control, the complexity of the environment and the similarity between plants place higher demands on the task of crop and weed image recognition and segmentation. The attention mechanism, as a plug and play module, has been shown to significantly improve the network performance by dynamically weighting the input images to achieve the adjustment of the neural network attention. In this paper, a hybrid attention mechanism was proposed to establish global feature dependence by using channel autocorrelation matrix, named channel coordination attention. The attention mechanism established an autocorrelation matrix by obtaining the dependency relationships of feature channels, and used this matrix to aggregate spatial features in different directions to strengthen the location features. The resulting pair of spatial attention and previously obtained channel attention worked together on the input feature map to enhance feature representation capability. This study establishes an Unet network model to compare the performance of the proposed attention mechanism with other mainstream attention in crop and weed segmentation application scenarios. The experimental results showed that the proposed attention mechanism outperformed current mainstream attention mechanisms, such as Squeeze-and-Excitation attention (SE), Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM), Coordinated Attention (CA), etc., in terms of interaction ratio, accuracy, and average pixel accuracy. Finally, by comparing the performance in different recognition algorithms, it was proven that the proposed attention mechanism can be applied to different network models and significantly improve its segmentation performance.