bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in Endometrial Cancer Incidence and Mortality by Race/Ethnicity, and Age Among Women Aged ≥20 Years-United States, 2000-2019
Authors: Xu Ran , Chen Jiayi , Niu Chunlan , Li Xiumin , Jiang Shenglin
Published: February 2024

Background: Endometrial cancer is one of the most common tumors in women. Its incidence has increased significantly in the past three decades, while mortality has fallen. Both trends varied by age and race/ethnicity.
Methods: Incidence and mortality rates of endometrial cancer were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry program. Trends were quantified by average annual percent change and annual percentage changes, using the Joinpoint program.
Results: Overall, 217,228 patients with endometrial cancer were included in the incidence analysis and 45,812 deaths were included in the mortality analysis. The overall incidence rate was 32.76 cases per 100,000 person-years and the incidence-based mortality was 20.57 deaths per 100,000 person-years. The overall incidence rate increased by 0.95% annually from 2000 to 2019, while mortality rate increased by 0.29% per year only from 2005 to 2019. Incidence rates increased rapidly from 2000 to 2019 in all racial/ethnic groups, except for non-Hispanic white, which increased 1.2% annually only from 2003 to 2016. The incidence of young and middle-aged women increased rapidly, while the incidence of elderly women decreased significantly (AAPC = -1.28%). Similarly, the mortality rates of endometrial cancer in young and middle-aged women were increasing significantly.
Conclusions: Incidence and mortality of endometrial cancer varied significantly by age group and race/ethnicity. Their trends showed that the incidence and mortality of young and middle-aged women increased rapidly from 2000 to 2019. Although non-Hispanic whites accounted for the overwhelming majority of cases, the trend was relatively stable compared with other ethnic groups. These findings may provide evidence for future exploration of risk factors for endometrial cancer as well as uncovering health disparities among women.
Experimental Investigation to Evaluate Impacts of Surface Asperities on the Shear Behavior of Granular Materials
Authors: Arslan Haydar
Published: February 2024

Impacts of surface characteristics on the behavior of granular materials have been investigated experimentally. Manufactured granular materials produced by pelletization method are used to assess the relation of particle surface characteristics and overall behavior of granular materials. Surface characteristics of four different manufactured granular materials have been investigated using an optical microscope and image analysis techniques. A series of direct shear tests was conducted to investigate the development of particle crushing under shear stress of this manufactured granular material. A Plexiglas shear box was developed to reduce the friction at the boundaries of traditional steel shear box. Shear behavior of these granular materials was analyzed under three different confinement pressures to evaluate impact of stress level. The experimental study shows that asperities of grain surface give higher frictional behavior of the manufactured materials. However, higher confinement causes to crushing of asperities of the grains. Based on the grain size distribution of the sample obtained before and after the test, the abrasion of particle was most influenced by the confinement applied to the sample. The failure surface created by shear loading decreases the roughness of particle because this surface is much smoother than original. The observed evolution from strain hardening to softening with displacement is interpreted as being due to the change in the microstructures of grains. Strain accommodation from grain crushing to slip between adjacent grains is associated with the observed evolution of a fractal grain structure. The failure surface created by shear loading decreases the roughness of particle because this surface is much smoother than original.
Correlation Study of Peripheral Blood miR-155 and miR-146a Expression Levels with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: 华 季 , lu yating , liu gui , zhao xiaotong , xu murong , Chen Mingwei
Published: February 2024

Objective
To investigate the correlation between microRNA-155 (miR-155) and microRNA-146a (miR-146a) expression in peripheral blood among patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) and assess the clinical significance of miR-155 and miR-146a in diagnosing and predicting treatment outcomes of DPN.
Methods
The study comprised 51 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without DPN (T2DM group), 49 patients with T2DM and DPN (DPN group) and 50 normal controls (NC group). Levels of miR-155 and miR-146a in the peripheral blood were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Additionally, clinical features and risk factors of DPN were examined. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors influencing DPN development. The diagnostic efficacy of miR-155 and mi-R146a levels in DPN was assessed using ROC curve analysis.
Results
The T2DM group exhibited significantly lower expression levels of miR-155 and miR-146a compared to the NC group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the DPN group exhibited a significantly decreased expression level of miR-155 and miR-146a compared to the T2DM group (P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that higher levels of miR-155 and miR-146a might serve as protective factors against DPN development. ROC curve analysis revealed that miR-155 (sensitivity 91.8%, specificity 37.3%, AUC 0.641,) and miR-146a (sensitivity 57.1%, specificity 84.3%, AUC 0.722) possess a strong ability to discriminate between T2DM and DPN. Their combined use further enhanced the diagnostic potential of DPN (sensitivity 83.7%, specificity 60.8%, AUC 0.775). A multi-index combination can improve DPN diagnostic efficiency.
Conclusion
The decreased expression of miR-155 and miR-146a in the peripheral blood of patients with T2DM is closely associated with DPN occurrence, suggesting their potential as valuable biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of DPN.
Examining the Phase Equilibria of Choline Chloride + Tripotassium Phosphate + Water and Exploiting the Liquid- Liquid Zone for Biomolecule Partitioning: Influence of Salt Additives
Authors: Norouzi Elham
Published: February 2024

Initially, the phase diagram for tripotassium phosphate + choline chloride + water was established by delineating binodals encompassing the solid-liquid-liquid triphasic zone, solid-liquid biphasic zone, liquid-liquid biphasic zone, and the liquid monophasic zone. Tie-lines within the liquid-liquid biphasic zone, serving as an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), were determined through equilibrium concentration measurements of the components. The ATPS was applied for the partitioning of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and L-tryptophan. Results indicated that the current ATPS is unsuitable for BSA partitioning due to its low solubility, whereas it exhibited notable efficacy in L-tryptophan partitioning, achieving a maximum partition coefficient of 150.65. Subsequently, the impact of two salt additives, NaCl and K2CO3, on enhancing L-tryptophan partitioning in the ATPS was explored. Both salts increased the partition coefficient, with K2CO3 demonstrating significantly greater effectiveness.
WITHDRAWN: Numerical investigation of fluid flow simulation through a cylindrical shape orifice flow meter using Ansys-fluent software
Authors: Zema Tesfaye Barza
Published: February 2024

Orifices are typical flow meter used to measure fluid flow in industrial pipe work. The choice of an appropriate standard K-epsilon turbulence model is critical for achieving acceptable flow measurement accuracy in numerical simulations. This work offers a numerical investigation of fluid flow simulation in a cylindrical orifice using Ansys-fluent with turbulence modeling. It is used for continuous and incompressible flows. The computations were performed in three-dimensional axisymmetric flow, and the governing equations of the flow were determined using continuity and Navier-Stokes equations (NSEs). Furthermore, the simulation results in terms of velocity and pressure profiles are determined. Finally, CFx-Post simulations were used to determine the position of the vena contracta. The location and position of the vena contracta reveal that as the area ratio increases, the location of the vena contracta changes towards the orifice.
In vitro and in silico characterization of N-formylated two-peptide bacteriocin from Enterococcus faecalis CAUM157 with anti-listeria activity
Authors: Elnar Arxel G. , Kim Geun-Bae
Published: February 2024

Enterococcus faecalis CAUM157 (KACC 81148BP), a Gram-positive bacteria isolated from raw cow’s milk, was studied for its bacteriocin production. The antimicrobial activity of CAUM157 was attributed to a two-peptide Class IIb bacteriocin with potent activity against food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes and periodontal disease-causing pathogens (Prevotella intermedia KCTC 15693T and Fusobacterium nucleatum KCTC 2488T). M157 bacteriocin exhibits high temperature and pH stability and resist hydrolytic enzyme degradation and detergent denaturation, potentially due to their structural conformation. Based on amino acid sequence, M157A and M157B were predicted to be 5.176 kDa and 5.182 kDa in size, respectively. However, purified bacteriocins and chemically-synthesized N-formylated M157 peptides both showed 5.204 kDa (M157A) and 5.209 kDa (M157B) molecular mass, confirming the formylation of the N-terminal methionine of both peptides produced by strain CAUM157. Further, the strain demonstrated favorable growth and fermentation with minimal bacteriocin production when cultured in whey-based media, whereas a 1.0% tryptone or soytone supplementation resulted in higher bacteriocin production. Although Ent. faecalis CAUM157 innately harbors genes for virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance (e.g., tetracycline and erythromycin), its bacteriocin production is valuable in circumventing the need for live microorganisms, particularly in food applications for pathogen control.
The effects of power posing on neuroendocrine levels and risk-taking
Authors: Efrat Barel , Shahrabani Shosh , Mahagna Lila , Massalha Refaat , Colodner Raul , Tzischinsky Orna
Published: February 2024

Background
The current study attempted to replicate the original findings regarding the effects of power posing on testosterone and cortisol levels as well as on feelings of power and risk-taking. We further extended the investigation by testing the effect of power posing on estrogen and progesterone levels.
Methods
A sample of 92 young adults (30 men; 32 women taking oral contraceptives; and 30 women not taking oral contraceptives who were in their midluteal phase) were randomly assigned to high-power-pose or low-power-pose conditions. They completed a risk-taking task which asked about their feelings of power, and their neuroendocrine levels were measured at baseline and following the power manipulation.
Results
Power posing was not found to replicate the original results regarding effects on testosterone levels or feelings of power; however, our findings supported the original results regarding effects on cortisol levels and risk-taking. Among high-power posers, a decrease in cortisol levels was associated with risk tolerance. Power posing was not found to influence progesterone levels. However, among women taking oral contraceptives, high-power posing increased estrogen levels, while low-power posing decreased estrogen levels.
Conclusions
These preliminary findings suggest that estrogen is influenced by short-term exposure to social cues under specific hormonal profiles.
Construction of a risk prediction model for colorectal cancer prognosis and immunotherapy based on angiogenesis-related gene
Authors: Huang Shaoxiong , Zhu Jianlin , Qiu Xiantu , Ni Limei , Lin Wei
Published: February 2024

Many angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) regulate angiogenesis, which is closely linked to the immune microenvironment and prognosis of colorectal cancer patients (CRC). The purpose of this study was to develop an ARG-based prognostic model that could effectively predict the prognosis and immunotherapy response of colorectal cancer patients. To investigate the difference in immune cell infiltration abundance between Cluster 1 (high ARGs, C1) and Cluster 2 (low ARGs, C2), CRC data for CRC patients were obtained from the public database. The results showed that C2 had a lower percentage of immune cells, particularly CD4+ T cells, entering its body. Additionally, a model based on C1 and C2 differential expression genes (DEGs) was created. The validation results demonstrated that the ARGs-DEGs model could properly predict CRC patients' survival and generate prognostic risk classification. Using a combination of clinical characteristics and univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis, the ARGs-DEGs model's risk score was identified as an independent risk factor for colorectal cancer patients. The prognosis of CRC patients can be predicted more precisely with extra Norman chart creation and the incorporation of numerous clinical factors. Furthermore, our additional research demonstrated that signaling pathways involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and intercellular communication may be potential mechanisms of the ARGs-DEGs paradigm. Based on the distribution of immunological checkpoints, we discovered significant differences between the high-risk and low-risk groups, implying that the low-risk groups may have responded better to immunotherapy.
Energy Efficient Fault Tolerant Multipath Routing (EEFTMR) Topology for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Shukla Rupal , Kumar Ashwini , Niranjan Vandana
Published: February 2024

The Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) getting especially designed auto configured networks to sense and transmit the data from constituent deployed sensor nodes to base station. These networks are immensely prone to a variety of faults. This work puts forward an Energy Efficient Fault Tolerant Multipath Routing (EEFTMR) scheme. The elite group-based routing scheme has been employed for routing the sensor nodes and cluster head selection. A fault tolerant cluster head node is going to get selected to improve the fault tolerance of the cluster heads. This fault tolerant cluster head node enables monitoring of cluster head performance and temporary storage of cluster head data until the successful data transmission. A chart was drawn and the hypothesis-based testing was employed in cluster head node to identify the faulty sensor node. In addition, a multipath scheme was adopted for fault tolerant data transmission based on an overall resultant performance parameter derived from residual energy, hop count, network reliability and data speed. The simulation results showcase the superiority of the proposed scheme with respect to network delay (73.7%), energy efficiency (9.6%), network lifetime (9%) and fault free data throughput (61.3%) in comparison of existing elite group-based routing scheme.
Evaluation of Groundwater Quality and Health Risk Assessment of Nitrate Concentration in the Rayen Basin, Kerman, Southeast Iran
Authors: Shayestehfar Mohammadreza , Rezaei Ali , Mousavi Seyedeh Belgheys Fard , Yashooa Noor Kh.
Published: February 2024

The problem of poor water quality has spread throughout the world, especially in areas where water is scarce. Groundwater hydrochemistry and its controlling factors are crucial for human development and global ecosystem stability. The objective of this investigation is to provide a basis for the scientific advancement and sustainable use of groundwater in the Rayen basin in southeast Iran. Furthermore, the study offers data and theoretical support for both the superior development of the study area and ecological protection. In the study area, physiochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, conductivity, and total dissolved solids (TDS), as well as the concentrations of major anions (Cl−, HCO3−, CO32−, NO3−, and SO42−) and major cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) have investigated. These factors are vital in determining how well-maintained and useful water bodies. The assessment included the Drinking Water Quality Index (WQI), Groundwater Pollution Index (GPI), and the Nitrate pollution index (NPI) to determine the suitability of Rayen groundwater for human consumption. Through the study the groundwater 120 samples from the Rayen basin, Kerman have been obtained and it has been computed that the GPI values there fall in the range of 0.17 to 9.14 with an average of 1.75. A little less than 47% of samples were reported to be acceptable for drinking due to their low pollution levels. About 9% of them also were characterized as low, another 14% as moderate, 11% were seen as having a high level of pollution, and 19% were regarded as very high which makes them unadvisable for drinking directly. The WQI values shows that 32% of groundwater samples with poor and very poor quality are inappropriate for direct human consumption and requires treatment and only 68% of samples have good water quality. Another thing to consider is that the NPI is varied and ranges between − 0.25 and 4.65. Our findings indicated that the human activities, especially in agriculture and urban areas, as a result of excessive fertilizer use in agriculture also have a significant impact on groundwater solutes.
Pulmonary Engraftment Syndrome: A unique complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for myelofibrosis
Authors: Pullarkat Vinod , Otoukesh Salman , Amanam Idoroenyi , Yang Dongyun , Rahmanuddin Syed , Samuels Diana , Salhotra Amandeep , Artz Andrew , Arslan Shukaib , Aldoss Ibrahim , Sandhu Karamjeet , Koller Paul , Aribi Ahmed , Curtin Peter , Stein Anthony , Marcucci Guido , Malki Monzr Al , Ali Haris , Nakamura Ryotaro
Published: February 2024

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is the only potentially curative modality for primary and secondary myelofibrosis (MF) due to other myeloproliferative neoplasms. However, alloHCT in MF is complicated by cardiopulmonary comorbidities that frequently exist in these patients, which in turn translates into higher non relapse mortality (NRM). We describe a syndrome of pulmonary infiltration and respiratory compromise (pulmonary engraftment syndrome, PES) that occurred at time of engraftment in patients undergoing alloHCT for MF. Eighteen of 83 (22%) patients experienced PES as defined and radiologic findings included ground glass opacities, consolidation or pulmonary nodularity. Only a third of patients had other features of engraftment syndrome. Pulmonary arterial hypertension was associated with occurrence of PES (Odds ratio 3.68 [95% CI 1.13,12; P = 0.04]). There was no association of PES with pre HCT pulmonary function testing or imaging. Hypoxemia occurred in 15 of 18 patients. Although 44% of the 18 patients who developed PES required intensive care and 40% required mechanical ventilation, all patients responded to supportive management and treatment with corticosteroids. Occurrence of PES did not adversely impact overall survival or NRM. PES is a distinct syndrome that occurs after alloHCT for MF and is associated with significant morbidity making its early recognition important.
GC–MS analysis of phytoconstituents from Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth., and molecular docking interactions of bioactive molecules with target Penicillin-Binding Protein 2 (PBP2)
Authors: Palani Manogar , Sitrarasu Vijaya Prabhu , Palanivelu Durairaj , Mark John Abel Martin
Published: February 2024

In the present scenario, people are practicing the natural medicine from plants and its various parts to cure so many diseases. Gonorrhea is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious health problems. Although symptoms of gonorrhea can vary, 10% of men and 50% of women who suffer from N. gonorrhoeae infection may not show any symptoms at all. Unfortunately, until then there is neither a vaccine nor an effective treatment. The bark of Kigelia arficana is traditionally used to treat syphilis and gonorrhea. During cell development in N. gonorrhoeae, the enzyme penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) is required for cell wall formation. The aim of this work is to investigate the molecular interactions of three PBP2 variants with bioactive molecules from K. africana using molecular docking and ADMET analysis. 13 phytochemicals were selected based on how well each PBP2 protein receptor was docked after docking results were evaluated using the Glide score. The results of the docking analysis were evaluated using the Glide score, and the 13 compounds docked to each PBP2 protein receptor were selected. In addition, the selected phytocompounds were subjected to ADMET analysis, suggesting that they have the potential for therapeutic development. Among the selected 13 bioactive compounds, the docking score of 6-hydroxyluteolin Glide XP docking score is -10.225, the Glide XP energy (Kcal/Mol) is -35.841, the Glide XP emodel is -51.155 and the MM-GBSA binding score is -78.215 (Kcal/Mol)for PBP2. The results of the study suggest that these phytocompounds could potentially be used to treat N. gonorrhoea. Based on the efficiency of molecular docking, the present study concluded that they could be potential drug candidates for the development of drugs against N. gonorrhoea.
Emotion-Aware Face De-identification with Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Shopon Md , Gavrilova Marina L.
Published: February 2024

This paper presents an innovative end-to-end emotion-preserving de-identification approach utilizing a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), employing the StyleGAN architecture. The method produces natural-looking de-identified images by generating a synthetic face image dataset and utilizing the DeepFace model for gender classification and representative image selection. An enhanced SimSwap framework enhances emotion preservation, accompanied by a novel loss function tailored to emotional expression preservation. The deep face model serves to classify and recognize emotional expressions in both original and de-identified swapped images. Explicit preservation of emotional expressions during face-swapping is achieved through attribute preservation loss minimization. The paper conducts a detailed ablation study to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed GAN components. The method exhibits superior performance in accuracy and emotion preservation compared to recent face de-identification methods.
Identification of Biomarkers in Gynecologic Cancers: A Machine Learning Approach for Metabolomics
Authors: Lee Sang-Min , Cha SangHun , Lee Kyeong Eun , Kim Min-Gul , Shin Kwang-Hee
Published: February 2024

Introduction
Diagnostic methods for gynecologic cancer (GC) such as cervical cancer (CC), endometrial cancer (EC), and ovarian cancer (OC) remain poorly developed. Machine learning (ML) algorithms have recently been compared to traditional statistical methods utilized to analyze metabolomics data.
Objective
This study aimed to identify the clinical metabolic markers associated with GCs by comparing ML algorithms with orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA).
Methods
Untargeted metabolomic analysis was performed on plasma from 42 patients with GC (24 CC, 9 EC, and 9 OC) and 57 healthy female participants. GC and healthy control groups were classified using OPLS-DA and eight ML algorithms. The ML algorithm with the best classification performance was used to assess CC, EC, and OC with healthy controls, and metabolite candidates involved in each GC were selected.
Results
Upon comparing the classification model performance between the GC and control groups, random forest (RF) model displayed the best performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9999. The multi-classification RF model was established to distinguish all four groups and was achieved an AUC of 0.8351. The AUCs of the three GC subgroup assessment RF models comparing patients with CC, EC, and OC with healthy controls were 0.9838, 0.7500, and 0.7321, respectively. Plasma concentrations of two identified metabolites significantly increased in patients with GCs.
Conclusion
Several ML algorithms were used to distinguish GC, showed better performance than conventional OPLS-DA. Proline betaine and lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine (18:0/0:0) selected in RF models were suggested as metabolite candidates associated with GCs.
Comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the FAD2 gene family in representatives of campanulids: identification and characterization of candidate genes from the plant polyacetylene metabolism
Authors: Cao Yanan , Wang Menghao , Liu Yanyan , Wang Hongwei , Na Risong
Published: February 2024

Background Polyacetylenes (PAs) are a kind of specialized plant defense compounds that mainly occur in campanulid plants. Fatty Acid Desaturase 2 (FAD2) catalyzes desaturation in the initial stage of PA biosynthesis, and tends to be involved in later steps of oxidation reactions as well. The FAD2 enzymes not only have desaturase activity, but can also perform other fatty acid modifications, giving rise to various unusual fatty acids, including the precursors to PAs.Methods and results We present a genome-wide survey of FAD2 genes in nine species, covering all main families of PA source in campanulids and the model plant Solanum lycopersicum, and reconstruct the evolutionary history of this gene family. We uncovered the high conservatism of motif composition, gene structural characteristics and expression patterns of the FAD2 members, in spite of their functional diversification. The number of genes expanded extensively in Asterales and Apiales, two main clades of campanulids, by various gene duplication.Conclusion We provided a list of FAD2 candidates that potentially underlying the biosynthesis of PAs using an approach integrating the phylogenetic framework and molecular evolution rates studies. This work will significantly broaden our perspective on the functional diversity of FAD2 enzymes, and lay a foundation for subsequent functional analysis aimed at discovering further FAD2 genes involved in PA biosynthesis.
Family-Friendly Work Conditions (FFWCs), Gender Concept and Welfare Regime in Malaysia: a document analysis
Authors: (surname) Nadirah (given name) Mat Pozian , Mays Jenni , Miller Yvette D
Published: February 2024

Gender disparities in paid work persist, despite implementing family-friendly work conditions (FFWCs) aimed at increasing women’s paid work participation. Global evidence demonstrates an interaction between gender and welfare regimes that underpin FFWCs, which may render them ineffective in achieving the goal of equitable participation. However, the existing findings are not easily transferrable to the Malaysian context. Evidence for hidden inequities in FFWCs documents in the context of gender and welfare regime in Malaysia has not been comprehensively uncovered. This document analysis aids in exploring which FFWCs has been documented and uncovering FFWCs’ interpretation in the context of gender concepts and welfare regime in Malaysia. Thirty-six documents on FFWCs were reviewed. Findings showed some distinction in the identified FFWCs between public sector, private and international organisations, yet the differences indicated all organisations maintain and conform with Malaysia’s welfare regime. While the intent of FFWCs focuses on women’s inclusion in the workforce, there appeared to be tensions with the values underlying welfare regime in preserving values associated with traditional family systems. This paper offers a way forward in Malaysian FFWCs by accounting for the influence of traditional gender role ideology and reframing women's and gender narratives, including the use of gender-neutral language.
Factors associated with malaria vaccine uptake in Nsanje District, Malawi
Authors: Simbeye Atusaye J. , Kumwenda Save , Cohee Lauren M. , Omondi Dickens , Masibo Peninah K. , Wao Hesborn , Awandu Shehu S.
Published: February 2024

Background
Malaria remains a significant global health burden affecting millions of people, children under 5 years and pregnant women being most vulnerable. In 2019, WHO endorsed introduction of RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine as Phase IV implementation evaluation in three countries: Malawi, Kenya and Ghana. Acceptability and factors influencing vaccination coverage in implementing areas is relatively unknown. In Malawi, only 60% of children were fully immunized in Nsanje District in 2021, which is below 80% WHO target. This study aimed to explore factors influencing uptake of malaria vaccine and identify approaches to increase vaccination.
Methods
In a cross-sectional study, 410 mothers/caregivers with children aged 24–36 months were selected by stratified random sampling and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Vaccination data was collected from health passports, for those without health passports, data was collected using recall history. Regression analyses were used to test association between independent variables and full uptake of malaria vaccine.
Results
Uptake of malaria vaccine was 90.5% for dose 1, but reduced to 87.6%, 69.5% and 41.2% for dose 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Children of caregivers with secondary or upper education and those who attended antenatal clinic four times or more had increased odds of full uptake of malaria vaccine [OR:2.43, 95%CI:1.08–6.51 and OR: 1.89, 95%CI 1.18–3.02] respectively. Children who ever suffered side-effects following immunization and those who traveled long distances to reach the vaccination center had reduced odds of full uptake of malaria vaccine [OR: 0.35, 95%CI: 0.06–0.25 and OR:0.30, 95%CI:0.03–0.39] respectively. Only 17% (n = 65) of mothers/caregivers knew the correct schedule for vaccination and 38.5% (n = 158) knew the correct number of doses a child was to receive.
Conclusion
Only RTS,S dose 1 and 2 uptake met WHO coverage targets. Mothers/caregivers had low level of information regarding malaria vaccine, especially on numbers of doses to be received and dosing schedule. The primary modifiable factor influencing vaccine uptake was mother/caregiver knowledge about the vaccine. Thus, to increase the uptake Nsanje District Health Directorate should strengthen communities’ education about malaria vaccine. Programs to strengthen mother/caregiver knowledge should be included in scale-up of the vaccine in Malawi and across sub-Saharan Africa.
Transcriptome and metabolome combine to analyze the mechanism of leaf coloration formation in Aeonium arboretum ‘Pink Sybil’
Authors: Li Suhua , Zhao Rong , Han Haozhang , Zhang Lihua , Wang Fang , Zhang Nan , Dong Rong
Published: February 2024

The decorative quality of succulents largely stems from their leaf color. Aeonium arboreum's pink Sybil leaves feature an eye-catching stripe pattern and are particularly favored by customers, although the underlying mechanisms of its distinctive coloration are unknown. This study analyzed Aeonium arboreum ‘Pink Sybil’ leaves at the cellular and molecular levels. UHPLC-HRMS identified 11 flavonoid-related metabolites, showing elevated levels in RS samples. Cyanidin 3-galactoside emerged as the predominant compound, representing 93.4% of the total flavonoid content in RS samples(the red part of leaf margin), which was substantially greater than in the GM samples༈the green part of leaf center༉. Freehand slices revealed that anthocyanins, which contribute to the red coloring, were predominantly accumulated in the epidermal cells of the red tissue, in contrast to their presence in the green leaf tissue. Furthermore, cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside was not identified in GM but only in RS. The comparison of two transcripts identified 1,817 DEGs, with 1,123 up-regulated and 694 down-regulated genes. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the 20 most significantly enriched DEGs were involved in metabolic pathways, notably the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, which were closely related to the metabolism of anthocyanins. The majority of the structural genes and transcription factors involved in flavonoid metabolism were shown to be up-regulated using qRT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of transcription factors and co-expression network analysis of various metabolites and genes identified one MYB transcription factor, Aa PHL7, and three NAC transcription factors, Aa NAC102, Aa NAC045, and Aa NAC017, which may be involved in the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in the leaves of the Aeonium arboreum ‘Pink Sybil’. The expression of these structural genes was highly and positively linked with the levels of anthocyanidins, such as Cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside and Cyanidin 3-galactoside. These compounds synergistically increase the expression of CHS1, CHS2, UFGT1, UFGT2, and 4CL during anthocyanin production. The study's findings identified the primary differential metabolites in the red tissue RS and green tissue GM of Aeonium arboretum ‘Pink Sybil’ leaves. This insight lays the groundwork for the initial identification of structural genes and transcription factors that show a strong and positive link with these metabolites. Our findings pave the way for a deeper understanding of the biochemical processes behind leaf discoloration in Aeonium arboreum ‘Pink Sybil’.
Determinants of long-distance eldercare: Evidence from Ghanaian Immigrants in the United States
Authors: Kodwo-Nyameazea Yale
Published: February 2024

The current study investigated the extent to which the following five factors—filial obligation, support receipt, perceived elder vulnerability, caregiver status, and selected sociodemographic characteristics (of both older adults and immigrants) impact long-distance caregiving by Ghanaian immigrants. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 124 participants for the study. The results of the regression analysis showed that the key factors influencing remittance to older adult relatives in Ghana were filial obligation and immigrant caregiving status. Respondents not only felt that it was their responsibility to provide financial care for their older adult relatives but also that respondents who described themselves as the main elder caregivers provided more financial support. While there is always the possibility that some Ghanaian immigrants shirk their eldercare obligations, there is much evidence to conclude that most provided care to their elderly relatives and that most were influenced by the social and cultural tenets that underlie eldercare in Ghanaian society.
A Prediction Model for Air Pollution using Artificial Neural Network and Multiple Linear Regression
Authors: Kumar Lokesh , Kumar Gaurav
Published: February 2024

Over the past few decades, air pollution and preventive measures have proven scientifically challenging and the issue is still unending on a worldwide scale. The number of contaminants in the air is increasing daily as a result of the expanding population and the settling of more people in metropolitan regions. They have an impact on people's respiratory and cardiovascular systems, which raises the population's risk of disease and increases mortality. To better enhance public health, several attempts have been made by governmental organizations to comprehend and forecast the Air Quality Index. Without a doubt, the most crucial stage in prediction is the creation of a predictive model of the air quality, which will aid in environmental management and raise public awareness. The most important component of tracking air pollution is air quality prediction. Many methods will be useful in developing an effective model for pollution prediction. The best approach for prediction is to use an artificial neural network. Therefore, this study is conducted by gathering data on air pollutants for the U.P. state cities of Meerut and Ghaziabad and creating an optimum model for the air quality forecast.
Effects of Climate Change and Land Use on the Hydrologic Regime Using the Hydro-bid Tool: Andean Mountain Basin Case Study
Authors: Mena Darwin , Peña-Guzmán Carlos , Rodríguez-Pinzón Manuel
Published: February 2024

Changes on the land surface from human activities or natural events generate changes in land cover, which directly effect water availability and quality in watersheds. This article evaluates the effects on the hydrological regime Andean Mountain basin case study on the Coello river basin in Colombia due to changes in land use/land cover during the 2000–2019 period by the use of the Hydro-Bid tool. The physical analysis of the land surface included the processing of Landsat 7 ETM and Landsat 8 OLI satellite images for the years 2001, 2003, 2015 and 2019. Seven types of coverage were determined based on these data using the Mixed Gaussian Method that is part of the dzetsaka plugin in QGIS. The changes between each year were evaluated, after which the land use/land cover change for the year 2050 was predicted using a Markov chain in the TerrSet software package. The multitemporal analysis showed a decrease in forested areas during the studied period, while low vegetation significantly increased within the watershed. This trend was shown to continue in the future scenario for the year 2050, where the predicted losses in forest cover were estimated at 135 km2 with an increase in flow on the watershed of 59.6%. Additionally, the climate change scenarios were modeled with the changes in land use. The combined effects (climate change + land use) established a progressive decrease in the modal flow. The results from this study will allow authorities to improve decision-making in land use planning and climate change adaptation. However, uncertainties associated with data availability and modelling performance must be taken into account when applying the presented results.
Single channel blind source separation of rolling bearing compound faults based on self-learning sparse decomposition and feature mode decomposition
Authors: Zhang HaiBo
Published: February 2024

Feature mode decomposition (FMD) has advantages over the other newer time-frequency methods such as ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and variational mode decomposition (VMD) in single channel blind source separation (SCBSS). However, FMD has the defect of needing to determine the precise number of fault sources manually. To solve the above defect of FMD, an adaptive method for determining the number of fault sources based on the shift invariant sparse code (SISC) is proposed. SISC was used to train a set of basis functions from the single channel signal, and the corresponding potential components were reconstructed firstly. Subsequently, the structural similarity of these potential components was used for clustering, and each of the obtained clustering signals represented one kind of fault. Then the number of clustering was determined by minimizing the structural correlation among the clustering signals. It was considered that the source separation had achieved the best effect when the structural difference among the clusters was the largest, and the number of clustering at this time was used as the optimal estimated value, which was used as the modal inputs number of FMD calculation model to realize SCBSS of rolling bearing. Simulation and experimental analysis were carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, and its superiority was also verified through comparison.
Human health risk assessment framework for new water resource recovery-based bio-composite materials
Authors: Nativio Arianna , Jovanovic Oriana , Kapelan Zoran , van der Hoek Jan Peter
Published: February 2024

A new type of bio-composite material is being produced from water-recovered resources such as cellulose fibres from wastewater, calcite from the drinking water softening process, and grass and reed from waterboard sites. These raw materials may be contaminated with pathogens and chemicals such as Escherichia coli, heavy metals, and resin compounds. A novel risk assessment framework is proposed here, addressing human health risks during the production of new bio-composite materials. The developed framework consists of a combination of existing risk assessment methods and is based on three main steps: hazard identification, qualitative risk mapping, and quantitative risk assessment. The HAZOP and Event Tree Analysis methodologies were used for hazard identification and risk mapping stages. Then, human health risks were quantitatively assessed using quantitative chemical risk assessment, evaluating cancer and non-cancer risk, and quantitative microbial risk assessment. The deterministic and the stochastic approaches were performed for this purpose. The contamination of raw materials may pose human health concerns, resulting in cancer risk above the threshold. Microbial risk is also above the safety threshold. Additional analysis would be significant as future research to better assess the microbial risk in biocomposite production. The framework has been effectively used for chemical and microbial risk assessment.
Discussion on the Influence of Gpx 4 Target in the Field of Cancer
Authors: Wang Ya-Lan , Guo Hong-yan , Zhou Tong , Sun Ke , Shen Qing-kun , Li Xiao-Ting
Published: February 2024

The current review was undertaken to collate data on Gpx4 inhibitors and the
regulatory proteins related to Gpx4. Gpx4 plays an essential role in ferroptosis; it can be
used to determine the Gpx4 as an indicator for determining tumor occurrence and as a
means of treating cancer. Although there is no market for Gpx4 inhibitors, many researchers
have conducted extensive research, and some compounds have entered clinical
research. This article summarizes all papers related to Gpx4; hope this review can provide
some new insights and ideas for researchers aiming to develop efficient and low--
toxicity Gpx4 inhibitors and provide some new ideas for cancer treatment.
Recent Advances in Self-healing Polymer Materials: Routes and Strategies
Authors: Cao Zhonglin , Xu Jinbao
Published: February 2024

:

The most intriguing area of scientific study and engineering applications is to
synthetize materials that can autonomously heal damage similar to biological tissues. Since
the concept of self-healing materials was established, several variations of self-healing polymer
materials have been developed based on distinct healing techniques. This review outlines
the most recent breakthroughs in self-healing polymers and utilizes the opportunity to
categories the descriptions of self-healing technologies in the literatures according to extrinsic
and intrinsic routes (noncovalent bonds, physical interaction, and covalent bonds). The
major focus is on the routes and strategies used to generate self-healing polymer materials.
In addition, the strengths and weaknesses of polymer materials with different self-healing
routes and strategies in terms of mechanical and self-healing properties were summarized.
Furthermore, we also reviewed the progress of the development from a single self-healing mechanism to multiple
self-healing mechanisms to achieve balanced comprehensive performance. Finally, the future trajectory of
self-healing polymers is envisioned.
Anti-seizure Effects and Mechanisms of Berberine: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jivad Nahid , Heidari-Soureshjani Saeid , Bagheri Hesamaldin , Sherwin Catherine M.T. , Rostamian Sahar
Published: February 2024

Background:

Epilepsy is one of the most common in all age groups and disabling
neurologic disorders around the world.

Objectives:

This systematic review was to explore whether berberine (BBR) has any anti-seizure
or anti-epileptic effects and also reviewed this possible mechanism.

Methods:

The EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science databases
were searched before Sep 2023. All types of studies that investigated the effects of BBR on epilepsy
or chemical-induced seizures were eligible for inclusion. Two authors independently evaluated
and reviewed titles/abstracts to identify publications for potential eligibility, and a third
team member resolved discrepancies. Data were extracted in an Excel form, and the outcomes
were discussed.

Results:

BBR showed its neuroprotective properties by reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation,
and anti-apoptosis effects. It also increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
release and reduces transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α
(HIF-1α). BBR by increasing scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear factor
erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), endogenous antioxidant enzymes, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1),
and inhibition of lipid peroxidation insert its antioxidant activity. Moreover, BBR showed antiinflammatory
activity by reducing Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF-α) levels and through inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and including nuclear factor
κB (NF-κB). In addition, it modulated c-fos expression and neuronal excitability in the brain.

Conclusion:

BBR indicated promising anti-seizure effects with remarkable antioxidant, antiinflammatory,
anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective activity. Future studies should be based on
well-designed clinical trial studies that are integrated with new methods related to increasing
bioavailability.
Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery
Diagnosed in Adulthood
Authors: Xie Nanai , Liu Jingyan , Zhang Heng , Zhu Yuhui , Ma Wanling
Published: February 2024

Introduction:

An anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare heart malformation, with 90% of patients dying during the first
year of life. If the right coronary artery compensation and multiple collateral circulation are sufficiently established, the patient's myocardial
ischemia symptoms are mild and appear later, which is called the adult type ALCAPA.

Case Description:

A 42-year-old woman presented to our hospital with one-month history of the aggravation of active shortness of breath which gradually progressed
to nocturnal paroxysmal shortness of breath and cough. Admission physical examination suggested mild edema of both lower limbs. Transthoracic
echocardiography (TTE) showed that a small vessel shadow was abnormally connected to the pulmonary artery (PA), and moderate pulmonary
artery hypertension. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed an anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery (LMCA)
dividing into the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCX) artery from the PA, with no clear connection to the left coronary sinus.
The right coronary artery (RCA) was significantly dilated and originated from the normal Valsalva sinus. It was accompanied by multiple
collateral circulations, most of which traveled anterior to the right ventricular free wall and anterior interventricular sulcus, and some emanated
from the posterior descending branch of the posterior interventricular sulcus and walked toward the posterolateral wall of the left ventricle.

Conclusion:

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) can be used to visualize the abnormal origin and distribution of the coronary artery's course
and may be the first choice in the diagnosis of ALCAPA.