bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Elderly According to Age of Onset
Authors: González Manuel Bracho , Olmedo Martín Raúl Vicente , Morales Bermúdez Ana Isabel , Jiménez Pérez Miguel
Published: November 2024

Background/Objetives: Elderly populations are under-represented in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) clinical trials, with limited data on phenotype, treatment patterns, outcomes and comorbidities. The main objective of this study was to evaluate, in an elderly cohort with IBD, demographic and disease characteristics, comorbidity, polypharmacy and treatment patterns according to the development of IBD at or before old age. Secondarily, the same analysis was done based on the type of IBD: ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). Material and methods: Observational, single-center, retrospective study including 118 patients diagnosed with IBD and aged 65 years or older seen at the IBD office of the Regional University Hospital of Malaga between September and November 2022. Data were recorded on demographic, disease-related and IBD treatment-related variables, comorbidities and polypharmacy. A descriptive and analytical study was undertaken according to the age of IBD onset and type of IBD. Results: Of the patients included, 50.8% were male, 55.1% had CD and 44.9% UC. IBD onset was before age 65 years in 69.5% and ≥65 years in 30.5%. Elderly with IBD who debuted <65 presented longer disease evolution (19.67±9.82 years) and required more IBD-related surgeries (37.8%); elderly with IBD who debuted ≥65 were older (77.69±6.26 years), with no differences in the other variables. According to the type of IBD, elderly UC patients were older (74.55±6.9 years), used more aminosalicylates (77.4%) and had higher rates of polypharmacy (90.6%). Elderly CD patients had higher IBD activity (moderate/severe in 72.3%), used more biologic drugs (58.5%) and required more IBD-related surgeries (44.6%). Conclusion: Elderly patients who develop IBD before or after the age of 65 years are overall very similar in baseline and disease-related characteristics. Elderly with CD have higher IBD activity and require more biologic drugs and IBD-related surgeries. Elderly with UC are older and have higher rates of polypharmacy and aminosalicylate use.
Antimicrobial Properties of Monomeric and Dimeric Catanionic Surfactants System
Authors: Kowalczyk Iwona , Koziróg Anna , Szulc Adrianna , Komasa Anna , Brycki Bogumil Eugene
Published: November 2024

Cationic gemini surfactants are used due to their broad spectrum of activity, especially surface, anticorrosive and antimicrobial properties. Mixtures of cationic and anionic surfactants are also increasingly described. In order to investigate the effect of anionic additive on antimicrobial activity, experimental studies were carried out to obtain MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. Two gemini surfactants (12-6-12 and 12-O-12) and two single quaternary ammonium salts (DTAB and DDAC) were analyzed. The most commonly used commercial compounds of this class, i.e. SDS and SL, were used as anionic additives. In addition, computer quantum-mechanical studies were also carried out to confirm the relationship between the structure of the mixture and the activity.
Effects of Maternal Stress on the Development of the Somatotropic Axis During the Larval and Juvenile Stages in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Rodrigues Maira da Silva , Toledo Vinícius Prazeres Barbosa , Nóbrega Rafael Henrique
Published: November 2024

Stress is recognized as an adaptive response to potentially harmful environmental stimuli. The primary physiological adaptation to stress is an increase in circulating cortisol levels, which, in excess, can be transferred and incorporated into the oocytes of maturing females, affecting the embryonic developmental program. Additionally, maternal energy availability is an essential environmental factor that modulates this program. Based on this background, we investigated the effects of maternal cortisol on the development of the somatotropic axis in the zebrafish offspring and juveniles. Zebrafish mothers were divided into two groups based on diet: Group 1 received a cortisol-enriched diet, to mimic maternal stress, while Group 2 (control) received a standard diet, for five days, followed by breeding on day three. Offspring were assessed at 0, 24, 48, 72-, 96-, 120, and 144 -hours post-fertilization (hpf). Morphological analyses were performed during embryonic development, including survival rate, body length, presence of pericardial edema, and heartbeat. We examined the gene expression of key somatotropic axis components, including mtor, foxO3a, mafbx, murf1, mstna, gh, igf1, igf2a, igf2b, 11hsdb2, and fkbp5. Our finding offers critical insights for aquaculture by elucidating the complex interaction between maternal factors and somatotropic axis development in offspring. The study demonstrated that cortisol-treated females significantly affected offspring survival, morphology, and cardiac structures, in addition to altering gene expression related to protein synthesis, and showed signs of accelerated development. At 30 days post-fertilization, juveniles exhibited a notable increase in muscle bundle size and cross-sectional diameter. This evidence underscores the importance of aquaculture and animal research regarding how maternal environments influence somatotropic axis development in fish, providing a foundation for improved breeding protocols and management practices.
Velocity Observer Design for Tether Deployment in Hamiltonian Framework
Authors: Yang Jihang , Chen Guanzheng , Zhang Mingming , Li Gangqiang , Liu Jinyu
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a nonlinear velocity observer of the tether deployment using the Immersion and Invariance technique, and the velocity observer design problem is recast as a problem of designing an attractive and invariant manifold inside the Hamiltonian framework. The passivity-based control theory is used to define an expected Hamiltonian function, and the stability of the designed velocity observer is addressed by using the passivity-based methodology. Finally, a simple tension control law with measurable and unmeasurable states is employed for controlling the tether deployment, where the unmeasurable states use the proposed velocity observer. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the proposed velocity observer is working successfully. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to test the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed velocity observer.
Navigating the Uncertainty of B3 Breast Lesions: Diagnostic Challenges and Evolving Management Strategies
Authors: D'Archi Sabatino , Carnassale Beatrice , Sanchez Alejandro Martin , Accetta Cristina , Belli Paolo , De Lauretis Flavia , Di Guglielmo Enrico , Di Leone Alba , Franco Antonio , Magno Stefano , Moschella Francesca , Natale Maria , Scardina Lorenzo , Silenzi Marta , Masetti Riccardo , Franceschini Gianluca
Published: November 2024

B3 breast lesions, classified as lesions of uncertain malignant potential, present a significant di-agnostic and therapeutic challenge due to their heterogeneous nature and variable risk of pro-gression to malignancy. These lesions, which include atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), papil-lary lesions (PL), flat epithelial atypia (FEA), radial scar (RS), lobular neoplasia (LN), and phyl-lodes tumors (PT), occupy a "grey zone" between benign and malignant pathologies, making their management complex and often controversial. This article explores the diagnostic difficul-ties associated with B3 lesions, focusing on the limitations of current imaging techniques, in-cluding mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as the chal-lenges in histopathological interpretation. Core needle biopsy (CNB) and vacuum-assisted bi-opsy (VAB) are widely used for diagnosis, but both methods have inherent limitations, includ-ing sampling errors and the inability to determine malignancy in some cases definitively. The therapeutic approach to B3 lesions is nuanced, with treatment decisions strongly influenced by factors such as lesion size, radiological findings, histopathological characteristics, and patient factors. While some lesions can be safely monitored with watchful waiting, others may require vacuum-assisted excision (VAE) or surgical excision to rule out malignancy. The deci-sion-making process is further complicated by the discordance between the BIRADS score and biopsy results, as well as the presence of additional risk factors, such as microcalcifications. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the current diagnostic challenges and treatment strate-gies for B3 lesions, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to management. By synthesizing the most recent research, the article aims to provide clinicians with a clearer understanding of the complexities involved in diagnosing and treating B3 breast lesions while highlighting areas for future research, such as Artificial Intelligence and Genomics, to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.
Transcultural Adaptation of an Environmental Health Questionnaire with Attitude, Knowledge and Skills Scales for Portuguese Nursing Students
Authors: Álvarez-García Cristina , Edra Beatriz , Marques Goreti , Simões Catarina , López-Franco Mª Dolores
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: Climate change adversely affects some of the fundamental determinants of health, and children are the population group most vulnerable to exposure to environmental risk factors. The main objective of this study was to validate in the Portuguese context three scales to assess attitudes, knowledge and skills on children's environmental health. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was developed to translate, adapt, and validate the questionnaire consisting of the following three scales: Attitude Scale (SANS_2), knowledge scale (ChEHK-Q), and skills scale (ChEHS-Q). This was carried out in two phases: The translation and adaptation process and the validation process using the classical measure theory and item response theory with undergraduate nursing students. Results: We obtained a valid and reliable questionnaire to measure children's environmental health competence consisting of an attitude scale (α = 0.84), a knowledge scale (Infit = 0.98, Outfit = 0.97, item reliability = 0.98 and people reliability = 0.75) and a skills scale (Infit = 1.00, Outfit = 0.99, item reliability = 0.82 and people reliability = 0.88). The mean score on the attitude scale was 28.15 (5-35) ± 4.61; 14.92 (0-26) ± 4.51 on the knowledge scale, and 42.51 (24-60) ± 6.41 on the skills scale. Conclusions: We found that most Portuguese nursing students have very good pro-environmental attitudes and good knowledge and skills in dealing with children's environmental health. The questionnaire obtained in this study will be useful for comparative studies with other countries and for evaluating the effectiveness of educational interventions.
The Limitation of HLA Diversity as a Risk Factor for Pediatric-Onset Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease
Authors: Kalampokis Ioannis , Wong Craig S. , Ma Jihyun , Smith Lynette M , Masten Barbara J , Chabot-Richards Devon , Pisetsky David S.
Published: November 2024

HLA homozygosity of specific alleles at a single locus is associated with increased risk for autoimmunity. However, the contribution of the overall limitation of HLA allele diversity to autoimmunity risk remains to be determined. We conducted a proof-of-concept case-control study of 413 subjects (279 cases, 134 matched controls) examining the “Limitation of HLA Diversity” (LoHLAD) across multiple loci as an allele-independent risk factor for pediatric-onset autoimmune rheumatic disease. The association of LoHLAD with pediatric-onset autoimmune rheumatic diseases was examined at 5 HLA loci (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-DQB1, HLA- DRB1, HLA- DRB3/4/5). For the purpose of this study, we introduced a novel metric of LoHLAD defined as 1) homozygosity at any of the examined loci, and/or 2) the presence of a single allele or the complete lack of an allele at the HLA-DRB3/4/5 locus. The frequency of LoHLAD at any locus was significantly higher in cases compared to controls (65.95% vs 30.60%, OR 4.39 [2.82-6.84], P
Not All Antiseptic Solutions Are Equivalent in Removing Biofilm
Authors: Chao Christina A. , Khilnani Tyler K. , Jo Suenghwan , Shenoy Aarti , Bostrom Mathias P.G. , Carli Alberto V.
Published: November 2024

Background:

Antiseptic solutions are commonly utilized during total joint arthroplasty (TJA) to prevent and treat periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The purpose of this study was to investigate which antiseptic solution is most effective against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and Escherichia coli biofilms established in vitro on orthopaedic surfaces commonly utilized in total knee arthroplasty: cobalt-chromium (CC), oxidized zirconium (OxZr), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).

Methods:

MSSA and E. coli biofilms were grown on CC, OxZr, and PMMA discs for 24 and 72 hours. Biofilm-coated discs were treated with control or various antiseptic solutions for 3 minutes. Solutions included 10% povidone-iodine, a 1:1 mixture of 10% povidone-iodine plus 3% hydrogen peroxide, diluted povidone-iodine, 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate, and a surfactant-based formulation of ethanol, acetic acid, sodium acetate, benzalkonium chloride, and water. Following treatment, discs were sonicated to quantify adherent bacteria or underwent imaging with scanning electron microscopy to identify biofilm. Antiseptic solutions were considered efficacious if they produced a 3-log (1,000-fold) reduction in colony-forming units compared with controls.

Results:

On both OxZr and CC, 10% povidone-iodine with hydrogen peroxide eradicated all MSSA, and it achieved clinical efficacy on PMMA at both 24-hour MSSA biofilm (p < 0.0002) and 72-hour MSSA biofilm (p = 0.002). On 72-hour MSSA biofilm, 10% povidone-iodine eradicated all bacteria on OxZr and CC, and it achieved clinical efficacy on PMMA (p = 0.04). On 24-hour MSSA biofilm, 10% povidone-iodine achieved efficacy on all surfaces (all p < 0.01). The surfactant-based formulation only achieved clinical efficacy on 72-hour MSSA biofilms on CC (p = 0.04) and OxZr (p = 0.07). On 72-hour E. coli biofilm, 10% povidone-iodine with or without hydrogen peroxide achieved clinical efficacy on all surfaces. No other solution achieved clinical efficacy on either MSSA or E. coli.

Conclusions:

Antiseptic solutions vary considerably in efficacy against bacterial biofilm. The 10% povidone-iodine solution with or without hydrogen peroxide consistently removed MSSA and E. coli biofilms on multiple orthopaedic surfaces and should be considered for clinical use.

Clinical Relevance:

Clinicians should be aware of the differences in the efficacy of antiseptic solutions on different orthopaedic surfaces when treating MSSA or E. coli biofilms.
The Impact of Sustained Outreach Efforts on Gender Diversity in Orthopaedic Surgery
Authors: Buckley Jenni M. , Dearolf Laura M. , Wood Lily , Agel Julie , Van Heest Ann E. , Lattanza Lisa L.
Published: November 2024

Background:

Orthopaedic surgery is one of the least gender-diverse surgical specialties, with only 7% women in practice and 20.4% in residency. There are numerous “leaks” in the talent pipeline for women orthopaedic surgeons that lead to the field as a whole falling short of a critical mass (30%) of women. For over a decade, a network of professional and nonprofit organizations, including the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, The Perry Initiative, Nth Dimensions, and others, have focused on targeted outreach and mentoring of women in the talent pipeline; they report a positive effect of these interventions on recruitment and retention of women in the field.

Methods:

In this study, we applied mathematical models to estimate the historic and future impacts of current outreach and hands-on exposure efforts to recruit more women into orthopaedic surgery. The model uses published data on program reach and impact from one of the largest and longest-running programs, The Perry Initiative, and combines it with AAMC and AAOS Census data. These data were used to forecast the percentage of women entering the profession as postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) residents and among practicing orthopaedic surgeons.

Results:

The results of the mathematical models suggest that the increase in women in the PGY1 population from 14.7% to 20.9% from 2008 to 2022 is at least partially attributable to current mentoring and outreach efforts by The Perry Initiative and others. Assuming continued intervention at present levels, the PGY1 residency class will reach peak diversity of 28% women in 2028, and the field as a whole will reach a steady-state composition of approximately 25% practicing women orthopaedic surgeons by 2055.

Conclusions:

The results of this study indicate that outreach and exposure efforts, such as those of The Perry Initiative, are having a substantive impact on gender diversity in orthopaedic surgery. With continued intervention, the field as a whole should approach a critical mass of women within a generation. The collective efforts of the orthopaedics community over the past decade to close the gender gap serve as a guidebook for other professions seeking to diversify.
Desain Turbin Tesla Sebagai Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Air
Authors: Marfizal Marfizal , Wardianto Dedi , Sufiyanto Sufiyanto , Yusuf Muhammad
Published: November 2024

Penelitian ini fokus pada desain Turbin Tesla  Sebagai Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Air sederhana, desain ini fokus pada dimensi dimensi utama Turbin Tesla seperti diameter, jarak , ketebalan disk dan komponen pendukung lainnya . Turbin tesla ini didesain untuk . Head 9,8 m dan debit 0,028 m3/s sehingga di peroleh dimensi disk : jarak antar disk , diameter disk , tebal disk aspect ratio  ,  , jumlah disk . Untuk dimensi Nozel: Luas permukaan nozel , Diameter nozel  , Lebar nozel   Untuk rumah turbin di peroleh dimensi sebagai berikut : lebar rumah turbin , tinggi rumah turbin , Tebal dinding , Diameter rumah turbin , tebal rumah turbin
 
Kata Kunci : Desain, Turbin, Tesla, Disk
Exploring factors hindering performance of information systems in the South African public sector – evidence from the Zondo Commission
Authors: Latchu Ashley , Singh Shawren
Published: November 2024

This article seeks to ascertain issues in the Commission of Inquiry popularly known as the Zondo Commission that consequently hinder and impede the performance of information systems in the South African public sector. The novelty of this study lies in its thematic perspective on factors that disrupts the public sector from attaining objectives that are spelt out in the South African national strategic goals. Zondo commission final reports are used to explore intrinsic aspects which could explain current threats to information systems. The Zondo Commission covered the period from 2018 to 2022 and reports are available on the State Capture Commission website. The study employs a qualitative research approach by analysing data from the Zondo Commission reports. A qualitative software, Atlas.ti 9 is utilised to demystify macro factors thwarting information systems from operating efficiently and effectively. The usage of the standard software package Atlas.ti 9 is for the purpose of automating the coding procedures for this study by employing specified rules to enable promptness and efficiency in handling vast amounts of textual data, as well as organise, filter, and sort that data. In order to provide direction for this automated analysis, a coding schema is used that identifies the codes or keywords that should be looked for within the text, and should be based on an initial human evaluation of the sample textual data. The textual codes are arranged into relatively high codes or constructions. The coding schema is tested by employing a separate sample of texts in order to check for accuracy and adequateness. The emerging themes from the thematic analysis showed that destabilisation of the public entities’ business systems and structures, non-penalisation of offenders, overstating of tender values and lack of goal congruency were the main reason that affected performance of information systems. The study recommends that government employ robust procurement and monitoring systems.
Valor pronóstico de los sistemas de puntuación de Marshall y Rotterdam en la mortalidad hospitalaria por traumatismo craneoencefálico en el Hospital de emergencias José Casimiro Ulloa
Authors:   , Moscoso Tristan Marcos Ivan
Published: November 2024

Introducción: Los traumatismos craneoencefálicos presentan una alta prevalencia de las emergencias hospitalarias en el Perú y su atención precoz es fundamental para salvaguardar la vida de cada individuo o comunidad. Debido a la alta morbilidad de estas patologías, el manejo integral incluye utilizar las puntuaciones Marshall y Rotterdam como predictores pronósticos de la mortalidad hospitalaria. Pregunta de investigación: ¿Cuál es el valor pronóstico de la puntuación Marshall y Rotterdam en la mortalidad hospitalaria de sujetos con traumatismo craneoencefálico atendidos en el Hospital de Emergencias José Casimiro Ulloa? Métodos: El estudio se realizará con un diseño analítico, transversal y retrospectivo. Incluirá a 200 sujetos con traumatismo craneoencefálico entre 2019 y 2023. Las variables de estudio incluirán la puntuación de Marshall, la puntuación de Rotterdam, mortalidad, edad, sexo, escala de Glasgow de ingreso, mecanismo de lesión, tiempo de estancia hospitalaria e ingreso a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. En el análisis estadístico se compararán las características de pacientes fallecidos y no fallecidos utilizando pruebas de Chi cuadrado y T de Student, y se determinará la exactitud diagnóstica mediante curva ROC y AUC, además de sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo y negativo
Direct measurement of brake wear particles from light-duty vehicle under real-world driving conditions
Authors: AlWasif-Ruiz Tawfiq , Suárez-Bertoa Ricardo , Sánchez-Martín José Alberto , Barrios-Sánchez Carmen Cecilia
Published: November 2024

As tailpipe emissions have decreased, there is growing focus on the relative contribution of non-exhaust sources of vehicle emissions. Addressing these emissions is key to better evaluating and reducing vehicles’ impact on air quality and public health. Tailoring solutions for different non-exhaust sources, including brake emissions, is essential for achieving sustainable mobility. Studying emissions from vehicles in real-world scenarios provides a more understanding of their environmental impact compared to laboratory testing alone. This study presents findings on the direct measurement of brake particles and the characterization of this source of particulate matter in real-world conditions using a mobile laboratory. In situ measurements of particle concentration and size distribution showed good agreement with previous laboratory studies, indicating the suitability of the approach to investigate break particle emissions during real-world operation. The study demonstrates that particle size distributions can vary based on the temperature of the brake disk, which is influenced by the initial braking speed, with significant variations observed between speeds of 60, 80, 100, and 120 km/h. Particles with sizes between 6 nm and 523 nm were released into the air from the brake system, although it is likely that larger particles were also emitted but not captured due to the upper detection limit of the Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer. During harsh braking events, such as decelerations of 15 m/s2 from 120 km/h, a concentration of up 106 (#/cm3) was measured for particles under 8nm. Moreover, scanning electron microscope analysis revealed that nanoparticles are present in the form of agglomerates, whose shape can change depending on the formation process. Elements present in the particles comprised mainly iron, copper, and aluminium, indicating wear of the brake pad materials and disk components.
Evaluation of Chemical and Elemental Analyses of Airborne Particulate Matter in Nigeria
Authors: Ewona I. O , Ekah B. J , Akwagiobe J. U , Udo S. O , Rabiu B.
Published: November 2024

This article evaluates air quality index (AQI) from toxic and heavy metal concentration across selected cities in Nigeria. Gravitational sedimentation method was used to collect air sediments to extract toxic and heavy metals present in airborne particulates. Funnel shaped collectors securely attached to clean empty containers were exposed in open spaces at designated locations within the city, for a period of nine months, covering the two major seasons in Nigeria (January to September, 2023). Airborne particles were allowed to settle naturally in the container along with rainwater. Samples from various points in a city were put together for laboratory analyses. This procedure was repeated in five other cities covering various geographical and climatic regions in Nigeria. The locations include: Benin, Lagos, Calabar in the South and Abuja, Enugu and kano in the North. The samples were analyzed for elemental concentration using spectroscopy. Data for PM 2.5 was donated by Penn State University purple air quality network in Nigeria. MATLAB, SPSS and MS excel software were used to prepare the data for analyses. Air quality indices for the studied locations were determined. The associated AQI colour codes reflect health concern levels. The results show maximum concentration values as follows: PM2.5 (1350), Pb (566), Ni (458), and Mn (443) indicate hazardous levels, Cd (183) indicates unhealthy levels, Fe (130) and Cr (106) show unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, K (86) shows moderate levels, while elements compounds like NO2 (32.83), Al (30), F (11), Cu (11.53), NO3 (4.16), CO (3.13), and Zn (1.43) fall within safer levels. The results further reveal that the air in Benin carries hazardous levels for Ni (550) and Pb (400), While Kano reveals very unhealthy levels of Pb (800) and Ni (490) levels in the air; Abuja air also has high levels of Pb (600) and Ni (490), while Lagos has high levels of Ni (430). Enugu on the other hand presents extremely high values for Mn (1600), Pb (500), and Ni (310).
Endophytic fungal culture induced ferulic acid biosynthesis and antibacterial activity in Kalanchoe daigremontiana cultivated in vitro
Authors: de Souza Khaoanny , Colauto Nelson Barros , Peiter Gabrielle Caroline , Schaker Patricia Dayane Carvalho
Published: November 2024

Kalanchoe daigremontiana is valued for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, mainly due to bioactive compounds like phenolic acids, including ferulic acid. Endophytic fungi can act as elicitors in tissue culture, enhancing compound production, promoting growth, and improving microbial control. This study aims to evaluate the compound profile, growth promotion, and antibacterial activity of K. daigremontiana plantlets grown in vitro in a culture medium supplemented with an antioxidant endophytic fungus from K. daigremontiana used as an elicitor. Sixteen endophytic fungal strains were recovered from mineral oil preservation and tested for antioxidant activity using the DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay, with Alternaria alternata (strain 16) showing the highest activity. Identified through macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular methods, this strain was cultured and used as a biotic elicitor in Murashige-Skoog medium for K. daigremontiana explants. Extracts from elicited and non-elicited in vitro-cultivated plantlets, as well as non-elicited in vivo-cultivated plantlets, were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography for phenolic compounds and tested for antibacterial activity using microdilution method. Elicitation enhanced plantlet growth and altered the compound profile, with ferulic acid found exclusively in in vitro plantlets. Elicited in vitro plantlets showed the strongest antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. These results suggest that in vitro elicitation improves the growth and antibacterial properties of K. daigremontiana, offering a potential strategy to enhance bioactive compound production, particularly ferulic acid. This approach could be an alternative to manage systemic phytopathogens in vivo, particularly non-culturable ones, in other plants.
Attention-Driven Frequency-Based Zero-Shot Learning with Phase Augmentation
Authors: Yin Wanting , Ge Jiannan , Zhang Lei , Li Pandeng , Xie Hongtao
Published: November 2024

Zero-Shot Learning (ZSL) aims to recognize unseen classes by aligning visual and semantic information. However, existing methods often struggle with noise in the RGB domain, which limits their ability to capture fine-grained semantic attributes, such as a grey bird's tail blending with the ground. This visual ambiguity in the RGB domain negatively impacts model performance. In contrast, the frequency domain can better capture high-frequency signals that are often overlooked in RGB, making areas that are easily confused in RGB more distinguishable.To address this issue, we propose a novel Frequency-based framework that transforms spatial features into the frequency domain, allowing for more robust attribute representation and improved noise suppression. The framework incorporates a Multi-Scale Frequency Fusion Module that integrates multi-scale feature maps with frequency domain attention, and a Phase-based Augmentation Module that enhances key attributes by augmenting phase information. Additionally, we introduce two novel modules: the Masked Residual Aggregation Module for combining global and local features and the Phase High-Frequency Filtering Module for image denoising. The Mean Class Accuracy results of our method on CUB, AWA2 and aPY datasets are 2.8%, 5.0%, and 7.4% higher than other methods, respectively. We establish a new direction in frequency-based zero-shot learning. Source code at \href{https://github.com/Waldeinsamkeit628/AFPA}{https://github.com/Waldeinsamkeit628/AFPA}.
Estimating forest aboveground carbon sink based on Landsat time-series and its response to climate change
Authors: Yang Kun , Luo Kai , Zhang Jialong , Qiu Bo , Wang Feiping , Xiao Qinglin , Cao Jun , He Yunrun , Yang Jian
Published: November 2024

Accurately estimating forest carbon sink and exploring their climate-driven mechanisms are essential for achieving carbon neutrality and sustainable development. Taking Pinus densata in Shangri-La as the research object, we established three Random Forest (RF) dynamic models based on Landsat time series and ground data with 5-year interval variation, 10-year interval variation, and annual average variation. Then, Genetic Algorithm (GA) was applied to optimize the parameters of RF to establish GA-RF dynamic models, and selected the optimal model to estimate the carbon sink intensity (CSI) of Pinus densata. Finally, climate-driven mechanisms were explored by correlation analysis. We found that 1) the GA-RF model based on the annual average variation had the highest accuracy with an R2 of 0.83. 2) The CSI of Pinus densata in Shangri-La was 7.84–12.35×104 t C·hm− 2 from 1987 to 2017. 3) Precipitation had the greatest effect on CSI. The joint weak drive of CSI by precipitation, temperature and surface solar radiation was the most dominant form of CSI drive for Pinus densata. These results suggest that the GA-RF model can be used for large-scale long-term estimation of above-ground carbon sinks in highland forests. In addition, the precipitation-led multifactorial synergistic driving mechanism will stabilize the carbon sink capacity of Pinus densata in the long term.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chandratreya Abhijit
Published: November 2024

The meta-analysis investigates the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and financial performance, synthesizing findings from various empirical studies. The study addresses the ongoing debate about whether CSR initiatives enhance financial outcomes or detract from them due to potential resource diversion. Through a systematic review of the literature, the analysis quantifies the overall effect size of CSR on financial performance and identifies key moderating factors, such as industry, firm size, and geographical context, that influence this relationship. The findings indicate a generally positive correlation between CSR and financial performance, particularly in areas like environmental responsibility. The study also highlights significant variations in results depending on the specific CSR dimensions (environmental, social, governance) and the methodological approaches of the studies analyzed. The analysis underscores the importance of context in understanding the CSR-financial performance nexus and suggests that CSR can be strategically leveraged to improve financial outcomes, especially in larger firms and developed markets.
Perinatal outcomes in pregnancy with allergic rhinitis across seasons and postpartum status, stratified by depression presence: A retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Li Fan , Liao Yuan , Lei Cheng , Zhou Jie , Li Yannan , Shi Qiuling
Published: November 2024

Objective
The goal of this study was to investigate the factors that influence postpartum depression in pregnant women with allergic rhinitis (AR).
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included women with AR between June 2015 to June 2019 in Harvard University Partners Healthcare Systems (PARTNERS) in the USA. The study group was divided into postpartum depression and non-postpartum depression. Routine clinical and laboratory information was collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to study associations between AR women pregnant in the pollen seasons and adverse outcomes. Additionally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluates discriminative ability by the area under the ROC curve (AUC). The calibration curve (DCA) was conducted to determine the clinical utility and benefit of the nomogram.
Results
A total of 216 pregnant women with AR participated in this study. Univariate analysis showed that 7 indicators were significantly different (P<0.05). We conducted LASSO analysis and multivariate regression to establish a postpartum depressionnomogram during the AR pregnants, the four selected risk predictors are as follows: pollen season pregnancy (OR=1.514, 95%CI: 0.771-2.973), history of preterm birth (OR=2.723, 95%CI: 1.157-6.406), number of pregnancies (OR=2.104, 95%CI: 1.356-3.267), anti-allergy medication during pregnancy (OR=2.975, 95%CI: 1.521-5.819). The calibration curve and DCA present optimal predictive power. DCA demonstrates that the nomogram could be applied clinically.
Conclusions
We highlighted the comorbidity of AR and postpartum depression, and suggested that a multidisciplinary consideration between allergists and obstetricians or midwives is needed to ensure that pregnant women consult experts to reduce AR symptoms.
Postnatal care service Completeness within first the 48 hours among mothers Ghana: Evidence from Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Yabila Solomon , Amenu Johnpaul , Gmayinaam Vincent Uwumborihyie , Geyevu Delali Victus , Dzando Gideon
Published: November 2024

Postnatal care within the first 48 hours after delivery is critical for the health and well-being of both women and their newborns. Despite the benefits of early postnatal care, the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey reported that only 45% of women received all the recommended postnatal health checks within the period. This study analysed the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. A multi-level logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the factors influencing postnatal care completeness. The data was weighted and analyzed using STATA 17.0. The results shows that 53% of women did not receive complete postnatal care within 48 hours. Married women were 57% more likely to receive complete postnatal care compared to unmarried women (OR = 1.57* [95% CI: 1.02, 2.42]). Similarly, women enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme were 56% more likely to receive full postnatal care (OR = 1.56** [95% CI: 1.20, 2.04]).
Centralized Model Predictive Control with Prediction Horizon Tuning for Multi-Vehicle Platoon
Authors: Alizadehghobadi Shila
Published: November 2024

In the context of autonomous vehicles, proper lane merging is critical as it can reduce the traffic bottleneck and lead to a safer road transportation. To obtain a collision-free and efficient lane merging, advanced control algorithm needs to be designed to smoothly coordinate multiple vehicles to form a platoon or join the one that already exists. Model Predictive Control (MPC) is such a controller capable of accurately forecasting future states of multiple vehicles by optimizing their control inputs while satisfying the constraints. Duration over which the future states of the vehicles are predicted is called prediction horizon, a key component in designing the controller. The effect of prediction horizon on the efficiency of platooning using the MPC controllers is not known yet. In this study, a centralized MPC is used to investigate the effect of prediction horizon and number of vehicles on the efficiency of lane merging in a multi-vehicle platoon formation. The model is developed for platoon configurations with 2, 4, and 6 vehicles. It is shown that the feasibility of this approach strongly depends on the reference velocity and minimum prediction horizon. This minimum horizon varies with the number of vehicles merging into the platoon. Furthermore, the results suggest that tuning the prediction horizon near an optimal value can minimize the acceleration and braking intensity, thereby reducing energy consumption by 30-50%.
Complex Hydrogen Bonding Leads to Cooperativity Between Antiparallel Polyproline Ii Helices
Authors: Laurents Douglas , Sánchez Rubén López , Mompeán Miguel
Published: November 2024

Hydrogen bond cooperativity (HBC) is the phenomenon where the collective strengthening of hydrogen bonds in a network exceeds the sum of individual interactions due to mutual polarization and non-additive electrostatic effects. HBC has been well-studied in traditional protein secondary structures such as α-helices and β-sheets, where it critically stabilizes amyloid structures. In the last 20 years, several natural proteins have been characterized which contain several aligned and hydrogen-bonded polyproline II (PPII) helices. HBC has been recently reported for these PPII helices when they are arranged in parallel, but its existence in the more abundant antiparallel PPII helical assembly is still unknown.. By employing a battery of computational approaches validated through experimental observables, we report that both canonical CO···HN and non-canonical CO···HαCα hydrogen bonds exhibit mutual reinforcement, revealing a complex hydrogen bonding scheme that allows HBC in antiparallel PPII helices. These findings have fundamental relevance for our understanding of protein conformational stability and implications for PPII helices as a structural building block for protein design.
Effects of NMDAR2B-mediated Hippocampal Neuron Protection on Cognitive Function in Rats with Depression
Authors: Liu Longfei , Li Peifan , Hu Yongxue , Shan Qing , Li Hongping , Wei Yuhan , Wang Yiming
Published: November 2024

Background
To observe the changes in cognitive function of depressive model rats after fluoxetine intervention, and further explore the correlation between fluoxetine's influence on cognitive function in depressive model rats and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit (NMDAR2B) in the hippocampus, as well as its impact on hippocampal neurons.
Methods
The depression model was established using Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS) combined with solitary confinement, followed by fluoxetine intervention upon successful establishment. Neurobehavioral assessments were conducted to evaluate the rats' emotions, cognition, and learning abilities. Molecular docking technology was employed to observe the affinity between fluoxetine and the NMDAR2B subunit. Proteomic analysis was performed to detect changes in NMDAR2B protein, and histopathological staining was used to observe pathological alterations in neurons in the rat hippocampus. Finally, statistical analysis of the data was conducted.
Results
After modeling, the rats exhibited depressive-like behaviors, impaired cognitive learning and memory abilities, significantly reduced expression and concentration of NMDAR2B protein, pathological damage to neurons in the hippocampus, decreased number of Nissl bodies, markedly reduced dendritic spine density, damaged synaptic structures with decreased synaptic vesicles. Following fluoxetine intervention, these conditions showed varying degrees of recovery. Correlation analysis revealed that the cognitive and learning abilities of rats were impaired, accompanied by a significant decrease in dendritic spine density and a decline in the expression of the NMDAR2B protein.
Conclusions
Fluoxetine may exert neuroprotective effects by regulating the expression of NMDAR2B protein in the hippocampus, thereby improving the cognitive function of depressed rats.
Reliability and Validity of The Turkish Version of The Trust in Physician Scale in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: BAŞGÖZ Bilgin Bahadır , ÇETİN Mustafa , KÖKER Gökhan , SOLMAZ İhsan , YILDIRIM Mehmet Serdar , NAHARCI Mehmet İlkin
Published: November 2024

Background
Trust is at the core of the patient-physician relationship. The Trust in Physician Scale (TPS) was specifically developed to measure such interpersonal trust and has high validity and reliability. In this study, we aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Turkish TPS (TPS-TR) among community-dwelling older adults.
Methods
This prospective study enrolled community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older. The TPS-TR and other scales and questionnaires of generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale (GAD-7), patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and multidimensional trust in health care systems scale (MTHCSS) subscale-1 “trust in health care providers” were administered to all participants. We assessed the internal consistency, item-total correlations, temporal stability, and criterion-related and convergent validity of TPS-TR.
Results
The study included 230 individuals. TPS-TR demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.866) and remarkable test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.903). The lowest item-to-total correlation was observed for item 5, with a value of 0.375, which was also considered acceptable (> 0.20). TPS-TR was strongly correlated with the MTHCSS subscale-1 (p < 0.001), suggesting high criterion-related validity. TPS-TR showed a negative correlation with the presence of depressive symptoms (p = 0.002), whereas no correlation between the presence of anxiety (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
The results of our study showed that the TPS-TR has high reliability and validity in measuring the interpersonal trust of community-dwelling older adults in their physicians.
Direct Coupling Analysis and the Attention Mechanism
Authors: Caredda Francesco , Pagnani Andrea
Published: November 2024

Proteins are involved in nearly all cellular functions, encompassing roles in transport, signaling, enzymatic activity, and more. Their functionalities crucially depend on their complex three-dimensional arrangement. For this reason, being able to predict their structure from the amino acid sequence has been and still is a phenomenal computational challenge that the introduction of AlphaFold solved with unprecedented accuracy. However, the inherent complexity of AlphaFold's architectures makes it challenging to understand the rules that ultimately shape the protein's predicted structure. This study investigates a single-layer unsupervised model based on the attention mechanism. More precisely, we explore a Direct Coupling Analysis (DCA) method that mimics the attention mechanism of several popular Transformer architectures, such as AlphaFold itself. The model's parameters, notably fewer than those in standard DCA-based algorithms, can be directly used for extracting structural determinants such as the contact map of the protein family under study. Additionally, the functional form of the energy function of the model enables us to deploy a multi-family learning strategy, allowing us to effectively integrate information across multiple protein families, whereas standard DCA algorithms are typically limited to single protein families. Finally, we implemented a generative version of the model using an autoregressive architecture, capable of efficiently generating new proteins in silico.
Neural Dynamics of Deception: Insights from fMRI studies of Brain States
Authors: Jiang Weixiong , Li Lin , Xia Yulong , Farooq Sajid , Li Gang , Li Shuaiqi , Xu Jinhua , He Sailing , Huang Shoujun , Yuan Jing , Kong Dexing
Published: November 2024

Deception, a complex human behavior, demands greater cognitive engagement than honest responses. Recent studies have shown that dynamic brain states can rapidly shift in response to external stimuli and cognitive demands, offering insights into the brain's temporal and spatial dynamics. However, the specific brain state dynamics associated with deception remain unclear. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the brain states associated with lie-telling, inverse-telling, and truth-telling, focusing on their dynamic attributes and spatial patterns to better understand the cognitive mechanisms underlying deception. We identified six representative brain states and analyzed their dynamic attributes across these tasks. Notably, two distinct states—termed "truth-preferred" and "lie-preferred"—exhibited significant differences in fractional occupancy and average dwelling time. The truth-preferred state showed higher occupancy and dwelling time during truth-telling, while the lie-preferred state demonstrated these characteristics during lie-telling. Using the average z-score BOLD signals of these two states, we applied generalized linear models (GLM) with elastic net regularization, achieving a classification accuracy of 88.46%, with a sensitivity of 92.31% and a specificity of 84.62% in distinguishing deception from truth-telling. Our findings revealed representative brain states associated with lie-telling, inverse-telling, and truth-telling, particularly highlighting two brain states specifically associated with truthful and deceptive behaviors. These results suggest that the spatial characteristics and dynamic attributes of certain brain states may serve as biomarkers of cognitive engagement in deceptive tasks.