bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
40-Years Outcome of Old-School Non-Surgical Endodontic Treatment: Practice-based Retrospective Evaluation
Authors: Frankenberger Roland , Becker Stephan , Beck-Broichsitter Benedicta , Albrecht-Hass Susanne , Behrens Charlotte J. , Roggendorf Matthias J. , Koch Andreas
Published: December 2023

(1) Background: Non-surgical endodontic treatment has been repeatedly shown to be clinically successful, however, clinical data are scarce. This practice-based retrospective clinical study aimed to investigate endodontic outcome over 40 years and to identify relevant factors from clinical protocols. (2) Methods: Two experienced dental practitioners in two different private dental practices treated 174 patients with 243 teeth from 1969 to 1993. After obturation, either a new restoration (amalgam, resin composite, glass-ionomer cement), or re-cementation of pre-existing prosthetic restorations or its renewal followed. Metal posts (operator A) or screws (operator B) were inserted when indicated. The primary outcome (tooth survival) was achieved when the endodontically treated tooth was in situ, painless and in full function. Secondary outcome was to investigate the impact of potential prognostic factors on survival rates. (3) Results: Overall mean 40-years survival was 56.1% of all treated teeth after 40 years of clinical service resulting in an annual failure rate of 1.1%. Most investigated clinical factors (Jaw, tooth position, number of intracanal dressings, post/screw placement, sex) had no significant influence on survival. Among postendodontic restorations, resin composite was advantageous. (4) Conclusions: Even with materials and techniques from the 1970’s and 1980’s, successful root canal treatment was achievable. Except postendodontic restorations, most of the evaluated factors had no significant influence on clinical long-term survival of root-canal treated teeth.
Microstructure Evolution during High-Pressure Torsion in a 7xxx Series Al-Zn-Mg-Zr Alloy
Authors: Ahmed Anwar Qasim , Olasz Dániel , Bobruk Elena V. , Valiev Ruslan Z. , Chinh Nguyen Q.
Published: December 2023

A homogenized, supersaturated Al-Zn-Mg-Zr alloy was processed by severe plastic deformation (SPD) using high-pressure torsion (HPT) technique for different revolutions at room temperature to get ultrafine-grained (UFG) microstructure. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the UFG samples were then studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as by tensile and hardness measurements. Emphasis was placed on the effect of shear strain on the evolution of microstructure of the investigated alloy. Experimental results have shown a very interesting evolution of the decomposed microstructure in a wide range of shear strains imposed by HPT. While the global properties, such as the average grain size (~200 nm) and hardness (~2.2 GPa) appeared unchanged, the local microstructure was continuously transformed. After 1 turn of HPT, the decomposed UFG structure contains relatively large precipitates inside grains. In the sample processed by 5 turns in HPT, segregation of Zn atoms into grain boundaries (GBs) can also be observed. After 10 turns, more Zn atoms have segregated into GBs and only smaller size precipitates can be observed inside grains. The intensive segregation of solute atoms into GBs may significantly affect the ductility of the materials, leading to its ultralow-temperature superplasticity. Our findings pave the way for achieving advanced microstructural and mechanical properties in nanostructured metals and alloys by engineering their precipitation and segregation by means of applying different HPT regimes.
Insights into the Pathogenic Mechanisms and the Control Strat-Egies of Anthracnose in Lupins – A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Samad Samia , Gentzbittel Laurent , Bondarenko Ekaterina , Rickauer Martina , Volkova Polina , Ben Cécile
Published: December 2023

Anthracnose stands as the primary obstacle to lupin cultivation, impeding development despite the considerable agronomic, ecological, and economic potential of such legume crops. This review explores recent efforts to unravel the complexities of anthracnose in domesticated lupins, focusing on both the plant perspective and the causative pathogenic agent, Colletotrichum lupini. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies has yielded crucial insights into various facets of this devastating disease, encompassing plant and pathogen biology, genetic and molecular regulations of the interaction, fungal diversity and population dynamics, and screening of plant genetic resources for anthracnose resistance. The lack of effective disease control measures, relying primarily on the use of disease-free seeds, highlights the need to develop anthracnose-resistant varieties. However, challenges arise from the intricacy of lupin's response to the disease, influenced by polygenic inheritance, in spite of loci with major effects, and environmental factors. The slow pace of genetic improvement underscores the need for more efficient breeding processes, including biotechnological approaches. This review offers a comprehensive overview of current progress and knowledge gaps, stressing the urgent need to further enhance understanding of C. lupini pathogenic mechanisms and lupin‘s resistance. Integrating advanced technologies and accelerated research efforts is paramount for achieving efficient disease management and sustainable lupin cultivation in the face of anthracnose challenges.
Bisphenols in Aquatic Products From South China: Implications for Human Exposure
Authors: Chen Yinhai , Chen Xiurong , Lin Wenchi , Chen Jinghong , Zhu Yuejun , Guo Zhanghong
Published: December 2023

The ingestion of contaminated aquatic products presents a potential risk for human exposure to bisphenols (BPs) residues. Nevertheless, there is little empirical research on this topic. To fill the current data gap, this study used stochastic sampling to gather 245 representative samples of aquatic products from local markets in Shenzhen. The samples comprised eight species and fell into three aquatic product categories: fish, crustaceans, and bivalves. A total of eight BPs were detected from aquatic products, namely, bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol AP (BPAP), bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol P (BPP), bisphenol Z (BPZ), and bisphenol F (BPF). All BPs were detected in aquatic products, except for BPAF, indicating pervasive contamination by BPs in aquatic products. BPS demonstrated the highest detection rate both before and after enzymatic hydrolysis, whereas BPAP exhibited the lowest detection rate before enzymatic hydrolysis, and BPB displayed the lowest detection rate after enzymatic hydrolysis. The concentration difference before and after enzymatic hydrolysis proved to be statistically significant. Moreover, 49%-96% of BPs in aquatic products were found in the combined state, underscoring the essentiality of conducting detections on aquatic product samples following enzymatic hydrolysis. While the health risks associated with ingesting BPs residues through aquatic product consumption were found to be minimal for residents at risk of exposure, the results suggest the necessity for more stringent regulations governing the consumption of aquatic products.
Global Historical Megatsunamis Catalog (GHMCat)
Authors: Ferrer Mercedes , González-de-Vallejo Luis I.
Published: December 2023

A Global Historical Megatsunami Catalog (GHMCat) is presented, including all the events documented to date. The oldest event is from 1674 the Santorini event, ~3600 BP, is considered a particular case, and the most recent is from 2020. Although there is no formal definition of the term megatsunami, it is usually associated to the maximum height or runup reached by the waves when hitting the coast. Here we adopt this criterion and define a megatsunami when the wave reaches a height of 40 m or more. The catalog is initially based on tsunamis that meet this condition from the two existing Global Historical Tsunami Databases (GHTDs). Then, each of the events have been researched for its available references including earliest in order to verify the data, mainly on the maximum height of the waves and their causes. After a comprehensive review of published or on-line literature on historical tsunamis, including regional and local catalogs, papers, books, studies, reports and other available references, some of the oldest events have been ruled out. On the other hand, the literature review has also led to include in the catalog some new megatsunamis not included in the GHTDs. The global catalog contains 37 events from 1674 to 2023, 11 of which are either not included in the GHTDs or included with (erroneous) wave heights <40 m. All of them are described and characterized as far as can be gathered within the limitations of the scope of a global catalog and the available information on each historical case. The analysis of recorded historical megatsunamis shows that virtually all have been originated by large landslides, most of them subaerial landslides, with an unusual frequency of events in certain glaciated areas of Alaska and Norway, mainly in the first decades of the 20th century. In contrast, it is worth noting the small number of megatsunamis caused by submarine landslides or associated with volcanic explosions.
A Method for Developing Fragility Curves for Soil Liquefaction Consistent with the Seismic Hazard Using Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Huang Fu-Kuo , Wang Grace S.
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study is to present a method for developing fragility curves for soil liquefaction that are consistent with the seismic hazard using Monte Carlo simulation. This method can account for all the uncertainties and variabilities of the input parameters. The seismic parameters of earthquake magnitude (M) and the associated peak ground acceleration (PGA) are considered together for the liquefaction assessment. The liquefaction potential and damages obtained by this method are more realistic. A case study is performed using data from a sand-boil site in Yuanlin, Changhua county, where liquefaction occurred during the Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan in 1999. The results show that the liquefaction potential index, IL, the post-liquefaction settlement, St, and the liquefaction probability index, PW, are all suitable parameters for evaluating the liquefaction damages. The fragility curves for soil liquefaction developed by this method can support the performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) approach, provide guidance for liquefaction evaluation to the ‘Taiwan Earthquake Loss Estimation System’-TELES, and serve as a basis for scenario simulation and an earthquake early warning system for liquefaction damages.
The Duality Principle for Multidimensional Optional Semimartingales
Authors: Aminian Shahrokhabadi Mahdieh , Melnikov Alexander , Pak Andrey
Published: December 2023

In option pricing, we often deal with options whose payoffs depend on multiple factors such as foreign exchange rates, stocks, etc. Usually, it leads to a knowledge of the joint distributions and complicated integration procedures. The paper develops an alternative approach that converts the option pricing problem to a dual one and presents a solution to the problem in the optional semimartingale setting. The paper contains several examples which illustrate results in terms of the parameters of models and options.
Trypanocidal Activity of Compounds Isolated From Parthenium incanum Kunth
Authors: Hernández-Marín David Alejandro , Castro-Rios Rocío , Chavez-Montes Abelardo , Salas-Báez Karla Daniela , Chávez-Gómez Rosa Isela , Muñoz-Ortega Martín Humberto , Sánchez-García Eduardo
Published: December 2023

Parthenium incanum (Mariola) is used in Mexico to treat stomach and liver disorders. Reports have shown that the genus Parthenium contains biologically active metabolites. This work aimed to isolate and identify biologically active compounds with trypanocidal activity. The extracts were obtained through static maceration and extraction with successive reflux using different solvents. After that, they were fractionated with column chromatography, and the obtained fractions were compared by TLC; similar fractions were pooled and concentrated. A bioguided assay was performed with S. aureus ATCC 25923, using agar diffusion techniques and bioautography to determine preliminary biological activity. Active fractions were obtained and purified from a preparative TLC plate. The obtained compounds were identified as parthenin and coronopolin by TLC, FT-IR, and HPLC-MS. Finally, they were evaluated against the Ninoa strain of Trypanosoma cruzi, obtaining an IC50 of up to 45±2.5 ppm. It was concluded that P. incanum contains compounds with trypanocidal activity.
Electrical Properties at Multi Frequencies for Analysis of Physical and Anatomical Properties of Fast-Growing Standing Teak Trees at Various Ages
Authors: Agustiningrum Dyah Ayu , Siregar Iskandar Zulkarnaen , Damayanti Ratih , Taruno Warsito Purwo , Nugraha Harisma , Karlinasari Lina
Published: December 2023

Fast-growing teak is widely cultivated in Indonesia to address the supply and demand of teak trees. However, efforts still need to be made to evaluate the condition of standing teak trees during their growth period. Studies on nondestructive testing (NDT) of wood based on electrical properties through dielectric spectroscopy (DS) are recently being developed, especially for standing tree evaluation. The study aimed to analyze the dielectric value of a fast-growing standing teak tree at frequency ranges 250 kHz – 60 MHz and to understand the relationships between physical and anatomical properties. Dielectric spectroscopy data were collected directly on the trees 4, 5, and 7 years old using a capacitance measurement system. Meanwhile, physical and anatomical samples were taken using a Ø 0.5 cm increment borer. The results showed that fiber length (FL), lumen diameter (LD), and fiber wall thickness (FWT) were significantly different at each tree age. This research found the optimal dielectric frequency to discriminate the wood properties in standing trees. There is a weak relationship (R= 0.2) in predicting the anatomical wood properties, while moderate to strong relationships (R= 0.4 to R= 0.8) are found in predicting wood density based on the selected frequency and moisture content variables. Further analyses and data processing can be improved by finding significant variables in the capacitance measurement system.
Optical Imaging Using Coded Aperture Correlation Holography (COACH) With PSF of Spatial-Structured Longitudinal Light Beams – A Study Review
Authors: Rosen Joseph , Anand Vijayakumar
Published: December 2023

Spatial-structured longitudinal light beams are optical fields sculpted in three-dimensional (3D) space by diffractive optical elements. These beams have been recently suggested for use in im-proving several imaging capabilities, such as 3D imaging, enhancing image resolution, engineering the depth of field, and sectioning 3D scenes. All these imaging tasks are performed using coded aperture correlation holography systems. Each system designed for a specific application is characterized by a point spread function of a different spatial-structured longitudinal light beam. This article reviews the topic of applying certain structured light beams for optical imaging.
Phase Change Materials (PCM) As A Passive System in The Opaque Building Envelope: A Simulation-Based Analysis
Authors: Aghoei Mojtaba Mousazadeh , Astanbous Atieh , Khaksar Reza Yeganeh , Moezzi Reza , Behzadian Kourosh , Annuk Andres , Gheibi Mohammad
Published: December 2023

The energy crisis is currently a major topic in scientific and managerial discussions in the building and construction industry. While employing low-cost strategies for reducing energy usage is beneficial for principals and decision-makers, the primary purpose of this study is to recommend the use of phase change materials (PCM) to improve cooling and heating load management in buildings. In order to accomplish this, the study applies design-builder simulations to a developing country case study. The results indicate that integrating PCM in buildings can reduce energy usage by around 6 percent. Although this value may be lower than other techniques, it is nevertheless important for reaching green building goals in both developed and developing nations. The case study, which takes place in a four-season region, demonstrates the significant potential of the PCM system for both cooling and heating energy management. In addition, the reciprocal performance improvement of PCMs is a remarkable characteristic, especially when contrasted to some conventional systems that focus on a single energy management objective in buildings. Lastly, it should be underlined that the suggested platform is consistent with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy Targets).
Complete chloroplast genomes of Microula sikkimensis and comparative analyses with related species from Boraginaceae
Authors: Gao Yunqing , Chen Zhenjiang , Li Xiuzhang , Malik Kamran , Li Chunjie
Published: December 2023

The present study provides a detailed analysis of the chloroplast genome of Microula sikkimensis. The genome was consisted of altogether 149,428bp and distinct regions, including large single-copy (81329bp), small single-copy (17261bp), and inverted repeat (25419bp). The genome contained 112 genes, including 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes, some exhibited duplication in the IR region. The chloroplast genome displayed different GC content across regions, with the IR region exhibiting the highest. Codon usage analysis and the identification of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) offer valuable genetic markers. Comparative analysis with other Boraginaceae species highlighted conservation and diversity in coding and noncoding regions. Phylogenetic analysis placed M. sikkimensis within the Boraginaceae family, revealing its distinct relationship with specific species.
A Two-Stage Attention Based Hierarchical Transformer for Remaining Useful Life Prediction
Authors: Fan Zhengyang , Li Wanru , Chang Kuo-Chu
Published: December 2023

Accurate estimation of Remaining Useful Life (RUL) for aircraft engines is essential for ensuring safety and uninterrupted operations in the aviation industry. Numerous investigations have leveraged the success of attention-based Transformer architecture in sequence modeling tasks, particularly in its application to RUL prediction. These studies primarily focus on utilizing onboard sensor readings as input predictors. While various Transformer-based approaches have demonstrated improvement in RUL predictions, their exclusive focus on temporal attention within multivariate time series sensor readings, without considering sensor-wise attention, raises concerns about potential inaccuracies in RUL predictions. To address this concern, our paper proposes a novel solution in the form of a two-stage attention based hierarchical transformer (STAR) frame-work. This approach incorporates a two-stage attention mechanism, systematically addressing both temporal and sensor-wise attentions. Furthermore, we enhance the STAR RUL prediction framework by integrate hierarchical encoder-decoder structures to capture valuable information across different time scales. By conducting extensive numerical experiments with the CMAPSS datasets, we demonstrate that our proposed STAR framework significantly outperforms current state-of-the-art models for RUL prediction.
Mídias e tecnologias na educação: COVID-19 e a lógica de mercado
Authors: Santos Rodrigo de Souza , Mezzaroba Cristiano
Published: December 2023

Neste ensaio objetivamos refletir acerca da entrada das mídias e tecnologias na educação a partir da pandemia do vírus Sars-Cov-2 no Brasil, observando as tecnologias como mercadorias que adentram o cenário educacional sem uma real preocupação com o aprendizado e com uma formação humana mais ampla, reflexiva, crítica e cidadã. Assim, mediante a realização de uma pesquisa do tipo bibliográfica, visualizamos que as tecnologias se constituem como verdadeiros “fetiches” do contemporâneo, como mercadorias (físicas e simbólicas) que atualmente estão imersas no cenário educacional e os professores(as) necessitam estar preparados(as) para lidar com este cenário tecnológico/midiático, que as considerem não apenas como simples instrumentos técnicos, e sim, como elementos presentes e constituintes da cultura humana.
Respon Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Kedelai dengan Aplikasi Pupuk Organik dan Rhizobium
Authors: Fransiska Nadia , Lestari Tri A , Santi Ratna
Published: December 2023

Soybean are basic need and the main source of vegetable protein for most of the Indonesian population. Organic matter and Rhizobium are improvement efforts to optimize soybean growth between durian plants. The purpose of the research was to determine the use of Rhizobium and organic fertilizers on the growth and yield of soybeans between durian plants in LubukKelik village, Bangka. The experiment used split plot and RAL design. The main plot was Rhizobium applications consist of without Rhizobium (P0) and Rhizobium application (P1). The sub plot was the use of organic fertilizers, which consists of chicken manure (K1) and empty oil palm fruit bunches compost (K2). The results showed that the types of organic fertilizer application not significantly affected soybeans growth dan yield in between durian plants. Empty fruit bunches compost provided the best growth on soybean plants. The best yield of soybean in between durian plants are shown by empty fruit bunches treatment. Rhizobium application significantly affected growth parameters of soybean and effective root nodules. Soybean growth parameters with Rhizobium application was better than without Rhizobium application. Interaction between organic fertilizers and Rhizobium significantly not affected soybeans growth dan yield. Combination of empty oil palm fruit bunches compost with Rhizobium is treatments that provide the best growth of soybean.
Response of Growth and Production of Butternut Squash (Cucurbita moschata) to Application of Mycorrhizae and Quail Manure
Authors: Novita Aisar , Hasibuan Miller Saputra , Lubis Efrida , Lestami Anggria , Ketaren Bunga Raya
Published: December 2023

The demand for butternut squash which continues to increase every year makes farmers try to increase their production, one of which is by applying biological and organic fertilizers. This study aims to determine the response of growth and production of butternut squash to the application of mycorrhiza and quail manure. This study used a randomized block design with 2 factors and 3 replications. The first factor was the application of mycorrhiza which consisted of 3 levels, namely: 0, 2.5, and 5 g/plant, while the second factor was quail manure which consisted of 4 levels, namely: 0, 1, 2 and 3 kg/plot. The results showed that the application of mycorrhizae had a significant effect on fruit length and fruit weight. The application of quail manure had a significant effect on increasing fruit weight. The interaction of mycorrhizae and quail manure did not significantly affect all observed parameters. Although it had no significant effect, the application of mycorrhiza and quail fertilizer was proven to increase the growth and production of butternut squash compared to the control (without the application of mycorrhiza and quail manure). The combination of mycorrhizal 2.5 g/plant and quail manure 1 kg/plot could increase butternut squash production.
Распространение вариантов вируса SARS-COV-2, вызывающих интерес (VOI) и находящихся под наблюдением (VUM), на основе количества их геномов, депонированных в базу данных GISAID за неделю с 23 по 29 декабря 2023 г.
Authors: Дмитриева Людмила , Краснов Ярослав , Гусева Наталья , Чумачкова Елена , Осина Наталья , Зимирова Анастасия , Иванова Александра , Карнаухов Игорь , Караваева Татьяна , Щербакова Светлана , Кутырев Владимир
Published: December 2023

В обзоре представлена информация по циркулирующим в настоящее время вариантам вируса SARS-COV-2 Omicron вызывающих интерес (VOI) и находящихся под наблюдением (VUM), геномные последовательности которых размещены в международной базе данных GISAID за неделю с 23 по 29 декабря 2023 г.
Methyltransferase SETD4 mediates macrophages proliferation through EGFR signaling
Authors: Wu Caixia , Wu Linxu , Ha Yanping , Zou Yuan , Shi Kaijia , Xing Jingci , Zhao Yangyang , Guo Junli , Shen Zhihua , Jie Wei
Published: December 2023

This study explored the effects of SET domain-containing protein (SETD)4, a histone lysine methyltransferase, on the general biological functions of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). BMMs from SETD4 knockout (KO) mice exhibited significant inhibition of monomethylation, dimethylation or trimethylation of histones H3K4, H3K36, H3K79 and H4K20; significant enhancement of the proliferation, EdU-positive cell ratio, Ki67 mRNA levels, and ability to form vascular structures; and attenuation of cell migration ability. After induction by lipopolysaccharide + interferon-γ or interleukin (IL)-4, a majority of the markers that were tested, including pro-inflammatory IL1β, IL6, iNOS and TNF-α and anti-inflammatory Fizz-1, Arginase 1 and Mannose receptor C-type 1 were all downregulated, while TGF-β1 was upregulated. The phosphorylation pathway profiling arrays focused on the MAPK, AKT, JAK/STAT, NF-κB, and TGF-β1 signaling pathways were performed, and the results revealed 32 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), six that were upregulated and 26 that were downregulated in BMMs from SETD4KO mice versus wild type mice. These DEPs were involved in 1365 terms from the GO and 137 signals from the KEGG database. Inhibition of the most significantly upregulated protein EGFR(Ser1070), by CI-1033, an inhibitor for pan EGFR significantly reduced p-EGFR(Ser1070), and was accompanied by a decrease in the cell viability of BMMs, particularly in the SETD4 KO cells. This is the first study to implicate the involvement of SETD4-mediated EGFR signaling in the proliferation of BMMs. SETD4 mediates the methylation of multiple histone lysine sites in BMMs, in turn affecting cell biology.
Exploring Diversity and Time-aware Recommendations: A LSTM-DNN Model with Bidirectional DTW Algorithm
Authors: Li Te , Chen Liqiong , Sun Huaiying , Hou Mengxia , Lei Yunjie , Zhi Kaiwen
Published: December 2023

With the advent of the Web 3.0 era, the number and types of data in the network have sharply increased, and the application scenarios of recommendation algorithms have also been expanded to a certain extent. Location recommendation has gradually become one of the popular application scenarios in recommendation algorithms. Traditional recommendation algorithms not only ignore the time attribute of data when recommending information to users, but also blindly pursue the recommendation accuracy, which will cause certain "information cocoon room" problems. Therefore, this article treats user historical data as a time series and proposes a LSTM-DNN model based on the bidirectional DTW algorithm. Firstly, in response to the issue of different users consuming different amounts of information, this article proposes a bidirectional DTW algorithm to calculate the similarities between different users. Secondly, this article supplements the user dataset from three perspectives: "utilization" of information, "exploration", and spatiotemporal attributes of data, which alleviates the problem of data sparsity and cold start in the dataset to a certain extent. Moreover, it effectively enhances the diversity of recommendation results. Finally, this paper constructs a LSTM-DNN neural network to dynamically obtain user interests and preferences, and proposes a new metric CSSD to measure the diversity of algorithm recommendation results. Experiments have shown that the model effectively enhances the diversity of recommendation results while ensuring recommendation accuracy.
Integrity Validation of Railway Level Crossing Using Collision Risk Assessment
Authors: Grewal Raj , Kumar Lalit , Pandey Babita , Kumar Aditya
Published: December 2023

Level crossing is identified as a critical and weak point in rail infrastructure. The safety of railway crossing operation is mainly ensured by interlocking which controls (maintain) the sets and locks of train route. However, the error in this process leads to failing to maintain the integrity of the system which will break safety. Therefore, it is essential to ensure the integrity (i.e., collision-free operations) of the interlocking mechanism, which is being done by the railway interlock control system. To ensure the integrity of this system, this work proposed a novel mechanism to ensure the correctness of the tasks (i.e., collision-free operations) performed by this control system. The effectiveness of the mechanism is validated on the railway interlocking system. This analysis helps to provide a solution to diminish the risk incurred.
Personalized, interdisciplinary patient pathway for cross-sector care of multimorbid patients (eliPfad trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lindemann Christoph Heinrich , Burst Volker , Völker Linus Alexander , Brähler Sebastian , Simic Dusan , Becker Ingrid , Hellmich Martin , Kurscheid Clarissa , Scholten Nadine , Krauspe Ruben , Leibel Kerstin , Stock Stephanie , Brinkkötter Paul
Published: December 2023

• Background:
Multimorbid and frail elderly patients often carry a high burden of treatment. Hospitalization due to the onset of an acute illness can disrupt the fragile balance, resulting in further readmissions after hospital discharge. Current models of care in Germany do not meet the needs of this patient group. Rather lack of coordination and integration of care combined with a lack of interdisciplinary approaches result in fragmented and inadequate care and increase the burden of treatment even more.
• Methods:
eliPfad is a randomized controlled trial conducted in 6 hospitals in Germany. Multimorbid elderly patients aged 65 or older are randomly assigned to the intervention or intervention group. Patients in the intervention group receive the eliPfad intervention additional to standard care. The core components of eliPfad are:
• Early assessment of patients’ individual treatment burden and support through a specially trained case manager
• Involvement of the patient's general practitioner (GP) right from the beginning of the hospital stay
• Preparation of an individual, cross-sectoral treatment plan through the interdisciplinary hospital team with the involvement of the patient’s GP
• Establishment of a cross-sectoral electronic patient record (e-ePA) for documentation and cross-sectoral exchange
• Support/Promote patient adherence
• Tailored early rehabilitation during the hospital stay, which is continued at home
• Close-tele-monitoring of medically meaningful vital parameters through the use of tablets, digital devices, and personal contacts in the home environment
The intervention period begins in the hospital and continues 6 weeks after discharge. Patients in the control group will be treated according to standard clinical care and discharged according to current discharge management. The primary aim is the prevention/reduction of readmissions in the first 6 months after discharge. In addition, the impact on health-related quality of life, the burden of treatment, survival, self-management, medication prescription, health literacy, patient-centered care, cost-effectiveness, and process evaluation will be examined.
Discussion:
If eliPfad leads to fewer readmissions, proves (cost-)effective, and lowers the treatment burden, it should be introduced as a new standard of care in the German healthcare system.
Trial registration:
The trial was registered in the German Clinical Trials Registry (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS)) on 08/14/2023 under the ID DRKS00031500 (http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12345678).
Green synthesis of hollow and spiny gold and silver bimetallic nanotubes for catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol
Authors: Ma Yuanqing , Ou Quanhong , Tang Junqi
Published: December 2023

Due to the small size of the hollow and spiny gold and silver (Au-Ag) bimetallic nanotubes and their special structure with high aspect ratio, large specific surface area, and quantum size effect, they show great potential for applications in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), catalysis, sensors, optoelectronics and biomedicine. Therefore, it is essential to synthesize Au-Ag bimetallic nanotubes with multispike-like shape and apply them in the field of catalysis. In the present study, silver nanowires were used as sacrificial templates, Galvanic replacement reaction was carried out in chlorauric acid solution in the presence of PVP, and hollow and spiny Au-Ag bimetallic nanotubes (HS AuAgNTs) were prepared. It was shown that the reaction time and the amount of chloroauric acid had a significant effect on the morphology and size of the nanotubes. The rapid catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol (4- nitrophenol, 4-NP) to p-aminophenol (4-aminophenol, 4-AP) using HS AuAgNTs as catalysts in the presence of excess sodium borohydride suggests that the HS AuAgNTs have a promising potential for catalytic applications.
White matter microstructural changes vary along the pain cycle in episodic menstrual migraine without aura
Authors: Fouto Ana R. , Nunes Rita G. , Guadilla Irene , Ruiz-Tagle Amparo , Esteves Inês , Caetano Gina , Silva Nuno A. , Vilela Pedro , Gil-Gouveia Raquel , Figueiredo Patrícia
Published: December 2023

Background: Migraine is a neurological disorder exhibiting a cyclic pattern of clinical manifestations. Although both structural and functional brain changes have been reported in comparison with healthy controls, it is not clear to what extent these vary across the migraine cycle. Here, we present a longitudinal study of menstrual migraine using diffusion MRI (dMRI) to investigate changes in white matter (WM) microstructure through the different phases of the pain cycle.
Methods: Multi-shell dMRI data was acquired in 14 patients with low-frequency episodic menstrual migraine without aura, in the preictal, ictal, postictal and interictal phases, and 15 healthy controls in matching phases of the menstrual cycle. Following data pre-processing, maps of the diffusion parameters fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), mean kurtosis (MK), axial kurtosis (AK) and radial kurtosis (RK) were obtained and compared across groups in each phase of the cycle. Subsequently, we conducted a region-of-interest analysis to determine whether changes in the diffusion parameters of specific WM tracts in patients, compared to controls, varied across different phases of the migraine cycle.
Results: Patients showed a pronounced reduction in AD relative to controls across various brain regions, with weaker reductions also found in FA and MD, and increases found in MK and AK, mostly in the interictal but also in the ictal phases. Interestingly, AD and FA changes relative to controls varied across the migraine cycle in specific WM tracts. Specifically, the AD reduction observed interictally returned to baseline levels (comparable to those of the control group) during peri-ictal phases in the uncinate fasciculus, anterior corona radiata, posterior thalamic radiations, superior longitudinal fasciculus and cingulum tracts. In contrast, the body of the corpus callosum and posterior limb of the internal capsule tracts exhibited normal FA in the interictal phase, but this parameter decreased in the ictal phase.
Conclusions: This is the first study documenting transient and fast variations in diffusion parameters of specific WM tracts across the migraine cycle. Microstructural changes in the brain of female migraine patients in different phases of the migraine cycle occur which cannot be explained by their hormonal status.
Role of foliar application of Humic acid on Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) cultivars under Salinity stress
Authors: Patankar Abhiruchi Vijay , Nigam Bhavna , Chaudhary Indra Jeet
Published: December 2023

Higher salinity affects 20% of farmed land and 33% of irrigated land area globally. These affect causes food crises worldwide. Humic acid provide protection against stress and promote the plant growth and productivity. Therefore, this study focuses on dose response relationship between exogenous applied humic acid and salt stress on Mung (Vigna radiata L.) cultivars. Resultants the application of humic acid under salt stress improved the plant growth and yield of selected cultivars. The higher salinity (100 ppm) caused higher effect on both selected cultivars than 50ppm salt as compared to control plants. While applied protectants 40%HA with 50 ppm salt is more effective than 40% HA with 100ppm salt in both selected cultivars. Based on biomass and yield reduction Pusa Baisakhi is least sensitive to salt than ML-131. Study also concise that salt stress depends on growth stages of plant and higher biomass reduced at 20 DAS in cultivar Pusa Baisakhi (-11.15%) and at 40 DAS in cultivar ML-131 (-25.62%). The higher production of yield due to application of humic acid was seen (65.95%) in cultivar ML-131 than cultivar Pusa Baisakhi (8.54%). Therefore the study promoted that under salt stress conditions humic acid uses as a protectant and cultivar Pusa Baisakhi as a tolerance species will be useful tool for sustainable agriculture.
Survival Analysis of Pressure Injury Images Using Deep Learning: Validating the Potential for Predicting Survival Probabilities
Authors: Jeong Sungmoon , Kim Hyungyu , Kim Hyunbin , Cho Jungrae , Yu Hosang , Kim Sangwook , Ryu Jeong Yeop
Published: December 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze pressure injury images and predict hazard rates using deep learning. It offers a fresh perspective in an underexplored area within pressure injury research.
Methods: This study included 958 patients, and pressure injury images were obtained at the first visit. To use meaningful image features, pre-trained models were employed during the feature ex-traction phase. In the survival prediction phase, these image features were used as inputs for two deep learning-based survival analysis models (DeepSurv, PC-Hazard) and two statistics-based sur-vival analysis models (CoxPH, Piecewise Exponential).
Results: Using the Concordance index to assess survival model performances, we found that the deep learning-based survival analysis models outperformed the statistics-based survival analysis models. Notably, the 'ResNet50 + PC-Hazard' model scored the highest at 0.7636.
Conclusion: We confirmed that the deep learning-based survival analysis models performed better in most cases. This indicates that pressure injury images could act as biomarkers, reinforcing the need for more extensive research.
Hazardous elements in road dust from petrol stations in Rzeszów (Poland) as markers of traffic-related pollution? Application of FP-XRF spectrometry as ‘white analytical technique’ for environmental assessment of hazardous elements in road dust
Authors: Frydrych Adrian , Jurowski Kamil
Published: December 2023

Samples of road dust from petrol stations (n= 20) located in Rzeszów (Podkarpackie, Poland) were analyzed for the finding of potential markers of traffic-related pollution. Level (μg/g) of Mo, U, As, Hg, Th, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, Be, Sr, Zr, Zn, Mn, and Fe was measured using field portable X-ray spectroscopy (FP-XRF) as ‘white analytical technique’. Our research demonstrated for the first time the utility of using PF-XRF for environmental toxicological assessment of road dust at petrol stations. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the tested dust samples provides valuable research material for creating and updating regulations and finding pollution hotspots such as petrol stations. It was possible to find potential markers of traffic-related pollution (e.g., Zr and Fe form of disk brakes or brake pads). Certain elements of the study give ambiguous signals related to fuel distribution and road traffic. They can come from various sources of environmental contamination. The adoption of evidence-based policies to minimize pollution, conserve the environment, and protect the well-being of people living or working near gas stations is anticipated to be aided by these findings for policymakers, regulatory authorities, and stakeholders. The assessment of elemental health risk involved the computation of doses for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metals, as well as the calculation of lifetime average daily doses, or LADD.
Chronological age, changes in DNA methylation, and endogenous hormone levels of explants promote somatic embryogenesis of Euterpe edulis Martius
Authors: de Mello Tamyris , Zanardo Tadeu Ériton Caliman , Silva Tatiane Dulcineia , Costa Joana Silva , Fagundes Débora Pellanda , de Araujo Caroline Palacio , Hegedus Clovis Eduardo Nunes , Anjos Breno Benvindo dos , Schmildt Edilson Romais , Ferreira Adésio Ferreira , Ferreira Márcia Flores da Silva , Lopes José Carlos , Otoni Wagner Campos , Alexandre Rodrigo Sobreira
Published: December 2023

Euterpe edulis Martius is an endangered palm tree native to the Atlantic Forest. As it propagates only with seeds and does not tiller, the tree dies after its highly appreciated palm heart is harvested. In this study, we analyzed the embryogenic response of E. edulis with respect to maturity of the explant and concentration of picloram, an auxin mimetic. Immature fruits were harvested, and their seeds were extracted and germinated in vitro. After 2, 4, 6, and 8 months, the aerial parts of normal seedlings were excised and stem segments were used to induce somatic embryogenesis in the presence of 100, 125, 150, 175, and 200 µM picloram. The number of proembryos, induction rate, explant mass, oxidation, global DNA methylation, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, proline, polyamines, and ultrastructural analysis of cells were assessed. Six-month-old seedling explants achieved the highest number of proembryos and embryogenic induction rate at most picloram concentrations, as well as the highest 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid content, but lowest spermine and putrescine levels. Explants with somatic embryos exhibited lower DNA methylation levels than non-embryogenic calli. Proline content was highest in stem segments of younger seedlings (2-month-old). Despite being asynchronous, maturation with 5 µM abscisic acid was achieved. Therefore, 6-month-old E. edulis seedlings supplemented with 200 µM picloram could be used for ex situ conservation of this endangered species.
Integrating network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental validation to unveil the molecular targets and mechanisms of galangin to treat hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Li Xiaoliang , Zhou Mingyan , Chen Weijia , Sun Jiangbo , Zhao Yihang , Wang Gaoan , Wang Bingshu , Pan Yipeng , Zhang Junqing , Xu Jian
Published: December 2023

Background Galangin, a flavonoid compound, is derived from Alpinia officinarum Hance. Previous studies have shown that galangin can inhibit the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the potential targets and molecular mechanisms of galangin on HCC through network pharmacology, bioinformatics, molecular docking, and experimental in vitro validation.
Methods In this study, network pharmacology was investigated firstly to determine the targets and mechanisms of galangin in the treatment of HCC. AutoDockTools software was used to further simulate and calculate the binding of galangin to core targets.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were conducted in the DAVID database to explore the main biological functions and signaling pathways impacted by galangin intervention. Moreover, bioinformatics was used to analyze the correlation between the differential expressions of galangin's anti-HCC core targets and the survival of HCC patients. Finally, the findings obtained from network pharmacology and bioinformatics were verified in cell experiments.
Results A total of 67 overlapping target genes of galangin and HCC were identified. Through the PPI network analysis, 10 hub genes with the highest degree of freedom, including SRC, ESR1, MMP9, CDK4, CCNB1, MMP2, CDK2, CDK1, CHEK1, and PLK1, were screened and found to be closely related to the decomposition of the extracellular matrix, signal transduction, and the cell cycle, etc. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that galangin exerts an anti-HCC role by affecting various signaling pathways, including the cell cycle, pathways in cancer, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, etc. Molecular docking demonstrated that CCNB1, CDK4, CDK1, and PLK1 had a powerful bond with galangin. Bioinformatics revealed that CCNB1, CDK4, CDK1, and PLK1 were up-regulated in the livers of patients with HCC at both mRNA and protein levels. The in vitro experiment showed that galangin can induce apoptosis of HepG2 and Huh7 cells and inhibit the proliferation of HCC cell. Conclusions Galangin induces apoptosis in HCC cells by blocking the cell cycle at the G0/G1 or G2/M phase through the inhibition of cyclins or mRNA expression.
Reporting of interventional clinical trial results in a French academic center: a survey of completed studies
Authors: Doucet Anne Sophie Alix , VINATIER Constant , Fin Loïc , Léna Hervé , Rangé Hélène , Locher Clara , Naudet Florian
Published: December 2023

Background: The dissemination of clinical trial results is an important scientific and ethical endeavour. This survey of completed interventional studies in a French academic center describes their reporting status.
Methods: We explored all interventional studies sponsored by Rennes University Hospital identified on the French Open Science Monitor which tracks trials registered on EUCTR or clinicaltrials.gov, and provides an automatic assessment of the reporting of results. For each study, we ascertained the actual reporting of results using systematic searches on the hospital internal database, bibliographic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed), and by contacting all principal investigators (PIs). We describe several features (including total budget and numbers of trial participants) of the studies that did not report any results.
Results: The French Open Science Monitor identified 93 interventional studies, among which 10 (11%) reported results. In contrast, our survey identified 36 studies (39%) reporting primary analysis results and an additional 18 (19%) reporting results for secondary analyses (without results for their primary analysis). The overall budget for studies that did not report any results was estimated to be €5,051,253 for a total of 6,735 trial participants. The most frequent reasons for the absence of results reported by PIs were lack of time for 18 (42%), and logistic difficulties (e.g. delay in obtaining results or another blocking factor) for 12 (28%). An association was found between non-publication and negative results (adjusted Odds Ratio = 4.70, 95% Confidence Interval [1.67;14.11]).
Conclusions: Even allowing for the fact that automatic searches underestimate the number of studies with published results, the level of reporting was disappointingly low. This amounts to a waste of trial participants' implication and money. Corrective actions are needed.
Registration: 10.17605/OSF.IO/Q5HCS