bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Anxiety and Depression on the Outcome of Infertility Treatment Among Women in Sudan: a Multi Center Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Abdelseid Hadeel Mohamed Muaid , Awadallah Hiba Yousif Merghani , Ellahawi Alaa Merghani Babiker , Mohammed Hajer Abdalmonem Abdullah , Ali Gadeer Khalil Osman , Ali Rayan Abdo Ibrahim Adam , Ahmed Tarteel Abdelrahim Elobeid , Mohamedalnour Areej Ahmed Ali , Elnour Abdulhay Bushra Mohamed Mohamed , Handady Siddig Omer Mohammed , Osman Suliman
Published: January 2024

Background and objectives: Infertility and its treatment have been linked to psychological distress, and many couples experience significant stress throughout treatment cycles that might affect their relationship. An Ethiopian study indicated that the incidence of infertility-related stress was 92.7% in 2022, which is concerning for couples seeking therapy as they believe that stress may have an impact on the success of their treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the psychological burden on the treatment outcome of infertility among Sudanese women in Khartoum state.
Methods: The study was performed at 4 infertility treatment centers in Khartoum State. Data were collected using an interviewer-structured Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A) for assessment of anxiety level and Beck's depression inventory (BDI) for depression, considering some demographic variables (age, occupation, duration of marriage, annual income, and pregnancy test results). Women who sought infertility treatment were recruited and consented to participate in the study.
Results: One hundred fifty-eight participants were interviewed, majority aged between 31–35 years and 36–40 years of age, with a percentage of 27.2% and 22.2% respectively. Most of the participants (53.8%) were housewives and 85.4% of their annual income was from moderate socio-economical level. Primary infertility causes were found in 57.0% with 36.7% due to male factors, 24.1% due to female factors, only 13.3% due to combined causes, and 25.9% unexplained. No significant association was found between pregnancy tests and other women's demographics and social characteristics, except for the annual income (p = 0.046).
According to BDI, severe depression was found in 13.3% and 8.2% of severe anxiety reported according to Hamilton. However, both anxiety and depression scales had no significant statistical association between pregnant and non-pregnant women (p = 0.462 and p = 0.059, respectively)
Conclusion: Women who faced psychological stress in terms of anxiety or depression do not have a diminished chance to have a baby; however, further research must be done on a larger scale.
Exercise Level and Its Related Factors in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Comorbid Diabetes Mellitus undergoing Chemotherapy（a cross-sectional study）
Authors: Liu Huan , Zhao Huihua , Yang Zhuojun , Gu Yi , Zhang Wen , Zhou Jiao , Yang Yang , Li Haiyan , Zhu Renmin
Published: January 2024

Aim
To investigate the status quo of exercise management as well as its related factors among patients with colorectal cancer comorbid diabetes mellitus to provide reference for clinical exercise intervention programs.
Methods
A cross-sectional study of 124 patients with colorectal cancer comorbid diabetes mellitus who were undergoing chemotherapy in Shanghai from December, 2022 to April, 2023, was undertaken. Two self-made questionnaires were used to investigate the exercise management and its related factors, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the potential related factors.
Results
The mean amount of exercise per week was 3.70 ± 3.50 MET-h/week. The stepwise regression results revealed that exercise level was positively correlated with motor function (r = 0.305, p = 0.001), self-efficacy (r = 0.582, p = 0.000), social support (r = 0.434, p = 0.000), and health behavior change techniques (r = 0.419, p = 0.000).
Conclusion
The current status of exercise management in patients with colorectal cancer comorbid diabetes mellitus during chemotherapy is pessimistic and contradictory. It is urgent to pay attention to the influence of comorbidity on exercise. Sex, adverse reactions of chemotherapy, self-efficacy, motor function and social support have the greatest influence on their level of exercise.
An experimental and theoretical investigation on the hyper- viscoelasticity of polyamide 12 produced by selective laser sintering
Authors: Kadkhodaei Mahmoud , Pawlikowski Marek , Drobnicki Rafał , Domański Janusz
Published: January 2024

Polyamide 12 (PA12) is vastly utilized in many additive manufacturing methods, such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and a better understanding of its mechanical behaviors promotes available knowledge on the behaviors of 3D-printed parts made from this polymer. In this paper, SLS-produced standard tensile samples are studied under monotonic and cyclic tension tests, as well as stress relaxation experiments, and the obtained force-displacement responses are shown to be consistent with a hyper-viscoelastic material model. This finding is also observed in typical pantographic structures produced by the same manufacturing parameters. To propose a constitutive model for predicting these behaviors, the convolution integral of a strain-dependent function and a time-dependent function is developed where the material parameters are determined with the use of both short-term and long-term responses of the specimens. Numerical results of the presented model for standard test samples are shown to be in good agreements with the experimental ones under various loading conditions. To prove the capabilities of the proposed model in studying any SLS-produced part, finite element implementation of the constitutive equations is shown to provide numerical results in agreement with the empirical findings for tensile loading of the 3D-printed pantographic structure.
Improving the Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Two Laser Dyes, Pure Rhodamine B and Methyl Violet by Mixing them
Authors: Ali Fadhel H. , almaamori Mohammed Hamza , Jasim Saad Abbas , K M. Jawad , Hameed Saif H. , Aliwi Karrar k. , Hussein Ammar , Aliwi Muhammad R.
Published: January 2024

The present research include studying the structural ,linear and nonlinear optical properties for two organic laser dyes: Rhodamine B (RB) and Methyl violet (10B) The linear optical properties for all prepared samples have been studied, a study of UV-VIS spectra for different concentrations for each dye dissolved in absolute ethanol solvent, then study of absorption and transmission spectra for all samples. The spectral optical properties of all the prepared samples have been studied using fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed when the concentrations increased the absorbance also increased for the same wavelength. The opposite relationship was observed for transmittance.
Web Scraping as a scientific tool for theoretical reference
Authors: Farias Willian A. S. , Melo Dulce M. A. , Santos Lamara M. dos , de Oliveira Ângelo A. S. , Medeiros Rodolfo L. B. A. , Silva Yuri K. R. O.
Published: January 2024

The use of Web Scraping via Python reveals significant potential for its utilization as a scientific tool for data acquisition, playing a crucial role in constructing the theoretical framework in scientific writing. This study encompasses both the theoretical and practical aspects of the data acquisition process. Initially, the importance of ethics in online data collection is emphasized, respecting the terms of use and privacy regulations established by Nature. Web scraping is explored as an effective technique, supported by the Beautiful Soup and Requests libraries, which automate data extraction responsibly. The application of the Tkinter library for creating user-friendly graphical interfaces is discussed, allowing for more accessible interaction for all users. The relevance of the DataFrame as a structure for handling and analyzing tabular data is also highlighted, along with the strategic choice to save data in Excel format, enhancing accessibility and collaboration, courtesy of the Pandas library. Combined, these elements form a cohesive and ethical approach to web data acquisition and analysis, in harmony with the theoretical framework in scientific writing.
Improving the catalytic properties of xylanase from Alteromones Macleadii H35 through evolution analysis
Authors: Cui Caixia , xu jia , Wu Juntao , Wang Ningning , zhou chenyan
Published: January 2024

Endo-1,4-β-xylanase is considered one of the most important xylanolytic enzymes, and in this study, we aimed to improve the catalytic properties of Alteromones Macleadii xylanase (Xyn ZT-2) using an evolution-guided design approach. Analysis of the amino acid sequence revealed that the amino acids located in close proximity to the active site were highly conserved, with only a few amino acid differences. By introducing various mutations, we were able to modify the catalytic performance of the enzyme. Notably, the A152G mutation resulted in a 9.8-fold increase in activity and a 23.2-fold increase in catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the optimal temperature of A152G was raised to 65°C, which is 20°C higher than that of Xyn ZT-2, and the half-life period of T287S was enhanced by 4.9 times. These findings demonstrate the significance of amino acid evolution in determining the catalytic performance of xylanase. By utilizing an evolution analysis to create a smaller mutation library, we efficiently enhanced the catalytic performance, thus providing a novel strategy for improving enzyme catalytic efficiency.
Digital Mapping of the General Population and Housing Census Based on the Geographical Information System
Authors: CAMARA Mahamadou , WANG Liying , Arouna SOUGANE , Diawara Abdoul , Ze You , LI Yu
Published: January 2024

A census is a process of counting the entire population of a country, territory, or region, and it should be conducted at least once every ten years. Mapping is the first efficient part of the census. This study explores Geographic Information System (GIS) utilization in the context of a digital census mapping project for Mali's fifth general population and habitat census. Integrating GIS in executing this census mapping aims to enhance data collection, mapping, and population enumeration accuracy and efficiency. This paper details the methodology used in this project, data collection tools, digitalization processes, and data transmission to a server. The collected data are then integrated into a GIS. The paper also compares the advantages of digital mapping with the traditional manual method, highlighting the benefits of increased accuracy and quality control. The results include establishing enumeration sections and districts as the basis for census operations and mobile GIS. The National Institute of Statistics established a geodatabase numerical based on GIS. The census mapping has created a geodatabase that contains 25919 enumeration sections and 4431 enumeration districts in 700 municipalities. This research contributes to developing a robust population and habitat census digital mapping methodology.
Genome sequencing, annotation and application of a strain of Microbacterium paraoxydans – a heavy metal hypertolerant and plant growth promoting bacterium
Authors: Mandal Debjani , Das Sadhan Kr. , Adhikari Jishnu , Chatterjee Debashish , Bandyopadhyay Tapas Kumar , Basu Abhishek
Published: January 2024

A heavy metal hypertolerant plant growth promoting bacterium was isolated from arsenic contaminated garden soil of Bhagobangola I block (Murshidabad district). Metagenomic classification identified the bacterial isolate as a member of genus Microbacterium. Taxonomic assessment showed maximum average nucleotide identity (89.99%) with Microbacterium paraoxydans strain DSM 15019. Prokaryotic genome annotation was performed by Prokka, DFAST and RAST. The entire genome consisted of 3365911 bases with 69.90% GC-content. Prokka detected 3216 coding sequences (1461 hypothetical sequences), 3283 genes, 10 miscellaneous RNA, 3 rRNA, 53 tRNA and 1 tmRNA. DFAST detected 3257 coding sequences (1217 hypothetical sequences), 3 rRNA and 53 tRNA. Both Prokka and DFAST failed to detect any CRISPR sequence. RAST could detect 3285 coding sequences and 49 RNAs in the genome. Only 25% (821) of these sequences fell within the subsystem of RAST, which included 789 coding sequences as non-hypothetical and 32 sequences as hypothetical. Genes and Gene clusters responsible for arsenic resistance (arsR, arsB, arsC, acr1, acr2, acr3), other heavy metal (Copper, Manganese, Zinc, etc.) tolerance and plant growth promotion (Auxin biosynthesis, Siderophore mediated iron acquisition, Phosphate and polyphosphate metabolism, Trehalose biosynthesis, etc.) could also be identified in the Microbacterium paraoxydans genome. The heavy metal (arsenic) hypertolerance, bioremediation potential and plant growth promoting nature of the bacterium were confirmed by plate assay, SDDC assay and pot experiments, respectively. The aforementioned traits point towards the probable application of the bacterium as a bioremediation tool and biofertilizer, for reduction of arsenic toxicity and promotion of plant growth.
Assessment of biventricular function in Patients with chronic mountain sickness by cardiac magnetic resonance T1 mapping and feature tracking technique
Authors: Meng Li , Wang Guohui , Bao Haihua , Wu Yousen
Published: January 2024

Objective
Chronic mountain sickness (CMS) is also known as high-altitude maladaptation syndrome[1]. When the more severe stages of this disease, high-altitude pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular enlargement are commonly found. The cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) and T1mapping can analyze quantitatively bi-ventricular strain in CMS patients and facilitate myocardium impairment early in CMS .
Materials and methods
38 individuals including 20 healthy controls and 18 CMS patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with Steady-State Free Precession (SSFP) sequences and T1mapping.Biventricular myocardial function measures and strain variables were acquired after post-processing with the CVI42 tool. Based on T1 and ECV maps acquired using a modified Look Locker inversion recovery approach, the pre/post-enhancemant T1 and ECV values of the biventricles were determined. The parameters linked to the total biventricular systolic strain were assessed using conventional cine images and tissue tracking analytic techniques.
Results
(1) CMR-FT results: Global circumferential strain(GCS), Global radial strain(GRS), and Global longitudinal strain(GLS) were significantly lower in both ventricular in CMS patients than in healthy controls (all p < 0.05). GRS and GCS showed moderate correlation in the left and right ventricles in the CMS group (r = 0.671, p = 0.002; r = 0.597, p = 0.009, respectively) .This shows that their onset time may be earlier than the decline time of left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF). (2) T1 mapping results: For the right ventricle, pre/post enhancement T1 values and ECV were higher in CMS patients than in controls whole native T1 values were 1374.3 ± 157.6ms, vs 1164.6 ± 60.1ms;whole post T1 values were 551.7 ± 42.2ms vs 485.1 ± 17.2ms and ECV values were 34.2 ± 6.8% vs 25.2 ± 3.6%; the differences were significant (p < 0.05). The results show that their onset time may be earlier than the decline time of left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF), indicating that myocardium is impaired in CMS.
Conclusions
For the quantitative evaluation of biventricular strain parameters and ventricular myocardial fibrosis in patients with CMS, CMR-FT and mapping procedures are practicable and repeatable. They may also efficiently identify early biventricular damage in individuals with CMS.
Recurrent, ICD-associated L. monocytogenes bacteremia with septic pulmonary embolisms over a 3-year period
Authors: Füszl Astrid , Schindler Stefanie , Heger Florian , Markowicz Mateusz , Indra Alexander , Pietzka Ariane , Hyden Patrick , Cabal Adriana , Wenzel René R.
Published: January 2024

Successful treatment of patients with recurring listeria episodes due to colonized foreign material is often challenging, typically requiring a combination of antimicrobial treatment and surgical removal. Here, we present a particularly challenging case of chronic invasive listeriosis with a total of six relapses, confirmed through molecular typing.
Growth of Two Loblolly Pine Clones Planted in Agroforestry and Plantation Settings: Nine-year Results
Authors: Naka Kozma , Hossain Shaik , Dimov Luben
Published: January 2024

Selecting suitable tree species, cultivars, or clones in agroforestry is essential for maximizing volume growth and reducing mortality. While most studies have investigated the performance of understory crops, more information is needed about the performance of trees in agroforestry systems. In the last decades, the forest industry in the Southeast has produced high-yielding loblolly pine varieties that can be propagated by cloning. We evaluated the performance of two forest industry-rated loblolly pine clones (Pinus taedaL.) that we planted in an agroforestry and a plantation setting at a northern Alabama site. Specifically, we assessed and compared the survival and growth of two genetically improved pine clones: clone 1 (Q3802-43) and clone 2 (L3519-41). Clone 1 had a greater overall survival rate than clone 2 (86% vs. 83%). However, clone 2 demonstrated a superior performance growth compared to clone 1. Tree basal area, live crown ratio, height, and total tree volume inside-bark of clone 2 averaged 0.027 m2, 70%, 10.7 m, and 0.11 m3, respectively, and all were significantly higher than those of clone 1 (0.024 m2, 63%, 9.8 m, and 0.09 m3). Therefore, clone 1 is preferred over clone 2 for our region and in similar site conditions if survival is considered a selection criterion and clone 2 is preferred from the wood production viewpoint. However, it will be more advantageous to use clone 2 overall since its higher average tree volume (0.11 m3vs. 0.9 m3of clone 1) can easily offset the lower survival rate.
Finite and mean field games for optimal investment with HARA utility function and the presence of risk-seeking agents
Authors: Nguyen Minh
Published: January 2024

This study extends the work of Lacker and Zariphopoulou LZ19 by considering the financial market with the presence of both risk-averse and risk-seeking agents. Specifically, the n-agent (finite) and mean field games for optimal investment with the family of the hyperbolic absolute risk aversion (HARA) utility function under relative performance concern/motivation are studied. Several specific forms of the HARA family, including exponential, power, and logarithmic form are investigated. We prove that there exists a unique constant Nash equilibrium and a unique constant mean field equilibrium in both the n-agent and mean field games for the case of strictly concave utility function. For the case of strictly convex utility function, there exists a unique corner solution in these games where agents invest all of their wealth in risky assets (e.g. stock) and invest nothing on riskless assets (e.g. bond). Furthermore, we discuss the qualitative effects of the personal and market coefficients on the optimal investment strategies.
Multivariate analysis of Rosa persica Michx. ex Juss by morphological characters
Authors: Darabi Ferdous , Sarmast Mostafa Khoshhal , Zarei Hossein , Mousavizadeh Seyyed Javad
Published: January 2024

This research evaluated phenotypic diversity among 16 Rosa persica accessions collected from their native habitats in Iran. Twenty-two quantitative traits were evaluated in this species based on morphological markers and according to previously described standard methods. An analysis of morphological traits on the accessions revealed significant differences in most of them (p ≤ 0.01). In addition, the mean comparison showed that the "Neishabor 3" accession had the highest plant height, and the "Arak" accession had the highest flower diameter among the accessions. Principal component analysis revealed five main factors with eigenvalues greater than one, which explained 86.53% of the total variance. Flower weight, petal width, petal length/width ratio, bud length, receptacle width, and receptacle length/width were most distinguishable in the first component. Flower count and receptacle length were most distinguishable in the second component and had the most significant coefficients of determination. Hierarchical cluster analysis placed Bojnord, Neishabor2, Golbahar3, Golbahar4, Neishabor1, and Kashmer accessions in the first cluster. Neishabor3 and Yazd accessions appeared in the second cluster. Since morphological features of native R. persica are unavailable, the current research was foundational in exploring notable diversity among Rosa persica accessions. The data can be utilized as a valuable source for future Rose breeding programs.
Exploring EFL Learner Resilience and Examining its Association with L2 Buoyancy and Language Achievement
Authors: Hedeshi Elham , Ghanizadeh Afsaneh
Published: January 2024

This study aimed at exploring EFL learners’ resilience. To do so, the current study developed and validated a scale measuring EFL learners’ resilience according to the qualitative triangulated phase of this study. The procedure of the present mixed-methods research is as follows: QUAL → quan. In the qualitative phase of this study, 29 EFL learners contributed by participating in semi-structured interviews, open-ended questions, and research journals. The model conceptualized the determinants of EFL learners’ L2 resilience, including personal, metacognitive, and contextual factors, each associated with several sub-factors. Based on the model derived from qualitative analysis, the L2 resilience scale was developed. It was then validated via Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), comprising 21 items. The designed scale was distributed among 321 EFL learners. It was revealed that all items demonstrated satisfactory factor loading. Furthermore, the association of LRS with two other closely-related constructs, buoyancy and achievement, was assessed in this research.
Optomechanically induced transparency in a multi-cavitysystem subjected to two-level atomic ensemble interference
Authors: Yu Gongtao , Pan Guixia
Published: January 2024

We investigate a hybrid multi-cavity optomechanical
system with interference from a two-level atomic ensemble.
The system is composed of three optical cavities and two
nanomechanical resonators. A two-level atomic ensemble is filled into the middle optical cavity. The optical cavity
located in the middle has two interaction forces with the two outermost
optical cavities. What is more,
the system also includes various types of interaction relations, which are the couplings
of optical cavities with mechanical resonators and the coupling of optical cavity with two-level atomic ensemble.
In order to study the optical response of optomechanically induced transparency, we modulate the
interaction intensity within the system to obtain
different eletromagnetic induced transparent phenomena.
It has been found that under the
influence of different parameters, the number of transparent windows and the
width of transparent windows increase with an increase in the coupling of
the optical cavities with atomic ensemble.
In addition, as the system parameters change, the transparency points also move. The position
of the two outermost transparent points becomes farther apart when the coupling of
optical cavity with mechanical resonators increases.
Our approach provides a great flexibility for controlling
electromagnetically induced transparency. It will have the
great potential applications for quantum information processing.
RETRACTED: Modeling and Analysis Adaptive-Fuzzy FOPID System With Genetic Algorithm Tuned FOPID Speed Control Of PMSM For Electric Vehicle System
Authors: sime Tolcha Lemma , Aluvada Prashant , Tolosa Zewde , Habtamu Solomon
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
CNT-woven glass fiber laminated composite for folded plate application: 2D-GDQ and Experimental study
Authors: Heidari-Soureshjani Ali , Asadi Esmail , Talebitooti Roohollah
Published: January 2024

This paper presents the advantages of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in fortifying the glass fiber reinforced polymeric (GFRP) composites. Bolted steel straps are utilized at the edges of composite plate to create clamped conditions in the test setup. To reduce the uncertainties induced by bolt attachments, a genetic algorithm based model updating has been carried out by adopting artificial linear springs at the margins to create more balance between theory and reality. After checking the validity of plate’s results, mechanical properties of randomly dispersed CNTs are incorporated in the formulations of folded plates. Remarkably, the motion equations are brought forward by the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT). Thereafter, two-directional generalized differential quadrature (2D-GDQ) technique has been used to extract natural frequencies from available motion, continuity and boundary equations. Results of the folded plate are validated first by an experimental modal testing and then some effective parameters such as folding angle, CNT weight ratio, boundary condition and flange-shape length are inspected.
Realization of Beeswax-based Fabric Microfluidic Channels using PVC Clear Sheet Stencils
Authors: Lingadharini P , Shirsat Aditya , Gardi Prathamesh , Kore Saurabh , Joshi Vedant , Patra Rusha , Maji Debashis
Published: January 2024

Microfluidic channels fabricated over fabrics or papers have the potential to find substantial application in the next generation of wearable healthcare monitoring systems. The present work focuses on the fabrication procedures that can be used to obtain practically realizable fabric-based microfluidic channels (µFADs) utilizing patterning mask and wax, unlike conventional printing technique. In this study, comparative analysis was used to differentiate channels obtained using different masking tools for channel patterning as well as different wax materials as the hydrophobic barriers. Drawbacks of the conventional tape and candle wax technique was noted and a novel approach was used to create microfluidic channels through facile and simple masking technique using PVC clear sheets as channel stencils and beeswax as channel barriers. The resulting fabric based microfluidic channels with varying widths as well as complex microchannel, microwell, and micromixer designs were investigated and a minimum channel width resolution of 500 µm was successfully obtained over cotton based fabrics. Thereafter, the PVC clear sheet-beeswax based microwells were successfully tested to confine various organic and inorganic samples indicating vivid applicability of the technique. Finally, the microwells were used to make simple and facile colorimetric assay for glucose detection and demonstrated effective detection of glucose levels from 10 mM to 50 mM with significant color variation using potassium iodide as the coloring agent. The above findings clearly suggests the potential of this alternative technique in making low-cost and practically realizable fabric based diagnostic device (µFADs) in contrast to the other approaches that are currently in use.
Enhanced Efficacy of Low-dose Lovastatin through Probiotic-Mediated Absorption: Insights from In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Li Bohai , Kwok Lai-Yu , Wang Dandan , Li Lu , Zhang Heping , Chen Yongfu
Published: January 2024

Background
Growing evidence highlights the crucial role of gut microbiota in drug metabolism, affecting both efficacy and toxicity. Probiotics, as part of the gut microbiota, possess a diverse array of enzymes and are likely involved in drug interactions. Our previous study demonstrated the ability of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Zhang (LCZ), a probiotic strain, to metabolize lovastatin, a widely used lipid-lowering drug, in monoculture. However, the impact of LCZ on lovastatin metabolism, activity, efficacy, and toxicity in vivo remains an important area for investigation.
Results
In this study, we comprehensively assessed the effect of LCZ on lovastatin from in vitro to in vivo settings. In vitro experiments utilizing targeted and non-targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that LCZ transformed lovastatin into its activated form, lovastatin hydroxy acid, both in monoculture and a simulated human digestion system. In vivo investigations demonstrated that the combination of LCZ with low-dose lovastatin displayed enhanced efficacy in reducing blood lipids in hyperlipidemic hamsters. However, analysis of microbiota sequencing, metabolite analysis, and liver transcriptomics revealed that the improved efficacy was attributed to enhanced lovastatin absorption rather than direct drug metabolism by LCZ in the gut. Furthermore, the impact of LCZ on lovastatin was dose-dependent, with higher lovastatin doses resulting in increased absorption and potential toxicity.
Conclusions
The combination of probiotics with drugs can significantly influence the gut microbiome, particularly gut metabolites. These altered metabolites have the potential to interact with drugs, affecting their solubility, absorption, efficacy, and toxicity. This study sheds light on the interactions between probiotics and drugs, particularly from a safety perspective, providing insights into probiotic-drug co-treatment strategies and precision probiotics for personalized medicine.
A Comparative Analysis of Encoder Only and Decoder Only Models in Intent Classification and Sentiment Analysis: Navigating the Trade-Offs in Model Size and Performance
Authors: Benayas Alberto , Sicilia Miguel Angel , Mora-Cantallops Marçal
Published: January 2024

Intent classification and sentiment analysis stand as pivotal tasks in natural language processing, with applications ranging from virtual assistants to customer service. The advent of transformer-based models has significantly enhanced the performance of various NLP tasks, with encoder-only architectures gaining prominence for their effectiveness. More recently, there has been a surge in the development of larger and more powerful decoder-only models, traditionally employed for text generation tasks. This paper aims to answer the question of whether the colossal scale of newer decoder-only language models is essential for real-world applications by comparing their performance to the well established encoder-only models, in the domains of intent classification and sentiment analysis. Our results shows that for such natural language understanding tasks, encoder-only models in general provide better performance than decoder-only models, at a fraction of the computational demands.
Applying Problem Behaviour Theory to Psychosocial Factors on Predicting Initiation and Persistence of Problem Drinking Among Taiwanese Adolescents
Authors: Wang Pin-Yang , Chen Shu-Chin , Huang Yu-Hsin , Liu Hui-Ching , Sun Fang-Ju , Wu Shu-I , Liu Shen-Ing
Published: January 2024

Objective: We examined psychosocial factors associated with the initiation and persistence of problem drinking applying the Problem Behaviour Theory among adolescents in Taiwan.
Methods: A total of 4331 students (56% girls, mean age = 16.0 ± 0.52) from 14 senior high schools were assessed in 10th grade, with follow-up performed in 11th grade, in Taipei, Taiwan. Online questionnaires on sociodemographic data, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, social support, family discord, impulsivity, and alcohol and tobacco use were assessed at baseline (T1) and at follow-up one year later (T2). Hierarchical multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate predictors of the initiation and persistence of problem drinking.
Results: Of the 3867 students without problem drinking in 10th grade, 333 (8.6%) had initiated problem drinking by grade 11. Top- school ranking and low impulsivity at T2 were protective factors for the initiation of problem drinking. Of the 464 students with problem drinking in 10th grade, 215 (46.3%) continued to have problem drinking in grade 11. Male sex, higher levels of depression at T2, more peers with whom they can talk to, and smoking at T2 were the common predictors for the initiation and persistence of problem drinking at T2. Perceived support from teachers and more parents with whom they can talk to at T2 had protective effects on the persistence group.
Conclusions: A better understanding of psychosocial predictors for the initiation/persistence of problem drinking might be useful for its prevention and early intervention. Identifications and managements of depression and smoking, as well as enhancing teachers’ and parents’ support may be indicated in preventing the initiation or persistence of alcohol use among adolescents.
Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment of Unprotected De Novo Left Main Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Kim Tae Hyun , Jun Eun Jung , Lee Jinho , Sohn Chang Bae , Choi Byung Joo , Shin Eun-Seok
Published: January 2024

Purpose
The safety and efficacy of drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment of de novo lesions in unprotected left main (LM) coronary arteries remain an unresolved issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of DCB-only treatment for unprotected LM coronary artery disease.
Methods
This retrospective registry study comprised a total of 42 consecutive patients diagnosed with unprotected de novo LM disease and stable hemodynamic conditions. A satisfactory pre-balloon angioplasty was defined as visual residual stenosis ≤ 30% without flow-limiting dissection and was followed by DCB treatment. Patients who did not meet these criteria were treated with a drug-eluting stent (DES).
Results
Among the cohort of 42 patients, 23 individuals received DCB-only treatment, while 19 patients were treated DES based on the results of pre-balloon angioplasty. Notably, no instances of bailout stenting or emergency coronary bypass surgery were observed following DCB treatment. Additionally, there were no reported cases of mortality or myocardial infarction within the DCB-only group during both hospitalization and the one-year follow-up period. Two patients (8.7%) experienced target lesion revascularization, all of whom presented with stable angina. A luminal increase was observed in 46.7% of cases, and the mean late lumen loss in the DCB-only treatment group was measured as 0.07 ± 0.45 mm.
Conclusion
DCB treatment of unprotected LM disease may be a safe and effective alternative to DES in carefully selected patients who have achieved satisfactory predilation results. (Impact of Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment in De Novo Coronary Lesion; NCT04619277)
Follicular development and endometrial receptivity of different androgen phenotypes in polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Wang Li , Bai E , Wang Qing
Published: January 2024

Objective
The study was conducted to explore the follicular development and endometrial receptivity of different androgen phenotypes in reproductive-aged patients with PCOS.
Methods
Two hundred and sixty-eight polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with infertility were recruited and divided into two groups according to different androgen phenotypes in this study: abnormal menstruation and hyperandrogenism (AM-HA group, n = 127), abnormal menstruation and polycystic ovarian morphology (AM-PCOM group, n = 141). The follicular development, endometrial receptivity and pregnancy rates of natural cycle between the two groups were compared.
Results
The number of dominant follicle, number of ovulation, and normal ovulation rate in AM-HA group were significantly lower compared with AM-PCOM group (P < 0.05). The endometrial thickness (ET), endometrial volume (EV), vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) on days from 14 to 24 of the menstrual cycle were significantly lower in AM-HA group than in AM-PCOM group (P < 0.05). The endometrial VI, FI and VFI, the integrin αvβ3 and VEGF concentrations in uterine fluid during implantation window were significantly lower in AM-HA group compared with AM-PCOM group (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in uterine artery blood flow parameters, ET and EV between the two groups (P > 0.05). The biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate in AM-HA group were significantly lower than in AM-PCOM group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
The phenotype of AM-HA in PCOS patients was vulnerable to ovulation disorder and impaired endometrial receptivity, which resulted in reduced pregnancy rate. Treatment of HA is likely to become an effective approach for improving endometrial receptivity and fecundity disorders in patients with PCOS.
Reduction of pathological retinal neovascularization, vessel obliteration and artery tortuosity by PEDF protein-based therapeutic in an oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy rat model
Authors: Zhao Shiying , Tschulakow Alexander , Karthikeyan Subha S , Wang Kun , Kochanek Stefan , Schraermeyer Ulrich , Julien-Schraermeyer Sylvie
Published: January 2024

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a worldwide severe disease which can lead to visual impairment or even blindness. It is characterized by obliteration of retinal vessels, presence of tortuous vessels and pathological neovascularization in the retina. The current treatments, cryotherapy, laser ablation or intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF produce limited effect and ineluctable complications. There is therefore still a high medical need for alternative, efficient and safer therapies. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a potent angiogenesis inhibitor, appears late in gestation and its lack may contribute to ROP. Using an ex vivo model of ischemia and an in vivo model of choroidal neovascularization, we recently discovered that PEDF protein inhibited pathological neovascularization by protecting the endothelial cells which subsequently enhanced the survival of neural retinal cells and photoreceptors respectively. Here we examined the effect of PEDF protein alone or in combination with anti-VEGF drugs and compared their efficacy after a single intravitreal injection in an oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy (OIR) rat model. PEDF protein alone or in combination with anti-VEGFs significantly suppressed the pathological neovascularization and reduced vessel obliteration compared to anti-VEGF drugs alone demonstrating that the treatment inhibited pathological neovascularization but not physiological angiogenesis. Importantly, PEDF protein-based therapeutics significantly reduced the artery tortuosity indicating an improvement of the retinal vasculature’s quality. No functional or histological side-effects were found in rat eyes after intravitreal protein injection even at high dose. Thus, the use of PEDF protein alone or combined with anti-VEGF is beneficial, and is a promising therapeutic for ROP.
Numerical study of arbitrary order Foam-Drainage equation with cubic B-spline hybrid method
Authors: Yousafzai Alina , Haq Sirajul , Ghafoor Abdul , Shah Kamal , Abdeljawad Thabet
Published: January 2024

This work presents a robust and efficient numerical stratagem for the study of integer and fractional order non-linear Foam-Drainage (FD) model. The scheme first uses, usual forward difference and the L1 formula, in integer and fractional cases, respectively. Then, the collocation approach together with cubic B-splines (CBS) basis are employed to estimate the unknown solution and its derivatives. With the help of these discretizations and Quasi-linearization, solving non-linear FD model transforms to the system of linear algebraic equations. The solution of the linear system approximates the CBS coefficients which further leads to the numerical solutions. Moreover, by Von Neumann stability it is proved that the proposed scheme is unconditionally stable. To evaluate the performance and accuracy of the technique, absolute error (AE), L2, and L∞ norms are presented. The obtained outcomes are also matched with some existing results in literature. It is noted from simulationsthat the proposed method gives quite accurate solutions.
A Bioartificial Organ Scaffold Architecture Design
Authors: Bukač Martina , Čanić Sunčica , Muha Boris
Published: January 2024

We develop a diffuse interface approach to study the design of a bioartificial organ scaffold architecture. The scaffold consists of a poroelastic hydrogel with a network of ultrafiltrate channels. The flow of blood plasma through the channels is modeled using the time-dependent Stokes equations, and the flow of blood plasma through the poroelastic hydrogel is modeled by the Biot equations. The two are coupled via a two-way coupling across the linearized channel-hydrogel interface. The resulting blood plasma velocity is then used to calculate oxygen concentration within the scaffold via a diffuse interface advection-reaction-diffusion model for oxygen concentration in the scaffold. The goal is to investigate which geometry of the channels’ network with a given total channels’ volume/area provides the most uniform oxygen supply to the transplanted cells in the poroelastic hydrogel, with oxygen concentration above the critical concentration below which hypoxia occurs. We show that a hexagonal channel network geometry outperforms by far the branching channels’ network and the classical vertical channel geometries. We conclude that the main reason for the superior performance of the hexagonal geometry is a relatively large angle between the dominant channel flow direction and the channel-hydrogel interface, providing larger Darcy velocity and thus larger advection-enhanced oxygen supply to the transplanted cells. This study is significant because recent developments in hydrogel fabrication make it now possible to control hydrogel rheology [1, 2], and utilize the computational results providing optimized scaffold architectures.
Carbon substrates promotes stress resistance and drug tolerance in clinical isolates of Candida tropicalis
Authors: Khamrai Arpita , Paul Saikat , Rudramurthy Shivaprakash M , Ghosh Anup K.
Published: January 2024

Candida tropicalis is a human pathogen and one of the most prevalent non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species causing invasive infections. Azole antifungal resistance in C. tropicalis is also gradually increasing with the increasing incidence of infections. The pathogenic success of C. tropicalis depends on its effective response in the host microenvironment. To become a successful pathogen, cellular metabolism, and physiological status determine the ability of the pathogen to counter diverse stresses inside the host. However, to date, limited knowledge is available on the impact of carbon substrate metabolism on stress adaptation and azole resistance in C. tropicalis. In this study, we determined the impact of glucose, fructose, and sucrose as the sole carbon source on the fluconazole resistance and osmotic (NaCl), oxidative (H2O2) stress adaptation in C. tropicalis clinical isolates. We confirmed that the abundance of carbon substrates influences or increases drug resistance and osmotic and oxidative stress tolerance in C. tropicalis. Additionally, both azole-resistant and susceptible isolates showed similar stress adaptation phenotypes, confirming the equal efficiency of becoming successful pathogens irrespective of drug susceptibility profile. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first on C. tropicalis to demonstrate the direct relation between carbon substrate metabolism and stress tolerance or drug resistance.
Identifying Bot Accounts on Twitter During the 2023 Ecuadorian Presidential Election
Authors: Diaz Juan , Luzuriaga Pedro , Salazar Anthony , Cuenca Erick , Jima-Gonzalez Alexandra , Lizárraga José Ángel Alcántara , Oliva-Ballesteros Rubén
Published: January 2024

The 2023 Ecuadorian presidential elections, contested between Daniel Noboa and Luisa González, marked a significant event in the nation's democratic journey. Amidst the fervor of campaigns and political debates, the role of social media, particularly Twitter, emerged as a focal point of interest. This study delves into the Twitter activities of both candidates, aiming to discern the potential use of automated actors, commonly known as ''bots", in shaping online narratives and influencing public opinion. By employing state-of-the-art bot detection methodologies, we analyzed the tweet patterns, engagement metrics, and content dissemination strategies associated with the official accounts of the candidates. Our findings shed light on the extent and implications of bot-driven interactions, offering insights into the evolving dynamics of political communication in the digital age. The results underscore the importance of ensuring transparency and authenticity in online electoral campaigns, pivotal for preserving the sanctity of the democratic process.
Treating pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis with lateral debridement and fusion (XLIF): A retrospective study on the clinical outcomes and radiological characteristics
Authors: Lu Hongwei , Yang Zhengwei , Guo Yang , Zeng Lian , Sun Wenzhe , He Qingyi , Guo Xiaodong
Published: January 2024

Background
The surgical treatment of pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis (PLS) remains a controversial topic. Traditional posterior open surgery involves significant surgical trauma, non-direct vision debridement, and the possibility of bringing the front infection to the back. In contrast, extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) offers several advantages over traditional open surgery, including minimal trauma, less bleeding, a shorter recovery period, and direct vision debridement. The objective of this study is to assess the safety and feasibility of XLIF for treating PLS, mainly focusing on evaluating the indirect decompression.
Methods
This retrospective study included 30 patients who were diagnosed with PLS and underwent XLIF and posterior fixation in the First Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University from 2015 to 2021. The clinical outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale scores (VAS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade and modified Macnab criteria. Radiological characteristics including lumbar sagittal balance and indirect decompression parameters were evaluated using lumbar X-ray and CT scan. The complications were recorded.
Results
At the final follow-up, the VAS and ODI scores were significantly reduced, and the ASIA grades were improved in all cases. The global and segmental lumbar lordosis were restored. Moreover, the postoperative indirect decompression parameters, including the disc height, foraminal height and area, central canal area and diameter, were all increased significantly. Inflammatory markers decreased to normal level at 3 months postoperatively. Bony fusion was achieved for all cases and the excellent/good rate was 100% at the final follow-up. There was no recurrency and severe complication recorded.
Conclusions
XLIF is a suitable alternative to traditional open surgeries in treating PLS. It is a minimally invasive surgery that involves radical debridement while achieving sufficient decompression.
Trail registration:
This clinical study was retrospectively registered in the First Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University on May 14, 2019 with the registration number KY201959.