bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel environmental variables help explain winter weather effects on activity and habitat selection of greater sage-grouse
Authors: Wanner Caitlyn Powell , Pratt Aaron C. , Reinking Adele K. , Liston Glen E. , Beck Jeffrey L.
Published: January 2024

For non-hibernating species within temperate climates, survival during severe winter weather often depends on individuals’ behavioral response and available refugia. Identifying refugia habitat that sustains populations during adverse winter conditions can be difficult and complex. This study provides an example of how modeled, biologically relevant snow and weather information can help identify important relationships between habitat selection and dynamic winter landscapes using greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus, hereafter “sage-grouse”) as a model species. We evaluated whether sage-grouse responded to weather conditions in two ways: through (1) positive selection for refugia habitat to minimize adverse weather exposure, or (2) lowered activity level to minimize thermoregulation and locomotion expense. Our results suggested that sage-grouse respond to winter weather conditions by seeking refugia rather than changing daily activity levels. During periods of lower wind chill temperatures and greater wind speeds, sage-grouse selected areas with sheltered aspects and greater sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) cover. Broadly, sage-grouse selected winter home ranges in sagebrush shrublands characterized by higher wind chill temperatures, greater wind speeds, and greater blizzarding conditions. However, within these home ranges, sage-grouse specifically selected habitats with greater above-snow sagebrush cover, lower wind speeds, and lower blizzarding conditions. Our study underscores the importance of examining habitat selection at narrower temporal scales than entire seasons and demonstrates the value of incorporating targeted weather variables that wholistically synthesize winter conditions. This research allows identification of refugia habitat that sustain populations during winter disproportionate to their spatial extent or frequency of use, facilitating more targeted management and conservation efforts.
The Impact of Abnormal Distribution of Abdominal Adiposity and Skeletal Muscle on the Prognosis of Ischemic Stroke.
Authors: Xiao Lulu , Cui Chengcheng , Geng Zhiwen , Li Haotao , Li Rui , Lu Mengxia , Wang Yuqiao , Liu Xinfeng
Published: January 2024

Background and Purpose
The study aimed at investigating the role of novel indicators related to obesity in predicting long-term functional outcome and risk of stroke recurrence in patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
Methods
The area and density of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and skeletal muscle (SM) at the third lumbar level, as well as VAT area (VATA) to SM area (SMA) ratio (VSR) and ratio of SAT area to SMA (SSR) were assessed using whole-abdominal CT upon admission. The primary endpoint was the presence of recurrent stroke. Second outcomes were all causes mortality and death specifically due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCVD). Cox's proportional hazards regression model was used to examine the association between the new indicators of obesity and clinical outcomes.
Results
A total of 1007 patients were enrolled with an average follow-up time of 49.8 months. Patients in the high VSR group had a higher recurrence rate of stroke (OR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.48–0.93]; p = 0.018). In adjusted analysis, VSR was significantly associated with the increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 2.16 [95% CI, 1.51–3.80]; p < 0.001) and CCVD (HR, 2.44 [95% CI, 1.61–3.69]; p < 0.001). Among AIS with severe neurologic deficit (the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 16–42), the mortality in the obese group tended to be lower, although without statistically significance.
Conclusions
Higher VSR levels were associated with a higher risk of mortality and stroke recurrence in patients with first-ever AIS.
A geoelectrical recognition model of seawater/freshwater interface types based on convolutional neural network
Authors: Ma Jun , Wei Lusi , Xiong Jia , Zhou Zhifang , Zhu Shumei
Published: January 2024

Seawater intrusion is a global environmental issue, and seawater intrusion monitoring requires a multidisciplinary approach to improve accuracy. The seawater/freshwater interface simplified models in coastal aquifers are generally divided into two types: abrupt interface model and wedge-shaped interface model. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is the visualization of the subsurface resistivity distribution in 2D or 3D, which have been widely used in the seawater intrusion monitoring. This paper presented a geoelectrical recognition model to classify the simplified seawater/freshwater interface types in the process of seawater intrusion based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The seawater intrusion laboratory experiments were carried out to simulate the process of seawater intrusion caused by water level of seawater rise or the water level of freshwater drop, and the ERT method was carried out to monitor the resistivity of the aquifer during the experiments, and the geoelectrical recognition model was used to classify the interface types. The results showed that the ERT method offered a fast and non-destructive approach for monitoring seawater intrusion, and the accurate recognition results of interface types were obtained using the well-trained recognition model in the laboratory experiments.
The effect of data variations on the leakage detection model performance using a convolutional neural network (CNN)
Authors: Caronge Muhammad Anshari , Arai Yasuhiro , Ito Kaito , Kunizane Takaharu , Koizumi Akira , Bakri Bambang
Published: January 2024

In recent years, leakage detection models using artificial intelligence have been widely used by researchers. In this study, acoustic sound data were recorded at 10 observation points, focusing on ductile iron pipe and vinyl polyethylene. Leakage detection models were built using recurrence plots (RPs) and a convolutional neural network (CNN). Using the same number of RPs for training data and testing data, we analyzed the effect of data variations on model performance. The results showed that our proposed approach can improve accuracy at several points, although the amount of training data information was advantageous in previous work. There were cases in previous work that had poor accuracy, but when implementing our proposed approach, it improved the accuracy to over 80% when using the 8-point model. The increase in accuracy depends on which interval is used in the test data because each interval contains information about different properties. For multi-point models, the effect of increasing the number of RPs and data variations was not clarified in the previous work. However, our study confirmed that the increase in data variation contributed more than the RP number.
Immunoinformatics guided engineering of a Cysteine Proteases chimera protein from Trichomonas foetus
Authors: Karli Geethanjali
Published: January 2024

Background
Bovine Trichomonosis is one of the most notable sexually transmitted diseases of cattle resulting in severe reproductive failure. There were several incidents of zoonotic transmission reported in immune compromised individuals. However, till date there are no point-of-care diagnostics developed for onsite screening Trichomonas foetus infection in cattle. This current study was conducted to engineer a chimaera protein of Cysteine Proteases(most suitable target proteins of Trichomonas foetus) suitable for development of point of care diagnostics tools using Bioinformatics tools
Results
Based on earlier studies on Transcriptomics and proteomics of Trichomonas foetus, we have identified high level expressions of Cysteine proteases. Cysteine protease8 was the highly expressed protein followed by Cysteine protease13 and Cysteine protease16. Immune Epitope Data base tools for B-Cell epitope prediction identified immunogenic domains of about 60–90 amino acids long. The Chimaera of the above potential epitopes was found to exhibit a stable 3-D structure and was predicted to exhibit stable expression in Yeast.
Conclusions
Cysteine proteases chimaera protein is most suitable for recombinant protein expression in eukaryotic expression systems like Pichia pastoris. This recombinant protein would serve as potential antigen source for development of antibody detection tests such as Lateral flow assay and ELISA for detection of Bovine Trichomoniasis in cattle.
A rare cause of respiratory distress in preterm infants: a case report of acquired subglottic cysts
Authors: Barchi Luca , Russo Giulia , Donvito Sara , Barbato Giulia , Leo Francesco , Iannella Elisa , Ghidini Angelo , Iughetti Lorenzo , Gargano Giancarlo
Published: January 2024

Background
The SGCs are a rare cause of respiratory distress in infants. Typical risk factors include male gender, extreme prematurity, gastro-oesophageal reflux and mechanic intubation, the latter being associated with mucosal damage and blockage of the subglottic cysts’ ducts. We described a case of acquired subglottic cysts in a premature infants presented with respiratory distress
Case presentation:
A premature male infant was born at 25 + 2 weeks of gestation age with a history of monochorionic twin diamniotic pregnancy with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. During hospitalization invasive mechanical ventilation was necessary for a total of 18 days; the patient was discharged at 40 w + 1 days in good condition. After 3 weeks he presented to our department with mixed stridor and worsening of respiratory dynamics. A laryngotracheoscopy evaluation was performed. The exam showed the presence of multiple glottic-subglottic cysts (SGCs) causing a complete obstruction of the airway. The histopathology confirmed the benign nature of the lesions. Because of the significant reduction of the airway’s patency, he was submitted to tracheotomy and thereafter to cysts’ removal using cold steel microinstruments. A better airway patency was restored although a slight glottic edema persisted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, SGCs should be considered in preterm infants previously intubated with respiratory distress, which cannot be explained by the most common causes. Early diagnosis and treatment are fundamental to reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease.
A minimum pressure approach for water distribution network modelling
Authors: Tucciarelli Tullio , Puleo Daniele , Nasello Carmelo , Sinagra Marco
Published: January 2024

A new criterion for water distribution network (WDN) modelling is proposed, according to the assumption of pipe permeability to the air and a zero minimum pressure in all the WDN nodes. The two sets of pipes and internal nodes are divided in four sub-sets, corresponding to nodes with zero pressure (ID), nodes with pressure greater than zero (IN), pipes with channel flow (LD) and pipes with fully pressurized flow (LN). An iterative procedure, based on Newton-Rampson (NR) and Linear Theory (LT) methods, is available for the solution of both the diffusive and the convective problems, holding respectively for the IN + LN elements and the ID + LD elements, when the sub-set decomposition is known. A practical procedure is also provided for the solution of the general problem when the decomposition is not known. Applications to two different networks show the difference between the solutions obtained assuming a head driven demand with and without the application of the minimum pressure criterion.
Intake and Digestibility of Four Rations With Different Fiber Levels in Alpacas (Vicugna Pacos)
Authors: Obregón-Cruz Ana Belén , Bravo Carlos Alfredo Gómez , Zavala Cesar Mauro Osorio , Saun Robert Van
Published: January 2024

The aim of this study was to evaluated the effect of different dietary fiber levels on intake and apparent nutrient digestibility of nutrients in alpacas, and to estimate the digestibility of organic matter (OMD) from the content of crude protein (CP) in feces. The study was carried out with twelve alpacas (36.7 ± 6.4 kg BW), which were offered 4 treatments with different neutral detergent fiber content (NDF. T1: 40.3%; T2: 62.1%; T3: 67.8%; T4: 71.6%) under a switch back design. Dry matter intake (DMI) was higher for T1 (612 g/d) while T4 consumed less (470 g/d. p ≤ 0.05), when correcting DMI for body weight (BW) and metabolic weight (MW) was equal between treatments (p ≥ 005). NDF intake was similar between treatments when related to BW or MW (on average 1%BW and 23.2 g/kg BW0.75. p ≥ 0.05). Water intake (L/day) was higher in T1 compared to the other treatments, with values ranging from 1.8 L/day (T1) to 1.4 L/day (T4), respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and crude protein was higher in T1 than in the other treatments, with average values ranging from 65% for T1 to 48% for T4 (p ≤ 0.05). NDF digestibility was similar among treatments (p ≥ 0.05). The regression equation generated to predict OM digestibility (y) was as follows: y = 0.07635-(-0.33866*exp (-(-0.51457)*Fecal CP(g/kg OM)/100)). Further studies will indicate whether faecal nitrogen can be used to estimate digestibility and hence diet quality in South American camelids.
Effective bridging strategies prior to infusion with tisagenlecleucel results in high response rates and long-term remission in relapsed / refractory large B-cell lymphoma: findings from a German monocentric study.
Authors: Eigendorff Farina , Filimonova Irina , Scholl Sebastian , Sayer-Klink Anne , Rummler Silke , Kunert Christa , Pietschmann Klaus , Wittig Andrea , Hochhaus Andreas , Schnetzke Ulf
Published: January 2024

Incorporating chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy into relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (rr LBCL) treatment algorithms has yielded remarkable response rates and durable remissions, yet a substantial portion of patients experience progression or relapse. Variations in outcomes across treatment centers may be attributed to different bridging strategies and remission statuses preceding CAR-T cell therapy. This single center analysis of tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) outcomes in the real world reveals response rates surpassing pivotal trials and other real-world reports. Analyzing 29 rr LBCL patients, the median age was 63, with a median of 3 prior treatments. Twenty patients (69%) were refractory to any systemic therapy before CAR-T cell treatment. Following leukapheresis, 25 patients (86%) received bridging therapy with the majority undergoing chemotherapy (52%) or combined modality therapy (32%). Radiotherapy (RT) was part of the bridging strategy in 44%, with moderately hypofractionated involved site RT (30.0 Gy/2.5 Gy) being applied most frequently (64%). Post-CAR-T infusion, the objective response rate at 30 days was 83%, with 55% achieving complete response. Twelve-month progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 60% and 74%, respectively, with a median follow up of 11.1 months for PFS and 17.9 months for OS. Factors significantly associated with PFS were chemotherapy sensitivity pre-leukapheresis and response to bridging. The study underscores the importance of minimal tumor burden at CAR-T initiation, emphasizing the need for suitable bridging regimens. The findings advocate for clinical trials and further real-world analyses to optimize CAR-T cell therapy outcomes by identifying the most effective bridging strategies.
Pericyte pannexin1 controls hippocampal capillary diameter and recognition memory
Authors: Mai-Morente Sandra , Isasi Eugenia , Rafael Alberto , Olivera-Bravo Silvia , Vitureira Nathalia , Abudara Veronica
Published: January 2024

In the brain-blood-barrier, contractile pericytes fine-tune the capillary resistance and blood supply to meet neuro-metabolic demands; molecular players governing these functions remain undefined. The protein subunit pannexin1 (Panx1), assembles into transmembrane large-pore hemichannels (Panx1HCs) mediating the release of ATP, a regulator of pericyte contractility and capillary resistance. Until now, the expression and role of pericyte Panx1 in brain physiology were unknown.
Here, we report that cerebral pericytes express functional Panx1HCs. Pericyte-specific Panx1 is required for recognition memory and hippocampal capillary dilation induced by pharmacological activation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission, which underlies functional hyperaemia. Mechanistically, pericyte Panx1 is modulated by glutamatergic NMDA/AMPA and purinergic P2X7/P2Y6 receptors and controls ATP release influencing pericyte Ca2+ and hippocampal capillary diameter dynamics.
Our study unveils pericyte Panx1 as a novel physiological regulator of cerebral capillary resistance, crucial for sustaining higher brain functions and a potential therapeutic target for cognitive disorders associated with cerebrovascular diseases.
RETRACTED: Safety but Limited Efficacy of Donor Lymphocyte Infusion for Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide-Treated Patients
Authors: Kanakry Christopher , Shanmugasundaram Krithika , Napier Scott , Dimitrova Dimana , Stokes Anita , Wilder Jennifer , Chai Amy , Lisco Andrea , Anderson Megan , Sereti Irini , Gulbu Uzel , Freeman Alexandra , McKeown Christi , Sponaugle Jennifer , Sabina Ruby , Rechache Kamil , Hyder Mustafa , Kanakry Jennifer
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Assessment of the Environmental Impacts of the COVID-19 Lockdown: Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Air Pollutants in Egypt (Case Study: Alexandria Maritime Port - Egypt)
Authors: Omar Mohamed Y. , El-Sayeh Mohi , Kaamoush Mona
Published: January 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on global society, affecting not only public health and the economy but also the environment. This research explores the environmental impact of COVID-19 in the context of Alexandria Port, a major maritime hub in Egypt. Using AIS data from the port area, we analyze the changes in shipping activities and pollution emissions over a five-year period (2018-2022). The study aimed to gather, analyze, and interpret satellite observational data from the European Space Agency geospatial processing Engine, focusing on air quality parameters like carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and aerosol properties (Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Absorbing Aerosol Index (AAI)). This analysis covered a five-year period (2018-2022) before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown in order to assess the impact of implemented preventive measures on air quality around Alexandria, particularly near the Alexandria Port due to maritime activities. The results indicated a positive short-term environmental impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on quality of air. However, with the resumption of full-capacity maritime activities at Alexandria Maritime Port, pollution levels returned to pre-resumption levels. Consequently, continuous trend monitoring is crucial to assess the effectiveness of regulations aimed at limiting air emissions.
Protein-responsive gut hormone Tachykinin directs food choice and impacts lifespan in Drosophila
Authors: Rewitz Kim , Ahrentlov Nadja , Kubrak Olga , Malita Alina , Koyama Takashi , John Alphy , Madsen Pernille , Halberg Kenneth , Nagy Stanislav , Texada Michael
Published: January 2024

Animals select food based on hungers that reflect dynamic and specific macronutrient needs. Feeding behavior is governed by endocrine signals, but the hormonal mechanisms underlying nutrient-specific appetite regulation are poorly defined. We demonstrate that the gut hormone Tachykinin (Tk), an ortholog of mammalian Substance P, controls selective appetite regulation in Drosophila. When protein-rich food is consumed, enteroendocrine cells (EECs) of the midgut release Tk, which acts on adipokinetic hormone (AKH)-producing cells. AKH suppresses protein appetite and enhances sugar hunger, thus forming an endocrine feedback system that aligns food choice with the internal nutritional state. Inhibiting this protein-responsive gut hormone increases fecundity and also prolongs lifespan through AKH, revealing a role of nutrient-dependent gut-hormone signaling in influencing longevity. Our results provide the framework for understanding EEC-derived nutrient-specific satiety signals and the role of gut hormones in the regulation of food choice and lifespan.
The Dual-Attention Mechanism-Based Subway Station Crowded Crowds Counting Method
Authors: Wu Jianfan , Xie Zhengyu , Qin Yong , Jia Limin , Guan Ling
Published: January 2024

The subway station is an important place for passenger flow distribution in subway networks, and real-time monitoring of passenger flow within stations helps promote the safe and efficient operation of the entire subway network. However, large-scale crowded passenger flow still exist in subway stations, making it challenging to accurately assess the massive passenger flow inside the stations. In this regard, this paper proposes a crowd counting method based on a deep learning framework with a dual attention mechanism. It aims to tackle the problem of counting large crowds within a subway station. This method provides strong support for ensuring passenger safety in subsequent operations. The key components of our proposed model are the multi-scale attention module and the deformable attention module. The multi-scale attention module can effectively extract multi-scale features of crowds and extract informative features from heavily occluded areas while ensuring that the channel count and resolution of the input feature map remain unchanged. In the Transformer framework, the deformable attention module dynamically assigns attention weights to each feature position, enabling a more suitable crowd counting model for congested conditions in subway station. Three commonly used benchmark datasets for crowd counting were used in a wide range of experiments. The experimental results demonstrate that our model achieves relatively good performance compared to existing popular algorithms. Additionally, existing crowd counting datasets do not adequately capture the variations in multi-scale and crowd occlusion scenarios specific to subway station environments. Therefore, this paper constructed a custom dense crowd dataset for subway station platforms. Our method performs better on this self-built dataset, which focuses on capturing the challenges of multi-scale variations and crowd occlusions in subway station scenarios, as demonstrated by experimental results.
Comparable Efficacy of Oral Bendamustine versus Intravenous Administration in Treating Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Cracchiolo Megan J. , Davis Lisa , Matiatos Andrew P. , Davini Dan W. , Husnain Muhammad , Simpson Richard J. , Voudouris Vasilios , Katsanis Emmanuel
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze potential differences in antitumor efficacy and pharmacokinetics between intravenous (IV) bendamustine (BEN) and a novel orally administered bendamustine agent (PO) that is utilizing the beneficial properties of superstaturated solid dispersions formulated in nanoparticles.
Methods: Pharmacokinetics of IV versus PO BEN were determined by analysis of plasma samples collected from NSG mice treated with either IV or PO BEN. Plasma samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) following a liquid-liquid extraction to determine peak BEN concentration (Cmax), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and the half-life (t1/2) in-vivo. In-vitro cytotoxicity of BEN against human non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt’s Lymphoma (Raji), multiple myeloma (MM.1s), and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (RS4;11) cell lines was determined over time using MTS assays. Luciferase-tagged versions of the aforementioned cell lines were used to determine in-vivo BEN cytotoxicity of IV versus PO BEN at two different doses.
Results: Bendamustine at a high dose in-vitro causes cell death. There was no significant difference in antitumor efficacy between IV and novel PO BEN at a physiologically relevant concentration in all three xenograft models. In-vivo pharmacokinetics showed the oral bioavailability of BEN in mice to be 51.4%.
Conclusions: The novel oral BEN agent tested exhibits good oral bioavailability and systemic exposure for in-vivo antitumor efficacy comparable to IV BEN. An oral BEN formulation offers exciting clinical potential as an additional method of administration for bendamustine and warrants further evaluation in clinical studies.
Influence of mid-infrared irradiation on Amla’s (Phyllanthus emblica) physicochemical properties and acceptability index
Authors: Thangaraju Umakanthan , Ponnusamy Madhu mathi , Umakanthan Umadevi , Selvaraj Sivaramakrishnan
Published: January 2024

Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) is an edible and medicinal plant used in Culinary, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and naturopathic medicine. The objective of the present work was to enhance amla’s inherent characteristics by applying the safe 2–6 µm mid-infrared rays. A water-based 2–6µm mid-infrared radiation generating atomizer (MIRGA) was recently invented by us and used in this research. A sensory panel assessed Amla before and after the application of mid-IR. Also, FTIR, PXRD, TEM, and H1NMR were used to further characterize the irradiated amla. Results revealed that the application of mid-IR favorably altered its sensory attributes and increased its palatability. Additionally, results showed various transformations at the atomic, bond, and compound levels. Therefore it is inferred that the application of mid-IR using an economical, easily applicable, and safe technology has the potential to enhance the amla quality.
A Scrutiny of plasticity management in irrigated wheat systems under CMIP6 Earth system models (case study: Golestan province, Iran)
Authors: Hosseinpour Shayan , Bagherikia Saeed , Soughi Habiballah , Pirdashti Hemmatollah , Mousavi Hesam
Published: January 2024

Global wheat production has faced, and will persist in encountering many challenges. Therefore, developing a dynamic cultivation approach generated through modeling is crucial to coping with the challenges in specific districts. The modeling can contribute to achieving global objectives of farmers’ financial independence and food security by enhancing the cropping systems. The current study aims to assess the effects of cultivars and sowing windows intricately on irrigated wheat production using the two models from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), including ACCES-CM2 and HadGEM31-LL under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP245, and SSP585). A two-year on-farm experiment was conducted for parametrization and validation of the APSIM-Wheat model at two locations. The model reasonably simulated the days to anthesis, maturity, biomass production, and yield within all cultivars. The normalized root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the phenological stages was simulated and measured values were 5% and 2–4%, while the index of agreement (IOA) was in the range of 0.84–0.88 and 0.95–0.97. An acceptable agreement of the simulated biomass (RMSE = 5–7% and 0.91 − 0.78) and yield (RMSE = 6–11% and IOA = 0.70–0.94) was identified in the model. Afterward, the LARS-WG model generated the baseline (2000–2014) based on the weather data at the sites and projected the models for the near (2030–2049) and remote future (2050–2070). The models revealed that not only the average maximum and minimum temperatures will rise by 1.85°C and 1.62°C which will exacerbate the reference evapotranspiration (ET0), but also the precipitation and solar radiation will reach + 58%, and + 0.25 Mj m− 2. Our results clearly showed that precipitation volume over the growing seasons would elevate approximately two times as much as the baseline in the future, while there is a significant decrease in water productivity (WP) and yield from the intensive ET0. Based on the wheat simulation, the short-duration cultivar (Kalate) combined with the postponed planting (16-Dec) was determined as a practical alternative; nonetheless, both WP and yield significantly decreased by 40% and 7%, respectively (p < 0.05). In conclusion, identifying and analyzing future farming conditions (e.g., agro-climate, soil and crop management data) would provide a perception of the forthcoming scenarios. When applied, this knowledge can potentially mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on global wheat production.
Circulating white blood cell traits and Prolonged Night Shifts: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Nurses in Guangxi
Authors: Tang zhenkun , Liu Yuanfang , Cheng Yiyi , Liu Yelong , Wang Yanghua , He Qiao , Qin Rongqi , Li Wenrui , Lei Yi , Liu Haizhou
Published: January 2024

Purpose
This study aimed to elucidate the effects of long day and night shifts on immune cells in a population of nurses.
Methods
This cross-sectional study in December 2019 was based on a group of nurses. 1,568 physically healthy caregivers were included, including 1,540 women and 28 men. 1,093 nurses had long-term shift work (working in a rotating system for > 1 year). The receiver operating characteristic curve, Ensemble Learning, and Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate factors related to long-term shift work.
Results
The night shift group nurses had significantly higher MPV, PLCR, and WBC and significantly lower BASO%, ELR, MCHC, PLR, RDW-CV, and RDW-SD. ROC curves showed that WBC, PLR, ELR, RDW_CV, and BASO% were more related to the night shift. Ensemble Learning, combined with the LASSO model, finally filtered out three indicators of night shifts related to ELR, WBC, and RDW_SD. Finally, logistic regression analysis showed that the nurses' night shift situation greatly influenced two peripheral blood ELR and WBC indicators. Finally, we showed that, unlike WBC, the relative riskiness of ELR showed opposite results among junior nurses and middle-senior nurses (log (OR) 6.5 and − 7.1, respectively).
Conclusion
Our study found that prolonged night shifts were associated with abnormal WBC and ELR, but after strict age matching, WBC remained significantly different. These findings help to confirm that COVID-19 and tumorigenesis (e.g., breast cancer) are significantly associated with circadian rhythm disruption. However, more detailed studies are needed to confirm this.
Long-time high-sucrose intake induced metabolic dysfunction via disrupting the balance of intestinal microenvironment
Authors: Wang Xiaojuan , Li Zhipeng , Zhang Lili , Guan Haiyu , Li Dongyu , Mo Yenan , Wang Dongsheng , Nie Xiaoli , Yao Ye
Published: January 2024

Sucrose, a common sweeter, is frequently added to drink and food, and excess intake of sucrose is really harmful to our health. This study aimed to reveal the potential mechanisms of high-sucrose induced metabolic dysfunction. Sixty mice were divided into two groups, respectively, the normal group (Nor group) and high-sucrose group (HS group). 16S rDNA and untargeted metabolomics technologies were used to analyzed the dynamic changes of gut microbiota and metabolites in colon contents of young mice, middle age mice and old mice. Long-time high-sucrose intake induced fat deposition and metabolic disorder, along with a completely different gut microbiota map. The energy metabolism related gene expression of the gut microbiome was downregulated, but potential pathogen gene expression was upregulated by long-time high-sucrose intake. Furthermore, mice in the HS were utilized less amino acids and long chain fatty acids, with effecting tryptophan metabolism by producing less indole, more 5-HT and kynurenine. Also less secondary bile acids, and more TMA/TMAO were produced by gut microbes in HS group. These results demonstrated that long-time high-sucrose intake leads to fat deposition and metabolic disorder via disrupting the balance of intestinal microenvironment.
Feasibility of initiating robotic console surgery during the early stages of gastrointestinal surgery education
Authors: Hikage Makoto , Kosaka Wataru , Kosaka Atsumi , Matsuura Taeko , Horii Shinichiro , Kawamura Keiichiro , Yamada Masato , Hashimoto Munetaka , Ito Yasushi , Kusuda Kazuyuki , Shibuya Shunsuke , Goukon Yuji
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Minimally invasive surgery for gastrointestinal cancers is rapidly advancing; therefore, surgical education must be changed. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of early initiation of robotic surgery education for surgical residents.
Methods
The ability of staff physicians and residents to handle robotic surgical instruments was assessed using the da Vinci® skills simulator (DVSS). The short-term outcomes of 24 patients with colon cancer who underwent robot-assisted colectomy (RAC) by staff physicians and residents between August 2022 and November 2023 were compared.
Results
The performances of four basic exercises were assessed after implementation of the DVSS. Residents required less time to complete these exercises and achieved a higher overall score than staff physicians. There were no significant differences in the short-term outcomes, operative time, blood loss, incidence of postoperative complications, and length of the postoperative hospital stay of the two surgeon groups.
Conclusions
Based on the evaluation involving the DVSS and RAC results, it appears feasible to begin training with robotic consoles early during surgical education.
Optimal alignment of business process models based on log probability distribution
Authors: Fang Xinjian , Li Duoqin , Lu Ke
Published: January 2024

Relying only on the cost function to calculate the optimal alignment between the model and the log may cause the alignment results to fail to accurately reflect the deviation between the actual process and the modeled process. In order to solve this problem, an optimal alignment selection strategy combining conformance log probability distribution and the cost function is proposed. Firstly, a log probability automata is constructed based on the conformance event log. Then, all possible execution sequences of the model are obtained and pre-aligned with the non-conformance log based on the cost function. Finally, all asynchronous moving left and right associative event pairs in pre-alignment are determined, and the average confidence value of the direct following dependency relationship of these event pairs is obtained according to the log probability automata. The concept of credibility value is proposed by combining the average confidence value with the pre-aligned cost value, and the alignment with the highest credibility value is considered as the optimal alignment. In the evaluation section, a large number of alignment results are evaluated, and the results show that compared with the existing two alignment methods that only based on cost function, the average alignment accuracy of the proposed method is improved by 5.55% and 10.97% respectively under various noises, and the alignment accuracy is the most stable.
Toward accurate quality assessment of machine-generated infrared video using Fréchet Video Distance
Authors: Lu Huaizheng , Wang Shiwei , Huang Bin , Chen Erkang , Sui Yunfeng
Published: January 2024

Video generation methods have important implications for the fields of visual control and decision-making. Current research often use the Fréchet Video Distance (FVD) as an evaluation metric for machine-generated video. However, FVD has not been thoroughly verified on non-visible light sources, especially the widely used infrared light. Therefore, there is an urgent need to use real infrared video data to test the reliability and generalization ability of FVD. Toward that goal, we first collected mainstream infrared video datasets and added various types of noise to synthesize infrared videos of different quality levels. Experiments based on synthetic dataset demonstrate the feasibility of using FVD to assess the quality of infrared video. Next, we trained the Pix2PixGAN network using a dataset containing aligned visible and infrared image pairs. The trained model can generate videos of different quality levels in the infrared light domain. With the generated infrared videos, our experiments show that FVD is able to distinguish the quality differences of different infrared videos. In particular, we found that the lack of labeled infrared dataset and relatively small dataset size of infrared videos has a negative impact on calculating credible FVD values. This is because extracting effective infrared video features remains a difficult problem. Our experimental results suggest that infrared video features can be extracted using large-scale visible light video pre-trained I3D models, and their calculated FVD values are even better than those directly using infrared video pre-trained I3D models. Our study provides a basis for using FVD to evaluate the quality of machine-generated videos under multispectral conditions.
A Standardized Step-by-step Technique to Protect Lingual Flap During Third Molar Surgery Avoiding Lingual Nerve Injury: a Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Zaccheo Fabrizio , Petroni Giulia , Gori Guido , Cicconetti Andrea
Published: January 2024

Purpose
The aim of this study was to assess a standardized flap technique use in the surgical extraction of the lower third molar, protecting the lingual flap and avoiding lingual nerve injury.
Methods
A 5 years retrospective analysis of surgical third molar surgery made by third-year oral surgery specialty program students was made in the department of oral surgery of Clinica Odontoiatrica, Policlinico Umberto I in Roma, from 2017 to 2022. All surgery were carried out using a standardized step by step technique to protect the lingual flap during the surgery. Every patient underwent a review on the initial postoperative day and subsequently, one week after the surgery, coinciding with the removal of the sutures. During each postoperative visit, thorough examinations were conducted to assess any sensory nerve impairment of the inferior alveolar, lingual, or mylohyoid nerves.
Results
None of the cases reported postsurgical lingual nerve injury; there was zero incidence of lingual nerve paresthesia or dysesthesia. There was no increased risk to the lingual nerve paresthesia or dry socket, which were identified.
Conclusions
This flap proved to be a standardized and reproducible approach for the surgical removal of lower third molars without raising the risk of lingual nerve sensory impairment, regardless of the operator’s experience.
Two-phase Flow Condensation Inside Smooth Channels of Various Sizes: Universal Smart Models to Estimate the Frictional Pressure Drop
Authors: Moradkhani M. A. , Hosseini S. H. , Song Mengjie , Abbaszadeh Alireza
Published: January 2024

Reliable and comprehensive predictive tools for the frictional pressure drop (FPD) are of particular importance for systems involving two-phase flow condensation. However, the available models are only applicable to specific operating conditions and channel sizes. Thus, this study aims at developing universal models to estimate the FPD during condensation inside smooth mini/micro and conventional (macro) channels. An extensive databank, comprising 8037 experimental samples and 23 working fluids from 50 reliable sources, was prepared to achieve this target. A comprehensive investigation on the literature models reflected the fact that all of them are associated with high deviations, and their average absolute relative errors (AAREs) exceed 26%. Hence, after identifying the most effective input variables through the Spearman's correlation analysis, three soft-computing paradigms, i.e., multilayer perceptron (MLP), gaussian process regression (GPR) and radial basis function (RBF) were employed to establish intelligent and dimensionless models for the FPD based on the Chisholm's theory. Among them, the most accurate results were presented by the GPR approach with AARE and \({R}^{2}\) values of 4.10%, 99.23% respectively, in the testing step. The truthfulness and applicability of the models were explored through an array of statistical and visual analyses, and the results affirmed the obvious superiority of the newly proposed approaches over the literature correlations. Furthermore, the novel predictive tools excellently described the physical variations of the condensation FPD versus the operating parameters. Ultimately, the order of importance of factors in controlling the condensation FPD was clarified by a sensitivity analysis.
Study by Vector Projection of a Construction Made with a Rule and Compass to Understand Squaring the Circle
Authors: Diaz José Rodrigo Alejandro Martinez
Published: January 2024

The conditions of the problem establish the definition of a right triangle whose angle subtends the opposite cathetus with a value equal to alpha = arctan (1/ sqrt{pi}). Starting from this main condition, a series of steps are proposed to compare the precision between two idealized methods that describe the construction of a circle and a square linked to the triangle mentioned above. The first approximation is made taking into account "valid" compass and ruler constructions to obtain such geometric figures. The second construction is based on the lengths obtained by intersecting the previously mentioned geometric figures by performing the vector analysis. In both cases, the areas of the circle and square obtained are compared to find out if they are equal.
Does adherence to physiotherapy depend on the typologies of patients with non-specific low back pain and their physiotherapists? A typology study
Authors: Alt A , Luomajoki Hannu
Published: January 2024

Background
Patient adherence to physiotherapy is influenced by a multitude of factors including the personalities and attitudes of patients and physiotherapists. Personalities and attitudes can be assigned to various typologies. This study aims to identify different typologies of patients with back pain and their physiotherapists and attempts to explain how patient and physiotherapist typologies may influence patient adherence.
Method
This study was based on a secondary data analysis from focus group interviews to identify barriers and facilitators for adherence. Transcribed interview data were used for a structured content analysis based on categorization and coding. The Big-five Personality Traits were applied to build deductive categories about the physiotherapists and the patients. These were defined according to the locus of control, activity level, and adherence quality to physiotherapy. Transcribed interview data were coded and allocated to categories using structured content analysis.
Results
Ten patients with low back pain (6 women; mean age = 37.5 years) and 11 physiotherapists (5 women; mean age = 33 years) were recruited from different physiotherapy centers in Switzerland and Germany. Four types of patients and three of the physiotherapist types were identified based on responses to interview questions. The four types of patients are based on conscientiousness, high level of activity, internal locus of control, high level of adherence (= type 1); conscientiousness and neuroticism, high level of activity, internal locus of control, low level of adherence (= type 2); extraversion, low level of activity, external locus of control, high level of adherence (= type 3); agreeableness, combination of active and passive behavior, combination of internal and external locus of control, high level of adherence (= type 4). The three types of physiotherapists are based on conscientiousness, high adherence influence, use of guidelines (= type 1); agreeableness, acceptance of requests, low adherence influence (= type 2); neuroticism, high adherence influence, preference for active therapy (= type 3).
Conclusion
Awareness of the congruence of expectations, behavior, and treatment approaches may facilitate adherence and subsequently treatment effectiveness. Further research should aim to validate the association of typologies and adherence.
Super efficient geodesics in the complex of curve
Authors: Jin Xifeng , Menasco William
Published: January 2024

We introduce a subclass of the efficient geodesics, called super efficient geodesics, that the bound of intersection number in the initial efficiency only depends on the genus of surface. For any two vertices, v,w ∈ C(Sg), in the complex of curves of a closed oriented surface of genus g ≥ 2, and any efficient geodesic, v = v1, · · · , vd = w, it was previously established by Birman, Margalit and the second author [5] that there is an explicitly computable list of at most d(6g−6) candidates for the v1 vertex. In this note we establish a bound for this computable list for the super efficient geodesics that is independent of d-distance and only dependent on genus. The proof relies on an intersection growth inequality (IGI) between the intersection number of two curves and their distance in the complex of curves, together with a thorough analysis of the dot graph associated with the intersection sequence.
An external mount for F-Tool for maintained reduction of shaft fractures
Authors: Chabihi Zakaria , Nouidi Nizar , Demnati Brahim , Benhima Mohamed Amine , Abkari Imad
Published: January 2024

Introduction
Achieving accurate alignment in operative fracture treatment is crucial. Various techniques, including external maneuvers, traction devices, and intramedullary devices, aim to accomplish this while preserving fracture hematoma and promoting biological healing. However, these methods often require extended maintenance of reduction and raise concerns about radiation exposure. This study was inspired by the F-tool and aimed to develop an external mount system to maintain fracture reduction throughout the procedure, mitigating risks associated with existing techniques.
Methods and Materials
The F-tool, a modular set of stainless-steel rods forming an F-shape for fracture reduction, served as the basis for our design. Using FreeCAD software, a CAD model was created for the external mount system. The system comprised a reduction-maintaining component and a static part, with 3D resin slicers used for model preparation and FEM modeling for mechanical stress analysis.
Results
The developed external mount system consists of a dual-sided pole for reduction maintenance and various rods with clamps for attachment to the surgery table or floor. Mechanical stress simulations indicated promising stiffness. Different assembly configurations, including C-shaped or L-shaped static parts, were designed to prevent C-arm interference during procedures.
Discussion
Existing techniques for fracture reduction pose challenges such as prolonged maintenance of reduction and radiation exposure. The novel F-tool mount system addresses these issues by offering maintained reduction, low radiation exposure, and minimal surgical morbidity at a low manufacturing cost.
Comparative analysis with established techniques highlights the F-tool mount's advantages in providing consistent, controlled reduction without extensive manual manipulation or invasive procedures. The system aims to streamline the reduction process, potentially reducing operative duration and risks associated with longer procedures or nonunion rates reported with some techniques.