bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety and Efficacy of Catheter Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Long Songbing , Sun Yuanjun , Dai ShiYu , Xiao Xianjie , Wang Zhongzhen , Sun Wei , Gao Lianjun , Xia Yunlong , Yin Xiaomeng
Published: November 2024

Purpose
Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) has shown promising results in reducing mortality and improving heart function. However, previous studies have been limited by a lack of control groups and significant heterogeneity in their methodologies.
Hypothesis
CA for AF in HFPEF patients may not increase the complications and had similarly the rate of freedom from AF vs patients without HFPEF, and it may reduce hospitalizations and mortality and improve heart function VS medical treatment.
METHODS
Three groups of AF patients were included in the study: 187 patients with HFPEF for their first CA (AFPHF-CA), 187 patients with HFPEF who were undergoing medical therapy (AFPHF-Med), and 196 patients without HFPEF for their first CA (AF-CA).
RESULTS
After a mean (±SD) follow-up of 36±3 months, 50.8 percent of patients in the AFPHF-CA group and 52.0 percent in the AF-CA group remained in sinus rhythm (P=0.94), compared to only 12.5 percent in the AFPHF-Med group (P<0.001). Age (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.08, P=0.016), duration of AF history (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02, P=0.017), left atrial diameter (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.06-2.19, P=0.024), and the type of atrial fibrillation (OR: 4.02, 95% CI: 1.28-12.62, P=0.017) were consistent multivariate predictors for sinus rhythm maintenance in AFPHF.
HF hospitalization was significantly lower in the AFPHF-CA group (0.38 (0,2)) than in the AFPHF-Med group (1.28(0,3), P<0.001) during the follow-up. Stroke occurred in 18 of 187 (9.63%) patients in the AFPHF-CA group, significantly lower than the AFPHF-Med group, with approximately 31 of 187 (16.58%) (P<0.01), but not statistically different from AF-CA, where approximately 17 of 196 (8.67%) experienced stroke (P=0.65).
Regarding mortality, death occurred in 12.8% of patients in the AFPHF-Med group, higher than 7.5% in the AFPHF-CA group and 6.6% in the AF-CA group (P=0.49). Significant improvements in heart function were observed in the AFPHF-CA group compared to the AFPHF-Med group, including reductions in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (P<0.001), New York Heart Association classification (P<0.001), left ventricular mass index (P<0.001), and left atrial volume index (P<0.001). HF hospitalization was significantly lower in the AFPHF-CA group compared to AFPHF-Med (P<0.0001).
Conclusion
CA for AF has demonstrated significant benefits in patients with HFPEF compared to medical treatment alone. These benefits include improvements in heart function, reduced mortality, incidence of stroke, and hospitalizations. Importantly, CA in HFPEF patients showed comparable maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR) and safety outcomes when compared to CA in individuals with normal heart function.
Longitudinal variations of body characteristics in Italian elite adolescent football players: a pilot study
Authors: Toselli Stefania , Latini Davide , Grigoletto Alessia , Mauro Mario
Published: November 2024

Purpose. Body characteristics and physical skills affect field performances, and the longitudinal improvements of these features allow one to join elite teams. This pilot study aims to investigate longitudinal changes (30 months) in 24 adolescent football players of an Italian elite club.
Methods. Participants were clustered according to their age (U10=8, U11=11, U12=5). Anthropometry and body composition assessments were performed following standardized methods. Countermovement Jump (CMJ), maximal speed (15 meters) and change of direction (RSA) were tested. The repeated-measures ANOVA was assessed for the interaction effect between time and category. The Pearson correlation product-moment was used to correlate the changes (∆) of physical performance and body characteristics. Also, each delta of performance skill was used as the dependent variable in a multiple linear regression model.
Results. Stature, body mass, Fat-Free Mass (FFM), Total Upper Area (TUA), Total Calf Area (TCA) and CMJ improved in all categories (p<0.05). The lower limb power variability was better explained by humeral diameter and the supraspinal skinfold thickness variation (adj-R2= 0.621 p<0.001), while both maximal speed and RSA were negatively affected by the calf fat index (p<0.01).
Conclusion. Given the dynamic nature of the relationship between physical performance improvements and body shape growth, coaches, trainers, and scouters should consider what are the body features that could widely affect football players' performance and how these parameters could vary over the whole adolescence.
Gender differences in the relationship between mental health and academic performance among undergraduate students at a medical school in Shanghai: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Cen Shanduo , Zhao Miaomiao , Wang Feng , Tang Lei
Published: November 2024

Background
Epidemiological studies indicate that 12–50% of university students suffer from one or more common mental health problems, which may be linked to academic performance. However, most current studies provide associations between only a single mental disorder and college students' academic performance, with inconsistent results, and do not consider gender differences. The objective of this study was to analyze the mental health status across various dimensions among male and female college students and to explore the impact of gender on the relationship between mental health status and academic performance.
Methods
This study used a cross-sectional design conducted at an undergraduate medical school in Shanghai, China. Data were collected from undergraduate students in the 2020–2021 academic year, with a total of 6923 students (2153 males and 4770 females) completing the survey. The SCL-90 scale was used to screen for mental health problems. Data on student academic performance were obtained from school records. Logistic regression were used to examine the association between mental health status and academic performance.
Results
The overall positive rate for the mental health status of the participants was 41.2%, with 39.6% for males and 41.9% for females. Among female students, those with positive mental health were more likely to underperform academically (aOR = 1.183, 95% CI: 1.035–1.353, p < 0.05). As the severity of symptoms in the factors of somatization (SOM), interpersonal sensitivity (INTS), depression (DEPR), paranoid ideation (PARI), psychoticism (PSY), and sleep and diet (ADD) increases, the likelihood of poor academic performance also increases in females. However, mental health status among male students is not related to academic performance (aOR = 1.138, 95% CI: 0.950–1.364, p > 0.05).
Conclusions
The poor mental health status of female college students was significantly correlated with a higher likelihood of poor academic performance, and there was a dose-dependent relationship between the six factors of the SCL-90 and academic performance. In contrast, no similar results were observed among male students.
Prediction of 131I Uptake in Lung Metastases of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Using Deep Learning
Authors: Song Hongjun , Fei Manman , Tao Haoyi , Qiu Zhongling , Shen Chentian , Chen Xiaoyue , Luo Qiong , She Huajun , Zhang Lichi , Luo Quanyong
Published: November 2024

Objective: An accurate assessment the 131I accumulation capacity in lung metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is pivotal to inform radioiodine therapy and avoid invalid 131I administration. Thus, to develop a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) model for the prediction of the 131I uptake in lung metastases of DTC before radioiodine therapy.Methods: In this retrospective, multicentre, population-based cohort study, we collected chest CT images datasets for DTC patients with lung metastases from three hospitals in China. Pulmonary metastases were classified into two categories based on the post-therapeutic 131I whole-body scan: 131I-avid (positive 131I uptake) and non-131I-avid (negative 131I uptake). For DCNN model development, patients were assigned to the primary dataset (140 patients with 131I-avid, 121 with non-131I-avid ). For model validation, patients were assigned to the internal validation dataset (36 patients with 131I-avid, 23 with non-131I-avid), external validation datasets 1 (25 patients with 131I-avid, 18 with non-131I-avid), and 2 (23 patients with 131I-avid, 18 with non-131I-avid). Using these datasets, we assessed the performance of our model ResNeSt50 and compared with two models as Inception V3 and ResNet50.Results: Compared to Inception V3 and ResNet50, our model ResNeSt50 demonstrated the highest prediction performance in internal (AUC = 0.722, 95%CI 0.716–0.725), external 1 (AUC = 0.720, 95%CI 0.691–0.749), and external 2 (AUC = 0.731 95%CI 0.713, 0.748) validation datasets.Conclusions: We developed a simple and robust DCNN model for predicting the 131I uptake in lung metastases of DTC before radioiodine therapy, which can provide improved screening for patients who can benefit from 131I therapy.Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), ChiCTR1800018047. Registered on 28 August 2018.
How does hatred spread in Italy? Mario Draghi dimision case
Authors: Mottareale-Calvanese Daria , Arce-García Sergio , Said-Hung Elias
Published: November 2024

Social networks have become key environments for the propagation of disinformation and hate speech, facilitating the spread of rumors and stereotypes targeting specific groups and conditioning public opinion in the political arena.This article aims to estimate the influence of hater accounts, in shaping the debate on social platforms such as X, in promoting a polarized scenario of public opinion, during the period of Mario Draghi's waiver and dimision and the call for elections that preceded the triumph of Giorgia Meloni's party “Brothers of Italy”. We analyzed 796,654 tweets associated with the hashtags #Draghi, #crisidigoverno, #crisigoverno, and #DraghiOut, collected between July 12 and August 16, 2022. Through natural language processing, k-means analysis, and network analysis, it was possible to see how 17.18% of the associated messages contained hate speech with a low majority intensity, especially related to extreme right-wing movements. These messages were mainly grouped in six interconnected clusters, and some users had characteristic features common to those observed in strategies for the viralization of messages, as in the case of Astroturfing. The data shown help us to see a conditioning of the political debate generated in X, at the hands of users who took advantage of Draghi's dimision to disseminate expressions of hatred that may have favored a context of polarized public opinion in favor of a change toward other political projects in Italy.
Optimal outpatient training for resident physicians’ clinical competence: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Miyagami Taiju , Nishizaki Yuji , Shimizu Taro , Yamamoto Yu , Shikino Kiyoshi , Kataoka Koshi , Nojima Masanori , Deshpande Gautam , Naito Toshio , Tokuda Yasuharu
Published: November 2024

Background
This study evaluates outpatient care among Japanese resident physicians by determining how the volume of outpatient encounters and length of outpatient training correlate with residents’ clinical competence.
Methods
This study utilised the results of the General Medicine In-Training Examination (GM-ITE; resident clinical competency assessment) for 2,554 post-graduate year 2 (PGY 2) resident physicians in Japan, as well as a self-reported questionnaire regarding their educational training environments conducted after the examination. We investigated whether GM-ITE scores correlated with daily outpatient volume and duration of outpatient training.
Results
Regarding outpatient volume, having 1–5 new patient encounters per day was significantly associated with higher GM-ITE scores by multilevel analysis [0 patients: average score 43.7, 1–5 patients: adjusted estimated coefficient (aEC) 1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44 to 3.55, P = 0.012]. Regarding the duration of outpatient training, residents who trained for one month had the highest GM-ITE scores (one month: average score 46.9; two months: aEC − 1.44, 95% CI -2.29 to -0.60, P < 0.001; three months: aEC − 1.44, 95% CI -2.22 to -0.65, P = 0.007).
Conclusion
Minimal daily new outpatient visits and one month of outpatient training effectively correlated with residents’ basic clinical competence.
Trial Registration:
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Japan Institute for Advancement of Medical Education Program (JAMEP; No. 22–30) and retrospectively registered.
Optimizing soil organic carbon prediction in arid environments: A gradient boosting-kriging approach in Northern Iraq
Authors: Günal Hikmet , Ismael Amjed Mohammed , Kılıç Miraç , Budak Mesut
Published: November 2024

This study predicts soil organic carbon (SOC) content in the Amed region of Northern Iraq (20.06 km²) using a hybrid machine learning approach. By combining Gradient Boosting Decision Trees (GBDT) with ordinary kriging (OK), the spatial estimation of SOC has been improved. Radiometric indices from Landsat 8 and 9 images served as covariates, while SOC content from 80 soil samples was the dependent variable. Hyperparameter optimization of the GBDT model reduced the k-fold cross-validation loss from 0.385 to 0.257, resulting in significant improvements: root mean squared error (RMSE) decreased from 0.394 to 0.229, and mean absolute error (MAE) dropped from 0.173 to 0.132. The coefficient of determination (R²) improved from 0.209 to 0.654. Incorporating ordinary kriging further refined the model, reducing RMSE by 32.75% compared to GBDT alone. The most significant indices for SOC prediction were identified as NDVI, SAVI, and EVI, emphasizing the role of vegetation indices. The hybrid GBDT-OK model proved effective in regions with limited soil sampling, enhancing SOC spatial prediction in arid and semi-arid environments. This study offers a valuable tool for improving SOC inventories and informing sustainable land management in carbon-sensitive regions.
Towards a Personalized Medicine through Liquid Biopsy in Alzheimer’s disease: Epigenome of cell-free DNA reveals methylation differences linked to APOE status
Authors: Macías Mónica , Alba-Linares Juan José , Acha Blanca , Blanco-Luquin Idoia , Fernández Agustín Fernández , Álvarez-Jiménez Johana , Urdánoz-Casado Amaya , Roldan Miren , Robles Maitane , Cabezon-Arteta Eneko , Alcolea Daniel , de Gordoa Javier Sánchez Ruiz , Corroza Jon , Cabello Carolina , Erro María Elena , Jericó Ivonne , Fraga Mario F. , Mendioroz Maite
Published: November 2024

Background: Recent studies show that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients harbor specific methylation marks in the brain. However, accessing this epigenetic information “locked in the brain” while patients are alive is challenging. Liquid biopsy technique enables the study of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments originated from cells that have died and released their genetic material into the bloodstream.
Methods: Here, we isolated and epigenetically characterized plasma cfDNA from 35 AD patients and 35 cognitively healthy controls. Next, we conducted a genome‑wide methylation analysis using the Infinium® MethylationEPIC BeadChip array to identify differential methylation marks in cfDNA between AD patients and controls. AD core biomarkers were also measured in blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples and correlated with differential methylation marks. Pyrosequencing and bisulfite cloning sequencing techniques were performed as an orthogonal validation for epigenome-wide results.
Results: Epigenome-wide cfDNA methylation analysis identified 102 differential methylated positions (DMPs) associated with AD at a nominal significance level, of which 74% were hypomethylated. We found significant correlations between DMPs in our dataset and main cognitive and functional status tests (60% for MMSE, and 80% for GDS), along with correlations with AD biomarkers in CSF and blood. In silico functional analysis linked up to 30 DMPs to neurological processes, identifying key regulators such as SPTBN4and the APOE gene. We identified several differentially methylated regions linked to APOE status annotated to genes already addressed as differentially methylated in AD condition and mostly in brain tissue (HKR1, ZNF154, HOXA5, TRIM40, ATG16L2, ADAMST2). In particular, a DMR in the HKR1 gene previously shown in to be hypermethylated in AD hippocampus was further validated in cfDNA with an orthogonal perspective.
Conclusions: The feasibility of blood sampling makes plasma cfDNA a promising source of epigenetic biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease that could be further used in the practice of personalized medicine. Despite pre-analytical and technical challenges, liquid biopsy is emerging as a promising technique to further explore in neurodegenerative diseases.
Title: Early Re-Initiation of Anti-Obesity Medications Post Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Youth: Proof of Concept Trial
Authors: Vidmar Alaina P. , Vu My H. , Martin Matthew J. , Kim Aimee G. , Abel Stuart , Weitzner Madeleine , Munoz Cynthia E. , Kim Ahlee , Samakar Kamran
Published: November 2024

Background
Bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention for severe pediatric obesity, but 25% of youth experience suboptimal weight loss and/or weight regain. A multi-pronged postoperative approach, including early re-initiation of anti-obesity medications (AOM), may improve outcomes, though this has not been evaluated in pediatric populations.
Methods
This pilot study assessed the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of early AOM re-initiation after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in youth. A retrospective analysis compared youth undergoing LSG at a large children's hospital from November 2023 to July 2024, comparing those who chose early AOM re-initiation (n = 25) versus standard care (n = 21). Primary outcomes included changes in weight trajectory, eating behaviors, complications, readmissions, and reoperation rates, analyzed using independent t-tests, Chi-squared tests, and logistic regressions.
Results
The study involved 46 adolescents (mean age 16.5 years, mean BMI 50 kg/m², predominantly female (70%), Hispanic (80%), and publicly insured (87%); 93% had used AOM preoperatively). Mixed effect multivariate regression analysis, adjusting for baseline BMI, age, and sex, revealed that early AOM re-initiation (5.1 weeks [IQR 3.7,8.4]) significantly reduced BMI, percent BMI, percent total weight loss (TWL), and percent excess weight loss (EWL) at 3 and 6 months postoperatively compared to standard care, with no significant differences in complications or readmissions. At 6 months, the mean differences were: %BMI: -6.5% (95%CI: -9.13, -3.86), p < 0.001; %TWL: -5.9% (95%CI: -8.52, -3.25), p < 0.001; %EWL: -8.2 (95%CI: -14.69, -1.63), p < 0.001. Early re-initiators reported a 4-fold reduction in emotional overeating (p = 0.001) compared to standard care.
Conclusion
Early AOM re-initiation after LSG was safe and well tolerated, improving weight outcomes without negatively impacting complication or readmission rates.
Endoscopic assessment of terminal ileum in screening colonoscopy: Is it worth the effort?
Authors: Dąbkowski Krzysztof , Tryba Maciej , Biesiada Ernest , Konczanin Kamila , Michalak Małgorzata , Szczygłowska Magdalena , Safranow Krzysztof , Starzyńska Teresa
Published: November 2024

Background
Screening colonoscopies often do not include terminal ileum assessment. Here we examined how often endoscopists assessed the terminal ileum in screening colonoscopy, how it influenced procedure time and patient comfort, and whether it revealed pathological findings.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the screening colonoscopy examinations performed in our department (tertiary center and university hospital) between 2017–2021. From our database, we retrieved the procedure duration (minutes), patient age and sex, examination extent (colon vs. small bowel), and screening colonoscopy results. The pain scale (1–5) was obtained from a post-examination patient survey.
Results
A total of 2449 screening colonoscopy examinations were performed in 2017–2021. Patients were divided into two groups: cecum reached (2403 patients; cecal intubation rate, 98.1%) or terminal ileum intubated (297 patients; 12.1%). These two groups did not significantly differ in sex or reported pain score, while the patients were significantly younger ( 55.2 ± 6.5vs 56.2 ± 6 years, P = 0.015) and the colonoscopy duration was significantly longer(22.8 ± 9.8 vs 18 ± 10.5, P < 0.001) in the terminal ileum group. Pathological conditions in the small intestine were reported in 5/297 patients (1.7%)—with non-specific inflammatory lesions in 4, and nodular hyperplasia in 1. None of these 5 patients developed inflammatory bowel disease during follow-up of 25.2 months.
Conclusions
Small intestine intubation was rarely performed in screening colonoscopy, was associated with significant longer colonoscopy duration, and revealed few pathological conditions with no significant clinical meaning. No neoplastic conditions including the neuroendocrine tumors were detected. Routine terminal ileum assessment should not be a mandatory part of screening colonoscopy.
Remnant Cholesterol and Risk of Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection: A Prospective Cohort Study from the UK Biobank Study and Mendelian Randomization Analysis
Authors: Zhou Ting , Lin wenhui , Yang Bangyuan , Xie Nianjin , Liu Yuan , Hu Ziyang , Huang Wenhui , Luo Songyuan , Yang Fan , Luo Jianfang
Published: November 2024

Aim
To investigate the associations between remnant cholesterol (RC) and the risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD).
Methods
This prospective cohort study included 368,193 European adults from the UK Biobank (UKB). In addition, the causal relationship between RC and AAD was investigated using Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses.
Results
The UKB cohort investigation identified 1634 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), 698 cases of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), and 184 cases of aortic dissection (AD) during a median follow-up time of 13.65 years. High RC was shown to be linked to a higher risk of AAA when compared to the reference RC ([most vs least]: adjusted HR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.33–2.00). Nevertheless, a high RC exhibited only a minimal correlation with a risk of TAA and AD. Two-sample MR analyses revealed a significant causal effect of RC on the risk of AAA (odds ratio = 2.42, 95% confidence range = 1.91–3.06). Even after accounting for HDL-C and LDL-C, this relationship was still statistically significant. However, the MR analysis findings indicated that there was no overall causal relationship between RC and either AD or TAA.
Conclusions
The risk of incident AAA was heightened with elevated RC levels, and MR analysis provided compelling evidence supporting a causal association between RC and increased risk of AAA. These findings suggest that RC could serve as a novel predictor for AAA and may play a crucial role in AAA prevention strategies.
Seed Germination and Composition of Double and Triple Endosperm Mutants of Tropical Sweet Corn under Different Harvest and Storage Conditions
Authors: Panatee Papatsara , Dermail Abil , Chankaew Sompong , Lertrat Kamol , Simla Sakunkan , Lomthaisong Khomsorn , Ruanjaichon Vinitchan , Resende Marcio F.R. , Suriharn Khundej
Published: November 2024

The development of inbred sweet corn lines that combine multiple endosperm mutants is an important aspect of breeding for eating quality. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different endosperm mutants, harvest times, and storage durations on traits related to seed quality and kernel carbohydrates. Sweet corn genotypes with specific gene combinations were carefully selected using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker-assisted selection. Sixteen corn genotypes underwent germination assays through two tests: the standard between-paper test (BP test) and sand test (S test). The genotypes in each group were further refined based on germination and then evaluated for kernel carbohydrate dynamics during milk stages and postharvest storage. Each corn genotype exhibited distinct kernel carbohydrate dynamics during postharvest at each storage period. Out of 16 genotypes, four genotypes (K99, K30, 101L, and C13) were tolerant to degradation with slow rates [<0.27 mg·g−1 fresh weight (FW) per hour] for sucrose and total sugar. Three corn genotypes K118 (bt2bt2sese), K116 (bt2bt2sh2sh2sese), and K127 (bt2bt2sh2sh2sese) exhibited the highest germination percentage and germination speed in both tests. The optimal harvest date to achieve maximum sucrose, total sugar, and phytoglycogen was 22 days after pollination in the dry season of tropical savanna. When corn kernels have an increased shelf life, the amount of sucrose decreases, but the accumulation of fructose, glucose, and phytoglycogen increases. Two genotypes, K108 (bt2bt2sese) and K30 (bt2bt2sh2sh2sese), were identified as interesting alternatives for testers in sweet corn breeding programs. Genotype K108 showed moderate seed quality, tenderness, and high creaminess, and genotype K30 had low seed quality and tenderness, but high sweetness. This information is important for enhancing the efficiency of producing synergistic and augmented sweet corn F1 hybrids.
Effect of Chlormequat Chloride on the Growth and Development of Panax ginseng Seedlings
Authors: Yang He , Ding Wanbo , Chen Chunyu , Dai Mingtao , Chen Xiaolin , Liang Jia , Xu Yonghua
Published: November 2024

Ginseng is widely used in traditional herbal formulations in Korea, Japan, China, and Western countries. High-quality seedlings are the key to ginseng with high quality and high yield. Although tray seeding can yield large quantities of ginseng seedlings, issues such as dense planting and inadequate ventilation may result in excessive stem elongation. This elongation can lead to slender stems unable to support the weight of the leaves, resulting in seedling lodging. To inhibit the overgrowth of aboveground parts of ginseng seedlings, chlormequat chloride (CCC) was selected for foliar spraying at 0, 100, 200, and 300 mg·L−1 to study the effects of plant growth regulators on the growth and development of ginseng seedlings. When the leaves of ginseng seedlings are fully expanded, we sprayed once with 200 mg·L−1 of CCC. After 28 days, index measurements indicated that the height of ginseng seedlings decreased by 17.4%, stem thickness increased by 7.4%, leaf area decreased by 4.5%, root length increased by 6.2%, root-to-crown ratio increased by 29.8%, chlorophyll a content increased by 10.3%, chlorophyll b content increased by 12.6%, the actual chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of photosystem II under light quantum yield increased by 50.9%, electron transfer rate increased by 52.8%, photochemical quenching increased by 21.7%, nonphotochemical quenching decreased by 31.4%, antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase activity increased by 12.2%, catalase activity increased by 17.0%, peroxidase activity increased by 38.7%, and malondialdehyde content decreased by 18.1%. The number of intracellular starch grains increased significantly, the number of stromal lamellae in chloroplasts increased, the arrangement was more compact, and the cell wall thickness increased significantly. In conclusion, it is recommended to apply 200 mg·L−1 CCC as a foliar spray during production to inhibit seedling growth and enhance plant resistance to stem collapse and stress.
Healthy People 2020 Progress for Leading Causes of Death in Rural and Urban America: A Chartbook
Authors: Callaghan Timothy H. , Ferdinand Alva O. , Akinlotan Marvellous , Primm Kristin , Lee Ju Sung , Macareno Blanca , Bolin Jane
Published: November 2024

Rural Americans have historically faced significant challenges in accessing healthcare and preventive healthcare services, including ambulatory care, dental care, emergency services, and pharmaceutical services. Rural Americans are more likely to die from conditions generally considered self-manageable or preventable. This study examines rural versus urban differences in how the U.S. is meeting the Healthy People 2020 mortality objectives for many of the leading causes of death. Our analyses use national vital statistics mortality data available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wonder website. Overall, our findings indicate rural America is lagging behind urban America in achieving these objectives. Furthermore, key findings indicate men have been less likely than women to achieve these objectives, the rural South has seen less progress than other regions toward many of the objectives, and suicide mortality has increased across all levels of rurality.
ATASÖZLERİ VE DEYİMLERDE IRKÇILIĞIN VE NEFRET SÖYLEMLERİNİN İNCELENMESİ
Authors: Bardakçı Tosun Serpil , Gündüz Önal Aysun
Published: November 2024

Toplumlar, göçmenler ve diğer etnik kökenlerle iç içe yaşarken ırkçılık ve nefret söylemleri öne çıkabilmektedir. Bu durum, geçmişte atasözleri ve deyimlerle ifade edilirken günümüzde ifadelerin yerini davranışlar almaya başlamıştır. Irkçılık, günümüzün en tehlikeli toplumsal ayrıştırıcısı olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu çalışmada toplumdaki göçmenlere ve diğer azınlık gruplara yönelik ırkçılık ve nefret ifade eden söylemler, atasözleri ve deyimler üzerinden incelenerek Türkiye’de en çok hangi toplulukların nefret ve ırkçılığa maruz kaldığı tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Verilerin toplanması ve kategorilere ayrılması için doküman ve içerik analizi yöntemi kullanılırken verilerin incelenmesi için eleştirel söylem analizi yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Çalışma neticesinde Türkiye’de en çok Çingeneler, Araplar, Kürtler ile “gâvur” olarak tanımlananların ötekileştirildiği tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmada atasözleri ve deyimler sözlüklerinden, literatür taramasından faydalanılmıştır.
Biochemical Effects of Polyphenols Associated with Macro Components
Authors: Güven Aysel
Published: November 2024

For many years, the habit of eating mainly sugar, salt, unsaturated fats and processed ready-to-eat foods has gradually increased, which has increased the rate of chronic diseases. A wide variety of health problems that have arisen as a result of this have led people to seek healthier nutrition. This has increased the importance of edible fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts, seeds and flowers rich in phenolic components, which are secondary metabolites of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, which are essential nutritional components. In this review, it was tried to reveal the health benefits of polyphenols associated with macro components due to the biochemical effects of polyphenol compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes and lignans.
Çekişmeli Saldırıların Derin Öğrenme Tabanlı Yüz Sahteciliği Önleme Sistemlerine Etkisi
Authors: Kılıç Ersin , Şahin Ömür , Toprak Ahmet Nusret
Published: November 2024

Günümüzde yüz tanıma ve doğrulama sistemleri akıllı telefonlardan güvenlik sistemlerine, ödeme uygulamalarından uzaktan sağlık uygulamalarına kadar birçok alanda yüksek doğrulukla kullanılmaktadır. Yüz tanıma sistemlerini yanıltmanın en yaygın yolu kişinin sisteme kendi yüzü yerine maske, yazıcı çıktısı ya da monitör gibi araçlarla başka birinin yüzünü sunmasıdır. Son yıllarda birçok bilgisayarla görme uygulamasında olduğu gibi yüz tanıma sistemlerinde görüntü sahteciliğini önleme amacıyla da oldukça başarılı derin sinir ağı modelleri geliştirilmiştir. Bu modellerin farklı sahtecilik yöntemlerini hassas bir şekilde tespit edebilmesi ve girdi görüntülere uygulanacak saldırılara karşı dayanıklı olması beklenmektedir. Bu çalışmada güncel ve başarılı bir görüntü sahteciliği tespit modeli olan DGUA-FAS'ın çekişmeli saldırılara karşı dayanıklılığı araştırılmaktadır. Bu amaçla MIO algoritmasına dayalı kara kutu çekilmeli saldırı üretme yöntemi ile DGUA-FAS modelini yanıltmak amacıyla çekişmeli örnek görüntüler üretilmektedir. Deneysel çalışmalar, DGUA-FAS modelinin saldırı uygulanan tüm görüntüleri hatalı şekilde sınıflandırdığını göstermektedir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, yüz sahteciliği tespit modellerinin çekişmeli saldırılara karşı daha dayanıklı hale gelmesi gerektiğini göstermektedir.
Daily runoff prediction based on lightweight Mamba with partial normalization
Authors: Jia Donghuai , Li Weide , Huang Di , Chen Shukai
Published: November 2024

Runoff prediction serves as the cornerstone for the effective management, allocation, and utilization of water resources, playing a key role in hydrological research. This study employs a newly reported deep learning model, Mamba, to forecast river daily runoff and compared the proposed model with various benchmark methods, including statistical models, machine learning methods, recurrent neural networks, and attention-based models. Application of these models is implemented on three hydrological stations situated along the middle and lower reaches of the Mississippi River. Daily runoff from 1983 to 2023 were used to build the model for 7-day prediction. Findings demonstrate the superiority of the Mamba model over its counterparts, showcasing its potential as a backbone model. In response to the necessity for a more lightweight approach, a refined variant of the Mamba model is proposed, called LightMamba. LightMamba incorporates partial normalization and MPM (Multi-Path-Mamba) to enhance its efficacy in discerning nonlinear trends and capturing long-term dependencies within the streamflow data. Notably, LightMamba achieves commendable performance with an average NSE of 0.904, 0.907, and 0.900 on the three stations. This study introduces an innovative backbone model for time series forecasting, which offers a novel approach to hybrid modeling for future daily runoff prediction.
Exploring the Role of Prefrontal Cortex tDCS in Hypertension: A
Mini-Review
Authors: Ruberti Olívia Moraes , Junior Heitor Moreno , Rodrigues Bruno
Published: November 2024

Arterial Hypertension (HTN) is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases, which, in
turn, are the primary cause of mortality worldwide. The success rates in Blood Pressure (BP) control
among the general population remain unacceptably low. HTN etiology is multifactorial, but
ample evidence has shown an essential role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) dysfunction
in its physiopathology. Concurrently, studies have pointed to the promising effect of non-invasive
cortical stimulation techniques, such as transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), on
modulating blood pressure and the ANS. tDCS involves the application of a direct low-intensity
electric current between two electrodes (cathode and anode) placed on the scalp and skull over areas
of interest in the cerebral cortex. The impacts of this technique on regulating BP levels and cardiovascular
autonomic modulation have excellent potential to be explored in hypertension. This
study aimed to review and discuss the existing evidence concerning the efficacy of tDCS in modulating
BP and ANS, focusing on its potential as a therapeutic intervention for HTN. This narrative
mini-review presents and discusses critical findings regarding using tDCS to modulate BP and the
ANS. Data obtained from clinical and preclinical studies have been addressed in this work. The
evidence gathered and discussed in this mini-review suggests the promising role of tDCS as a
non-invasive intervention for HTN; however, the underlying mechanisms through which it exerts
its effects remain poorly understood. More mechanistic studies must be carried out to draw definitive
conclusions regarding the effectiveness and safety of tDCS as a treatment for HTN.
Design Optimization and Evaluation of Patented Fast-Dissolving Oral Thin Film of Ambrisentan for the Treatment of Hypertension
Authors: Kanugo Abhishek
Published: November 2024

Background:

Cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, are the prominent source
of death globally. High blood pressure is responsible for heart failure and also damages the vital organs
of the body, which also creates mortality. The activation of the sympathetic nervous system in
the primary sunrise period is a highly critical condition, and several persons have lost their tissue due
to the unavailability of medicine at this time.

Objective:

The present research deals with the progress of fast-dissolving oral thin film (OTF) of
Ambrisentan for the prevention and cure of hypertension.

Methods:

The OTF was established using the solvent casting method. The compatibility of Ambrisentan
with film former HPMC E15 was checked with FTIR and DSC. The optimization was assessed
using the design of the experiment using 32 Box-Behnken designs. The independent parameters were
filmed former (X1: HPMC E15), plasticizer (X2: PEG 400), and super disintegrant (X3: cross povidone)
and dependable parameters were disintegration time (Y1) and dissolution release (Y2).

Results:

The optimized batch F7 showed the least disintegration time (9 sec), folding endurance of
(99), content uniformity (98.57 %), pH (6.4), and dissolved within 5 min. The scanning electron microscopy
confirmed the evenness and smoothness of the film with a particle size of 10 μm. Patent
related with OTF (Indian- 202321050359), US (11701339).

Conclusion:

The investigation indicated that fast dissolving oral thin film of Ambrisentan improves
the solubility and therapeutic efficacy in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular complications.
The prompt release of Ambrisentan minimizes the mortality associated with heart attack and
hypertension.
Perspective on the Role of Quantum Mechanical Calculations on Cellular Molecular Interactions
Authors: Elayyan Mouhmad , Sui Binglin , R. Hoffmann Mark
Published: November 2024

Most computational studies of biologically relevant systems have used
Molecular Mechanics (MM). While MM is generally reliable for many applications,
chemical reactions and bond formations/breakage are not describable in MM. In
contrast, Quantum Mechanics (QM) is an approach that utilizes wave functions and/or
electron density functions for property and structural analyses and hence does not
suffer from such limitations. QM methods can be classified into two main frameworks,
ab initio and semi-empirical. Semi-empirical methods utilize experimental or ab initio
results to make additional approximations, thereby using a combination of some ab
initio calculations and fitted experimental data. Despite the accuracy and general
applicability of QM, the major disadvantages are limitations due to the system size. Not
surprisingly, hybrid methods that partition the problem at hand into subsystems have
been developed. Some of these methods mix QM with MM, and others are strictly QM,
but limit the range of interactions. As a result, there exists a plethora of methods, some
with fanatical followers, with the result that researchers are often faced with
bewildering choices.This review, perhaps more accurately described as a mini-review or perspective,
examines recent calculations on biologically relevant (including biomimetic molecules)
in which QM is necessary, to a greater or lesser degree, to obtain results that are
consistent with the experiment. The review is not an exposition on the theoretical
foundations of different methods, but rather a practical guide for the researcher with an
interest in using computational methods to produce biologically, or at least
biochemically, useful results. Because of our own specific interests, the Arg-Gly-Asp
sequence, or so-called RGD, figures prominently in the work, in terms of size,
including oligomers of RGD, and strengths of interactions. A key feature of RGD is its
role in the binding of cells to the Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM) depending on the cell
type and receptor protein on the cell itself. The ECM is comprised of spectra of
biological compounds such as proteoglycans and fibrous proteins; RGD is located and
found as a motif on these fibrous proteins. The cell bindings to the ECM are done via
integrin-RGD binding. Because metal interactions and hydrogen bonding significantly
affect integrin-RGD binding, theoretical methodology beyond MM is needed. IntegrinRGD binding affects the adhesion and movement of cells along the ECM. Hence, these
interactions are highly relevant to understanding the spread of cancer in an organism.
relationship between nurses' motivation and compliance with case reflection discussions on standard operating procedures for pain management in the Darmawan Pavilion Care Unit at RSPAD Gatot Soebroto
Authors: Ita Ita , Kamilah Lilis , Syaefudin Didin , Iqbal Muhammad , Hanif Azizahra Hisannur
Published: November 2024

Motivation is a psychological characteristic of humans that contributes to their level of commitment. This study aims to analyze the relationship between nurses' motivation and compliance with case reflection discussions on the standard operating procedures for pain management in the Darmawan Pavilion Care Unit at RSPAD Gatot Soebroto. The independent variables are nurses' motivation and compliance, while the dependent variable is case reflection discussions on the standard operating procedures for pain management. The research design uses a cross-sectional quantitative approach with a sample of 57 respondents selected through purposive sampling, comprising implementing nurses assigned to case reflection discussions. Bivariate analysis was conducted using the chi-square test. The results indicate a relationship between nurses' motivation and compliance with case reflection discussions on the standard operating procedures for pain management in the Darmawan Pavilion Care Unit at RSPAD Gatot Soebroto. The bivariate test results show that nurses' compliance is the most dominant variable, with a p-value = 0.028 (? < 0.05), indicating that nurses' compliance has the most significant influence on the dependent variable.
Association of serine racemase gene polymorphism with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors:   Public Health Department, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Al-Nbaheen May Salem
Published: November 2024

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction, with a significant global impact. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several genetic polymorphisms linked to T2DM, including the rs391300 polymorphism in the SRR gene. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the rs391300 polymorphism and T2DM in the Saudi population. A total of 160 participants, comprising 80 T2DM patients and 80 healthy controls, were genotyped using quantitative PCR with VIC and FAM probes. The results revealed a significant association between T2DM and age, body mass index (BMI), glucose levels, and cholesterol levels. Genotype and allele frequency analysis demonstrated that the rs391300 polymorphism was linked to a higher risk of T2DM (GA vs. AA: OR = 4.75, 95% CI: 1.52–14.94, p = 0.04; A vs. G: OR = 4.33, 95% CI: 1.42–13.27, p = 0.005). Additionally, ANOVA analysis indicated a significant association with weight and BMI (p = 0.01). This study provides evidence of a positive association between the rs391300 polymorphism in the SRR gene and T2DM in the Saudi population.
Rehabilomics Strategies Enabled by Cloud-Based Rehabilitation: Scoping Review
Authors: Oh Sejun , Lee SangHeon
Published: November 2024

Background

Rehabilomics, or the integration of rehabilitation with genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other “-omics” fields, aims to promote personalized approaches to rehabilitation care. Cloud-based rehabilitation offers streamlined patient data management and sharing and could potentially play a significant role in advancing rehabilomics research. This study explored the current status and potential benefits of implementing rehabilomics strategies through cloud-based rehabilitation.

Objective

This scoping review aimed to investigate the implementation of rehabilomics strategies through cloud-based rehabilitation and summarize the current state of knowledge within the research domain. This analysis aims to understand the impact of cloud platforms on the field of rehabilomics and provide insights into future research directions.

Methods

In this scoping review, we systematically searched major academic databases, including CINAHL, Embase, Google Scholar, PubMed, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify relevant studies and apply predefined inclusion criteria to select appropriate studies. Subsequently, we analyzed 28 selected papers to identify trends and insights regarding cloud-based rehabilitation and rehabilomics within this study’s landscape.

Results

This study reports the various applications and outcomes of implementing rehabilomics strategies through cloud-based rehabilitation. In particular, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on 28 studies, including 16 (57%) focused on personalized rehabilitation and 12 (43%) on data security and privacy. The distribution of articles among the 28 studies based on specific keywords included 3 (11%) on the cloud, 4 (14%) on platforms, 4 (14%) on hospitals and rehabilitation centers, 5 (18%) on telehealth, 5 (18%) on home and community, and 7 (25%) on disease and disability. Cloud platforms offer new possibilities for data sharing and collaboration in rehabilomics research, underpinning a patient-centered approach and enhancing the development of personalized therapeutic strategies.

Conclusions

This scoping review highlights the potential significance of cloud-based rehabilomics strategies in the field of rehabilitation. The use of cloud platforms is expected to strengthen patient-centered data management and collaboration, contributing to the advancement of innovative strategies and therapeutic developments in rehabilomics.
Improving Pediatric Patients’ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Experience With an In-Bore Solution: Design and Usability Study
Authors: Heuvelink Annerieke , Saini Privender , Taşar Özgür , Nauts Sanne
Published: November 2024

Background

Annually, millions of children undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Hospitals increasingly aim to scan young children awake, as doing so benefits both patients and health care systems. To help hospitals reduce the need for anesthesia, we have developed solutions to prepare pediatric patients at home and in the hospital.

Objective

The goal of our project was to design, develop, and test a solution that extends our preparation solutions by guiding and engaging children during their MRI examination.

Methods

Pediatric In-bore was designed to deliver a familiar experience by reusing design elements from our preparation solutions. It offers child-friendly movies and auditory and visual guidance about examination progress and breath holding. To evaluate children’s liking and understanding of the solution, we conducted a usability study. Ten healthy children participated in a mock MRI examination featuring pediatric In-bore. We observed task compliance (ability to lie still and hold one’s breath) and conducted guided interviews to assess their experience and understanding of the guidance offered.

Results

Participants (aged 5 to 10 years) were generally positive about pediatric In-bore. They liked the main character (Ollie the elephant) and her movie. Auditory and visual guidance were generally liked and understood. All but one participant successfully managed to lie still during the mock examination, and 6 (60%) out of 10 participants successfully held their breath.

Conclusions

Pediatric In-bore appears promising for engaging and guiding young children during awake MRI. It completes the Pediatric Coaching solution that now offers guidance throughout the MRI journey. Future research can expand on this work by evaluating the clinical impact of the Pediatric Coaching solution in a larger and more diverse sample of pediatric patients.