bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA) - diagnosis, staging and management
Authors: Wang Huaijie , Xie Chong , Lin Weilong , Zhou Jinbang , Yang Weijia , Guo Zhengtuan
Published: August 2023

Background
The diagnosis and treatment of fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA) of the limb remains challenging since this entity is rare and complex. This paper is aimed to describe the clinical and imaging features, staging and management of this underrecognized disease of the limb.
Material and Method
Patients diagnosed with FAVA and managed between September 2019 and May 2022 in department of pediatric surgery of Xi’an international medical center hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Data extracted include age at presentation, previous diagnosis, affected muscles, symptoms, previous treatment, our management, and follow-up.
Results
Thirty-two patients with FAVA were diagnosed and managed in our center. There was a female sex predominance, with 23 female (72%) and 9 male (28%) in the cohort. Only one lesion was noticed during infancy; the remaining presented at age 1 to 20 years (median, 7 years). The most commonly involved muscles were gastrocnemius (14/32, 44%) and soleus (13/32, 40%). Swelling (mass), pain and contractures were the most common presentations. MRI featured a heterogeneous and ill-defined intramuscular high signal intensity. Diseases were staged according to clinical features: stage I (pain stage, n = 4), stage II (contracture stage, n = 20) and stage III (deformity stage, n = 8). Patients with stage I disease underwent radical resection and obtained a cure. Patients with stage II disease received radical resection and possible Achilles lengthening, having an outcome of cure. Personalized treatment was required in patients with stage III disease, including radical/partial/staged resection, Achilles lengthening/tenotomy, joint capsulotomy, neurolysis/neurectomy, tendon transfer, stretching exercises, and oral sirolimus/alpelisib. Significant improvement of symptoms was achieved in most.
Conclusion
The most distinct features of FAVA include enlarging mass, severe pain and contracture. Based on distinct clinical and radiologic features, it is not difficult to make the diagnosis of FAVA. Earlier awareness of this disease can reduce misdiagnoses. Surgery-based comprehensive management can typically improve pain and contracture. Oral sirolimus or alpelisib plays an important role in treatment of unresectable lesions and major nerve involvement. Surgery alone can be curative in early stage FAVA.
Antimalarial activity of the alkaloid, heptaphylline, and the furanocoumarin, imperatorin, from Clausena anisata against human Plasmodium falciparum malaria: Ex vivo trophozoitocidal, schizonticidal and gametocytocidal approach
Authors: Kumatia Emmanuel Kofi , Zoiku Felix , Asase Alex , Tung Nguyen Huu
Published: August 2023

Background: The erythrocytic stage life cycle of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, consists of trophozoite, schizont and gametocyte stages in humans. Various antimalarial agents target different stages of the parasite to produce treatment outcomes. This study reports on the stage specific antimalarial activity of heptaphylline and imperatorin against human P. falciparum in addition to their cytotoxicity and selectivity indices (SI).
Methods: The compounds were isolated from Clausena anisata using column chromatography and their structures elucidated using NMR spectroscopy. The antimalarial activity was determined by measuring the trophozoitocidal, schizonticidal and gametocytocidal activities of the compounds using the SYBR green assay. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay.
Results: Heptaphylline and imperatorin produced trophozoitocidal, schizonticidal and gametocytocidal activities with IC50s of 1.57 (0.2317) - 26.92 (0.3144) µM with those of artesunate (the standard drug) being 0.00024 (0.0036) - 0.0070 (0.0013) µM. In the cytotoxicity assay, the compounds produced CC50S greater than 350 µM and SI of 13.76 - 235.90. Also, the trophozoitocidal and schizonticidal activities of the compounds were more pronounced than their gametocytocidal activity. Imperatorin was 42.04% more trophozoitocidal than hepthaphyline. But, hepthaphyline has more schizonticidal and gametocytocidal properties than imperatorin.
Conclusion: Heptaphylline and imperatorin are therefore, promising antimalarial agents since, they possessed potent anti-malaria activity with weak cytotoxicity on RBCs. However, imperatorin is a better antimalaria prophylactic agent whereas heptaphylline is a better malaria treatment agent.
Spatiotemporal distributions and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface seawater of Laizhou Bay, China
Authors: shi di , Wu Fengchang , He Jia , Sun Yan , Qin Ning , Sun Fuhong , Su Hailei , Wang Beibei
Published: August 2023

The spatial-temporal distribution, source, and potential ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface seawater from Laizhou Bay were investigated. The total PAHs (ΣPAHs) concentration ranged from 277 to 4393 ng/L with an average of 1178 ng/L, thereby suggested a relatively moderate to high PAHs exposure level in Laizhou Bay in comparison to other bays in the world. The composition patterns and source apportionment results revealed that the coal, biomass burning, diesel emissions and petroleum combustion as well as the combination of these processes were the dominant sources of PAHs in the surface water, which were closely associated with sail process and sewage effluents. The ecological risk assessment indicated that BaP, Phe, Flua and Nap would exist ecological risks in most of surface seawater sites, but the Probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) results showed that the current level of risk is not as severe as the Risk quotient (RQ) results revealed.
How do Saudi Board Orthopedic Surgery Residents perceive their residency learning experiences?
Authors: Mousa Ahmed Hafez , Alshreif Nouf Fahad , Nassar Jumanah , Alsuayri Razan , Alsayed Abdelrahman Waleed , Merdad Mahmoud Jamil , Alyami Ali H.
Published: August 2023

Background:
Learning in the context of residency education is built upon the foundational “premise that human beings have the ability to transfer what they have learned from one situation to another”. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of residents’ learning processes.
main objective is to provide a theoretical foundation that describes how residents learn while being part of a complex ecological context, that is the health care context.
Methods:
The number of participants recruited in this study are fourteen residents. While qualitative research is concerned with providing rich data rather than generalized findings, the number of participants is adequate to capture the depth and complexity of the phenomenon under investigation . The participants of the study are all Saudi Residents, enrolled in the Saudi Orthopedic Residency Program. Fourteen participants consented their participation in the study, two of which are females, and the other twelve are males. Upon IRB approval, participants consented to participate in the study in the Fall 2022. Pseudonyms are used to protect the identity of participants.
Results:
The conducted interview provided rich data, and, thus, the coding of the data resulted in generating multiple themes. The researchers focused on analyzing two themes relative to the research questions. The two major themes that the researchers will discuss are: learning through surgical experiences and learning through clinical experiences. These two major themes are related to subcategories that are interrelated and overlapped. In addition, these subcategories and themes were also analyzed in terms of their relevance given the complexity of the data.
Conclusion:
In our findings, we identified and shed light on major challenges residents face in their training
Remediation of As(V) and Cd(II) contamination by a ZVI-biochar: experimental and DFT calculation
Authors: Liu Bangwei , Zhou Yan , Zhang Yiwei , Chen Dandan , Liu Wenhui , Lu Ping , Su Xiaoyu , Xia Tian
Published: August 2023

A novel zero-valent iron loaded biochar (ZVI-CSC) was synthesized in this study for the remediation of As(Ⅴ) and Cd(II) contamination. The impact of ZVI-CSC on the adsorption performance of As(Ⅴ) and Cd(II) in solution, as well as their migration properties in soil, were investigated through adsorption kinetics and soil column leaching experiments, respectively. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of As(Ⅴ) by ZVI-CSC was significantly improved to 14.42 g·kg-1 at pH=3, compared with unmodified biochar. However, the adsorption capacity of Cd(II) was not improved. In the leaching experiments, the addition of ZVI-CSC to As(Ⅴ)-contaminated soil resulted in a significant reduction of cumulative As(Ⅴ) release rate from 32.26% to 3.11%, compared with CSC. Moreover, the role of ZVI in As(V)/Cd(II) remediation was analyzed. nZVI forms ≡Fe-OH and ≡Fe-OOH due to oxidation, which can form monodentate and bidentate complexes with As(V) via ligand exchange, thus promoting As immobilization. Furthermore, to further improve the adsorption performance of Cd(II), the electrostatic potential (ESP) of biochars with different surface functional group (C=O, C–O–C, –OH and –COOH) and their bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) with As(Ⅴ) and Cd(II) were calculated based on density functional theory (DFT). The results showed that –OH was the most effective for As(V) adsorption, and C–O–C was the most effective for Cd(II) adsorption. C=O and –COOH can be used to the simultaneous adsorption of As(V) and Cd(II). Therefore, the surface functional groups of ZVI-CSC can be selectively modified to improve its adsorption performance of As(Ⅴ) and Cd(II).
Supporting positive patient experiences for rare disease care during disruptive times: findings from a multicentre study
Authors: Solebo Ameenat , Kellett Salomey , Tadić Valerija , Petrushkin Harry , Ashworth Jane , Connor Alan , McLoone Eibhlin , Sharma Srilakshmi , Agorogiannis Eleftherios , Watts Patrick , Hughes Edward , Ritchie Ailsa , Pilling Rachel , Benzimra James , Marsh Catherine , Pharoah Daniel , Choi Jessy , Dick Andrew , Rahi Jugnoo
Published: August 2023

Introduction:
We describe the perceptions and experiences of health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic of those newly diagnosed with a rare, chronic inflammatory eye disorder.
Methods:
We undertook a cross-sectional study nested within a longitudinal multi-centre inception cohort study. Participants were families and young people (aged under 18 years) newly diagnosed with childhood uveitis. Using a validated tool, the Health Foundation COVID-19 Survey, we captured qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive summary statistics. Qualitative, free text responses were analysed using content and thematic analysis.
Results:
Responses received from 60 families between 1st September 2020 and 30th March 2022 were analysed. Despite two in five reporting challenges in accessing medication, the majority felt comfortable accessing healthcare services (8%, 95% CI 3 - 18%, of participants expressed discomfort, versus 28%, 95% CI 26 – 28% of general population). Thematic analysis identified five themes: the value of protected spaces to safely access care; the positive role of digital health tools the experience of immature telemedicine; disintegration of care; and dealing with uncertainty.
Discussion:
Our findings suggest that families of children with a rare chronic condition had greater confidence in accessing healthcare during the pandemic than the general population. Nevertheless, to ensure more robust health services for such populations in future times of disruption, developments in telemedicine should be directly informed by the experiences of those with rare disease. The development of new healthcare processes which ensure the whole healthcare team has adequate information to support families should be prioritised.
Public Healthcare Deliveries during the Flood Disaster, Challenges and Way Forward: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sazali Mohd Fazeli , Rahim Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul , Lukman Khamisah Awang , Deligannu Pravina , Madrim Mohd Faizal , Ahmad Zulkhairul Naim Sidek
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Flood is a destructive natural disaster with severe effects on public health. While policies exist to guide public health interventions during floods, there is limited understanding of the vulnerabilities and challenges in this sector. To address this gap, this article reviews the challenges and proposes a way forward for public health interventions in flood disasters. Methodology: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was used for this review. The review involves several methodological steps, systematic searching strategies based on identification, screening, and eligibility on two established databases which are Scopus and Pubmed, followed by quality appraisal, and data extraction and inductive thematic analysis. Results: A total of 15 articles were selected in this review. Based on the thematic analysis, five themes were developed under the challenges: (1) healthcare constraint, (2) individual related, (3) health risks, (4) infrastructure condition, and (5) inadequate planning and preparedness. Further analysis of the theme has resulted in 22 subthemes. Meanwhile, another five themes were developed under the way forward, which are: (1) planning and preparedness, (2) health policy, programs, and technology, (3) training and capacity building, (4) information seeking and monitoring, and (5) government and organizational support. Subsequent analysis found 16 subthemes. Conclusion: Public health practitioner, disaster management team, and policy maker can anticipate several challenges that could arise from the flood disaster. An effective public healthcare delivery requires a coordinated response from government agencies, healthcare providers, and the affected communities, to ensure the provision of timely and appropriate healthcare services.
Experimental and Theoretic Mechanism of Multiple Adsorption of Oppositely Charged Cu(II) and Cr(VI) onto Amine-rich Cellulose Adsorbent
Authors: Hao Linlin , Jia Dongmei , Liu Mengzhu
Published: August 2023

A novel layer-by-layer adsorption was proposed and used for adsorption of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) on the pre-bleached sawdust cellulose coated with polyethylenimine (PSC-PEI). It was found that PSC-PEI after Cu(II) cations adsorption was favorable for Cr(VI) anions extraction. The maximum adsorption capacities estimated by Langmuir model for Cu(II) and Cr(VI) were 80 and 93.5 mg/g, respectively. Kinetic regression results fitted by pseudo-second order model showed that k2 of 0.07 g/mg/min for Cr(VI) is much higher than that of 0.02 for Cu(II), indicating that PSC-PEI exhibited a stronger affinity towards Cr(VI). The first-layer adsorption mechanism for Cu(II) involved the formation of copper-amine complex, while the second-layer adsorption of Cr(VI) mainly involved electrostatic attraction and redox reaction which was demonstrated by the estimation of zeta potentials and XPS study. The simulated results for dynamic column test showed good agreement between the theoretical values and the experimental values. It was revealed that Cu(II) adsorption was dependent on external mass transfer process, while the internal mass transfer is the rate-determining step for Cr(VI) adsorption. The saturated adsorbent was regenerated by washing with 5% NaOH and 5% H2SO4 solutions and the adsorption ability of more than 70% was sustained after three cycles of regeneration. This study demonstrated that the oppositely charged Cu(II) cations and Cr(VI) anions could be effectively removed by amine-rich cellulose adsorbent from wastewater through this layer-by-layer adsorption.
Evaluation of three prevalent global riverine nutrient transport models
Authors: Jiao Xinyi , Zhou Jia , Hu Minpeng , Wang Mingfeng , Wu Hao , Wu Kaibin , Chen Dingjiang
Published: August 2023

Global nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) transport models provide a quantitative assessment of riverine nutrient source, transport, accumulation and depletion processes. By conducting a meta-analysis of the modeled results and accuracy metrics from previous studies, this study evaluated the accuracies and their influencing factors of three prevalent global riverine N and P transport models (Global NEWS, IMAGE-GNM and WorldQual). The Global NEWS model exhibited higher accuracies in predicting riverine dissolved organic nitrogen (DON; R2 = 0.58, NSE = 0.57) and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP; R2 = 0.59, NSE = 0.59) yields compared to riverine dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN; R2 = 0.56, NSE=-0.80) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP; R2 = 0.33, NSE=-0.12) yields. The DIN and DIP sub-models of Global NEWS were applicable for basins with areas greater than 2.2×104 km2 and 3.2×104 km2, respectively. The IMAGE-GNM model demonstrated satisfactory accuracies in predicting riverine total nitrogen (TN; R2 = 0.56, NSE = 0.53) and total phosphorus (TP; R2 = 0.59, NSE = 0.48) concentrations, particularly in European basins. The IMAGE-GNM model performed better for simulation of riverine TN concentration when data set was longer than 21 years and for regions above 54°N, and for simulation of riverine TP concentration when data set was longer than 22 years and for regions above 55°N. The WorldQual model demonstrated relatively poor performance in simulating riverine TN (R2 = 0.76, NSE = 0.34) and TP (R2 = 0.71, NSE=-0.25) concentrations. For model improvements in future, the Global NEWS and WorldQual would benefit from more detailed in-stream nutrient retention/release and transformation modules, while improved chemical weathering dynamics could further enhance the Global NEWS. For the IMAGE-GNM, modification of the soil erosion module is warranted to enhance efficiency in basins outside Europe. Consideration of legacy effects is required to improve these three models. The results of this study provide valuable guidance for the model selecting and improvement for specific needs.
Calcium Carbonate Scaling Control on Heat Plate Exchange Surfaces using Ultrasound
Authors: Oliveira Lucas Ramalho , Pereira Lucas Gomes , Teixeira Leandro Rozário , Silva Marcus Vinícius Santos da , Pepe Iuri Muniz , Ferreira Vitor Pinheiro , Junior Luis Carlos Sores , Demetino Geydson Gonzaga , de Mattos Fabio Oliveira , Cordeiro André Luis Rufino , Rodrigues Carlos Eduardo Aguiar Lima , Vitiello Rodrigo Pommerehn
Published: August 2023

Calcium carbonate scaling can lead to serious operational problems in industrial facilities, its control is of fundamental importance, especially in heat transfer equipment. This work evaluated the use of ultrasound in order to prevent calcium carbonate scaling, focusing applications involving heat transfer equipment. Tests were conducted using a metal surface coupon, collected from a plate heat exchanger, as sample holder. Ten depositions runs were performed by a semi-continuous process using CaCl2.2H2O and NaHCO3 solutions as reagents. A well-marked cavitation was verified after erosion tests on aluminum foil. Two experimental situations were tested: (i) no ultrasound applied to the crystal formation medium, (ii) ultrasound irradiation using Langevin transducer at 40 kHz and 31.5 Watt, where scaling mass and crystal morphology were evaluated. Calcium carbonate mass deposition was drastically reduced under ultrasound action, it had a strong influence on size and morphology of formed crystals, making them smaller in size and rounded, thus less adherent to the titanium metal coupon surface.
Early efficacy of rotational osteotomy of the femoral neck with preservation of the round ligament in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head
Authors: Qi Baochuang , zhang Ying , Tang Zhifang , Guo Minzheng , Zhang Hong , Luo Dianzhong , Xu Yongqing , Li Chuan
Published: August 2023

Background
In young patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), hip preservation surgery should be considered whenever possible. However, the optimal surgical approach for use in young and middle-aged patients with extensive osteonecrosis or even collapse of the femoral head has not been elucidated. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the results of rotational osteotomy of the femoral neck with preservation of the round ligament (ROFNPRL) in 13 young patients with ONFH and to describe the procedure, technique, and feasibility of ROFNPRL. The results of ROFNPRL are provided, along with an evaluation of the procedure, technique and feasibility of ROFNPRL.
Methods
This study included 13 patients (7 males and 6 females) and 14 hips (6 unilateral cases on each side and one bilateral case). The mean patient age was 33.5 years (22 to 49 years). The causative factors were as follows: hormonal, 3; alcoholism, 6; and idiopathic, 4. The International Association of Bone Circulation (ARCO 2019 revision) stage distribution was as follows: stage II, 7; stage IIIA, 5; and stage IIIB, 2. The mean follow-up time was 17.9 months (13 to 24 months). Imaging was used to observe the continued collapse of the femoral head and healing of the osteotomy block. Clinical and functional assessments were performed using the modified Harris hip score (mHHS) and visual analog scale (VAS) score.
Results
The mean mHHS improved from 51.00 ± 3.64 to 80.00 ± 3.91 (p < 0.001), and the mean VAS score improved from 6.71 ± 0. 83 to 1.36 ± 0.50 (p < 0.001). The satisfaction rate at the last follow-up was 78.5%. There were no serious complications, such as bone discontinuity, incision infection, or peripheral nerve injury, and imaging revealed no cases of continued femoral head collapse on examination.
Conclusions
We observed satisfactory short-term survival rates and improved patient-reported outcomes in young patients with ONFH treated with ROFNPRL.
Dynamics analysis of a double-plungers type turbine overspeed protection mechanism
Authors: Jiang Haicheng , Wang Decheng , Cheng Peng , Shao Chenxi
Published: August 2023

A double-plunger type overspeed protection mechanism has an excellent performance in turbine overspeed protection, but the complicated operating principle thereof makes long-term use difficult. In this study, a dynamics model is established to explain the relationship between the motion state and the force situation. Through the analysis of the dynamics model, the specific process of the linked plunger for achieving overspeed protection with tripping action is determined, and the motion law of the inner and outer plungers is clarified. Additionally, the complete solution method and calculation procedure for the tripping speed of the submerged plunger are established, and the specific process for solving the relevant equations with numerical iteration is clarified. Finally, a rigid-flexible coupling virtual prototype model is established, and the entire process of plunger motion is simulated with dynamics simulation to verify the correctness of the plunger action mechanism in the theoretical model.
Effect of Mdr1 C3435t and Cyp2c19 Genetic Polymorphisms on the Outcome of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication Treatment in Children With Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer, Vietnam
Authors: Le Loan Thi Thuy , Nguyen Liem Thanh , Vu Hoang Anh , Nguyen Nghia An , Nguyen Tuan Anh
Published: August 2023

Background
Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility in Vietnamese children currently get low efficiency. There are causes of treatment failure, among host genetic factors namely MDR1 C3435T and CYP2C19 affect the absorption and metabolism of proton pump inhibitors - a crucial component of eradication therapy. The study aimed to investigate the effect of MDR1 C3435T and CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms on the cure rate.
Methods
207 pediatric patients with gastritis and peptic ulcer infecting Helicobacter pylori completed the eradication therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility with proton pump inhibitor esomeprazole. Eradication efficacy was assessed after at least 4 weeks by the urease breath test. MDR1 C3435T genetic polymorphism and CYP2C19 genotype were determined using a sequencing method based on Sanger's principle.
Results
Among 207 children recruited in this study, the ratio of CYP2C19 EM, IM, and PM phenotypes was 40.1%, 46.4%, and 16.9%, respectively. The patient with MDR1 3435C/C polymorphism accounted for 43.0%, MDR1 3435C/T was 40.1%, and MDR1 3435T/T was 16.9%. The cure rate of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with CYP2C19 EM genotype was 78.3%; 83.3% of those with the IM genotype, and PM genotype was 96,4% (p = 0.07). Successful eradication rates for Helicobacter pylori were 85.4%, 86.7%, and 68.6% in patients with the MDR1 3435C/C, C/T, and T/T, respectively (p = 0.02). Multiple logistic regression analysis found that MDR1 C3435T genetic polymorphisms of patients were significant independent risk factors for treatment failure, and CYP2C19 genotype did not affect Helicobacter pylori eradication.
Conclusions
The Helicobacter pylori eradication rates by regimens based on antibiotic susceptibility and esomeprazole were not significantly different between the CYP2C19 phenotypes. The MDR1 C3435T polymorphism is one of the factors impacting Helicobacter pylori eradication results in children.
Why is Uncertainty Needed for Traffic Flow Prediction
Authors: Kim Mingyu , Lee Donghyun
Published: August 2023

Traffic flow prediction is a challenging topic that is considered important in both academia and industry. Recently, it has gainedpopularity in the implementation of intelligent transportation systems. Most of the existing models for traffic flow prediction (e.g.,long short term memory, gated recurrent unit) focus on increasing the prediction performance and providing fast predictions forreal-time applications. In addition, they can reveal the integrity of the prediction when the actual value is provided; however,they cannot explain the uncertainty of prediction. The topic of uncertainty has recently emerged as an important problem indeep learning. In this study, we have proposed to solve this problem by applying Monte Carlo dropout, which is a method ofestimating uncertainty, to a traffic prediction model. We have conducted experiments to show that the values predicted by themodel as well as their uncertainty can be estimated together without significantly decreasing the performance of the model.
Corneal Nerve Regeneration After Refractive Surgery and the Factors Affecting It—In Vivo Confocal Microscope Study
Authors: Yang Jing , He Runzhang , Nong Yating , Zhou Sheng
Published: August 2023

PURPOSE
To evaluate the regeneration of corneal nerve fibers after small incision microlens extraction (SMILE) and femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and the factors affecting it.
METHODS
In this retrospective, nonrandomized observational study, 12 patients underwent SMILE, and 14 patients underwent FS-LASIK for myopia correction. Microscopic morphological changes in subbasal corneal nerve density and corneal structures were assessed by confocal microscopy before surgery and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Correlations were made between various subbasal corneal nerve parameters and the corresponding surgical parameters and corneal cell density.
RESULTS
At one, three, and six months postoperatively, CNFD, CNFL, CNFA, CNFW, and CFracDim were higher in SMILE-treated eyes than in FS-LASIK-treated eyes (all P < .05). However, at 6 months postoperatively, neither group had recovered to preoperative levels. Cap (flap) diameter size was negatively correlated with CNFD at one month postoperatively and with CNFD, CNBD, CNFL, CTBD, CNFA, and CFracDim at three months postoperatively. Preoperative SE was positively correlated with CNFD, CNBD, CNFL, CTBD, and CNFA at three months postoperatively (all P < .01).
CONCLUSIONS
Up to six months after surgery, the subbasal nerve parameters were higher in the SMILE group than in the FS-LASIK group. Corneal nerve parameters correlated with cap (flap) diameter size as well as SE size at three months postoperatively.
Comparing the performances of support vector machines, artificial neural network, and a logistic regression model for predicting coronary artery diseases: a cross‑sectional study
Authors: Shariatnia Sahar , Rajabi Abdolhalim , Ziaratban Majid , Salehi Aref , Vakili Mohammadali
Published: August 2023

Background
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is considered as an inflammatory disease. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. This study aimed to compare the performance of different non-invasive CAD diagnostic techniques.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was performed on a total of 758 subjects (250 with CAD and 508 without CAD). We compared the performances of logistic regression (LR) model, artificial neural networks (ANN), and support vector machines (SVMs) for the purpose of functioning. The Performance of classification techniques were compared using ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.
Results
The study population consisted of 758 case subjects. Two hundred fifty of them (33.6% men and 66.4% women) were eventually diagnosed with non-CAD, while 508 subjects (64% men and 36% women) were not (33.6% men and 66.4% women). The area under the ROC Curve (AUC) for CAD resulted in 0.775 (95% CI: 0.711, 0.838) for Logistic regression model, 0.752 (95% CI: 0.682, 0.823) for ANN, and 0.793 (95% CI: 0.733, 0.853) for SVMs, respectively. There were significant differences between these three models in prediction of CAD (p = 0.04). The best model of forecasting CAD was the SVMs (0.793, 95% CI: 0.733, 0.853). However, the differences between logistic regression model, ANN and LR with SVMs were small and non-significant (p = 0.2, p = 0.09).
Conclusions
Support vector machines (SVMs) yielded better performance than ANN model to predict the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) with simple clinical predictors. However, support vector machines produced as much performance as the LR model.
Relationships between muskrat density and avian and anuran richness in Great Lakes coastal wetlands
Authors: Baici Jennifer , Martin Kayla D. , Newar Sasha L. , Burgess Thomas , Greenhorn Janet E. , Kielar Spencer R. , Menelon Laurelie , Melvin Gregory P. , Persad Rebekah N. , Sadowski Carrie , Solmundson Kirsten , Tozer Douglas C. , Ward Meghan , Bowman Jeff
Published: August 2023

Wetlands in southern Ontario are at risk of degradation and alteration due to human activities. This is a concern because wetlands provide essential habitat for species from a range of taxa, such as birds and anurans (frogs and toads). One wetland-dwelling species whose decline may be linked to loss of wetland wildlife habitat is the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus). The decline of muskrats may also be linked to declines of other species because muskrats engage in activities that could support taxa such as birds and anurans by increasing habitat heterogeneity. We investigated whether bird and anuran species richness is related to muskrat density or if it is better predicted by land cover variables that describe the wetland and surrounding area at 30 coastal wetlands on Lake Ontario. We estimated bird and anuran species richness using data from the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program and the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program, and muskrat density based on muskrat house counts. Our results suggest that muskrat activity did not predict richness of anurans or birds overall; however, it did predict richness for the subset of birds that nest in emergent aquatic vegetation. Our results indicate that muskrat abundance in emergent marshes may increase habitat quality for birds that nest in emergent vegetation but may not have a measurable effect on anuran diversity in these same wetlands.
Porcine model of airway epithelial cells: similarities and divergences with humans
Authors: Genna Vincenzo Giuseppe , Adamo Davide , Galaverni Giulia , Lepore Fabio , Boraldi Federica , Quaglino Daniela , Lococo Filippo , Pellegrini Graziella
Published: August 2023

Animal models are currently used in several fields of biomedical research as useful alternatives to human-based studies. However, the obtained results do not always effectively translate into clinical applications, due to interspecies anatomical and physiological differences. Detailed comparability studies are therefore required to verify whether the selected animal species could be a representative model for the disease or for cellular process under investigation. This has proven to be fundamental to obtaining reliable data from preclinical studies. Among the different species, swine is deemed an excellent animal model in many fields of biological research, and they have been largely used in respiratory medicine, considering the high homology between human and swine airways. In the context of in vitro studies, the validation of porcine airway epithelial cells as an alternative to human epithelial cells is crucial. In this paper, porcine and human tracheal and bronchial epithelial cells are compared in terms of in vivo tissue architecture and in vitro cell behaviour under standard and airlifted conditions, analyzing the regenerative, proliferative and differentiative potentials of these cells. We report multiple analogies between the two species, validating the employment of porcine airway epithelial cells for most in vitro preclinical studies, although with some limitations due to species-related divergences.
Appraisal of biological remediation options for the recovery of a mixed contaminated soil from a gravel pit
Authors: Hidalgo June , Artetxe Unai , Becerril José M. , Gómez-Sagasti María T. , Epelde Lur , Vilela Juan , CRESPO CARLOS GARBISU
Published: August 2023

The biological remediation of mixed contaminated soils is exceedingly challenging as it often requires actions to minimize metal-induced risks while degrading organic contaminants. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of three biological remediation options (rhizoremediation, biostimulation, mycoremediation), applied together or separately, for the recovery of a mixed contaminated soil from a gravel pit. We evaluated the effectiveness of these remediation strategies in terms of both reduction in soil contamination levels and recovery of soil health. The combination of biostimulation (by the application of composted sewage sludge) and rhizoremediation with Medicago sativa plants resulted in the highest recovery of soil health. The application of the composted sewage sludge led to the highest reduction in anthracene and polychlorinated biphenyls concentrations. Still, the studied biological remediation options did not manage to decrease soil contamination levels below some of the limits set by the regional legislation. By contrasts, they enhanced soil health, as reflected by the values of soil microbial indicators, pointing out to the fact that they can stimulate soil functioning in a relatively short period of time, long before the concentration of soil contaminants is significantly reduced.
Weighted correlation gene networks and gene set enrichment analysis revealed new potential genetic etiologies associated with cryptorchidism
Authors: Huang Wenlin , Liu Jinge , Liu Ziwei , Xu Yong
Published: August 2023

Cryptorchidism, a severe congenital malformation, is characterized by an unclear pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to utilize bioinformatic methods to identify potential biomarkers associated with the development of cryptorchidism. Microarray data from the GEO dataset were obtained, and differential expression analysis using the limma package in R software identified 1539 genes that were differentially expressed between the cryptorchidism group and the control group. The Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) algorithm was then utilized to identify a module highly correlated with the cryptorchidism phenotype. A protein interaction network was constructed to investigate the interaction among genes within this module. Subsequently, important hub genes were identified, and single-gene Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) using the clusterProfiler package in R software was performed to determine genes significantly correlated with the hub genes. The hub genes identified included CDGH1, CS and G6PD, HSPA5, KEAP1, NEDD8, POLR2J, JUN, SOD2, and TXN. Furthermore, the differentially expressed genes were found to be enriched in processes such as mitochondrial translational elongation, mitochondrial translational termination, and translational termination. In conclusion, bioinformatic methods were employed to identify potential biomarkers associated with the pathogenesis of cryptorchidism. However, it is important to acknowledge that these findings reflect correlational rather than causal differences in gene expression, considering the utilization of tissue samples containing various tissue types. Further investigation is needed to establish specific causal relationships.
Accelerated sea level rise and Phragmites australis expansion alter tidal marsh water table dynamics
Authors: Courtney Sofi , Montalto Franco , Watson Elizabeth Burke
Published: August 2023

Groundwater hydrology plays an important role in coastal marsh biogeochemical function, in part because groundwater dynamics drive the zonation of macrophyte community distribution. Changes that occur over time, such as sea level rise and shifts in habitat structure are likely altering groundwater dynamics and eco-hydrological zonation. We examined tidal flooding and marsh water table dynamics in 1999 and 2019 and mapped shifts in plant distributions over time, at Piermont Marsh, a brackish tidal marsh located along the Hudson River Estuary near New York City. We found evidence that the marsh surface was flooded more frequently in 2019 than 1999, and that tides were propagating further into the marsh in 2019, although marsh surface elevation gains were largely matching that of sea level rise. The changes in groundwater hydrology that we observed are likely due to the high tide raising at a rate that is greater than that of mean sea level, as well as potential increases in soil porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and evapotranspiration from Phragmites australis expansion. These results suggest that the interactive effects of climate change and shifts in plant community composition are impacting the tidal marsh water table at Piermont Marsh. These effects may exacerbate or mitigate impacts of climate change on tidal marsh vegetation. Considering these results, we recommend that habitat models consider tidal range expansion and groundwater hydrology as metrics when predicting the impact of sea level rise on marsh resilience.
Does digital literacy reduce the risk of returning to poverty? Evidence from China
Authors: zhou di , qiu wenyan , zha fangjing , zhang xiaoru
Published: August 2023

China's use of digital technology for poverty alleviation has yielded substantial results. In establishing and improving long-term mechanisms for poverty eradication governance, changing capabilities is the key and ultimate goal in alleviating the problem of poverty. In the context of the widespread adoption of digital technology and rapid development of the digital economy, the lack of digital literacy is a significant obstacle that hinders rural residents from reaping the benefits of the digital economy. However, few studies explore the specific impact of improving digital literacy on poverty alleviation governance. Based on data from the China Family Panel Studies from 2018, this paper explores the impact of digital literacy on the risk of impoverished households returning to poverty, and examines the underlying mechanism. The study finds that digital literacy can reduce the risk of impoverished households returning to poverty in China by promoting family entrepreneurship, improving entrepreneurial performance, and expanding entrepreneurial scale. Further analysis shows that this effect varies among households with different regional and capital endowments, and that digital business literacy has the most significant effect in terms of alleviating the risk of returning to poverty. This study has significant implications for understanding and improving the governance mechanism of sustainable poverty alleviation through digital literacy.
JEL codes: D13, I25, I32, O15, O33
Characterisation of Pythium capillosum– A new pathogen of Xiphinema pachtaicum (Nematoda: Longidoridae)
Authors: Milašin Ranka , Voruna Mihajlo , Matic Slavica , Njezic Branimir , Artimová Renata , Medo Juraj , Delic Duska
Published: August 2023

Isolation on culture media followed with macroscopic, microscopic, molecular and phylogenetic analyses and pathogenicity test allowed us to identified Pythium capilosum found to be capable of destroying certain dagger nematode through endozoic parasitism from ingested oomycete zoospores. Although endoparasitism of free-living nematodes is found to be common among Oomycetes in nature, this is the first finding of such occurrence in Bosnia and Herzegovina soils. The obtained results could give rise to initiate a study for the new biological approach for nematode control promoting environmentally safe and sustainable control measures.
Analysis of the correlation between RBFOX1 gene copy number variation, mRNA and protein expression, and colorectal cancer
Authors: Li Jian , Xu Jian , Niu Min , Wan Songlin , Wang Youheng , Liu Yi , Ding Zhao , Qian Qun , Li Daojiang , Li Guangchun
Published: August 2023

Background: Copy number variation is a significant characteristic of colorectal cancer progression. RBFOX1 is the gene with the highest frequency of copy number loss in colorectal cancer, but current research related to it and colorectal cancer is relatively scarce.
Methods: Data from TCGA and other sources were used to analyze the copy number variation and mRNA expression levels of RBFOX1, as well as their correlation with clinical pathological data. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence experiments were used to analyze the expression of RBFOX1 protein in colorectal cancer cells and tissues.
Results: RBFOX1 has a high frequency (22.4%) of copy number loss and diverse copy number variations in colorectal cancer tissues. High-level RBFOX1 deletion is prone to occur in the right-sided colon and tissues with high microsatellite instability. The copy number variation of RBFOX1 and mRNA expression are not correlated. In tumor tissues, RBFOX1 mRNA shows a characteristic of reduced expression, which is significantly related to BRAF mutation (P=4.7e-05, P=0.03). Low expression of RBFOX1 is prone to occur in the right-sided colon and tissues with high microsatellite instability. The protein encoded by RBFOX1 is expressed in normal intestinal tissues, but shows a characteristic of absence in some colorectal cancer tissues.
Conclusion: In the right-sided colon and tissues with high microsatellite instability, RBFOX1 shows copy number loss and low mRNA expression. This characteristic is closely related to BRAF gene mutation, and the protein of RBFOX1 is absent in some colorectal cancer tissues.
Multimodal imaging and photothermal/chemodynamic therapy of cervical cancer using GSH-responsive nanoparticles
Authors: Shao runrun , qiao xiaofang , Cao Linlin , man jianliang , guo lingyun , li lanlan , liu wen , li lihong , wang bin , guo lixia , ma sufang , zhang boye , wang haojiang , Yan Lili
Published: August 2023

The development of nanoparticles capable of inducing reactive oxygen species(ROS) formation has become an important strategy for cancer therapy. Simultaneously, the preparation of multifunctional nanoparticles that respond to the tumor microenvironment is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. In this study, we designed a MoS2 core coated with MnO2, which possessed a good photothermal effect and could produce Fenton-like Mn2+ in response to highly expressed glutathione (GSH) in the tumor microenvironment, thereby generating a chemodynamic therapy (CDT). The nanoparticles were further modified with mPEG-NH2 to improve their biocompatibility, resulting in the formation of MoS2@MnO2-PEG. These nanoparticles were shown to possess significant MRI and CT imaging capabilities, making them useful in tumor diagnosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the anti-tumor ability of MoS2@MnO2-PEG, with a significant killing effect on tumor cells under combined treatment. These nanoparticles hold great potential for CDT/PTT combined antitumor therapy and could be further explored in biomedical research.
Detecting Concept Drift in Just-In-Time Software Defect Prediction Using Model Interpretation
Authors: Chitsazian Zeynab , Kashi Saeed Sedighian
Published: August 2023

Context: Previous studies have indicated that the stability of Just-In-Time Software Defect Prediction (JIT-SDP) models can change over time due to various factors, including modifications in code, environment, and other variables. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as Concept Drift (CD), which can lead to a decline in model performance over time. As a result, it is essential to monitor the model performance and data distribution over time to identify any fluctuations. Objective: We aim to identify CD points on unlabeled input data in order to address performance instability issues in evolving software and investigate the compatibility of these proposed methods with methods based on labeled input data. To accomplish this, we considered the chronological order of the input commits generated by developers over time. In this study, we propose several methods that monitor the distance between model interpretation vectors and values of their individual features over time to identify significant distances for detecting CD points. We compared these methods with various baseline methods. Method: In this study, we utilized a publicly available dataset that has been developed over the long-term and comprises 20 open-source projects. Given the real-world scenarios, we also considered verification latency. Our initial idea involved identifying CD points on within-project by discovering significant distances between consecutive vectors of interpretation of incremental and non-incremental models. Results: We compared the performance of the proposed CD Detection (CDD) methods to various baseline methods that utilized incremental Naïve Bayes classification. These baseline methods are based on monitoring the error rate of various performance measures. We evaluated the proposed approaches using well-known measures of CDD methods such as accuracy, missed detection rate, mean time to detection, mean time between false alarms, and meantime ratio. Our evaluation was conducted using the Friedman statistical test. Conclusions: According to the results obtained, it appears that method based on the average interpretation vector does not accurately recognize CD. Additionally, methods that rely on incremental classifiers have the lowest accuracy. On the other hand, methods based on non-incremental learning that utilized interpretation with positive effect size demonstrate the highest accuracy. By employing strategies that utilized the interpretation values of each feature, we were able to derive features that have the most positive effect in identifying CD.