bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mathematical modeling-based analysis: exploring the need for governments to combat illegal wildlife trade
Authors: Wang Yiting , Song Yuting , Huang Jun
Published: July 2024

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a huge gray industry with a market valuation of billions of dollars. Not only does this trade pose a serious threat to the safety of human and animal life, it is also one of the major challenges facing biodiversity today and can lead to a range of serious problems including the spread of zoonotic pathogen and invasive alien species. Although policymakers have been able to respond relatively quickly, the current regulation and crackdown on illegal wildlife trade is still inadequate. Using the United States as an example, this study employs a statistical modeling approach that employs principal component analysis and hierarchical analysis to effectively delineate and assess power, resources, and interests in the global wildlife conservation enterprise. We conducted an in-depth analysis of the impact of multiple national indicators and policy assumptions on the illegal wildlife trade, and used ARIMA models to analyze trade data before and after the implementation of interventions to predict trends over the next 14 years. By visualizing sales data and active trade pairs over the years, this study provides a scientific basis for government decision-making. The results of the study show that wildlife trade is significantly affected by specific regional and national indicators. In addition, our proposed modeling framework reveals previously overlooked influences in the illegal versus legal wildlife trade and promotes the development and implementation of effective interventions to reduce the damage of illegal trade to wild populations. We expect this study to contribute to the development of global wildlife conservation and promote more international cooperation and policy innovation.
A bibliometric mapping of advancements and trends in genome editing in pigs
Authors: Bharati Jaya , Kumar Satish , Devi Salam Jayachitra , Gupta Vivek Kumar
Published: July 2024

Targeted genome editing in pigs for optimizing pig productivity, disease tolerance and biomedical research has been widely undertaken by researchers. The present study aims to investigate the research advancements, focus area, gaps and challenges in the field of genome editing in pigs using bibliometric analysis. Bibliographic information of publications on genome editing in pigs from 2010 to 2023 were retrieved from Scopus database. Bibliometric analysis for parameters and network visualization like co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, citation, bibliographic coupling and co-citation was conducted using VOSviewer. Literature mining was conducted to evaluate the emerging areas and challenges in the development of gene edited pigs. We found 727 documents on genome editing in pigs, of which 407 were research articles, authored by 2826 researchers from 1359 research organizations across 40 countries. The two countries China and United States, account for more than 50% of the research publications. Investigations on optimization of procedure, delivery methods, editing efficiency, reducing off-target dominated the early phase of research, which shifted to its application for generating knock out (KO) or knock in (KI) pigs in the recent years. Areas like xenotransplantation, disease resistance, higher muscling and disease model have dominated the research horizon. Emerging areas include base editing, CRISPR based screens, diagnostics and therapeutics. Investigations on reducing heat stress and environmental footprints through genetic alterations need more attention of scientists. The challenges like off-target effect, regulatory, ethical and societal issues for channelizing gene edited pigs from lab-to-land and then from farm-to-fork continue to restrain this field.
Diversity and phenology of flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) associated with three habitats in the Colombian Andean-Amazon piedmont in Florencia, Caquetá.
Authors: Parada Henry Mauricio , Montoya Augusto León , Ramos-Pastrana Yardany
Published: July 2024

Thirty percent of the flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) diversity is concentrated in the Neotropics, with few studies in the Amazonian rainforests. We evaluated diversity, phenology and bait preference of Syrphids along an environmental gradient, including forest edge (FE), dense secondary forest (DFS) and agroforestry system (AFS). Adults were collected using Van Someren-Rydon traps (VSRTs) baited with fermented fruit, decomposed shrimp and fish. We sampled nine days per climatic season (high, HIR and low rainfall intensity, LIR), including nine sampling points per habitat in the Reserva Natural y Ecoturística La Avispa, Caquetá, Colombia. We estimated alpha and beta diversity components within and between habitats. Phenology was compared between climatic seasons. 1.379 specimens were collected, belonging to 59 species (13 genera). DFS had the higher abundance and richness (n = 812; 43 species), suggesting that conserved habitats offer a wide range of resources. Abundance during HIR was 8.9 times higher (n = 1.240), while richness was 1.8 times higher (68 species) than LIR, suggesting that rainfall influences diversity. An example is the high abundance and diversity ofCopestylum(n = 1.225; 61.1%) which breeds in phytotelmata, indicating high availability of these microhabitats. The VSRTs showed high sampling completeness (≥ 90%), suggesting that this methodology is useful for rapid Syrphids inventories, however the lack of typical Amazonian groups evidences the need to use complementary methods. Species replacement was the dominant component of betadiversity, indicating that each habitat contributes with unique species, providing functions for sustainability and ecosystem balance, where connectivity is essential to ensure the provision of the services in undergoing ecological restoration areas, such as the tropical rainforest studied here.
Synaptic protein CSF levels relate to memory scores in individuals without dementia
Authors: Wesenhagen Kirsten E.J. , de Leeuw Diederick M. , Tomassen Jori , Gobom Johan , Bos Isabelle , Vos Stephanie J.B. , Martinez-Lage Pablo , Tainta Mikel , Popp Julius , Peyratout Gwendoline , Tsolaki Magda , Vandenberghe Rik , Freund-Levi Yvonne , Verhey Frans , Lovestone Simon , Streffer Johannes , Dobricic Valerija , Blennow Kaj , Scheltens Philip , Smit August B. , Bertram Lars , Teunissen Charlotte E. , Zetterberg Henrik , Tijms Betty M. , Visser Pieter Jelle , Initiative the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging
Published: July 2024

INTRODUCTION: We investigated how cerebrospinal fluid levels of synaptic proteins associate with memory function in normal cognition (CN) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and investigated the effect of amyloid positivity on these associations.
METHODS: We included 242 CN (105(43%) abnormal amyloid), and 278 MCI individuals (183(66%) abnormal amyloid) from EMIF-AD MBD and ADNI. For 181 (EMIF-AD MBD) and 36 (ADNI) proteins with a synaptic annotation in SynGO, associations with word learning recall were analysed with linear models.
RESULTS: Subsets of synaptic proteins showed lower levels with worse recall in preclinical AD (EMIF-AD MBD: 7, ADNI: 5 proteins, none overlapping), prodromal AD (EMIF-AD MBD only, 27 proteins) and non-AD MCI (EMIF-AD MBD: 1, ADNI: 7 proteins). The majority of these associations were specific to these groups.
DISCUSSION: Synaptic disturbance-related memory impairment occurred very early in AD, indicating it may be relevant to develop therapies targeting the synapse early in the disease.
The Effects of Daily Mean Temperature and Diurnal Temperature Range on Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality in Hangzhou, China
Authors: Mo Zhe , Xu Manjin , Xu Yunfeng , He Luyang , Niu Huixia , Zhu Feiyun , Cao Xu , Wu Lizhi , Li Xueqing , Cai Gaofeng
Published: July 2024

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a leading cause of death in cardiovascular patients. In China, the disease burden of IHD deaths has significantly increased. One of the main influencing factors of IHD is changing climates, and temperature and diurnal temperature range (DTR) are important indicators of climate change.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of daily mean temperature and DTR on IHD mortality in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Methods: We obtained daily IHD mortality data and meteorological data from mortality surveillance system from 2014 to 2016. Quasi-Poisson generalized linear regression with a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was applied to estimate the associations between temperature variability and IHD deaths. Potential confounders were controlled in the analysis, including relative humidity, day of the week, public holidays, and long-term trends.
Results: A total of 7423 IHD mortality data were included in this study. A J-shaped pattern of DTR and a reversely J-shaped pattern of temperature for IHD mortality were observed. Risk estimates showed that the relative risks (RRs) of IHD mortality with extreme high DTR at lag 0–7 days were 1.309 (95% CI: 0.985, 1.740) while RRs of IHD mortality with extreme low DTR at lag 0–2 days were 1.234 (95% CI: 1.043, 1.460). For extreme hot temperature, the highest RRs at lag 0–2 days were 1.559 (95% CI: 1.250, 1.943); for extremely cold temperatures, the RRs increased from 1.049 (95% CI: 0.930, 1.183) to 2.089 (95% CI: 1.854, 2.352). Conclusion: In Hangzhou city, short-term exposure to extreme temperature was associated with mortality for IHD. These findings have implications for policy decision-making and targeted interventions.
Exploring the bidirectional associations of ADHD symptomatology, nutritional status, and body composition in childhood: evidence from a Brazilian Birth Cohort Study.
Authors: Gonçalves Bárbara , Martins-Silva Thais , Bierhals Isabel , Murray Joseph , Domingues Marlos , Hallal Pedro , Tovo-Rodrigues Luciana , Bertoldi Andréa
Published: July 2024

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been linked to excessive weight; however, the underlying mechanisms of this association are not well understood. To date, the bidirectional associations between ADHD and nutritional status in childhood have been explored in a limited number of studies, with particularly few of those incorporating body composition data. This study aims to evaluate the associations of ADHD symptoms, nutritional status, and body composition in childhood.
Methods: We analyzed data from 3940 children from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort at 4 and 6-7 years of age. Linear regression was performed to evaluate the association between ADHD symptoms and nutritional status (weight, height, and body mass index [BMI]) at ages 4 and 6-7, as well as body composition, specifically fat mass (FF) and fat-free mass (FFM) at ages 6-7. Moreover, a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) analysis between ADHD symptoms and BMI was performed to explore the bidirectional associations.
Results: ADHD symptoms were associated with increased height (β 0.01, 95%CI 0.001, 0.026) and FFM (β 0.02, 95%CI 0.008 - 0.035) at age 4, and increased BMI (β0.02, 95%IC 0.002, 0.038), weight (β0. 02, 95%CI 0.005, 0.039), height (β 0.01, 95%CI 0.000, 0.024), and FFM (β 0.02, 95%CI 0.012, 0.040) at ages 6-7. Although the effects observed in the CLPM suggest a bidirectional relationship between ADHD symptoms and BMI, the association did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion: Children with higher ADHD symptoms showed increased growth in weight, height, and BMI. The observed increase in weight and BMI was attributed to greater FFM in these children.
Do larger pollinators have higher pollination efficiency for a generalist plant Hibiscus mutabilis?
Authors: Shi Xiao-Qing , Zheng Bin , Liu Xiao-Li , Li Fang-Wen , Zhu Zhang-Shun , Quan Qiu-Mei , Li Yun-Xiang
Published: July 2024

Introduced plants that rely on animal pollination are prone to pollen limitation due to the lack of native pollinators. However, introduced plants did not suffer from more severe pollen limitation than native plants. Here, we investigated the typical introduced plant Hibiscus mutabilis, observed, measured, and recorded the flowering dynamics, floral traits, and visiting insects, and compared the body size, visitation rate, and pollination efficiency of five pollinator species. Our observations revealed that H. mutabilis may mainly depend on the moth for its pollination in the original habitat. Macroglossum pyrrhosticta provides pollination services for H. mutabilis in the introduced area, its pollination efficiency is low due to its small pollination site. H. mutabilis can continuously secrete a large amount of nectar to attract four species of bee pollinators, and the pollination efficiency of bee pollinators is significantly related to their body size.
Unprecedented synergy of ZnO quantum dots/Ag NPs/Nitazoxanide Triumphs composite NPs over multidrug resistant human pathogens as new trend of revolutionizing antimicrobial treatment
Authors: Gomaa Islam , Aleid Ghadah , EL-Moslamy Shahira H. , AlShammari Anoud , Al-Marshedy Sumayyah , Alshammary Freah , Gharkan Jouza , Abdel-Hameed Reda , Kamoun Elbadawy A.
Published: July 2024

Antibiotic resistance is currently becoming a more serious threat to global health, especially in severe nosocomial infections treatment by multidrug-resistant bacteria. This research provides a new way of synergizing green-synthesis for zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO-QDs with hexagonal crystals) that are 7nm in diameter and zero-valent Ag cubic crystals that are 67 nm in size embedded with nitazoxanide substrate (NZ). Instrumental characterization like SEM, TEM, EDAX, and FT-IR and comprehensive antimicrobial studies were conducted to study the incorporation behavior of composites based on Ag NPs/ZnO QDs/NAZ. This combination has not been hitherto addressed anywhere else in the published literature, as well as commercial viability. In this context, we have precisely tuned nanoparticle to nitazoxanide ratio for designing the formulation demonstrating potent activity against MDR infections. By employing nitazoxanide as a scaffold and careful decoration thereof antimicrobial potency has been unlocked overriding conventional therapies. In addition, Ag NPs/ZnO-QDs/nitazoxanide (G6) formula exhibited a therapeutic efficacy span of 96.15±1.68% to 99.57±0.20% against MDR human infections post 48h incubation; a breakthrough in therapeutic efficacy levels has been achieved by our method. Accordingly, ZnO QDs/Ag NPs/NZ composite offered potential multidrug resistant human pathogens as a new trend of revolutionizing antimicrobial treatment.
ABCD Parameter based Analytical AC Modeling of Novel Cu-Carbon Hybrid Interconnects for Noise Constrained Nanoscale Systems
Authors: Kumari Bhawana , Sahoo Manodipan , Sharma Rohit
Published: July 2024

A Copper-Carbon (Cu-Carbon) hybrid interconnect has been recently proposed for future VLSI applications, offering superiorelectrical performance compared to traditional interconnect structures. In the present era of high operating frequency, it is important to test this new structure for noise constrained applications specifically. In this work, ABCD parameter basedanalytical AC model of Cu-Carbon hybrid interconnects has been developed for efficient noise estimation in nanoscalesystems. Several signal transmission parameters, noise parameters and frequency dependent complex conductivity andimpedances of Cu-Carbon hybrid interconnects are estimated and compared with conventional copper (Cu) interconnects andemerging alternative copper-carbon nanotube (Cu-CNT) composite interconnects. The developed model is also verified withAdvanced Design System (ADS) software. Cu-Carbon hybrid interconnects have the lowest impedance among other alternativeconfigurations. Compared to copper, Cu-Carbon hybrid interconnect (with Fcnt=0.6) possesses ∼80% lower impedance at 100GHz frequency. Cu-Carbon hybrid experiences lowest return loss and highest forward transmission gain as compared to Cuand Cu-CNT composite interconnects. It demonstrates ∼43% and ∼48% lower S11 and ∼30% and ∼38% higher S21 valuesthan copper at 100 GHz for single and 2-line coupled interconnects, respectively. At lower frequencies, all interconnects havecomparable crosstalk noise profiles. The percentage improvement in the noise figure (in dB) and noise factor of Cu-Carbonhybrid is ∼48% and ∼98% at 100 GHz, respectively as compared with Cu interconnect. These analysis strengthens the claim ofCu-Carbon hybrid interconnect to be a worthier possibility for high frequency noise constrained applications in next-generationnanoscale systems.
Assessment of Body Fat Percentage in Emirati Females: A Comparative Analysis of BIA vs DXA
Authors: Haroun Dalia , Ehsanallah Aseel
Published: July 2024

Background/Objectives:
Obesity is a significant health issue in the UAE. Accurate body composition assessment is crucial for managing obesity-related health risks. This study aimed to evaluate the agreement between Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) in measuring body fat percentage (%BF) among Emirati females.
Subjects/Methods:
This cross-sectional study involved 95 healthy Emirati females aged 17–27 years. Paired samples t-tests, correlation analyses, and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare the two methods.
Results
BIA significantly underestimated %BF and fat mass (FM) while overestimating fat-free mass (FFM) compared to DXA. The mean difference in %BF was − 14.1% (p < 0.001), and the mean difference in FFM was + 8.2 kg (p < 0.001). Despite strong correlations between BIA and DXA measurements (r = 0.855 for %BF, r = 0.984 for FM, and r = 0.929 for FFM), Bland-Altman plots indicated poor agreement, with wide limits of agreement.
Conclusions
BIA remains valuable for obesity assessment in large-scale studies and clinical settings due to its non-invasive, easy-to-use, and cost-effective characteristics. The results show that the in-built prediction equations cannot adequately predict the %fat, FM, and FFM for this sample. Future research should focus on developing and validating BIA-specific equations tailored for Emiratis.
Emissions from Conventional and Electronic Waterpipes Relative to Cigarettes and a Heated Tobacco Product
Authors: Wilkinson Peter J. , Clarke Anna , Fearon Ian M. , Barry Ronan
Published: July 2024

Harms associated with tobacco product use, including waterpipe, are due to inhalational exposure to toxicants either present in tobacco or formed during the process of combustion. We assessed levels of 37 toxicants in aerosol emissions from conventional waterpipe heated with different charcoals and also with a heat management device (HMD), from the IQOS heated tobacco product (HTP), and the ‘OOKA’ electronic waterpipe. We also utilised literature data on toxicant yields in 3R4F reference cigarette smoke. When taking use patterns into account, toxicant yields were substantially lower in conventional waterpipe aerosol compared with cigarette smoke. Toxicant yields in electronic waterpipe aerosol were substantially lower than those in conventional waterpipe aerosol, both on a per session basis and when taking typical use patterns into account. Numerous toxicants in conventional waterpipe aerosol were absent in electronic waterpipe aerosol. In summary, during typical use conventional waterpipe emits fewer, and lower levels of, a number of toxicants relative to combustible cigarette smoke. In addition, electronically heating shisha further reduces toxicant levels, and many toxicants are absent in OOKA electronic waterpipe aerosol. These findings have important implications concerning toxicant exposure among waterpipe users, and for understanding how to potentially reduce health risks associated with waterpipe use.
Chemical profiling and clustering of various dried cannabis flowers revealed by volatilomics and chemometric processing
Authors: Janta Pannipa , Vimolmangkang Sornkanok
Published: July 2024

Cannabis flower scent is one of the key characteristics of the cannabis plant. The diverse scents impact user experiences and offer medicinal benefits. These scents originate from volatile compounds, particularly terpenes and terpenoids. This study characterized the volatile profile of 19 different dried cannabis flowers using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME-GC-MS). A total of 75 compounds were identified, including alcohols, aldehyde, benzenes, esters, ketone, monoterpenes, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoids. Cluster analysis was able to group the 19 cannabis cultivars into five clusters based on volatile chemotypes using chemometric techniques of hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Potential discriminant markers of each cultivar were then analyzed using a supervised partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) verified through Variable Importance in Projection values (VIP), identifying twenty discriminant markers. In addition, the correlations among 75 volatile compounds were also obtained. The findings of this study provide a valuable database of single cannabis cultivars, useful for identifying individual strains and verifying their quality. Clustering the cultivars by volatile chemotype can be used for classification of cannabis in the market. The results of this study are expected to be a starting point for further cannabis breeding programs to expand knowledge of this plant. Furthermore, the proposed method is applicable to other aroma plants in the future
Genomic characterization of Volzhskoe tick virus (Bunyavirales) from a Hyalomma marginatum tick, Hungary
Authors: Földvári Gábor , Tauber Zsófia , Tóth Gábor Endre , Cadar Dániel , Bialonski Aleksandra , Szabó Éva , Lanszki Zsófia , Horváth Balázs , Zana Brigitta , Varga Zsaklin , Földes Fanni , Kemenesi Gábor
Published: July 2024

Hyalomma marginatum, a vector for the high-consequence pathogen, the Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), needs particular attention due to its impact on public health. Although it is a known vector for CCHFV, its general virome is largely unexplored. Here, we report findings from a citizen science monitoring program aimed to understand the prevalence and diversity of tick-borne pathogens, particularly focusing on Hyalomma ticks in Hungary. In 2021, we identified one adult specimen of Hyalomma marginatum and subjected it to Illumina-based viral metagenomic sequencing. Our analysis revealed sequences of the uncharacterized Volzhskoe tick virus, an unclassified member of the Bunyavirales order. The in silico analysis uncovered key genetic regions, including the glycoprotein and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) coding regions. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a close relationship between our Volzhskoe tick virus sequences and other unclassified Bunyavirales species. These related species of unclassified Bunyavirales were detected in vastly different geolocations. These findings highlight the remarkable diversity of tick specific viruses and emphasize the need for further research to understand the transmissibility, seroreactivity or the potential pathogenicity of Volzhskoe tick virus and related species.
Suspect screening of pollutants in rivers around a chemical industrial park in China
Authors: Zhong Daoxu , Li Jiaming , Wang Shui , Bai Lisen , Liu Guangbing , Tao Jingzhong , Liu Wei , Li Mengya
Published: July 2024

Chinese chemical companies often cluster in specific regions, leading to concentrated emissions of various chemicals and pollutants, which poses significant risks to ecosystems and human health. Water samples were collected from the rivers near the chemical industrial park (CIP) in Jiangsu Province, China, and utilized suspect screening to identify pollutants. This study aimed to examine the correlation between these pollutants and those detected in the effluent from the companies or wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) within the CIP, thereby providing a scientific basis for government management decisions. In the rivers surrounding the CIP, over 50 types of pollutants were found, with 26 identified near the river estuary, half of which were pesticides. Analysis indicated that sites closest to the WWTPs discharge outlets exhibited heightened pollutant levels, suggesting the release of challenging-to-treat pollutants into the environment. Additionally, compounds consistent with those used by the companies were detected in rivers without WWTP discharge, underscoring that pollutants originating from CIP enterprises are not solely attributed to wastewater treatment plant discharges. This information underscores the need for comprehensive and effective environmental management and monitoring strategies within chemical industrial parks.
Changes of Choroidal Thickness Varied Due to Different Lunch Break Posture and Refractive
Authors: Ran Guangyao , Luo Zhiwei , Xu Qlinglin , Yang Yuangfang , Longbo Wen , Zeng Ling , Yang Zhikuan , Li Xiaoning
Published: July 2024

Background
The choroid is crucial in myopia prevention and control research. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different lunch break postures and refractive errors on choroidal thickness (CT) and choroidal vascular volume (CVV).
Methods
Healthy adult participants underwent a 45-minute lunch break in three different postures on consecutive days: lying lunch break, sitting head-on-arms lunch break, and sitting no lunch break. SS-OCTA measured CT and CVV in the macula before and after each lunch break. Changes in CT were also evaluated across different refractive errors.
Results
Among 40 adults (80 eyes), the average CT change was 11.62µm for lying lunch break, significantly higher than sitting head-on-arms lunch break (2.60µm) and sitting no lunch break (1.39µm) (both p < 0.0001). Average CVV changes were 8.5µm³ for lying lunch break, 1.9µm³ for sitting head-on-arms lunch break, and 1.3µm³ for sitting no lunch break. CT changes strongly correlated with CVV changes (F1,2158 = 306.1, p < 0.0001). During sitting head-on-arms lunch break, CT decreased by 6.00 ± 14.17 µm in the emmetropia and low hyperopia group, significantly different from other groups (all p < 0.0001).
Conclusions
Lying down during lunch breaks is most conducive to choroidal thickening, driven by increased CVV. Sitting head-on-arms may lead to choroidal thinning in people with emmetropia or low hyperopia. When considering the development of myopia in children and adolescents, it is suggested that LLB may serve as a protective factor while sitting head-on-arms lunch break may act as a risk factor.
Optimizing the IMQ model: Deep characterization of the human TLR7 response for early drug development
Authors: Noort Juliette Anne van den , Assil Salma , Ronner Micha Nathaniel , Osse Michelle , Pot Iris , Yavuz Yalçin , Damman Jeffrey , Lubberts Erik , Rissmann Robert , Kolk Tessa Niemeyer- van der , Tomljanovic Ingrid , Jansen Manon Aleida Adriana , Moerland Matthijs
Published: July 2024

Purpose
Imiquimod (IMQ; brand name Aldara®) is a registered topical agent that has been proven to induce local inflammation via the Toll-like receptor (TLR)7 pathway. The purpose of this study was to characterize TLR7-mediated inflammation following 7 days (168h) of topical IMQ exposure in healthy volunteers, and to compare the effects of short exposure (48h-72h) with prolonged exposure (120h-168h).
Methods
IMQ (100mg) was applied under occlusion to 5 different tape-stripped treatment sites on the back of 10 healthy participants for a maximum of 7 consecutive days. Erythema and skin perfusion were measured daily up to 168h. Biopsies for immunohistochemical staining and RNA sequencing were collected at 0h, 48h, 72h, 120h and 168h post IMQ application.
Results
IMQ triggered an inflammatory response starting at 48h after application, including erythema and perfusion of the skin. At the transcriptomic level, IMQ induced TLR7 signalling, IRF involvement and activation of TNF signalling via NF-κB. Furthermore, an enhanced inflammatory response at the cellular level was observed after prolonged IMQ exposure, with cellular infiltration of dendritic cells, macrophages and T cells which was also corroborated by transcriptomic profiles. No difference was found in the erythema and perfusion response after 168h of IMQ exposure compared to 72h.
Conclusion
Prolonged IMQ exposure revealed enhanced cellular responses and additional pathways with modulated activity compared to short exposure and can therefore be of interest as a model for investigational compounds targeting innate and adaptive immune responses.
Computational Exploration of gp63: Unlocking Potential Inhibitors for Leishmaniasis
Authors: Vemula Divya , Jayasurya Perka , Bhandari Vasundhra
Published: July 2024

Leishmaniasis is an infection caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which belongs to a neglected group of diseases. Limited treatment options and emerging drug resistance has contributed towards morbidity and mortality due to leishmaniasis. Therefore, exploring new therapeutic targets responsible for the pathogen's virulence is a priority to combat the disease. One of the contributing molecular factors to Leishmania virulence and pathogenesis is the metalloprotease glycoprotein 63 (gp63), also known as leishmanolysin or major surface protease (MSP). This metalloprotease is abundant on the parasite's surface in both promastigote and amastigote Leishmania stages. The present study focuses on finding the inhibitors of gp63 using the ChEMBL database, which includes a large, diverse set of 12,00,000 compounds. This study pipeline includes homology modeling, virtual screening, free energy analysis and molecular dynamic simulations to identify the with potential inhibitors of gp63, an important virulence factor of Leishmania species. Fourteen compounds were identified with good docking scores (-11 to -9 kcal/mol) compared to the control Gly2. The stability of the protein-ligand complex was later determined by free energy, which was computed using MM/GBSA. Moreover, molecular dynamic simulations validated the stability of the top seven compounds (Compound 2, Compound 3, Compound 6, Compound 7, Compound 9, Compound 10 and Compound 13 using parameters like root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) and protein-ligand interactions. Thus, these compounds may serve as leads for further in-vitro studies in order to develop potential leishmaniasis chemotherapeutics.
Identification of Maize Leaf Diseases Based on MSDCNeXt Network
Authors: Zeng Weihui , Guo Dandan , Chen Peng , Bao Wenxia , Hu Gensheng
Published: July 2024

The complexity of the backgrounds, significant differences in the scale of the spots, and high similarity between the foregrounds and backgrounds result in low accuracy in identifying maize leaf diseases using existing methods. In the study, a multiscale deep neural network MSDCNeXt is proposed to identify maize diseases and solves this problems. In the MSDCNeXt network, each module constructs receptive fields of different sizes by stacking multiple layers of depthwise separable convolutional layers, improving the network's ability to express features of maize leaf diseases at different scales. CBAM attention mechanism is embedded in the MSDC block, enabling the network to more accurately locate key features of maize leaf diseases and effectively suppress interference from complex backgrounds. In addition, this study used data augmentation methods such as Mixup to further enhance the network's generalization ability.To verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the network in complex environments, we compared it with existing networks. The average identification accuracy of the network was 96.7%, and the proposed network outperformed the existing networks. This study demonstrates the capability for precise identification of images depicting diseases and pests affecting maize, thereby contributing to the development of diagnostic and management solutions for these afflictions in maize.
BPPFL: A Blockchain-Based Framework for Privacy-Preserving Federated Learning
Authors: Asad Muhammad , Otoum Safa
Published: July 2024

Federated Learning (FL) offers a collaborative approach to training machine learning models while preserving data privacy. However, FL faces significant privacy and security challenges, such as identity disclosure and model inference attacks. To this end, we propose a novel Blockchain-Based Framework for Privacy-Preserving Federated Learning (BPPFL), which integrates threshold signature authentication and threshold Paillier encryption with blockchain technology. The BPPFL framework secures participant authentication and protects against internal and external threats, while the blockchain provides an immutable ledger for recording transactions and model updates, ensuring transparency and security. Experimental results show that our framework significantly reduces computation and communication overhead compared to existing methods while maintaining high model accuracy and robust privacy guarantees. Our framework enhances the security and trustworthiness of FL applications, making it suitable for domains like healthcare, finance, and the IoT.
Trend of Malaria Test Positivity Rate Among Pregnant Women, Savannah Region, Ghana, 2018 – 2022
Authors: Abesig Wadeyir Jonathan , Nindow Joseph Alphonsus Chantiwuni , Bagonluri Annungma C. , Sarfo Adjei Kwabena , Odikro Magdalene Akos , Issahaku Gyesi Razak , Akowah George , Bandoh Delia Akosua , Kenu Ernest , Kubio Chrysantus
Published: July 2024

Background
Malaria in a pregnant woman (MiP) remains a serious public health problem due to its negative effects on maternal health, pregnancy outcomes and the cost of healthcare delivery. There have been some successes achieved in the control of malaria globally. However, little is known about the progress made in the control of malaria in pregnancy in the Savannah region. We described the trend of the MiP test positivity rate in the Savannah region of Ghana from 2018 to 2022.
Methods
The study was a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study using data from 2018 to 2022. Data on malaria in pregnancy in the Savannah region was extracted from the DHIMS 2 database and transferred into Microsoft Excel version 19. Descriptive statistical analyses were done. Results were summarised into frequencies and percentages and presented in tables, graphs and maps.
Results
Cumulatively over the study period, the MiP testing rate was 90.8% (46,734/51,479) and 54.5% (25,463/46,734) of pregnant women tested positive. Majority (68.0%) of MiP cases in the region were mothers aged 20–34 years, however, the MiP test positivity rate was highest among mothers aged below 20 years. Bole District had the highest MiP test positivity rate of 70.1% (10,315/14723) and accounted for 40.5% (10,315/25,463) of all MiP cases. There was a decline in the MiP test positivity rate from 60.4–51.6% between 2018 to 2022.
Conclusion
The MiP test positivity rate in the Savannah region is high with disparities among Districts, however, there is an apparent decline over the study period. There is the need to strengthen existing malaria prevention interventions in pregnancy such as the use of SP for IPTp and ITNs to prevent negative maternal and fetal birth outcomes. Public health education programmes could improve the uptake and utilisation of ITNs. Further research should be conducted to unravel the reasons for the disproportionately high MiP test positivity rate in the Bole District to enable preventive measures to be instituted.
The effect of Sauropus androgynus (L) Merr leaves decoction on primiparous colostrum immunomodulatory profile: study of Baliness traditional recepies for lactating mother
Authors: Kurniawan Kadek Agus , Winarsih Sri , Nurdiana  , Andarini Sri , Nurwidyaningtyas Wiwit
Published: July 2024

Sauropus Androgynus (L) Merr is a herbal plant that is widely consumed by Baliness lactating women to increase breast milk production and reported have other health benefits including anti-inflammatory effects. Colostrum has essential nutrients to support the newborn's immune system including mucosal barrier maturation, especially immunoglobulin A (IgA). This study conducted to confirm colostrum IgA and IL-5 consentration shiftness during Baliness traditional recipes containing Sauropus Androgynus (L) Merr administration. Primiparous mothers between 22 and 30 years of age with uncomplicated atterm vaginal delivery were eligible to participate in the trial. We randomly assigned 34 women to traditional recepies containing Sauropus Androgynus (L) Merr treatment for 7 days (intervention group) and 32 were assigned as control group. Colostrum was isolated on the first day postpartum and the seventh day after consumption of Sauropus androgynus (L) Merr, followed by measurement of IgA and IL-5 levels using ELISA. A total of 6 women were unable to provide colostrum at 7 days and not regularly consumed treatment, so 30 women in the intervention group and 30 women in control group were included in teh analysis. Pre-post-test analysis was performed. Consumption of Sauropus Androgynus (L) Merr for 7 days significantly increased colostrum IgA concentration better than control (p=0.042) but not significantly reduce IL-5 colostrum concentration (p=0.119). Additionally, lowering IL-5 concentration signficantly correlated with elevating IgA colostrum after treated with Sauropus Androgynus (L) Merr (p=0.011). This finding corroborates scientific recommendations regarding another health benefit the Sauropus Androgynus (L) Merr as IgA colostrum booster. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of the consumption of Sauropus Androgynus (L) Merr on the IgA composition in mature milk.
Acupuncture at Hegu (IC4) Point Detects Brain Oxygen Supply Disturbances in Patients with Brain Disorders: a fNIRS study on brain oxygen sensing
Authors: Acker Prof.Dr.med.Helmut , Ehleben med. Wilhelm , Horschig rer.nat. Jörn M.
Published: July 2024

The functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technique was introduced for use in general medical practice to measure brain blood oxygenation along with physiological parameters such as 4-channel EEG, heart rate, blood oxygenation, blood volume changes and autonomic nerve activity. An artificial neuronal network was used to adjust the brain blood oxygenation measurements to evaluate changes in these physiological parameters. Early detection of cerebral blood flow disorders related to cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer´s disease appears to be feasible. Acupuncture with Hegu (LI4) was applied to stimulate brain neuronal networks in 5 control patients (CPs) and 5 brain disorder patients (BDPs). The following conclusions were drawn: 1. fNIRS recordings of brain hemoglobin oxygenation indicate the efficacy of brain microcirculation and brain oxygen supply 2. Central brain acupuncture stimulation reveals deficits in the brain microcirculation and oxygen supply of BDPs 3. A 20-second period of acupuncture stimulation results in brain hypoxia in BDPs but not in CPs, primarily due to mismatching of arterial and venous microcirculation 4. fNIRS combined with subsequent ANN analysis of brain oxygen supply could be very effective and user friendly for recording early signs of brain microcirculation dysregulation and therapeutic progress.
Impact of Financial Development, Institutional Quality and Earning Population on Sustainable Development of BRI Economies
Authors: Malik Muhammad Asad Saleem , Hashmi Shujahat Haider , Ullah Atta
Published: July 2024

The main aim of this research was to explore the influence of financial development (FD), institutional quality (IQ), and the size of the earning population (EP) on sustainable development (SD) in 64 countries participating in the One Belt and One Road initiative (BRI) from 2005 to 2020. Employing a two-step generalized method of moments (GMM) analysis, the study revealed a consistent and favorable trajectory in the sustainable development of these nations, in line with established economic theories. The study revealed that financial development and institutional quality (measured by IQ-WDI and ICRG) had significant positive effects on sustainable development. However, earning population (EP) exhibited a negative yet significant influence on sustainable development. Additionally, control variables such as inflation, exchange rate, and unemployment rate negatively impacted SD, whereas current account balance (CAB) had a positive effect. The study also discussed policy implications and future directions, emphasizing the integration of One Belt and One Road countries as a pathway to successful sustainable development. These findings hold crucial implications for policymakers aiming for balanced and sustainable growth strategies.
The Natural History of Crohn’s Disease Leading to Intestinal Failure: A Longitudinal Cohort Study from 1973 to 2018
Authors: Wu Tian Hong , Brandt Christopher Filtenborg , Scheike Thomas , Burisch Johan , Jeppesen Palle Bekker
Published: July 2024

Background and Aims:
The natural history of Crohn’s disease leading to intestinal failure is not well characterised. This study aims to describe the clinical course of Crohn’s disease preceding intestinal failure, and compare disease activity and burden between Crohn’s disease patients with and without intestinal failure.
Methods:
Patients with Crohn’s disease complicated by intestinal failure from Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen (n=182) and a nationwide Danish Crohn’s disease cohort without intestinal failure (n=22,845) were included. Using nationwide medical and social registries in Denmark, disease activity was determined from hospitalisations, surgeries and outpatient medications, and disease burden was determined from employment and mortality data.
Results:
The 10-year cumulative incidence of intestinal failure following Crohn’s disease diagnosis declined from 2.7% prior to 1980 to 0.2% after 2000. Compared to Crohn’s disease patients without intestinal failure, those with intestinal failure experienced significantly longer duration of severe disease (50 vs. 19 years per 100 patient-years, p<0.01), secondary to greater corticosteroid use (71% vs. 60%, p=0.02), inpatient contacts (98% vs. 55%, p<0.01), and abdominal surgeries (99% vs. 48%, p<0.01). However, exposure to biologics was not different between the two groups (20.4% vs. 21%, p=0.95), and duration on biologics was shorter in Crohn’s disease patients with intestinal failure(2,068 vs. 4,126 days per 100 patient-years, p=0.02). Standard mortality ratio in Crohn’s disease patients with intestinal failurewas 3.66 [97.5% CI 2.79,4.72].
Conclusion:
Patients with Crohn’s disease complicated by intestinal failure experienced a more persistently severe preceding course of Crohn’s disease, but were not more likely to be treated with biological therapy.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) recommendations in Clinical Practice Guidelines for open angle glaucoma and MIGS procedures: A scoping review.
Authors: Galvez-Olortegui Jose , Burgueño-Montañes Carmen , Silva-Ocas Isabel , Bernales-Urbina Susan , Galvez-Olortegui Tomas
Published: July 2024

Introduction:
To assess the recommendations of open angle glaucoma Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) addressing Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) or MIGS procedures CPG.
Methods:
A scoping review of CPG was conducted, based on an ongoing systematic review (CRD42024510656). A systematic literature search of CPG was carried out in November 2023, with an update in January 2024. CPG published in the last 8 years, full text available and addressing MIGS were selected. CPG details and recommendations concerning MIGS were extracted.
Results:
13 CPG addressing MIGS were selected (8 recovered from databases and 5 from registers). Four health Technology Assessments were assessed but recommendations were not considered. Finnish and Swedish guidelines, published in 2024, and Japanese guidelines, published in 2023, are English versions of their native language guidelines, but none of them make specific recommendations about MIGS. The Spanish Glaucoma Society – Advanced Glaucoma guideline (2023) describes the available techniques but does not make recommendations about MIGS. The European Glaucoma Society (2023) guideline only makes recommendations for 4 devices and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Interventional procedures guidance makes recommendations both for specific procedures and devices.
Conclusion:
MIGS is a relevant topic that has not been adequately addressed in terms of updated evidence, available procedures, and recommendations in open angle glaucoma CPG or MIGS procedures CPG.
Medicinal Assessment of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.): Antibacterial, Phytochemical, and Nutritional Profiling
Authors: Sulaiman Mustapha , Abubakar Amina Lawan , Muhammad Ma’aruf Abdulmumin , Shafi’i Abubakar Muhd , Idris Inuwa Musa , Iya Naseer Inuwa Durumin
Published: July 2024

While pharmaceutical drugs often come with detrimental side effects such as liver damage and addiction, the Hibiscus cannabinus L. (kenaf) plant has proven to be a promising traditional medicinal alternative. However, there are extremely few studies to investigate the variability of medicinal and nutritional parameters in Kenaf tissues. The phytochemicals, proximate composition, mineral content, amino acid content, and antibacterial activity of kenaf tissues have been studied and compared using advanced techniques. UPLC analysis reveals that leaves contain the highest concentration of caffeic acid (76.4 mg/100 g), which is also present in stem bark (51.3 mg/100 g). GC-MS analysis shows linoleic acid is predominant in seeds (46.23%) and stem bark (40.7%), while E-Phytol is mostly in leaves (33.5%) and hexadecanoic acid in flowers. Phenolic analysis indicates water as the most effective extraction solvent, with leaves showing the highest phenolic content (592.1 mg/100 g). Water remains the best solvent for flavonoid extraction, with flowers and leaves having the highest flavonoid concentrations (722.1 mg/100 g and 552.2 mg/100 g, respectively). Seed is the most nutritious, containing the highest amount of crude protein and nitrogen-free extract. Stem bark is rich in calcium (883 mg/kg) and potassium (3093 mg/kg). Amino acid analysis shows seeds are high in glutamic acid and aspartic acid, while proline is predominant in stem bark. Leaf tissue exhibits the strongest antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, suggesting its potential use in antibacterial applications. This demonstrates the research's contributions to possible uses of Kenaf in health and nutrition.
Snowmass white paper: The cosmological bootstrap
Authors: Baumann Daniel , Green Daniel , Joyce Austin , Pajer Enrico , L. Pimentel Guilherme , Sleight Charlotte , Taronna Massimo
Published: July 2024

This white paper summarizes recent progress in the cosmologicalbootstrap, an approach to the study of the statistics of primordialfluctuations from consistency with unitarity, locality and symmetryassumptions. We review the key ideas of the bootstrap method, with aneye towards future directions and ambitions of the program. Focusing onrecent progress involving de Sitter and quasi-de Sitter backgrounds, wehighlight the role of singularities and unitarity in constraining theform of the correlators. We also discuss nonperturbative formulations ofthe bootstrap, connections to anti-de Sitter space, and potentialimplications for holography.