bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Sacral Fractures on Radiographs Using Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Inagaki Naoya , Nakata Norio , Ichimori Sina , Udaka Jun , Mandai Ayano , Saito Mitsuru
Published: September 2022

Background:

Sacral fractures are often difficult to diagnose on radiographs. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve the detection rate but cannot always be performed. The accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) in detecting orthopaedic fractures is now comparable with that of orthopaedic specialists. However, the ability of AI to detect sacral fractures has not been investigated, to our knowledge. We hypothesized that the ability to detect sacral fractures on radiographs could be improved by using AI, and aimed to develop an AI model to detect sacral fractures accurately on radiographs with better accuracy than that of orthopaedic surgeons.

Methods:

Subjects were patients with suspected pelvic fractures for whom radiographs and CT scans had been obtained. The radiographs were labeled according to sacral fracture status based on CT results. The data set was divided into a training set (2,038 images) and a test set (200 images). Eight convolutional neural network (CNN) models were trained using the training set. Post-trained models were used to evaluate their discrimination ability. The detection ability of 4 experienced orthopaedic surgeons was also measured using the same test set. The results of fracture assessment by the orthopaedic surgeons were compared with those of the 3 CNNs with the greatest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results:

Among the 8 trained models, the highest areas under the curve were for InceptionV3 (0.989), Xception (0.987), and Inception ResNetV2 (0.984). The detection rate was significantly higher for these 3 CNNs than for the orthopaedic surgeons.

Conclusions:

By enhancing the processing of probabilistic tasks and the communication of their results, AI may be better able to detect sacral fractures than orthopaedic surgeons.

Level of Evidence:

Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Considerations on the Origin of the Inferior Thyroid Artery Emerging From the Subclavian Artery Determined by Ct Examination
Authors: Bunea Maria Cristina , Rusali Lavinia Maria , Bratu Iulian Cătălin , Tudorache Sorin , Bordei Petru
Published: September 2022

The specialized literature has a low degree of information regarding the origin of the inferior thyroid artery (ITA). Our study was performed on computed tomography angiographies (CTAs), and the following aspects were observed: the origin of the ITA from the subclavian artery (SCA) or thyrocervical trunk (TCT), taking note of the distance of the origin of the ITA in relation to the origin of the SCA or the corresponding TCT, as well as the origin of the ITA, comparing right to left and according to gender. Our study was realized on a total of 108 ITA (64 on the right side and 44 on the left, with 48 in male subjects and 60 in females), analyzed on CTA. From the 108 arteries, we found the origin of ITA directly from the SCA in 31.48% of cases, and in 68.52% from the TCT. The distance between the origin of the right SCA and the origin of the corresponding ITA, was between 29.1–53.1 mm, while on the left side, the same distance was between 43.7–68.1 mm. The distance between the right TCT and the origin of the right SCA, was between 22.5–75.0 mm, and for the left side, it’s between 48.7–56.8 mm. The inferior thyroid artery is one of the arteries most susceptible to variations in terms of origin and size. With differences between the two sides (right and left), as well as differences related to gender.
Correlation Between Soil-gas Radon and Soil-surface Radon Concentration and Estimation of Annual Effective Dose From Outdoor Concentration in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: SAMUEL DANIEL TUNDE , Farai Idowu Peter , Oni Olatunde Micheal , Abraham Aremu , Fajemiroye Joseph Ademola
Published: September 2022

In the U series, Rn − 222 (T1/2 = 3.82 days) builds up more quickly in homes. Although it originates from rocks and dirt, it dissolves in water. A RAD7 solid state detector was used to test the outdoor and soil gas in-situ radon-222 activity at 26 locations in Abeokuta, Nigeria. The six geological formations that were picked for a cell and spaced at least 3 km apart served as the basis for choosing the measuring site. The Global Positioning System compass was used to determine the locations of the measurement sites. Outdoor radon levels ranged from (0.001 to 4530) Bqm− 3 while soil gas levels ranged from (52.5 to 19250) Bqm− 3. In comparison to the reference level for outdoor radon recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), which ranges from (100 to 300) Bqm− 3, the average outdoor radon concentration value measured was 463.52 Bqm− 3. The exhalation rate ranged from (0.000108 to 0.0395) Bqm− 2s, and the rate of production of soil gas activity ranged from (0.00011 to 0.0404) Bqm− 3s. The mean annual effective dose from outdoor radon activity was determined to be 4.242 mSv/year, which is greater than the ICRP-recommended limit of 1 mSv/year for dosage from public exposure. The annual effective doses ranged from 0 to 16.57 mSv/year. The measured values did not correlate, which may be partially explained by the characteristics of the soil and by meteorological conditions.
Forecasting of Solar Radiation for a Cleaner Environment using Robust Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: THANGAVELU MAGESH , Parthiban Vignesh Jayaraman , Kesavaraman Diwakar , Murugesan Thiyagesan
Published: September 2022

An intensified research is going on worldwide to increase renewable energy sources like solar and wind to reduce emissions and achieve the worldwide targets and also to address the depleting fossil fuels resources and meet the increasing energy demand of the population. The Solar Radiation (SR) is intermittent, forecasting the solar radiation beforehand is a must. The objective of this research is to use Modern Machine Techniques for different climatic conditions to forecast SR with higher accuracy.The required dataset is collected from National Solar Radiation Database having features as temperature, pressure, relative humidity, dew point, solar zenith angle, wind speed and direction, with respect to the y-parameter Global Horizontal Irradiance GHI (W/m2). The collected data is first split based on different types of climatic conditions. Each climatic model will be trained on various Machine Learning (ML) algorithms like Multiple Linear Regression(MLR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Decision Tree Regression (DTR), Random Forest Regression (RFR), Gradient Boosting Regression(GBR), Lasso and Ridge Regression and Deep Learning Algorithm especially Long-short Term Memory (LSTM) using Google Colab Platform. From our analysis, LSTM has the least error approximation of 0.0040 loss at the 100th epoch and of all ML models, Gradient Boosting and RFR top high, when it comes to the Hot weather season – Gradient Boosting leads 2% than RFR and similarly for Cold weather, Autumn and monsoon climate –RFR has 1% higher accuracy than Gradient Boosting. This high accuracy model is deployed in a User Interface (UI) that will be more useful for real-time solar prediction, load operators for maintenance scheduling, stock commitment and load dispatch centers for engineers to decide on setting up solar panels, for household clients and future researchers.
Retrospective analysis of drug resistance characteristics and infection related risk factors of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) isolated from the orthopedics department of a tertiary hospital
Authors: Yang Xiaowei , Guo Runsheng , Zhang Bi , Xie Banglin , Zhou Song , Zhang Bin , Lai Qi
Published: September 2022

Background: Patients infected with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are known to exhibit longer hospital stays and a significantly poorer prognosis. We performed a 6-year retrospective analysis of nosocomial infections reported in the orthopedics department of our institution, to gain valuable insights into antibiotic sensitivity and infectivity characteristics of MDROs, in order to deduce effective measures to control the occurrence of multidrug-resistant infections in clinical practice.
Methods: All relevant data, including basic patient information, cultivated bacterial strains, and antimicrobial resistance, was obtained from the Hospital Information Warehouse.
Results: A total of 1392 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated; 358 belonged to MDROs (detection rate=25.7%). All the isolated strains of MDROs were mostly from secretions (52.2%). The number of cases infected with MDROs were 144 (40.2%) and 129 (36.0%) in the trauma and spinal wards, respectively. MRSA showed high resistance to β lactam antibiotics, but was sensitive to quinolone antibiotics, linezolid and cotrimoxazole. ESBL-positive strains showed more sensitivity to carbapenem antibiotics (<10%). MDR nonfermenters showed high resistance to most antibiotics. Logistic multivariate analysis revealed age, open injury, and central nervous system injury as independent risk factors for multidrug resistant infections.
Conclusions: A high antibiotic resistance rate and an increasing prevalence of infections with MDROs was identified in the orthopedics department. Patients with open injury, central nervous system injury and those aged ≥60 years, were more prone to multidrug-resistant infections. Clinicians should pay more attention to such patients in order to actively prevent and control the occurrence of infections caused by MDROs.
The influence of commonly used non-surgical treatment modalities on control of intermittent exotropia: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Son Desheng , Qian Jing , chen Zhijun
Published: September 2022

Intermittent exotropia (IXT) is a relatively common childhood strabismus worldwide, non-surgical treatments are sometimes administered to prevent IXT from deteriorating, which has not been widely accepted by physicians. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of commonly used non-surgical treatment modalities (overminus lens therapy and part-time occlusion therapy) and observation in the treatment of intermittent exotropia. An exhaustive search of the literature in Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was performed until July 2022. No language restrictions were used. The literature was rigorously screened according to eligibility criteria. Weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. A total of 7 articles with 1046 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Three studies compared the effects of OML and observation, three studies compared the effects of PTO and observation, and one study compared the effects of OML, PTO, and observation. Our pooled results showed that the commonly used non-surgical treatment modalities demonstrated superior outcomes compared with observation, with greater decreases in distance and near exodeviation control (OR, -0.51; 95% CI, -0.66 to -0.36, P < 0.001; OR, -0. 40; 95% CI, -0.54 to -0.25, P < 0.001). Patients who received the commonly used non-surgical treatment method had a greater decrease in the deviation at both distance and near (OR, -2.88; 95% CI, -3.75 to -2.01, P < 0.001; OR, -3.44; 95% CI, -5.34 to -1.55; P < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of post-treatment proximal stereopsis (OR=0.01, 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.05, P=0.83). Further analysis revealed that OML showed a better significant treatment effect than PTO. The present meta-analysis indicated that commonly used non-surgical treatment modalities (overminus lens therapy and part-time occlusion therapy) were effective in improving the control and decreasing exodeviation angle of intermittent exotropia, and overminus lens therapy was superior to part-time occlusion therapy.
Application of ML methods in identifying patients with asthma in primary care
Authors: Verma Jay , Natarajan Sukin , Khakshouri Sascha , Dhruva Bhuvana
Published: September 2022

Background:
Asthma is one of the most prevalent diseases, with approximately 5.4 million patients on prescribed medication in the UK. Poor asthma management is responsible for many preventable deaths in the UK, making the mortality rate the highest in Europe. Identifying asthma patients is time-consuming and requires detailed reviews of individual patients by GPs. In a previous study (awaiting publication), bespoke designed algorithms (Smart-Searches™) were used to identify patients who were not on the Quality Outcome Framework (QOF) asthma register but were likely to have asthma. GPs further reviewed these patients found by the searches to confirm their condition. This study aims to apply machine learning methods to real-world primary care electronic health records (EHRs) and compare their performance in identifying asthma patients with the previously used Smart-Searches™.
Methods:
This is a binary classification problem where patients are identified as asthmatic or non-asthmatic. Data from two practices used in this study comprised around 9000 patients, of whom around 600 were on the asthma register. A set of 40–45 features were extracted from the health records as inputs to the models. The models were trained and tested on datasets in several experiments. Both linear models such as Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Support Vector Model, Naïve Bayes, and deep learning models such as MLP and CNN were evaluated, and compared with the existing traditional methods.
Results:
ML models, on average, got a higher accuracy of about 70% compared to traditional methods at 54%. The Ensemble model obtained the highest accuracy at 77%, followed by MLP at 75%. In addition, the average positive predictive value for the ML methods was 82% compared to the search-based system at 54%. Finally, the Naïve Bayes model obtained the best positive predictive value at 100%.
Conclusions:
ML methods obtained high accuracy and positive predictive values, showing that the ML models could make better asthma identification predictions than the existing system. This also shows that the machine learning models could help clinicians identify more asthma patients in significantly less time while requiring less clinician input than the existing best methods leading to improved efficiency and better patient care.
Differential gene expression analysis under salinity stress in the selected turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cultivars for curcuminoid biosynthesis.
Authors: SHANKAR BANDI ARPITHA , Yadav Manoj Kumar , Kumar Mukesh , Burman Vishakha
Published: September 2022

Background:Curcuminoids are the phenolic compounds found exclusively in turmeric. The presence of these curcuminoids is known to increase immunity and resistance against certain cancers and neurological disorders in humans along with protecting the turmeric plant cells against salinity stress.
Methods:In this experiment, we studied the expression levels of MAPK1 and DCS genes with respect to curcuminoid biosynthesis under salinity stress so that the impact of individual genes can be understood using semi- quantitative PCR.
Results:The expressions of the genes with respect to curcuminoid biosynthesis showed fluctuations in their band intensity values due to the curcuminoid production, which is initiated first in the leaves followed by the rhizomes. Not all the genes responsible for the curcuminoid biosynthesis show positive regulation under salt stress conditions may be due to the severity of the stress imposed on the cultivars.
Conclusions:In our findings, both the genes MAPK1 and DCS genes are down-regulated for curcuminoid biosynthesis compared to the controls in both the cultivars Vallabh Sharad and New Selection 1.
CT-based Radiomics Nomogram for Differentiation of Adrenal Hyperplasia from Lipid-poor Adenoma: An exploratory study
Authors: Yuan Hongtao , Kang Bing , Sun Kui , Qin Songnan , Ji Congshan , Wang Ximing
Published: September 2022

Background
To establish and verify a radiomics nomogram for differentiating isolated micronodular adrenal hyperplasia (iMAD) from lipid-poor adenoma (LPA) based on computed tomography (CT)-extracted radiomic features.
Methods
A total of 148 patients with iMAD or LPA were divided into three cohorts: a training cohort (n = 72; 37 iMAD and 35 LPA), a validation cohort (n = 36; 22 iMAD and 14 LPA), and an external validation cohort (n = 40; 20 iMAD and 20 LPA). Radiomics features were extracted from contrast-enhanced and non-contrast CT images. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method was applied to develop a triphasic radiomics model and unenhanced radiomics model using reproducible radiomics features. A clinical model was constructed using certain laboratory variables and CT findings. Radiomics nomogram was established by selected radiomics signature and clinical factors. Nomogram performance was assessed by calibration curve, the areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC), and decision curve analysis (DCA).
Results
Eleven and eight extracted features were finally selected to construct an unenhanced radiomics model and a triphasic radiomics model, respectively. There was no significant difference in AUC between the two models in the external validation cohort (0.838 vs. 0.843, p = 0.949). The radiomics nomogram inclusive of the unenhanced model, maximum diameter, and aldosterone showed the AUC of 0.951, 0.938, and 0.893 for the training, validation, and external validation cohorts, respectively. The nomogram showed good calibration, and the DCA demonstrated the superiority of the nomogram compared with the clinical factors model alone in terms of clinical usefulness.
Conclusions
A radiomics nomogram based on unenhanced CT images and clinical variables showed favorable performance for distinguishing iMAD from LPA. In addition, an efficient unenhanced model can help avoid extra contrast-enhanced scanning and radiation risk.
The Prevalence of Ocular Demodex folliculorum in 2253 Young Males
Authors: Ye Qian , Yan Weiming , Wang Yunpeng , Chen Meizhu
Published: September 2022

Aim: To determine the prevalence and influencing factors of Demodex folliculorum (DF) in the eyelashes of healthy young males.
Methods: An epidemiological cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted. A total of 2253 healthy young males (aged 17-24 years) were studied for the presence of DF within eyelash follicles. The presence of DF was analyzed according to various factors.
Results: The total prevalence of DF was 20.73% in our study. Subjects with history of myopia correction surgery had a statistically significant increase in the positive rate of DF (P<0.001). The positive rate was higher in subjects with ocular symptoms than in those without symptoms (P<0.05). Factors such as the educational level, long-term residence, annual household income, sleep time, time of using electronic products, smoke and drinking habits, had no significant correlation with the DF positive rate (all P>0.05). According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the history of myopic correction surgery was the risk factors of DF infection (P<0.001). There was no correlation between ocular discomfort and DF infection (P>0.05).
Conclusions: The prevalence of DF in eyelash follicles in healthy young men was relatively high. The history of myopic correction surgery was an important risk factor for the infection.
Dynamics of Temporal Immune Responses in Nonhuman Primates and Humans Immunized with COVID-19 Vaccines
Authors: Khan Imran , Ravindran Resmi , Kang Harsharonjit , McReynolds Cindy , Sanghar Gursharan Kaur , Chang William , Ramasamy Santhamani , Kolloli Afsal , Kumar Ranjeet , Subbian Selvakumar , Hammock Bruce , O’Connor Dennis J Hartigan , Ikram Aamer , Haczku Angela
Published: September 2022

We assessed the humoral immune responses to a COVID-19 vaccine in a well-controlled rhesus macaque model in comparison to humans immunized with two mRNA vaccines over several months post-second dose. The plasma IgG levels against seven coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2) and antibody subtypes (IgG1-4 and IgM) against SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated using multiplex assays. The neutralization capacity of plasma antibodies against original SAR-CoV-2 isolate and nine variants was evaluated in vaccinated humans and non-human primates. Immunization of macaques and humans with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines induced a robust neutralizing antibody response. In non-SIV infected adult macaques immunized with an adenoviral vector expressing S-RBD (n = 7) or N protein (n = 3), elevated levels of IgG and neutralizing antibodies were detected 2 weeks post-second dose. Immune responses to the S-RBD vaccine in SIV-infected adult macaques (n = 2) were similar to the non-SIV-infected animals. Adult humans immunized with Pfizer (n = 35) or Moderna (n = 18) vaccines developed IgG and neutralizing antibodies at 4 weeks post-second dose. In both vaccine groups, IgG 1 was the predominant subtype, followed by IgG 3. The IgG levels, including total and IgG1,2,3 elicited by Moderna vaccine, were significantly higher than the corresponding levels elicited by the Pfizer vaccine at 4 weeks post-second dose. A significant correlation was observed between the plasma total IgG antibody levels and neutralization titers in both macaques and humans. Furthermore, broad-spectrum neutralization antibodies against several variants of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in the plasma of both macaques and humans after two vaccinations.
Parity Violation Energy Difference calculation of atropisomers
Authors: Vadivel Dhanalakshmi , Dondi Daniele
Published: September 2022

Enantiomers have a different energy due to the parity violation effects. Up to now, these effects are difficult to calculate and their final effect on the choice of one enantiomer in the homochirality issue is still a matter of debate. Nevertheless, many scientists support the role of this tiny energy difference in the triggering of homochirality. In this work, we studied the energy difference in atropisomers, a class of stereoisomers in which the chirality is given by the block of rotation around one bond. Atropisomers might have a low energy barrier for the interconversion and this is interesting for the equilibration of the two enantiomers and the choice of the most stable enantiomer. Moreover, structures might be extended like in the case of polymers or crystals having helical framework and thus giving an additive effect on the parity violation energy of the whole structure. The parity violation energy difference here is discussed with the correlation on the general structure of the final molecule giving a qualitative model to predict the sign of local contributions of atoms.
Does employer involvement in primary health care enhance return to work for patients with stress-related mental disorders? a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Beno Anja , Bertilsson Monica , Holmgren Kristina , Glise Kristina , Pousette Anders , Segerfelt Karin , Björk Lisa
Published: September 2022

Background
Stress-related disorders have become a major challenge for society and are associated with rising levels of sick leave. The provision of support to facilitate the return to work (RTW) for this patient group is of great importance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether a new systematic procedure with collaboration between general practitioners (GPs), rehabilitation coordinators (RCs) and employers could reduce sick leave days for this patient group.
Method
Employed patients with stress-related diagnoses seeking care at primary health care centres (PHCCs) were included in either the intervention group (n = 54), following the systematic intervention procedure, or the control group (n = 58), receiving treatment as usual (TAU). The intervention included a) a training day for participant GPs and RCs, b) a standardised procedure for GPs and RCs to follow after training, c) the opportunity to receive clinical advice from specialist physicians in the research group. Outcome measures for RTW were sick leave days.
Results
The control group had significantly fewer net sick leave days at three months (p = 0.03) at six months (p = 0.00) and at 12-months follow-up (p = 0.01). At 24 months, this difference was no longer significant.
Conclusions
The PRIMA intervention, which applied a standardized procedure for employer involvement in the rehabilitation process for patients with stress-related disorders, actually increased time to RTW compared to TAU. However, at 24 months, the benefit of TAU could no longer be confirmed.
Assessing the Radioactivity Level of Seawater and Sand Samples from the Baltic Sea Region
Authors: Jukna Artūras , Grigaliūnaitė-Vonsevičienė Gražina
Published: September 2022

Current work reports on a novel method for determining radionuclide concentration and radioactivity in seawater by comparing the gamma-ray spectra of water-free samples of seawater and foreshore sand flooded by waves. By applying the proposed method, it is possible to save time and effort that are used to monitor the quality of seawater in the Baltic Sea with its characteristic sandy shores. Foreshore sand filters seawater trapping insoluble sediments together with radionuclides brought by waves. Radiation spectra of natural and artificial radionuclides in samples of seawater, foreshore sand, and sand taken on top of the dune (reference sample) in the Juodkrante area in Lithuania, were recorded by a gamma-ray spectrometer utilizing a NaI detector. The analysis of radiation spectra in the energy range of 30–1670 keV and the identification of radionuclides were performed using computer software. The richest collection and the highest concentration of radionuclides, including Na-22, Ar-41, Sc-46, Fe-59, Y-91, Zr-97, Nb-94, and Te-132, found in the foreshore sand confirm that the sand traps them from seawater carried by waves. Simultaneous analysis of both seawater and foreshore sand spectra is a way of accurate estimation of the radionuclide concentration at the time of seawater sampling and prior to that. Using a reference sample, the NaI detector, operating at room temperature, can be exploited to make a qualitative determination of the concentration and radioactivity of radionuclides in water-free samples.
Signaling Game for Research Fund Allocation in Thailand
Authors: Duangsong Thiti , Paoprasert Naraphorn , Witchakul Suwitchaporn , Jaijit Sasarose
Published: September 2022

This study proposed a signaling game for a research grant allocation situation. A funding agency and a researcher whose type was kept secret from the funding agency were the players in the game. The agency decided the grant amount to fund the researcher. The results show that a pooling equilibrium existed when the difference between a large and small fund was sufficiently large, and the expected costs of failing the large-fund project for both types were small, whereas the expected costs of failing the small-fund project for both types were large. When the difference between the effort of putting up a project proposal between a large-fund project and a small-fund project was relatively small, pooling equilibrium occurred. Nevertheless, a separating equilibrium occurred in which the good researcher requested a large fund and the bad researcher requested a small fund when the expected cost of failing the large-fund project for the bad researcher was sufficiently large, whereas the expected cost of failing the large-fund project for the good researcher was sufficiently small. On the basis of the research impact assessment of previous studies, a case study was examined. According to the results, we were still in a pooling equilibrium. However, if some model parameters changed (e.g., when the estimated cost of a penalty to the bad researcher was increased), a separating equilibrium began to show.
Association of Serum Apolipoprotein B Levels with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Zhong Xia , Jiao Huachen , Zhao Dongsheng , Yang Mengqi , Teng Jing
Published: September 2022

Objective: Despite their fundamental importance, to date, critical evaluation of APOB in relation to paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(AF) has been limited. This study aimed to determine the association between APOB and paroxysmal AF by gender in the Chinese population.
Methods: This was a case-control study of 320 paroxysmal AF patients and 640 age-, sex-matched (1:1) non-AF patients with sinus rhythm at our institution between January 2019 to September 2021. T-tests, Mann-Whitney tests, Chi-square analysis, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to investigate the intergroup comparisons. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between ABOB and paroxysmal AF. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to show the predictive performance. Spearman correlation tests were used to explore the correlation between APOB and metabolic factors.
Results: Multivariate regression analysis showed an independent negative correlation between APOB levels and paroxysmal AF (OR=0.271, 95% CI: 0.121-0.606, P＜0.05) in men and women, regardless of statin reception. ROC curve showed the most optimal cut-off value of the APOB level in males and females was 0.855 g/L and 0.895 g/L, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis indicated APOB was positively associated with total cholesterol (TC) ( r=0.818), LDL-C (r= 0.863), apolipoprotein A1(APOA1) (r=0.178), and albumin (ALB) (r=0.249) in patients with paroxysmal AF.
Conclusion: The principal findings of this study imply an independent negative correlation between APOB and paroxysmal AF in men and women among the Chinese population. Further investigation is needed to determine their causalities and potential mechanisms.
Structural, morphological, and thermal properties of cellulose nanofibers extracted from waste paper
Authors: Najafabadipoor Mohammad , Abbaslou Hanie , Bakhtiari Somayeh
Published: September 2022

Waste paper is generally disposed of in the garbage, which pollutes the environment and wastes natural resources. Producing a valuable material from these residues, like cellulose nanoparticles, can eliminate one of the harmful environmental factors and improve recycling. This research used chemical and mechanical methods to extract cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from waste papers. Papers were treated with 17.5% NaOH, then performed decolorization with NaClO. During these steps, remove some hemicelluloses, pectin, and lignin. Acid hydrolysis was also performed by HCl at different concentrations, times, and temperatures. The FTIR analysis showed that the sample with an acid concentration of 3 M, at a temperature of 100 °C, and 2-hour treatment has the highest crystallization index. XRD analysis revealed that the sample's optimum crystallinity was 70%. Based on the SEM image analysis, the best fibrillation mode occurred at room temperature after 2 hours. According to the TG analysis, the nanofibers had a maximum destructive temperature of 361.6 °C, which destroyed 90% of the fibers. The combination of chemical and mechanical methods showed high efficiency in extracting cellulose nanofibers.
Breakdown intention-based outcome evaluation after transient right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) deactivation
Authors: Zhang Junfeng , Sun Sai , Zhou Chengyan , Cai Yaochun , Liu Hao , Yu Rongjun
Published: September 2022

People judge the nature of human behaviors based on underlying intentions and possible outcomes. Recent studies have demonstrated a causal role of the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) in modulating both intention and intention-based outcome evaluations during social judgments. However, these studies are mainly extended under hypothetical scenarios with socially undesirable contexts (bad/neutral intentions and bad/neutral outcomes), leaving the question of whether the rTPJ plays a similar role in modulating social judgments under scenarios with good intentions and good outcomes underexplored. In the current study, participants were instructed to make fairness judgments as a third party toward the monetary allocations from one dictator to another responder. Critically, in some cases, the initial allocation by the dictator could be reversed by the computer, yielding combinations of good/bad intentions with good/bad outcomes. Anodal (n = 20), cathodal (n = 21), and sham (n = 21) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the rTPJ were randomly assigned to 62 subjects to further examine the effects of stimulation over the rTPJ in modulating intention-based outcome evaluation. We have identified a consistent intention-oriented attribution regardless of the fairness of outcomes in the baseline condition across groups. Moreover, cathodal tDCS over the rTPJ compared to the anodal and sham stimulations diminished the goodness ratings towards good/bad outcomes when the intentions are hyperaltruistic and showed no difference with outcome ratings under unknown and bad intentions. Our results provide the first evidence that deactivating the rTPJ disrupted intention-oriented attribution in social judgments, mainly by reducing the goodness rating towards both good/bad outcomes when the intentions are hyperaltruistic, but not by enhancing the permission of good outcomes when the intentions are bad/unknown. Our findings argue for a causal role of the rTPJ in modulating intention-based social judgments that may also rely on contextual salience.
Digital versus radiographic evaluation for guided implant surgery: an in vitro study
Authors: Yi Chun , Li Sha , Wen Aonan , Wang Yong , Zhao Yijiao , Zhang Yu
Published: September 2022

Background:
Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is the most widely used method for postsurgical evaluation of the accuracy of guided implant surgery. However, the disadvantages of CBCT include radiation exposure, artifacts caused by metal implants, and high cost. Few studies have introduced a digital registration method to replace CBCT for evaluating the accuracy of guided surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare digital registration to conventional CBCT in terms of the capacity to evaluate the implant positioning accuracy of guided surgery.
Materials and Methods:
This in vitro study included 40 acrylic resin models with posterior single mandibular tooth loss. Guided surgery software was used to determine the optimal implant position; 40 tooth-supported fully guided drilling templates were designed and milled accordingly. After the guided surgery, the accuracies of the surgical templates were evaluated by conventional CBCT and digital registration. For evaluation by conventional CBCT, postsurgical CBCT scans of the resin models were performed. The CBCT data were reconstructed and superimposed on the implant planning data. For digital registration, we constructed a virtual registration unit that consisted of an implant replica and a scan body. Next, we obtained postsurgical optical scans of resin models with the scan body. The postsurgical implant position was identified by superimposition of the registration unit and optical scan data. The implant planning data and postsurgical implant position data were superimposed; deviations were reported in terms of distance for implant entry/apex point and in terms of angle for the implant axis. Interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland–Altman plots were used to analyze the agreement between the two evaluation methods.
Results:
The ICCs between the two methods were 0.986, 0.993, and 0.968 for the entry point, apex point, and angle, respectively; all were significantly greater than 0.75 (p < 0.001). Bland–Altman plots showed that the 95% limits of agreement of the differences were − 0.144 to + 0.081 mm, − 0.135 to + 0.147 mm, and − 0.451° to + 0.729° for the entry point, apex point, and angle, respectively; all values were within the maximum tolerated difference.
Conclusion:
Conventional CBCT and digital registration showed good agreement in terms of evaluating the accuracy of implant positioning using tooth-supported surgical templates.
Experimental study of flux decline mechanisms in skim milk ultrafiltration
Authors: PERRON-LACROIX Maxance , Absi Rafik , Aouanouk S. Amine , Mouheb Abdelkader
Published: September 2022

In this study, the flux decline during milk ultrafiltration was studied experimentally. Experiments were conducted for both milk and dextran to allow a comparison between foulant and non-foulant solutes. We measured concentrations in permeate during milk ultrafiltration experiments. Results show that considering dextran as non-foulant is an overstatement. The irregular shape of dextran makes it more difficult to clean compared to the spherical shape of milk micelle. The size of the micelles prevents them to enter the pores and to diffuse in the bulk feed, in this way the cake formation is favorized comparing to other fouling mechanism. Hermia models were used in a linear form to confirm the dominance of cake formation mechanism for milk fouling. Nevertheless, the close values of correlation factors suggest that cake formation mechanism depends on whey protein concentrations. It seems dominant for milk at 10 g/L but not for 5 g/L. Higher whey protein concentrations have stimulated the caking by increasing the compaction on the membrane.
Sensorless Misalignment Detection on Linear Feed Axis with Revised ResNet and Transfer Learning Using Motor Current
Authors: Demetgul Mustafa , Zihan Ma , Heider Imanuel , Fleischer Jürgen
Published: September 2022

Due to ageing populations and a shortage of skilled labour, automatic machine condition monitoring is a powerful tool to ensure smooth operation of production systems with reduced manpower. Automatic condition monitoring enables early detection of machine faults, greatly increasing uptime, reliability, and safety. However, conventional fault detection methods based on vibration require installation of additional sensors, thus bringing up implementation effort and initial costs. The linear feed axis is a machine component whose failure can bring an entire production line to a standstill. Therefore, this study presents a sensorless approach, which uses a linear axis’ motor current for the detection of misalignment. Motor current time series data was encoded as images and then fed to a CNN, more precisely a revised residual neural network (ResNet). A random search hyper-parameter tuning technique was used to optimise the structure of the CNN. Then, transfer learning was used to apply the current signal features already learned to other scenarios. The results showed that both horizontal and vertical misalignments of linear feed axes can be well detected by a revised ResNet using motor current signals, with an accuracy of 99.76%. Using transfer learning, misalignments were detected with an accuracy of 92.67% – even under the influence of external forces.
Opa1 helical structures give perspective to mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Hinshaw Jenny , Nyenhuis Sarah , Wu Xufeng , Stanton Abigail , Strub Marie-Paule , Yim Yang-In , Canagarajah Bertram
Published: September 2022

Dominant Optic Atrophy is the leading cause of childhood blindness, with 60-80% of cases caused by mutation of the gene encoding the protein Optic Atrophy 1, OPA1. This condition dysregulates the GTPase mediated fusion process of the mitochondrial inner- and outer-membranes. OPA1 is critical to the dynamic organization and regulation of the mitochondria due to its role in cristae remodeling and GTPase-mediated fusion of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Here, we solved helical structures of OPA1 assembled on lipid membrane tubes, in the presence and absence of nucleotide by cryo-electron microscopy methods. These helical assemblies organize into densely packed protein rungs with minimal inter-rung connectivity and exhibit nucleotide-dependent dimerization of the GTPase domains, a hallmark of dynamin superfamily proteins (DSPs). In contrast to other DSPs, OPA1 contains several unique secondary structures in the paddle domain that strengthen its membrane association. The novel structural features identified in this study shed light on the effects of pathogenic point mutations on protein folding, inter-protein assembly, and membrane interactions. Further, mutations chosen to disrupt OPA1 assembly interfaces and membrane binding cause mitochondrial fragmentation in cell-based assays, demonstrating the biological relevance of these interactions.
Geometrical representation of the multi-dimensional consistency : 1-form case
Authors: Kongkoom Thanadon , Yoo-Kong Sikarin
Published: September 2022

A new notion of integrability called the multi-dimensional consistency for the integrable systems with the Lagrangian 1-form structure is captured in the geometrical language both classical and quantum levels. A zero-curvature condition, which implies the multi-dimensional consistency, will be a key relation in various contexts, e.g. Hamiltonian vector fields, Lagrangian vector fields, temporal Lax matrices and Hamiltonian operators. Therefore, the existence of the zero-curvature condition directly leads to the path-independent feature in various maps (which will be expressed in terms of the Wilson line), e.g. a family of maps in N-parameter groups on cotangent and tangent bundles, time evolution maps in the Lax pair level and unitary multi-time evolution operators in the Schrödinger picture. The main highlights of this work are the following. The new mathematical objects, called Hamilton vector field and Lagrange vector field defined in the space of independent variables, are introduced to alternatively capture integrability of the systems. To ensure the integrability, these new vector fields must be conservative and irrotational. Another important result is the formulation of the continuous multi-time propagator. With this new type of the propagator, a new perspective on summing all possible paths unavoidably arises as not only all possible paths on the space of dependent variables but also on the space of independent variables must be taken into account. The semi-classical approximation is applied to the multi-time propagator expressing in terms of the classical action and the fluctuation around the classical path and, therefore, the integrability of the quantum system can be captured through the path independent feature on the space of independent variables of the multi-time propapgator.
Mathematics Subject Classification: 37J70
Decision-making study on risk evaluation of earth and rock dams based on ANP unascertained measurement theory
Authors: Li Feng , Zhang Pengchao , Li Qian , Shen Zhuangyu , Du Xuewan
Published: September 2022

Earth and rock dams are subject to risks caused by uncertainties during operation and management, and the health condition of earth and rock dams in service must be determined in a timely manner to properly protect them. In order to evaluate the health condition of earth and rock dams easily, quickly, reliably and quantitatively, this paper proposes a health evaluation method based on the ANP unconfirmed measure theory, and gives specific evaluation steps. First, the risk evaluation index system of earth and rock dams was constructed from six aspects: engineering quality, operation and management, diffuse top damage, infiltration damage, destabilization damage, and other factors. Then, the risk value of the evaluation index is determined using the unconfirmed measure model by integrating multiple types of information such as numerical calculation, inspection and inspection, and test and inspection, and the index is weighted using ANP. Finally, a project is used as an arithmetic example to verify the scientific applicability of the method in the risk evaluation of earth and rock dam projects, which provides an important reference for the risk control and management of earth and rock dam projects.
Circulating Mutant of Foot and Mouth Disease virus serotype A-African- Genotype IV in Egypt during 2022
Authors: Shahein Momtaz A. , Hussein Heba A. , Ali M. H. , Shemies Omayma A. , Afify Ahmed F. , Hassan Ayah M. , Zaher Mostafa R. , AbouElela Nahla H. , Habashi Ahmed R. , Eid Samah , Atea Mohamed , Abdel-Hakim Mahmoud A. , Hagag Naglaa M.
Published: September 2022

Foot and Mouth Disease Virus causes continuously annoying outbreaks and massive animal illnesses. Usually, the potential influence of the disease was due to the emergence of conquered emergent new strains or re-emergence of local strains with major antigenic variations due to the mutation in the genetic strip. Therefore, the proposed work is based on the genetic characterization of the virus by VP1 codon sequencing in the tested samples. Besides, the viral physiological testing using BHK-21 cell lines and the ELISA test for FMDV antigen serotyping. Positive serotype A samples were furtherly analyzed for nucleotide sequencing. The resulting sequences showed that they belonged to the FMD serotype A African topotypes originating from the ancestor prototype SUD/77 with a similarity of 98.48 ± 1.2% with each other. The divergence was 9.3% from the other local isolates from 2020. Additionally, they are closely related to the Egyptian-Damietta type-2016 and the Sudanese-2018 by 96.84 ± 1.01% and 95.84 ± 0.79%, respectively. Moreover, the divergence with the vaccinal strains ranged from 10 to 17%. Ultimately, the analysis of the amino acid showed that the isolates have variation in the most prominent antigenic regionsof of, allocated at residues 35–75, and at the immunogenic determinants of the G-H loop of VP1 (residues 100–146, residues 161–175). Therefore, the current isolates should be included in the vaccine to provide broader immunogenic coverages against serotype A-African topotypes.
Lithological discrimination and lineaments extraction using Landsat 8 & ASTER data, a case study of Jbel Saghro (Moroccan Anti-Atlas)
Authors: Marzouki Anass , Dridri Abdallah
Published: September 2022

The present work reveals the potential of Landsat 8 and ASTER imagery in the lithological discrimination and lineaments extraction in the region of Tiwit (Jbel Saghro). Various remote sensing and image processing techniques were applied to the Landsat 8 and ASTER scenes: False-color composites (RGB 751 & 531), Principal Component Analysis (PCA 653 & 821), Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF 643 & 541), and Independent Component Analysis (ICA 137 & 235). These techniques discriminate the granitic formations (Isk-n-Alla, Mimasmarane, Ibantarn, and Ikniwn), the rhyolitic and ignimbrite formation (Amtattouch, Ouzarzamand Assaka), and other various rock types (aphanitic basalts, sandstones, conglomerates, etc.). The automatic and manual lineaments extraction methods highlight the major lineaments in the study area, trending NE-SW, E-W, and ENE-WSW. The obtained results are consistent with the geologic map of Tiwit. Maximum Likelihood, Spectral Angle Mapper, and Mahalanobis distance classifiers show an overall accuracy of 88%, 56%, and 82.6%, respectively, for Landsat 8. ASTER data show a better result in classification with an overall accuracy of 90.6%, 84%, and 88% for the same classifiers.