bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The inflammatory pathogenetic pathways of Fabry nephropathy
Authors: Feriozzi Sandro , Rozenfeld Paula
Published: April 2024

The high variability in clinical features and outcomes observed in monogenic diseases like Fabry disease suggests the presence of additional pathogenetic pathways beyond the lysosomal deposition of Gb3 and Lyso-GB3. Research indicates that the deposition of Gb3 and Lyso-Gb3 can stimulate the inflammatory processes. Mononuclear immune-competent cells exposed to Gb3 deposition exhibit surface adhesion molecules and release pro-inflammatory and fibrotic cytokines such as IL β, TNFα, and TGFβ, culminating in the activation of inflammatory cascades associated with oxidative stress, apoptotic mechanisms maintained by renal residents and infiltrating cells, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue fibrosis. Furthermore, in another avenue of inquiry (termed Agalopathy), the mutated galactosidase alpha gene can result in the production of an altered alpha-galactosidase A enzyme, inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and triggering the unfolded protein response (UPR) in an effort to prevent the production of altered proteins. The UPR, in turn, instigates the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby contributing to the inflammatory milieu. Experimental findings have demonstrated that the pathogenetic mechanisms activated by Gb3 and Lyso Gb3 deposition can become independent from the initial stimulus and may exhibit limited responsiveness to therapy. Cellular pathway alterations can persist post-therapy or gene correction. Moreover, biochemical and histological lesions characteristic of Fabry disease manifest in the absence of Gb3 in the Zebrafish experimental model. This review endeavors to describe the role of these processes in Fabry nephropathy and aims to synthesize the available evidence on the pathogenesis of renal damage.
Analyse des médias en LEA : approche critique et créative de l’interculturalité comme levier pédagogique
Authors: Grillo Sabrina
Published: April 2024

L’article aborde la médiaculture et la transversalité dans l'enseignement des Langues Étrangères Appliquées (LEA) et met en avant une étude de cas pédagogique portant sur l’histoire et la culture de l'Espagne. Il explore comment à travers le cours de civilisation, il est possible de tirer profit de l’analyse de la communication et de ses effets du fait de la pluridisciplinarité du cours de LEA d’une part et de la transversalité de ce cours d’autre part. C’est le développement des compétences interculturelles avec un accent particulier sur l'analyse des médias, la créativité, et la préparation des étudiants aux défis du monde professionnel qui sont visés. L’article expose un retour d’expérience en Licence à partir de la question suivante : en quoi l’analyse des médias dans  le cours de civilisation en LEA peut-elle contribuer à développer divers savoirs et savoir-faire utiles dans le milieu professionnel sur des questions d'interculturalité et de marketing ? L’étude de cas proposée met l'accent sur l'approche de la médiaculture pour enseigner la communication et la compréhension interculturelle, en tenant compte des influences des médias sur la construction de la réalité sociale. Les atouts et inconvénients issus de ce retour d’expérience font l’objet d’une analyse finale.
Features of digitalization of scientific, technological and economic information in modern conditions of instrumentation
Authors: Pavlenko V. A. , Petrov P. V.
Published: April 2024

The purpose of the article is to pay professional attention to the features and intractable problems related to the digitalization of scientific, technological and economic information. Digitalization is a realty that cannot be ignored and must be accepted as inevitability at the present stage of development of society including its information component. Nevertheless, this trend isn’t far-fetched and artificially created. Many objective circumstances justify many objective circumstances, and the task is to carry it out successfully at the lowest cost. As it turned out, this task is not formal, which requires a creative and in some cases selective approach, taking into account the degree of readiness of digitalization objects for this. The article lists the main features and problems associated with the digitalization of technic information and identifies forward-looking ways to alleviate these problems.
Age-Related Variations in the Population of Active Secondary Hair Follicles, Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Parameters in Cashmere Goats
Authors: Li Junxia , Wang Zhenguo , Wang Liujia , Wang Xiayuan , He Dong , Duan Xinming , Zhang Chunxiang , Ren Youshe , Yang Chunhe
Published: April 2024

The objective of this study was to investigate age-related changes in cashmere production and the population of active secondary hair follicles in cashmere goats across different age groups, as well as to explore the association between secondary hair follicle activity and oxidative stress. A total of 104 adult Inner Mongolian ewe goats, aged between 2 and 7 years old, were randomly selected as experimental subjects. Skin samples were collected in August 2020 and cashmere samples were collected in April 2021. The cashmere fiber yield, staple length, and diameter showed age-related variations in cashmere goats aged 2 to 7 years (P < 0.05). Cashmere production was higher in goats aged 2-4 years compared to those aged 5-7 years (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the population of primary and secondary hair follicles among goats aged 2 to 7 years. However, the population of active secondary hair follicles varied significantly with age, with the younger group (aged 2-4 years) having a higher population than those aged 5 – 7 years (P < 0.05). A moderate negative correlation was observed between cashmere fiber diameter and the population of active secondary hair follicles (P < 0.05). Age-related variations in skin antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage were observed among cashmere goats aged 2 to 7 years old (P < 0.05). Goats aged 2 to 4 years exhibited higher antioxidant capacity and lower oxidative damage (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the skin antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage exhibited significant positive and negative correlations, respectively, with the population of active secondary hair follicles (P < 0.05). This study presents a novel approach to enhance the activity of secondary hair follicles and improve cashmere production performance through the regulation of oxidative stress.
Comparison of Evapotranspiration Values Calculated with Empirical Methods and ETgage Measurements
Authors: Kuzucu Fatih cem , Taş İsmail
Published: April 2024

Measuring reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is a difficult and costly process. Several parameters are needed to calculate it from meteorological parameters with the aid of some developed equations. There may be variable microclimates in some regions and these are often quite far from the climate stations. Therefore, for ETo, it is better to prefer local measurements rather than relying on regional values. ETo is of great importance for all water-related sectors. It is the primary factor designating the amount of irrigation water to be applied to the plant rootzone in agricultural activities. The amount of irrigation water to be applied is determined by correcting ETo value with the plant coefficient (kc) and irrigation efficiency. There have been many developments in measurement/calculation of ETo in recent years and it is expected that there will be more in the future. Within the scope of this study, ETo values measured with ETgage equipment were compared with the monthly ETo values calculated with the use of Thornthwaite, Blaney-Criddle, Cropwat (FAO Penman Monteith), Jensen-Haise and ASCE standardized Penman Monteith (ASCE SZ PM) methods. In terms of total ETo value, Thornthwaite (17%) and Jensen-Haise (14%) methods yielded lower values than ETgage readings. On the other hand, Blaney-Criddle (15%), Cropwat FAO PM (10%) and ASCE SZ PM (30%) methods yielded greater values than ETgage readings. Among the calculation methods, in Cropwat software, FAO PM equation yielded the closest value to ETgage readings. It was concluded based on present findings that ETgage equipment could reliably be used in determination of ETo.
Immune System Disorder and Cancer-Associated Cachexia
Authors: Zhang Lingbing , D. Bonomi Philip
Published: April 2024

Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) is a debilitating condition marked by muscle and fat loss, unresponsive to nutritional support, and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Immune dysfunction, driven by cytokine imbalance, contributes to CAC progression. This review explores the potential relationship between CAC and anti-cancer immune response in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Pre-clinical studies showcase the involvement of cytokines like IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and TGF-β, in CAC. IL-6 and TNF-α, interacting with muscle and adipose tissues, induce wasting through JAK/STAT and NF-κB pathways. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) exacerbate CAC by promoting inflammation. Clinical studies confirm elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNFα) and immune markers like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with CAC. Thus, immunomodulatory mechanisms involved in CAC may impact the anti-neoplastic immune response. Inhibiting CAC mechanisms could enhance anti-cancer therapies, notably immunotherapy. R-ketorolac, a new immunomodulator, reversed weight loss and increased survival in mice. Combining these agents with immunotherapy may benefit patients with cancer experiencing CAC. Further research is vital to understand the complex interplay between tumor-induced immune dysregulation and CAC during immunotherapy.
Parametric asymptotic expansions and confluence for Banach valued solutions to some singularly perturbed nonlinear q-difference-differential Cauchy problem
Authors: Malek Stephane
Published: April 2024

We investigate a singularly perturbed q-difference differential Cauchy problem with polynomial coefficients in complex time and space with quadratic nonlinearity. We construct local holomorphic solutions on sectors in the complex plane with respect to the perturbation parameter with values in some Banach space of formal power series in space with analytic coefficients on shrinking domains in time. Two aspects of these solutions are addressed. One feature concerns asymptotic expansions in the parameter for which a Gevrey type structure is unveiled. The other fact deals with confluence properties as q tends to 1. In particular the built up Banach valued solutions are shown to merge in norm to a fully bounded holomorphic map in all its arguments that solves a nonlinear partial differential Cauchy problem.
Design of a Dispersive 1064 nm Fiber Probe Raman Imaging Spectrometer and Its Application to Human Bladder Resectates
Authors: Munoz-Bolanos Juan David , Shaik Tanveer Ahmed , Miernik Arkadiusz , Popp Juergen , Krafft Christoph
Published: April 2024

This study introduces a compact Raman spectrometer with a 1064 nm excitation laser coupled with a fiber probe and an inexpensive motorized stage, offering a promising alternative to widely used Raman imaging instruments with 785 nm excitation lasers. The benefits of 1064 nm excitation for biomedical applications include further suppression of fluorescence background and deeper tissue penetration. The performance of the 1064 nm instrument in detecting cancer in human bladder resectates is demonstrated. Raman images with 1064 nm excitation were collected ex vivo from 10 human tumor and non-tumor bladder specimens and the results are compared to previously published Raman images with 785 nm excitation. K-Means cluster (KMC) analysis is used after pre-processing to identify Raman signatures of control, tumor, necrosis, and lipid-rich tissues. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) groups the KMC centroids of all specimens as input. The tools for data processing and hyperspectral analysis were compiled in an open source Python library called SpectraMap (SpMap). In conclusion, the 1064 nm Raman system can differentiate between tumor and non-tumor bladder tissues in a similar way to 785 nm Raman spectroscopy. These findings hold promise for future clinical hyperspectral imaging.
First Clinical Experience with a New Device for the Removal of Cochlear Schwannoma
Authors: Pfeiffer Christoph J. , Riemann Conrad , Kim Rayoung , Scholtz Lars Uwe , Schuermann Mathias , Todt Ingo
Published: April 2024

Background:

In most cases, intra-labyrinthine schwannoma (ILS) occurs in patients with unilateral hearing deterioration or neurofibromatosis type II (NF II). The pattern of localization of these tumors is various but affects mostly the cochlea. Extirpation of the ILS, if hidden by the cochlea modiolus, is difficult under the aspect of complete removal. Therefore, a tissue removal device (TRD) was designed and tested in temporal bones. The principle of handling the new device is a pushing and pipe cleaner handling inside the cochlea. This present study aimed to describe the first in vivo experience with the newly developed TRD for removing cochlear intra-labyrinthine schwannoma.

Methods:
In three patients, the TRD was used for the tumor removal of ILS. In two patients with a cochlear schwannoma in combination with a cochlea implantation and one patient suffering from NF II, a cochlear schwannoma was removed with the TRD. The access was performed with a posterior tympanotomy, an enlarged round window approach, and an additional second-turn access. The device was inserted and extracted gradually from the second turn access until the rings were visible in the second turn access. By pushing and pipe cleaner handling, the tumors were removed. An MRI control was performed on the day postoperatively with a T1 GAD sequence.

Results:

Tumor removal with the TRD was performed in a 15-minute procedure. MRI control confirmed a complete removal on the postoperative day in both cases.

Conclusion:

In vivo handling of the device confirmed a straightforward handling for tumor removal. MRI scanning showed a complete removal of the tumor by the TRD.
Landmark Evaluation of Transferrin Glycoforms: Pioneering Congenital Glycosylation Disorder Diagnosis in Cuba
Authors: Bermejo Valdés Alejandro Jesús , Archer Jiménez Jessica
Published: April 2024

Glycosylation, the most significant modification of proteins, plays an essential role in cellular processes. Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are multisystemic diseases resulting from mutations affecting glycosylation steps. Diagnosis of CDG relies on biochemical assays, such as isoelectric focusing. Despite its significance, CDG cases remain unreported in Cuba due to the lack of implemented diagnostic methods. This study aimed to evaluate transferrin glycoforms for diagnosing congenital N-glycosylation defects. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study using serum samples from 17 patients stored at the National Center for Medical Genetics of Cuba for suspected CDG. Results revealed abnormal glycosylation patterns in 7 patients, suggesting congenital N-glycosylation defects. We conclude that the implementation of transferrin glycoform analysis could pioneer a preliminary diagnosis of CDG in Cuba.
Measurement and Spatiotemporal Dynamic Evolution of China's High-Quality Economic Development
Authors: Yin Liang , Bai Xiaodong , Sun Xuelian
Published: April 2024

China's economic development has shifted from high speed to high quality. This study constructs an evaluation index for China’s high-quality development utilizing a new development concept. The entropy method and cluster analysis were used to assess the level of high-quality development in China between 2015 and 2021. Kernel density estimation method was employed to explore spatiotemporal dynamics. The results reveal significant differences in the level of economic development among provinces in China; the eastern region is significantly better than the central, northeastern, and western regions. From the perspective of the sub-item evaluation, challenges with uneven, uncoordinated, and insufficient economic development exist in various Chinese provinces.
Question Answering through Enhanced Question Classification for Domain Adaptation
Authors: Foster Clayton , Nasir Wyne , Warren Emily
Published: April 2024

The field of Question Answering (QA) has achieved substantial advancements, particularly in specialized domains. However, adapting QA systems to new domains when trained in a distinct source domain and deployed in a different target domain presents significant challenges. This study explores the role of enhanced question classification in facilitating domain adaptation in QA systems. We introduce a comprehensive framework termed Enhanced Question Classification for Adaptive QA (EQCA-QA). This framework employs a sophisticated question classifier to categorize questions from both source and target datasets, followed by a joint training mechanism that utilizes self-supervised learning through pseudo-labeling. To optimize performance, we reduce the inter-domain discrepancies using the maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) method while also minimizing intra-class variances among QA pairs of identical question types for more precise adaptation. To our knowledge, this is the pioneering attempt at integrating enhanced question classification with self-supervised learning techniques to address domain adaptation challenges in QA. Our results show that EQCA-QA consistently surpasses the contemporary benchmarks across various datasets.
The Curious Role of PAI‐1 in Severe OSA
Authors: Friščić Tea , Galić Edvard , Vidović Domagoj , Brečić Petrana , Alfirević Igor
Published: April 2024

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) has a significant role in fibrinolysis, atherogenesis, cellular senescence, and chronic inflammation. OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) leads to increased PAI-1 levels and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of CPAP therapy in patients with severe OSA on coagulation parameters and PAI-1. This prospective, controlled study enrolled 57 patients who were newly diagnosed with severe OSA, 37 of whom had had a good CPAP adherence after 6 months of therapy (usage of the device for at least 4 h per night), and their data were analyzed. The analysis showed a statistically significant increase in D-dimer values (415 (316.5-537.5) before CPAP therapy vs. 499 (327-652) after therapy, p = 0.0282) and a decrease in fibrinogen values (3.665 ± 0.752 before CPAP therapy vs. 3.365 ± 0.771) after therapy, p = 0.0075)). The PAI-1 concentration values before and after CPAP therapy did not differ significantly (17.35±7.01 ng/ml before CPAP therapy vs. 17.42±6.99 ng/ml after therapy, p = 0.9367). This study shows a tendency to improve the fibrinolytic capacity in patients with OSA after CPAP therapy although PAI-1 levels did not differ significantly.
Precipitation Simulation and Dynamic Response of a Transmission Line Subject to Wind-Driven Rain during Super Typhoon Lekima
Authors: Sun Jianping , Huang Mingfeng , Liao Sunce , Lou Wenjuan
Published: April 2024

Typhoons bring great damages to transmission line systems located in coastal areas. Strong wind and extreme precipitation are the main sources of damaging effects. Transmission lines suffered from wind-driven rain exhibit more susceptibility to damage due to the coupled effect of wind and rain water. This paper presents an integrated numerical simulation framework based on mesoscale WRF model, multiphase CFD model and FEM model to analyze the motions of a transmission line subjected to coupled wind and rain loads during typhoon events. A full-scale transmission line in Zhoushan island is employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework by simulating typhoon evolution in terms of wind fields and rainfall, solving the coupled wind and rain fields around the conductor and predicting the dynamic responses of the transmission line during Super Typhoon Lekima (2019). The results show that the horizontal displacements of the transmission line under the joint actions of wind and rain increases approximately 17%~18% compared to those of wind loads only. It is important to consider the coupled effects of wind-driven rain on conductors in the design of transmission lines under typhoon conditions.
Telomeres and Telomerase as Promising Targets for Malaria Therapy: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Wakai Theophilus Nang , Anzaku Dorathy Olo , Afolabi Israel Sunmola
Published: April 2024

Infection with the malaria parasite Plasmodium, remains a major cause of illness and death world-wide. The development of evasion strategies by the parasite from host immunity and its adaptability to antimalarial drugs has raised the urgency for developing new strategies to combat this disease. One promising avenue is targeting telomeres – sequences found at chromosome termini– and telomerase – the enzyme that catalysis synthesis of telomeres using an intrinsic RNA template. As telomeres shorten critically, cells undergo replicative senescence or apoptosis. Plasmodium, lacking telomerase activity in its human stages, exploits alternative mechanisms, accelerating telomere shortening, aging, and immune evasion. Chemical telomerase inhibitors show promise as antimalarials. In this review, we examine the potential of targeting this system in malaria therapy, with telomerase inhibitors offering a novel approach. A systematic search on PubMed using Boolean techniques identified 246 relevant articles from 1985 to March 31, 2024. After filtering, 43 articles met inclusion criteria, supplemented by snowball sampling. The telomerase inhibitor drug strategy is widely applicable against cancer. However, given the drugability of telomerase and the absolute requirement for active telomere maintenance in the vast majority of parasites including plasmodium, telomerase and telomere maintenance could well represent the Achilles heel of the parasite
Enhanced Linear and Vision Transformer-Based Architectures for Time Series Forecasting
Authors: Alharthi Musleh , Mahmood Ausif
Published: April 2024

Time series forecasting has been a challenging area in the field of Artificial Intel-ligence. Various approaches such as linear Neural Networks, Recurrent Linear Neural Networks, Convolutional Neural Networks and recently Transformers have been attempted for the time series forecasting domain. Although, Trans-former-based architectures have been outstanding in the Natural Language Pro-cessing domain, especially in autoregressive language modeling, the initial at-tempts to use transformers in the time series arena have met with mixed success. One of the recent papers demonstrated that modeling the multi-variate time se-ries problem as independent channels on a transformer architecture produced lower mean square and mean absolute errors on benchmarks, however, another recent paper claimed that a simple linear neural network out-performs previous approaches including transformer-based designs. We investigate this paradox in detail comparing the linear Neural Network and Transformer based designs, provide insights to why a certain approach may be better for a particular type of problem. We also improve upon the recently proposed simple linear Neural Network based architecture by using dual pipelines with batch normalization and reversible instance normalization. Our enhanced architecture outperforms all existing architectures for time series forecasting on majority of the popular benchmarks.
Effects of Defoliation Frequency on Biomass Production on Selected Drought Tolerant Forage Legumes Intercropped with (Chloris gayana): Drought Mitigation Strategy and Solutions Review
Authors: Madolo Nkosikhona , Mashece Wandile , Laubscher Charles Petrus , Mnukwa Ndumiso
Published: April 2024

AbstraIncorporating knowledge of indigenous forage legumes or associated nutritional attributes in cultivated pastures has the potential to improve grazing conditions, rangeland conditions, and cattle productivity. Climate change and other site-specific factors such as land sizes and other grazing management practices play a significant role in food security, job creation, and environmental health. Several research results have reported that the utilization of forage legumes in most farming systems has proved to increase herbage yield and soil fertility. The major aim of this review is to elucidate the potential benefits of intercropping indigenous forage legumes such as cowpea (Vigna unguiculacta L.Walp) and Dolichols (Lablab purpureaus) intercropped with Chloris gayana, this is to assesses the principal advantages, productivity, and overall performance of forage legumes grown in conjunction with grasses. Moreover, this review seeks to provide insights into the optimal management practices for intercropping forage legumes with grasses. The promising feature of intercropping South African pastoral systems must target the ability of forage legumes in terms of performance and utilization of agro-symbiotic relationships of N2 fixation symbiotic relationship in pastures. Moreover, this review aims also to address this knowledge gap by assessing the effects of defoliation frequency on the biomass production of selected forage legumes when intercropped with Chloris gayana in different growing seasons. By examining how varying defoliation frequencies influence biomass production, this review aimed to provide practical recommendations for optimizing forage management practices and promoting sustainable forage production systems. Through this investigation, we can gain insights into the complex dynamics between the defoliation frequency, intercropping systems, and biomass production.
Determinants of Butterfly Community Structure and Composition at the Local Habitat Level: Importance of Neighbouring Vegetation and Management Status
Authors: Kitahara Masahiko , Yasuda Taisuke
Published: April 2024

Exploring the determinants of biological community structure is important not only for understanding the formation of the community, but also for promoting its biodiversity conservation. We monitored butterfly communities in a grassland and woodland area of Mount Fuji, Japan, and explored the environmental factors that influenced them. Multivariate regression tree (MRT) analysis generated a 3-leaved MRT (G1, G2, and G3) and showed the total explained variation of 64.4% in the species composition. The explanatory variables discriminating between the two branches in the first node and in the second node of the MRT were neighbouring plant community and management status, respectively. The neighbouring plant community was related to the distribution of butterfly dietary resources and contributed much in determining the species composition of the community. While the management status was largely related to the amount of their dietary resources, affecting the species richness and diversity. The PCA results revealed that the three key groups (G1, G2, and G3) were formed along the gradients of these two factors. Consequently, to maintain mowing management and the diversity of neighbouring vegetation is very important for the continuance of butterfly community diversity and composition and the conservation of Red Listed species in the area.
Listening Sessions to Shape the Innovative NIH ComPASS Common Fund Program to Advance Health Equity
Authors: Brown Alison G. M. , Winchester Danyelle , Bynum Shalanda A. , Amolegbe Sara M. , Ferguson Yvonne O. , Flournoy Floyd Minnjuan , Lawhorn Collene , Le Jimmy T. , Lloyd Jacqueline , Oh April Y. , Tyus Nadra , Whitaker Damiya E. , Boyce Cheryl Anne
Published: April 2024

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognized the need for a research program to address the underlying structural factors that impact health. To inform the development of the NIH Common Fund Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society (ComPASS) Program, NIH obtained input through community listening sessions. Through its design, ComPASS recognizes the essential role of community organizations as the lead in addressing persistent structural and social challenges to accelerate progress toward advancing health equity. ( Am J Public Health. 2024;114(7):685–689. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307656 )
Early Formation of a Tenosynovial Retinacular Cyst Between A1 and A2 Pulleys After Open A1 Pulley Release
Authors: Haddad Daniel K. , Scheer Ryan C. , Filtes Peter , Coyle Ryan M.
Published: April 2024

Case:

A 66-year-old woman presented with a left middle trigger finger and underwent a proximal annular pulley (A1) release. Four weeks later, she presented with a new mass in the same finger without recurrent triggering. She was found to have a tenosynovial retinacular cyst, which was surgically excised.

Conclusion:

This case demonstrates early ganglion cyst formation between A1 and A2 pulleys after A1 pulley release. Although the etiology is unclear, this case illustrates effective treatment strategies.
Team Approach: Neuromuscular Training for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Authors: Inclan Paul M. , Hicks Justin J. , Retzky Julia S. , Janosky Joseph J. , Pearle Andrew D.
Published: April 2024

» Neuromuscular training is a method of performance optimization—typically combining plyometrics, balancing training, agility, and dynamic stabilization—predicated on improving the efficiency of fundamental movement patterns.

» Neuromuscular training has consistently been shown to reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury, particularly for athletes engaged in activities associated with noncontact knee injuries (i.e., women's soccer).

» Successful implementation of neuromuscular training programs requires input from coaches, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and physicians to generate efficacious programs with high rates of adherence.
Distribution of Foraminiferal Assemblages in Contemporary Bottom Sediments of Qua-Iboe River Estuary, Southeast Nigeria
Authors: Emeka Victoria I. , Nyong Eyo Etim , Emeka Chimezie N. , Ukpong AniediObong J.
Published: April 2024

Qua-Iboe River estuary, Southeast Nigeria, was studied to determine the relationship between foraminiferal distribution and bottom water physicochemical parameters including salinity, temperature, depth, dissolved oxygen, pH, tidal energy, and sediment. Fifty-five bottom sediment samples from geo-referenced stations were collected at water depths of 0–10 m across the channel. Ten species of foraminifera were identified in the estuary. Q-mode cluster analysis resulted in two biotopes (1 and 2), each representing distinct sub-environments. Biotope 1 included two sub-groups namely, 1a and 1b. Biotope 1a represents the upper estuary environment and is distinguished by the non-recovery of foraminifera. It has a maximum water depth of 8.3 m and occurs in freshwater conditions (0 ppt) with slightly acidic to neutral pH and fine- to medium-grained sands. Biotope 1b is found in the mid-estuarine environment and has a maximum water depth of 4 m. It is distinguished by an abundance of Arenoparrella mexicana. Biotope 2 occurs within the subtidal lower estuarine environment with a maximum water depth of 4 m. It is characterized by slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (pH = 6–8), brackish to marine waters, with fine to very fine-grained sands. Foraminiferal species commonly found in this biotope include Ammonia beccarii, Pseudononion japonicum, and Cribroelphidium excavatum. As salinity increased seawards, agglutinated taxa were gradually replaced by calcareous species. Foraminiferal assemblages in bottom sediments are strongly influenced by salinity.
Morphotypical and Geochemical Variations of Planktic Foraminiferal Species in Siberian and Central Arctic Ocean Core Tops
Authors: Prabhakar Maya , Thirumalai Kaustubh , Cronin Thomas M. , Gemery Laura , Thomas Elizabeth K. , Rafter Patrick A.
Published: April 2024

In this work, we utilize a transect of core top, mid- to late Holocene, sediments from the Eastern Siberian Sea to the central Arctic Ocean, spanning gradients in upper-ocean water column properties, to examine regional planktic foraminiferal species abundances and geochemistry. We present species- and morphotype-specific foraminiferal assemblages at these sites and stable isotope analyses of neogloboquadrinids. We find little variation in planktic species populations, and only small variations in N. pachyderma morphotype distributions, between sites. Spatial averages of N. pachyderma morphotype and N. incompta δ18O values show no significant differences, suggesting a similar calcification depth for all morphotypes of N. pachyderma and N. incompta across our sites, which we estimate to be between ∼ 50–150 m. Values of δ18O of a group of unencrusted specimens delineate a shallower calcification habitat. Neogloboquadrina pachyderma-2 Mg/Ca values yield temperatures outside the range of observations using available calibration equations, pointing toward the need for more Arctic-specific Mg/Ca-temperature calibrations.
Comparison of Gas Signature and Void Fraction in Water- and Oil-Based Muds Using Fiber-Optic Distributed Acoustic Sensor, Distributed Temperature Sensor, and Distributed Strain Sensor
Authors: Adeyemi Temitayo , Wei Chen , Sharma Jyotsna , Chen Yuanhang
Published: April 2024

Accurate estimation and prediction of gas rise velocity, length of the gas influx region, and void fraction are important for optimal gas kick removal, riser gas management, and well control planning. These parameters are also essential in monitoring and characterization of multiphase flow. However, gas dynamics in non-Newtonian fluids, such as drilling mud, which is essential for gas influx control, are poorly understood due to the inability to create full-scale annular flow conditions that approximate the conditions observed in the field. This results in a lack of understanding and poor prediction of gas kick behavior in the field. To bridge this gap, we use distributed fiber-optic sensors (DFOS) for real-time estimation of gas rise velocity, void fraction, and influx length in water and oil-based mud (OBM) at the well scale.

DFOS can overcome a major limitation of downhole gauges and logging tools by enabling the in-situ monitoring of dynamic events simultaneously across the entire wellbore. This study is the first well-scale deployment of distributed acoustic sensor (DAS), distributed temperature sensor (DTS), and distributed strain sensor (DSS) for investigation of gas behavior in water and OBM. Gas void fraction, migration velocities, and gas influx lengths were analyzed across a 5,163-ft-deep wellbore for multiphase experiments conducted with nitrogen in water and nitrogen in synthetic-based mud, at similar operating conditions. An improved transient drift flux–based numerical model was developed to simulate the experimental processes and understand the gas dynamics in different wellbore fluid environments. The gas velocities, void fractions, and gas influx lengths estimated independently using DAS, DTS, and DSS showed good agreement with the simulation results, as well as the downhole gauge analysis.
Identification of the Effective Crane Hook’s Cross Section
Authors: Dipu Md Nazmul Hasan , Apu Mahbub Hasan , Chowdhury Pritidipto Paul
Published: April 2024

The crane hook is a widely utilized component in several industries for the purpose of lifting things. The crane hook must possess the capacity to withstand the intended load without encountering any complications, hence ensuring the safety of both personnel and the objects being lifted. The process of analysis is crucial for the effective utilization of a crane hook. The primary aim of this study was to determine the most efficient cross-sectional crane hook among five distinct geometric profiles. This was achieved through the application of finite element analysis using Solidworks software. Subsequently, the identified cross-sectional profile was further examined using the Python programming language, taking into account the classical equation of a curved beam. The five cross-sectional shapes seen in the study were circular, rectangular, trapezoidal, I-shaped, and T-shaped. For the purposes of this investigation, the chosen material for each cross-sectional crane hook model was 34CrMo4 steel. Despite the identical boundary constraints imposed on all the chosen cross-sectional crane hook profiles, it was observed that the trapezoidal cross-sectional crane hook exhibited superior performance compared to the others. The trapezoidal cross-sectional crane hook model exhibited a von Mises stress of 202997600 Pa, with a corresponding factor of safety of 3.202. Further experimentation was conducted using Python to examine the trapezoidal profile. The results indicated that an increased level of parallelism in the inner side of the trapezoidal shape corresponded to a higher factor of safety. Hence, it is advisable to maintain the trapezoidal cross-sectional profile of the crane hook, with due consideration given to maximizing the length of the inner parallel side. The enhancement of design leads to a decrease in the likelihood of failure and the occurrence of undesirable accidents.
Parameter Analysis Of Pulsars Evolutionary Dynamics
Authors: Wang Yuheng
Published: April 2024

Pulsars hold a unique significance in astronomy, and studying their life cycle evolution offers a window into understanding the broader dynamics of their surrounding environments. This essay delves into the evolution of pulsars by analyzing data from 299 pulsar samples, which include recorded parameters such as period, period derivative, characteristic age, luminosity, spin-down energy loss rate, and surface magnetic flux density. Through plotting graphs of these parameters against each other, the essay aims to uncover the relationships between them and compare the findings with established theories. The results of the analysis reveal a consistent pattern in pulsar evolution. As pulsars evolve, both their period and period derivative decrease. This reduction in period and period derivative consequently leads to a decline in both magnetic flux density and spin-down energy loss rate. Notably, these two parameters exhibit an exponential decrease over the characteristic age of the pulsar. This study sheds light on the dynamic evolution of pulsars and emphasises the interconnection of various parameters that shape their evolutionary trajectories. By understanding the evolution of pulsars, we can gain valuable insights into the broader processes at work in their surrounding environments.
Stochastic Modeling of PM10 Forecasting for Taiwan's River Dust-Raising Events using LightGBM
Authors: Ho Chih Chao , Chang Chih Hsiung
Published: April 2024

To enhance the accuracy of Taiwan's existing river dust-raising alert system, which exclusively depends on wind speed predictions, this study combines hydrological, meteorological, air quality information with LightGBM to establish a stochastic model for forecasting PM10 exceedance probabilities. The flexible probability information can effectively reduce the risk of poor decision-making caused by concentration deterministic forecast errors. LightGBM, a boosting-based ensemble learning algorithm, employs a depth-constrained leaf-wise growth strategy, speeding up training, reducing memory consumption, and shortening training time. The results of model training and validation demonstrate good performance in terms of accuracy, recall, and specificity metrics. This signifies that the model effectively predicts the occurrence of actual dust-raising events. In comparison to the current dust-raising alert mechanism, the model can significantly reduce unnecessary dust alerts and lightening the workforce's burden. Moreover, this model effectively forecasts dust events under low to moderate wind speed conditions, providing decision-makers with crucial support data for proactive dust control deployment.
HPV DNA Status and Clinical History of Patients are Supplements for Accurate Reporting of the Cytological Pap Smear.
Authors: Ali Mohammad , Kumar Amit , Karim Shabana , Irfan Mohammad , Kumar Sachin , sinha shwaeta , kumar Arun , Singh Manisha , Ghosh Ashok , sinha Reena
Published: April 2024

Purpose: The present study was aimed at showing the importance of HPV DNA status and clinical history of the patients required to cytologist for accurate reporting.
Methods: A total of 1250 symptomatic women who attended the gynaecology outpatient department of the Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and Nalanda Medical College, Patna, for pap smear examinations were screened and recruited for the study. Due to highly clinical symptoms out of the negative with inflammatory smears reported, one hundred and ten patients were randomly advised for biopsy and HPV 16/18 DNA analysis by a gynaecologist to correlate negative smears included in the study.
Results:Pap smear reports revealed that 1178 (94.24%) were negative for intraepithelial lesions (NILM) with inflammatory smears, 23 (1.84%) smears showed low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 12 (0.96%) smears showed high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), and 37 (2.96%) smears showed an atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance (ASCUS). A biopsy of 110 out of 1178 (NILM) patients revealed that 15 (13.63%) women had cervical cancer, 29 women had cervicitis, 17 women had dysplasia, 35 women had benign cervical changes, and 14 women had haemorrhages. On the other hand, HPV 16/18 DNA was detected as positive in 87 out of 110. .
Conclusion: The high positivity of HPV in biopsied cases where frank cervical cancer and at-risk cancer were also observed in the negative smear -screened patients, reveals that the HPV status and clinical history of the patients will be quite helpful to the cytologist for accurate reporting, and suggests that a negative HPV DNA result may be a stronger predictor of cervical cancer risk than a negative Pap test.
Unveiling the Crucial Role of Ferroptosis in Host Resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae Infection
Authors: jiang Hua , yi Jiaxuan , sun zeyu , Li Jing , Jiang Yongqiang , Liu Peng , Wang Yuhang , Liu Hui , Lv Qingyu , Kong Decong , Huang Wenhua , Ren Yuhao , Li Qian
Published: April 2024

IL-1β represents an important inflammatory factor involved in the host response against GBS infection. Prior research has suggested a potential involvement of IL-1β in the process of ferroptosis. However, the relationship between IL-1β and ferroptosis in the context of anti-GBS infection remains uncertain. This research demonstrates that the significance of ferroptosis in the host's immune defense against GBS infection in a mouse model of abdominal infection, with peritoneal macrophages identified as the primary cells undergoing ferroptosis. Subsequent studies have shown that IL-1β promotes lipid oxidation in macrophages by upregulating pathways associated with lipid oxidation. Concurrently, IL-1β is not only involved in the initiation of ferroptosis in macrophages, but its production is intricately linked to the onset of ferroptosis. Ultimately, we posit that ferroptosis acts as a crucial initiating factor in the host response to GBS infection, with IL-1β playing a significant role in the resistance to infection by serving as a key inducer of ferroptosis.
Endpoints and Outcomes for Localized Scleroderma/Morphea: A Scoping Literature Review
Authors: Hernandez Alexy , Leiva Leslie Zapata , Mutka Maria , Torok Kathryn S. , Ledbetter Leila , Zigler Christina K
Published: April 2024

Background
Current treatment for localized scleroderma (LS) has been shown to halt disease activity, but little is still known about patient experiences with these treatments, nor is there consensus about optimal measurement strategies for future clinical trials.
Objective
Conduct a scoping review of the literature for the types of outcomes and measures (i.e. clinician-, patient-, and caregiver-reported) utilized in published treatment studies of LS.
Methods
Online databases were searched for articles related to the evaluation of treatment efficacy in LS with a special focus on pediatrics.
Results
Of the 168 studies, the most common outcomes used were cutaneous disease activity and damage measured via clinician-reported assessments. The most frequently cited measure was the Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT). Few patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were used.
Limitations:
Some studies only vaguely reported the measures utilized, and the review yielded a low number of clinical trials.
Conclusion
In addition to evaluating disease activity with clinician-reported measures, the field could obtain critical knowledge on the patient experience by including high-quality PROMs of symptoms and functioning. More clinical trials using a variety of outcomes and measures are necessary to determine the most suitable course of treatment for LS patients.
On fuzzy implications derived from multiplicative generator pair of overlap functions
Authors: Jia Zihang , Qiao Junsheng , Chen Minhao
Published: April 2024

Fuzzy implications are widely used in approximate reasoning. Since there is no fuzzy implication satisfying all algebraic properties, it is necessary to construct fuzzy implications for different applications. One of the main construction methods of fuzzy implications is based on the generator of aggregation functions. Meanwhile, overlap functions are a class of extensively used aggregation functions. Moreover, one of classes of multiplicative generator pairs of overlap functions has only a few weaker conditions in its definition. Therefore, for approximate reasoning, this article introduces a novel class of fuzzy implications called MO-implications based on a class of multiplicative generator pairs of overlap functions. Furthermore, we study the basic properties of MO-implications and some classical tautologies related to MO-implications. The results show that (1) MO-implications are a novel class of fuzzy implications, which are distinct from some other classes of overlap functions-related fuzzy implications; (2) MO-implications always satisfy some useful algebraic properties, such as left neutrality property and consequent boundary; (3) Some classical tautologies related to MO-implications hold in many cases, including T-conditionality law, O-conditionality law and contraction law, such that MO-implications can be used in approximate reasoning.
Averaged decrease in SpO2 during six-minute walk test as a novel prognostic marker for elderly heart failure patients
Authors: Sunayama Isamu , Min Kyung-Duk , Orihara Yoshiyuki , Ono Junichi , Matsumoto Yuki , Daimon Aika , Soyama Yuko , Manabe Eri , Oboshi Makiko , Azuma Kohei , Sugahara Masataka , Eguchi Akiyo , Naito Yoshiro , Asakura Masanori , Ishihara Masaharu
Published: April 2024

Background: Exercise capacity is pivotal in risk stratification in heart failure (HF) and the six-minute walk test (6MWT) is often employed to evaluate it, but estimation of the absolute risk in elderly patients through six-minute walk distance (6MWD) is difficult due to comorbidities resulting in wide variability among individuals, implicating unmet-needs for comprehensive index for exercise capacity in the elderly.
Methods: During the 6MWT, 6MWD and exercise-induced changes in peripheral oxygen saturation (ΔSpO2-Ex) were measured. The associations between these parameters and cardiovascular outcomes, including HF rehospitalization and cardiovascular death within one year after discharge were assessed.
Results: Fifty-five HF patients with age > 65 yeas were investigated. The mean 6MWD was 237.5 m, and the mean ΔSpO2-Ex was 5.8 %. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant correlation between larger ΔSpO2-Ex and adverse cardiovascular outcomes (HR 6.66, p<0.001) compared to 6MWD (HR 2.40, p=0.031). In multivariate analysis, ΔSpO2-Ex was an independent risk factor. The combination of short-6MWD and large-ΔSpO2-Ex identified patients with markedly high incidence rate of cardiovascular events.
Conclusions: ΔSpO2-Ex could be an independent prognostic marker for HF patients, surpassing the predictive power of 6MWD, suggesting that the 6MWT can provide a novel prognostic assessment that reflects exercise capacity through ΔSpO2-Ex.