bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between occupational and physical activity with varicocele
Authors: Ghorbani Hamidreza , Ghorbani Mohammad , Rahmanipour Elham , Rafeemanesh Ehsan , Ghodsi Alireza , Jarahi Lida , Sangani Ehsan Jalali , Mirzaei Mohammad , Sadrian Seyed Hassan , Mehri Ali , Amiri Masoumeh
Published: June 2023

Background Varicocele is the most common correctable cause of infertility in males.
Objectives: This study is designed to evaluate the correlation between occupational and physical activities with 6 incidence and severity of varicocele.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on patients with varicocele in a tertiary referral center in Iran. The International Physical Activity Score Questionnaire (IPAQ) was utilized to evaluate physical activity. Furthermore, the occupational status was assessed using 10 a standard checklist created by an occupational medicine specialist.
Results: 169 patients with a mean age of 29.1 ± 7.3 years were enrolled. Grade 1 varicocele was found in 49.7% of the patients, followed by grade 2 (47.9%), and grade 3 (2.4%). There was no association between varicocele grade and fertility status, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. 14 There was a significant difference in patients' varicocele grade between low, moderate, and high15 intensity occupations, indicating that the majority of patients with low and moderate-intensity occupations had grade 1 varicocele, whereas most of the patients with high-intensity occupations had grade 2 varicocele. There was a negative correlation between varicocele grade and exercise. 18 On the other hand, there were positive correlations between varicocele grade and squatting, pulling 19 objects, and climbing stairs.
Conclusion: The intensity of occupational activity was associated with the severity of varicocele, and patients with high-intensity occupations had higher grades of varicocele. Physical activities such as squatting, pulling objects, and climbing stairs increase the grade of varicocele, while exercise reduces the grade of varicocele.
Study on the relationship between permeability coefficient and porosity, the confining and osmotic pressure of attapulgite-modified loess
Authors: Zhang Zhengrui , Pishro Ahad Amini , Zhang Lili , Ma Xuejiao , Matlan Siti Jahara , Taha Nazaruddin Abdul , Pishro Mojdeh Amini
Published: June 2023

This study investigated attapulgite-modified loess as an efficient and cost-effective method for creating an impermeable liner for landfills in regions with scarce clay resources. Laboratory permeability tests were conducted using a flexible wall permeameter to determine the permeability of compacted loess and attapulgite mixtures under varying osmotic conditions. The relationship between the permeability coefficient, attapulgite dosage, radial pressure, and osmotic pressure was analyzed. Nuclear magnetic resonance and scanning electron microscopy were also used to observe the microstructure of the modified loess. The results showed that attapulgite dosage significantly reduced the permeability coefficient, but the effect became limited when the content surpassed 10%. The decrease of the permeability coefficient of the modified loess is mainly due to the filling of pores between the loess by attapulgite, which makes the pore size and throat size of the modified loess smaller. The modified loess displayed a sheet structure that contributed to an increased permeability coefficient due to increased radial pressure. This study provides valuable insights into using attapulgite-modified loess as a material for landfill lining in regions with scarce clay resources.
The Lymphovascular Invasion and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio Increase the Prognostic Value of the Basal Model in UTUC Patients after Radical Nephroureterectomy
Authors: Ye Jianjun , Wang Qihao , Chen Zeyu , Wang Xingyuan , Zhang Chichen , Han Ping , Wei Qiang , Bao Yige
Published: June 2023

Objective To determine the prognostic value of lymphovascular invasion (LVI), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and their combination for predicting oncological outcomes in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Materials and methods Data from 581 UTUC patients who underwent RNU at our institution from May 2003 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The predictive value on the endpoints of interest, including overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS), was assessed by Kaplan‒Meier curves and the Cox proportional hazard model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was computed to evaluate the predictive ability. Results Patients in the LVI-positive group or NLR-high group had a significantly worse OS, CSS and MFS than those in the LVI-negative group or NLR-low group. LVI-positive and NLR-high coexistence was an independent risk factor for OS, CSS and MFS in multivariate analyses (HR 2.28, 95% CI 1.52–3.44; HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.63–4.01; HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.09–3.06, respectively). Furthermore, adding LVI and NLR to the basal model, consisting of tumor stage, grade and lymph node metastasis, improved the ability to predict the survival outcomes of UTUC patients in ROC analysis. Conclusion LVI, NLR and their combination were all independent risk factors for OS, CSS and MFS in UTUC patients after RNU. Adding LVI and NLR into the basal model enhanced the prognostic prediction ability throughout the follow-up period. It might be a feasible and promising tool for risk stratification and individualized treatment.
Comparison of four value sets derived using different TTO and DCE approaches: Application to the new region-specific PBM, AP-7D
Authors: Shiroiwa Takeru , Murata Tatsunori , Morii Yasuhiro , Hoshino Eri , Fukuda Takashi
Published: June 2023

Background
AP-7D is a newly developed preference-based measure (PBM) in East and Southeast Asia. However, no value set has been established yet. Comparison of the characteristics of value sets obtained by different methods is necessary to consider the most appropriate methodology for valuation survey of AP-7D.
Method
We surveyed the general population’s preference of AP-7D health states by four valuation methods (a) composite time trade-off (cTTO); (b) simple discrete choice experiment (DCE); (c) DCE with duration; and (d) ternary DCE. In Japan, we collected approximately 1,000 samples for cTTO tasks through a face-to-face survey and 2,500 samples for each of the three DCE tasks. Respondents were selected through quota sampling based on the sex and age. The cTTO data were analyzed using a linear mixed and tobit model; the DCE data were analyzed using a simple and panel conditional logit model. Where the results of the analysis showed inconsistencies, a constrained model was used.
Results
Since all the unconstrained models, except simple DCE, showed one or more inconsistencies, the constrained model was used for the analyses. The minimum values for the models were as follows: TTO model, -0.101; simple DCE model, -0.106; DCE with duration model, -0.706; ternary DCE model, -0.306. The score for the DCE with the duration model was much lower than that for the other models. Although the value sets for AP-7D differed among the four valuation methods, the ternary DCE model showed intermediate characteristics between those of the cTTO and DCE with duration models. As compared with to EQ-5D-5L, the distributions of all the scores on the Japanese AP-7D moved to the left. Although “Energy” was one of the domains with the least influence on the AP-7D score in all four models, “Burden to others” had the largest impact on the preferences.
Conclusion
We constructed four value sets using different TTO and DCE methods. Our findings are expected not only to contribute to the development of AP-7D, but also other preference-based measures.
A Dietary Pattern of Frequent Plant-based Foods Intake Reduced the Associated Risks for Atopic Dermatitis Exacerbation: Insights from The Singapore/Malaysia Cross-sectional Genetics Epidemiology Cohort
Authors: LIM Jun Jie , REGINALD Kavita , SAY Yee-How , LIU Mei Hui , CHEW Fook Tim
Published: June 2023

Background
The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has been increasing in recent years, especially in Asia. There is growing evidence to suggest the importance of dietary patterns in the development and management of AD. Here, we seek to understand how certain dietary patterns in a Singapore/Malaysia population are associated with various risks of AD development and exacerbation.
Methods
A standardized questionnaire following the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) guidelines was investigator-administered to a clinically and epidemiology well-defined allergic cohort of 13,561 young Chinese adults aged 19–22. Information on their sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary habits, and personal and family medical atopic histories were obtained. Allergic sensitization was assessed by a skin prick test to mite allergens. Spearman’s rank-order correlation was used to assess the correlation between the intake frequencies of 16 food types. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Four corresponding dietary scores were derived to examine the association of identified dietary patterns with atopy and AD exacerbations through a multivariable logistic regression that controlled for age, gender, parental eczema, BMI, and lifestyle factors.
Results
The correlation is the strongest between the intake of butter and margarine (R = 0.65). We identified four dietary patterns, “high-calorie foods”, “plant-based foods”, “meat and rice”, and “probiotics, milk and eggs”, and accounted for 47.4% of the variance. Among these patterns, moderate-to-high intake of “plant-based foods” conferred a protective association for chronic (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.706; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.589–0.847; p < 0.001) and moderate-to-severe AD (AOR: 0.756; 95% CI: 0.638–0.897; p < 0.01). “Meat and rice” and “probiotics, milk and eggs” were not significantly associated with AD exacerbation. While frequent adherence to “high-calorie foods” increased the associated risks for ever AD and moderate-to-severe AD, having a higher adherence to “plant-based foods” diminished the overall associated risks.
Conclusions
Frequent adherence to “plant-based foods” was associated with reduced risks for AD exacerbation in young Chinese adults from Singapore/Malaysia. This provides the initial evidence to support the association between dietary factors and AD. Further research is needed to better understand the pathomechanisms underlying diet and AD exacerbations.
Modified early intensive and treat-and-extend regimen of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for diabetic macular edema in Taiwan
Authors: Chou Jui-Feng , Wu Jian-Sheng , Chen Yi-Ling , Chen San-Ni
Published: June 2023

Given the rising prevalence of patients with diabetes and increasing treatment burden for patients with vision-threatening diabetic macular edema (DME), we aimed to explore the efficacy of modified early intensive and treat-and-extend regimen of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy under the Taiwan National Insurance Bureau reimbursement policy. We obtained data on 69 eyes treated with initial 4-monthly intravitreal injections of aflibercept or ranibizumab, plus individualized treat-and-extend regimen. At 12 months, the mean (SD) change in LogMAR best corrected visual acuity from baseline was − 0.28 (0.31) in all eyes, while that in the aflibercept and ranibizumab groups were − 0.30 (0.34) and − 0.25 (0.28), respectively. Central retinal thickness decreased by 137.2 (122.4) in all eyes, 138.1 (134.2) in the aflibercept group, and 136.2 (110.9) in the ranibizumab group. Additionally, the aflibercept group had a lower mean number of injections than the ranibizumab group (8.5 vs. 8.7). The last extended dosing interval of > 12 weeks was 31.0% and 16.7% of the eyes in the aflibercept and ranibizumab groups, respectively. The modified anti-VEGF regimens effectively managed DME in terms of functional and anatomical outcomes, and efficiently reduced the healthcare burden by reducing the number of injections and extending treatment intervals within 12 months.
Transbronchial Lymph Node Forceps Biopsy as a Novel Tool in Diagnosis of Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy
Authors: Al-Halfawy Ahmed , Hussein Sabah , Ashur Wafaa , El-Hendawi Ali , Hussein Sara
Published: June 2023

Background
Differential diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy is an issue of debate. Lymph nodes may be enlarged due to variety of inflammatory, infectious, malignant reasons. Hence, it is important to establish diagnosis. Transbronchial lymph node forceps biopsy provides adequate tissue for lung cancer staging purposes, several pathologies, such as granulomatous diseases and lymphoma, that may require histologic assessment for better diagnostic definition. This study evaluated the safety and feasibility of the transbronchial forceps biopsy as a new tool for diagnosis of mediastinal lymph nodes.
Methods
The study included 18 patients with confirmed mediastinal lymphadenopathy who were admitted in Chest Department, Cairo University, in collaboration with Pathology Department during the period from December 2019 to December 2020. All patient were subjected to flexible video bronchoscopy for conventional transbronchial needle aspiration (C-TBNA) and transbronchial forceps biopsy from the enlarged mediastinal lymph node (LN-TBFB). Biopsies were sent for histopathology examination.
Results
C-TBNA was diagnostic in 71.4% of sarcoidosis cases, 42.9% of malignant cases, and was not diagnostic in TB cases. Sensitivity of C-TBNA is: 61.1%. However, LN-TBFB was diagnostic in 100% of sarcoidosis and TB cases and in 85.7% of malignant cases. Sensitivity of LN-TBFB was 94.4%
Conclusion
lymph node transbronchial forceps biopsy (LN-TBFB) was found to be safe and effective in the diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. We strongly advocate the use of minimally invasive techniques for diagnosing pathologically enlarged mediastinal lymph node.
Structure of full-length cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase and cofactor loading captured in crystallo
Authors: Koutmos Markos , Mendoza Johnny , Purchal Meredith , Yamada Kazuhiro
Published: June 2023

Cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase (MS) is a key enzyme in methionine and folate one-carbon metabolism. MS is a large multi-domain protein capable of binding and activating three substrates: homocysteine, folate, S-adenosylmethionine for methylation. Achieving three chemically distinct methylations necessitates significant domain rearrangements to facilitate substrate access to the cobalamin cofactor at the right time. The distinct conformations required for each reaction have eluded structural characterization as its inherently dynamic nature renders structural studies difficult. Here, we use a thermophilic MS homolog (tMS) as a functional MS model. Its exceptional stability enabled characterization of MS in the absence of cobalamin, marking the first studies of a cobalamin-binding protein in its apoenzyme state. More importantly, we report the first high-resolution full-length MS structure, ending a multi-decade quest. We also captured cobalamin loading in crystallo, providing structural insights into holoenzyme formation. Our work paves the way for unraveling how MS orchestrates large-scale domain rearrangements crucial for achieving challenging chemistries.
Single-crystalline LiMn 2 O 4 nanoparticles by the gel-combustion method assisted by microwave for high-performance lithium ion battery
Authors: Qiu Zehai , Huang Tianfu , Hu Zhibiao , Zhang Zhusen
Published: June 2023

Low-cost and efficient electrode materials play a key role in improving the performance of Lithium Ion Battery. In this paper, the single-crystalline LiMn2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized through the gel-combustion method assisted by microwave followed by calcination treatment. High-quality single-crystallinity characteristics of the LiMn2O4 precursors powder could be well retained after a high-temperature (990℃) solid-state reaction. When valued as the working electrode materials for Lithium Ion Battery, they presented the exceptional electrochemical performances including the high specific capacity for initial discharge of 120.53mAh/g, the good rate capability with the retention of 65.52% at 5C of the capacity at 0.2C, and better cyclic performance with a capacity retention ratio of 90.01% after 300 cycles. The outstanding electrochemical performance of our prepared single-crystalline LiMn2O4 nanoparticles was perceived as the hopeful electrode materials for high-power Lithium Ion Battery.
Analytical performance evaluation of Hematology analyzers using Sigma metrics
Authors: Berta Dereje , Melku Mulugeta , Adane Tiruneh , Girma Mekonnen , Mulatie Zewudu , Chane Elias , Birke Bisrat
Published: June 2023

Introduction:
In clinical laboratory, the performance of the hematology analyzers should be checked routinely to ensure that the desired quality is achieved. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the performance of hematology analyzers using sigma metrics.
Method
The study included all daily internal quality control data of hematology analyzer prospectively from August to October 2022. Data was collected by trained laboratory professionals using record formats. The sigma values of each CBC parameter were calculated using the formula: Sigma = (TEa – Bias) / CV. The data of TEa were adopted from five different guidelines. The bias of all complete blood count parameters was calculated from the laboratory mean of the daily IQC data and the target value of the manufacturer in the insert kit. A coefficient of variation was also calculated using IQC data.
Results
The current study found an inconsistent sigma value, based on sources TEa. Except HCT out 5 parameters included based on CLIA guideline, except MCV, MCHC, RDW, MPV and Basophil out of 15 parameters included based on EFLM 2022 minimum guideline, except Hb and PLT out of 9 parameters included based on SOTA guideline other parameters meets minimum specification. On the other hand, all parameters included in Rilibak and Standards of Spanish guideline achieved minimum specification.
Conclusion
Sigma values of the CBC parameters have significantly varied depends on the TEa sources. So, the source of TEa needs harmonization. Additionally, suggested that the laboratory to optimize local Westgard rules for each parameter.
Correlation between serum complement and severity of lumbar degenerative disease: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhu Xiaoxuan , Cao Yiqiu , Jiang Qing , Gu Yifei , Chen Yu , Chen Thomas C. , Wu Zhourui , Cheng Liming
Published: June 2023

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between preoperative serum complement level and the severity of lumbar degenerative disease (LDD), as well as the severity of pain and the improvement rate of surgical symptoms.
METHODS: The serum complements (C3, C4 and C1q) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MRI was used to determine the degree of spinal degeneration. Mann-Whitney non-parametric test and Pearson correlation analysis were performed to predict the distance of relationships.
RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the serum complements levels (C3, C4) of patients with LDD were significantly increased. We observed a significant correlation between the C3 level and the dural sac cross-sectional area (S1) (R = 0.6022, p = 0.0383) and S1/lumbar canal area (S0) (R = 0.6212, p = 0.0311). In addition, a correlation between preoperative serum C1q level and improvement rate of pain (R = -0.6607, p = 0.0140) was observed.
CONCLUSION: The findings showed that serum levels of C3 and C4 were elevated in patients with LDD. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the C3 level could predict the dural sac cross-sectional area and be adopted as a promising predictive biomarker for spinal cord compression. Moreover, preoperative serum C1q concentration could predict the improvement rate of surgical symptoms.
Enhancing Efficiency and Sustainability: A Predictive Modeling Approach Using Extra Tree Regressor for Cement Kiln Cooler Process
Authors: BENCHEKROUN Mohammed Toum , ZAKI Smail , ABOUSSALEH Mohamed , BEKKALI FATIMA ZAHRAE EL , CHERIF Meryem
Published: June 2023

The clinker cooler is an important part of the cement manufacturing process, as it plays a crucial role in controlling the temperature of the clinker leaving the kiln. To optimize the clinker cooler in terms of energy and throughput, this paper presents a methodology based on artificial intelligence and mainly on machine learning, which could revolutionize the cement industry by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing production. The sensor data are used after preprocessing to implement the different models of the supervised regression problem. The models have four output variables which include pressure, temperature, and speed. This aims to identify the right model which is Extra Tree regressor after comparison according to two metrics that are the mean absolute error, and score R2 and to optimize the process parameters in real time.
Single-cell sequencing reveal Renin-Angiotensin-System regulator patterns guide intercellular communication of tumor microenvironment that contribute to gastric cancer progression and immunotherapy
Authors: Xu Qingyu , Xue Shuai , Wang Qiuqiu , Zhang Yaqiong , Li Jian , Zhang Yanyan , Feng Li
Published: June 2023

Background
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which is involved in this process, is well-known for its function in blood pressure regulation. In addition to a systemic RAS, the preponderance of target organs have a local RAS. Consequently, RAS hormones and receptors are expressed variably in various types of cancer, the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys. RASi therapy has recently demonstrated promise as a cancer treatment, despite a number of obvious adverse effects, such as hypotension. Consequently, it is essential to perceive how RAS functioned within the tumor microenvironment.
Methods
Single-cell RNA-seq data were acquired from gastric cancer (GC) tumor tissues, and nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) was used to identify 16 RAS regulators. We evaluated the prognosis and immunological response of TME clusters using GC and Immunotherapy cohorts retrieved from a public repository.
Results
For each cell type (fibroblasts, myeloid cells, T cells, endothelial cells, and mast cells), two or three subclusters were identified based on similar biological processes and marker genes. A connection was discovered between RAS regulatory elements and the clinical and biological aspects of GC, and the pseudotime trajectory of the main TME cell types was also identified. The results of bulk sequencing indicate that these RAS-related TME cell subgroups have a significant immunological response in patients undergoing ICB therapy, especially in CAFs and Tregs, and have a high prognostic value for GC patients. Among the associations uncovered by CellChat's research was the fact that certain TME cell subgroups were associated with RAS. Further investigation revealed that MIF-(CD74 + CXCR4) and MIF-(CD74 + CD44) ligand receptors play a role in RAS-related subgroups' communication with TME cells.
Conclusion
Our research uncovered a previously unknown RAS pathway in the microenvironment of gastric cancer. This route has implications for both the progression of the disease and immunotherapy.
RBP1 promotes the progression of eyelid basal cell carcinoma via regulating OGN expression
Authors: Chen Jiajing , Wang Ting , Yu Luohan , Dai Changming , Liu Longfei , Li Chaopeng
Published: June 2023

Objective
Using RBP1 as the core gene to investigate the effects of RBP1 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of eyelid BCC cell line A431, and to explore its role in a mouse xenograft tumor model. To study in depth the specific molecular mechanisms by which RBP1 promotes the malignant progression of eyelid BCC, RNA-seq as well as bioinformatics analysis was performed to search for downstream genes with the aim of providing new potential targets for the treatment of eyelid BCC.
Methods
A sample of 30 patients with eyelid BCC who underwent surgery in the ophthalmology department of Huai'an First Hospital of Nanjing Medical University was selected. Protein mass spectrometry was used to examine three of the pairs of eyelid BCC cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues, and RBP1 was found to be highly expressed in eyelid BCC. The effect of RBP1 on eyelid BCC was investigated by clinical sample validation, in vitro cytology and mouse xenograft tumor model, and the downstream gene osteoglycin (OGN) was further screened by RNA-seq technology to verify that RBP1 can be involved in eyelid BCC progression by regulating OGN levels.
Results
The results showed that RBP1 was significantly more expressed in eyelid BCC tissues than in paracancerous tissues, and cellular experiments confirmed that RBP1 promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of eyelid BCC cells, and a mouse xenograft tumor model revealed that the gene could promote the growth of cancerous species. Meanwhile, salvage experiments showed that RBP1 accelerated the proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth of eyelid BCC cells in nude mice by suppressing OGN protein levels.
Conclusion
RBP1 was significantly upregulated in eyelid BCC. Interfering with RBP1 not only inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of A431 cells, but also inhibited the growth of transplanted tumors in nude mice. In addition, knockdown of OGN reversed the inhibitory effects of RBP1 interference on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In summary, RBP1 can promote tumor progression in eyelid BCC by inhibiting OGN expression, which provides a new potential target for the treatment of eyelid BCC.
Acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscopy with large field of view
Authors: Huang Tony , Jin Geonsoo , Rich Joseph , Xia Jianping , Upreti Neil , Zhao Chenglong
Published: June 2023

Nanoscale fluorescence imaging with a large-field view is invaluable for many applications such as imaging of subcellular structures, visualizing protein interaction, and high-resolution tissue imaging. Unfortunately, conventional fluorescence microscopy has to make a trade-off between resolution and field of view due to the nature of the optics used to form an image. To overcome this barrier, we have developed an acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope that can simultaneously achieve superior resolution, a large field of view, and enhanced fluorescent signal. The acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope utilizes the super-resolution capability of microspheres that are controlled by a programable acoustofluidic device for rapid fluorescent enhancement and imaging. The acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope can resolve structures that cannot be achieved with a conventional fluorescent microscope with the same objective lens and enhances the fluorescent signal by a factor of ~5 without altering the field of view of the image. The improved resolution with enhanced fluorescent signal and large field of view via the acoustofluidic scanning fluorescence nanoscope provides a powerful tool for versatile nanoscale fluorescence imaging for researchers in the fields of medicine, biology, biophysics, and biomedical engineering.
Fluorine labelling for in situ 19F NMR in oriented systems
Authors: Cockburn Kieran T. , Sykes Brian D.
Published: June 2023

The focus of this project is to take advantage of the large NMR chemical shift anisotropy of 19F to determine the orientation of fluorine labeled biomolecules in situ in oriented biological systems such as muscle. The difficulty with a single fluorine atom is that the orientation determined from a chemical shift is not single-valued in the case of a fully anisotropic chemical shift tensor. The utility of a labeling approach with two fluorine labels in a fixed molecular framework where one of the labels has an axially symmetric chemical shift anisotropy such as a CF3 group and the other has a fully asymmetric chemical shift anisotropy such as 5-fluorotryptophan is evaluated. The result is that the orientation of the label can be determined straightforwardly from a single one-dimensional 19F NMR spectrum. The potential applications are widespread and not limited to biological applications.
Foaming mechanism of aluminum-ash-based ceramic pellets under various sintering conditions
Authors: Zhu Xinghan , Yang Yufei , Yang Jinzhong , Huang Qifei , Liu Tao
Published: June 2023

Secondary aluminum dross (SAD) is hazardous waste. Because generation N2 during oxidation reaction of aluminum Nitride (AlN) from SAD, it can be used as forming agent in preparing ceramic pellets. The foaming mechanism of ceramic pellet using SAD was studied. Higher temperature can reduce total amount of pores in sample. When the particle size increased from 0.5 to 2.0 cm, the porosity first decreased and subsequently increased. The porosity was the highest (Si-Al ratio was 1 and the sintering time reached 30 min). The glass network polymerization degree in ceramic pellets decreased at 1250℃ and increased at 1260℃. The polymerization degree increased at a particle size of 1.0 and decreased at 1.5 cm. The change in the degree of polymerization of the glass network affected the liquid-phase region of the melt process. The crystalline products after sintering changed the structural denseness and strength of the pellets considerably.
Prehabilitative Versus Rehabilitative Exercise in Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Prostatectomy
Authors: Singh Favil , Newton Robert U , Taaffe Dennis R , Lopez Pedro , Thavaseelan Jeff , Brown Matthew , Ooi Elayne , Nosaka Kazunori , Hayne Dickon , Galvão Daniel A
Published: June 2023

PURPOSE: The study compared the efficacy of commencing supervised exercise in men with prostate cancer before (Prehab) and after (Rehab) prostatectomy on objective and patient-reported outcomes, hospital length of stay (LOS), and urinary incontinence (UI).
METHODS: Forty-one men were randomised to a 6-week Prehab or Rehab exercise programme. Prehabinvolved resistance and aerobic exercise thrice weekly pre-surgery, while Rehabcomprised the same commencing 6-weeks post-surgery. Assessments included strength (1RM), function (chair rise, stair climb, 400-m, 6-m usual, fast, and backwards walk), body composition (DXA), fatigue and quality of life, undertaken at pre-surgery, early post-surgery and late post-surgery phase, with UI (24-hr pad test) assessed at 2, 6, and 12-weeks post-surgery. Intention-to-treat and sensitivity analyses were undertaken.
RESULTS: Of thirty-eight men (48-73 years), 29 completed all assessments with most undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (92.1%). In the pre-surgery phase, Prehab improved muscle strength (leg press: 17.2kg; chest press: 2.9kg; p≤0.001), 400-m, chair rise, 6-m fast and backward walk tests (p<0.001–0.028). Strength and function declines in the early post-surgery phase were maintained late post-surgery. Rehab showed declines of these outcomes after surgery with improvement late post-surgery (leg press: 14.6kg, p<0.001; chest press: 6.8kg, p<0.001; 400-m walk: -12.0sec, p=0.005), resulting in no difference between groups at 12 weeks. There were no significant differences between groups for patient-reported outcomes, hospital LOS or UI.
CONCLUSION: Pre-surgical exercise enhanced strength and function, protecting against post-surgery declines. Although exercise post-surgery is beneficial for recouping strength and function, where possible men undergoing prostatectomy are encouraged to exercise pre-surgery.
Trial registration: ACTRN12617001115325. Registered 31 July 2017.
Alterations in rat brain modular organization during unconsciousness are dependent on communication efficiency and metabolic cost
Authors: Li Siyang , Chen Yali , Ren Peng , Li Zhipeng , Zhang Jun , Liang Xia
Published: June 2023

Spontaneous brain activity exhibits a highly structured modular organization that varies across individuals and reconfigures over time. Although it has been proposed that brain organization is shaped by an economic trade-off between minimizing costs and facilitating efficient information transfer, it remains untested whether modular variability and its changes during unconscious conditions might be constrained by the economy of brain organization. We acquired functional MRI and FDG-PET in rats under three different levels of consciousness induced by propofol administration. We examined alterations in brain modular variability during loss of consciousness from mild sedation to deep anesthesia. We also investigated the relationships between modular variability with glucose metabolism and functional connectivity strength as well as their alterations during unconsciousness. We observed that modular variability increased during loss of consciousness. Critically, across-individual modular variability is oppositely associated with functional connectivity strength and cerebral metabolism, and with deepening dosage of anesthesia, becoming increasingly dependent on basal metabolism over functional connectivity. These results suggested that, propofol-induced unconsciousness may lead to brain modular reorganization, which are putatively shaped by re-negotiations between energetic resources and communication efficiency.
Amelioration of Drought Stress in Wheat by Using Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Biogas Slurry
Authors: Raza Muhammad Aown Sammar , Saleem Ahsan , Khan Imran Haider , Tahir Muhammad Ahtisham , Iqbal Rashid , Aslam Muhammad Usman , Alamoudi Soha A. , Ali Baber , Javed Muhammad Ammar , Syaad Khalid M. Al , AlShaqhaa Manal Abdullah
Published: June 2023

Drought has a significant impact on cereal-based staple food production, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan. To ensure a sustainable and reliable food supply, it is essential to develop comprehensive production plans that incorporate various approaches to mitigate the effects of drought. In a study conducted using a randomized complete block design, we investigated the potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Biogas Slurry (BGs) either individually or in combination to alleviate drought stress at different stages of wheat growth. The two year field research demonstrated that the application of Azosprillium lipoferumwith Biogas slurry resulted in improved water relations, chlorophyll content, grain quality, yield, and related characteristics in wheat plants compared to the stressed treatments. Particularly, the combined treatment of PGPR and BGs exhibited the most favorable outcomes. Notably, the combined treatment effectively mitigated drought stress by significantly increasing antioxidant levels (17% APX, 29% POD, 34% CAT, and 41% SOD) during the grain-filling stage (GFS) compared to the controls. The combined treatment resulted in a remarkable 40% improvement in the respective controls at the GFS stage. Overall, the combined use of PGPR and BGs was identified as an effective strategy to enhance the resilience of wheat plants to drought, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.
Effect of fines percentage on Ultrasonic dewatering of Cellulose Nanofibrils
Authors: Ringania Udita , Moon Robert J. , Bhamla M. Saad
Published: June 2023

In this study, we perform a comprehensive examination of ultrasonic dewatering in Cellulose Nanofibril (CNF) suspensions, with particular emphasis on the role of fines content. The production of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) involves mechanical fibrillation which leads to the presence of different percentages of fines (fibrils under 200 µm) in the final product. Although fines have demonstrated mechanical advantages in composite materials, they also increase water retention by the fibrils, leading to increased dewatering time and energy. We selected two distinct CNF samples with 60% and 90% fines, respectively, and subjected them to ultrasonic drying until 100 wt. % CNF is reached. We found that the 90% fines samples displayed 20% longer drying times, indicating a higher water retention capacity than the 60% fines samples due to increased hydrogen bonding sites. Both fines types exhibit a biphasic pattern in water removal, with the second phase, commencing upon the elimination of half the water, displaying similar rates regardless of the fines content. As dewatering and drying processes often induce agglomeration in CNF, we systematically dewatered both the suspensions until reaching concentrations of 15, 25 and 35 wt.% and then redispersed to 0.01 wt.% CNF. To evaluate the stability of redispersed samples, we monitored their settling behavior and conducted UV-vis transmittance analyses. Results showed that while 60% fines samples could be redispersed in 1 min, the 90% fines samples required up to 5 min to reach a similar level of stability to their original suspensions. Notably, UV-vis transmittance values remained consistent across both the 60% and 90% fines samples and their initial suspensions, indicating a lack of significant agglomeration following redispersion. These findings provide critical insights regarding the impact of CNF fines percentages on dewatering duration and suspension stability during ultrasonic dewatering, contributing to improved processing strategies in industrial cellulose applications.
Comparative study on behaviour of conventional and pre- engineered buildings provided with different types of bracings
Authors: Bharmal Pravin. P. , Kumbhar Popat. D. , Gumaste Krishnakedar. S.
Published: June 2023

Steel is mostly preferred material by designers for industrial structures because of its advantageous properties namely tensile strength, ductility and durability. The industrial steel structures are commonly used for manufacturing and storage works requiring large uninterrupted dimensions. This requirement of structure is fulfilled by using pre-engineered buildings (PEB). PEB is one of the widely used concepts as it optimises the steel consumption in comparison with conventional steel building (CSB) and thus contributes in the reduction of cost and project duration without affecting the lateral stability during earthquakes. The lateral stability of structure is ensured by providing suitable bracing system. In this paper, comparative behaviour of conventional and pre-engineered buildings is studied by providing different type of bracings (viz. X, V, K and diagonal) using Staad pro. Results indicate that PEB with diagonal bracing reduces displacement and natural time period by 17.39% and 28.02% respectively when compared with CSB. The study concludes that, provision of diagonal bracing contributes in improving the performance of PEB.
Metastatic invasive lobular carcinoma of breast with gastric carcinoma as the first manifestation: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: CHEN ZhaoXu , WANG Xiao , ZHAO Peng , ZHAO Jing , FU GuangMing , WANG Chengqin
Published: June 2023

Invasive lobular carcinoma(ILC)is the second frequently diagnosed breast cancer with a low incidence of gastric metastasis. And metastatic ILC of breast with gastric tumor as the first symptom is more rare. Therefore, immunohistochemistry is the key to correct diagnosis. We reported a 45-year-old female patient who developed nonspecific systemic symptoms firstly. Imaging examination showed diffuse thickened gastric wall, and gastroscopic biopsy revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Twelve months after the diagnosis, a mass was found in the patient's left breast and was diagnosed as ILC on biopsy. Combined with the patient's medical history and immunohistochemistry results, the final diagnosis of metastatic ILC was made on gastroscopic biopsy. The clinicopathological characteristics of breast ILC with gastric metastases were reviewed in the light of the literature, and differentiated from primary poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach to improve the clinicians' understanding. It could be a real challenge to differentiated patients with gastric metastasis of breast cancer from primary poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Therefore, to improve the awareness of the clinicians, and to guide the choice of clinical treatment options, we should have an intimate knowledge of the clinicopathological characteristics of gastric metastases in breast ILC combining with the literatures.
Exposure to PM 2.5 and its constituents is associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: A cohort study in Northwest of China
Authors: Zhao Yamin , Peng Yindi , Wang Minzhen , Zhao Yanan , He Yingqian , Zhang Lulu , Liu Jing , Zheng Shan
Published: June 2023

Background
Accumulating animal studies have demonstrated associations between ambient air pollution (AP) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), but relevant epidemiological evidence is limited. We evaluated the association of long-term exposure to AP with the risk of incident MAFLD in Northwest China.
Methods
The average AP concentration between baseline and follow-up was used to assess individual exposure levels. Cox proportional hazard models and restricted cubic spline functions (RCS) were used to estimate the association of PM2.5 and its constituents with the risk of MAFLD and the dose-response relationship. Quantile g-computation was used to assess the joint effects of mixed exposure to air pollutants on MAFLD and the weights of the various pollutants.
Results
We observed 1516 cases of new-onset MAFLD, with an incidence of 10.89%. Increased exposure to pollutants was significantly associated with increased odds of MAFLD, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 2.93 (95% CI: 1.22, 7.00), 2.86 (1.44, 5.66), 7.55 (3.39, 16.84), 4.83 (1.89, 12.38), 3.35 (1.35, 8.34), 1.89 (1.02, 1.62) for each interquartile range increase in PM2.5, SO42−, NO3−, NH4+, OM, and BC, respectively. Stratified analyses suggested that females, frequent exercisers and never-drinkers were more susceptible to MAFLD associated with ambient PM2.5 and its constituents. Mixed exposure to SO42−, NO3−, NH4+, OM and BC was associated with an increased risk of MAFLD, and the weight of BC had the strongest effect on MAFLD.
Conclusions
Exposure to ambient PM2.5 and its constituents increased the risk of MAFLD.
Prominent elevation of extracellular matrix molecules in intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Li Hongmin , Ghorbani Samira , Zhang Ruiyi , Ebacher Vincent , Stephenson Erin L. , Yong V. Wee , Xue Mengzhou
Published: June 2023

Background In many neurological conditions, the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules is a prominent obstacle for regenerative processes and an enhancer of neuroinflammation. Whether ECM molecules alter in composition after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and which ECM members may inhibit repair in hemorrhagic stroke, remain unknown.
Methods The collagenase-induced ICH mouse model and an autopsied human ICH specimen were investigated for expression of ECM members by immunofluorescence microscopy. Sections from a mouse model of multiple sclerosis were used as disease controls. Tissue culture was employed to examine the roles of ECM members on oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs).
Results Amongst the lectican chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan members, neurocan but not aggrecan, versican-V1 and versican-V2 was prominently expressed in perihematomal tissue and lesion core compared to the contralateral area in murine ICH.
Fibrinogen, fibronectin and heparan sulphate proteoglycan were also elevated after murine ICH while thrombospondin was not. Confocal microscopy with Imaris 3D rendering co-localized neurocan, fibrinogen, fibronectin and HSPG molecules to Iba1+ microglia/macrophages or GFAP+ astrocytes. Marked differentiation from the multiple sclerosis model was observed, the latter with high versican-V1 and negligible neurocan. In culture, purified neurocan inhibited adhesion and process outgrowth of OPCs, which are early steps in myelination in vivo. The prominent expression of neurocan in murine ICH was corroborated in human ICH sections.
Conclusion ICH caused distinct alterations in ECM molecules, and prominently neurocan. In tissue culture, neurocan impeded the properties of oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Alterations to the ECM in ICH may adversely affect reparative outcomes after stroke.
Explainable Machine Learning Models for Medicare Fraud Detection
Authors: Hancock John Thomas III , Bauder Richard A , Wang Huanjing , Khoshgoftaar Taghi M
Published: June 2023

As a means of building explainable machine learning models for Big Data, we apply a novel ensemble supervised feature selection technique. The technique is applied to publicly available insurance claims data from the United States public health insurance program, Medicare. We approach Medicare insurance fraud detection as a supervised machine learning task of anomaly detection through the classification of highly imbalanced Big Data. Our objectives for feature selection are to increase efficiency in model training, and to develop more explainable machine learning models for fraud detection. Using two Big Data datasets derived from two different sources of insurance claims data, we demonstrate how our feature selection technique reduces the dimensionality of the datasets by approximately 87.5% without compromising performance. Moreover, the reduction in dimensionality results in machine learning models that are easier to explain, and less prone to overfitting. Therefore, our primary contribution of the exposition of our novel feature selection technique leads to a further contribution to the application domain of automated Medicare insurance fraud detection. We utilize our feature selection technique to provide an explanation of our fraud detection models in terms of the definitions of the selected features. The ensemble supervised feature selection technique we present is flexible in that any collection of machine learning algorithms that maintain a list of feature importance values may be used. Therefore, researchers may easily employ variations of the technique we present.
Evaluation of biochar as a soil amendment on the accumulation of cadmium on lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Authors: Moazemi Behgol , Faramarzi Ali , Paknejad Farzad , Ajali Jalil , Abdi Mehrdad
Published: June 2023

Heavy metals decrease the plant health and production. It is important to provide a solution to reduce the absorption of heavy metals by plants. Application of biochar is useful for contamination rectification of heavy metals in soil. This 2-year (2018–2019) study was in order to investigation of biochar on the reduction of cadmium absorption in polluted soils on lettuce. The experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment was carried out in the form of a completely randomized design with 3 replications. The treatments were: biochar at two levels (0 and 5 v/v), cadmium at four levels (0, 10, 20, 30 ppm). The highest dry matter weight 11.25 g, was seen in biochar and control of cadmium and the lowest dry matter weight 6.39 g, was related to control of biochar and cadmium 30 ppm. The highest root dry weight 1.44 g, was observed in biochar and control of cadmium and the lowest root dry weight 0.54 g, was related to control of biochar and cadmium30 ppm. The plants yield was reduced in cadmium treatments. Biochar increased lettuce yield compared to control and due to the high absorption of heavy metals by biochar, it can be said it was a suitable choice as a soil amendments and reduced absorption of cadmium by plants.
The von Neumann inequality for 3x3 matricesin the unit Euclidean ball
Authors: Piekarz Dariusz
Published: June 2023

The counterpart of the von Neumann inequality for d-tuples of n×n commutative,row contractive matrices was proven by Hartz, Richter, and Sharit. In this paper,it is demonstrated that the minimal constant appearing in their theorem remainsindependent of the size of the d-tuple, provided that the integer d >=2 and n=3.Additionally, a numerical estimate of the constant is obtained.