bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and risk factors for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease in adult participants attending tertiary hospitals in Dodoma, Tanzania. This was a cross-sectional study
Authors: Msagati Francis , Alphonce Baraka , Sindato Emmanuel
Published: August 2024

Introduction:
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a rapidly growing public health concern due to its association with metabolic disorders and liver-related complications. There is paucity of data on the burden of MAFLD in Tanzania. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of MAFLD among adult participants in Dodoma, Tanzania, who are critical for designing preventive strategies. We evaluated the associations between MAFLD and several factors, including age, sex, lifestyle, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity.
Methods
A total of 351 adult participants were recruited from October 2023 to March 2024 at tertiary hospitals. The diagnosis of MAFLD was established based on evidence of steatohepatitis on imaging plus any one of five cardiometabolic risk factors, such as overweight or obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2), diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome (combination of three or more of the above). Demographic, clinical, and metabolic marker data were collected and analyzed to identify potential risk factors associated with MAFLD. The chi-squared test was used to analyze categorical data. Logistic regression analysis was used to check for associated factors; significance was defined as a p value < 0.05. The UDOM research and publication committee approved the study, and informed consent was obtained from the participants and in-participants aged older than 18 years with metabolic conditions.
Results
A total of 351 participants were recruited, of whom 53% were females, and the median age was 62 (IQR 52–70) years, with most of the participants residing in urban areas (242, 68.9%). The study prevalence of MAFLD was 21.9%. Significant fibrosis was defined as a FIB-4 index ≥ 1.3 in 14% of MAFLD patients who were found to have advanced fibrosis. Diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.9; 95% CI (2.1–7.2, p < 0.000), dyslipidemia (OR: 2.3; 95% CI 1.2–4.7, p = 0.013), central obesity (OR: 2.0; 95% CI (1.1–3.7; p = 0.016), lifestyle factors (OR: 2.6; 95% CI (1.4–4.8; p = 0.001), smoking (OR: 2.6; 95% CI (1.4–4.8; p = 0.001) and lack of exercise (OR: 2.3; 95% CI (1.2–4.2; p = 0.005)) were independently associated with MAFLD.
Conclusion
This study revealed a significant frequency of MAFLD and significant associations with established risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, central obesity, and dyslipidemia. These findings highlight the importance of early identification and management of these risk factors to prevent MAFLD and its associated complications. Future research should focus on understanding causal mechanisms and evaluating interventions for preventing MAFLD development in at-risk populations attending tertiary hospitals.
Improvement of Cacao Pod Characteristics and its Molecular Characterization in 4 F1 Cacao Populations
Authors: Izzah Nur Kholilatul , Tresniawati Cici , Rubiyo Rubiyo , Pranowo Dibyo , Randriani Enny , Firdaus Nur Kholis , Amaria Widi , Sasmita Kurnia Dewi , Aunillah Asif , Tarigan Elsera Br , Puspitasari Mahardika , Susilawati Susilawati
Published: August 2024

Cacao stands as a vital export commodity, necessitating consistent high-quality cocoa beans to meet market demands. Controlled hybridizations for genetic enhancement offer a pathway to improve bean quality and to increase genetic variation. We elucidated the phenotypic variation of pod characteristics in F1 progenies generated from four distinct cross combinations and its molecular characterization. Phenotypic analysis revealed notable outcomes within progenies of TSH858xDR1 cross, demonstrating high average pod weight and a beans-per-100g count aligning with grades AA/A. Among these progenies, 5 − 1 (2), showcased several advantageous traits including the highest weight of a single dried bean and the lowest pod index reflecting large bean sizes. Molecular characterization revealed that all the F1 progenies were different from each other, confirming the differences in phenotypic traits were strongly influenced by genetic variation. These findings underscore the efficacy of intentional crosses which are crucial for genetic improvement.
Periradicular repair after single-visit root canal treatment using sonic irrigant activation of teeth with chronic apical periodontitis
Authors: Arikan Nur Sena , Hepsenoglu Yelda Erdem , Ersahan Seyda
Published: August 2024

Objectives
This study aimed to explore whether using sonic irrigant activation during endodontic treatment favors periradicular repair in teeth with chronic apical periodontitis.
Materials & Methods
One clinician treated 140 posterior (either premolar or molar) asymptomatic teeth with periapical lesions: 70 were randomly assigned to the sonic activation with EndoActivator (EA) group, and 70 were treated by conventional needle irrigation (CNI). Both groups underwent chemomechanical root canal preparation using 35/04 diameter rotary files and 2.5% NaOCl as the irrigant. NaOCl was sonically activated in the EA group, and the final irrigation with NaOCl was performed using a 30-gauge side-perforated needle in the CNI group. All root canal obturations were performed with lateral compaction. All patients were followed up for 12 months. Success was determined based on both healed and healing cases. The chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare success rates and outcome-influencing factors between groups.
Results
The recall rate was 131 (94%). At 12 months, 50 teeth (77%) were considered healed, 12 teeth (18%) as healing, and three (5%) as failed in the EA group, while 43 teeth (65%) were considered healed, 17 (26%) as healing, and six (9%) as failed in the CNI group. Verbal Rating Scale scores were significantly lower in the EA group than in the CNI group on postoperative days 1 (p < 0.0001) and 2 (p = 0.0002). Postoperative Periapical Index scores were significantly lower in the EA group than in the CNI group (p = 0.0023). Postoperative lesion sizes were also significantly smaller in the EA group (0.7 [0.2–11.7] mm) than in the CNI group (1.7 [0.5–11.5] mm; p = 0.0118). While the success rate was higher in the EA group (62 [95%]) than in the CNI group (60 [91%]), the difference was not significant (p = 0.492).
Conclusions
The periradicular repair of posterior teeth with apical periodontitis demonstrated the efficacy of EndoActivator on treatment outcomes and reduced postoperative pain. These results suggest the adjunctive use of sonic activation to enhance the decontamination of the root canal system during the chemomechanical stage.
Clinical Relevance:
This clinical trial is the first to evaluate the effects of sonic activation on postoperative healing. Sonic activation with the EndoActivator can reduce postoperative pain and accelerate the healing of the periapical tissues.
Technical Evaluation of GPT-4 and GPT-4-Turbo Reflective Listening Response Generation with the Counsel Chat Dataset
Authors: Pant Dipendra , Mukhiya Suresh Kumar
Published: August 2024

We conducted a technical evaluation of the quantitative effectiveness of GPT-4 and GPT-4-Turbo in generating high-quality reflective listening responses using the Counsel-Chat dataset. We evaluated GPT-4's ability to provide empathetic and supportive feedback to client questions, using BLEU and ROUGE metrics, analysis of the generated content, its length, and reflection of sentiment and emotion. The findings suggest that GPT-4 can produce textually similar and coherent responses; however, quality is comparatively lower than GPT-4-Turbo. GPT-4-Turbo shows advancement in these areas, as evidenced by better BLUE, ROUGE score, and its overall neutral sentiments with an inclination towards positive and its improved alignment with reference responses. Sentiment analysis and emotion detection provided additional insight into the emotional tone and quality of the responses. The ability of GPT-4's to mimic neutral to slightly positive responses is appropriate for mental health support. There is a need for further improvement in GPT-4's ability to produce depth and empathetic responses to support the role of a mental health counselor.
Impact of histologically poorly cohesive phenotype as a prognostic factor in patients with pStage II/III gastric cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Kunisaki Chikara , Sato Sho , Kasahara Kohei , Sato Tsutomu , Yago Akikazu , Tamura Yuko , Oshi Masanori , Kosaka Takashi , Akiyama Hirotoshi , Endo Itaru
Published: August 2024

Purpose
We evaluated the impact of histological type to evaluate prognostic factors after adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients with pStage II and III gastric cancer.
Methods
Overall, 384 patients with pStage II and III gastric cancer undergoing R0 gastrectomy were included. Of these, 143 underwent AC. Univariate and multivariate analyses for prognostic factors of relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were performed.
Results
Multivariate analysis revealed that macroscopically ill-defined type, histologically poorly cohesive carcinoma with not otherwise specified and signet ring cell subtype (PCC-NOS/SRC) and pStage III independently and adversely affected RFS. Alternatively, male sex, macroscopically ill-defined type, less D2 lymph node dissection and pStage IIB and III independently and adversely affected OS. In multivariate analysis of patients receiving AC, histological phenotype and tumour diameter independently influenced RFS. Compared with NON-PCC, PCC-NOS/SRC showed worse RFS, whereas SRC showed favourable RFS. Moreover, tumour diameter ≥ 80 mm showed worse RFS. Multivariate analysis for OS in patients undergoing AC revealed similar results.
Conclusion
Histologically PCC-NOS/SRC type and tumour diameter of ≥ 80 mm indicated poor survival even after AC in patients with pStage II and III gastric cancer. An effective therapeutic regimen needs to be developed for such histological subtypes.
Experimental Study on Unique Interactions in Steel Pipe Sheet Piles Under Lateral Load: Joint, Pipe, and Soil
Authors: Peng Junxiong , Miyazaki Yuusuke
Published: August 2024

The steel pipe sheet pile (SPSP) foundation has been developed and applied as a dual-use structure for temporary coffering and bridge foundations in Japan since the 1960s. Mechanical complexity occurs essentially in the joint part for which each steel pipe is a coupled structure. This paper tries to experimentally explain how the pipe-joint-soil interaction (PJSI) influences the lateral load-displacement curve of the SPSP foundation. PJSI has mainly been discussed through finite element (FE) analyses due to the difficulty of creating experimental models that realize both geometric and mechanical similarities to prototypes. This study introduces a centrifugal model of SPSPs in which the joint filling material is modeled using gypsum plaster, which exhibits quasi-brittle behavior similar to that of the mortar used in practice. The mechanical and geometrical similarities between the joint model and prototypes are evaluated through a series of loading tests. Additionally, lateral loading tests on SPSP models with 1 pipe, 1×2, and 2×1 arrangements are conducted under both 1 G and 50 G conditions. Based on the pipe-joint interaction (PJI) and the PJSI evaluated experimentally, it is found that the arrangement direction of the piles causes a significant variation in the load-displacement relationship. Specifically, in the 1×2 arrangement, the yielding of the pipes and the vertical shear failure of the joint occur compositely, resulting in a diverse variation in the load-displacement relationship. It is also observed that the subgrade reaction from the soil leads to the restoration of lateral bearing stiffness by causing the compressive failure of the joint in this arrangement. On the other hand, with the ground model, the compressive and vertical shear failure of the joint occur sequentially, dominating the lateral load curve of the 1×2 arrangement together with the subgrade reaction. Without the ground model, the lateral load-displacement curve of the 1×2 arrangement is mainly dominated by only the vertical shear failure of the joint.
What makes an epidemic a disaster: The future of epidemics within the EM-DAT International Disaster Database
Authors: Tonnelier Margo , Delforge Damien , Below Regina , Munguía Juan Armando Torres , Saegerman Claude , Wathelet Valentin , Loenhout Joris A.F. van , Speybroeck Niko
Published: August 2024

Background. Reporting on and monitoring epidemics is a public health priority. Several initiatives and platforms provide epidemiological data, such as the EM-DAT International Disaster Database, which has 1525 epidemics and their impact reported since 1900, including 892 epidemics between 2000 and 2023. However, EM-DAT has inconsistent coverage and deficiencies regarding the systematic monitoring of epidemics data due to the lack of a standardized methodology to define what will be included under an epidemic disaster.
Methods. We conducted a modified Delphi online survey among experts in infectious disease, public health emergencies, and related data to identify appropriate definitions and entry criteria for archiving disease outbreak events.
Results. The survey had 21 respondents from universities and international organizations, with experts primarily specialized in infectious disease surveillance. The majority (95%) agreed that epidemics should be considered as disasters. Experts cited challenges in defining epidemic thresholds. However, they proposed pathogen-based criteria and agreed that disruption to society, especially to the healthcare system, serves as a determinant of epidemic disasters. The experts favored deaths and confirmed cases as key indicators, alongside suggestions on refining EM-DAT's entry criteria and improving epidemic impact assessment.
Discussion. This article offers valuable insights into epidemic disasters, a topic previously underdefined in the literature, thereby enhancing understanding for policymakers and public health professionals.
Current challenges in detecting complex emotions from texts
Authors: Truong Vinh
Published: August 2024

Textual emotion detection is a critical area of study with significant applications in business, education, and healthcare. Despite substantial theoretical advancements over the years, there are notable gaps in the practical implementation of these methods in the aforementioned fields. The techniques currently available do not yet seem ready for real-world application. This study offers a comprehensive review of existing approaches, datasets, and models used in textual emotion detection. Its primary objective is to identify the challenges faced in both current literature and practical applications. The findings reveal that textual datasets annotated with emotional markers are scarce, making it difficult to develop robust supervised classification models for this task. There is also a pressing need for improved models that can accurately categorize a wider range of emotional states distinctly. Finally, there is a demand for techniques capable of dimensionally detecting valence, arousal, and dominance scores from emotional experiences. These challenges stem not only from the models and applications themselves but also from the readiness of current approaches and datasets in the rapidly evolving fields of machine learning and affective computing.
Six cases of portomesenteric vein thrombosis after 3511 patients of bariatric surgery without prophylactic anticoagulation
Authors: Meng Hua , Zhou Biao , Zhang Lei , Zhu Ming , Li Zhengqi , Qiao Qilu
Published: August 2024

Background: Portomesenteric vein thrombosis (PMVT) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication following bariatric surgery (BS). Due to the limited number of reported cases, the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of PMVT are not well understood.
Objective: This study aims to describe the incidence, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of PMVT in patients who underwent BS at a single bariatric surgery center.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of a database of all patients who underwent BS and developed PMVT from July 2018 to April 2024 at one center.
Results: Out of 3511 patients who underwent BS, 2981 had laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and 530 had laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). None of the patients received prophylactic anticoagulation post-surgery. Six patients (0.17%) who underwent LSG were diagnosed with PMVT. These patients had a mean age of 33.3 years and a mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) of 42.13 kg/m². The average time to diagnosis post-surgery was 11.5 days (range 10–36 days). All patients presented with epigastric pain. Treatment was exclusively medical, with no reoperations. Five patients were treated with enoxaparin, and all were treated with rivaroxaban for an average of four months (range 45–210 days). There were no fatalities.
Conclusion: Portal mesenteric vein thrombosis (PMVT) is a rare but serious complication following bariatric surgery, often presenting with nonspecific symptoms. High suspicion is essential for early diagnosis. At our center, the incidence of PMVT is relatively lower compared to previous studies that did not employ routine prophylactic anticoagulation. Further research is needed to determine whether routine prophylactic anticoagulation is necessary.
Nonlinear association between atherogenic index of plasma and chronic kidney disease: a nationwide cross-sectional study
Authors: jiang Chunqi , wang Bo , qu Yinuo , wang Jun , zhao Guang , zhang Xin
Published: August 2024

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a kind of chronic disease which endangers human health seriously. The relationship between chronic kidney disease and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has rarely been explored. The present study investigates the association between AIP and CKD.
Methods: We utilized a weighted multivariate logistic regression model to rigorously assess the relationship between AIP and CKD, complemented by the generation of smooth curves to delineate the interplay between these variables. Upon discerning a non-linear relationship, we engaged a recursive partitioning algorithm in conjunction with a two-stage linear regression model to precisely determine the inflection point. Furthermore, stratified analyses were meticulously performed to dissect and elucidate the heterogeneity within population subgroups.
Results：The study involved 23888 participants from the United States. Within the regression model that accounted for all covariates, the odds ratio (OR) correlating CKD with AIP was calculated at 1.12 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.36), suggesting no significant association between AIP levels and the prevalence of CKD. However, the results of the linear trend test suggested that the relationship between them may be non-linear. Smooth curve analysis confirmed the non-linear relationship between AIP and CKD, and identified an inflection point at -0.55. Below this threshold, AIP exhibited a significant inverse correlation with CKD. In contrast, beyond the inflection point, a pronounced positive correlation was detected. Further stratified analyses elucidated distinct patterns: a non-linear association between AIP and CKD was observed in female participants and those aged 50 and above, whereas a linear association was noted among male participants and those below the age of 50. Subgroup analyses, focusing on the interplay of BMI, alcohol consumption, and smoking status, disclosed significant variations within these demographic subsets.
Conclusion：We found a curvilinear relationship between chronic kidney disease and atherogenic index of plasma.
Targeting SPINK5-FTH1 axis to overcome cisplatin resistance in head and neck carcinoma cells
Authors: Yao Hui , Zhang Caiyun , Zhu Guanghao , Li Haopu , Wang Jingjie , Zheng Hongliang , Zhu Minhui
Published: August 2024

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are frequently treated with chemotherapeutic agents at first, but eventually develop resistance, which limits treatment success. Given its strong therapeutic efficacy, more research is required to identify the mechanism driving cisplatin resistance in HNSCCs. Data from 546 HNSCC patients were examined in the current research using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Ferroptosis regulators' gene expression levels were employed in an unsupervised cluster analysis. Additionally, cox regression analysis and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were performed. For determining the expression and function of SPINK5, reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions (qRT-PCR), western blots, colony formation assays, and transwell experiments were conducted in the HNSCC cell line. Mechanistically, our findings showed that SPINK5 is low in HNSCC and that malignant tissues with downregulated SPINK5 have a poor prognosis. High levels of SPINK5 causes down-regulation of FTH1, resulting in the activation of ferroptosis and sensitizing cisplatin resistant HNSCC cells to cisplatin. Finally, in HNSCC, SPINK5 might be a significant clinical indicator of ferroptosis and cisplatin resistance. Our study enlightens a novel molecular mechanism underlying SPINK5 induction and its role in ferroptosis and cisplatin chemotherapy resistance, thereby providing a possible novel mechanism of cisplatin resistance and offering experimental basis for clinical translation. Therefore, SPINK5 may play a crucial role in overcoming cisplatin resistance in the future and may act as a sensitive target for the development of cisplatin chemotherapy.
Comparison of the biological effects of various radiation therapy for keloid by single-cell RNA sequencing reveals IRF1 as a novel target in keloid therapy
Authors: Li Xiaoqian , Li Wei , Yan Tao , Guo Linfen , Feng Yahui , Liu Yulan , Ye Lu , Zhang Yuehua , Bai Hao , Chen Nianyong , Yu Daojiang , Zhang Shuyu
Published: August 2024

Background Keloids are benign dermal tumors that arise from abnormal wound healing processes following skin lesions. Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) is a clinically effective measure to reduce recurrence rates of keloid with various radiation modalities. Nevertheless, studies comparing the effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of distinct radiotherapy modalities for keloid remain absent in the literature. Methods We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) analysis of primary keloid fibroblasts treated with photon irradiation, electron beam irradiation or β-radiation using a90Sr-90Y surface applicator to explore gene expression profiles. Comparative analyses were also performed to identify the dysregulated pathways, regulators and ligand receptor interactions in five groups. To validate our findings, molecular biological approaches were used to confirm the potential target. Results Unbiased clustering revealed a considerable degree of cellular heterogeneity within primary keloid fibroblasts, resulting in the identification of seven distinct clusters. Among of them, the cell proportions of Fib2-CCND1high, Fib3-IGFBP7highand Fib 4-APCDD1highincreased significantly in X-rays group, electron beam group and both90Sr groups, which involved in microtubule associated complex, extracellular matrix organization and oxidative phosphorylation, respectively. In addition, the bioinformatics analysis highlighted the alteration of immune-associated interactions, such as PVR-TNFSF9 and TNFSF9-IL13RA2, and provided a basis for the activation of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) in all of radiotherapy modalities. Then, functional analysis revealed that Ad-IRF1 and pharmacological activation of IRF1 (ATRA and 9-cis-RA) significantly induced apoptosis and suppressed cell viability. Mechanistically, reciprocal regulation between the single-stranded DNA sensors SSBP1 and IRF1 was revealed. Conclusions This study illustrated the molecular alterations and driving transcription factors following various radiotherapy modalities at the single cell resolution. Notably, the identification of IRF1 as a prospective therapeutic target for keloid is of signification importance.
Mapping Sustainable Development Goals to Citizen Science projects - a comparative evaluation of automatic classifiers
Authors: Santos Patricia , Amarashinghe Ishari , Calvera-Isabal Miriam , Shulten Cleo , Hoppe Ulrich , Roldán-Álvarez David , Martínez-Martínez Fernando
Published: August 2024

Traditional data sources provide insufficient knowledge for measuring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Data related to SDGs are sourced primarily from global databases maintained by international organizations, national statistical offices and other government agencies. Recent studies show the value of using data from Citizen Science (CS) for assessing the SDGs. There is an important online presence of CS programs, professional networks for CS and online communities of citizen scientists, leading to the generation of several CS platforms. In this context, the role of computational data science is key. This paper explores and exemplifies opportunities for combining web-data mining techniques and automatic classifiers to enhance the understanding of the inter-relation between CS and the SDGs. An analysis of different automatic classifiers is presented by comparing the results obtained from their application in a sample of 208 CS project descriptions. The results of this study indicate the benefits and limitations of these techniques (nCoder, ESA, OSDG and BERT), but also provides a discussion of the potential benefits of using data from CS projects to map the 17 SDGs.
Surgical outcomes of laparoscopic versus open diverting colostomy for radiation-induced rectovaginal fistula
Authors: Liu Zhen , Ren Lu , Liu Enrui , Zhang Jinliang , Guo Dong
Published: August 2024

Background
Radiation-induced rectovaginal fistula (RI-RVF) is a distressful condition after radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies. Diverting colostomy is an effective procedure for improving the quality of life. The aim of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic diverting colostomy with open surgery for RI-RVF.
Methods
66 patients developed RI-IVF after pelvic radiation for malignancies between January 2014 and December 2023 were retrospectively collected and analyzed, among which 28 patients received laparoscopic diverting colostomy and 38 patients undergone open surgery. A comparison of clinical features between the two groups was made initially. We also assessed the surgical and postoperative outcomes according to the approach used for diverting colostomy.
Results
The postoperative length of stay is significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group (6 ± 2.43 days) than in the open group (8 ± 3.33 days, p < 0.01). Laparoscopic surgery was associated with shorter length of incision (p < 0.01), lower pain score (p < 0.01), less days requiring analgesics (p < 0.01) and lower rate of surgical site infection (p = 0.04). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of surgery time, blood loss, ICU admission, time to pass first flatus or defecation, to resume liquid or normal diet.
Conclusions
Laparoscopic diverting colostomy is feasible for patients with RI-RVF, albeit adhesions in the peritoneal cavity. Compared to open procedures, patients received laparoscopic surgery had a shorter length of hospital stay and lower incidence of surgical site infections. Previous surgical and radiation history is not a contraindication for laparoscopic colostomy, hence laparoscopic approach can be implemented safely in patients with RI-RVF.
Impact of Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Pregnancy on Offspring Neurodevelopment: Signature Cohort 12 Month Follow-Up.
Authors: Garrido-Torres Nathalia , Román-Jarrín Andrés , Rider Julia , Alemany-Navarro María , Gibson Blake A. , de-Felipe Bea , Pérez-Gómez Alberto , Cerrillos Lucas , Duque-Sánchez Cristina , Alameda Luis , Ruiz-Mateos Ezequiel , Ruiz-Veguilla Miguel , Crespo-Facorro Benedicto
Published: August 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented global challenges. Amid the crisis, the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the neurodevelopment of offspring born to infected mothers emerged as a critical concern. This is a prospective cohort study of offspring exposed to maternal SARS-CoV-2 mild or severe infection during pregnancy. Pregnant women who acquired SARS-CoV-2 were enrolled in the SIGNATURE project at Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio in Seville, Spain, between 01/01/2021 and 08/31/2022. Maternal stress was assessed through the Perceived Stress Scale; offspring neurodevelopment was assessed through Ages & Stages Questionnaire, 3rd Edition (ASQ-3) at 6 months and 12 months. Association between SARS-CoV-2 illness severity and neurodevelopmental outcomes were analyzed with univariate and multivariate analysis. The cohort included 671 women categorized into three distinct groups based on maternal SARS-CoV-2 severity: non-infected mothers (N = 272), mothers with mild symptoms (N = 346), and mothers with severe symptoms (N = 53). In utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 severe infection was associated with a significant delay in the ASQ-3 personal-social subdomain at 12 months follow-up [OR = 3.00 (95% CI 1.129–7.969), p = 0.028] independently of the timing of the infection and maternal stress. This study revealed a significant association between severe maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopmental delay at the 12-month follow-up, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing the potential long-term consequences of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on offspring neurodevelopment.
Slowly Oscillating Periodic Solutions of a Van der Pol Oscillator with State-Dependent Delay
Authors: Hou Aiyu , Liu shunlian , Luo Chaoliang
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we consider a Van der Pol oscillator with state-dependent delay. Firstly, we seek for a suitable set $E$ on which we construct a Poincar\'e operator $F$. Then, we prove that the operator $F$ is continuous and compact on $E\backslash\{0\}$. After that, we obtain the ejectivity of the trivial fixed point $\{0\}$ and the existence of slowly oscillating periodic solution. Finally, we choose an example of state-dependent delay to test our analytical result by comparing it to numerical continuation.This theoretical result generalizes and improves some existing results.
Oxidation behavior of MnCuNiFeZnAl damping alloy for high-temperature service
Authors: Mei Ling , Duan Pengbo , Guo Xiangcheng , Tian Qingchao
Published: August 2024

High-entropy Mn-based damping alloy is very promising for high-temperature service, and a MnCuNiFeZnAl damping alloy with the entropy of mixing of 9.39 Jmol− 1K− 1 was prepared to study the high-temperature oxidation behaviour. The in-situ XRD analysis indicates that oxidation begins at 673K with the formation of MnO, ZnO, and CuO, follows by the appearance of Mn3O4 and Mn2O3. It is found that the alloy shows improved antioxidation performance by forming continuous Al2O3 film in the substrate near the interface of the oxidation film / matrix, but also shows susceptibility to detachment of oxide scale under high temperatures. It is revealed that there exists the phenomenon of the split of MnO diffraction peaks during the growth process of oxide film, which is proposed to be originated from the MnO produced by either the redox reactions of Mn2O3 and Mn3O4 with Mn or the replacement reaction of MeO (Zn, Cu, Ni, Fe) with Mn.
High-yielding syntheses, crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface analysis of bis-1,1'-(2- nitropropenes) extended with benzene-1,4-diyl and biphenyl-4,4'-diyl spacers
Authors: Domasevitch Kostiantyn V. , Senchyk Ganna A. , Krautscheid Harald
Published: August 2024

Crystal structures of two 2-nitropropene derivatives, namely 1,4-bis((E)-2-nitroprop-1-enyl)benzene and 4,4′-bis((E)-2-nitroprop-1-enyl)biphenyl, support relevance of lone pair-π-hole interactions of nitro groups to the crystal packing of extended polyaromatic molecules. For the former structure, these bonds complement slipped π-π interactions of the benzene rings within a basic supramolecular motif representing infinite stacks. In the biphenyl derivative, only one out of two nitro groups afford NO2⋅⋅⋅NO2 bonds (N⋅⋅⋅O = 3.191(2) Å) as a local pattern. The decreased significance of lone pair-π-hole interactions is in line with growing contribution of weak dispersion forces, which favor close alignment of the molecules and larger interaction ares to generate multiple C-H⋅⋅⋅π bonds. Different types of C-H⋅⋅⋅O, C-H⋅⋅⋅π, π-π, NO2-π, NO2⋅⋅⋅NO2, tetrel CH3⋅⋅⋅O and CH3⋅⋅⋅π bonds, which actualize in the prefesent structures were further assessed by Hirshfeld surface analysis and intermolecular interaction energies were calculated using the CE B3LYP/6 31G(d,p) energy model. In addition, the facile and high-yielding preparations by condensation of dialdehydes and nitroethane, provide a straightforward access to the present 2-nitropropenes, as valuable synthetic intermediates.
Energy Management Scheme in Micro-grid with LVDC using Smart Energy Estimation Technique
Authors: Chaudhary Nikhil , Verma K. S. , Pandey J.P.
Published: August 2024

A new energy µanageµent scheµe for grid integrated battery based solar PV systeµ is developed for a µore practical DC bus voltage of 48 V. The µain objective of the proposed work is to feed the grid by optiµizing the available energy froµ PV and battery systeµ. A unique advance adaptive control algorithµ is used to generate the reference signal which is directly associated with the battery SOC and µaxiµuµ power of solar PV. This adaptive energy µanageµent systeµ incorporated with Active Battery Manageµent Systeµ (ABMS) allows for real tiµe adjustµents based on the current operating conditions and energy availability. To obtain the SOC of battery on loaded condition µatheµatical µodel of Adaptive Kalµan filter is used. Accurate SOC estiµation is utilized for charging and discharging of BESS to achieve µaxiµuµ State of Health. The DC bus voltage level aligns with coµµon standards, siµplifying integration. A 4 kW solar panel array with an MPPT circuit and a 20 kwh battery pack are integrated into the systeµ. A bidirectional converter facilitates power exchange between the DC and AC buses. Theoretical analysis and control strategies are deµonstrated. A hardware µodule of converters coµbined with real tiµe siµulator Typhoon HIL 402 is used to deµonstrate the effectiveness of proposed strategy.
Engineering an Escherichia coli strain for enhanced production of flavonoids derived from pinocembrin
Authors: Hanko Erik Kurt Reinhard , Robinson Christopher James , Bhanot Sahara , Jervis Adrian John , Scrutton Nigel Shaun
Published: August 2024

Background
Flavonoids are a structurally diverse group of secondary metabolites, predominantly produced by plants, which include a range of compounds with pharmacological importance. Pinocembrin is a key branch point intermediate in the biosynthesis of a wide range of flavonoid subclasses. However, replicating the biosynthesis of these structurally diverse molecules in heterologous microbial cell factories has encountered challenges, in particular the modest pinocembrin titres achieved to date. In this study, we combined genome engineering and enzyme candidate screening to significantly enhance the production of pinocembrin and its derivatives, including chrysin, pinostrobin, pinobanksin, and galangin, in Escherichia coli.
Results
By implementing a combination of established strain engineering strategies aimed at enhancing the supply of the building blocks phenylalanine and malonyl-CoA, we constructed an E. coli chassis capable of accumulating 353 mg/L pinocembrin from glycerol, without the need for precursor supplementation or the fatty acid biosynthesis inhibitor cerulenin. This chassis was subsequently employed for the production of chrysin, pinostrobin, pinobanksin, and galangin. Through an enzyme candidate screening process involving eight type-1 and five type-2 flavone synthases (FNS), we identified Petroselinum crispum FNSI as the top candidate, producing 82 mg/L chrysin. Similarly, from a panel of five flavonoid 7-O-methyltransferases (7-OMT), we found pinocembrin 7-OMT from Eucalyptus nitida to yield 153 mg/L pinostrobin. To produce pinobanksin, we screened seven enzyme candidates exhibiting flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) or F3H/flavonol synthase (FLS) activity, with the bifunctional F3H/FLS enzyme from Glycine max being the top performer, achieving a pinobanksin titre of 12.6 mg/L. Lastly, by utilising a combinatorial library of plasmids encoding G. max F3H and Citrus unshiu FLS, we obtained a maximum galangin titre of 18.2 mg/L.
Conclusion
Through the integration of microbial chassis engineering and screening of enzyme candidates, we considerably increased the production levels of microbially synthesised pinocembrin, chrysin, pinostrobin, pinobanksin, and galangin. With the introduction of additional chassis modifications geared towards improving cofactor supply and regeneration, as well as alleviating potential toxic effects of intermediates and end products, we anticipate further enhancements in the yields of these pinocembrin derivatives, potentially enabling greater diversification in microbial hosts.
Advancing Agrivoltaics through a Systematic Design Framework: Guidelines for Integration and Informed Decision-Making
Authors: Miljkovic Nenad , Du Xuzhi , Solecki Alexandra , hoque Muhammad Jahidul , Garimella Vivek S. , Jia Mengqi , Peng Bin , Mwebaze Paul , McCall James , Majeed Fahd , Time Alson , Kim Jinwook , Sturchio Matthew , Guan Kaiyu , Khanna Madhu , Bernacchi Carl J , Lee DoKyoung , Knapp Alan , Barron-Gafford Greg , Branham Bruce
Published: August 2024

Agrivoltaics (AV), the integration of agriculture and photovoltaic (PV) technology, can provide solutions to address land use conflicts associated with growing demands for food, energy, and water resources. Currently, there is no method to address the site-specific characteristics of AV (altered microclimate, crop yield, PV and crop design) in a planning and optimization model. In this paper, we develop a first-of-its-kind open-source AV design model with solar, crop (soybean), economic, and optimization modules. We use this model to conduct an in-silico multi-objective optimization experiment, revealing a nuanced relationships between PV energy and soybean crop output (yield and profit). We find that PV panel spacing is a critical factor within the global optimal design domain, positively affecting crop production and crop profit, while negatively impacting PV generation per land area, PV profit, and land equivalent ratio (LER). An increase in PV spacing, transitioning from traditional solar farms to those approaching agricultural farms, causes a 49% and 75% increase in crop production and profit, respectively. However, this also results in a decrease of 55% in PV power generation, 54% in PV profit, and 17% in LER. Additionally, PV height and crop buffer zones around panel boundaries show secondary effects, with optimal designs favoring taller PV installations and narrower crop buffers (occupying ~40% of the under-panel area for soybean cultivation) for enhanced system efficiency. Our integrated modeling framework informs AV design guidelines and offers insights to support informed technological decision-making in this dynamically evolving field.
Mortality Rate and Charlson Co-morbidity Scores of Patients with Femoral Neck Fractures Treated with Hip Hemiarthroplasty using Austin-Moore, Thompson, and Modular Hip Prostheses in a Tertiary Government Hospital
Authors: Cocjin Hansel Gould B. , Porras Shaun A. , Sanchez John Paolo J. , Bajao Joevel Christian T.
Published: August 2024

Background: Hip fractures remain a significant healthcare problem worldwide, with an annual incidence of 1.7 million. Published literature regarding mortality and associated Charlson Co-morbidity score using Austin-Moore, Thompson, and Modular hip hemiarthroplasty in the Philippines is limited.
Methods: This 5-year retrospective cohort study involved 92 elderly patients who underwent hip hemiarthroplasty using Austin-Moore, Thompson, or Modular hip prosthesis in the treatment of acute femoral neck fractures. A comprehensive chart review on admission and patient clinic follow-ups at 1-month, 6-months and 12-months after surgery was done. The objectives of the study included the demographic and clinical profiles, operative times, length of hospital stay, Charlson Comorbidity Score and mortality rate.
Results: The average age of patients with femoral neck fractures was 73 years old. Majority were females at 81.4%; Most injuries were secondary to fall at 91.3%, whereas 8.7% were due to vehicular accidents. Patients treated with Austin-Moore, Thompson, and Modular Hip prosthesis were 31.5%, 53.2%, and 15.2% respectively. The patients had an average length of hospitalization of 11 days, and an average CC score was 4.28. There was a significant difference in estimated blood loss across the different types of prosthesis, wherein, Austin-Moore prostheses were higher with a mean difference of 125 ml and p<.05. No significant differences were found regarding operative times, length of hospital stay, Charlson Comorbidity Score and mortality rates.
Conclusion. The mortality rates and associated Charlson Co-morbidity scores in patients with femoral neck fractures were comparable with published literatures. Using Austin-Moore, Thompson, and Modular hip prostheses in hip hemiarthroplasty is an effective treatment modality indicated for elderly patients with femoral neck fractures and high CCS.
Therapeutic Level: III
Performance enhancement of motor by applying organic/inorganic nanoceramic hybrid resin coating
Authors: Chang Chun Chieh , Lee Cho-Yu , Chu Brian , Chu Cheng-Jye , Lee Chi-Rung , Pan Cheng-Tang
Published: August 2024

This paper introduces an organic/inorganic nanoceramic hybrid resin as a replacement for the conventional organic resin coating applied to the silicon steel sheet in electric motors. The organic/inorganic nanoceramic hybrid resin was prepared using the sol-gel method and polymerization. By employing cross -linking and grafting reactions between high thermal conductivity heat dissipation fillers and hybrid resins, excellent insulating coatings with high thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance were achieved. In addition, these coatings exhibit self-adhesive properties, making them suitable as adhesive materials for stacking motor silicon steel sheets. This study performed a film characteristic analysis. The developed coating was then applied to the motor, and its performance was compared with commercially available motors. The experimental results demonstrate that the developed coating enhances the relative protection capability by 88.89%, much higher than the 38.89% of commercially available coatings. The thermal conductivity measurements indicate that the alumina coating increases the thermal conductivity of the silicon steel sheet by 33.14%. In the motor characteristics test, the output power of the aluminum oxide hybrid coating motor increased by approximately 29.6% compared to the traditional welding motor. Additionally, the efficiency of the aluminum oxide hybrid-coated motor increased by 6.7% compared to the control group's welded motor.
Compositional engineering of phase-stable and highly efficient deep-red emitting phosphor for advanced plant lighting systems
Authors: Qiao Jianwei , Li Dehong , Shi Qiufeng , Guo Haijie , Huang Ping , Wang Lei
Published: August 2024

Inorganic luminescent materials hold great promise for optoelectronic device applications, yet the limited efficiency and poor thermal stability of oxide-based deep-red emitting phosphors hinder the advancement of plant lighting technologies. Herein, a simple compositional engineering strategy is proposed to stabilize the phase, boost external quantum efficiency (EQE) and enhance thermal stability. The chemical modification of the PO4 tetrahedron in NaMgPO4:Eu by incorporating SiO4 not only lowers the formation energy, leading to the generation of pure olivine phase and increasing the EQE from 27–52%, setting a record for oxide deep-red phosphors, but also introduces deep defect levels, improving the thermal stability at 150°C from 62.5–85.4%. In parallel, the excitation and emission peaks shifted to 440 nm and 665 nm, respectively, aligning precisely with the specific spectral absorption requirements of plant phytochromes. Moreover, the luminescent intensity showed nearly no decay after being exposed to 80% relative humidity and 80 oC for 6 hours, and the pc-LED utilizing Na1.06MgP0.94Si0.06O4:Eu achieves a high output power of 780 mW at 300 mA. Our research demonstrates a facile method for optimizing the performance of inorganic luminescent materials and provides alternative solutions for low-cost plant lighting.
Alkaline gelatinised locust bean gum: alternative depressant for pyroxene and talc in Platreef ore
Authors: Ngobeni Walter Amos , Mulaba-Bafubiandi Antoine F.
Published: August 2024

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is the common depressant used in flotation. However, CMC has a high negative charge density. Thus, a higher electrostatic repulsion on negatively charged minerals. Also, it is susceptible to pulp ionic strength. Hence, the high dose requirements for effective depression. This is detrimental as CMC destabilises the froth at high dosages. Locust bean gum (LBG) brings attractive attributes like low charge density and insensitivity to pulp ionic strength. Therefore, this paper explored the feasibility of using alkaline gelatinised LBG as a CMC alternative depressant for pyroxene and talc. Bench flotation tests were conducted using Platreef ore to compare LBG and CMC's performance at 25g/t, 50g/t, and 100g/t. This study showed that LBG and CMC yielded comparable pyroxene and talc depression (> 80%) at all dosages tested. Furthermore, at 100g/t, the respective Pt recoveries of 88% and 83% illustrated that LBG was more effective than CMC at allowing Pt to float unhindered. Additionally, zeta potential measurements were conducted in the presence and absence of the depressant to establish the adsorption mechanisms. The zeta potential results showed that CMC and LBG adsorption onto pyroxene and talc surfaces were different due to their structural and ionic strength differences.
Forward and reverse genomic screens enhance the understanding of phenotypic variation in a large Chinese rhesus macaque cohort
Authors: Wu Dong-Dong , Zhang Bao-Lin , Chen Yongxuan , Zhang Yali , Qiao Yicheng , Wu Yang , Zhang Yi , Lu Yizheng , You Xinran , Li Yanling , Huang Hong-Di , Wang Qiong , Li Yijiang , Wang Yun , Xiao Wenxian , Duan Hexian , Qiu Ming-Hao , Chen Nan-Hui , Yu Xiaomei , Yang Min-Min , Lv Longbao , Cooper David , Zheng Ping , Yao Yong-Gang , Liu Ning , Wang Jianhong
Published: August 2024

Combining genotype and phenotype data promises to greatly increase the value of macaque as biomedical models for human disease. Here we launch the Macaque Biobank project by deeply sequencing 919 captive Chinese rhesus macaques (CRM) while assessing 52 phenotypic traits. Genomic analyses revealed CRMs exhibit 1.7-fold higher nucleotide diversity and significantly lower mutational load than their Indian counterparts. We identified hundreds of loss-of-function variants linked to human inherited disease and drug targets, and at least seven exert significant effects on phenotypes using forward genomic screens. Genome-wide association analyses revealed 30 independent loci associated with phenotypic variations. Using reverse genomic approaches, we identifiedDISC1(p.Arg517Trp) as a genetic risk factor for neuropsychiatric disorders, with macaques carrying this deleterious allele exhibiting impairments in working memory and cortical architecture. This study demonstrates the potential of macaque cohorts for the investigation of genotype-phenotype relationships and exploring potential spontaneous models of human genetic disease.