bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acetabular posterior wall morphology in slipped capital femoral epiphysis: A three-dimensional and true axial computed tomography matched-cohort study
Authors: Wiktor Łukasz , Tomaszewski Ryszard , Fabrowicz Piotr , Damps Maria
Published: February 2024

Aims
Comparative assessment of both hip joints in patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) was performed relative to the control group.
Methods
We created 3D CT reconstructions of the acetabulum in 27 hips with SCFE, 21 unaffected contralateral hips, and 108 hips of the age- and sex-matched non-SCFE control group. Following measurements performed using true axial CT scans were assessed: acetabular version angle (AVA°), posterior sector acetabular angle (PASA°), posterior wall angle (PWA°), and acetabular roofing percentage.
Results
Based on the morphology of the posterior acetabular wall, we found three type I (closed) and 24 type II (open) hips in the SCFE group. We noticed a flattening of the posterosuperior quadrant of the acetabulum in 66.66% (18 out of 27 hips) of the hips affected by SCFE. For both SCFE (p = 0.004) and unaffected hips (p = 0.009), the AVA at the proximal hip level was significantly lower than in the control group. We observed no significant between-group differences in PASA (p > 0.05). The mean values of the PWA for the SCFE group were significantly higher than in the contralateral hip (p = 0.025) and control group (p = 0.018).
Conclusions
Hips with SCFE tend to be flattened at the posterosuperior quadrant and have higher PWA values. PWA better defines the morphology of the posterior wall than the PASA. As the PWA angle increases, the mechanical shearing forces at the femoral physis may increase; however, this requires further research.
Hefei’s Land Use Simulation and UDB Determination in Economic Development Scenario
Authors: Zhang Sheng , Tao Jie
Published: February 2024

Along with the scale development of the world's cities, large-scale urban development cannot be achieved without scientific urban planning, but the national spatial planning based on the current situation is far from being able to meet the needs of exponential scale growth of cities.Using a patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model, this study predicted Hefei’s land use change from 2020 to 2060 and determined its urban development boundaries based on ecological service value data. The main findings are summarised as follows: First, the PLUS model accurately simulated Hefei’s land use change. Second, the main trend of land use change was the transformation of nonconstruction land to construction land, with arable land to construction land accounting for by far the largest proportion. The comparison with ecological land showed that the government attaches more importance to ecological protection than grain security. Third, Hefei’s construction land development follows a typical extensive growth pattern, and human intervention (e.g., urban planning) and natural conditions (e.g., DEM-derived elevation) influence the development of urban construction land. By superimposing Hefei’s predicted construction land with eco-logical service value, this study verified the reasonability of Hefei’s territorial spatial planning and the pro-activeness of its urban development strategy. In conclusion, multi-scenario simulation results combined with ecological data can provide a decision-making reference and theoretical support for Hefei’s territorial spatial planning and urban development boundary determination.
On the derivation of unsteady closed-form analytical solution for the solidification of pure and eutectic materials with boundary conditions of the third kind
Authors: Ferreira I. L. , Júnior G. E.M. Santos , Moreira A. L.S.
Published: February 2024

Solidification and fusion are important processes applied in several fields of science and technology. Recently, far beyond the realms of materials science and metallurgy, many applications have risen in latent heat thermal energy storage and melting and growth of ice plates. Due to the relative difficulty in obtaining numerical solutions for moving boundary problems for a wide range of space and time scales. In this work, four closed-form solutions for the transient solidification of pure and eutectic materials are proposed for one- and three-dimensional semi-infinite slabs considering convective boundary conditions and melting superheating. The analytical results are plotted against the numerical simulation results.
Short post-injection seizure duration is associated with reduced power of ictal brain perfusion SPECT to lateralize the seizure onset zone
Authors: Karimzadeh Amir , Salimi Kian , Voges Berthold , Apostolova Ivayla , Sauvigny Thomas , Lanz Michael , Klutmann Susanne , Stodieck Stefan , Meyer Philipp T , Buchert Ralph
Published: February 2024

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the post-injection electrical seizure duration on the identification of the seizure onset zone (SOZ) in ictal brain perfusion SPECT in presurgical evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy.
Methods: 176 ictal SPECT performed with 99mTc-HMPAO (n=140) or -ECD (n=36) were included retrospectively. Visual interpretation of the SPECT images (together with individual MRI and statistical hyperperfusion maps) with respect to lateralization (right, left, none) and localization (temporal, frontal, parietal, occipital) of the SOZ was performed by 3 independent readers. Between-readers agreement was characterized by Fleiss’ κ. An ictal SPECT was considered "lateralizing" if all readers agreed on right or left hemisphere. It was considered "localizing" if it was lateralizing and all readers agreed on the lobe within the same hemisphere. The impact of injection latency and post-injection seizure duration on the proportion of lateralizing/localizing SPECT was tested by ANOVA with dichotomized (by the median) injection latency and post-injection seizure duration as between-subjects factors.
Results: Median [interquartile range] (full range) of injection latency and post-injection seizure duration were 30 [24, 40] (3 – 120) s and 50 [27, 70] (-20 – 660) s, respectively. Fleiss’ κ for lateralization of the SOZ was largest for the combination of early (<30s) injection and long (>50s) post-injection seizure duration (κ=0.894, all other combinations κ=0.659 – 0.734). Regarding Fleiss’ κ for localization of the SOZ in the 141 (80.1%) lateralizing SPECT, it was largest for early injection and short post-injection seizure duration (κ=0.575, all other combinations κ=0.329 – 0.368). The proportion of lateralizing SPECT was lower with short compared to long post-injection seizure duration (estimated marginal means 74.3% versus 86.3%, p=0.047). The effect was mainly driven by cases with very short post-injection seizure duration ≤ 10s (53.8% lateralizing). Injection latency in the considered range had no significant impact on the proportion of lateralizing SPECT (p=0.390). The proportion of localizing SPECT among the lateralizing cases did not depend on injection latency or post-injection seizure duration (p≥0.603).
Conclusions: Short post-injection seizure duration is associated with a lower proportion of lateralizing cases in ictal brain perfusion SPECT.
Association of platelet count with P1NP level in patients with osteoporotic fractures: a retrospective cross- sectional study
Authors: Liu Zhou-hang , Lu Ke , Zhou Xiao-jie , Xu Min-zhe , Li Chong
Published: February 2024

Platelets play a crucial part in bone remodeling and may regulate bone formation by releasing cytokines. Pre-collagen type 1 N-terminal peptide (P1NP) is a key biomarker that indicates new bone formation. However, the association between platelet count and P1NP level in patients with osteoporotic (OP) fractures remains unclear.This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from 752 OP fracture patients hospitalized between January 2015 and March 2022. Serum P1NP concentration serve as the dependent variable, while platelet count was used as the exposure variable. Covariates included age, gender; Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), body mass index (BMI), lymphocyte (Lym), neutrophil (Neu), monocyte (Mono). Independent associations between platelet count and P1NP level were assessed by employing generalized estimating equations after adjusting for covariates. Non-linear relationships were detected with the help of generalized additive models. The present study found a positive association between platelet count and P1NP level in patients with OP fractures (β = 0.05; 95% CI [confident interval] = 0.02 to 0.08; P = 0.0011). This association remained significant after multivariate adjustment. Moreover, the nonlinear model showed a threshold effect, with platelet count above 220.5 (109/L) being positively correlated with P1NP (β = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.06 to 0.21; P = 0.0004). However, this correlation did not hold true for platelet count below 220.5 (109/L) (β = 0.01; 95% CI = -0.05 to 0.08; P = 0.67). The present work demonstrates an independent positive association between platelet count and P1NP level in osteoporotic fracture patients. This study also revealed a nonlinear association and a threshold effect between platelet count and P1NP level. Platelet count may be indicative of new bone formation, providing a basis for fracture risk assessment. Further research is warranted to validate these results.
Practical Minimum Energy Use of Seawater Reverse Osmosis Facilities
Authors: Warsinger David , Alnajdi Sultan , Beni Ali Naderi , Alsaati Albraa , Luhar Mitul , Childress Amy
Published: February 2024

The global challenges of climate change and water scarcity demand increased energy efficiency of desalination technologies, especially the dominant seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO). While many studies have assessed individual improvements to SWRO like energy recovery devices, their combined potential for maximizing system energy efficiency has not been systematically explored. Therefore, this study combines a comprehensive data collection from 64 facilities, with detailed modeling of conventional, state-of-the-art, and practical minimum energy use configurations. For each of these three efficiency levels, we synthesized performances benchmarks for pump efficiency, membrane permeability, membrane spacer mass transfer coefficient, and pre- and post treatment. We use these parameters to benchmark potential efficiency gains of 39 of the facilities, examine performance across different recovery ratio and feed salinity, and prioritize the most promising innovations. The methodology encompasses detailed process- and component-level modeling, and includes the derivation of a maximum membrane mass trans- fer coefficient from the Chilton-Colburn J-factor analogy. We found that the combined state-of-the-art methods, including semi-batch reverse osmosis, could save 69% of the energy excess beyond the thermodynamic minimum, while the practical minimum, including batch RO, could save 82% of excess energy. The compiled data also show that modern facilities achieve a lower specific energy consumption (SEC) when using isobaric–energy recovery devices (ERD) compared to older devices like Pelton turbines. Factors affecting SEC and energy savings (i.e., capacity, equipment efficiency, and year of installation) are also analyzed for 39 of the SWRO facilities. Further substantial savings can be obtained by improving membrane spacers and shifting to more batch efficient configurations
Development and Usability Evaluation of a Self-Care Application for Stroke Survivors
Authors: Tadayon Hamidreza , Masoud Seyed Ali , Nabovati Ehsan , Akbari Hossein , Farzandipour Mehrdad , Babaei Masoud
Published: February 2024

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and a major contributor to disability among survivors. This descriptive app-development study aims to investigate the design and evaluate the usability of a self-care app specifically designed for stroke survivors.
Methods: The app was developed using the iterative-incremental model. It is a hybrid web-android-based app that follows a client-server model, incorporating both static and dynamic content. The usability evaluation consisted of two components: an expert-based evaluation conducted with five experts using the Cognitive Walkthrough (CW) methodology, and a user-based evaluation involving 30 users who assessed the app's usability using the System Usability Scale (SUS).
Results: The app, known as SSM (Stroke Self-Management), was developed with three distinct sides: admin side, user side, and therapist side. During the evaluation process, a total of 39 usability problems were identified across various aspects, including efficiency, effectiveness, user satisfaction, error, learnability, and memorability. Notably, the number of usability problems related to efficiency and user satisfaction outweighed those of other variables. Similarly, usability problems associated with effectiveness and error were significantly more pronounced. On the other hand, the least number of usability problems (n = 1) was identified in terms of learnability.
From the users' perspective, the developed app received an average score of 75.25, which can be considered acceptable in terms of usability.
Conclusions: Most of the identified usability issues in this server-based app for stroke survivors were related to efficiency and user satisfaction. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies focus on evaluating the app for usability problems before the release phase and address high-intensity issues, such as effectiveness and errors.
Unveiling the Promising Pharmaceutical benefits of Newly Synthesized Schiff Base: DFT, Molecular docking, In silico ADME/T and PASS analysis
Authors: Cholan Siva Sankari , Rajan Arun Thesingu , Subramaniam Kamalesu , Ramasamy Subramanian , Karuppaiah Selvakumar , M Almarhoon Zainab
Published: February 2024

Recently discovered bio-essential Schiff base compound, (E)-N'-(2-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzylidene)nicotinohydrazide, was obtained from the condensation of 2-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzaldehyde and nicotinic hydrazide. It was synthesized and characterized using a variety of chemical techniques, including elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, 1H NMR and mass spectroscopy. To understand the molecular structure and chemical reactivity of the Schiff base ligand, we employed Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Additionally, molecular docking analysis has been employed to confirm the potential binding of the ligand to DNA. Importantly, the in silico prediction of ADME/Tox profiles for the complexes using pkCSM web tools indicates favorable absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion values. These parameters suggest that the complexes have good bioavailability. PASS analysis evaluated the drug-like nature of the Schiff base. In addition, the antimicrobial action of the Schiff base was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Beauveria bassiana, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans using the disc diffusion method.
Predictors of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and mortality in ambulatory cirrhotic patients
Authors: Basheer Maamoun , Asaad Layous , Boulos Mariana , Assy Nimer
Published: February 2024

Background
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is life-threatening complication of cirrhosis. ACLF’s prevalence and outcomes have been described in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. However, no data is available on the prevalence and predictors of ACLF in ambulatory cirrhotic patients.
Aims
Assessment of the incidence and predictors of ACLF in cirrhotic ambulatory patients.
Methods
A retrospective study of 202 ambulatory patients with cirrhosis was evaluated in a tertiary hospital at the Galilee Medical Center from Feb. 2015 to Dec. 2022 and followed for eight years. Data on developing hepatic and extrahepatic organ failures were collected. ACLF was defined and graded according to the European Association for the Study of Liver-Chronic Liver Failure (EASL-CLIF) Consortium definition.
Results
Ambulatory with cirrhosis developed ACLF in 37% of cases (74 patients). The mortality rate was significantly high in the ACLF group as compared to the non-ACLF group (38% VS 8.5%, respectively P < 0.001). Patients with ACLF were older, had increased CRP, NLR and WBC, increased LFTS and kidney function, MELD, Child-Pugh, CLIF-C and PADUA scores. Univariate regression showed that MELD score was the most powerful predictor of organ failure. Multivariate analysis showed that MELD and CLIF-C scores were associated with organ failure and developing ACLF (OR 4.5, P < 0.001, OR 3.2, P < 0.001, respectively). Discriminant analysis showed that BUN, MELD, CLIF-C and PADUA scores predicted mortality with 87% accuracy.
Conclusion
Outpatients with cirrhosis developed ACLF in 40% of cases. MELD and CLIF-C scores are the best ACLF development predictors. PADUA, CLIF-C and MELD scores are the best predictors of mortality. Therefore, we should use MELD, PADUA and CLIF-C scores to evaluate and follow up cirrhotic outpatients in liver units.
Factors Affecting Individuals' Behavior in Receiving Health Services
Authors: KÜTÜKOĞLU Fazilet Merve , EGİCİ Memet Taşkın , BEKTEMÜR Güven
Published: February 2024

Background: This study aimed to inquire about people's health service-seeking behaviors and to determine the relationship between health literacy and these behaviors, shedding light on the changes that can be made so that people can benefit from the health system more efficiently and purposefully. It is essential to learn the reasons that guide individuals' health service-seeking behaviors to use health resources effectively, develop health policies, raise societal awareness, and make family practice the first step for individuals in health service. To our knowledge, there is a lack of studies evaluating of the factors affecting individuals' health service-seeking behaviors and relationship between health literacy.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 422 volunteers aged 18 and older who applied to a training and research hospital (TRH) outpatient clinics and a training family health center (TFHC) affiliated with the same hospital between January-April 2020. The participants were given a data collection form that included sociodemographic data, a survey form with 20 questions to investigate people's preferences regarding healthcare steps, Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32 (TSOY-32) through face-to-face interviews.
Results: Of the participants, 55.7% were female, 67.1% were married, 49.3% had a college education or higher, and 32.7% had a chronic disease. The mean level of the participants' health literacy was 29.80±10.66. The family health center was revealed to be the first health institution preferred by participants in the case of a health problem, with a rate of 42.8%. There was a significant difference between the first preferred institution being a family health center and the female gender (p=0.020). A statistically significant difference was found between place of application according to the preferred institution in health services (p<0.001). But there was no significant relationship between marital status, educational status, income level, having a chronic disease, and health literacy level.
Conclusions: The most important factors influencing healthcare service-seeking behavior are easy access to healthcare services, communication with the physician, medical equipment, and the physician's medical knowledge. Increasing family health center laboratory facilities will be effective in ensuring the effective use of health services and increasing people's orientation toward primary health care services.
High-Fidelity Simulations of Flight Dynamics and Trajectory of a Parachute-Payload System Leaving the C-17 Aircraft
Authors: Ghoreyshi Mehdi , Bergeron Keith , Jirasek Adam , Seidel Jürgen , Noetscher Greg
Published: February 2024

This paper considers the flight dynamics and trajectory analysis of a parachute-payload system leaving the C-17 aircraft. The C-17 aircraft considered has an open cargo door, extended flaps and with four turbo-fan engines operating at 2,000ft (Above Ground Level, AGL) and an air speed of 150 knots. Payloads include simplified CONNEX containers with either 192" or 240" lengths, 9ft wide and 5.3ft high. Mass and moments of inertia for these payloads are given. At positive deck angles, these payloads begin to slowly drop from the back of the aircraft due to gravitational forces. For zero-deck-angle aircraft, a ring-slot chute with about 20% geometric porosity is considered to pull the payload at out of the aircraft. Specifically, this study uses the CREATE-AV Kestrel simulation software to model the chute-payload system. The extraction and suspension lines are modelled using a Catenary capability in Kestrel. The extraction line is connected to the (floating) confluence points of CONNEX and chute. The chute and payload will undergo responding-body motions to study the flight dynamics of chutes and payload and to determine the trajectory. Trajectory data will be compared with a payload (no chute and cables) leaving the aircraft at positive deck angles. An adaptive mesh refinement technique is used to better capture the engine exhaust flow and the wake behind C-17, chute and payloads. Friction and ejector forces are estimated for payloads to match the exit velocity and time measured during flight testing. Results show that simulation of extracted payloads follow expected trends seen in the flight tests. Larger the deck angle, longer the distance from the ramp will lead * Research Scientist, USAFA/DFAN. to larger exit velocities which produce smaller payload rotation rates. All payloads begin to rotate clockwise once they leave the ramp. Chute extraction methods leads to much larger exit velocities and shorter exit time. Payload-chute acceleration corresponds to the chute predicted drag in previous studies.
SSB Characteristics and Integrated Reporting Quality in Islamic Banks : Evidence from MENA zone
Authors: Said Houda Ben
Published: February 2024

Purpose - This study was conducted to examine empirically the influence of characteristics of Shariaa Supervisory Board on the quality of integrated reporting in Islamic banks operating in MENA zone.
Design/methodology/approach – To test the study’s hypotheses, we used panel regression analysis for 69 Islamic banks from14 countries in MENA zone over the 2012-2022 period. The dependent variable is the Integrated reporting quality, measured by the CGVS score. The independent variables are the SSB size, the educational qualification of SSB members, the SSB expertise, the gender diversity among SSB members and the independent of SSB memebers. The controlling variables are the bank size, the leverage level and the credit risk.
Findings- Our empirical results show that, during the study period, SSB size as well as SSB eduactional qualification influence IRQ positively and significantly, SSB gender diversity iinfluences it negatively and significantly, while SSB experience in finance and accounting fields as well as SSB independent members are insignificant. As regards control variables, the bank size influences IRQ positively, but insignificantly, leverage level influences it positively and credit risk influences it negatively but insignificantly.
Practical implications- The outcomes of our study are relevant for Islamic banks, policymakers, regulators, investors aas well as researchers concerned with integrated reporting practices in MENA zone and in the whole world. In fact, our theoretical development provide valuable insights likely to improve the understanding of the role of SSB characteristics in explaining managerial choices in relation with integrated reporting practices in firms in general and in Islamic banks particularly.
Empirically, our work provides insight to Islamic banks as well as investors to understand the weight of educational qualification in SSB. Furthemore, they may understand that it is no longer enough to have experiment and independent members in SSB but to give them all rights to supervise choices and decisions in the SSB. It is about the effectively implementation of independence. Furthemore, it is no longer enough to IBs to have more women in the SSB as to improve the Islamic bank reputation but to have very qualified and talented women who really participate in the decision-making in relation with integrated reporting practices and value creation process. Policymakers are called to Policymakers are called to establish further regulations that must be suitable to country-specific settings, with respect to Shariaa compliance.
Photocatalytic nanoparticle technology for environmental sustainability of building's surface
Authors: Mohammadzadeh Mahan , Nezhadnaderi Mehdi , Ebadi Mehdi , Totonchi Arash
Published: February 2024

At present, self-cleaning, anti-pollution concrete products and production of catalytic cement and new concrete compounds with titanium dioxide coating was designed and implemented for facades of buildings. In this paper, the effect of using Silicafume and titanium dioxide on the self-cleaning properties of concrete is investigated. Three designs were tested with zero, 2.5 and 5% replacement of cement with , each with 20% Silicafume percent. Reducing the color change of soot between the designs of the studied mixtures shows the positive effect in reducing the color of soot pollution on the concrete surface. An increase of titanium dioxide up to 5% leads to a decrease in soot color in the samples, and this is due to the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide for higher percentages. The intense chemical activity of titanium dioxide in the presence of ultraviolet rays can prevent bacteria and dirt from sticking to the facade of concrete walls and buildings.
Determinants of Farm Profit among Cassava-based Farming Households in Osun State Nigeria: Robust Estimation Approach
Authors: Ogunleye Ayodeji , Lukaman Adewale , Ogunwemimo Hassan
Published: February 2024

Despite its high tendency to produce misleading estimates particularly when one or more basic inherent assumptions are violated, most studies estimating net profit generation among farmers continue to adopt Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression approaches. This study examined the determinants of farm income among smallholder cassava farmers in Osun State, Nigeria correcting for various assumptions violations of the classical regression model. Aside from the usual regression model of the OLS, we employed Two-Stage Robust Ridge methods based on M, MM, and S estimators and addressed other violated regression assumptions. A total of 101 smallholder farmers in Osun state were randomly selected for the study. Analyses revealed that the major socioeconomic factors affecting farming household profit were credit access, tenure security, and household size. On average, the return on investment (ROI) among cassava-based farming households was found to be ₦1.82 per naira invested. The research findings indicated that the cultivation of cassava is a profitable venture within the investigated area and recommended that future analysis should be based unbiased methodology for effectiveness and accurate information.
JEL Classifications: C25, D13, H31, O13
Characterization of ultra-short plasma cell-free DNA in maternal blood and its potential as a screening marker for pregnancy complications
Authors: Liu Weiqiang , Lu Qin , Hu Liang , Zhang Tong , Wen Lijuan , Zeng Shuxian , Zhong Jiatong , Lin Nani , Chen Yanxiang , Wang Yimin
Published: February 2024

Background
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in maternal blood is the basis for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). Recently, a new category of cfDNA with a length of 30 to 70 base pairs (bp) has been identified, and its diagnostic potential for cancer has been proposed. However, the characteristics of ultrashort cfDNA in maternal blood during pregnancy have not been determined. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of ultra-short cfDNA during pregnancy.
Methods
Ultra-short cfDNA was isolated from the plasma of pregnant and non-pregnant women, and next-generation Sequencing (NGS) libraries were constructed. Deep sequencing and characterization of the features in ultra-short cfDNA in pregnancy were performed. A preeclampsia cohort was included, and high-depth sequencing data identified distinct enriched ultra-short peaks. These features were selected and used to build a diagnostic model in a training cohort, which was subsequently validated in a test cohort.
Results
Sequencing data revealed that ultra-short cfDNA in maternal blood was enriched in accessible open chromatin regions of blood cells and placental cells. The adoption of a potential G-quadruplex (G4) motif on the antisense was found in a significant proportion of peaks. Distinct features of the ultra-short cfDNA were observed between preeclampsia and healthy controls. The model constructed from these components achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.96 in the training set and 0.86 in the test set.
Conclusions
Our results provide a characterization of ultra-short cfDNA in maternal blood and an assessment of its potential for the early diagnosis of pregnancy complications.
Impact of socioeconomic deprivation on time to diagnosis of childhood cancer
Authors: GONCALVES Chloé , ROUGER Jérémie , PELLIER Isabelle , PARIENTI Jean-Jacques , LEJEUNE Julien , GRAIN Audrey , ROD Julien , GANDEMER Virginie , DELEHAYE Fanny
Published: February 2024

Purpose: In adults, there is a link between socioeconomic status (SES) and cancer prognosis, notably due to increased time to diagnosis (TTD) in deprived population leading to the spread of the disease. In children, such an association has not been clearly reported. The objective of our study was to assess the impact of SES on TTD of childhood cancer and its potential consequences on cancer prognosis.
Methods: We carried out a multicenter retrospective study based on the LOGAFTER multicentric database. We studied the SES at the individual and ecological levels.
Results: Overall, 854 children were included. The median time to diagnosis was 28 days [12;64].
A usual care pathway did not seem to impact TTD, but the use of alternative medicine and an initial management by professionals not usually involved in the specific childhood cancer context increased TTD. None of the SES ecological variables were strictly associated with a significant impact on TTD. However, we noted strong trends for single-parent families and children whose fathers had died who presented with an increased TTD.
Conclusions: In the current study, the impact of SES on TTD in children on both the individual and ecological levels was not clear. However, we noted some keys at the individual scale that require further investigation to explain a potential association between deprivation and TTD.
GPR37 Processing and Density in Neurodegeneration: A Potential Marker for Parkinson’s Disease Progression Rate
Authors: Argerich Josep , Garma Leonardo D. , López-Cano Marc , Álvarez-Montoya Paula , Gómez-Acero Laura , Fernández-Dueñas Víctor , Muñoz-Manchado Ana , Aso Ester , Boxer Adam , Andres-Benito Pol , Svenningsson Per , Ciruela Francisco
Published: February 2024

Background
The orphan G protein-coupled receptor 37 (GPR37), widely associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), undergoes proteolytic processing under physiological conditions. The N-terminus domain is proteolyzed by a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM-10), which generates various membrane receptor forms and ectodoamin shedding (ecto-GPR37) in the extracellular environment.
Methods
We investigated the processing and density of GPR37 in several neurodegenerative conditions, including Lewy body disease (LBD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The presence of ecto-GPR37 peptides in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of PD, MSA, CBD and PSP patients was assessed through an in-house nanoluciferase-based immunoassay.
Results
This study identified increased receptor processing in early-stage LBD within the PFC andstriatum, key brain areas in neurodegeneration. In MSA only the 52 kDa form of GPR37 appeared in the striatum. This form was also elevated in the PFC and striatum of AD necropsies. On the contrary, GPR37 processing remained unchanged in the brains of CBD and PSP patients. Furthermore, while CSF ecto-GPR37 increased in PD patients, its levels remained unchanged in MSA, CBD, and PSP subjects. Importantly, patients with PD with rapid progression of the disease did not have elevated ecto-GPR37 in the CSF, while those with slow progression showed a significant increase, suggesting a possible prognostic use of ecto-GPR37 in PD.
Conclusions
This research underscores the distinctiveprocessing and density patterns of GPR37 in neurodegenerative diseases, providing crucial insights into its potential role as a predictor of PD progression rates.
Study on metabolic pathway of mild cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes patients
Authors: Liu Wenjie , Zhou Yu , Qiu Jie , Gao Cailing , Pan Congqing , Guo Jun
Published: February 2024

Background The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) survey was used to examine the risk factors contributing to the development of mild cognitiveMethods impairment (MCI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in combination with clinical practice, the Montreal Cognitive, The Assessment Scale (MoCA) was used to assess cognitive function. Based on the MoCA scale scores, subjects were included in a total of 147 cases in the type 2 diabetes mellitus with mild cognitive impairment group (T2DM-MCI group) (MoCA score < 26) and a total of 53 cases in the group with type 2 diabetes mellitus group with normal cognitive function (T2DM-NCI group) (MoCA score ≥ 26 points). While venous serum samples were collected from the patients, the metabolic data were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) for the T2DM-MCI and T2DM-NCI groups to identify the metabolites with differential expression to analyze their related metabolic pathways between the two groups and to investigate the metabolic characteristics of MCI in T2DM patients.Results The results of comparing general clinical data between the T2DM-MCI group and the T2DM-NCI group showed that there were significant differences in the training and age of the patients.Conclusions Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with advanced age, short educational period, high D-dimer level and high glycosylated hemoglobin are more likely to have mild cognitive impairment. Caffeine metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism were the main metabolic pathways, and the abnormalities of their metabolic pathways may lead to the occurrence and development of cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients.
Double Burden of Malnutrition and its Socio-Demographic Determinants among Children and Adolescents in Malaysia: National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019
Authors: Lai Wai Kent , Palanivello Lalitha , Sallehuddin Syafinaz Mohd , Ganapathy Shubash Shander
Published: February 2024

Introduction
Malaysia faces the threat of a double burden of malnutrition where undernutrition and overweight (including obesity) coexist in the same population. This study aimed to determine the nutritional status among children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years and its association with socio-demographic factors.
Methods
Data were extracted from the National Health and Morbidity Survey conducted in 2019. This cross-sectional survey applied a two-stage stratified sampling design. Socio-demographic characteristics were obtained. Weight and height were assessed, age- and sex-specific standard scores for height and BMI were calculated to establish individual’s body weight status. The prevalence was determined using complex sampling analysis, while the association was assessed through logistic regression. The analysis included a total of 3,185 respondents.
Results
The prevalence of stunting, thinness, overweight and obesity among the respondents aged five to 17 years was 12.7%, 10.0%, 15.0% and 14.8%, respectively. The overall prevalence of malnutrition was 48.3%. Respondents residing in rural had 1.35 times more likelihood of experiencing undernutrition compared to their urban counterparts. Boys exhibited a greater likelihood of being overweight and obese than girls. Respondents aged 10 to 14 years were 1.37 times more likely to be overnutrition than those aged five to nine years old.
Conclusion
There is growing evidence of the increasing prevalence of coexistence of undernutrition along with overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Malaysia. Moving forward, greater initiatives and efforts are required to formulate strategies for planning and implementing programs and policies to expedite progress in improving nutrition.
Gender-influenced association between thyroid hormone sensitivity and body composition in euthyroid type 2 diabetes
Authors: xu jiaping , Miao Jia-xi , Xu Feng , Wang Chun-hua , Wang Xiao-hua , Yu Chao , Zhang Dong-mei , Wang Xue-qin , Su Jian-bin
Published: February 2024

Background
Impaired thyroid hormone sensitivity has been associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, and metabolic syndrome, which can lead to alterations of body composition. However, impaired thyroid sensitivity to exacerbate alterations of body composition remains unconfirmed. This study aimed to ascertain impaired thyroid hormone sensitivity association with body composition in euthyroid T2D.
Methods
A total of 634 individuals with normothyroid T2D were enrolled. Each participant underwent a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan to assess body composition, including measurements of body fat percentage (B-FAT), trunk fat percentage (T-FAT), appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI), lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) (LS-BMD), femoral neck BMD (FN-BMD), hip BMD (H-BMD), and total BMD (T-BMD). Thyroid hormone resistance indices were assessed by calculating serum thyrotropin (TSH) index (TSHI), thyrotrophin T4 resistance index (TT4RI), thyroid feedback quantile-based index (TFQI), and parametric TFQI (PTFQI). Relevant clinical data was also collected.
Results
Among the recruited patients, females (n = 265) had higher indicators of thyroid hormone resistance and fat distribution than males (n = 369) (all P < 0.05). Across the entire population, indicators of thyroid hormone resistance exhibited positive correlations with fat distribution (all P < 0.01), while most indicators displayed negative associations with skeletal muscle mass. These findings were consistent solely among male participants. Furthermore, even after adjusting for basic characteristics, linear regression analysis revealed that these correlations remained statistically significant (all P < 0.05).
Conclusions
In males with euthyroid T2D, impaired thyroid hormone sensitivity correlates with fat distribution independent of conventional risk factors.
Serum vitamin D levels as a potential risk factor for olfactory abnormalities in children with autism spectrum disorders: a case-control study
Authors: Zhang Zhepei , Ren Pengcheng , Zhao Chanjuan , Chen Miancong , Li Hongai , Xiang Wei
Published: February 2024

Objective
To explore the relationship between blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and olfactory abnormalities in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Methods
A pathology-controlled study method was used to enroll 115 children with ASD who were admitted to the HITS Dahealth Children's Rehabilitation Center in Haikou City, Hainan Province, China, from August 2022 to August 2023. The children with ASD were divided into an abnormal olfactory group and a normal olfactory group according to the SPSRC scale. 32 children with ASD with abnormal olfaction were used as the case group, and 1:1 age- and sex-matched children with normal olfaction with ASD were used as the control group, and the differences in 25(OH)D levels and clinical phenotypic data between the two groups were compared. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Clinical characterization of the children in the two groups was assessed using the short version of the Sensory Processing Proficiency Scale (SSP), the Revised Stereotyped Repetitive Behavior Scale (RBS-R), the Social Reactivity Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), and the Autism Spectrum Questionnaire Scale (AQ).
Results
Blood 25(OH)D levels, SSP scores, and SRS-2 scores were lower in the olfactory abnormality group than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t = 4.460, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that 25(OH)D < 25 ng/mL (β = 1.433, OR = 4.192) and SSP < 115 (β = 1.838, OR = 6.286) were independent risk factors for the disease (all P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Blood 25(OH)D levels were lower in children with ASD associated with olfactory abnormalities and correlated with olfaction and some clinical phenotypes, but the specific mechanisms need further investigation.
Occurrence, mobility, and potential risk of uranium in an abandoned stone coal mine of Jiangxi Province, China
Authors: Wei Xinxiang , Xu Naizheng , Li Jiang
Published: February 2024

Metal sulfide oxidation in abandoned exposed stone coal mines leads to the generation of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), characterized with high uranium concentration, which is a major concern for local public health. This work employs an approach of geochemical analysis and modelling to determined the mode of occurrence of uranium. Additionally, potential environmental risks were evaluated.
The results revealed that the primary source of uranium pollutants in the surrounding environmental media was attributed to the weathering of mine waste. Concentrations of harmful elements (e.g., U, Fe, sulfate) and acidity in water rapidly decreased to background levels with increasing distance from the mine. The geochemical distribution characteristics of sediments and water exhibit notable similarities. The species of uranium underwent a transformation as uranium in mine waste rocks migrated to environmental media. In acidic pit water, uranium primarily existed as uranyl sulfate, gradually transitioning downstream to complexes dominated by hydrophosphate and carbonate. This transition was accompanied by the coprecipitation of significant amounts of uranium with phosphate and iron hydroxides. Results from the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and risk assessment codes (RAC) indicated that uranium in unweathered coal waste rocks and newly formed pit sediments posed a high environmental risk, with a bioavailable fraction reaching up to 26.44% and 48.0%, respectively. This research holds significant importance in devising remediation and management strategies for abandoned coal mines to mitigate the impact of uranium release and mobility on the surrounding ecological environment.
Venture Capital and the Survival of Entrepreneurial Firms in Crisis Periods: The Case of Covid-19.
Authors: Kacer Marek , Wilson Nicholas , Zouari Sana , Cowling Marc
Published: February 2024

This paper investigates the survival of entrepreneurial firms during the pandemic period. Specifically, we focus on UK companies that received equity finance during their developmental stages before the onset of Covid-19. The equity finance investors in our study include venture capital and growth finance funds (both domestic and foreign), crowd funding platforms, business angels, and government venture capital funds. We build on the resource-based view (RBV) and signalling theories to develop our hypotheses. We analyse the bankruptcy processes of companies during the Covid-19 period, comparing it to the pre-Covid period. We examine various characteristics of these firms, such as their investor type, deal history (including timing, magnitude, and duration), as well as a range of financial and non-financial factors. Furthermore, we identify the equity-backed companies that utilized policy interventions in the form of guaranteed loans. We gather details about the loan contracts, lenders, and instances of loan default. This study explores the relationship between bankruptcy and loan default in relation to the firm's characteristics, investor type, investment dimensions and financial constraints. The results provide valuable insights into the link between equity financing and venture survival during crises, with important implications for policy interventions.
JEL classifications G12. G33. H81. L26
Simple Central Algorithms for Capturing Contact-Discontinuity in Multi-Component Mixture Equations with Stiffened Gas Equation of State.
Authors: Kolluru Ramesh , V Raghurama Rao S , N Sekhar G
Published: February 2024

This study introduces the creation of straightforward and reliable algorithms aimed at simulating compressible Euler equations featuring a stiffened gas equation of state (EOS). These algorithms are crafted to faithfully depict gaseous mixtures in thermal equilibrium, excluding chemical reactions. The methodology relies on a fully conservative approach within a finite volume framework, employing central schemes with controlled numerical diffusion. The RICCA and MOVERS+ algorithms implement two models, specifically Mass fraction (Y) and Mixture gamma $(\gamma)$ based models. These models adeptly capture the fundamental characteristics of flow fields. Rigorous testing of the numerical schemes ensures the minimization of pressure oscillations and the preservation of mass fraction positivity, especially in first-order numerical methods. A series of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) test cases are presented to showcase the effectiveness and precision of the developed algorithms. These tests provide compelling evidence of the algorithms' resilience and accuracy in simulating the intended flow phenomena.
Augmentation-Enhanced Deep Learning for Face Detection and Emotion Recognition in Elderly Care Robots
Authors: Tran Hoang N. , Phan Phuc H. , Nguyen Khang H. , Hua Huy K. , Nguyen Anh Q. , Nguyen Huynh N.V. , Nguyen Nghi V.
Published: February 2024

Facial recognition and emotion detection are crucial for meaningful interactions between elderly individuals and healthcare robots. These technologies allow the robot to identify and understand facial expressions, adapting its responses accordingly. In our research, we propose an innovative approach that combines CNN-based face detection with LBC (Local Binary Convolution) for deep-learning emotion classification. We use a BlazeFace-based face detection model and a robust LBC-Xception emotion classification model. Additionally, we introduce a Multi-Augmentation data method, including seven basic data augmentation techniques and a combination of image super-resolution (ISR) and Conditional Generating Adversarial Network (cGAN) to enhance system robust-ness and accuracy. This combined approach not only improves accuracy through advanced feature extraction capabilities but also provides a lightweight network , suitable for hardware-constrained devices. To validate our method, we will compare face recognition and classification accuracy using the BlazeFace model against other popular classification models like MobileNetV2, VGG16, and Incep-tionV3. We’ll also compare datasets, including FER2013, FER2013Plus, and our augmented dataset (FER2013-MultiX). Finally, we develop an elderly care robot (ECR) and a robot control web application (RCWA) on the Robot Operating System 2 (ROS2) to evaluate performance under real conditions.