bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease-related constipation and roles of gut microbial ecology: study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Lei Suying , Fan Jingqi , Quan Jingyi , Li Yinjia , Cen Minjun , Xu Xiaoyan , Liu Xin , Wu Shunan , Liao Kaihao , Lin Shumin , Zhang Yifan , Tsang YauKeung , Leong IanI , Liu Qing , Hong Xubo , Zhuang Xun , Liao Muxi , Zhuang Lixing
Published: April 2024

Background: Motor disturbances and non-motor manifestations, notably constipation, stand as primary factors influencing the quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent microbiological research increasingly links PD with the gastrointestinal environment, highlighting the crucial role of gut microbiota. Clinical studies suggest acupuncture may alleviate motor impairments and associated non-motor issues, like constipation, in PD patients. However, limited research on underlying mechanisms necessitates further evidence-based investigation for comprehensive validation. This study aims to investigate whether acupuncture improves the clinical symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease-related constipation (PDC) by modulating the balance of intestinal microecology.
Methods: This single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial enrolls 84 patients with PDC, randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to real acupuncture group (RA), sham acupuncture group (SA), and waitlist control group (WG). Treatments will span four weeks, with primary outcomes measured through changes in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Secondary outcomes include the Stool diary, the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), 30-meter walking test, fecal 16S rDNA gene sequencing, serum Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels. The adherence and adverse events will also be recorded. Participants will be followed until week 16, and statistical analyses will encompass all allocated individuals.
Discussion: The outcomes of this study are anticipated to substantiate the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture as a complementary treatment for PDC. The study holds the potential to furnish robust clinical evidence, thereby contributing to the establishment of novel guidelines for the treatment of PDC.
Trial registration: The Research Ethical Committee at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine authorized this trial. The trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR) under registration number ChiCTR2400082060, registered on March 20, 2024. (https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=200177)
Coactivator-independent vitamin D receptor signaling causes severe rickets in mice, which is not prevented by a diet high in calcium, phosphate, and lactose
Authors: Doms stefanie , Verlinden Lieve , Janssens Iris , Vanhevel Justine , Eerlings Roy , Houtman René , Kato Shigeaki , Mathieu Chantal , Decallonne Brigitte , Carmeliet Geert , Verstuyf Annemieke
Published: April 2024

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a critical role in the regulation of mineral and bone homeostasis. Upon binding of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to the VDR, the activation function 2 (AF2) domain repositions and recruits coactivators for the assembly of the transcriptional machinery required for gene transcription. In contrast to coactivator-induced transcriptional activation, the functional effects of coactivator-independent VDR signaling remain unclear. In humans, mutations in the AF2 domain are associated with hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets, a genetic disorder characterized by impaired bone mineralization and growth. In the present study, we used mice with a systemic or conditional deletion of the VDR-AF2 domain (VdrΔAF2) to study coactivator-independent VDR signaling. We confirm that ligand-induced transcriptional activation was disabled because the mutant VDRΔAF2 protein was unable to interact with coactivators. Systemic VdrΔAF2 mice developed short, undermineralized bones with dysmorphic growth plates, a bone phenotype that was more pronounced than that of systemic Vdr knockout (Vdr-/-) mice. Interestingly, a rescue diet that is high in calcium, phosphate, and lactose, normalized this phenotype in Vdr-/-, but not in VdrΔAF2 mice. However, osteoblast- and osteoclast-specific VdrΔAF2 mice did not recapitulate this bone phenotype indicating coactivator-independent VDR effects are more important in other organs. In addition, RNA-sequencing analysis of duodenum and kidney revealed a decreased expression of VDR target genes in systemic VdrΔAF2 mice, which was not observed in Vdr-/- mice. These genes could provide new insights in the compensatory (re)absorption of minerals that are crucial for bone homeostasis. In summary, coactivator-independent VDR effects contribute to mineral and bone homeostasis.
Producing recombinant proteins in Vibrio natriegens
Authors: Smith Matthew , Hernández José Sánchez , Messing Simon , Ramakrishnan Nitya , Higgins Brianna , Perkins Shelley , Cregger Julia , Le Phuong Vi , Wall Vanessa , Grose Carissa , Mehalko Jennifer , Johnson Adam , Frank Peter , Sherekar Mukul , Pagonis Morgan , Widmeyer Stephanie , Denson J-P , Snead Kelly , Drew Matt , Hong Min , Poon Ivy , Waybright Timothy , Champagne Allison , Esposito Dominic , Jones Jane , Taylor Troy , Gillette William
Published: April 2024

The diversity of chemical and structural attributes of proteins makes it inherently difficult to produce a wide range of proteins in a single recombinant protein production system. The nature of the target proteins themselves, along with cost, ease of use, and speed, are typically cited as major factors to consider in production. Despite a wide variety of alternative expression systems, most recombinant proteins for research and therapeutics are produced in a limited number of systems: Escherichia coli, insect cells, and the mammalian cell lines HEK293 and CHO. Recent interest in Vibrio natriegens as a new prokaryotic recombinant protein expression host is due in part to its short doubling time of <10 minutes but also stems from the promise of compatibility with techniques and genetic systems developed for E. coli. We successfully incorporated V. natriegens as an additional prokaryotic expression system for recombinant protein production and report improvements to published protocols as well as new protocols that expand the versatility of the system. While not all proteins benefit from production in V. natriegens, we successfully produced several proteins that were difficult or impossible to produce in E. coli. We also show that in some cases, the increased yield is due to higher levels of properly folded protein. Additionally, we were able to adapt our enhanced isotope incorporation methods for use with V. natriegens. Taken together, these observations and improvements allowed production of proteins for structural biology, biochemistry, assay development, and structure-based drug design in V. natriegens that were impossible and/or unaffordable to produce in E. coli.
Warfarin-Related Nephropathy: Unveiling the Hidden Dangers of Anticoagulation
Authors: xufengbo 徐丰博 , Wang Guoqin , Sun Lijun , Cheng Hong
Published: April 2024

Warfarin-related nephropathy (WRN) is defined as acute kidney injury (AKI) subsequent to excessive anticoagulation with warfarin. Patients with mechanical prosthetic valves required long-term anticoagulant therapy, and warfarin remains the sole available option for anticoagulant therapy. Consequently, patients with mechanical prosthetic valves constitute a special group among the entire anticoagulant population. The present study recorded two cases in which patients who had undergone mechanical prosthetic valve surgery and were receiving warfarin therapy presented to the hospital with gross hematuria and progressive creatinine levels. Notably, the international normalized ratio (INR) did not exceed 3 in these two patients. Subsequent renal biopsies confirmed the presence of WRN with IgA nephropathy. The two patients continued to receive anticoagulation with warfarin and were prescribed oral corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, which resulted in improved renal function during the follow period. Based on a review of all relevant literature and the present study, we also pose a new challenge, whether elevated INR levels must be as one of the criteria for clinical diagnosis of WRN? Perhaps it can get some inspiration from the present article.
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) versus Rezūm for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): prospective and comparative study
Authors: Yushanjiang Suliya , Qu Rui , Zhao Meng , Chen Guo , Yang Hui , Zhao Yue , Dai Yi , Yang Luo
Published: April 2024

Background
Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is the common male conditions that cause lower urinary tract symptoms disturbing patients. The treatments include pharmacologic, conventional transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP), and minimally invasive. Rezūm as a minimally invasive method has proven effective for BPH, but there is limited comparison with existing treatment modalities. Therefore, we conducted a comparison between Rezūm surgery and the TURP to assess the safety and efficacy of Rezūm.
Methods
Patients hospitalized at the West China Fourth Hospital for BPH were enrolled according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, with 20 undergoing TURP surgery and 20 undergoing Rezūm surgery. After one year of follow-up, we gathered comprehensive patient demographics and perioperative data and conducted postoperative evaluations including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Quality of Life (QOL) scores.
Results
After one year of follow-up, IPSS scores decreased by 57.35% in the TURP group and by 61.50% in the Rezūm group, respectively (p < 0.05). Similarly, QOL scores decreased by 63.12% and 63.92% in each respective group (p < 0.05). Notably, the Rezūm group exhibited significantly shorter operative times, reduced operative blood loss, and shorter hospital stays compared to the TURP group (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.025). Three days post-surgery, the Rezūm group reported lower Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores compared to the TURP group (p < 0.0001), and experienced a shorter duration of hematuria (p = 0.023).
Conclusions
Rezūm enhanced the efficacy of BPH treatment at the one-year postoperative mark, yielding outcomes on par with those of TURP. Furthermore, Rezūm showcased notable advantages during the perioperative phase.
Optimizing two stage chemical Pretreatment for Enset ventricosum: A Response Surface Methodology Approach to Enhance Bioethanol Production Efficiency
Authors: Delisho Fitsum Dejene , Gedefaw Yeayneabeba Molla , Aba Dawit Albenea , Woldemichael Teketelew Belete
Published: April 2024

Background: Bioethanol, a promising alternative to fossil fuels, effectively mitigates CO2 emissions, reduces global warming, and helps combat urban pollution while promoting sustainable energy solutions. Therefore, the objective of this study is to optimize a two-stage chemical pretreatment for Enset ventricosum in order to enhance the efficiency of bioethanol production.
Results: In the experiment, Enset biomass leaves were subjected to a two-stage treatment using a solution of 1% H2SO4 and 1% NaOH (acid-alkaline treatment). The acid-alkaline pretreatment yielded the highest bioethanol content of 5.2 mg/ml and sugar concentration of 6.2 mg/ml, whereas the untreated sample had a bioethanol concentration of 2.2 mg/ml and sugar concentration of 3.4 mg/ml. The analysis using Response Surface Methodology identified optimal synthesis parameters for the pretreatment. These included a biomass concentration of 19.9775%, a pH of 3.86387, a temperature of 32.5739 °C, and an incubation period of 71.0274 hr. These parameters led to a predicted bioethanol yield of 9.65332 mg/ml with a desirability score of 1.000. Further analysis using SEM revealed significant changes in the surface morphology of the pretreated biomass. Additionally, FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of cellulose and hemicellulose in the feedstock.
Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the potential of Enset ventricosum biomass as a sustainable feedstock for bioethanol production. The study also highlights the importance of two stage chemical Pretreatment and parameter optimization in enhancing bioethanol yield.
Adsorption of OTC from Aqueous Solution by UiO-66-NH2: Kinetics, Isotherms, and Thermodynamics
Authors: He Hao , Liu Xiao-Kai , Zhao Bai-Yun , Zhou Li-Juan , Zhao Xuan , Wang Chen-Xu , Zhang Ji-Yuan , Zhang Yuan-Fang , Wang Li
Published: April 2024

In this study, UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and subsequently, the adsorption performance of UiO-66-NH2 on oxytetracycline (OTC) was evaluated by batch adsorption experiments, in which the key parameters, such as the concentration of OTC, pH, reaction time, and temperature, were investigated. UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), BET specific surface area, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the adsorption data conformed to the Sips model, indicating a maximum adsorption capacity of 322.48 mg·g− 1. Additionally, the quasi-primary kinetic equilibrium adsorption capacity was determined to be 314.61 mg·g− 1, while the quasi-secondary kinetic equilibrium adsorption capacity reached 365.69 mg·g− 1. The adsorption kinetics suggested that the process was influenced by physicochemical co-actions. Notably, the specific surface area of UiO-66-NH2 was measured at a high value of 998.663 m²·g⁻¹, potentially contributing to improved adsorption efficiency. Analyses using FT-IR, XRD and XPS confirmed the adsorption of OTC on the material surface. Overall, the main driving forces behind the adsorption process are weak electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding interactions and π-π stacking interactions.
The Role of Medication Literacy and Polypharmacy in Sarcopenia Among Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Zhu Linfang , Liu Yang , Yang Fengxue , Li Jie , Yuan Huaihong , Fu Ping
Published: April 2024

Purpose
Sarcopenia is significantly prevalent among maintenance hemodialysis patients, with the contributing factors of medication literacy and polypharmacy receiving limited exploration in current research. This study aims to fill this gap by assessing the impact of these factors, along with demographic and malnurtition, on sarcopenia risk.
Methods
Conducted at the Wenjiang Hemodialysis Center in West China Hospital, this descriptive cross-sectional study involved 236 participants. Data collection included the Chinese Medication Literacy Scale, Malnutrition-Inflammation Score assessments, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and grip strength measurements, with sarcopenia diagnosed according to the 2019 AWGS criteria.
Results
The study included 236 participants. Of these, 87 (36.9%) had no sarcopenia, 121 (51.3%) were pre-sarcopenia, 7 (3.0%) were sarcopenia, and 21 (8.9%) had severe sarcopenia. Ordinal logistic regression analysis identified male gender (OR = 0.557, 95% CI: 0.322 to 0.962, P = 0.036), age below 65 (OR = 0.178, 95% CI: 0.082 to 0.389, P < 0.001), and good nutritional status (OR = 0.544, 95% CI: 0.310 to 0.954, P = 0.034) as protective against severe sarcopenia. Conversely, the combination of polypharmacy and limited medication literacy (OR = 1.956, 95% CI: 1.094 to 3.496, P = 0.024) was significantly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia progression.
Conclusion
The study highlights the protective role of good nutrition and the lesser susceptibility of males and younger individuals to severe sarcopenia. It underscores the necessity of targeted interventions to address the compounded risk presented by polypharmacy and limited medication literacy in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
The Champati Slide
Authors: Pudasaini Shiva P. , Dangol Bekha Ratna , Tiwari Chet Nath , Kafle Jeevan , Pokhrel Puskar R. , Kattel Parameshwari
Published: April 2024

Here, we report some novel findings of chute experiments with native Nepalese granular seeds, called Champatis, and when mixed with other food grain of a fundamentally different physical properties, Silam. The epitomic supergrain Champati exhibits complex frictional, spin and rolling motion. We hypothesize that the Champati slide results in an essentially unique dynamical spreading, separation from other grains, mobility, run-out and deposition morphology. Particularly, the surface anatomy of Champati acted vitally in characterizing these aspects. We reveal spectacular dynamical flow obstacle interaction and depositional behaviour of Champati and the mixture slide. Champati slide manifests hyper-spreading in the run-out. Soon after the mass hits the ground, the behaviour is unprecedented and unpredictable, mainly around the frontal periphery. The very special properties of Champatis control the frontal spreading, rapid grain marching and the zigzag sporadic Champati motion. Particle rolling, spinning, exceptionally lower frictional energy dissipation and grain collision played the major role resulting in an unexpectedly longer travel time and distance, explaining the astonishing hypermobility of Champati grains. The obstacle substantially changes the flow dynamics as the Champati has the higher object mobilization capacity. Due to the unique property of the supergrain, the eye-catching, amazingly strong separation of Champati from Silam evolves swiftly right after the flow inception, and the process intensifies quickly. The separation length characterizes the complex interfacial momentum exchange between the phases in the mixture. The separation length between the frontal Champatis and Silam grains increases exceptionally as it does between the main body and the exclusively Silam-covered tremendously long tail of the flow in the inclined portion of the channel. These results may be useful in better understanding the phase separation, super-wide-spreading and hypermobility of some geological flows, including fragmented rock avalanches, probably helping resolve some relevant standing challenges.
Microbial communities associated with the nursery stage of commercially cultivated seaweed Saccharina japonica in Southern China
Authors: Zhuang Yingrui , Saha Mahasweta , Egan Suhelen , Han Yixiao , Qiu Qiying , Chen Defu , Wang Gaoge
Published: April 2024

Epimicrobiota associated with seaweeds are crucial for the health and development of their hosts due to their ability to produce phytohormones and vitamins etc. However, there is limited knowledge related to the microbiota of commercially cultivated seaweed Saccharina japonica. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of microbiota associated with S. japonica at nursery stage using Illumina sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of 16S rRNA gene. The composition and structure of epimicrobiota showed significant differences at the transition time (from mature sporophytes to sporelings). While, the epimicrobiota were relatively stable during the development of sporelings. Blastopirellula and Pseudoalteromonas were the dominant genera of the community of mature sporophytes and 6-week-old sporelings, respectively. Rubritalea was the most dominant genus for both 7 and 8-week-old sporelings. These three genera were also part of the core microbiota, suggesting that they may play an essential function within the S. japonica holobiont. In addition, members of the Planctomicrobium and Roseibacillus were identified as both drivers and keystone species, which might be responsible for the epimicrobiota shifts from 7-week-old sporelings to 8-week-old sporelings and were fundamental for the newly assembled epimicrobiota. Our results enrich the baseline data related to the microbiota of the commercially cultivated S. japonica.
Advancements and Comparative Analysis of Real-Time Face Recognition Systems
Authors: Saidakhmatov Mirolim
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates diverse face recognition methodologies within centralized computer vision systems, encompassing traditional techniques, deep learning frameworks, and cloud-based solutions. It explores optimization strategies aimed at enhancing model performance and efficiency. Through rigorous evaluation and comparative analysis, the study elucidates the strengths and limitations of each approach, providing valuable insights for practitioners and researchers. The findings contribute to the advancement of face recognition technology, offering guidance for future research endeavors and practical implementations in various real-world applications.
Energy Management Method of Integrated Energy System Considering Multi-mode Energy Storage and User Regulation Characteristics
Authors: Enbo Luo , Hai Lu , Yuanlong Zhang , Hao Zhang , Jiyong Xu , Guo Jie , Li Yan , Huang Yujing
Published: April 2024

With the development of multi-energy system and energy storage industry, the energy system is more diversified, and the research on its integration and complementarity is of great significance. First of all, the system model of users and building including multi-energy storage is established. The energy storage in the user model includes electric vehicle and building virtual energy storage. While considering human behavior and user comfort, the uncertainty model of human behavior based on conditional trigger is established. The energy storage in the building model includes actual energy storage devices such as batteries and ice storage tank. Then, a stackelberg game model is established, in which the user is the follower and takes the lowest cost as the goal to respond to the demand. As the leader, the building operator adjusts the energy price according to the result of the user response, with the goal of maximizing its own profit. The distributed algorithm is used to solve the problem and iterate to the game equilibrium repeatedly. Finally, a numerical example is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm, and analyze the impact of human behavior on the virtual energy storage system, as well as the differences between generalized energy storage systems and the impact of strategies.
Fly-Ash based Flame-Retardant Cellulose Materials for Strengthening and Value-Added Utilization in Industrial Solid Wastes
Authors: He Wentao , Tan Lei , Wu Yongjia , Wei Yongchun , Chen Yiyang , Li Dan , Wang Guxia , Qian Yongqiang , Guo Shengwei
Published: April 2024

Cellulose, a bio-based material, is increasingly researched and valued for its abundant availability and exceptional characteristics. However, Cellulose has a flammable problem. This study addresses this issue by integrating it with industrial waste fly ash (FA) to overcome its natural flammability. By solution compounding, the study successfully developed cellulose/FA films and porous structures, significantly boosting the material's flame-retardant capabilities. This innovation not only enhances the practical application of cellulose but also promotes the high-value reuse of FA, resonating with the principles of sustainable development. The cellulose/FA hydrogel, characterized by a homogeneous and stable blend of FA particles and cellulose, achieves this through effective affinity and hydrogen bonding, ensuring optimal miscibility and encapsulation. In terms of thermal properties, the modified composites (C-F10, C-F20 and C-F30) demonstrate a substantial increase in initial decomposition temperatures, approximately 26℃ higher than pure cellulose, ranging between 282℃ and 302℃. This enhancement is attributed to the formation of an inorganic protective layer on the cellulose matrix, which significantly improves thermal stability while maintaining key mechanical properties. Remarkably, the flame retardancy of these materials shows notable improvement, particularly at a 30wt% FA concentration, with the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of the porous and film structures reaching around 29% and 31%, respectively. This advancement greatly elevates their flame resistance. Overall, this study presents a pioneering approach in developing eco-friendly, flame-retardant materials by repurposing industrial waste, marking a significant stride in sustainable material innovation.
Optimizing the Video Streaming Performance with an Energy-Efficient Evolution of Cub to Predator Based Resource Allocation
Authors: P Subotha S , L Femila , M Swamy S , R Valarmathi I
Published: April 2024

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and video streaming services have gained popularity in recent years. The MPEG-4 H.264/AVC protocol has been widely adopted for video streaming in WSNs, but it is important to transmit sensitive video packets securely to protect the confidentiality of mission-critical applications. It is crucial to ensure that security measures do not negatively impact network performance or video quality. While previous research has focused on secure and energy-efficient video streaming over WSNs, none have addressed the integration of video quality optimization and energy consumption.This study aims to create a more efficient method of encrypting video streaming in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) by combining selective Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) with Evolution of Cub to Predator (ECP). The proposed method improves energy, distortion, and encryption performance by up to 10 dB more than other methods (EEP, UEP (GA), and MCS-RA) through the use of network resource allocation with ECP-RA in WSNs. Quantitative measures such as MSE, PSNR, RMSE, and SSIM demonstrate that this approach is superior to others.
A novel radial basis function description of a smooth implicit surface for musculoskeletal modelling
Authors: Cervenka Martin , Kohout Josef , Lipus Bogdan
Published: April 2024

As musculoskeletal illnesses continue to increase, useful computerised muscle modelling is crucial. This paper addresses this concern by proposing a mathematical model for a dynamic 3D geometrical surface representation of muscles using a Radial Basis Function (RBF) approximation technique. The objective is to obtain a smoother surface while minimising data use, contrasting it from classical polygonal (e.g., triangular) surface mesh models or volumetric (e.g., tetrahedral) mesh models. The novel method is tested on multiple data sets, and the experiments show good results according to the introduced metrics.
Affinity of Malassezia and other yeasts for pulmonary lipids
Authors: Ronda Violeta Esteban , Gilabert Pablo , Ferrer Consuelo , Gálvez Beatriz , Chiner Eusebi , Colom María Francisca
Published: April 2024

Pulmonary surfactant is the main substance that lines the epithelium of the human Lower Respiratory Tract (LRT). It has a high lipidic content, being dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) the most abundant one. Although surfactants have a well-known antifungal activity for some yeast species, the important presence of species like Malassezia restricta in the lung mycobiome, leads to the idea that these yeasts may have some lipo-tolerance or even lipoaffinity for pulmonary lipids.
A culture-based study of affinity and tolerance to pulmonary lipids by yeasts described as important members of the lung microbiome has been carried out.
Ten species belonging to the genera Malassezia, Candida (including the new genera Nakaseomyces and Meyerozyma) and Cryptococcus, were tested for their ability to grow on media containing pulmonary lipids such as DPPC and commercial porcine surfactant. Lipoaffinity or lipo-tolerance was considered on the basis of their growth on standard media, considered as such the Modified Leeman Notman Agar (MLNA) for Malasseziaspecies, and the Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) for the other genera.
The addition of DPPC or surfactant to the media assayed resulted in increased growth of Malassezia yeasts and one of the Cryptococcus species. C. parapsilosis showed similar growth to the one obtained in the standard media and the other tested yeasts mainly showed lipo-tolerance but not lipoaffinity for these compounds.
To our knowledge, this is the first report on the influence of pulmonary lipids in the in vitro development of Malassezia spp and other yeasts members of the lung mycobiome.
Cervical lesion segmentation via transformer-based network with attention and boundary-aware modules
Authors: Shen Nanyan , Lu Wei , Li Jing , Gao Huayu , Yang Ying
Published: April 2024

Colposcopic diagnosis and directed biopsy is the foundation of cervical cancer screening. In the procedure of colposcopy, automatic segmentation of cervical lesion in colposcopic images can provide great assistance and convenience especially in underdeveloped region. However, the existing methods based on Convolutional Neural Networks only differentiate the abnormality from healthy tissue, which is hard to further subdivide the lesion. In this paper, a Transformer-based network TABNet is proposed which can precisely extract the cervical lesion and recognize the corresponding category of each lesion. Unlike the other CNN-based methods, a more powerful vision transformer is adopted as the encoder. Three effective modules in decoder are constructed to integrate the advance in attention mechanism and boundary-aware prior knowledge. Extensive experiments on a large clinical colposcopic image dataset show that TABNet outperforms the existing state-of-art methods and achieves great improvement. Compared with nnUNet, our proposed model improves the mean DSC by 7.74% and mean IoU by 8.51%, respectively.
Degradation of Cationic Polyacrylamide Flocculants upon Contact with Metal Surfaces during Rheological Measurements
Authors: Loukili N. , Chitanu Ana , Jossic L. , Karrouch M. , Oliveira M. , Guerin S. , Fayolle Y. , Ginisty P. , Magnin A. , Rharbi Yahya
Published: April 2024

Cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) flocculants, commonly employed in wastewater treatment plants, experience degradation when in contact with various surfaces. This study investigates the degradation process of several CPAMs upon contact with metal surfaces during rheological measurements. The study focuses on observing changes in the rheological properties of CPAM, transitioning from elastic to viscous behavior under the influence of shear and oscillatory solicitations within metallic Couette systems. A detailed examination of how the degradation process is affected by various factors like Couette material, polymer composition, concentration, and temperature is presented. Key findings suggest that degradation predominantly results from chemical interactions rather than mechanical stress, leading to changes in molecular weight, hydrolysis of cationic groups, and alterations in ionic strength. Techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis, and polyelectrolyte titration were utilized to analyze these molecular changes. This study provides essential insights into the behavior of CPAM in contact with metal surfaces, offering implications for its application in various environmental and industrial processes.
Polyaniline/Reduced Graphene Oxide Doping Induced Abundant Active Sites in Enset Fiber as an Efficient Adsorbent Material for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Lera Israel Leka
Published: April 2024

Analysis of physicochemical properties and treatment of water is vital to the environment and living standard of society. In this study, polyaniline (PANI)/enset fiber (EF), reduced graphene oxide/EF, and PANI/rGO/EF composites as adsorbent material s were prepared via facile in situ chemical oxidative polymerization techniques. The as-synthesized materials were characterized using XRD, FTIR, UV-VIS, TGA, and FTIR spectroscopy. The physical characterization reveals the deposition of PANI and rGO on the surface of the EF confirmed by cloudy and wrinkled fibrous morphology from SEM image. After physical characterization, the adsorption performance of the proposed materials was tested using the batch method. A result shows maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions by PANI/rGO coated EF (EF) was 10.11 mg/g and 13.4 mg/g, respectively which is higher than pristine EF, PANI/EF, and rGO/EF. When all parameters were optimized, adsorptive removal efficiency of PANI/rGO/EF composite material towards Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions was 99% and 97.77%, respectively. The Freundlich isotherm data for Cu2+ and Pb2+ have a good fit with the experimental data (R2 = 0.99 and 0.98), and Langmuir isotherm data for Cu2+ and Pb2+ (RL = 0.18 & 0.19), respectively. The pseudo-second-order kinetic isothermal was more fit with physiosorption at R2 = 0.99 for Cu2+ and R2 = 1 for Pb2+. Therefore, a synthesized novel material PANI/rGO/EF shows a remarkable adsorption performance compared with EF, PANI/EF, and rGO/EF due to doping-induced abundant active sites of composite material makes it a promising candidate for wastewater treatment techniques.
"Exploring the Impact of Preoperative Radiographic Arthritis Severity on Total Hip Arthroplasty Outcomes" Can patients with less radiographic hip disease still do well after a THA?
Authors: Amado Isabella , Bialazewski Ryan , Laboret Bretton , Gaddis John , Allala Ruthvik , Lopez Vanessa , Sevilla Cesar , Xi Yin , Wells Joel
Published: April 2024

Background As total hip arthroplasty (THA) indications continue to expand and longevity increases, it is important to understand the outcomes in different patient populations. Younger, more active patients are electing to proceed with THA with differing severity of disease. We aimed to investigate patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients who underwent THA with less severe radiographic hip arthrosis.Methods Pre- and post-operative PROMs and radiographic data (joint-space width, Tonnis grade) for patients undergoing THA between 9/16/2016 and 10/21/2021 by a single surgeon were collected. Baseline Tonnis grades were stratified, and PROMs, including Harris Hip Score (HHS), Hip Outcome Score (HOS), and Short-Form-12 Scale (SF-12), were compared pre- and post-operatively.Results Four-hundred and sixty-two hips underwent analysis. Pre-operative HHS following THA were ​​46.6 ± 11.9, 47.5 ± 11.4, 44.4 ± 9.6, and 42.1 ± 10.7 for Tonnis grades 0 (n = 27), 1 (n = 56), 2 (n = 73), and 3 (n = 306), respectively; while post-operative HHS were 86.4 ± 7.8, 88.4 ± 7.7, 89.5 ± 4.4, and 88.7 ± 5.4 Higher postoperative HOS scores were seen in Tonnis grade 0 and 1, when compared to Tonnis grades 2, and 3 (49.1 ± 27.9, and 50.1 ± 20.8 vs. 47.0 ± 22.2, and 44.0 ± 22.2, respectively; p = 0.003), however, no statistical difference was seen in mean difference HOS (p = 0.447). For SF-12, the mean improvement in order of increasing Tonnis grades was 16.7 ± 48.7, 9.2 ± 38.3, 6.6 ± 43.4, and 14.9 ± 45.2 with no statistical significance observed (p = 0.565).Conclusion In patients undergoing THA, post-operative HHS scores are similar regardless of baseline radiographic severity. Post-operative change in HOS and SF-12 scales was consistently higher across all baseline Tonnis grades prior to THA, while mean change remained comparable. These findings suggest although preoperative radiographic data aids in the evaluation of patients with hip pain, the severity of findings should not determine surgical candidacy. This study challenges radiographic severity for THA eligibility and adds to THA literature for those with less severe radiographic findings.
Evaluation of ChatGPT and Gemini Large Language Models for Pharmacometrics with NONMEM
Authors: Shin Euibeom , Yu Yifan , Bies Robert R. , Ramanathan Murali
Published: April 2024

Purpose
To assess the ChatGPT 4.0 (ChatGPT) and Gemini Ultra 1.0 (Gemini) large language models on tasks relevant to NONMEM coding in pharmacometrics and clinical pharmacology settings.
Methods
ChatGPT and Gemini performance on tasks mimicking real-world applications of NONMEM was assessed. The tasks ranged from providing a curriculum for learning NONMEM and an overview of NONMEM code structure to generating code. Prompts to elicit NONMEM code for a linear pharmacokinetic (PK) model with oral administration and a more complex one-compartment model with two parallel first-order absorption mechanisms were investigated. The prompts for all tasks were presented in lay language. The code was carefully reviewed for errors by two experienced NONMEM experts, and the revisions needed to run the code successfully were identified.
Results
ChatGPT and Gemini provided useful NONMEM curriculum structures combining foundational knowledge with advanced concepts (e.g., covariate modeling and Bayesian approaches) and practical skills, including NONMEM code structure and syntax. Large language models (LLMs) provided an informative summary of the NONMEM control stream structure and outlined the key NM-TRAN records needed. ChatGPT and Gemini were able to generate applicable code blocks for the NONMEM control stream from the lay language prompts for the three coding tasks. The control streams contained focal structural and NONMEM syntax errors that required revision before they could be executed without errors and warnings.
Conclusions
LLMs may be useful in pharmacometrics for efficiently generating an initial coding template for modeling projects. However, the output can contain errors that require correction.
Use solar energy for turning seawater into freshwater serving for off-shore fishing
Authors: Nguyen Van Mui , Nguyen Huyen Khanh
Published: April 2024

Renewable energy has been paid attention to in Vietnam in particular and and worldwide in general. Besides wind energy, solar energy is one of the top-priority energy sources. For offshore fishing vessels, freshwater source serving daily fishermen's activities is one of the most crucial and necessary factors. This article presents the calculated results of equipment design and manufacture, which converts seawater into freshwater with a capacity of 5 liters per hour to meet the domestic water demand of fishing vessels and about 20 fishermen using renewable energy (solar energy). This equipment helps offshore fishing vessels and fishermen be proactive in water sources, saving the capacity and load of the ship as well as the cost of fishing trips. The research result is a system turning seawater into freshwater used for small and medium-sized fishing vessels. This is the basis for calculating the water filtration system in general, seawater desalination system and renewable energy system in particular, applied to seafood fishing, offshore fishing and actual production.
Reproductive factors and risk of cardiovascular outcomes in women with ST-elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Rouhani Sina , Soleimani Azam , Jamalian Marjan , Sadeghi Masoumeh
Published: April 2024

Background
There are many sex-specific factors affecting myocardial infarction (MI) outcomes in males and females. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between reproductive factors and cardiovascular outcomes in women after ST-elevation MI.
Method
This retrospective cohort study was initiated in 2016–2017 at Chamran Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. One hundred eighty women with a diagnosis of ST-elevation MI were followed up for 3 years, and any occurrence of cardiovascular events (CVs) was recorded. All information regarding reproductive factors was recorded via questionnaire. This information was compared between women with cardiovascular events and women without adverse events using a sample t test, chi-square test, and multiple backward logistic regression analysis.
Result
Sixty-four women with a mean age of 65.81 ± 13.14 years experienced CV events, and 116 women with a mean age of 65.51 ± 10.88 years did not experience CV events. A history of ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus were more prevalent in women with CV events (P = 0.024 and P = 0.019). After adjusting for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, oral contraceptive pill (OCP) usage was more prevalent in women with CV events than in women without CV events (60.9% vs 40.4%, P = 0.008). There was a greater chance of CV events in women with OCP usage (OR = 3.546, P = 0.038) and a lower chance of CV events in women with greater age at menarche (OR = 0.630, P = 0.009) and longer breastfeeding duration (OR = 0.798, P = 0.041) according to multiple backward logistic regression models.
Conclusion
Based on this study, OCP consumption is a risk factor, while older age at menarche and longer duration of breastfeeding are protective factors for cardiovascular outcomes in women after STEMI.
Effectiveness of smartphone application as a tool to improve functional vision and quality of life of visually impaired people
Authors: Tharaniy VE , Ramamurthy Dharani
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Visually impaired people are facing difficulties to do their day to day activities. Smartphone application as a low-vision devices help visually impaired people to do their functional activity. Thus, it improve the quality of life of visually impaired people.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Special interest group discussion was conducted to shortlist the selected apps which help visually impaired people to do their day to day activities. Low Vision Quality Of Life questionnaire was used to assess the low-vision management and rehabilitation. The questionnaire was translated into Tamil language. Face validation and cognitive verification was done. The questionnaire was rephrased. English and final version Tamil questionnaires were administered to 21 visually-impaired people. Participants (n=8) familiar with the smartphone applications namely Lookout Google and Sullivan+ were included. Tamil LVQOL questionnaire and feedback about the usefulness of the smartphone application were obtained from the app users.
Results: From the experts opinion, two apps were selected namely Lookout Google and Sullivan+. For questionnaire, the mean age of the 21 visually impaired people was 25.76 ± 8.6 (age ranges from 17-56). The median quality of life score was statistically insignificant (p=0.47) between English and Tamil questionnaire. The overall Cronbach’s alpha value for Tamil LVQOL was 0.95. The overall Intraclass correlation coefficient value of English and Tamil questionnaire was 0.82. The mean age of the eight smartphone applications users were 22.12 ± 3.51 (age ranging from 17-29). The mean quality of life score was statistically insignificant (p=0.32) between the smartphone application non-user and user. From the feedback about 75% of the participants said that Lookout google and Sullivan+ apps were useful for their day to day activities. Reading was the most commonly used feature in both the apps. These apps were also useful for doing day to day activities.
Conclusion:The translated and validated Tamil version of the LVQOL showed a good reliability. Smartphone applications such as Lookout Google and Sullivan+ applications can help visually impaired people to do their day to day activities
A Multilingual Intelligent System for Objectionable Text Recognition Utilizing an Explainable AI-Supported Deep Learning Model on Bengali, Bengali Transliteration, and English Embedded Text
Authors: Chowdhury Mohammad Sayem , Sultan Tofayet , Jahan Nusrat , Ali Md. Asraf , Hasan Khandaker Tabin , Ahmed N
Published: April 2024

We live in a global society that has benefited greatly from the rise of social media, which has become a potent agent of social change. However, toxic use of text or images may damage online communities and even spark intergroup confrontations. A precise approach is needed to deal with harmful or offensive information that specifically targets people or groups. Existing literature has generally focused on a particular language of hate speech detection using typical machine learning algorithms, where a few applied deep learning, resulting in a comparatively better outcome. However, not enough work has been dedicated to Bengali or transliterating Bengali text. This means the creation of a multilingual intelligent system that is able to recognize slang and abusive language from text or photographs is the current challenge that has to be addressed for Bengali users. Based on the crisis and deep technical comparison, our research proposed the robust multilingual expert system using mBERT as a baseline model with updates utilizing global average pooling and dense dropout. Here, we received an accuracy of 92\%, higher than any of the competing methods. Then, the inclusion of OCR also evaporated the issue from the image. Additionally, we utilized LIME explainable AI to demonstrate the transparency of our model.
Native liver T1 mapping on magnetic resonance imaging for an evaluation of congestive liver injury in children with congenital heart disease
Authors: Tao Katsuo , Ishikawa Yuichi , Suzuki Sayo , Muraji Shota , Kuraoka Ayako , Sato Masaki , Yamamura Kenichiro , Sagawa Kouichi
Published: April 2024

Background
Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) may be caused by chronic liver congestion due to high central venous pressure (CVP). Recently, the usefulness of liver native T1 mapping in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adulthood has been reported.
Objective
To evaluate the usefulness of native liver T1 mapping in children with congenital heart disease (CHD), we investigated the utility of native liver T1 relaxation time (LT1) in pediatric Fontan patients in comparison to other CHDs. Correlations between LT1 and laboratory biomarkers or hemodynamic data were also assessed.
Materials and methods
A total of 155 patients with CHD (biventricular repair, n = 42; bidirectional Glenn circulation, n = 38; and Fontan circulation, n = 75) underwent blood tests, cardiac catheterization, and cardiac MRI within 48 h.
Results
Both CVP and LT1 levels were higher in Fontan patients than in bidirectional Glenn and biventricular patients. There were significant correlation in the overall population and weak correlation in Fontan patients between CVP and LT1(correlation coefficient 0.644 [0.541–0.728] and 0.244 [0.0179–0.446], P < 0.001 and 0.035, respectively). Among the laboratory data, the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the albumin-bilirubin score and alanine aminotransferase were significantly correlated with LT1 in the overall population (both P = 0.015), and the fibrosis-4 index was correlated with LT1 in Fontan patients (P = 0.019).
Conclusion
LT1 could be a noninvasive predictor of CVP and a useful marker of liver injury in children with CHD.
Design and Analysis of Quantum Transfer Fractal Priority Replay with Dynamic Memory (QTFPR-DM) algorithm to Enhancing Robotic Decision-Making by Quantum computing
Authors: Palanivel R. , Muthulakshmi P.
Published: April 2024

In the field of robotics, efficient decision-making is essential for navigating complex environments and accomplishing diverse tasks. Quantum Reinforcement Learning (QRL) has emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges, leveraging quantum principles to enhance decision-making processes. However, existing QRL algorithms often face limitations in terms of sample efficiency and convergence speed. To overcome these limitations, we propose a novel algorithm, Quantum Transfer Fractal Priority Replay with Dynamic Memory (QTFPR-DM), designed specifically for robotic decision-making tasks. QTFPR-DM integrates quantum circuits for action selection within a QRL framework. It utilizes a replay buffer to store past experiences and dynamic memory to adaptively update based on experience access frequency. Additionally , a novel priority formula is introduced to prioritize experiences for learning, focusing on those with high learning potential. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of QTFPR-DM in various robotic environments. The algorithm shows significant improvements in convergence speed and sample efficiency compared to conventional approaches. Furthermore, analysis of the exploration-exploitation trade-off reveals how dynamic memory management enhances exploration capabilities while maintaining exploitation efficiency in robotic contexts. QTFPR-DM represents a promising advancement in ro-botic decision-making, offering improved performance and efficiency. By lev-eraging quantum principles alongside dynamic memory and priority replay mechanisms, QTFPR-DM demonstrates its potential to revolutionize decision-making processes in robotics. The insights gained from this study pave the way for the development of more adaptive and efficient robotic systems, with broad implications for real-world applications.