bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Holding in the stream – convergent evolution of suckermouth structures in Loricariidae (Siluriformes)
Authors: Krings Wencke , Konn-Vetterlein Daniel , Gorb Stanislav N.
Published: September 2023

Suckermouth armoured catfish (Loricariidae) are a highly specious and diverse freshwater fish family, which bear upper and lower lips forming an oral disc. Its hierarchical organisation allows the attachment to various natural surfaces. The discs can possess papillae of different shapes, which are supplemented, in many taxa, by small horny projections, i.e. unculi. Although these attachment structures and their working mechanisms, which include adhesion and interlocking, are rather well investigated in some selected species, the loricariid oral disc is unfortunately understudied in majority of species, especially with regard to comparative aspects of the diverse oral structures and their relationship to the ecology of different species. In the present paper, we investigated the papilla and unculi morphologies in 69 loricariid species and undescribed taxa, which inhabit different currents and substrates. We determined four papilla types and eight unculi types differing by forms and sizes. From handling the structures and from drying artefacts we could infer some information about their material properties. This, together with their shape, enabled us to carefully propose hypotheses about mechanisms of interactions of oral disc structures with natural substrates typical for respective fish species.
A practical synthesis for the key intermediate (G) of Apixaban
Authors: Dong Wenwen , Gong Tengfei , Liu Chaoyang , Lin Jia , Jia Qiang , Chu Changhu
Published: September 2023

Apixaban is a highly potent, selective, and efficacious inhibitor of blood coagulation factor Xa. A practical and efficient process has been developed for the preparation of the key intermediate (G) of Apixaban. Starting from inexpensive 4-chloronitrobenzene and piperidine, an eight-step procedure for G has been developed. In this case, sodium chlorite is used twice to oxidize the piperidine cycle to the corresponding lactam under a CO2 atmosphere, resulting in the construction of two lactams. Furthermore, most of these reactions are highly efficient and practical as they occur under mild conditions. Most of the intermediates can be obtained through simple slurry or recrystallization, and column chromatography purification is not necessary.
A hybrid strength criterion for a soil medium based on tension strength and its implementation in numerical analysis
Authors: Yin Chao , Wang Shuai-wei W. , LI Jian , ZHAO Cheng-gang , Wang Wei
Published: September 2023

Because of inaccurate descriptions of stress‒strain relationships for the tension–shear region of the Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion, a new hybrid strength criterion called the tension–shear strength criterion was proposed and established in this study. Based on uniaxial tensile tests (using a newly developed apparatus) and triaxial shear tests, the feature points of the failure envelopes were obtained. The tension–shear strength criterion was then derived according to these points. Subsequently, to solve the discontinuous derivatives of the singularities in the yield surface, the tension–shear strength criterion was converted into its numerical form based on a new rounded method, and a constitutive integral algorithm of the tension–shear strength criterion was given. Finally, several numerical examples with theoretical and empirical solutions were adopted to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the numerical form of the tension–shear strength criterion.
Face-bow transfer – effect of body position and the use of a novel force-controlled nasion support on the reliability of articular mounting in vivo
Authors: Ahlers M. Oliver , Roehl Jakob C. , Jakstat Holger A.
Published: September 2023

Objectives
This study aimed to determine whether the positioning of the patient in combination with force-controlled nasion support improves reproducibility in applying an arbitrary face-bow.
Materials and methods
22 undergraduate students participated in the study as operators and repeatedly mounted an arbitrary face-bow on a single patient. Each operator performed the face-bow transfer twice, employing two different techniques. The standard technique used the classical rigid nasion adapter on a seated patient. In contrast, the novel method utilized a force-controlled nasion adapter which limits the force to the earbuds to 3 N on a reclined patient. The sequence of techniques was randomized (crossover design). Based on the face-bow transfers, randomly chosen maxillary casts were mounted in an individual articulator. The orientation of all models in the articulator was measured with a 3D-Digitizer at three predetermined sites. The differences between the means and specific positions were calculated, the means and standard deviations were computed, and significance tests were performed (Mann-Whitney-U-Test).
Results
Statistical analysis indicated a significantly smaller variance in the vertical plane for the patient in a reclined position combined with the novel nasion support (SD novel technique 5.187 vs. standard technique 6.309; p = 0.02).
Conclusion
Using the novel force-controlled nasion support to apply the face-bow in a reclined patient position improves reproducibility.
Clinical relevance
The application method for transferring maxillary casts to individual articulators should be altered towards placing patients in a reclined position with a nasion adapter that limits the force to the earbuds for better reproducibility.
Growth and Mortality Rates of Microbial Communities Respond to Experimental Warming at Different Latitudes During the Cold Season
Authors: Olivia Madeline , Patrichka Wei-Yi Chen , Urabe Jotaro , Ho Pei-Chi , Mukhanov Vladimir , Tsai An-Yi
Published: September 2023

To evaluate the responses of microbial plankton communities to warming in coastal waters of the Pacific at different latitudes, three in situ microcosms were conducted in Taiwan and Japan during the winter of 2023. Flow cytometry was used for consecutive 7 days to monitor and analyze the microbial communities, including viruses, bacteria, and picophytoplankton (Synechococcus spp., Prochlorococcus spp., and picoeukaryotes). The control microcosms had the same natural water temperature as the coastal waters, while the others were subjected to a warming treatment of + 2–3°C. In addition, picoplankton (bacteria and picophytoplankton) growth, nanoflagellate grazing, and viral lysis rates were estimated by using modified dilution method on days 2 and 5 of the study. Our investigation revealed that the warming did not have a significant positive effect on the bacterial abundance in winter at all stations during the time-series incubations. However, a significant increase in viral abundance was observed following the temperature increase, indicating that viral impact can have a significant top-down effect on bacterial cells in our time series experiments. Furthermore, we also found that the degree of increase in viral abundance was related to picophytoplankton abundance which increased with warming at some stations in this study. Importantly, we also discovered a positive correlation between the increases in prokaryotic viral lysis and gross growth rates in the warming experiments. This suggests that increased warming in coastal water during cold seasons can potentially enhance the viral shunt, enabling the retention of carbon and energy within the microbial loop.
Intelligent Environments and Assistive Technologies For Assisting Visually Impairment People: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: de Souza Leandro Sossetti , Francisco Rosemary , Tavares João Elison da Rosa , Barbosa Jorge Luis Victória
Published: September 2023

Intelligent Environments (IE) refer to fisical spaces imbued with pervasive and seamless intelligence, created to proactively support individuals in their daily routines. Developments in technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have taken these environments from theoretical notions to practical realities. Simultaneously, the field of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) has made significant strides. Evolving from Assistive Technology (AT), AAL represents an application of IE that specifically seeks to enable individuals —especially those with disabilities or the elderly— to lead healthier, more independent, and dignified lives through the assistance of technology integrated within their living environments.
The confluence of IE and AAL has led to the rise of innovative solutions aimed at enhancing the lives of individuals with special needs,such as the Visually Impaired People (VIP). This research presents a systematic literature review investigating the utilization of IE, underpinned by AAL principles, in supporting VIPs.
Initially, a pool of 14,760 studies was obtained from 9 databases, all published up to December 2022. After applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, this pool was reduced to 101 articles. Each of these articles was reviewed, analyzed, and categorized into four functional and operating principle categories to address five research questions.
The study proposes multiple taxonomies as an approach to holistically synthesize the various technologies and devices categorized in the reviewed articles.
Emerging research challenges and trends in this domain are highlighted, with a substantial trend being the escalating use of Deep Learning (DL) techniques. These techniques have been pivotal in the development of systems focused on object detection, path recognition, and navigation for devices, particularly smartphones, geared towards enhancing the lives of VIPs.
Application of a new MDCKII-MDR1 cell model to measure the extent of drug distribution in vitro at equilibrium for prediction of in vivo unbound brain-to-plasma drug distribution.
Authors: Langthaler Kristine , Jones Christopher R , Saaby Lasse , Bundgaard Christoffer , Brodin Birger
Published: September 2023

Intro: Reliable estimates of drug uptake from blood to brain parenchyma are crucial in CNS drug discovery and development. While in vivo Kp,uu,brain estimates are the gold standard for investigating brain drug disposition, animal usage is a limitation to high throughput application. This study investigates an in vitro model using P-gp expressing MDCKII-MDR1 cells for predicting in vivo brain drug penetration.
Methods: In vitro equilibrium distribution studies were conducted in apical and basolateral solutions with high protein content to estimate Kp,brain and Kp,uu,brain values. The correlation between in vitro and in vivo Kp,brain values for a set of compounds was examined.
Results: We observed a good correlation between in vitro and in vivo Kp,brain values (R2=0.69, Slope: 1.6), indicating that the in vitro model could predict in vivo drug brain penetration. The ‘Uni-L’ in vitro setup correctly classified 5 out of 5 unrestricted compounds and 3 out of 5 restricted compounds. Possible reasons for the observed disparities for some compounds have been discussed, such as difference in transport areas between in vitro and in vivo settings and effect of pH changes.
Conclusion: The in vitro assay setup developed in this study holds promise for predicting in vivo drug brain penetration in CNS drug discovery. The correlation between in vitro and in vivo Kp,brain values, underscores that the model may have potential for early-stage screening. With minor refinements, this in vitro approach could reduce the reliance on in vivo experiments, accelerating the pace of CNS drug discovery and promoting a more ethical research approach.
Comparing Predictive Value of CT Perfusion and ASPECTS for Prognosis in Large core Patients Receiving Endovascular Therapy：Focusing on CTP-based Model Development
Authors: chang Yanting , Sui Yi , Lin Longting , Parsons Mark
Published: September 2023

Background and Purpose
—We aimed to compare the ability of non-contrast computed tomography Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (NCCT ASPECTS) with CT perfusion (CTP) combined clinical factors, in predicting functional outcome in large core patients who underwent EVT.
Methods
—Patients were retrospectively selected from International Stroke Perfusion Registry. We used manual NCCT ASPECTS and CTP MISTAR software to estimate ischemic status. Multivariate regression was conducted to determine independent predictors for unfavorable outcome. We then constructed a nomogram by incorporating these independent predictors. Receiver operating curve was calculated to determine its predictive value.
Results
—Fifty-five patients were included in the analysis. Unfavorable outcome was associated with ASPECTS and CTP in univariable analysis (P = 0.009 and P = 0.018, respectively). CTP was associated with unfavorable outcome in multivariable analysis (P = 0.02) while ASPECTS did not show significance. (P = 0.087). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that CTP ≥ 70mL (OR = 42.56, 95% CI 4.19 − 116.28), sex (OR = 10.55 95% CI 1.48 − 127.75), atrial fibrillation (OR = 39.60, 95% CI 3.48 − 116.23) and baseline NIHSS (OR = 9.70, 95% CI 1.76 − 80.72) were independent predictors for unfavorable outcome. CTP-combined model predicted unfavorable outcome with an AUC of 0.929 (95% CI: 0.87–0.99, P < 0.001, Se = 0.81, Sp = 0.89, PPV = 0.88, NPV = 0.83). The Hosmer − Lemeshow test showed the combined model was a good fit (P = 0.98).
Conclusions
—Relying solely on imaging to predict outcome is not reliable. Ischemic core volume assessed on CTP, combined with clinical indicators, is a better predicting tool for clinical outcome than ASPECTS-based model in patients with large infarct cores receiving EVT.
Color-changeable chewing gum indicates the type of masticable food
Authors: Yashiro Toshihiro , Wada Shinichi , Kawate Nobuyuki
Published: September 2023

Purpose: Masticatory performance is confirmed with color-changeable chewing gum that changes yellow-green to red when chewed. Previous studies have used a colorimeter to reveal the cut-off a* values of the gum’s color (a* represents the degree of color between red and green) to determine which foods are masticable (masticable meat, masticable soft side dish, and inadequate masticatory performance). Since a more convenient method is required, we examined the validity and reliability of visual measurement using the existing color scale to indicate masticable foods by observing the chewing gum’s color.
Methods: Fifty patients aged ≥ 65 years were enrolled. Using color-changeable chewing gum, three groups were formed according to the cut-off a* values: masticable meat, masticable soft side dish, and inadequate masticatory performance. For the color scale classification, one physiatrist and dietitian simultaneously, individually, visually determined the chewing gum color and classified it as belonging to one of the three groups. Criterion-related validity was evaluated using the kappa coefficient of agreement between the results from the two methods. Inter-rater reliability was examined using the kappa coefficient of agreement between the three groups judged by the two raters on a color scale.
Results: The kappa coefficients of the agreement for the classifications were 0.908 and 0.909 for the physiatrist and dietitian, respectively. The inter-rater agreement between two raters on the color scale was 0.938 for the kappa coefficient.
Conclusion: The color scale indicated the masticable foods without a colorimeter. This method can be useful in older adult facilities and homes.
Twitter Conversations on Sustainable Development Goals in Brazilian Public Universities Using Natural Language Processing
Authors: Costa Abimael de Jesus Barros , Gomes Sonia Maria da Silva , Kouloukoui Daniel , de Marcellis-Warin Nathalie , Warin Thierry
Published: September 2023

This study aims to provide insight into the behavior of Twitter conversations related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by Brazilian public universities (UPBs) using Natural Language Processing (NLP). To achieve this goal, it was decided to develop descriptive research as it explores the characteristics of conversations focused on Twitter, one of the world's most used social media channels. Natural language processing (NLP) techniques based on the R programming language were used to extract and treat conversations held by the UPBs about the SDG objectives on Twitter. The study period is comprised of the creation of the first Twitter account by the universities until the data collection date, that is, between 2008 and 2022, therefore, 15 years of study, during this period, 326,114 tweets were identified. Evidence points to a substantial evolution in tweet publications by universities over the 15 years of studies. Thus, the practically zero publications in 2008 jumped to more than 15 thousand tweets in 2020. These findings show and confirm that universities use this social media to interact with their stakeholders. In addition, the results indicate that the analyzed universities make few publications on their Twitter about SDGs. In fact, of the 46 universities, only 6 tweeted about the subject, representing 13%. During the 15 years of studies, only 31 tweets were made on the subject. We found that the conversations and positions of universities on this subject in their social networks are few, insufficient, timid, and weak. As a second practical implication of this study, universities as centers of research, knowledge construction, and humanistic training urgently need to position themselves more on this subject in their social networks in order to demonstrate the relevance of the subject and inform about their accomplishments, and the need to everyone got involved in the theme.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Applied to Ocular Fluids to Assess Potential Biomarkers of Age-related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Guo Hanmu , Li Jianqing , Lu Peirong
Published: September 2023

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a significant cause of severe vision loss. The main purpose of this study was to identify mass spectrometry proteomics-based potential biomarkers of AMD that contribute to understanding the mechanisms of disease and aiding in early diagnosis.
Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a search was performed for studies that used mass Spectrometry (MS) proteomics approaches to identify proteomic differences between AMD patients and healthy control groups (PROSPERO database: CRD42023388093). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway Analysis (KEGG) were performed on differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the included articles using the DAVID database. DEPs were included in a meta-analysis when their effect size could be computed in at least two research studies. The effect size for each measured protein was standardized to thelog2-fold change. Protein‒protein interaction (PPI) analysis was conducted on proteins that were statistically significant in the meta-analysis using the String online database.
Results: Eleven studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and 161 DEPs were identified. The GO analysis showed that AMD is closely associated with proteolysis, extracellular exosomeand protein binding. In KEGG, the most significant pathway was the complement and coagulation cascades. Meta-analysis results suggested that eight proteins were statisticallysignificant, and according to PPI results, the most significant four proteins were serotransferrin(TF), apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1), complement C3 (C3) and lipocalin-1 (LCN1).
Conclusions: Four possible biomarkers, TF, APOA1, C3 and LCN1, were found to be significant in the pathogenesis of AMD and need to be further validated. These proteins should be further studied in larger cohorts to evaluate their potential for disease diagnosis and intervention.
The Impact of Food Safety Incidents on Consumers’ Perceived Food Safety Risk: A Case Study of Jiangsu Province
Authors: Kuai Tingting , Xie Jian , Tang Shufeng
Published: September 2023

The article utilizes survey data from consumers in Jiangsu Province to quantitatively study the factors influencing consumers' perceived food safety risk after food safety incidents using an ordered Logit model. The research findings indicate that female consumers are more likely to worry about food quality and safety compared to male consumers. Age, education level, income, and consumer satisfaction with government and corporate emergency response measures also significantly affect consumers' perceived food quality and safety. Furthermore, consumers' occupation, knowledge of food safety, and perception of the safety of alternative products also influence their perceived food quality and safety.
Bio-Emulsion Liquid Membrane (Bio-ELM) Synthesis, by using seven different vegetable oils for wastewater treatment
Authors: Wakle Manisha , Khuntia Snigdha
Published: September 2023

Generally, Emulsion Liquid Membrane (ELM) consists of two phases the first one is the mobile phase consists of three components surfactant, carrier, and diluent. The second phase is an internal phase which consists of a stripping agent. In ELM use of bio-based materials can make membranes environmentally friendly called Bio-Emulsion Liquid Membrane (Bio-ELM). The utilization of Bio-ELM, for dye removal from aqueous solution. In this work, an emulsifier/surfactant span80, carrier n-heptane, and diluent jojoba, clove, sesame, soybean, olive, rosemary, and peppermint oil were used. Jojoba oil-based ELM removed maximum methylene blue dye as compared with other oils, so throughout work, jojoba oil ELM was used. Influence of operating conditions that affect Bio-ELM performance; Effect of surfactant concentration, carrier and stripping agent concentration, emulsification time, treat ratio, stirring speed, etc. together with initial dye concentration were investigated.
Autism Spectrum Disorder prevalence in Italy: A nationwide study promoted by the Ministry of Health
Authors: Scattoni Maria Luisa , Fatta Laura Maria , Micai Martina , Sali Maria Enrica , Bellomo Marina , Salvitti Tommaso , Fulceri Francesca , Castellano Angela , Molteni Massimo , Gambino Giovanna , Posada Manuel , Romano Giovanna , Puopolo Maria
Published: September 2023

Background
This nationwide study aimed to estimate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence in 7 to 9-year-old Italian children. Promoted by Italy's Ministry of Health and coordinated by the National Observatory for Autism at the National Institute of Health, it covered schools in northern (Lecco and Monza-Brianza), central (Rome and its province), and southern (Palermo and its province) regions from February 24, 2016, to February 23, 2018, using a multi-stage approach defined by the European Union's ASD network.
Methods
Phase one identified ASD-diagnosed children in mainstream schools through local Ministry of Education (MoE) disability registries. Phase two had a subset of schools screen 7 to 9-year-olds using the Social Communication Questionnaire-Life version (SCQ-L). Those with SCQ-L scores of 15 + underwent clinical consultation for ASD symptoms, cognitive abilities, and life skills. To counter potential false negatives, 20% scoring 11 to 14 were randomly assessed via Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R).
Results
MoE data revealed 9.8 per 1,000 certified ASD children in the north, 12.2 in the central, and 10.3 in the south. In phase two, 35,823 SCQ-L questionnaires were distributed across 198 schools (northern: 11,190 in 49 schools, central: 13,628 in 87 schools, southern: 11,005 in 62 schools). Of SCQ-L respondents, 2.4% (n = 390) scored above the 15 cutoff. Among these, 100 had ASD diagnoses, 50 had other diagnoses. Among 115 families assessed, 16.5% (n = 19) received ASD diagnoses.
Conclusions
Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of ASD in Italy was 13.4 (11.3–16.0) per 1,000 children aged 7–9 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 4.4:1. It will guide national policies in emhancing services tailored to the specific needs of autistic children.
“We help people change harmful norms”: Working with key opinion leaders to influence MNCH+N behaviors in Nigeria.
Authors: Adetunji Adetayo , Etim Eno-Obong E. , Adediran Mayokun , Bazzano Alessandra N.
Published: September 2023

Background: Nigeria’s Maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCH+N) outcomes rank among the world’s poorest. Engaging traditional and religious leaders shows promise in promoting related behaviors. The Breakthrough ACTION/Nigeria project worked with leaders in northern Nigeria to implement the Advocacy Core Group (ACG) model, a social and behavior (SBC) approach aimed at influencingcommunity norms and promoting uptake of MNCH+N behaviors. Qualitative assessment of the model contributes to evidence on SBC approaches for enhancing integrated health behaviors.
Methodology: This qualitative study was conducted in Nigeria's Bauchi and Sokoto states in May 2021. It involved 51 in-depth interviews and 24 focus group discussions. The study was grounded in the social norms exploration (SNE) technique to examine normative factors influencing behavior change within the ACG model context. Data analysis used a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Ethical approvals were received from all involved institutions and informed consent was obtained from participants.
Results: The ACG model was vital in the uptake of MNCH+N behaviors. The influence of ACG members varied geographically with greater impact observed in Sokoto State. Normative barriers to improving MNCH+N outcomes included perceived religious conflicts with family planning, preference for traditional care in pregnancy, misinformation on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), and gender-based violence resulting from women's decision-making. The study demonstrated positive progress in norm shifting, but EBF and GBV norms showed slower changes. Broader challenges within the health system, such as inadequate services, negative attitudes of healthcare providers, and workforce shortages, hindered access to care.
Conclusion: The ACG model increased awareness of health issues and contributed to potential normative shifts. However, slower changes were observed for EBF and GBV norms and broad health system challenges were reported. The model appears to be a promising strategy to further drive SBC for better health outcomes, especially where it is combined with supply-side interventions.
Construction and validation of a nomogram for predicting lateral lymph node metastasis in Pediatric and Adolescent with differentiated thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Dan Jiaqiang , Tan Jingya , Guo Yao , Xu Yang , Zhou Lin , Huang Junhua , Yuan Zhiying , Ai Xiang , Li Junyan
Published: September 2023

Background
In the pediatric and adolescent populations, the occurrence of lateral lymph node metastasis (LNM) in cases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is a significant risk factor associated with unfavorable prognosis. However, limited research has been conducted to specifically investigate the identification of risk factors and the development of prediction models for lateral LNM in DTC among the pediatric and adolescent populations.
Methods
In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics of pediatric and adolescent patients diagnosed with DTC. The data was obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for the period between 2000 and 2020. Additionally, we included patients treated at the Departments of Breast and Thyroid Surgery in the Second Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and The General Hospital of Western Theater Command from 2010 to 2020.
Results
A cohort of 2,631 patients from the SEER database, along with an additional 339 patients from our departments who met the specified inclusion criteria, were included in this study. Subsequently, four clinical variables, namely age, tumor size, multifocality, and extrathyroidal invasion, were identified as being significantly associated with lateral LNM in pediatric and adolescent patients with DTC. These variables were then utilized to construct a nomogram, which demonstrated effective discrimination with a concordance index (C-index) of 0.731. Furthermore, the performance of this model was validated through both internal and external assessments. yielding C-index values of 0.721 and 0.712, respectively. Afterward, a decision curve analysis was conducted to assess the viability of this nomogram in predicting lymph node metastasis.
Conclusion
The present study successfully developed a nomogram model based on visualized multipopulationsal data. Our findings indicate that several clinical characteristics are significantly correlated with lateral LNM in pediatric and adolescent DTC patients. These results have important implications for clinicians, as they can utilize this model to make personalized clinical decisions for pediatric and adolescents populations.
Effect of physical exercise on sleep quality of college students: The intermediary role of Mobile phone Addiction
Authors: Zhou NaiRun , Huang YuanLing , Zou XiaoJu
Published: September 2023

Background: The low sleep quality of college students due to excessive use of cell phones has become a social health problem. Physical exercise has been emphasized by the public as an effective means to reduce mobile phone addiction and improve sleep quality. Therefore, this study explored the mediating role of mobile phone addiction in the effect of physical exercise on college students' sleep quality.
Methods: Using a convenience random sampling method, Five colleges and universities in Guangzhou City were selected, and two classes in each college and university were randomly chosen to select survey subjects, The mobile phone addiction index scale, sleep quality scale, and physical exercise scale were used to conduct the survey, and the final questionnaire of 538 valid subjects was analyzed.
RESULTS： Correlation analysis showed that college students' mobile phone addiction was significantly positively correlated with sleep quality (r=0.24, P＜0.001) and negatively correlated with physical exercise (r=-0.109, 0.01＜P＜0.05). Sleep quality showed a significant negative correlation with physical exercise(r =-0.157, P＜0.001). The mediating effect test showed that mobile phone addiction partially intermediaries the effect between physical exercise and sleep quality, with an intermediating effect value of 15.42%.
Conclusion: Physical exercise can directly affect the sleep quality of college students, and also indirectly affect the sleep quality of college students by reducing their mobile phone addiction.
Quantitative evaluation the rationality of the use of FOLFOX regimen in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer based on AHP weighted TOPSIS method
Authors: Zou Jian , Zhong Jia-yun , Zou Rui , Huang Dan , Liu Yu , Liu Yan-xin , Gong Wen-jun , Li Xi-wen , Tao Jia , Yang Xiao-lai
Published: September 2023

Purpose
Adopts Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Situation (TOPSIS) to assess and rank different indicators of evaluation index and evaluate the rationality of the use of FOLFOX regimen in patients with metastatic CRC.
Methods
The evaluation criteria for the rationality of the use of FOLFOX regimen was established with reference to the dispensatory and application guidelines by using AHP weight, and TOPSIS method was adopts to retrospectively analyze and evaluate the rationality of the use of FOLFOX regimen in 176 cases in the medical records of our hospital from July to December 2022.
Results
Established evaluation criteria included 3 primary indexes (indication, medication process, management indicator) and 18 secondary parameters. Chemotherapy regimens selection, therapeutic evaluation and discontinuation of drug indications ranked top 3 secondary parameters (relative weight coefficient were 0.08352, 0.06257, 0.06217, respectively). The primary inappropriate types and scores of FOLFOX regimen were preconditioning, dose selection and therapeutic evaluation (deducted scores were 429.44, 416.97, 306.59 respectively). Among 176 cases, 49 cases (27.84%) had a relative proximity (Ci) equal to 100%, 87 cases (49.43%) 100%-80%, 29 cases (16.48%) 80%-60% and 11 cases (6.25%) below to 60%. The major problems were vomiting risk was not assessed (16.13%), insufficient dose of cytotoxic agents (15.66%) and treatment effects were not evaluated according to WHO standards (11.52%).
Conclusions
The evaluation criteria of the rationality of clinical application of FOLFOX regimen were established by AHP-TOPSIS method. The evaluation results obtained by this method were quantifiable, scientific and credible. The phenomenon of irrational use of these drugs in our hospital is relatively common, and the management should be strengthened in clinical application.
Implications for cancer survivors
AHP weighted TOPSIS method can quantitatively evaluate the rationality of anti-cancer drugs by integrating multiple indicators.
Conformal Invariance of Clifford Monogenic Functions in the Indefinite Signature Case
Authors: Liang Chen , Libine Matvei
Published: September 2023

We extend constructions of classical Clifford analysis to the case of indefinite non-degenerate quadratic forms. Clifford analogues of complex holomorphic functions -- called monogenic functions -- are defined by means of the Dirac operators that factor a certain wave operator. One of the fundamental features of quaternionic analysis is the invariance of quaternionic analogues of holomorphic function under conformal (or Mobius) transformations. A similar invariance property is known to hold in the context of Clifford algebras associated to positive definite quadratic forms. We generalize these results to the case of Clifford algebras associated to all non-degenerate quadratic forms. This result puts the indefinite signature case on the same footing as the classical positive definite case.
Friction and Wear Performance of High Carbon Grey Cast Iron
Authors: Chen Tiefang , Wang Chenggang , Yan Ruifang , Li Feng , Wang Jiandong , Wang Jinguo
Published: September 2023

In this paper, the friction and wear properties of gray cast iron with different carbon content at different ambient temperatures and the failure forms of gray cast iron friction and wear are studied, which has a certain guiding significance for the manufacture of gray cast iron brake discs. The research concludes that under low-temperature wear conditions, the graphite in the gray cast iron structure can enter into the interface between the friction pair, have a lubricating effect on the wear surface, and reduce the friction coefficient and wear loss of the gray cast iron material. As the graphite content in the gray cast iron structure increases, the lubrication and protection effect of the graphite increases, and the wear failure of gray cast iron is mainly caused by plastic deformation-induced fatigue peeling. Under high-temperature wear conditions, an oxide layer gradually forms on the wear surface. With the increase of experiment temperature, the thickness of the oxide layer increases on the wear surface. When the oxide layer formed on the wear surface reaches a certain level of thickness, the internal expansion stress of the oxide layer increases considerably, causing the oxide layer to peel off and increase the roughness of the wear surface, friction coefficient, and wear loss. Additionally, with the increase of the graphite content in the gray cast iron structure, the surface is more prone to oxidation, leading to the increase of friction coefficient and wear loss. The wear failure of gray cast iron is mainly caused by oxidation layer peeling.
Identification and expression analysis of the SKP1-like gene family under phytohormone and abiotic stresses in apple (Malus domestica)
Authors: Shao Miao , Wang Ping , Gou Huimin , Ma ZongHuan , Chen Baihong , Mao Juan
Published: September 2023

Background
Ubiquitination participated in plant hormone signaling and stress response to adversity. SKP1-Like, a core component of the SCF (Skp1-Cullin-F-box) complex, is the final step in catalyzing the ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation pathway. However, the SKP1-Like gene family has not been well characterized in response to abiotic stresses and hormonal treatments in apple.
Results
Our study revealed that 17 MdSKP1-Like gene family members with conserved domain of SKP1 were identified in apples and were unevenly distributed on eight chromosomes. And the MdSKP1-Like genes located on chromosomes 1, 10 and 15 were highly homologous. The MdSKP1-like genes were divided into 2 subfamilies according to the evolutionary affinities of monocotyledons and dicotyledons. MdSKP1-like members of the same group or subgroup show some similarity in gene structure and conserved motifs. The predicted results of protein interactions showed that members of the MdSKP1 class family have strong interactions with members of the F-Box family of proteins. Selection pressure analysis showed that MdSKP1-Like gene were in purifying selection. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that most MdSKP1-Like gene family members were highly expressed in flowers and leaves. We also found that the upstream cis-elements of MdSKP1-Like genes contained a variety of elements related to light regulation, drought, low temperature, many hormone response elements, etc. Thus, qRT-PCR also confirmed that the MdSKP1-Like gene is indeed involved in the response of apple to hormonal and abiotic stress treatments.
Conclusions
Our research provides some theories for regulating MdSKP1-Like gene expression in response to hormonal and abiotic stresses to improve stress resistance in apples.
Fetal Head-to-Perineum Distance as a Predictor of Successful Vaginal Delivery: A Secondary Analysis of Intrapartum Ultrasound Data
Authors: Horst Wagner , Valle Juliana Barros do , Godoy Eduardo Duarte Pinto , Silva Jean Carl
Published: September 2023

Purpose:
The primary aim of this secondary analysis is to assess the clinical utility of intrapartum ultrasound measurements of the fetal head-to-perineum distance (HPD) as a predictor for successful vaginal delivery.
Methods:
This secondary analysis was conducted on a cross-sectional study involving 33 pregnant women admitted for labor. HPD was measured using intrapartum ultrasound by certified sonographers. Additional variables such as age, BMI, and gestational age were also considered.
Results:
Our findings reveal a significant relationship between HPD and the occurrence of vaginal delivery. The odds ratio was calculated as 0.60 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.42-0.88), remaining significant after adjusting for other variables.
Conclusion:
In this secondary analysis, HPD measurements via intrapartum ultrasound were found to effectively predict the likelihood of vaginal delivery. This method offers a streamlined approach for labor management without sacrificing predictive accuracy.
SD: sequence-based evolutionary distance algorithm for the Phylogenetic analysis of highly divergent proteins
Authors: Pan Xian-Ming , Cao Wei , Wu Lu-Yun , Xia Xia-Yu , Chen Xiang , Wang Zhi-Xin
Published: September 2023

Because of the lack of an accurate sequence-based algorithm for estimating the evolutionary distance between distant homologous protein sequences, the phylogenetic analysis problem remains unsolved. Here, we propose a sequence-based evolutionary distance algorithm termed sequence distance (SD), which innovatively incorporates site-to-site correlation within protein sequences into the distance estimation. In protein superfamilies, SD can effectively distinguish evolutionary relationships both within and between protein families, producing phylogenetic trees that closely align with those based on structural information, even with sequence identity less than 20%. SD is highly correlated with the similarity of the protein structure, and can calculate evolutionary distances for thousands of protein pairs within seconds using a single CPU, which is significantly faster than most protein structure prediction methods that demand high computational resources and long run times. The development of SD will significantly advance phylogenetics, providing researchers with a more accurate and reliable tool for exploring evolutionary relationships.
Control Design for an Exoskeleton System Based on the Human Gait
Authors: Lee Chi-Ying , Tsai I-Haur , Yen Jia-Yush , Hsu Wei-Li
Published: September 2023

Exoskeleton systems are wearable devices originally designed to enhance the physical abilities of humans, and subsequently for medical rehabilitation purposes. Impedance control is primarily used to achieve adaptability in exoskeleton control research. The concept of motion balance has not yet been applied to exoskeleton systems, which led us to propose a digital-twin concept, which operates in parallel with the operator. The digital twin is calculated by analyzing the dynamic characteristics of the entire human body, with the aim of determining the joint torques required to maintain balance and stability. If a discrepancy is detected between operator movements and the torques calculated using the digital twin, the system promptly provides assistance to ensure the safe operation of the exoskeleton.
This study implemented the digital twin by utilizing the MATLAB Simscape modeling tool to construct a bipedal robot model that conforms to human body proportions and simulates real human postures. The zero-moment point was used as a reference point in the model for the interaction forces between the bipedal robot and the ground. We adopted the cart-table model to simplify the gait balance control of the bipedal robot model. The controller outputs an assistive force at the position of the center of mass to maintain balance during walking. Finally, we converted the assistive force into ankle joint outputs to enhance gait stability and ensure that the waveform and numerical outputs were closer to real human data found in the literature.
A Potential Strategy against Clinical Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: Antimicrobial Activity Study of Sweetener-Decorated Gold Nanoparticles in Vitro and in Vivo
Authors: Liu Haifeng , Huang Zeyu , Chen Huanchang , Zhang Ying , Yu Pinting , Hu Panjie , Zhang Xiaotuan , Cao Jianming , Zhou Tieli
Published: September 2023

Background
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) present substantial challenges to clinical intervention, necessitating the formulation of novel antimicrobial strategies to counteract them. Nanomaterials offer a distinctive avenue for eradicating bacteria by employing mechanisms divergent from traditional antibiotic resistance pathways and exhibiting reduced susceptibility to drug resistance development. Non-caloric artificial sweeteners, commonly utilized in the food sector, such as saccharin, sucralose, acesulfame, and aspartame, possess structures amenable to nanomaterial formation. In this investigation, we synthesized gold nanoparticles decorated with non-caloric artificial sweeteners and evaluated their antimicrobial efficacy against clinical CRE strains.
Results
Among these, gold nanoparticles decorated with aspartame (ASP_Au NPs) exhibited the most potent antimicrobial effect, displaying minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 4 to 16 µg/mL. As a result, ASP_Au NPs were chosen for further experimentation. Elucidation of the antimicrobial mechanism unveiled that ASP_Au NPs substantially elevated bacterial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which dissipated upon ROS scavenger treatment, indicating ROS accumulation within bacteria as the fundamental antimicrobial modality. Furthermore, findings from membrane potential assessments suggested that ASP_Au NPs may represent a potential antimicrobial modality via depolarization of bacterial membranes. In addition, experiments involving crystal violet demonstrated effective suppression of bacterial biofilm formation by ASP_Au NPs. Moreover, ASP_Au NPs demonstrated notable efficacy in the treatment of Galleria mellonella bacterial infection and acute abdominal infection in mice, concurrently mitigating the organism's inflammatory response. Crucially, evaluation of in vivo safety and biocompatibility established that ASP_Au NPs exhibited negligible toxicity at bactericidal concentrations.
Conclusions
Our results demonstrated that ASP_Au NPs exhibit promise as innovative antimicrobial agents against clinical CRE.
Shaped Controlled Polyindole decorated Vanadium Selenide nanosheets: A worthy approach using Hydrotrope for asymmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Vhatkar Shashikant Shivaji , Mathew Helen Treasa , Abhisek Kumar , Oraon Ramesh
Published: September 2023

Polyindole (PIN) has been one of the rising promising conducting polymers of this decade, attracting researchers’ attention worldwide. This can be attributed to better redox activity and physicochemical stability. Several techniques had reported synthesis of PIN in organic and aqueous media. However, it has been always reported as difficult. Challenges such as mixed morphology, irregular particle size and undesired agglomeration are among several outcomes’ researchers face. Hence, for the first time we present hydrotopically engineered chemical oxidative polymerisation of indole in the presence of Vanadium selenide (VS) in aqueous media. A hydrotrope is a compound that enhances the aqueous solubility of organic compound. The resulting nanocomposite was comprised of decorated polyindole over self-assembled 1D vanadium selenide, giving a 3D sheet like structure, as evident from FESEM studies. The results also highlighted uniform decoration of PIN over the background of VS. Besides, the physicochemical interaction between PIN and VS had been validated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and XRD analysis. Furthermore, electrochemical studies through cyclic voltammetry, galvanic charging discharging techniques for the nanocomposite revealed improved specific capacitance of PV (w.r.t VS) as evidenced from the higher voltametric output current than VS. Electrochemical impedance also corroborated the superior charge transfer at lower frequencies, suggesting the real time applications of the nanocomposite. Lastly, to compliment the electrochemical performance, the nano composite was also used in fabrication of asymmetric super capacitor, which was used to illuminate LED and power a digital stopwatch to augment the conductivity and real time charge storage ability of the as synthesised nanocomposite. To the best of our knowledge, synthesis of PV nano composite using hydrotrope – tetra n-octyl ammonium bromide in aqueous medium can be a promising electrode material for fabrication of super capacitor, resulting in a synergistic enhancement of vanadium selenide using PIN.