bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between Atherogenic Dyslipidemia and Subclinical Myocardial Injury in the General Population
Authors: Elbadawi Nada S. , Sobih Moaze H. , Soliman Mai Z. , Mostafa Mohamed A. , Kazibwe Richard , Soliman Elsayed Z.
Published: July 2024

Background: Subclinical myocardial injury (SCMI) is associated with an increased risk of poor cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. Understanding the underlying risk factors for SCMI is crucial for the prevention and management of CVD. We hypothesized that atherogenic dyslipidemia, a combination of high triglycerides (TG) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), is associated with an increased risk of SCMI. Methods: This analysis from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES-III) included 7,093 participants (age 59.3±13.4 years, 52.8% women, and 49.4% White) free of CVD. Atherogenic dyslipidemia was defined as TG ≥150 mg/dL and HDL-C <40 mg/dL in men or <50 mg/dL in women. A validated electrocardiographic-based cardiac infarction injury score (CIIS) ≥10 was considered positive for SCMI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of different combinations of TG and HDL-C groups, including atherogenic dyslipidemia with SCMI. Results: About 22.5% (n=1,594) of participants had atherogenic dyslipidemia, and 26.3% (n=1862) had SCMI. Compared to participants with normal TG and normal HDL-C, those with atherogenic dyslipidemia had a higher prevalence of SCMI (31.2% vs. 23.9%, p-value <0.001). In a multivariable logistic regression model, atherogenic dyslipidemia was associated with the highest odds of SCMI followed by high TG/normal HDL-C, then low HDL-C/normal TG [OR (95% CI): 131 (1.14,1.52), 1.13 (0.97,1.33), and 1.01(0.86,1.20), respectively). Conclusions: Atherogenic dyslipidemia is associated with a higher risk of SCMI, which highlights the role of nontraditional risk factors in the development of subclinical CVD.
Porous Nanostructured Catalysts Based on Silicates and their Surface Functionality: on the Effects of Silica Source and Metal added in Glycerol Valorization
Authors: Carmo José Vitor C. , Nogueira Joabson , Bertoldo Gabriela M. , Clemente Francisco E. , Oliveira Alcineia C. , Campos Adriana F. , Duarte Gian C.S. , Tehuacanero-Cuapa Samuel , Jiménez-Jiménez José , Rodríguez-Castellón Enrique
Published: July 2024

A series of nanospherical shaped silicates containing heteroatoms (Al, Zr or Ti) were successfully synthesized using TEOS or silica colloids as silicon source. These metallosilicate nanospheres were used as silicon nutrients to obtain silicalite zeolites having micro-mesoporosity with improved textural properties. The results demonstrated that TEOS acted as a suitable silicon source to produce amorphous silicates and a spherical-type hierarchical zeolite architecture with Zr and Ti heteroatoms included in their framework, with preferable particle size and crystallinity. The surface functionality of the mesostructured nanospheres and zeolite silicates provide active centers for the esterification of glycerol with acetic acid (EG) reaction. Besides, the dispersion of Cu or Fe entities on the surface of the nanospherical silicates and zeolites provided good catalytic performances in the esterification of glycerol to valuable acetins.
Non Linear Asymptotic Analysis of Muscle Dynamics Using Diagnostic Electromyographic (D-EMG) Signal
Authors: Chakraborty Pritam , Neogi Biswarup , Das Achintya
Published: July 2024

Article explores participant specific study of muscle inherehit dynamics hidden inside the diognostic electromyography (D-EMG) signals during load pull exercises, aiming to uncover underlying patterns and nonlinear behaviors. Employing a multi-step analytical framework, the study first evaluates signal stationarity through Quantile-Quantile (Q-Q) plot and surrogate data analyses, revealing insights into signal stability. Subsequent use of phase space reconstruction techniques exposes intrinsic dynamics within the EMG signals, visualized through Poincar´e maps, elucidating attractor geometry and system dynamics. Histogram analysis further dissects the Poincar´e maps, offering insights into signal behavior relative to physiological processes. Additionally, the study quantifies the largest Lyapunov exponent from the Poincar´e maps, providing a measure of dynamical complexity within the muscle EMG signals during load pull exercises. By integrating these methods, this research sheds light on the nuanced interplay between EMG signals and muscle activity during dynamic exercises, offering valuable insights for rehabilitation strategies.
The Demand of Forest Bathing in the Northern Italy’s Regions
Authors: Visintin Francesca , Bassi Ivana , Deotto Vanessa , Iseppi Luca
Published: July 2024

The study aims at evaluating the demand of forest bathing in the Northern Italy’s regions underlining the willingness to pay and the potential tourists’ habits and flows on attending alpine contexts. Through the submission of a questionnaire, the sample’s answers have been analyzed employing a stratified sampling methodology considering three different macro areas (Northwest regions, Northeast regions, and Friuli Venezia Giulia region). After analyzing the sample attitudes, the research approached the estimation section by calculating the flow as the number of potential forest bathing hikes per year and the willingness to pay trough the Contingent Valuation Method. The main results indicate that Forest Bathing activity in Northern Italy have a considerable monetary value and it is generally compared with positive feelings, particularly concerning well-being, and fascination factors.
Screening and Characterization of DNA Aptamers for the Anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae Omp X Protein by the SELEX Method
Authors: Fan Zhenxing , Huang Baihai , He Lei , Lai Yuting , Zhao Yunwang , Wang Meng , Li Baolin , Liao Shiqi
Published: July 2024

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is an important gram-negative zoonotic conditional pathogen. It can infect humans and a variety of farm animals, leading to infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and even sepsis. thereby posing a significant threat to public health. OmpX acts as a virulence protein that can participate in bacterial pathogenesis, mediates bacterial adhesion to and invasion of epithelial cells, and is involved in bacterial adaptation to the osmotic pressure of the external environment. In this study, MBs-SELEX was used as the main strategy for screening aptamers. Omp X was used as the target protein and Omp A as the counter-screening target. qPCR and flow cytometry were used to determine the nature and specificity of the obtained aptamers for the Omp X protein. The analysis showed that among the obtained aptamers, three aptamers, Apt-1, Apt-2 and Apt-3, were selected with Kd values of 62.50 nM, 22.05 nM and 7.9 nM, respectively. In addition, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) was used for the characterization of KP in complex with specific FITC-labeled aptamers (FITC-Apt-3) and AuNCs. The complexes were characterized by observing blue fluorescent dots from AuNCs and green fluorescent dots from FITC-labeled aptamers overlapping with bacterial presence. These results suggest that AuNCs and aptamers can specifically bind to target bacteria, forming complexes. Furthermore, in vitro results demonstrated that Apt-1, Apt-2 and Apt-3 inhibited bacterial growth, with Apt-3 having the most significant inhibitory effect. The results suggest that aptamers can selectively recognize membrane proteins, thereby disrupting bacterial cell membrane formation and effectively inhibiting bacterial growth. Aptamers have a potential mechanism to inhibit bacterial growth.
ERKEN ALMAN ROMANTİKLERİNDE FELSEFENİN BİR İMKÂNI OLARAK SANAT VE EDEBİYAT
Authors: Babuççu Ali Han
Published: July 2024

Bu makale, uzun bir dönem boyunca felsefî derinliği ihmal edilen erken dönem Alman romantik (Frühromantik) felsefesini (daha spesifik olarak Novalis ve Friedrich Schlegel'in felsefi görüşlerini) ele almaktadır. Erken dönem Alman romantik filozofları, kendi dönemlerinin felsefî eğilimlerine karşı çıkan isimlerdir. Onlar 'mutlak ilkelerin arayışı olarak felsefe' düşüncesini terk etmişlerdir. Onlar Mutlak olanı felsefi sistemler yahut kavramlar aracılığı ile olduğu gibi temsil edebileceğimiz düşüncesini problemli bulurlar. Söz konusu düşünürlere göre özü ele geçirme ya da bir nesneyi olduğu gibi bütünüyle temsil etme iddiası, yaşamın kendisine karşı bir çabadır çünkü bu yaşamın, oluş ve akış karakterine uymaz. Bu kavrayışta mutlak temsil edilemez, ancak ona sadece işaret edilebilir. Ona işaret edebilmek, onu kesin olarak temsil etmekten vazgeçmekle mümkündür. Bu amaçla Schlegel ve Novalis, çeşitli sanatsal ve edebi stratejileri devreye sokarlar. Fragman, alegori, ironi, metaforik anlatım gibi çeşitli edebi strajileri felsefenin bir parçası kılmak suretiyle romantik filozoflar, felsefelerine edebi bir hüviyet kazandırmayı amaçlarlar. Ancak bu karakteri kazandığında felsefe, Mutlak olana hak ettiği saygıyı gösterebilecek ve ona yakınlaşabilecektir.
“What Keeps Me up at Night”: Complications in Foot and Ankle Surgery
Authors: Mener Amanda , Castillo Nathalia , Denove Nick , Rosenbaum Andrew
Published: July 2024

Foot and ankle surgery has a number of potential complications that are generalizable to orthopaedic surgery, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVTs), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and complications related to regional anesthesia. However, the characteristics of these complications differ because of the anatomical location and unique procedures within foot and ankle surgery. In this article, we summarize the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of common complications within foot and ankle surgery that cause grief for both orthopaedic providers and patients alike, such as persistent swelling, CRPS, and DVTs.
Examining the Handling of Rohingya Refugees in Indonesia through the Lens of International Law and Maqāsid al-Shari’ah: An Exploration of Islamic Humanitarianism
Authors: Maula Bani Syarif
Published: July 2024

The issue of Rohingya refugees has gained significant attention globally and within Indonesian society, especially as many seek refuge in Aceh to escape persecution in Myanmar. The 1951 Vienna Convention and the 1967 Refugee Protocol form the global legal framework for refugee protection. However, Indonesia has not formally endorsed these statutes, so it is not legally bound to fulfill refugees’ basic needs. Despite this, Indonesia is obligated by the principle of non-refoulement, a customary international law or jus cogens, to manage Rohingya refugees entering its territory. This study examines Indonesia’s approach to refugee management through international law and maqāṣid al-sharī’ah, representing Islamic humanitarianism. Islamic scholarly discourse, specifically Fiqh al-Siyar, linked with maqāṣid al-sharī’ah, provides a foundation for contemporary humanitarian efforts. The study concludes that, under international law, Indonesia must protect refugees as part of implementing jus cogens. Additionally, from the maqāṣid al-sharī’ah perspective, Indonesia’s decision to welcome Rohingya refugees, despite not ratifying the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol, exemplifies Islamic humanitarianism and acknowledges refugees’ inherent human rights.
Basic Concepts of Setsuwa Tradition (According to Konjaku monogatari-shū) Part II
Authors: Babkova Maya ,   Institute for Logic, Cognitive Science and Development of Personality, Kolyada Maria , Trubnikova Nadezhda ,   Institute for Logic, Cognitive Science and Development of Personality,   Institute for Logic, Cognitive Science and Development of Personality
Published: July 2024

It is possible to determine the range of basic concepts for any genre of literature by comparing the number of mentions of those terms that the researcher selects based on external considerations (for example, classifying the genre under study as Buddhist and attaching a selected Buddhist dictionary to the texts), or by highlighting within the texts of a given genre those words that for some reason can be considered terms, and comparing the contexts of their use. If we apply both of these approaches to the tradition of Japanese medieval didactic tales set­suwa, we get different, only partially overlapping series. The results of such work may be useful for verifying research assessments of any group of texts as close to one or another tradition outside its genre, or forming its own tradition, and which one; to consider all kinds of influences within the large tradition of Japanese literature and/or religious-philosophical thought, to choose options when translating: whether to consider a word or expression a term, whether to give it the same translation every time. Konjaku monogatari-shū (1120s), from the point of view of terminology, is especially interesting because it com­bines stories from several earlier collections of didactic tales, rearranging them in a new way (and the question, whether the resulting collection can be consid­ered as a new whole, can be answered by studying the basic terms and their dis­tribution in different parts of the collection). The article examines, as examples, a number of concepts from the “general Buddhist” and “Shinto” dictionaries, as well as more isolated Yin-Yang (Onmyōdō) tradition
The Ideology of Animal Liberation and the “Guilt” of Christianity Part I: Is Speciesism So Bad?
Authors: Karabykov Anton ,   V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University
Published: July 2024

The purpose of the article is to offer a critical analysis of the thesis about the responsibility of Christianity for the oppression of animals in the West developed by the ideologists of their liberation: Peter Singer and his associates. Since the historical connection of this religion with the ideas about the moral status of animals and the practices of their use is confusing, changeable and multifaceted, the analysis is limited to the study of the concept of speciesism, fundamental in this thesis. Singer and other liberationists interpret speciesism as a form of unjustified discrimination based on species and liken it to racism and sexism. Revealing the falsity of this analogy, the author proves that such discrimination can be both justified (and then speciesism is not reprehensible) and unjustified (and then, for the sake of terminological clarity, it is better to use another, purely negative, concept of human chauvinism). It is also concluded that justified speciesism has not been determined directly and primarily by the religion. The Christian idea of the sanctity of human life itself was derived from the belief in the uniqueness of man, which nourishes speciesism and rests on self-evident grounds that do not depend on the religion. Serving as an innate perspective inherent in all conscious beings, in which they perceive the world around them, speciesism does not necessarily lead to the oppression of animals. The suffering we inflict on them mostly has other, more obvious, causes.
UNESCO Graphic Novel “Inside AI”: Issues of Semiotic Interpretation
Authors: Merkulova Inna ,   State Academic University for the Humanities
Published: July 2024

The article considers the thematic graphic novel of UNESCO “Inside AI: An Algorithmic Adventure” (2022) from the standpoint of the semiotics of culture. This graphic novel was created as part of UNESCO’s work on harnessing new technologies for sustainable development. It is aimed at politicians and young people and explores the impact of artificial intelligence on humanity. The graphic novel is divided into episodes, each with a glossary page at the end that introduces the main concepts in the field of AI. To analyze this graphic novel, the article uses the approach proposed by the founder of the Moscow-Tartu semiotic school Yuri Lotman. Lotman’s semiotic models are used to analyze the semantic content of concepts related to artificial intelligence, as well as his works, which are thematically devoted to the problem of the impact of technology on culture and social life. One of the key social emotions associated with artificial intelligence is fear. This emotion is clearly expressed, for example, in the headlines of articles published by various media and devoted to the problems of artificial intelligence. Lotman’s concept allows us to analyze this fear as “fear of the other”. The article puts forward the assertion that interaction with artificial intelligence systems should be based not on fear, but on ethical regulations. The UNESCO graphic novel is intended to be a kind of response to the human fear of artificial intelligence and the social challenge provoked by the use of intelligent systems. The visual form of the novel allows the use of specific expressive means that allow changing the attitude towards artificial intelligence with the help of vivid images and visible metaphors. The article analyzes in detail, with the help of what visual and discursive forms the graphic novel achieves its goal of overcoming the fear of artificial intelligence by forming an understanding of this technology. The graphic novel “Inside AI: An Algorithmic Adventure” is also interpreted in the article as an illustration of some of the provisions of the “Manifesto for Understanding the Digital World” [Bachimont, 2023, web].
Phenomenological understanding of technology by M. Heidegger (on the material of the article “The Question Concerning Technology”)
Authors: Rozin Vadim ,   RAS Institute of Philosophy
Published: July 2024

The article discusses one of the most famous works of M. Heidegger “The Question Concerning Technology”. Difficulties in understanding the theoretical provisions of this article are noted, and the task is to “disenchant” these provisions. In this regard, the main principles of phenomenological thinking are discussed: historicity, vitality, non-premises, orientation of consciousness to objectivity, etc. A reconstruction of the process of building the beginning of the essence of technology, based on these principles and Heidegger’s background, is proposed. Such a beginning includes the process of bringing the unhidden into openness, which is concretized at two levels – ancient culture and modernity. The author notes the connection of this construction with the Heideggerian category of being. It analyzes how, on the basis of the constructed beginning, Heidegger introduces the concept of technology as a “setup” and outlines the way to resolve the problem of the power of technology. As a free being, a person can think through what is happening, understand his essence as a person and, perhaps, find a way out of the danger that threatens him. The story of the setting suggests a way out: one of the essential aspects of ancient technology is poetry, art; will it not be possible to save ourselves by resuming the poiesis of technology at a new level? The author sketches out his ideas about technology, and also lists its main types: technology as the manufacture of tools, as magic, as engineering, as technology, as a technical environment, as a living techno-social planetary organism (Internet). The article ends with the author’s comments, including a discussion of some limitations of Heidegger’s approach and an indication of the whole (culture, sociality, technogenic civilization), the analysis of which, in the author’s opinion, should allow a more comprehensive understanding of technology.
Amine moieties play different roles as electron-donating groups on quinoline derivatives
Authors: Borges Vancley S. , de Sousa Daniel S. , Melo Fernanda P. A. , Vale Joyce K. L. , Neto Antonio M. J. Chaves , de Sousa Alexsandro G. , Silva Albérico B. F. da , Borges Rosivaldo dos Santos
Published: July 2024

Quinoline derivatives play a crucial role in antimalarial therapy, and their biological properties are highly dependent of their basicity, particularly at the amine groups. The Amine moieties significantly contribute to the antioxidant capacity of quinoline derivatives through electron transfer mechanisms. A theoretical study was conducted to investigate the structure-nucleophilicity and antioxidant capacity of quinoline derivatives, specifically chloroquine and quinine, through electron transfer using DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) methods. The HOMO values were utilized to assess nucleophilicity, while the ionization potential was indicative of electron donating capacity. To explore different aspects of the molecules, three approaches were proposed: simplification, fragmentation, and modification on amine moieties. Our findings reveal a synergistic effect between 4-amino-quinoline and tertiary amine in quinoline derivatives, enhancing their overall antioxidant capacity. However, the presence of the chlorine atom decreases its contribution as an electron withdrawing group. Chloroquine exhibits a higher antioxidant capacity when compared to quinine, and their respective electron donation abilities are correlated with their pKa values. The synergistic effect between the 4-amino-quinoline and tertiary amine is particularly evident in chloroquine, surpassing the antioxidant capacity of 6-methoxy-4-methyl-quinoline moiety in quinine.
Trends and forecasts of extreme rainfall in small, medium and large towns in Burkina Faso: a non-parametric statistical analysis and Holt-Winters Smoothing Method (West Africa)
Authors: Joseph YAMEOGO
Published: July 2024

Climate extremes have become an important issue in recent years, leading to renewed scientific interest in the topic. However, few studies have focused on the analysis of precipitation extremes in large, medium, and small towns in Burkina Faso, a Sahelian country in West Africa. This study aims to analyse trends and future projections of rainfall extremes in small, medium, and large cities in Burkina Faso. To this end, rainfall data were collected from the National Meteorological Agency of Burkina Faso (NMABF) over the period 1991-2020 at monthly time steps. The stations selected were Boromo for the small town of Boromo, Saria for the medium-sized town of Koudougou, and Bobo-Dioulasso for the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. The precipitation data were then entered into the Rclimdex software to produce precipitation indices. The extreme rainfall indices were analysed using descriptive statistics, linear regression, innovative graphical trends, and futures projections. The study shows that there is strong variability and an increasing monotonic trend in the extreme precipitation indices over the period 1990-2020. However, in the city of Koudougou, the trends are nonmonotonically increasing. The study also shows that the forecast based on the Holt-Winter additive model shows that extreme precipitation indices will increase in the study cities. However, the duration indices will decrease more in the city of Koudougou.
The body postures of individuals of both sexes ranging in height from 180 to 195 cm, in the light of the mora phenomenon
Authors: Mrozowiak Mirosław , Stępień-Słodkowska Marta , Sokołowski Marek
Published: July 2024

Background
Proper muscle tension is an essential element for correct body posture and motion. It should be high enough to counteract gravity and low enough to provide smooth, selective movement and isolated activity. Improper muscle tension will disturb the correct development of the body schema. The quality of muscle tension will be dependent upon the following: genetic factors, localization and the degree of damage to the central nervous system. The aim of the study was an attempt to determine the value of features describing the body posture of women and men with a body height of 180 cm to 195 cm.
Methods
The research was conducted in a group of 123 people with the body height ranging from 180 to 195 cm, coming from the entire territory of Poland. The photogrammetric method has been implemented in registering 41 features which are descriptive of body posture.
Results
The research results demonstrated that the average thoracic kypnosis angle and the lumbar lordosis as well as the Alpha, Beta and Gamma angles included in the sagittal planes are located between the upper and the lower values of normative ranges for both 18 year old males and females. The size of the asymmetry of the axial locomotor system in coronal and sagittal planes and the pelvis, the height and the width of waist triangles, asymmetry of shoulder blades and shoulders in coronal and transverse planes was included between the upper and the lower extremum of normative range.
Conclusions
The research material is a representative group for the analyzed body height and sex, because it was strictly selected in terms of somatic structure, body posture, physical activity and lifestyle. The sizes of the features describing the body posture of women and men with a body height of 180 cm to 195 cm fall within the ranges of the normative posture features adopted for 18-year-olds diagnosed with the use of the mora projection method.
Study on the Influence of Nonlinear Change of Regional GNSS Station Coordinate Time Series and Environmental Loading
Authors: Zhang Zihao , Xu Keke , Liu Yifu , Wan Tongtong , Zhu Yongzhen , Wang Xiang
Published: July 2024

Aiming at the difficulties in extracting the constructive and non-constructive information of GNSS coordinate time series effectively and identifying and removing noise effectively, this paper pro-poses an improved model combining improved complete ensemble EMD (ICEEMDAN) and long short-term memory (LSTM). Firstly, the GNSS time series was decomposed by ICEEMDAN, and then the decomposed components were divided into high frequency, low frequency and trend items by using Hausdorff Distance (HD). Finally, the signal was reconstructed by LSTM. The results of simulation experiment and real data experiment (Yunnan region) show that the model can effectively extract the nonlinear part of coordinate time series. Compared with continuous root mean square error (CMSE), energy density (ET) and correlation coefficient rule, HD can effectively identify and eliminate the noisy part of the signal. In addition, compared with the linear motion model, this model can effectively extract the nonlinear trend part of the signal. After the correction of period terms, the average RMS of the model in the E, N and U directions decreased by 46.57%, 35.09%, 44.48% and 15.11%, 4.10% and 3.42%, respectively, compared with that of the harmonic model and the ensemble EMD (EEMD), indicating that the model can extract the period information more fully. In addition, this paper also proposes to combine the model with the environmental load to weaken the nonlinear changes in the signal. The results show that: The mean RMS decreases by 14.32%, 9.46% and 4.05%, respectively, when hydrographic load, non-tidal atmospheric load and Marine load are added in the U direction. There is no significant change in the horizontal RMS, indicating that the elevation direction of the station in Yunnan region is susceptible to environmental load. It is also found that the smaller the phase difference between the load series and the load series after load correction, the closer the annual cycle amplitude, the better the effect of load correction.
Theoretical Investigation of Interactions between HIV-1 Tat and p53 proteins
Authors: Koseoglu Sinem , Yenici Cansu M. , Celikbas Sena , Aygun Serra , Altun Y. Dicle , Baday Sefer , Alpturk Onur
Published: July 2024

HIV-1 Tat (transactivator of transcription) protein is the main arsenal of HIV, playing numerous roles during viral infection. This protein is inherently disordered, lacking any secondary structures. This plasticity allows HIV-1 Tat to engage in interaction with multiple proteins and biological molecules, resulting in either collapse of the immune system or severe damage to tissues. Proteomic studies previously revealed p53, commonly cited as the guardian angel of the genome to interact with the Tat protein through its tetramerization domain. As p53 is crucial in terms of whether the cell dies or lives, its interaction with the Tat protein is of broad interest in the pathogenesis of HIV infection. For this reason, we investigated the complexation between the Tat protein and the tetramerization domain of p53 using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Our results indicate that the N-terminal and C-terminal of Tat exhibit different behaviors in their interactions with p53. The N-terminal domain of Tat favours complexation with p53 thermodynamically, while its C-terminal exerts the opposite effect. These results align very much with the previously reported experimental observations. We believe the results reported in this manuscript are significant for developing novel therapeutic agents targeting the p53/Tat interaction.
Temporal transcriptional profiling of host cells infected by a veterinary alphaherpesvirus using Nanopore sequencing
Authors: Tombácz Dóra , Maróti Zoltán , Oláh Péter , Dörmő Ákos , Gulyás Gábor , Kalmár Tibor , Csabai Zsolt , Boldogkői Zsolt
Published: July 2024

In our research, we performed temporal transcriptomic profiling of host cells infected with Equid alphaherpesvirus 1 by utilizing direct cDNA sequencing based on nanopore MinION technology. The sequencing reads were harnessed for transcript quantification at various time points. Viral infection-induced differential gene expression was identified through the edgeR package. The identified genes were segmented into six groups based on their kinetic characteristics. The initial three clusters encompass immediate-early response genes, typically transcription factors and elements of antiviral signaling pathways. These genes were either upregulated (cluster 1) or downregulated (clusters 2 and 3) during the early infection phase. The remaining three clusters include late response genes. In these categories, it is challenging to determine whether changes in gene expression are functionally linked to the viral infection or merely side effects of the infection. A study of gene associations using the STRINGDB software revealed several gene networks that might be directly impacted by the virus. Lastly, we explored whether gene co-expression could be a result of their collective regulation by upstream transcription factors using the Gene Regulatory Network database.
Perceived Parental Responsiveness and Neuroticism as Predictors of Bullying Behaviour Among In-School Adolescents in Ibadan, OYO State
Authors: Aruoture Ezekiel O , Adegoke Mariam A
Published: July 2024

Bullying has been seen as a public health issue given to the fact that it causes psychosocial and academic problems in thousands of children worldwide. This study investigated how perceived parental responsiveness and neuroticism predict bullying behaviour among in-school adolescents in Ibadan, Oyo state. A Cross-sectional research design, involving a purposively sampled 428 participants from both private and public secondary schools whose mean age of 15.06 ± 1.52 years was utilized. A 37-item self-report questionnaire comprising socio-demographics, perceived parental responsiveness (α = .93), neuroticism (α = .62), and bullying behaviour (α = .86) was administered. Four hypotheses were tested using multiple regression, t-test of independence and One-way ANOVA, at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that Perceived parental responsiveness and neuroticism jointly predicted bullying behaviour [F(2,363) = 56.40, R = .49, R2 = .24, p < .001]. Independently, perceived parental responsiveness (β = − .46; t = -8.89; P < .001) and neuroticism (β = .14; t = 2.92; P < .05) significantly predicted bullying behaviour. Results further revealed that male adolescents (= 13.12) reported significantly higher bullying behaviour than female adolescents (= 10.31). Furthermore, the result revealed a significant difference in the mean score of parental marital status on bullying behaviours [F (4, 422) = 4.41; P < .01]. It was discovered that adolescents whose parents are divorced (x̅ = 19.73) reported higher bullying behaviour. More so, the result shows that bullying is higher in private schools than in public schools. Conclusively, bullying behaviour differs by gender, type of school, level of parental responsiveness, neuroticism and marital status of their parent.
Asthma prescribing trends, inhaler adherence and outcomes: a Real-World Data analysis of a multi-ethnic Asian Asthma population
Authors: Toh Ming Ren , Ng Gerald Xuan Zhong , Goel Ishita , Lam Shao Wei , Wu Jun Tian , Lee Chun Fan , Ong Marcus Eng Hock , Matchar David Bruce , Tan Ngiap Chuan , Loo Chian Min , Koh Mariko Siyue
Published: July 2024

Background
Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) is the mainstay therapy for asthma, but general adherence is low. There is a paucity of real-world inhaler prescribing and adherence data from Asia and at the population level. To address these gaps, we performed a real-world data analysis of inhaler prescribing pattern and adherence in a multi-ethnic Asian asthma cohort and evaluated the association with asthma outcomes.
Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of adult asthma patients treated in the primary and specialist care settings between 2015 to 2019. Medication adherence was measured using the medication possession ratio (MPR), and categorised into good adherence (MPR 0.75–1.2), poor adherence (MPR < 0.75) or medication oversupply (MPR > 1.2). All statistical analyses were performed using R Studio.
Results
8,023 patients, mean age 57 years, were evaluated between 2015–2019. Most patients were receiving primary care (70.4%) and on GINA step 1–3 therapies (78.2%). ICS-long-acting beta-2 agonist (ICS-LABA) users increased over the years especially in the primary care, from 33–52%. Correspondingly, inpatient admission and ED visit rates decreased over the years. Short-acting beta-2 agonist overdispensing (3 or more canisters per year) remained high (40.7–46.7%). Between 2015 and 2019, the proportion of patients with poor adherence decreased from 12.8–10.5% (for ICS) and from 30.0–26.8% (for ICS-LABA) respectively. Factors associated with poor adherence included minority ethnic groups (OR 0.73–0.93; compared to Chinese), presence of COPD (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.59–0.96) and GINA step 4 treatment ladder (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.61–0.85). Factors associated with good adherence were male gender (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.28), single site of care (OR 1.22 for primary care and OR 1.76 for specialist care), GINA step 2 treatment ladder (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.08–1.50). Good adherence was also associated with less frequent inpatient admission (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.98), greater SABA overdispensing (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.47–1.87) and oral corticosteroids use (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05–1.14).
Conclusions
Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) adherence has improved generally, however, poor adherence was observed for patients receiving asthma care in both primary and specialist care, and those from the minority ethnicities.
AerialIRGAN: Unpaired Aerial Visible-to-Infrared Image Translation with Dual-Encoder Structure
Authors: Ma Decao , Su Juan , Li Shaopeng , Xian Yong
Published: July 2024

Due to the high cost of equipment and the constraints of shooting conditions, obtaining aerial infrared images of specific targets is very challenging. Most methods using Generative Adversarial Networks for translating visible images to infrared greatly depend on registered data and struggle to handle the diversity and complexity of scenes in aerial infrared targets. This paper proposes a one side end-to-end unpaired aerial visible-to-infrared image translation algorithm, termed AerialIRGAN. AerialIRGAN introduces a dual-encoder structure, where one encoder is designed based on the Segment Anything Model to extract deep semantic features from visible images, and the other encoder is designed based on UniRepLKNet to capture small-scale patterns and sparse patterns from visible images. Subsequently, AerialIRGAN constructs a bridging module to deeply integrate the features of both encoders and their corresponding decoders. Finally, AerialIRGAN proposes a structural appearance consistency loss to guide the synthetic infrared images to maintain the structure of the source image while possessing distinct infrared characteristics. The experimental results show that compared to the existing typical infrared image generation algorithms, the proposed method can generate higher-quality infrared images and achieve better performance in both subjective visual description and objective metric evaluation.
The Role of Exogenous Mitochondria in Enhancing the Survival of Transplanted Fat Tissue
Authors: Li Haoran , Li Zhengyao , Zhang Xiaoyu , Lin Yan , Zhang Tongtong , Gan Leijuan , Mu Dali
Published: July 2024

Background
Despite the pivotal role of fat grafting in the realms of plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery, the erratic survival rates of transplanted adipose tissue, primarily due to early ischemic and hypoxic insults, pose a substantial challenge. The strategic infusion of healthy mitochondria has emerged as a critical intervention for the recuperation of tissues from ischemic, hypoxic, and a variety of damages across numerous organ systems.
Objectives
This investigation seeks to assess the impact of supplementing human adipose tissue grafts with healthy exogenous mitochondria on their volume and mass retention rates when transplanted into the subcutaneous layers of nude mice. This novel approach aims to refine and enhance the efficacy of fat grafting techniques.
Methods
Human adipose tissues were preconditioned with exogenous mitochondria (10µg/mL), a combination of exogenous mitochondria and the inhibitor Dyngo-4a, Dyngo-4a alone, and PBS, and subsequently transplanted into the subcutaneous tissue of 24 nude mice. Samples were harvested at 1 and 3 months post-transplantation for analysis of mass and volume retention. The structural morphology and integrity of the adipose tissues were evaluated using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining.
Results
The incorporation of mitochondrial preconditioning significantly enhanced the retention of mass and volume in fat grafts, demonstrating superior structural morphology and integrity in comparison to those observed in the control group.
Conclusions
The outcomes of this study underscore the significant potential of exogenous mitochondrial augmentation in fat transplantation to substantially increase fat graft survival and, consequently, optimize the success rates of fat grafting interventions.
stDyer enables spatial domain clustering with dynamic graph embedding
Authors: Xu Ke , Xu Yu , Wang Zirui , Zhou Xin , Zhang Lu
Published: July 2024

Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) data provide critical insights into gene expression patterns within tissue contexts, necessitating effective methods for identifying spatial domains. Traditional clustering techniques often overlook spatial information, leading to disjointed domains. Current computational approaches integrate spatial information but still face challenges in recognizing domain boundaries, scalability, and the need of independent clustering steps. We introduce stDyer, an end-to-end deep learning framework designed for spatial domain clustering in SRT data. stDyer combines a Gaussian Mixture Variational AutoEncoder (GMVAE) with graph attention networks (GATs) to simultaneously learn deep representations and perform clustering for units. A unique feature of stDyer is the dynamic graphs it adopts, which adaptively links units based on Gaussian Mixture assignments in the latent space, thereby improving spatial domain clustering and producing smoother domain boundaries. Additionally, stDyer's mini-batch neighbor sampling strategy facilitates scalability to large datasets and enables multi-GPU training. Benchmarking against state-of-the-art tools across various SRT technologies, stDyer demonstrates superior performance in spatial domain clustering, multi-slice analysis, and large-scale dataset handling.
Detection and Classification of Concrete Pavement Cracks Based on Residual Neural Networks and the Bisection Method
Authors: yu zhi , Wu Qiong , Tang Changhua , Shi Qingtao , Song Wei , Si Junrui
Published: July 2024

Concrete pavement cracks can reduce road safety and lead to traffic accidents. Detecting road cracks and implementing appropriate maintenance measures holds significant practical importance. Addressing the low detection accuracy of existing research methods for road crack detection and the limited studies on classifying and rating the severity of road cracks, this study first proposes a COTECANet model based on the ResNet50 architecture. This model effectively detects pavement cracks with a recognition accuracy of 99.8%, surpassing other compared deep learning models. Subsequently, for roads with detected cracks, the maximum inscribed circle radius of the crack contours in the images is computed using the bisection method, thereby obtaining the maximum pixel width of the road cracks. Finally, by proportional conversion, the actual width of the measured pavement cracks is obtained, and the damage severity of the road cracks is classified and rated according to relevant standards. This research can help highway management departments implement corresponding maintenance measures based on the actual conditions of road damage, thereby extending the lifespan of roads and possessing practical application significance.
Chemically induced deceleration of nuclear spin relaxation (CIDER) preserves hyperpolarization
Authors: Peters Josh , Assaf Charbel , Brahms Arne , Them Kolja , Gerdsen Mirco , Herges Rainer , Hövener Jan-Bernd , Pravdivtsev Andrey
Published: July 2024

The hyperpolarization of nuclear spins has enabled real-time molecular magnetic resonance imaging. Hyperpolarized tracers like pyruvate have enabled visualization of real-time metabolism in vitro and in vivo. However, the scope of hyperpolarizable molecules remains limited. We found that specific molecules such as 15N-pyridine, 1-15N-nicotinamide, and 15N-nicotinic acid can be hyperpolarized well using dynamic nuclear polarization; however, the polarization does not persist after dissolution. The primary contribution to this swift relaxation is a rapid chemical exchange of protons and possibly other interactions, which accelerate relaxation at low magnetic fields. We discovered that adding molecules, nicotinamide, urea, nicotinic acid, and glycerol to the dissolution medium, protected the tracers from relaxation and dramatically improved 15N polarization. This chemically induced deceleration of nuclear spin relaxation (CIDER) effect allowed us to observe the highest 15N hyperpolarization reported in literature so far, almost 30% for the biomolecule 1-15N nicotinamide. We anticipate that CIDER will be very useful to prolong the T1 of various molecules, thereby extending the scope and boundaries of hyperpolarization molecular imaging and beyond.
What is Beautiful is Still Good: The Attractiveness Halo Effect in the era of Beauty Filters
Authors: Gulati Aditya , Martinez-Garcia Marina , Fernandez Daniel , Lozano Miguel Angel , Lepri Bruno , Oliver Nuria
Published: July 2024

The impact of cognitive biases on decision-making in the digital world remains under-explored despite its well-documented effects in physical contexts. This study addresses this gap by investigating the attractiveness halo effect using AI-based beauty filters. We conduct a large-scale online user study involving 2,748 participants who rated facial images from a diverse set of 462 distinct individuals in two conditions: original and attractive after applying a beauty filter.
Our study reveals that the same individuals receive statistically significantly higher ratings of attractiveness and other traits, such as intelligence and trustworthiness, in the attractive condition. We also study the impact of age, gender, and ethnicity and identify a weakening of the halo effect in the beautified condition, resolving conflicting findings from the literature and suggesting that filters could mitigate this cognitive bias. Finally, our findings raise ethical concerns regarding the use of beauty filters.
Research Trends Of Clinical Learning Environment In Nursing And Midwifery Education: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Hidigow Abdishakur Mohamud Hassan , Dirie Najib isse , Warsame Zakarie Abdi
Published: July 2024

The clinical learning environment (CLE) is at the heart of nursing and midwifery education. This research aims to contribute to the discourse on the CLE by analyzing trends and patterns and uncover collaboration networks among researchers and key terms in the research literature through bibliometric analysis and visualization. A descriptive bibliometric study was carried out on June 7, 2024. The Scopus database was utilized in this study to gather all the CLE research performance from inception until June 2024. VOS viewer was used to analyze scientific collaborations. The search in the Scopus database found 3179 articles; finally, after the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the number of articles was lowered to 3077. Regarding publications and citations, the United States and Australia have been the top contributors from an international perspective. Key journals such as "Nurse Education Today," "Nurse Education in Practice," "Journal of Advanced Nursing," and "Journal of Clinical Nursing" were critical in spreading research, with large numbers of publications and citations. Prominent author contributions included Saarikoski M., Levett-Jones T., and Henderson A. The co-occurrence network of terms highlights how student experiences, clinical competence, psychological factors, and teaching methods are all connected issues. Regarding limitations, the databases used to analyze the bibliometric data may not include all relevant articles, especially those published in fewer prominent journals or languages other than English. Furthermore, citation metrics can be impacted by external variables like self-citations or citation practices within specific fields or areas. Studying the implications of virtual and digital learning environments, the significance of cultural competency in varied clinical settings, and the incorporation of modern technology like simulation and virtual reality in clinical education are crucial.
A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of ketoacidosis and its causes in patients with type 1 diabetes compared to patients with type 2 diabetes.
Authors: Suleman Yazan Jabr AL , Alhassani Mahmoud Yahia , Hammoud Taghrid
Published: July 2024

Research objective: Studying the local characteristics of ketoacidosis, comparing it with medical literature in other societies, and develop an educational and treatment plan for doctors dealing with diabetics, patients, and their families, which will improve the results of managing this acute complication and preventing its occurrence.
Methods and materials: The study sample included 201 patients with ketoacidosis admitted to the endocrinology department of Damascus Hospital (Al-Mujtahid) between 2019 and 2024. We conducted a descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional observational study of the files of patients who met the exclusion and inclusion criteria.
Results: Ketoacidosis was the diagnosing manifestation of diabetes in 19 patients (9.45%), while the distribution of the sample according to gender, females: males, was 1.2: 1, and the average age of the patients was 42.6 ± 14.3 years, with the vast majority of patients between 20-39 years, and the first type was Diabetes was the most common in our study at a rate of 66.2%, and insulin was the most common treatment used to lower blood sugar in the study sample at a rate of 69.7% of patients previously diagnosed with diabetes. As for the prevalence of symptoms, they were: abdominal pain 84.1%, followed by diarrhea 82.6%, then fatigue and general weakness 72.1 %, fever, diarrhea, dyspnea, urinary heartburn, and vomiting, and when studying the factors inciting ketoacidosis, infection in general was the most common, followed by non-adherence to treatment, then systemic distress, then diabetes diagnosed for the first time, and 6% of patients had an unknown cause, noting that the urinary tract The most common site of infection was 66.2%, followed by respiratory infection 29.9%, gastrointestinal infection 23.9%, and dental abscess 19.4%.
Conclusion: Our study showed a slight tendency for acidosis to occur in females, and more likely in patients with type 1 diabetes. It presents with symptoms, the most common of which are abdominal pain and vomiting, and that one of its most important causes in our region is sepsis, especially urinary tract infection.