bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating the contribution of mobile sources to ambient particulate matter: an indirect methodology
Authors: Sole Micaela Belén Del , Ferraro Santiago Aguilar , Giuliani Daniela Silvana , Balbi Karina Beatriz , Lerner Jorge Esteban Colman , Porta Atilio Andrés , Sanchez Erica Yanina
Published: June 2023

Several countries have mixed industrial-residential zones, favoured by social dynamics and the absence of land-use planning policies. Identifying the contributions of different emission sources to ambient pollution levels helps to guide air quality management efforts. Although more importance is given to stationary sources, recent studies have shown the strong contribution of mobile sources, the control of which is more complex. In this context, it is proposed to develop a simple and indirect methodology to identify the emission contributions of mobile sources to ambient particulate matter in industrial-residential areas, based on existing monitoring networks designed for stationary sources and inventories of these sources and the AERMOD View® modelling system. Mobile sources are usually neglected in industrial areas, but here they are presented as a relevant source to the contributions of ambient levels of particulate matter below 10 micrometres (PM10) due to the expansion of residential areas over industrial areas. The contribution from stationary sources at each of the six receptor sites studied varies between 9.6% and 32.2%, with the exception of one of the receptors, which reaches 99.3% due to its proximity to the main stationary source of emissions. When comparing the maximum controlled values at the receptors with the guideline levels suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO), the latter are exceeded for both exposure periods. However, none of the values estimated with AERMOD View at the receptors exceed the WHO guideline levels. This shows that stationary sources are not the most relevant.
Iso-severity flood hazard patterns in diverse relief and climatic regions to support flood management
Authors: Mostafazadeh Raoof , Khiavi Ali Nasiri , Khiavi Hossein Talebi
Published: June 2023

Floods are one of the most devastating natural events that threaten social and economic conditions more than any other natural disaster. Therefore, the aim of this study was to map the Iso-severity flood patterns and determining the seasonality of flood events over different return periods in in Ardabil province, Iran with diverse relief and climatic regions. Thus, the data of 32 River Gauge Stations (RGS) were used in the spatiotemporal analysis in a 40-year recorded period. EasyFit software was used to determine the most appropriate statistical distribution for the discharge data at 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50- and 100-year return periods. Then, the frequency of monthly and seasonal flood events was quantified in each RGS. Then, the significant trend of flood frequency in each RGS was tested, and the seasonality of flood events was explored. According to the results, it can be said that in the studied RGS, about 63.63% of the floods are occurred in April. On the other hand, the seasonality of flood events showed that the maximum number and percentage of flood events are assigned to spring season over different return periods. As in some stations such as Yamchi, Nouran, Naneh-Karan, Mashiran, Amouqin, Doroud and Pole- Almas, almost 100% of the floods are related to spring and this shows that the floods in Ardabil province are spring floods. Iso-severity flood mapping in different return periods showed that the frequency of floods was higher than the central and northern regions in the southern and highlands of the study area. It is necessary for the southern and Iso-severity flood areas of the province, while conducting the necessary studies, proper planning should be considered with the focus on Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) in order to reduce the flood occurrence in the future and minimize its human and economic losses.
The association between number of oocytes retrieved and cumulative live birth rate in different female age strata
Authors: Wang Peixin , Zhao Chenqiong , Xu Wen , Jin Xiaoying , Zhang Songying , Zhu Haiyan
Published: June 2023

Purpose:
To evaluate the association between the number of oocytes retrieved and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in different female age strata.
Methods:
17,931 women undergoing their first IVF/ICSI-ET cycle in the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University were grouped by age (A: ≤35 years; B: ≥36 years) as well as the number of oocytes retrieved (a: ≤5; b:6-9; c:10-14; d: ≥15). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to assess the OR of CLBR for the variable ‘age’ and ‘number of oocytes retrieved’.
Results:
The group ≥36 years exhibited lower cumulative pregnancy rates (CPRs) and cumulative live birth rates (CLBRs), which are proportional to the number of oocytes retrieved but opposite to increasing age. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the age and number of oocytes retrieved remainsignificant independent predictive factors. (P<0.001)
Conclusion:
Age and number of oocytes retrieved are two independent factors affecting the CLBR. The discrepancy of the minimum number of oocytes retrieved for patients with different ages to achieve the ideal CLBR is instructive for clinical practice. The practice of controlling the stimulation dose is feasible for patients ≤35 years who can achieve ideal CLBR once the number of oocytes obtained is more than 6 while additional stimulation cycles and accumulation of embryos is necessary for elderly group especially those ≥38 years old who need to retrieve more than 14 oocytes to obtain higher live birth rate.
A Model of Hydrocarbon Fuel Droplet Combustion in Supercritical Pressure Environments
Authors: Xie Zhuorong , Li Zhi , Nie Jinquan , Wu Huawei , Wang Hongnan
Published: June 2023

Hydrocarbon fuel as a class of petroleum derived fuels is an essential component of energy resources, and its main application is releasing energy through spray combustion. The evaporation and combustion of fuel droplet serve as the basis for spray combustion. The evaporation and combustion of the fuel spray inside the combustion chamber of direct injection diesel and gasoline engine, gas turbine and liquid-propellant rocket take place at supercritical pressure (ambient pressure is larger than the critical pressure of fuel). Accordingly, the study on the combustion of hydrocarbon fuel droplets is extremely necessary. The objectives of this paper are to theoretically provide a novelty explanation for the physical scenario that the combustion of fuel droplets in supercritical pressure environment result in the evaporation of the droplets instantly, and establish theoretical foundation for the study on the fuel droplet evaporation and combustion that take place after the transition of droplet surface respectively. This study used the equations of mass conservation, component conservation, and energy conservation to describe the physical process of gas phase and liquid phase in droplet combustion, which can be applied to establish the uniform description of the physical process of transition between gas and liquid within large density range. This paper introduces the concept of vapor-liquid equilibrium, mixture critical point and evaporation enthalpy for the heat and mass exchange of droplet surface. In our study the physical process around the transition of droplet surface is thoroughly analyzed as well. This study focuses on developing a numerical model and program for the combustion and evaporation of hydrocarbon fuel droplets. The model was validated by comparison with the data from experiment.
The Quiet Revolution Revisited: Low-Information Voting and Ballot Box Support for Public Transportation in the United States
Authors: Manville Michael
Published: June 2023

I use an original survey to examine support for a large, transit-oriented tax ballot in the United States. Support for increasing taxes to finance public transportation is associated with positive affect for transit, but not with a desire to drive less or concerns about congestion. Most respondents, even those who voted for the measure, knew relatively little about it, partisan affiliation was one of the strongest predictors of support. In combination these results suggest that devolving transit finance to local ballots. Votes cast with low levels of information may help explain why changes in travel behavior are often small after transit ballots win.
The prognostic value of dynamic changes in SII for the patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI
Authors: Liu Ailin , Sun Na , Gao Feiyu , Wang Xiaotong , Zhu Hong , Pan Defeng
Published: June 2023

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes in systemic immune inflammatory index (SII) during the perioperative period of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and to evaluate its predictive value for in-hospital and out-of hospital outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods This retrospective study included 324 consecutive STEMI patients in a cardiac care unit. Blood samples were collected 12h before, 12h after(T1), 24h after, 48h after PPCI, the last time before hospital discharge (T2), and 1 month after hospital discharge. SII was calculated as (neutrophils×platelets)/lymphocytes. Based on whether the primary endpoint occurred, we divided the research sample into two groups, which were the event and the non-event group. Univariable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were performed to detect the independent risk factors that might influence the occurrence of the primary endpoint. Dynamic curves with SII were plotted and Receiver-operating characteristic(ROC) curves were drawn for each node to calculate the optimal critical value, sensitivity and specificity to assess their predictive ability for the occurrence of in-hospital and out-of hospital course. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze the differences in survival rates at different status of SII inflammation levels; Results High levels of SII were individually related with the occurrence of in-hospital period and long-term outcomes during the post-operative follow-up of STEMI patients (in-hospital SII:T1:OR 1.001,95%CI 1.001–1.001,P < 0.001;SII following hospital discharge:T1M:OR 1.008,95%CI 1.006–1.010,P < 0.001). And patients with high SII levels had lower survival rates than those with lower SII levels. The analysis showed that SII 12h after(T1) and SII 1 month(T1M) had a excellent predictive value for the occurrence of in-hospital and out-of hospital outcomes, respectively(AUC:0.896, p < 0.001; AUC:0.892, p < 0.001). Conclusion There is a significant relationship between dynamic status of SII and the prognosis in STEMI patients. This study found that SII 12h and SII 1 month had an effect on in-hospital and out-of hospital outcomes, respectively. Consequently, we should focus on the dynamic change of SII.
Xtune: An XAI-Based Hyperparameter Tuning Method for Time-series Forecasting Using Deep Learning
Authors: Sumita Shimon , Nakagawa Hiroyuki , Tsuchiya Tatsuhiro
Published: June 2023

Given a time-series dataset and deep learning based time-series forecasting method, how can we determine the optimal hyperparameter value efficiently? How can we determine this value without running the method with a large number of candidate values? In this study, we present \textit{Xtune}, an efficient and novel hyperparameter tuning method, utilizing explainable AI, for a time-series forecasting using deep learning. Our proposed method has the following properties: (a) It is effective: it determines the optimal hyperparameter value of deep learning based time-series forecasting methods. (b) It is efficient: it does not need to run the method on various hyperparameter values. (c) It is applicable: it can be used to tune the hyperprameter tuning for the anomaly detection method utilizing deep learning-based time-series forecasting. Extensive experiments on real datasets and time-series forecasting methods demonstrate that \textit{Xtune} does indeed determine the optimal hyperparameter value efficiently, and consistently outperforms the existing methods in terms of execution speed.
Dynamics of ST2 biomarker level under the influence of spaceflight and landing factors
Authors: Pastushkova Lyudmila , Goncharov Igor , Goncharova Anna , Kashirina Daria , Popova Olga , Larina Irina
Published: June 2023

The dynamics of the level of the biological risk marker for heart failure and cardiophibrosis ST2 under the influence of factors of space flight and landing was analyzed. Plasma samples obtained from the venous blood of 14 cosmonauts who had flown on the Russian segment of the ISS were studied. The biological samples collected before the flight, on the first and the seventh day after landing were analyzed by means of commercial test-kit "Critical Diagnostics Presage® ST2 Assay" (USA) by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Analysis of variance analysis of ST2 protein levels in all cosmonauts revealed a significant increase in its concentration on the first day after the flight relative to individual and group average background levels (p-value 0.05). On the 7th day of the recovery period the ST2 protein content decreased, approaching the background value. The obtained results indicate a transient mechanical deformation of myocardium during landing and an increased risk of myocardiofibrosis in the distant period of re-adaptation after space flight.
Effects of traumatic dental injuries of the primary dentition to the developing permanent teeth: a retrospective cohort study of 14 years
Authors: Costa Vanessa Polina Pereira da , Almeida Fernanda Vieira , Demarco Giulia Tarquinio , Motta Maria Giulia Larroque Silva da , Baldissera Elaine de Fátima Zanchin , Silva Alexandre Emídio Ribeiro , Langlois Caroline de Oliveira , Goettems Marília Leão
Published: June 2023

Objectives
This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the occurrence of sequelae in permanent teeth following trauma in primary dentition in children treated at a Dental Trauma Center in Brazil for 14 years.
Material and Methods
Records of 140 children, with complete information about trauma and presence of sequelae, were included. Photographs and radiographs of permanent successors were evaluated to determine presence of long-term complications. Chi-square tests and Poisson regression were used for data analyses (p ≤ 0.05).
Results
A total of 244 traumatized primary teeth were evaluated in 140 children, and 81 (33.2%) of the permanent successors presented sequelae, affecting 40% of the children. Enamel discoloration (53.1%) and enamel hypoplasia (28.4%) were the most prevalent sequelae presented and the occurrence of sequelae was higher following intrusive luxation (53.3%) and avulsion (39.4%). Risk of sequelae was higher for teeth with supporting tissue trauma (RR 2.68; 95% CI 1.32–5.42; P < 0.001) than for teeth with hard tissue trauma. Risk was lower when children had more than 4 years at the time of TDI (RR 0.41; 95%CI 0.25–0.66; P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Prevalence of sequalae in permanent teeth following trauma in primary dentition was high, especially in children with up to 2 years of age at the time of TDI and who suffered supporting tissue trauma.
Clinical relevance: Findings reinforce the importance of long-term follow-up of dental trauma in primary dentition. Close monitoring and knowledge about the risk of sequelae to permanent teeth can help dentists determine prognosis after dental trauma and provide an appropriate treatment plan.
In Silico Prediction of Potent Pan-Janus Kinase (JAK3) and CYP3A4 Inhibitors Using 2-Imidazopyridine and 2-Aminopyridone Purinones via Computer-Aided Drug Design
Authors: Faris Abdelmoujoud , Ibrahim Ibrahim M , kamaly Omkulthom Al , Saleh Asmaa , Elhallaoui Menana
Published: June 2023

In this study, a 3D-QSAR analysis was performed using field-based and atom-based methods with a pharmacophore hypothesis approach to understand and identify the most important features that are associated with the inhibitory activity of JAK3/STAT and CYP3A4. The results for both field-based and atom-based methods showed good performance with R2 values of 0.93 and 0.94, R2 CV values of 0.51 and 0.47 and Q2 values of 0.87 and 0.86, respectively. Additionally, a pharmacophore DHRRR model was developed with a survival score of 5.88 to guide the design of new molecules. This study employed ADMET to predict the pharmacokinetic and pharmaceutical properties of candidate ligands, including solubility, permeability, and metabolic stability, which are critical for drug efficacy and pharmacokinetics. The present investigation aimed to explore the phenomenon of covalent binding between Janus Kinase (JAK3) and ligands, specifically targeting cysteine 909 (Cys909), a crucial player in the treatment of rheumatoid conditions. The findings of this study demonstrate that the establishment of covalent bonds between the ligands and Cys909 significantly enhances the inhibitory activity of JAK3/STAT, thus highlighting the potential therapeutic benefits in the context of rheumatoid treatment. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and MM-GBSA calculations, potentially potent molecules were identified for selective JAK3/STAT inhibition. Finally, retrosynthesis was used to facilitate the synthetic pathway. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of this computational approach in identifying promising new compounds for the development of JAK3/STAT drugs.
Comparison of the LBM snowdrift model output with the observation results
Authors: Tanji Seika , Inatsu Masaru , Harada Yusuke
Published: June 2023

In this work, realistic snowdrift experiments are performed by the snowdrift model. The model consisted of the computational fluid dynamics part of the large-eddy simulation with the lattice Boltzmann method and the drifting snow part of the conventional advection algorithm for representative Lagrangian particles. The observed vertical wind profile of a 4-h drifting snow event in Teshikaga Town was used as the inflow boundary conditions in the model to compare the results of the snowdrift estimated by the model and the observed snowdrift distribution. Parallelization enabled us to simulate the snowdrift distribution in a realistic domain and on the time scale of a single drifting snow event. We demonstrated that the upgraded model could quantitatively reproduce the height and position of the observed snowdrift around a three-dimensional fence.
Irreversibility Analysis through Neural Networking of the Hybrid Nanofluid for the Solar Collector Optimization
Authors: Alharbi Sayer Obaid , Gul Taza , Khan Ilyas , Khan Mohd Shakir , Alzahrani Saleh
Published: June 2023

Advanced techniques are used to increase the efficiency of the energy assets and maximize the appliance efficiency of the main resources. In the recent study, the focus is paid to the solar collector to cover thermal radiation through optimization and enhance the performance of the solar panel. Hybrid nanofluids (HNs) consist of a base liquid (C3H8O2) glycol whereas copper (Cu), and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) are used as nanomaterials for formation (HNs). The flow of the stagnation point is considered in the presence of the Riga plate. The state of the solar thermal system is termed viva stagnation to control the additional heating through the flow variation in the collector loop. The inclusion of entropy generation and Bejan number formation is primarily conceived under the influence of physical parameters for energy optimization. The computational analysis was carried out utilizing the control volume finite element method (CVFEM), and Runge–Kutta 4 (RK-4) methods. The results are further validated through a machine learning neural networking procedure. The conclusions showed that the heat transfer rate is greatly upgraded with a variation of the nanoparticle's volume fraction. We expect this improvement to progress the stability of heat transfer in the solar power system.
Synthesis and activity study of novel theophylline derivatives as IDO1 inhibitors
Authors: Hou Xixi , Wu Zi-yuan , Lou Chaoxuan , Gong Xiaoqing , Shi Wei-chen , Wang Huili , Yang Jian-xue
Published: June 2023

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), an immunomodulatory enzyme associated with tumor immune escape. Numerous studies have shown that it is an attractive therapeutic target for cancer diseases. To identify holo-IDO1 inhibitors with novel skeleton structures, a series of theophylline derivatives with 1,2,3-triazole groups were designed and synthesized by condensingtheophylline acetic acid and 4-aminophenylacetylene.In the IDO1 enzymatic activity assay, we found that compound 3c exhibited the best inhibitory effect(IC50 = 10.07µM). Molecular docking and affinity prediction analysis further elucidated the binding ability and mode of the dominant compounds. Our study suggested that the theophylline derivatives are potential holo-IDO1 inhibitors for future development.
Applied research of deep learning technology in the classification of earthquake and blasting event
Authors: Zhou Shaohui , Li Jian , Zhou Qijie , Liu Yang , Wang Chong , Lin Bing , Zhang Han , Peng Limei , Li Dongya
Published: June 2023

In order to quickly and accurately identify the types of natural earthquake and non-natural earthquake events, this paper proposes a lightweight convolutional neural network model. Since generally an event can be recorded by several stations, data preprocessing and classification based on the event shall be carried out in advance in order to avoid the occurrence of different station waveforms of the same event in any 2 of the training set, validation set and test set. With the three component waveforms recorded by stations after preprocessing as the input, the network model and hypoparameters are optimized by analyzing the average and variance of the accuracy and loss values of the verification set in the five-fold cross-validation, as well as the accuracy and loss curves in the training process. Finally, the classification results of all stations that achieve a certain signal-to-noise ratio for each event are taken as the output of this event type based on the principle that the minority is subordinate to the majority. In this study, 2190 natural earthquake and non-natural earthquake events recorded by the Hainan Seismic Network before August 2022 which contains 53067 waveforms are used to train and test the effect of the model. 20% of those events are selected randomly as the test set. The results showed that 427 of 438 randomly selected events were correctly identified, witch means that the accuracy rate is 97.48%.Among them, the accuracy rate of seismic events was 95.59%, the recall rate was 89.04%, the accuracy rate of blasting events was 97.84%, and the recall rate was 99.18%. To sum up, the convolution neural network model constructed in this paper can quickly and accurately identify the types of natural and non-natural earthquakes in Hainan.
Design and validation of primer sets for the detection and quantification of antibiotic resistance genes in environmental samples by quantitative PCR
Authors: Perez-Bou Lizandra , Gonzalez-Martinez Alejandro , Cabrera Juan J. , Rodelas Belen , Gonzalez-Lopez Jesus , Correa-Galeote David
Published: June 2023

The high prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) in several environments is a great concern threatening human health. Hence, it is vital to dispose of molecular tools that allow proper monitoring of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) encoding resistances to these important therapeutic compounds. For an accurate quantification of ARGs, there is a need for sensitive and robust qPCR assays supported by a good design of primers and validated protocols. In this study, eleven relevant ARGs were selected as targets, including aadA and aadB (conferring resistance to aminoglycosides), ampC, blaTEM, blaSHV, and mecA (resistance to beta-lactams); dfrA1 (resistance to trimethoprim); ermB (resistance to macrolides); fosA (resistance to fosfomycin); qnrS (resistance to quinolones); and tetA(A) (resistance to tetracyclines). The in silico design of the new primer sets was performed based on the alignment of all the sequences of the target ARGs (orthology grade > 70%) deposited in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, allowing higher coverages of the ARG’s biodiversity than those of several primers described to date. The adequate design and well performance of the new molecular tools were validated in vivo in six samples, retrieved from both natural and engineered environments. The hallmarks of the optimized qPCR assays were high amplification efficiency (> 90%), good linearity of the standard curve (R2 > 0.980), consistency across replicate experiments, and a wide dynamic range. The new methodology described here provide valuable tools to upgrade the monitorization of the abundance and emergence of the targeted ARGs in the environment by qPCR.
Spatial Downscaling of Streamflow Data with Attention Based Spatio-Temporal Graph Convolutional Networks
Authors: Sit Muhammed , Demiray Bekir , Demir Ibrahim
Published: June 2023

Accurate streamflow data is vital for various climate modeling applications, including flood forecasting. However, many streams lack sufficient monitoring due to the high operational costs involved. To address this issue and promote enhanced disaster preparedness, management, and response, our study introduces a neural network-based method for estimating historical hourly streamflow in two spatial downscaling scenarios. The method targets two types of ungauged locations: (1) those without sensors in sparsely gauged river networks, and (2) those that previously had a streamflow sensor, but the gauge is no longer available. For both cases, we propose the ScaleGNN, a graph neural network architecture. We evaluate the performance of ScaleGNN against a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) baseline and spatial persistence in estimating discharge values over a 36-hour period. Our findings indicate that ScaleGNN surpasses spatial persistence in the first scenario, while both neural network approaches demonstrate their effectiveness compared to spatial persistence in the second scenario.
MiR-488 facilitates wound healing through CYP1B1-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by targeting MeCP2
Authors: Zuo Chenchen , Fan Pengju , Yang Ying , Hu Chengjun
Published: June 2023

Background: Diabetic wounds are difficult to heal, but its pathogenesis has not been elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to act as key roles in wound healing. In this paper, the role of miR-488 in wound healing was investigated.
Methods: The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using RT-qPCR and western blot. The gene methylation was measured by MSP assay. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration were assessed using BrdU, flow cytometer and wound healing assay, respectively. Additionally, the angiogenesis ability of HUVEC cells was analyzed using in vitro angiogenesis assay. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was adopted to analyze the interaction between miR-488 and MeCP2.
Results: Here our results displayed that miR-488 and CYP1B1 expressions were markedly reduced in wound tissues of diabetic with skin defect, while MeCP2 was significantly upregulated. Function assays displayed that miR-488 promoted cell proliferation and migration as well as HUVEC cell angiogenesis through regulation of MeCP2, while inhibited the apoptosis. MiR-488 overexpression could also accelerate wound healing in vivo. MeCP2 functioned as the target of miR-488, and suppressed wound healing in vitro. We subsequently confirmed MeCP2 suppressed CYP1B1 expression via promoting its methylation status. In addition, CYP1B1 knockdown inhibited wound healing. Furthermore, MeCP2 overexpression abolished the promoting effect of miR-488 on wound healing. It was also turned out that Wnt4/β-catenin pathway was the downstream pathway of miR-488/MeCP2/CYP1B1 in regulating wound healing.
Conclusion: MiR-488 is a potential therapeutic target for diabetic wound healing, since miR-488 overexpression promoted wound healing through activating CYP1B1-mediated Wnt4/β-catenin signaling pathway by targeting MeCP2.
Forcing the wheel
Authors: Hodor Jędrzej , Trotter William T.
Published: June 2023

Over the past 10 years, there has been considerable interest in exploring questions connecting dimension for posets with graph theoretic properties of their cover graphs and order diagrams, especially with the concepts of planarity and treewidth. Joret and Micek conjectured that if P is a poset with a planar cover graph, then the dimension of P is bounded in terms of the number of minimal elements of P and the treewidth of the cover graph of P. We settle this conjecture in the affirmative. To this end, we strengthen a recent breakthrough result by Blake, Micek, and Trotter, who proved that for each poset P admitting a planar cover graph and a unique minimal element we have dim(P) <= 2 se(P) + 2, where dim(P) stands for the dimension of P and se(P) stands for the maximum order of a standard example contained in P. We prove that dim(P) <= 2 wheel(P) + 2, where wheel(P) stands for the maximum order of a wheel contained in P.
Non-invasive sampling reveals low mitochondrial genetic diversity for a Critically Endangered island endemic species
Authors: Peters Catherine , Geary Matthew , Hosie Charlotte , Nelson Howard , Rusk Bonnie , Chester Anna Muir
Published: June 2023

As an island endemic with a decreasing population, the Critically Endangered Grenada DoveLeptotila wellsiis threatened by accelerated loss of genetic diversity resulting from ongoing habitat fragmentation. Small, threatened populations are difficult to sample directly but advances in molecular methods mean that non-invasive samples can be used. We performed the first assessment of genetic diversity of populations of Grenada Dove by a) assessing mtDNA genetic diversity in the only two areas of occupancy on Grenada, b) defining the number of haplotypes present at each site and c) evaluating evidence of isolation between sites. We used non-invasively collected samples from two locations: Mt Hartman (n = 18) and Perseverance (n = 12). DNA extraction and PCR were used to amplify 1,751 bps of mtDNA from two mitochondrial markers: NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2) and Cytochrome b (Cyt b). Haplotype diversity (h) of 0.4, a nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.4 and two unique haplotypes were identified within theND2sequences; one haplotype was identified within theCyt bsequences. Of the two haplotypes identified; the most common haplotype (haplotype A = 73.9%) was observed at both sites and the other (haplotype B = 26.1%) was unique to Perseverance. Our results show low mitochondrial genetic diversity, a non-expanding population and clear evidence for genetically isolated populations. The Grenada Dove needs urgent conservation action, including habitat protection and potentially augmentation of gene flow by translocation in order to increase genetic resilience and diversity with the ultimate aim of securing the long-term survival of this Critically Endangered species.
Digital Transformation in Tanzania's Healthcare Sector: A Systematic Review of Robust Electronic Health RecordsSystems’ Critical Success Factors
Authors: Mwogosi Augustino
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) for implementing effective Electronic Health Record Systems (EHRS) in Tanzania's public healthcare system. Through a systematic literature review, the study analyzed various articles published between 2012 and 2022, focusing on social, technical, and environmental factors specific to developing countries. The modified sociotechnical theory provided the theoretical framework, and the reciprocal translation method synthesized the findings. The study identified barriers to EHRS implementation, including political pressures, societal considerations, and a need for more training and dedication among healthcare professionals. Technical factors were also identified, such as inadequate IT infrastructure and high implementation costs. Environmental factors, including policies, strategies, laws, and regulations, impacted EHRS adoption. Based on the analysis, the study suggests several CSFs for successful EHRS implementation. These include recognizing and rewarding the health informatics profession, developing scalable and interoperable EHRs, promoting EHR acceptability among healthcare professionals, and addressing moral and legal issues surrounding EHRS. The findings of this study contribute valuable insights into the environmental, social, and technical factors that hinder the effective adoption of EHRS in underdeveloped nations. By identifying the CSFs and offering potential solutions to the identified challenges, this study guides public health stakeholders and policymakers to develop strategies and plans to overcome obstacles and facilitate the successful implementation of EHRS in Tanzania's public healthcare system and similar contexts.
4-Octyl itaconate protects chondrocytes against IL-1β-induced oxidative stress and ferroptosis by inhibiting GPX4 methylation in osteoarthritis
Authors: Pan Xuekang , Kong Xiangjia , Yu Qi , Jin Zheyuan , Wang Mige , Lu Huigen , Chen Gang
Published: June 2023

The role of oxidative stress and ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) is significant. 4-Octyl Itaconate (OI) has been shown to have protective effects against oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and has been identified as a potential therapeutic agent for OA. However, the specific effects of OI on the regulation of chondrocyte degeneration, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis require further investigation. The objective of our study was to examine the effects of OI on IL-1β-induced chondrocytes and an OA mouse model. Our results demonstrate that OI effectively mitigates IL-1β-induced chondrocyte degeneration in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, OI exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on ROS production and mitigated the decline in Recombinant Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) levels induced by IL-1β and Erastin, a ferroptosis activator. As a result, OI demonstrated potential in attenuating the degenerative effects of IL-1β and Erastin on chondrocytes, possibly through the reduction of ferroptosis. The molecular mechanism underlying OI's regulation of GPX4 expression in chondrocytes was found to involve the repression of GPX4 methylation. Furthermore, the inhibition of GPX4 methylation was observed to improve IL-1β-triggered degeneration, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis in chondrocytes. Comparable outcomes were obtained in animal models of osteoarthritis (OA). The utilization of OI and Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) mitigated the progression of OA and cartilage degeneration in the mouse model of OA, which was established by destabilization of medial meniscus (DMM). Consequently, it can be inferred that OI alleviates degeneration, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes by inhibiting GPX4 methylation both in vitro and in vivo. These findings indicate that OI represents a promising new therapeutic modality for OA.
Ultrasound evaluation of diaphragmatic function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Milesi Jules , Boussuges Alain , Habert Paul , Bermudez Julien , Reynaud-Gaubert Martine , Delliaux Stéphane , Bregeon Fabienne , Coiffard Benjamin
Published: June 2023

Background
The diaphragm function assessed by ultrasound has been well-studied in COPD, asthma, and intensive care. However, there are only a few studies on diffuse interstitial lung disease, while dyspnea and quality of life are major issues in the management that may depend on the diaphragm.
Methods
We retrospectively included idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients followed in our center (Marseille, France) between January 2020 and February 2023 who underwent diaphragmatic ultrasound. Our objectives were to describe the diaphragmatic function of IPFs compared to healthy controls and to correlate with clinical, functional, and lung density on CT-scan.
Results
24 IPF patients and 157 controls were included. The diaphragmatic amplitude in IPF was increased at rest (median of 2.20cm vs 1.88cm on the right, p < 0.007, and 2.30cm vs 1.91cm on the left, p < 0.03, in IPF and controls respectively) and decreased in deep breathing (median of 4.85cm vs 5.45cm on the right, p < 0.009, and 5.10cm vs 5.65cm on the left, p < 0.046, in IPF and controls respectively). Diaphragmatic thickness was significantly reduced at rest on the right side (median of 1.75mm vs 2.00mm, p < 0.02, in IPF and controls respectively) and in deep breathing on both sides compared to controls (mean of 3.82mm vs 4.15mm on the right, p < 0.02, and 3.53mm vs 3.94mm, on the left, p < 0.009, in IPF and controls respectively). Diaphragmatic amplitude in deep breathing was moderate to strongly correlated with FVC, DLCO, and 6MWT and negatively correlated with the dyspnea and lung density on CT scan.
Discussion
The diaphragmatic amplitude and thickness were impaired in IPF compared to controls. Diaphragmatic amplitude is the parameter best correlated with clinical, functional, and lung density criteria. Further studies are needed to determine if diaphragmatic amplitude can be a prognostic factor in IPF.
Trial Registration:
CEPRO 2022-033bis, 08/11/2022, retrospectively registered
Strengthening effect of pea dietary fiber on mechanical properties and degradability of polylactic acid
Authors: Zhang Min , Chen XuanHong , Fan Bei , Su Qian , Zhang YiFan , Zhou Yang , Fan Wei , Zhang RuoYu , Zhang Yan , Li Long , Wang FengZhong
Published: June 2023

Pea dietary fiber (PDF) was filled into polylactic acid (PLA) to prepare PLA/PDF composites with different PDF contents (0%, 2.50%, 5.00%, 7.50%, 10.00%) by hot melt extrusion. The thermodynamic properties, microstructure, degradability of PLA/PDF composites were investigated. Results showed that the continuity, smoothness and mechanical properties of the PLA material structure were improved, which was attributed to the defects of the PLA material structure were significantly compensated by the appropriate amount (≤ 5.00%) of PDF. The degradation experiment exhibited that the degradation rate of PLA could be significantly improved by using PDF as filler. The degradation rate of 10.00% PLA/PDF composite at the end of soil, aqueous soil biodegradation and in vitro degradation experiments was 134.09%, 210.00% and 500.00% higher than that of PLA material containing 0% PDF, respectively. In summary, PLA/PDF composite containing 5.00% PDF had the optimum comprehensive properties in terms of smooth surface, good mechanical properties and excellent degradability. That possessed huge market potential in the field of material processing. This study combined materials science with food science, which broadened the new research ideas in the field of polylactic acid modification and PDF application.
Hepatitis B virus reactivation in seronegative occult hepatitis B patient receiving ibrutinib therapy
Authors: Lam Lok-Ka , Chan Thomas Sau Yan , Hwang Yu-Yan , Mak Lung-Yi , Seto Wai-Kay , Kwong Yok-Lam , Yuen Man-Fung
Published: June 2023

Background: Ibrutinib is a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor approved for the treatment for several mature B-cell malignancies. Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a well-described complication in patients with chronic HBV infection or prior HBV exposure undergoing cytotoxic or immunosuppressive chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies. This phenomenon has been frequently reported with rituximab. However, published data on the risk of HBV reactivation induced by ibrutinib are scarce. Cases of HBV reactivation in hematologic patients receiving ibrutinib therapy have recently been described, but limited only to overt hepatitis B patients or seropositive occult hepatitis B patients.
Case presentation: We report the first case of HBV reactivation during ibrutinib treatment in an asymptomatic 82-year-old woman with seronegative occult hepatitis B patient (i.e., negative for HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs). Four months after ibrutinib treatment, her liver function test (LFT) was deranged, with seroconversion to HBsAg positivity. Serum hepatitis B virus DNA was quantified to be 1.92 x 108 IU/ml. Antiviral treatment was initiated, and viral load was gradually suppressed with improvement in LFT.
Conclusions: Our case illustrated that in populations with a high incidence of HBV exposure, systematic screening for HBV exposure is essential prior to ibrutinib treatment, followed by serial monitoring of serologic and molecular markers of hepatitis B. There is a need for an international consensus to support the recommendation of antiviral prophylaxis against HBV reactivation in patients using ibrutinib.
A Qualitative Metasynthesis of Stigma in Women Living with HIV in the United States
Authors: Sommer Sadie , Barroso Julie
Published: June 2023

Our goal was to synthesize qualitative studies on HIV-related stigma as experienced by women living with HIV (WLWH) in the U.S. Qualitative metasynthesis techniques as developed by ANON were used to integrate and update findings on stigma in WLWH in the U.S. in 43 reports of qualitative studies conducted between 2004–2023 with 1118 participants. Developed themes explored a collective narrative of women first surviving the intersectionality of multiple sources of stigma, discovering non-linear pathways to transcend their stigma, and finally experiencing resilience through their transcendence of stigma. While this metasynthesis revealed similarities to an earlier metasynthesis in the ubiquity and persistence of stigma, they differ primarily in women’s abilities to find agency in managing and opposing their stigma. This cognitive reframing of their stigma helped women to redefine stigma as ignorance and move towards a more positive assessment of the self. In doing so, they separated themselves from their stigma and the damaging effects of it. Findings from this metasynthesis may serve as a useful tool for the development of stigma reduction interventions specific to the needs and experiences of WLWH in the U.S.
Investigating factors influencing implementation of tuberculosis infection prevention and control in rural Papua New Guinea
Authors: Marme Gigil , Kuzma Jerzy , Zimmerman Peta-Anne , Harris Neil , Rutherford Shannon
Published: June 2023

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly transmissible infectious disease killing millions of people yearly. Implementing TB infection prevention and control (TB-IPC) is pivotal to preventing TB transmission in health institutions. This study aimed to investigate diverse stakeholders’ perspectives relating to barriers and strategies of TB-IPC in rural hospitals in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Methods: Multiple qualitative case studies were conducted with 32 key stakeholders with experience in TB services in rural hospitals. Data collection drew on three primary sources to triangulate data: semi-structured interviews, document reviews, and field notes. The data were analysed using hybrid thematic analysis.
Results: Our results reveal that key stakeholders perceive multiple interdependent factors that affect TB-IPC. The key emerging themes include strategic planning for and prioritising TB-IPC, governance, leadership, and accountability at the provincial and district level, community attitudes towards TB control, institutional capacity to deliver TB, healthcare workers’ safety, and long-term partnership and integration of TB program.
Conclusion: The evidence suggests that a multi-perspective approach to TB-IPC programs is needed for effectively implementing TB-IPC guidelines in healthcare institutions. Interventions focusing on addressing health systems strengthening may improve the implementation of TB-IPC guidelines.
Transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation alleviated the development of peripheral and central symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus in MRL/lpr mice
Authors: Lv Hongjie , Wang Ping , Yu Xiu , Luo Mengxian , Luo Yijun , Lu Haimei , Wang Keer , Xi Anran , Wen Chengping , Xu Zhenghao
Published: June 2023

Objective.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on the development of peripheral and central symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in MRL/lpr mice.
Methods.
MRL/lpr mice were treated with taVNS for ten weeks, and the severity of both the central and peripheric symptoms was assessed.
Results.
taVNS activated tyrosine hydroxylase positive (TH+) neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC), improved cognitive impairment, and alleviated depression-like behaviors. taVNS reduced the number of hippocampal microglia and protected the LC TH+ neurons in MRL/lpr mice. Treatment with taVNS also retarded the development of lymphadenectasis and splenomegaly, decreased the proportion of double-negative T (DNT) cells, as well as alleviated nephritis and renal IgG deposition in MRL/lpr mice. However, when the LC TH+ neurons were selectively lesioned, both peripheral and central therapeutic action of taVNS was eliminated. Finally, the results of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) indicated taVNS mainly LC-dependently reduced the concentration of norepinephrine and adrenaline in serum.
Conclusion.
This study provides direct evidence that taVNS can retard the development of peripheral and central symptoms of SLE, which may be related to its modulating the activity of LC TH+ neurons. Our findings suggest that taVNS may be a potential non-invasive treatment approach for SLE, although further research is needed to explore its clinical applications in human patients.
An interpretable machine learning model for predicting cavity water depth and cavity length based on XGBoost–SHAP
Authors: Mo Tiexiang , Li Shanshan , Li Guodong
Published: June 2023

In contrast to the traditional black box machine learning model, the white box model can achieve higher prediction accuracy and accurately evaluate and explain the prediction results. Cavity water depth and cavity length of aeration facilities are predicted in this research based on Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and a Bayesian optimization technique. The Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) method is then utilized to explain the prediction results. This study demonstrates how SHAP may order all features and feature interaction terms in accordance with the significance of the input features. The XGBoost–SHAP white box model can reasonably explain the prediction results of XGBoost both globally and locally and can achieve prediction accuracy comparable to the black box model. The cavity water depth and cavity length white box model developed in this study have a promising future application in the shape optimization of aeration facilities and the improvement of model experiments.
Revisão acerca de biorrefinarias com base lignocelulósic: aspectos atuais
Authors: Andrade Cardoso Eneida , Almeida de Novaes Galvão Vitor , Lima dos Santos Vivian , Lisboa de Oliveira Manuela , Costa Santos Ronaldo , Magalhães Pontes Luiz Antônio
Published: June 2023

A atual dependência dos combustíveis fósseis contribui com a poluição atmosférica, prejudicando a saúde humana e o meio ambiente, sendo assim primordial a busca de novas iniciativas para suprir a crescente demanda energética. A fim de contornar esta problemática, programas governamentais de incentivo à implementação de refinarias de conversão de biomassa foram instaurados em todo o mundo, entre eles Renewable Energy Directive (RED) e o Renova Bio. Como matéria-prima destas, a biomassa lignocelulósica mostra-se promissora devido à sua abundância na natureza, caráter sustentável e renovável. Diante disto, este estudo visa realizar uma revisão acerca das biorrefinarias com base lignocelulósica, contendo informações de: origem, tecnologia utilizada, input, output, entre outras. Para este fim, foi realizada uma prospecção com estudos científicos e técnicos com auxílio da bibliografia disponível. Os resultados evidenciam que, em um montante de 72 refinarias pertencentes ao banco de dados da IEA Bioenergy: aproximadamente 58% utilizam tecnologia de fermentação, 43% destas estão na Europa e aproximadamente 70% das empresas produzem etanol.