bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perioperative Urinary Catheter Use and Association to (Gram-Negative) Surgical Site Infection after Spine Surgery
Authors: Ansorge Alexandre , Betz Michael , Wetzel Oliver , Burkhard Marco Dimitri , Dichovski Igor , Farshad Mazda , Uçkay Ilker
Published: November 2023

This study evaluates potential associations between the perioperative urinary catheter (UC) carriage and (Gram-negative) surgical site infections (SSIs) after spine surgery. It is a retrospective, single-center, case-control study stratifying group comparisons, case-mix adjustments using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Around half of the patients (2734/5485 surgeries) carried a UC for 1 day (median duration) (interquartile range, 1–1 days). Patients with perioperative UC carriage were compared to those without regarding SSI, in general, and Gram-negative, exclusively. The SSI rate was 1.2% (67/5485), yielding 67 revision surgeries. Gram-negative pathogens caused 16 SSIs. Seven Gram-negative episodes revealed the same pathogen concomitantly in the urine and the spine. In the multivariate analysis, the UC carriage duration was associated with SSI (OR 1.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1–1.1), albeit less than classical risk factors like diabetes (OR 2.2, 95%CI 1.1–4.2), smoking (OR 2.4, 95%CI 1.4–4.3), or higher ASA-Scores (OR 2.3, 95%CI 1.4–3.6). In the second multivariate analysis targeting Gram-negative SSIs, the female sex (OR 3.8, 95%CI 1.4–10.6) and a UC carriage > 1 day (OR 5.5, 95%CI 1.5–20.3) were associated with Gram-negative SSIs. Gram-negative SSIs after spine surgery seem associated with perioperative UC carriage, especially in women. Other SSI risk factors are diabetes, smoking, and higher ASA scores.
School-Based Nutrition Programs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review
Authors: Al-Jawaldeh Ayoub , Matbouli Dana , Diab Sarah , Taktouk Mandy , Hojeij Leila , Naalbandian Sally , Nasreddine Lara
Published: November 2023

This systematic review aims at documenting government-led school nutrition programs/interventions in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). A systematic review of the available literature on this topic was conducted between 25 October 2022 and 15 November 2022 using 15 electronic databases as well as grey literature. The search was limited to materials published post 2000 in English, Arabic, or French. Articles/Reports were included in the review if they provided information on school-based nutrition programs/interventions developed, adopted or implemented by a governmental entity in the EMR countries, irrespective of study design. In total, 158 documents were retained until 16 May 2023. School-based programs/interventions were categorized into 13 types. In total, 298 school-based nutrition programs/interventions were identified. The most common were school meals and school feeding programs (all EMR countries) followed by nutrition education within the curriculum (77% of countries), extracurricular nutrition education (64%), standards for school canteens or foods/beverages available in schools (64%), and training of school staff (59%). Approximately half reported the inclusion of fruit and vegetable schemes (54%) or the establishment of hygienic cooking facilities (50%), while less than half reported standards for the marketing of food/beverages (45%), bans/standards for vending machines, milk feeding schemes, or micronutrient supplementation programs (41%). The least common interventions were school gardens (32%) and take-home rations (14%). Countries with the lowest gross domestic product and lowest government effectiveness score had the lowest number of programs/interventions. Many of the programs have tackled both school-aged children as well as preschoolers. We were able to identify monitoring and process evaluation for 21 programs in 14 countries. Few programs have undergone impact assessment.
Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA: Current Disease Models and Drawbacks
Authors: Leal Andrés Felipe , Alméciga-Díaz Carlos Javier , Tomatsu Shunji
Published: November 2023

Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in the N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate-sulfatase (GALNS) encoding gene. GALNS leads to the lysosomal degradation of the glycosaminoglyccreasans keratan sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate. Impaired GALNS enzymes result in skeletal and non-skeletal complications in patients. For years, the MPS IVA pathogenesis and the assessment of promising drugs have been evaluated using in vitro (primarily fibroblasts) and in vivo (mainly mouse) models. Even though value information has been raised from those studies, these models have several limitations. For instance, chondrocytes have been well recognized as primary cells affected in MPS IVA and responsible for displaying bone development impairment in MPS IVA patients; nonetheless, only a few investigations have used those cells to evaluate basic and applied concepts. Likewise, current animal models are extensively represented by mice lacking GALNS expression; however, it is well known that MPS IVA mice do not recapitulate the skeletal dysplasia observed in humans, making some comparisons difficult. This manuscript reviews the current in vitro and in vivo MPS IVA models and their drawbacks.
Chitosan Biomaterials: Advances and Challenges
Authors: Popa Lăcrămioara , Ghica Mihaela Violeta , Dinu-Pîrvu Cristina-Elena
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this Special Issue was to review research focusing on the development of formulations based on chitosan or its derivatives together with other molecules, producing biomaterials with improved physicochemical properties and effects [...]
Carnation Italian Ringspot Virus p36 Expression Induces Mitochondrial Fission and Respiratory Chain Complex Impairment in Yeast
Authors: Petrosillo Giuseppe , De Stradis Angelo , Marzulli Domenico , Rubino Luisa , Giannattasio Sergio
Published: November 2023

Positive-strand RNA virus replication invariably occurs in association with host cell membranes, which are induced to proliferate and rearrange to form vesicular structures where the virus replication complex is assembled. In particular, carnation Italian ringspot virus (CIRV) replication takes place on the mitochondrial outer membrane in plant and yeast cells. In this work, the model host Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to investigate the effects of CIRV p36 expression on the mitochondrial structure and function through the determination of mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial respiratory parameters, and respiratory chain complex activities in p36-expressing cells. CIRV p36 ectopic expression was shown to induce alterations in the mitochondrial network associated with a decrease in mitochondrial respiration and the activities of NADH–cyt c, succinate–cyt c (C II-III), and cytochrome c oxidase (C IV) complexes. Our results suggest that the decrease in respiratory complex activity could be due, at least in part, to alterations in mitochondrial dynamics. This yeast-based model will be a valuable tool for identifying molecular targets to develop new anti-viral strategies.
Identification of a Male-Produced Aggregation Sex Pheromone in Rosalia batesi, an Endemic Japanese Longhorn Beetle
Authors: Fukaya Midori , Kiriyama Satoshi , Yagami Saki , Iwata Ryûtarô , Yasui Hiroe , Tokoro Masahiko , Zou Yunfan , Millar Jocelyn G.
Published: November 2023

The longhorned beetle Rosalia batesi Harold (Coleoptera; Cerambycidae) is endemic to Japan, where its range extends from Hokkaido to Kyushu. The colorful adults are well-known to entomologists and collectors worldwide. It is a hardwood-boring species with larvae that develop in dead broad-leaf trees. In laboratory bioassays, females were attracted to males, which suggested that males produce a sex pheromone. The congeneric species R. alpina is native to Europe, and another congener, R. funebris, is distributed in North America. The pheromone components produced by males of these species had been previously identified as two compounds from different biosynthetic pathways. In the present study, volatiles were collected from beetles of both sexes, and the analyses of the resulting extracts revealed a single male-specific compound, which was identified as 3,5-dimethyl-6-(1-methylbutyl)-pyran-2-one; this is the same compound as the pheromone of the European R. alpina. This alkylated pyrone structure is, so far, unique among known cerambycid pheromones. In field bioassays with traps baited with the racemic synthetic pheromone, significant numbers of both sexes of R. batesi were attracted in an approximately equal ratio, indicating that the compound is an aggregation-sex pheromone rather than a sex pheromone.
Optimal Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy with Conduction System Pacing Guided by Electro-Anatomical Mapping: A Case Report
Authors: Pestrea Catalin , Enache Roxana , Cicala Ecaterina , Vatasescu Radu
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Biventricular pacing has been the gold standard for cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with left bundle branch block and severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction for decades. However, in the past few years, this role has been challenged by the promising results of conduction system pacing in these patients, which has proven non-inferior and, at times, superior to biventricular pacing regarding left ventricular function outcomes. One of the most important limitations of both procedures is the long fluoroscopy times. Case description: We present the case of a 60-year-old patient with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block in whom conduction system pacing was chosen as the first option for resynchronization therapy. A 3D electro-anatomical mapping system was used to guide the lead to the His bundle region, where correction was observed at high amplitudes, and afterward to the optimal septal penetration site. After reaching the left endocardium, left bundle branch pacing achieved a narrow, paced QRS complex with low fluoroscopy exposure. The three-month follow-up showed a significant improvement in clinical status and left ventricular function. Conclusion: Since conduction system pacing requires a great deal of precision, targeting specific, narrow structures inside the heart, 3D mapping is a valuable tool that increases the chances of success, especially in patients with complex anatomies, such as those with indications for cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Secondary Metabolites from Fungi Microsphaeropsis spp.: Chemistry and Bioactivities
Authors: Song Guodong , Zhang Zhibin , Niu Xuenan , Zhu Du
Published: November 2023

Microsphaeropsis, taxonomically classified within the kingdom fungi, phylum Ascomycota, subphylum Deuteromycotina, class Coelomycetes, order Sphaeropsidales, and family Sphaeropsidaceae, exhibit a ubiquitous distribution across various geographical regions. These fungi are known for their production of secondary metabolites, characterized by both structural novelty and potent biological activity. Consequently, they represent a significant reservoir for the advancement of novel pharmaceuticals. In this paper, a systematic review was present, marking the analysis of secondary metabolites synthesized by Microsphaeropsis reported between 1980 and 2023. A total of 112 compounds, comprising polyketones, macrolides, terpenoids, and nitrogen-containing compounds, were reported from Microsphaeropsis. Remarkably, among these compounds, 49 are novel discoveries, marking a significant contribution to the field. A concise summary of their diverse biological activities was provided, including antibacterial, antitumor, and antiviral properties and other bioactivities. This analysis stands as a valuable reference, poised to guide further investigations into the active natural products derived from Microsphaeropsis and their potential contributions to the development of medicinal resources.
Implementing Triple Entry Accounting as an Audit Tool—An Extension to Modern Accounting Systems
Authors: Sunde Torje Vingen , Wright Craig S.
Published: November 2023

Despite the technological leaps modern accounting systems have brought about, fraud is still prevalent. This necessitates spending time and money on audits. Connecting modern accounting ledgers to a public blockchain would make accounting records easily verifiable, aiding the audit evidence gathering and analytics process. Continuous audits will be made viable by readily available audit evidence from the public blockchain. The proposed audit solution creates verifiable “Financial Fingerprints” (signed indexes) for every accounting entry. These Financial Fingerprints are then published to a certain range of addresses on the public blockchain. The objective is to help accounting ledgers be structured in a Triple Entry Accounting format. The third entry can be defined as publishing a notarized index of each accounting entry to the public blockchain. The crux of Triple Entry Accounting is atomicity, meaning there can only be one book. Trying to present an alternative set of books would still be possible, but it would be automatically detected. The method used to achieve the objective can be presented as two value propositions. The first value proposition of Triple Entry Accounting is to define a provable official true set of books. This is important because it is a door into the market without being dependent on network effects. The second value proposition of Triple Entry Accounting is to break down the data silos by using the blockchain as a shared ledger and thus help auditors immensely in their tedious work to gather sufficient and appropriate audit evidence. Because of value proposition number one, Triple Entry Accounting presents standalone value even before the network effect begins. The result of this is an open standardized protocol for implementing Triple Entry Accounting as an extension to modern accounting systems.
Abstract Priming and the Lexical Boost Effect across Development in a Structurally Biased Language
Authors: Kholodova Alina , Peter Michelle , Rowland Caroline F. , Jacob Gunnar , Allen Shanley E. M.
Published: November 2023

The present study investigates the developmental trajectory of abstract representations for syntactic structures in children. In a structural priming experiment on the dative alternation in German, we primed children from three different age groups (3–4 years, 5–6 years, 7–8 years) and adults with double object datives (Dora sent Boots the rabbit) or prepositional object datives (Dora sent the rabbit to Boots). Importantly, the prepositional object structure in German is dispreferred and only rarely encountered by young children. While immediate as well as cumulative structural priming effects occurred across all age groups, these effects were strongest in the 3- to 4-year-old group and gradually decreased with increasing age. These results suggest that representations in young children are less stable than in adults and, therefore, more susceptible to adaptation both immediately and across time, presumably due to stronger surprisal. Lexical boost effects, in contrast, were not present in 3- to 4-year-olds but gradually emerged with increasing age, possibly due to limited working-memory capacity in the younger child groups.
Exploring Grammatical Gender Agreement in Russian Learners of Greek: An Eye-Tracking Study
Authors: Tantos Alexandros , Amvrazis Nikolaos , Angelou Konstantinos , Kosmidis Kosmas
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the acquisition of grammatical gender in Russian learners of Greek. Agreement in Determiner-Noun (Det-N) and Adjective-Noun (Adj-N) dependencies is explored through eye-tracking registration in a reading-based design. Twenty-four intermediate learners read short texts embedded with agreement violations, and then responded to a comprehension task. The study implemented a two-level triangulation by drawing its stimuli from the Greek Learner Corpus II (GLCII) and contrasting, at a first level, the findings with comparable offline data that were previously obtained from the same corpus. The second level entailed a contrast between the online evidence and the offline data that were collected through a post-reading questionnaire right after the online eye-tracking session. This questionnaire explored whether longer fixations on agreement violations are associated with explicit awareness of the study’s focus. To anticipate the outcome of the study, the gender agreement data suggests that the abstract gender feature is present in the developing grammar of Russian learners of Greek. Moreover, the participants seem to effectively deal with the syntactic computations underlying nominal agreement, though efficacy varies across the structures that have been examined. Apart from this, certain suggestions are made considering the research paradigm followed.
Photonic Bound States in the Continuum in Nanostructures
Authors: Zhong Hongkun , He Tiantian , Meng Yuan , Xiao Qirong
Published: November 2023

Bound states in the continuum (BIC) have garnered considerable attention recently for their unique capacity to confine electromagnetic waves within an open or non-Hermitian system. Utilizing a variety of light confinement mechanisms, nanostructures can achieve ultra-high quality factors and intense field localization with BIC, offering advantages such as long-living resonance modes, adaptable light control, and enhanced light-matter interactions, paving the way for innovative developments in photonics. This review outlines novel functionality and performance enhancements by synergizing optical BIC with diverse nanostructures, delivering an in-depth analysis of BIC designs in gratings, photonic crystals, waveguides, and metasurfaces. Additionally, we showcase the latest advancements of BIC in 2D material platforms and suggest potential trajectories for future research.
Fuzzy Differential Subordination Associated with a General Linear Transformation
Authors: Malik Sarfraz Nawaz , Khan Nazar , Tawfiq Ferdous M. O. , Khan Mohammad Faisal , Ahmad Qazi Zahoor , Xin Qin
Published: November 2023

In this study, we investigate a possible relationship between fuzzy differential subordination and the theory of geometric functions. First, using the Al-Oboudi differential operator and the Babalola convolution operator, we establish the new operator BSα,λm,t:An→An in the open unit disc U. The second step is to develop fuzzy differential subordination for the operator BSα,λm,t. By considering linear transformations of the operator BSα,λm,t, we define a new fuzzy class of analytic functions in U which we denote by Tϝλ,t(m,α,δ). Several innovative results are found using the concept of fuzzy differential subordination and the operator BSα,λm,t for the function f in the class Tϝλ,t(m,α,δ). In addition, we explore a number of examples and corollaries to illustrate the implications of our key findings. Finally, we highlight several established results to demonstrate the connections between our work and existing studies.
A Study on Double-Headed Entities and Relations Prediction Framework for Joint Triple Extraction
Authors: Xiao Yanbing , Chen Guorong , Du Chongling , Li Lang , Yuan Yu , Zou Jincheng , Liu Jingcheng
Published: November 2023

Relational triple extraction, a fundamental procedure in natural language processing knowledge graph construction, assumes a crucial and irreplaceable role in the domain of academic research related to information extraction. In this paper, we propose a Double-Headed Entities and Relations Prediction (DERP) framework, which divides the entity recognition process into two stages: head entity recognition and tail entity recognition, using the obtained head and tail entities as inputs. By utilizing the corresponding relation and the corresponding entity, the DERP framework further incorporates a triple prediction module to improve the accuracy and completeness of the joint relation triple extraction. We conducted experiments on two English datasets, NYT and WebNLG, and two Chinese datasets, DuIE2.0 and CMeIE-V2, and compared the English dataset experimental results with those derived from ten baseline models. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed DERP framework for triple extraction.
Fast Method for Estimating the Parameters of Partial Differential Equations from Inaccurate Observations
Authors: Tsitsiashvili Gurami , Gudimenko Alexey , Osipova Marina
Published: November 2023

In this paper, the problems of estimating the parameters of partial differential equations from numerous observations in the vicinity of some reference points are considered. The paper is devoted to estimating the diffusion coefficient in the diffusion equation and the parameters of one-soliton solutions of nonlinear partial differential equations. When estimating the diffusion coefficient, it was necessary to construct an estimate of the second derivative based on inaccurate observations of the solution of the diffusion equation. This procedure required consideration of two reference points when determining the first and second partial derivatives of the solution of the diffusion equation. To analyse one-soliton solutions of partial differential equations, a series of techniques have been developed that allow one to estimate the parameters of the solution itself, but not its equation. These techniques are used to estimate the parameters of one-soliton solutions of the equations kdv, mkdv, Sine–Gordon, Burgers and nonlinear Schrodinger. All the considered estimates were tested during computational experiments.
Synthetic Data Generation Based on RDB-CycleGAN for Industrial Object Detection
Authors: Hu Jiwei , Xiao Feng , Jin Qiwen , Zhao Guangpeng , Lou Ping
Published: November 2023

Deep learning-based methods have demonstrated remarkable success in object detection tasks when abundant training data are available. However, in the industrial domain, acquiring a sufficient amount of training data has been a challenge. Currently, many synthetic datasets are created using 3D modeling software, which can simulate real-world scenarios and objects but often cannot achieve complete accuracy and realism. In this paper, we propose a synthetic data generation framework for industrial object detection tasks based on image-to-image translation. To address the issue of low image quality that can arise during the image translation process, we have replaced the original feature extraction module with the Residual Dense Block (RDB) module. We employ the RDB-CycleGAN network to transform CAD models into realistic images. Additionally, we have introduced the SSIM loss function to strengthen the network constraints of the generator and conducted a quantitative analysis of the improved RDB-CycleGAN-generated synthetic data. To evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed method, the synthetic data we generate effectively enhance the performance of object detection algorithms on real images. Compared to using CAD models directly, synthetic data adapt better to real-world scenarios and improve the model’s generalization ability.
Structure of Analytical and Numerical Wave Solutions for the Nonlinear (1 + 1)-Coupled Drinfel’d–Sokolov–Wilson System Arising in Shallow Water Waves
Authors: Alhejaili Sumayah Hamzah , Alharbi Abdulghani
Published: November 2023

In this article, we successfully obtain novel solutions for the coupled Drinfel’d–Sokolov–Wilson DSW system utilizing various methods. These include soliton solutions characterized by hyperbolic, rational, and trigonometric functions. Specifically, the generalized exponential rational function method (GERFM) and a modified version of the new Kudryashov method (MVNK) are employed to derive diverse soliton solutions for the system. Additionally, we demonstrate numerical solutions for the coupled Drinfel’d–Sokolov–Wilson system using adaptive moving mesh and uniform mesh methods. Also, we study the stability and error analysis of the numerical schemes. To validate the accuracy and reliability of the exact solutions obtained through analytical methods, we compare them with the numerical solutions both analytically and graphically. The techniques presented in this article are deemed suitable and acceptable and can be effectively applied to solve other nonlinear evolution systems.
Effects of Epigenetic Modification and High Hydrostatic Pressure on Polyketide Synthase Genes and Secondary Metabolites of Alternaria alternata Derived from the Mariana Trench Sediments
Authors: Peng Qingqing , Li Yongqi , Fang Jiasong , Yu Xi
Published: November 2023

The hadal biosphere is the most mysterious ecosystem on the planet, located in a unique and extreme environment on Earth. To adapt to extreme environmental conditions, hadal microorganisms evolve special strategies and metabolisms to survive and reproduce. However, the secondary metabolites of the hadal microorganisms are poorly understood. In this study, we focused on the isolation and characterization of hadal fungi, screening the potential strains with bioactive natural products. The isolates obtained were detected further for the polyketide synthase (PKS) genes. Two isolates of Alternaria alternata were picked up as the representatives, which had the potential to synthesize active natural products. The epigenetic modifiers were used for the two A. alternata isolates to stimulate functional gene expression in hadal fungi under laboratory conditions. The results showed that the chemical epigenetic modifier, 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza), affected the phenotype, PKS gene expression, production of secondary metabolites, and antimicrobial activity of the hadal fungus A. alternata. The influence of epigenetic modification on natural products was strongest when the concentration of 5-Aza was 50 μM. Furthermore, the modification of epigenetic agents on hadal fungi under high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) of 40 MPa displayed significant effects on PKS gene expression, and also activated the production of new compounds. Our study demonstrates the high biosynthetic potential of cultivable hadal fungi, but also provides evidence for the utility of chemical epigenetic modifiers on active natural products from hadal fungi, providing new ideas for the development and exploitation of microbial resources in extreme environments.
Coenzyme Q in Thraustochytrium sp. RT2316-16: Effect of the Medium Composition
Authors: Flores Liset , Shene Carolina , Asenjo Juan A. , Chisti Yusuf
Published: November 2023

Coenzyme Q (CoQ; ubiquinone) is an essential component of the respiratory chain. It is also a potent antioxidant that prevents oxidative damage to DNA, biological membranes, and lipoproteins. CoQ comprises a six-carbon ring with polar substituents that interact with electron acceptors and donors, and a hydrophobic polyisoprenoid chain that allows for its localization in cellular membranes. Human CoQ has 10 isoprenoid units (CoQ10) within the polyisoprenoid chain. Few microorganisms produce CoQ10. This work shows that Thraustochytrium sp. RT2316-16 produces CoQ10 and CoQ9. The CoQ10 content in RT2316-16 depended strongly on the composition of the growth medium and the age of the culture, whereas the CoQ9 content was less variable probably because it served a different function in the cell. Adding p-hydroxybenzoic acid to the culture media positively influenced the CoQ10 content of the cell. The absence of some B vitamins and p-aminobenzoic acid in the culture medium negatively affected the growth of RT2316-16, but reduced the decline in CoQ10 that otherwise occurred during growth. The highest content of CoQ9 and CoQ10 in the biomass were 855 μg g−1 and 10 mg g−1, respectively. The results presented here suggest that the thraustochytrid RT2316-16 can be a potential vehicle for producing CoQ10. Metabolic signals that trigger the synthesis of CoQ10 in RT2316-16 need to be determined for optimizing culture conditions.
Orthodontic Implementation of Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting Some Linear Dental Arch Measurements and Preventing Anterior Segment Malocclusion: A Prospective Study
Authors: Rauf Aras Maruf , Mahmood Trefa Mohammed Ali , Mohammed Miran Hikmat , Omer Zana Qadir , Kareem Fadil Abdullah
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: Orthodontics is a field that has seen significant advancements in recent years, with technology playing a crucial role in improving diagnosis and treatment planning. The study aimed to implement artificial intelligence to predict the arch width as a preventive measure to avoid future crowding in growing patients or even in adult patients seeking orthodontic treatment as a tool for orthodontic diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and fifty intraoral scan (IOS) images were selected from orthodontic patients seeking treatment in private orthodontic centers. Real inter-canine, inter-premolar, and inter-molar widths were measured digitally. Two of the main machine learning models were used: the Python programming language and machine learning algorithms, implementing the data on k-nearest neighbor and linear regression. Results: After the dataset had been implemented on the two ML algorithms, linear regression and k-nearest neighbor, the evaluation metric shows that KNN gives better prediction accuracy than LR does. The resulting accuracy was around 99%. Conclusions: it is possible to leverage machine learning to enhance orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning by predicting linear dental arch measurements and preventing anterior segment malocclusion.
A Ten-Year Retrospective Cohort Study on Neck Collar Immobilization in Trauma Patients with Head and Neck Injuries
Authors: Lee Shu-Jui , Jian Lin , Liu Chi-Yuan , Tzeng I-Shiang , Chien Da-Sen , Hou Yueh-Tseng , Lin Po-Chen , Chen Yu-Long , Wu Meng-Yu , Yiang Giou-Teng
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: In the context of prehospital care, spinal immobilization is commonly employed to maintain cervical stability in head and neck injury patients. However, its use in cases of unclear consciousness or major trauma patients is often precautionary, pending the exclusion of unstable spinal injuries through appropriate diagnostic imaging. The impact of prehospital C-spinal immobilization in these specific patient populations remains uncertain. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital from January 2009 to May 2019, focusing on trauma patients suspected of head and neck injuries. The primary outcome assessed was in-hospital mortality. We employed multivariable logistic regression to investigate the relationship between prehospital C-spine immobilization and outcomes, while adjusting for various factors such as age, gender, type of traumatic brain injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and activation of trauma team. Results: Our analysis encompassed 2733 patients. Among these, patients in the unclear consciousness group (GCS ≤ 8) who underwent C-spine immobilization exhibited a higher mortality rate than those without immobilization. However, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality among patients with alert consciousness (GCS > 8). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that advanced age (age ≥ 65), unclear consciousness (GCS ≤ 8), major traumatic injuries (ISS ≥ 16 and RTS ≤ 7), and the use of neck collars for immobilization (adjusted OR: 1.850, 95% CI: 1.240–2.760, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality. Subgroup analysis indicated that C-spine immobilization was significantly linked to an elevated risk of mortality in older adults (age ≥ 65), patients with unclear consciousness (GCS ≤ 8), those with major traumatic injuries (ISS ≥ 16 and RTS ≤ 7), and individuals in shock (shock index > 1). Conclusions: While our findings do not advocate for the complete abandonment of neck collars in all suspected head and neck injury patients, our study suggests that prehospital cervical and spinal immobilization should be applied more selectively in certain head and neck injury populations. This approach is particularly relevant for older individuals (age ≥ 65), those with unclear consciousness (GCS ≤ 8), individuals experiencing major traumatic injuries (ISS ≥ 16 or RTS ≤ 7), and patients in a state of shock (shock index ≥ 1). Our study employs a retrospective cohort design, which may introduce selection bias. Therefore, in the future, there is a need for confirmation of our results through a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) arises, as this design is considered ideal for addressing this issue.
Processing and Properties of Single-Crystal Copper Wire
Authors: Cao Jun , Wu Xuefeng , Su Chenghao , Jia Hewei , Sun Yongzhen
Published: November 2023

The effects of drawing parameters and annealing process on the properties and microstructure of single crystal copper wire are studied using a wire-drawing machine, heat-treatment equipment, microcomputer-controlled electronic universal tester, resistance tester, and scanning electron microscope. The results show that, after drawing the single-crystal copper wire with a single-pass deformation of 14%, the grains elongate along the tensile direction, tensile strength increases from 500.83 MPa to 615.5 Mpa, and resistivity changes from 1.745 × 10−8 Ω·m to 1.732 × 10−8 Ω·m. After drawing at a drawing rate of 500 m/min, the degree of grain refinement increases and tensile strength increases from 615.5 Mpa to 660.26 Mpa. When a copper wire of Φ0.08 mm is annealed, its tensile strength decreases from 660.26 Mpa to 224.7 Mpa, and elongation increases from 1.494% to 19.87% when the annealing temperature increases to 400 °C. When the annealing temperature increases to 550 °C, the tensile strength and elongation decrease to 214.4 MPa and 12.18%, respectively.
Printing MEMS: Application of Inkjet Techniques to the Manufacturing of Inertial Accelerometers
Authors: Bernasconi Roberto , Invernizzi Gabriele Pietro , Gallo Stampino Elisa , Gotti Riccardo , Gatti Davide , Magagnin Luca
Published: November 2023

In the last few years, the manufacturing of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) by means of innovative tridimensional and bidimensional printing technologies has significantly catalyzed the attention of researchers. Inkjet material deposition, in particular, can become a key enabling technology for the production of polymer-based inertial sensors characterized by low cost, high manufacturing scalability and superior sensitivity. In this paper, a fully inkjet-printed polymeric accelerometer is proposed, and its manufacturing steps are described. The manufacturing challenges connected with the inkjet deposition of SU-8 as a structural material are identified and addressed, resulting in the production of a functional spring-mass sensor. A step-crosslinking process allows optimization of the final shape of the device and limits defects typical of inkjet printing. The resulting device is characterized from a morphological point of view, and its functionality is assessed in performing optical readout. The acceleration range of the optimized device is 0–0.7 g, its resolution is 2 × 10−3 g and its sensitivity is 6745 nm/g. In general, the work demonstrates the feasibility of polymeric accelerometer production via inkjet printing, and these characteristic parameters demonstrate their potential applicability in a broad range of uses requiring highly accurate acceleration measurements over small displacements.
The Archaeome’s Role in Colorectal Cancer: Unveiling the DPANN Group and Investigating Archaeal Functional Signatures
Authors: Mathlouthi Nour El Houda , Belguith Imen , Yengui Mariem , Oumarou Hama Hamadou , Lagier Jean-Christophe , Ammar Keskes Leila , Grine Ghiles , Gdoura Radhouane
Published: November 2023

Background and Aims: Gut microbial imbalances are linked to colorectal cancer (CRC), but archaea’s role remains underexplored. Here, using previously published metagenomic data from different populations including Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, and India, we performed bioinformatic and statistical analysis to identify archaeal taxonomic and functional signatures related to CRC. Methods: We analyzed published fecal metagenomic data from 390 subjects, comparing the archaeomes of CRC and healthy individuals. We conducted a biostatistical analysis to investigate the relationship between Candidatus Mancarchaeum acidiphilum (DPANN superphylum) and other archaeal species associated with CRC. Using the Prokka tool, we annotated the data focusing on archaeal genes, subsequently linking them to CRC and mapping them against UniprotKB and GO databases for specific archaeal gene functions. Results: Our analysis identified enrichment of methanogenic archaea in healthy subjects, with an exception for Methanobrevibacter smithii, which correlated with CRC. Notably, CRC showed a strong association with archaeal species, particularly Natrinema sp. J7-2, Ferroglobus placidus, and Candidatus Mancarchaeum acidiphilum. Furthermore, the DPANN archaeon exhibited a significant correlation with other CRC-associated archaea (p < 0.001). Functionally, we found a marked association between MvhB-type polyferredoxin and colorectal cancer. We also highlighted the association of archaeal proteins involved in the biosynthesis of leucine and the galactose metabolism process with the healthy phenotype. Conclusions: The archaeomes of CRC patients show identifiable alterations, including a decline in methanogens and an increase in Halobacteria species. MvhB-type polyferredoxin, linked with CRC and species like Candidatus Mancarchaeum acidiphilum, Natrinema sp. J7-2, and Ferroglobus placidus emerge as potential archaeal biomarkers. Archaeal proteins may also offer gut protection, underscoring archaea’s role in CRC dynamics.
Exploring Viral Metagenomics in Pediatric Patients with Acute Respiratory Infections: Unveiling Pathogens beyond SARS-CoV-2
Authors: de Campos Gabriel Montenegro , de La-Roque Debora Glenda Lima , Lima Alex Ranieri Jerônimo , Zucherato Victória Simionatto , de Carvalho Eneas , de Lima Loyze Paola Oliveira , de Queiroz Cattony Neto Pedro , dos Santos Murilo Marconi , Ciccozzi Massimo , Giovanetti Marta , Haddad Rodrigo , Alcantara Luiz Carlos Júnior , Elias Maria Carolina , Sampaio Sandra Coccuzzo , Covas Dimas Tadeu , Kashima Simone , Slavov Svetoslav Nanev
Published: November 2023

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the subsequent pandemic have prompted extensive diagnostic and clinical efforts to mitigate viral spread. However, these strategies have largely overlooked the presence of other respiratory viruses. Acute respiratory diseases in pediatric patients can be caused by a diverse range of viral agents, and metagenomics represents a powerful tool for their characterization. This study aimed to investigate the viral abundance in pediatric patients with acute respiratory symptoms who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron pandemic wave. To achieve this, viral metagenomics and next-generation sequencing were employed on 96 nasopharyngeal swab samples, which were organized into 12 pools, with each pool consisting of eight individual samples. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the most prevalent viruses associated with acute disease in pediatric patients were respiratory syncytial virus (detected in all pools) and enteroviruses, which are known to cause significant morbidity and mortality in children. Additionally, clinically significant viruses such as mumps orthorubulavirus, human metapneumovirus, influenza A, and a wide array of human herpesviruses (1, 3–7) were identified. These findings highlight the extensive potential of viral metagenomics in identifying viruses other than SARS-CoV-2 that contribute to acute infections in children. Consequently, this methodology should garner clinical attention in terms of differential diagnosis and the development of public policies to address such conditions in the global pediatric population.
Numerical Modeling of the Hydrothermal Metallogenic Mechanism Associated with the Ergu Pb-Zn Deposit, Heilongjiang, China: An Example of Pore-Fluid Convection Controlled Mineralization
Authors: Liu Gaozhi , Zhao Chongbin
Published: November 2023

Skarn-hosted deposits are commonly recognized as the consequence of magma intrusion within the Earth’s upper crust. The Ergu Pb-Zn deposit can be regarded as a typical skarn-hosted deposit in the hydrothermal ore-forming system within the central Lesser Xing’an Range (LXR), Heilongjiang, China. Although extensive studies were conducted to understand the ore-forming system associated with the Ergu Pb-Zn deposit through using the traditional geoscience methods, the ore-forming process involved in this deposit has not been justified in a strictly scientific manner to date. In this paper, the hydrothermal ore-forming process of the Ergu Pb-Zn deposit is computationally simulated through using the dual length-scale approach associated with the finite element method (FEM). The related computational simulation results have demonstrated that: (1) the pore-fluid convection provides continuous ore-forming fluid and material sources for the Ergu Pb-Zn deposit at the quartz-Pb-Zn sulfide stage; (2) the convective flow of the pore fluid is the main dynamic mechanism, which controls the temperature, chemical species and pore-fluid velocity distributions in the Ergu Pb-Zn deposit; (3) the localized structure plays a key role in controlling the localized pore-fluid flow pattern, which can further control the location and formation of the orebody grade in the Ergu Pb-Zn deposit; (4) the dual length-scale approach associated with the FEM is very useful in dealing with the computational simulation of the hydrothermal ore-forming mechanism involved in the Ergu Pb-Zn deposit.
Characterization of CNC Nanoparticles Prepared via Ultrasonic-Assisted Spray Drying and Their Application in Composite Films
Authors: Hwang Sungjun , Han Yousoo , Gardner Douglas J.
Published: November 2023

The ultrasonic-assisted spray dryer, also known as a nano spray dryer and predominantly used on a lab scale in the pharmaceutical and food industries, enables the production of nanometer-sized particles. In this study, the nano spray dryer was applied to cellulosic materials, such as cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). CNC suspensions were successfully dried, while the CNF suspensions could not be dried, attributable to their longer fibril lengths. The nano spray drying process was performed under different drying conditions, including nebulizer hole sizes, solid concentrations, and gas flow rates. It was confirmed that the individual particle size of nano spray-dried CNCs (nano SDCNCs) decreased as the nebulizer hole sizes and solid contents of the suspensions decreased. The production rate of the nano spray dryer increased with higher solid contents and lower gas flow rates. The resulting nano SDCNCs were added to a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix as a reinforcing material to evaluate their reinforcement behavior in a plastic matrix using solvent casting. After incorporating the 20 wt.% nano SDCNCs into the PVA matrix, the tensile strength and tensile modulus elasticity of the neat PVA nanocomposite film increased by 22% and 32%, respectively, while preserving the transparency of the films.
Relationship between Serum Homocysteine Concentration and Dietary Factors in Young Japanese Women
Authors: Tajima Akiko , Kubo Yoshinori , Horiguchi Sayaka , Shoji Kumiko , Kawabata Terue
Published: November 2023

Homocysteine is a methionine metabolism intermediate and its increased blood levels are associated with a higher risk of noncommunicable diseases. Reportedly, blood homocysteine levels increase with inadequate folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intake; however, its relationship with dietary factors other than these three vitamins remains unknown. Thus, we investigated the relationship of homocysteine with other nutrient intake. We performed a dietary survey on 227 young women using a food record with approximate amounts for 7 consecutive days in conjunction with digital imaging. We collected early morning fasting blood samples the day after the dietary survey was completed and analyzed the serum homocysteine levels. We observed that the serum homocysteine concentrations were significantly negatively associated with soluble, insoluble, and total fiber intake. In addition, participants with high fruit and mushroom intake displayed lower serum homocysteine concentrations, suggesting dietary fiber involvement from these foods. However, we observed no serum homocysteine concentration-related association with cereals and vegetables (well-documented dietary fiber sources) or with fruits and mushrooms. In conclusion, fiber quality-related differences could thus be caused by different sources, including antioxidant components such as fruit polyphenols and mushroom antioxidant and anti-inflammatory factors.
Examining the Association between Coffee Intake and the Risk of Developing Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lee Jasmine , Yau Chun , Loh Caitlin , Lim Wei , Teoh Seth , Yau Chun , Ong Clarence , Thumboo Julian , Namasivayam Vikneswaran , Ng Qin
Published: November 2023

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent disorder of brain–gut interaction with a significant impact on quality of life. Coffee is a widely consumed beverage with numerous bioactive compounds that have potential effects on human health and disease states. Current studies on the effect of regular coffee consumption on the risk of developing IBS symptoms have yielded conflicting results. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine whether coffee intake is associated with developing IBS. A systematic literature search was performed in three electronic databases, namely PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library, from inception until 31 March 2023. All original studies reporting associations between coffee intake and IBS were considered for inclusion. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for each study, and estimates were pooled, and where appropriate, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and p-values were calculated. Eight studies comprising 432,022 patients were included in the final meta-analysis. Using a fixed-effects model, coffee drinkers (any intake) had a reduced likelihood of developing IBS compared to controls, with a pooled OR of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.80 to 0.84). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of the estimates. Future research should prioritise prospective cohort studies that are robust and closely track the development of incident IBS in previously healthy individuals.
The Modulated Role of Toxoplasma gondii on Eosinophils in Psychiatric Disorders after Cannabis Cessation
Authors: Romeo Bruno , Lestra Valentine , Martelli Catherine , Amirouche Ammar , Benyamina Amine , Hamdani Nora
Published: November 2023

The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of T. gondii status on eosinophils count (EOS), the eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR), and the eosinophil-to-neutrophil-to-lymphocytes ratio (ENLR) before and after cannabis cessation in patients with psychiatric disorders. One hundred and eighty-eight patients were included in the study. T. gondii, EOS, ELR, ENLR, and urinary cannabis were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks of cannabis cessation. Highest levels and increase of PNE (p = 0.02), ENLR levels (p = 0.031) and highest level of ELR (p = 0.03) were found in patients after cannabis cessation only in patients positive for T. gondii serology (Toxo+ group). At four weeks, significant interactions between cannabis and T. gondii status for EOS (p = 0.038), and for ENLR (p = 0.043) levels were found, as well as for the evolution between baseline and 4 weeks for ENLR level (p = 0.049). After cannabis cessation, we found a positive correlation between negative symptoms and EOS levels at 4 weeks in the Toxo+ group. This study shows that the increase of inflammation after cannabis cessation might be modulated by T. gondii seropositivity status in patients after cannabis cessation.