bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic prediction of yield components in soybean under Asian rust pressure for early-generation selection
Authors: de Carvalho Claudio Guilherme Portela , Cruz Cosme Damião , Arias Carlos Alberto Arrabal , Lorenz Aaron Joel
Published: May 2024

Asian soybean rust (ASR) has the potential do severely reduce soybean productivity in numerous regions of the world. Developing productive cultivars under disease pressure in genetic breeding programs is limited by low precision in the early stages and the large number of genotypes evaluated in more advanced stages. Information about their subsequent generations can increase genetic gain through selection and reduce the number of segregating lines carried forward in programs. The objective of this work was to predict the average soybean yield components in the F2:3 and F2:5 families and the 50% best lines of each F2:5 family (F2:5(50%)). Genotyping of the F2 generation from the cross of two elite breeding lines and phenotyping of advanced generations (F2:3 and F2:5) under ASR pressure were used to obtain and validate genomic prediction models. Phenotypes included seed yield per plant, 50-seed weight, days to maturity, and plant height. The genomic prediction models used were G-BLUP, principal component regression, Bagging, and Bayes C[[EQUATION]]. Bagging and Bayes C[[EQUATION]] most often showed the highest predictive ability. Phenotyping of F2:3 as opposed to F2 only increased the predictive above of 50-seed weight, but not for the other traits. Phenotyping of F2:5 and F2:5(50%) allowed us to obtain predictive abilities greater than 0.50 for all traits. Using these models for early-generation selection in a target population will allow better adaptation of the logistical structure of breeding programs to develop productive soybean genotypes under ASR pressure and increase selection gain.
Determine Robust Procedure for Testing Variance Equality Using Type l Error Rate and Power
Authors: Patrick Adebayo. O. , I Ahmed.
Published: May 2024

A comparison was made between seven different procedures used to determine variance homogeneity. The seven tests that were chosen for this comparison are Bartlett's test, Levene's test (mean), Levene's test (median), Levene's test (trimmed mean), the O'Brien test, the Cochran test, and Fligner's test. Data were simulated to compare the procedures using different distributions (Normal, Beta, and Uniform), sample sizes (5, 10, 50, and 100), equal samples (n_1 = n_2=...=n_k), and five (5) levels (i.e., k = 5). The power of the test and type l error rate were used to compare the selected procedures at a significant level of 0.05. The findings of the comparison showed that the Fligner technique is superior to all other procedures when the dataset is normally distributed. On the other hand, the Bartlett procedure is superior regardless of sample size when the dataset is not normally distributed.
Community Pharmacists in Vaccines Delivery Services in Nigeria: Perspectives from Stakeholders and Implications for Policy Reform
Authors: Okafor Ukamaka Gladys , Oseni Yejide Olukemi , Odukoya Taofik Oladipupo , Oluyedun Hamidu Adediran , Ajibade Abiodun , Yusuff Azeez Olarenwaju , Okonu Abigail , Adetunji Oladapo
Published: May 2024

Vaccination has proven to be one of the most potent ways of achieving disease prevention and consequently reducing the number of global deaths due to diseases. As a result, vaccination coverage must be prioritised in public health. Community pharmacists are pitched as being critical to reaching wider vaccination coverage in Nigeria due to their position as the most accessible healthcare professionals in the country. However, the factors affecting the involvement of these professionals as vaccine administrators have not been adequately established. This study was thus conducted as a collaborative action qualitative research via the interview of regulatory and professional stakeholders to ascertain this involvement and propose steps to be taken towards the progress of integrating the pharmacists into immunisation programmes. The study results showed that while pharmacists are not directly restricted to administering vaccines, they also are not enabled to do so by law. Also, the uptake of vaccine administrator role by pharmacists would be beneficial to the Nigerian health system and efforts are geared towards the official incorporation of pharmacists as such. To this end, the support of the Government via funding and policymaking is solicited for better outcomes.
Nash equilibrium analysis and determination of the main factor of collusion in the game between taxpayers and tax auditors
Authors: Salimian Salah
Published: May 2024

Collusive corruption, like tax evasion, is one of the most important and widespread forms of illegal behavior, which brings destructive and irreparable effects in terms of negative externalities, both in the economic and social dimensions. In this paper, the modeling of the collusion game between taxpayers and tax auditors in two states inclined willing and unwilling to collude designed for each of the two mentioned players and the results were analyzed. For this purpose, for each player, two states of willing and unwilling to collude and a total of four possible states have been examined and the equilibrium for each cell has been specially examined and interpreted. The most important results are presented in the form of two theorems, which are: If the amount proposed by the taxpayers is high enough for collusion, then the tax auditors will recognize the expressed tax as equal to the declared tax of the taxpayers! And that, like the Granger causality test, taxpayers' willingness to collude is the main condition for collusion in the game between taxpayers and tax auditors.
Deep vein thrombosis in severe community-acquired pneumonia patients undergoing thromboprophylaxis: Prevalence, risk factors, and outcome
Authors: Cui Na , Wang Jing , Feng Xiaokai , Zhang Liming , Yang Yuanhua
Published: May 2024

Background:
Even with adherence to thromboprophylaxis recommended by guidelines, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remains high among patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP). There is an urgent need to identify the risk factors for DVT in these patients to optimize preventive strategies.
Study Design and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 309 adults with SCAP admitted to Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2023. All patients received guideline-recommended thromboprophylaxis and lower extremity venous compression ultrasound scanning. Clinical characteristics, including demographic information, clinical history, vital signs, laboratory findings, treatments, complications, and outcomes, were analyzed for patients with and without DVT in these two cohorts.
Results: Of the 309 patients, 110 (35.6%) developed 1ower extremity DVT. There was no significant difference in the incidence of DVT among the different prophylactic measures (P = 0.393). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed an association between a history of VTE (OR, 20.056, 95% CI: 3.740 ~ 107.540; P < 0.001), longer bedridden time (3 days < bedridden times ≤ 7 days: OR, 6.580, 95% CI: 1.884 ~ 22.988, P = 0.003; bedridden times ≥ 7 days: OR, 32.050, 95% CI: 9.629 ~ 106.675, P < 0.001), D-dimer levels ≥ 1.0 µg/mL(OR, 2.433, 95% CI: 1.123 ~ 5.272; P = 0.024), LDH levels ≥ 400 U/L (OR, 2.269, 95% CI: 1.002 ~ 5.138; P = 0.049), IMV (OR, 2.248, 95% CI: 1.081 ~ 4.672; P = 0.030) and the occurrence of DVT. A new prediction model, including age, history of VTE, bedridden time, D-dimer levels, LDH levels and IMV, showed a better performance in predicting DVT (AUC = 0.830; 95% CI: 0.746 ~ 0.913; sensitivity: 66.1%; specificity: 90.0%) than Padua prediction score (AUC = 0.666) and Caprini prediction score (AUC = 0.688) for patients with SCAP. The 30-day mortality and in-hospital mortality in the DVT group were significantly higher than those in the non-DVT group.
Conclusions: Even received guideline-recommended thromboprophylaxis, the prevalence of DVT among patients with SCAP remains unexpectedly high which is also associated with a poor prognosis. It is necessary to identify people at high risk of DVT early and refine the preventive strategies accordingly to improve patient outcomes.
Quantitative evaluation and analysis of policy texts on Chinese Traditional Medicine’s participation in public health system construction: Based on grounded theory and PMC index model
Authors: Wang Pingping , Yao Jin , Li Yaqiong , Zhai Yuqiang , Tong Xinan , Lu Shouting , Sun Meixia , Deng Chenhui , Li Yingxue , Huang Xiaorong
Published: May 2024

Background: China has put forward higher requirements for the role of traditional Chinese medicine in promoting the prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases and emergency response to public health emergencies, and has therefore introduced relevant policies.
Method: This study is based on the PMC (Policy Measurement and Coding) index model combined with Grounded theory to quantitatively evaluate and analyze the policy texts of Chinese traditional medicine participating in the construction of the public health system.
Result: Firstly, under the guidance of grounded theory, it was used to conduct in-depth analysis of policy texts, explore key themes that exist, and construct a preliminary theoretical framework. Secondly, the PMC index model was used to encode and measure policy texts related to traditional Chinese medicine, and the relevant policy texts on the participation of traditional Chinese medicine in the construction of the public health system were evaluated. The results showed that except for 2 of the 29 policy samples that received poor ratings, all others received acceptable or above ratings, and four received superb ratings.
Conclusion: The study found that the policy text of China's traditional Chinese medicine participation in public health construction covers many aspects of the development of traditional Chinese medicine, including policy support, industrial development, medical services, scientific and technological innovation, talent training, international exchanges and cooperation, etc., reflecting the national pay attention to and support the cause of traditional Chinese medicine. However, the evaluation of the PMC index model adopted in this article shows that no special documents have been issued for construction work, and relevant content is only scattered in various documents on traditional Chinese medicine policies.
Uncovering Active Ingredients and Mechanisms of Pholiota adiposa in the Treatment of Alzheimer's disease: A Study Based on Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics
Authors: Ma Xiaoying , Huo Zhiming , Shi Mingwen , Zhang Peng , Yang Tao , Xiao Jun , Gong Na
Published: May 2024

Background
Pholiota adiposa is being studied for its health benefits in Alzheimer's disease, but the exact mechanism is unknown. We aim to identify active components using network pharmacology and Machine Learning to understand its effects on AD development through molecular docking and dynamics simulation.
Methods
Multiple databases and platforms, including TCMSP, CTD, SuperPred, SEA, GeneCards, Omim, STRING, and DAVID, were used to search for target protein interactions to treat AD. Gene enrichment analysis was done on the DAVID database, followed by GO and KEGG functional analysis on Hiplot. Potential targets were identified using degrees analysis in Cytoscape, and the Aging Atlas database was used to analyze genes related to aging among these potential targets.We used GEO databases to find treatment targets and performed molecular docking with AutoDock Vina. We used LASSO regression and random forest to identify main targets for AD treatment. Gromacs2022.3 was used for molecular dynamics simulations..
Results
Pholiota adiposa may affect multiple genes and proteins, including STAT3, PRKCA, NF-κB1, CDK1, TERT, CFTR, PIK3R1, HIF1A, ITGB1, ITGB3, HSP90AA1, MTOR, ESR1, PRKAA1, and RXRA. It may inhibit protein phosphorylation and play a role in neuron membrane formation and RNA polymerase II activity.KEGG data analysis revealed that Pholiota adiposa targets cancer pathways, hypoxia signaling, and PI3K-Akt signaling. Promising targets like STAT3, PRKCA, NF-κB1, and CDK1 were identified, along with TERT targets associated with aging.The results of machine learning show that STAT3 and NFKB1 serve as pivotal targets in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.Molecular docking revealed that carnosol, carnosic acid, and clovane diol are key components in Pholiota adiposa's effectiveness against AD.Binding carnosol condensed STAT3 protein, reducing surface area and forming hydrogen bonds.
Conclusion
Network pharmacology and Machine Learning studies suggest Pholiota adiposa may help manage Alzheimer's disease by impacting pathways and signaling mechanisms, showing potential in addressing neurodegenerative disorders.
Impaired noise adaptation contributes to the speech intelligibility problems of people with hearing loss
Authors: Marrufo-Pérez Miriam I. , Fumero Milagros J. , Eustaquio-Martín Almudena , Lopez-Poveda Enrique A.
Published: May 2024

Understanding speech in noisy settings is harder for hearing-impaired (HI) than for normal-hearing (NH) people, even when speech is audible. This is often attributed to the hearing loss altering the neural encoding of temporal and/or spectral speech cues. Here, we investigated whether it may also be due to an impaired ability to adapt to the background noise. For 25 adult hearing-aid users with sensorineural hearing loss, speech reception thresholds (SRTs) were measured for natural and tone-vocoded words embedded in speech shaped noise (SSN). Stimuli were preceded or not by a 1-second adapting SSN precursor. Adaptation was calculated as the SRT difference between the two precursor conditions. Corresponding data for 28 NH listeners were taken from a previously published study. SRTs were worse for HI listeners, confirming that hearing loss diminishes access to speech acoustic cues. Furthermore, noise adaptation was negatively correlated with the age-controlled hearing loss both for natural (rho=-0.29, N=38, p=0.078) and vocoded (rho=-0.38, N=38, p=0.019) words. Impaired adaptation contributed up to 10% to the SRT loss of HI listeners. We conclude that HI listeners suffer from poorer speech in noise recognition not only because of their impaired access to speech acoustic cues but also because they are less able to adapt to the background noise.
Genome-wide analysis of the SWEET gene family and its response to powdery mildew and leaf spot infection in the common oat (Avena sativa L.)
Authors: Pan Yuanbo , Niu Kuiju , Miao Peiqin , Zhao Guiqin , Ju Zeliang , Chai Jikuan , Yang Junajuan , Cui Xiaoxing , Zhang Ran
Published: May 2024

The yield and nutritional quality of oats are usually inhibited by plant diseases such as red leaf, powdery mildew, and leaf spot. SWEETs (Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters) are a newly discovered type of sugar transporter that play important roles in regulating plant growth and development, the abiotic stress response, and the interactions between plants and pathogens. However, members of the SWEET gene family and their roles in responding to biotic stresses have not yet been characterized in oats (Avena sativa). In this study, 13 AsSWEET genes were identified, distributed across nine chromosomes in the oat genome. They all were predicted to contain seven transmembrane regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AsSWEET proteins clustered into four clades and possessed high homology with SWEET proteins in the family Poaceae. AsSWEET proteins were predicted to localize to the plasma membrane. The promoter regions of the oat AsSWEET genes contained cis-acting elements related to light response, growth and development, and stress response. Furthermore, the expression patterns of AsSWEET genes in two oat varieties, 'Yanwang' and 'Mulesi', were analyzed after powdery mildew and leaf spot infections. The relative expression levels of the majority of AsSWEET genes were significantly up-regulated or down-regulated after infection with pathogens, including AsSWEET1a, AsSWEET1b, AsSWEET2b, AsSWEET3a, AsSWEET11, and AsSWEET16. These SWEETs are potential candidate genes for the response to diseases in oats. In conclusion, this study provides a theoretical basis for future research into the regulatory mechanisms of the AsSWEETs, particularly their roles in the resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot, and may promote further enhancements to the molecular breeding of the oat.
The association between urinary levels of organic phosphorus insecticide exposure and subclinical thyroid disorders
Authors: Shen Yi , Xiong Dandan , Zhou Huijiao , Wang Xian , Zhao Tianliang , Li Xinjie , Sun Mengmeng , Yu Sihui , Huang Xueqi , Cao Shengkang , Liao Ning , Jiang Lihe , Chen Tao , Li Xiangzhi
Published: May 2024

Objective
Studies have shown that exposure to organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) may disrupt thyroid endocrine function in animal models and in agroforestry practitioners, leading to subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHyper). However, the relationship between exposure to OPPs and SHyper in the general population remains unclear. This research aims to investigate the relationship between OPPs exposure and SHyper in the general population.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study involving data from three cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which ultimately analysed 4779 participants who met the inclusion criteria. OPPs exposure was estimated by measuring urinary composition of two OPPs metabolites (3,5,6-trichloropyridinol and paranitrophenol). Logistic regression models were employed to assess the correlation between OPPs metabolites and SHyper. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on gender, age, and body mass index (BMI), and interactions with OPPs were investigated.
Results
The adjusted logistic regression model showed that p-nitrophenol (PNP) was significantly and positively correlated with SHyper. PNP was positively associated with SHyper in the third and highest quartile groups compared with patients in the lowest quartile. Subgroup analyses found that both OPPs metabolites were associated with SHyper in the elderly and in those with a BMI less than 25. In addition, PNP was significantly associated with SHyper in females and those with a BMI greater than 30. With respect to SHyper, there were interactions between metabolites of OPPs and BMI and between PNP and sex.
Conclusions
Our study suggests that exposure to PNP and 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol (TCPy) may increase the risk of SHyper, highlighting the potential role of exposure to OPPs in SHyper.
Spatial differences in intangible cultural heritage and the dislocation of tourism development: The case of Sichuan, China
Authors: Cheng Cai , Pu Lili
Published: May 2024

The living inheritance of intangible cultural heritage（ICH）has always been a research hotspot, and tourism is considered an important means of living inheritance of ICH. Taking Sichuan Province as an example, this paper analyses the spatial differences in ICH and its dislocation relationship with tourism development by using research methods such as nuclear density, resource superiority, the gravity model and the spatial dislocation index. The results show that from 2006 to 2020, the spatial agglomeration characteristics of ICH distribution were prominent, and the spatial distribution characteristics developed from "two-core multipoint" to "five-core multipoint". The differences in ICH dominance among cities and states decreased annually, the change trend of ICH dominance tended to flatten, and the equilibrium characteristics gradually became prominent. The space dislocation of the ICH centre of gravity, the tourism development centre of gravity and the geometric centre of gravity gradually shrank. The middle and high dislocation pattern of the "C" font between ICH and tourism development gradually formed. A region needs to combine local characteristics, constantly explore new paths to combine ICH and tourism development, and realize the benign interaction between ICH and tourism dynamic development.
Exploring self-reported visual function and vision-related anxiety in patients with RPGR-associated retinal degeneration
Authors: Gouveia Nuno , Chukwunalu Oluji , Oliveira Carolina , Alves C. Henrique , Silva Rufino , Murta Joaquim , Marques João Pedro
Published: May 2024

Variants in the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene are responsible for the majority of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa cases, which not only affects male patients but also some heterozygous females. Vision-related disability and anxiety of patients with RPGR-associated retinal degeneration have never been explored before. This study aimed to evaluate self-reported visual function and vision-related anxiety in a Portuguese cohort of male and female patients with RPGR-associated retinal degeneration using two validated patient-reported outcome measures. Cross-sectional data of thirty-two genetically-tested patients was examined, including scores of the Michigan Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire (MRDQ) and Michigan Vision-related Anxiety Questionnaire (MVAQ). Patients were classified according to retinal phenotypes in males (M), females with male phenotype (FM), and females with radial or focal pattern (FRF). Both M and FM revealed higher rod-function and cone-function anxiety scores (p < 0.017). Most MRDQ disability scores were higher in M and FM (p < 0.004). Overall, positive correlations (p < 0.004) were found between every MRDQ domain and both anxiety scores. In RPGR-associated retinal degeneration, males and females with male phenotype show similar levels of increased vision-related anxiety and disability. Every MRDQ visual function domain showed a strong correlation with anxiety scores.
Lateral response analysis of root piles in multilayered soils based on transfer matrix method
Authors: Renyi Chen , Yin yonggao , He Min , Luo Xiaoguang
Published: May 2024

The response mechanism of root pile under horizontal load is still unclear. The present analytical model is established based on matrix transfer method to research the stress and deformation characteristics of root piles under horizontal loads, in which the influences of the root squeezing effect, pile-soil friction effect are taken into account, and the effective length of the root is studied in semi-infinite space soil. The deformation and mechanical response of the root pile were obtained by writing the response program on the MATLAB platform. The feasibility and reliability of the theoretical method were verified by experimental cases of root pile, even in the stage of large deformation. In a parametric study based on this numerical case, the existence of roots greatly improves the horizontal bearing capacity of root piles. The study shows that the horizontal bearing capacity of root piles increases along with the increase of the installation position of roots and the increase of the elastic modulus of soil. The lateral bearing capacity of root piles does not increase with the increase of root length, there should be one range value of length of roots.
Isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol production in sugarcane molasses fermentation in a microdistillery: pH, refrigeration, and supplementation effects
Authors: Santos Renan Atanázio dos , Almeida Yeda , Andrade Samara , Caldas Celso , Freitas Jonnathan , Costa Clara
Published: May 2024

Fusel oil, a blend of higher alcohols generated during fermentation, predominantly comprises isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol. Despite their adverse effects on distillation and ethanol quality, these alcohols find widespread use, notably in the fine chemical industry. Fusel oil quality and quantity vary due to multiple factors, including raw materials and fermentation conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pH, refrigeration, and supplementation on isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol formation during molasses must fermentation in a microdistillery. The fermentations were conducted in batches that were fed with 25 °Brix must and 25% v/v commercial dry yeast for 10 hours. A complete 2³ factorial design was used to assess the effects of the studied factors and their interactions on the response variables: fermentation efficiency (nf), process efficiency (np), ethanol productivity (P), substrate-to-cell conversion factor (YX/S), isoamyl alcohol produced (A), isobutanol produced (B) and the A/B Ratio between these alcohols. Statistical analysis employed ANOVA and Tukey’s test. The results of the substrate-to-cell conversion factor (YX/S) indicated good yeast performance under different fermentation conditions. The interaction effects among the evaluated factors significantly influenced the formation of isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol, as well as the A/B Ratio.
A New Technology for Documentation Cultural Heritage with Fast, Practical, and Cost-Effective Methods IPAD Pro LiDAR and Data Fusion
Authors: Ulvi Ali , HAMAL SEDA NUR GAMZE
Published: May 2024

Digital documentation of cultural heritage has experienced significant growth in recent years, primarily due to technological advancements in computer science. Documentation studies rely on photogrammetry and laser scanning, which are becoming increasingly practical and efficient. However, since these data collection methods cannot always produce complete and complete data, data fusion is necessary to meet the requirements. For this study, three cultural heritage artifacts were selected. The documentation process used SfM-based photogrammetry and IPAD PRO LiDAR methods for practical, fast, and cost-effective data fusion. However, further research is needed to determine the usability of the IPAD PRO LiDAR method in documentation studies and to assess the accuracy and sensitivity of the data fusion. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the advantages and disadvantages of IPAD PRO LiDAR scanning and to determine the accuracy of data fusion.
From the antioxidant and anticoagulant properties of myo–inositol to ex vivo vascular studies and GC–FID analysis
Authors: Rolnik Agata , Olas Beata , Szablińska–Piernik Joanna , Lahuta Lesław Bernard , Gromadziński Leszek , Majewski Michał
Published: May 2024

A potential protective effect of myo–inositol against pro–oxidant damage to human plasma and rat thoracic arteries has been demonstrated, suggesting that this nutraceutical agent plays a key role in the vasculature and may be beneficial for preventing harmful environmental effects. Aortic rings were isolated from aged (12–month–old) male Wistar rats and preincubated with myo–inositol (0.01–100 mg/L, 2 h). A stable thromboxane A2 analog was added (0.1 nM, 2 h) to analyze vascular dysfunction. The concentration of myo–inositol in the organ baths was determined via GC–FID. In another experiment, human blood plasma was subjected to H2O2/Fe2+ administration, and myo–inositol was added to analyze lipid and protein peroxidation processes. The hemostatic parameters were also studied. Myo–inositol (1–100 mg/L) administration protects proteins against oxidative stress, which modifies the vascular response. A dose above 100 mg/L additionally protected lipids and increased thrombin time.
Evaluating Feature Selection Methods for Macro-Economic Forecasting, Applied for Iran’s Inflation Indicator
Authors: goldani mahdi
Published: May 2024

This study explores various feature selection techniques applied to macro-economic forecasting, using Iran's World Bank Development Indicators. Employing a comprehensive evaluation framework that includes Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) within a 10-fold cross-validation setup, this research systematically analyzes and ranks different feature selection methodologies. The study distinctly highlights the efficiency of Stepwise Selection, Tree-based methods, Hausdorff distance, Euclidean distance, and Mutual Information (MI) Score, noting their superior performance in reducing predictive errors. In contrast, methods like Recursive Feature Elimination with Cross-Validation (RFECV) and Variance Thresholding showed relatively lower effectiveness. The results underline the robustness of similarity-based approaches, particularly Hausdorff and Euclidean distances, which consistently performed well across various datasets, achieving an average rank of 9.125 out of a range of tested methods. This paper provides crucial insights into the effectiveness of different feature selection methods, offering significant implications for enhancing the predictive accuracy of models used in economic analysis and planning. The findings advocate for the prioritization of stepwise and tree-based methods alongside similarity-based techniques for researchers and practitioners working with complex economic datasets.
Early ambulation after total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective single-center study
Authors: zhou guanjie , yao yao , shen ying , you xiaokang , zhang xiaofeng , xu zhihong
Published: May 2024

Purpose: Early ambulation is an important step in accelerating post-joint replacement surgery recovery. However, there is limited research on the populations who are unable to complete early walking in the early postoperative period. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing early postoperative ambulation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients.
Methods: primary TKA patients were included in this retrospective study. All patients were divided into two groups. Patients who began walking within 24 hours were categorized as the early ambulation (EA) group, while patients who began walking after 24 hours were classified as the late ambulation (LA) group. Recorded demographic data included age, gender, body mass index (BMI), clinical diagnosis, and comorbidities. Hematological parameters potentially affecting patients' preoperative physical condition were also documented. Additionally, intraoperative metrics such as surgical time, surgical side, tourniquet time, intraoperative blood loss, and the placement of drains were recorded.
Results: A total of 453 patients (79.0% female, 21.0% male) were included in this study. The average age of all patients was 68.5±7.9 years, ranging from 36 to 87 years, with an average BMI of 27.2±9.9 kg/m2. The mean postoperative ambulation time was 1.6 days, with a range of 0 to 4 days. In univariate group comparisons, an increase in postoperative time to ambulation was significantly associated with a history of heart disease (P＜0.001), stroke history (P=0.003), and prior surgeries (P=0.003). Patients who delayed ambulation also exhibited significantly higher coagulation-related parameters including PT (P＜0.001), APTT (P=0.002), TT (P=0.039) before surgery compared to those who mobilized early. Furthermore, prolonged surgical time (P= 0.030), increased intraoperative blood loss (P＜0.001), and the placement of intraoperative drains (P＜0.001) also significantly extended the time to postoperative ambulation. However, after multivariate logistic regression analysis, only PT (OR 1.86, 95%CI 1.32–2.61, P < 0.001), TT (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.09-1.55, P=0.004) intraoperative blood loss (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01, P=0.008) and the placement of intraoperative drains (OR 11.39, 95% CI 6.59-19.69, P < 0.001) were identified as predictive factors for late ambulation in patients after TKA.
Conclusions: In this study, preoperative coagulation function, intraoperative blood loss and the placement of intraoperative drains were factors contributing to delay ambulation time. Therefore, it is believed that properly improving preoperative coagulation function, effective intraoperative hemostasis, and reducing the placement of drains have a positive impact on early postoperative ambulation in patients undergoing TKA.
Enhancing Analogy-based Software Cost Estimation using Gray Wolf Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Gandomani Taghi Javdani , Ansaripour Sadegh , Dashti Maedeh
Published: May 2024

Human effort is considered one of the most important factors for a better estimation of software development costs. Therefore, the cost of software product development is usually seen based on the amount of effort required for its development. Numerous methods and paradigms are provided for software project estimation. The analogy-based method is one of the simplest and most prevalent methods. There have been many attempts to improve this method, yet, it seems it still can be improved. This research aims to provide a novel model and make use of the gray wolf optimization algorithm inside the similarity function to enhance the analogy-based software development cost. The provided method is compared to four metaheuristic and evolutionary algorithms using four prominent datasets. The evaluation results according to the MMRE, MdMRE, and PRED (0.25) indicate the proposed method provides a higher precision in estimating the analogy-based software development cost.
CB5712809, A Novel keap1 Inhibitor upregulates SQSTM1/p62 mediated Nrf2 activation to induce cell death in Colon Cancer cells
Authors: Dera Ayed A. , Fayi Majed Al
Published: May 2024

Background and Aim:
Understanding the structural basis of Keap1, a central regulator of the Nrf2 pathway is crucial for cancer regulation. The recent crystallographic elucidation of Keap1's structure provides insights into its functional domains and potential ligand binding sites, paving the way for targeted drug-discovery efforts. This study aims to identify small molecule with high affinity against Keap1 as a modulator of Keap1, SQSTM1/p62, Nrf2 function in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.
Methods
A high-throughput virtual screening approach was used to screen the ChemBridge small library against the Keap1 protein. Atomistic Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were conducted using GROMACS, along with Gibbs binding free energy estimations. HCT116 and Caco-2 cells were used to determine anti proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate target inhibition in HCT116 and Caco-2 cells.
Results
Identified small molecule CBCB5712809, exhibited a stable and avid interactions with key residues of Keap1. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated the stability of the protein-ligand complex over a 200ns trajectory. The MM-PBSA analysis indicated a favorable and stable interaction between CBCB5712809 and Keap1, suggesting its potential as a modulator of Keap1 function. CBCB5712809 suppressed the growth of HCT116 and Caco-2 cells with a GI50 values of 40.07 nM and 102.80 nM respectively. Flow cytometry analysis shows that CBCB5712809 arrested the CRC cells in G2/M phase of cell cycle and downregulated Keap1 levels while upregulating the SQSTM1/p62 and Nrf2 levels.
Conclusion
Results of this study provides a basis for further experimental validation to develop CBCB5712809 as a Keap1 targeted chemotherapeutic against CRC.
Magnetic arch plasma expansion\in a cluster of two ECR plasma sources
Authors: Boyé Célian , Navarro-Cavallé Jaume , Merino Mario
Published: May 2024

The feasibility of a novel 'magnetic arch' topology for controllecd contactless plasma beam acceleration is experimentally demonstrated using a pair of coaxial electron cyclotron resonance sources with opposing magnetic polarities, such that their respective magnetic nozzles connect to form a closed-line configuration. Retarding potential analyser measurements are taken for a single source and the two sources with same and opposing polarities, as well as no applied magnetic field, showing that the magnetic arch yields higher maximum ion current and lower plume divergence angle than other configurations, albeit the mean ion energy is lower, in agreement with existing models. This validation paves the way to clustering magnetic-nozzle-based plasma thrusters for space propulsion.
Secondary Transcriptomic Analysis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Reveals Reliable Universal and Subtype-Specific Biomarkers
Authors: Pickett Brett , Rapier-Sharman Naomi , Spendlove Mauri , Poulsen Jenna Birchall , Appel Amanda , Wiscovitch-Russo Rosana , Vashee Sanjay , Gonzalez-Juarbe Norberto
Published: May 2024

Breast cancer is diagnosed in 2.3 million women each year, and kills 685,000 (~30% of patients) worldwide. Breast cancer prognosis for many subtypes has improved due to treatments targeting Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), and Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2). In contrast, patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumors, which lack all three commonly-targeted membrane biomarkers, more frequently relapse and have lower survival due to lack of tumor-selective TNBC treatments. We performed a secondary TNBC analysis of 196 samples across 10 publicly available bulk RNA-sequencing studies to better understand the molecular mechanism(s) of disease and predict robust biomarkers that could be used to improve diagnostic capabilities for TNBC. Our analysis identified ~12,500 significant differentially expressed genes (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.05) including KIF14 and ELMOD3, and two significantly modulated pathways. Additionally, our novel findings include highly-accurate biomarkers from machine learning methods including CIDEC (97.1% accurate alone), CD300LG, ASPM, and RGS1 (98.9% combined accuracy); as well as TNBC subtype-differentiating biomarkers. We then experimentally and computationally validated a subset of these findings. The results from our analyses can be used to better understand the mechanism(s) of disease and contribute to the development of improved diagnostics and/or treatments for TNBC.
Menstrual pain & the economic purse: calculating and interrogating menstrual symptom productivity loss and the Australian economy
Authors: O'Shea Michelle , Varua Maria , Duffy Sarah , Eathorne Allie , Armour Mike
Published: May 2024

Globally rising female labour force participation represents one of the most noteworthy economic developments of the last century. Despite this increase, little is known about the individual and broader economic costs tied to working women’s experiences of menstrual symptoms. To advance feminist inquiry into economic issues affecting women’s working lives and contribute to redressing this knowledge gap, we adopt a human capital approach to calculate and understand the cost of lost productivity associated with menstrual symptoms to the Australian economy. Our results reveal how lost productivity associated with menstruation is estimated at $4,882 Int (AUD $7,176) per person annually. Arising from a menstrual symptom prevalence rate of 90% a substantial economic burden of $9.527 billion Int ($14.005 billion AUD) is reported. Though workplace accommodations enhance women's working lives and diminish productivity losses associated with menstrual symptoms, they are not commonly available in workplaces, an absence we problematise.
The digitalization of emergency department triage: health professionals’ and patients’ perspectives
Authors: Morlotti Chiara , Cattaneo Mattia , Paleari Stefano , Manelli Filippo , Locati Francesco
Published: May 2024

Background: Digitalization in the healthcare sector offers several organizational advantages, ranging from enhanced service quality to cost savings. However, its adoption often progresses slowly and faces challenges, especially in critical settings like emergency departments, requiring prompt, clear, and efficient communication. As such, this study aims to comprehensively assess the factors influencing the preference for digitalized tools over traditional methods from the perspectives of both service providers and users.
Methods: We employ two ad hoc stated preference surveys in which we ask respondents to reveal their preference in simulated triage scenarios. Three main alternatives are proposed: traditional procedures, a fully digitalized solution with no direct patient-professional interaction, and a hybrid option that combines traditional and digital aspects. Scenarios and alternatives vary according to predetermined attributes, selected among the features acknowledged to impact the triage efficiency and efficacy: the possibility to communicate in a known language, the completeness of information retrieved from the patient, the time dedicated to triage activity, and the level of privacy. Responses are then analyzed by means of discrete choice models.
Results: Our findings reveal a preference for the hybrid approach, wherein patients use digital tools to input relevant information, followed by an interview with healthcare professionals. Nevertheless, distinct alternative- and case-specific features can favor the preference toward other kinds of triage. Respondents prefer shorter triage times and the opportunity to interact in a known language, while the level of privacy does not significantly impact their choices. Interestingly, the presence of an algorithm assigning urgency code diminishes the probability that healthcare professionals select the fully digitalized option.
Conclusions: Our results offer valuable insight into the potential application of digital tools in EDs, highlighting the conditions driving their adoption and the key influencing factors. Our findings can support hospital managers and policy makers in developing digital tools that accommodate both users and healthcare professionals, potentially leading to cost savings and improved service quality.
Network Pharmacology-Oriented Identification of Key Proteins and Signaling Pathways of breast cancer
Authors: Shelar Onkar
Published: May 2024

Moringa oleifera is a perennial angiosperm plant widely used in Asia in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. In the study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of the chemical constituents of moringa against targets in breast cancer using network pharmacology and virtual screening. Network pharmacology is a systematic approach to identifying potential targets and pathway networks associated with disease pathology. The steps in network pharmacology include text mining, in which we retrieve multiple genes and proteins associated with disease from different bioinformatics databases. Then enrichment analysis to identify the top pathways and associated targets with those pathways in the disease pathway and the construction of the network and its analysis using software and web-based tools. The obtained targets were further screened by molecular docking for their binding characteristics. In the study, moringa extract was studied for antimitotic activity against meristematic cells.
Influence of personality traits on creativity and innovative work behavior of employees
Authors: Kim Nam Nguyen , Thi Hang Nga Nguyen
Published: May 2024

In recent times, creativity and innovation have emerged as a captivating theme for many researchers. However, the influence of personality traits on creativity and innovative work behavior remains insufficiently explored. The aim of this study is to examine how personality traits influence the creativity and innovative work behavior of employees in private companies in Vietnam. Data were collected through a survey of 261 employees. The research hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) with SPSS and AMOS 20 software. The results show that openness to experience, extraversion, and conscientiousness have a direct positive impact on creativity and an indirect effect on innovative work behavior through the mediating role of individual creativity. Among these, openness to experience is the most influential factor affecting creativity (βstandardized = 0.418), followed by extraversion (βstandardized = 0.229), and finally conscientiousness (βstandardized = 0.169). Creativity positively affects innovative work behavior (βstandardized = 0.563). The relationship between neuroticism, agreeableness, and creativity is not supported. This study has made a significant theoretical contribution by supplementing evidence on the relationship between personality traits, creative potential, and innovative work behavior. Additionally, it offers practical implications for fostering creative activities and innovative work behavior in private companies in Vietnam.
Community Development of Tourism Interest Group Malang Regency as an Effort to Optimize Tourism
Authors: Kusumawati Yudhistya Ayu , Lasmy Lasmy , Gasa Frederik Masri , Renanda Daud Gezha
Published: May 2024

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy Indonesia, especially for the tourism sector. This sentence highlights the importance of tourism to the government. Based on the situation analysis, Malang Regency has an area marine tourism located in South Malang. One of them is the Bowele tourist area. Bowele which consists of a group of beaches (Bolu-bolu, Wedi Awu, and Lenggoksono) is a potential coastal tourism area in Malang Regency. Apart from its stunning natural beauty, the area also boasts significant economic potential in marine products, this tour is also a venue for large-scale surfing activities international. However, this area has not been optimally developed by tourism managers represented by the Boele Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), including resource management human resources, finance, marketing, and distribution. So, this community service activity highlighted critical deficiencies in business management as well as marketing management. Community service through the Community Partnership Program is designed to enact branding that encourages digital marketing activities including applications/ website and social media content as an effort to digitize and optimize tourist areas Bowele Beach. The proposed service activity stems from research conducted by the proposing team's lecturers in an earlier period. During this community service project, the team helps partners develop skills to implement applications/websites and publications through social media content through counseling and mentorship. In addition, assistance and training related to business management aspects. This community service plays a vital role in empowering tourism businesses to leverage social media for marketing and distributing their offerings. It’s hoped this community service project will boost tourism and keep it going even during and after the pandemic.
Describing the Stereotype Lift efforts of librarians: A case study of female librarians
Authors: Montealto Fritzie Niez , Ansao Glory Mae Salinas , Naparan Janus Agustero , Encarnacion Philipcris
Published: May 2024

Purpose. This research delves into the stereotype-laden environment faced by female librarians and the efforts undertaken to counteract these stereotypes. In situations where the worth or ability of an outgroup is questioned, stereotype lift makes people perform better.Methodology. This study utilized qualitative research with a single-case study approach. The participants of the study were five female librarians working within the Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines. The interview guide questions were used to gather their responses alongside observation and some documents. Permission from the school president was secured first before going to the library, which was also similarly done for online participants. The librarians were in terms of their physical characteristics, emotions, and how they catered to the patrons and researchers. In addition, ocular visits were conducted in which researchers took photos of what could help support the observation. After having the necessary data, Category Construction was utilized to analyze it.Results and discussion. The findings revealed the stereotypes the respondents received: stern and sedentary workers. These stereotypes unveiled how it affects their work performance by remaining unaffected and becoming more approachable. With these effects encountered, the female librarians were able to come up with two strategies for dealing with the stereotypes: remaining calm and positively changing oneself. The librarians also promoted equity, diversity, and inclusion by providing equal treatment to all and organizing a club for book lovers.Conclusions. The effect of stereotypes on librarians was not manifested since some of them perceived it as usual, while some let it change them to better librarians.