bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maximizing Three Piece Penile Prosthesis Length: Our Technique and Outcomes
Authors: Celtik Kenan E. , Siegal Alexandra R. , Valenzuela Robert , Razdan Shirin
Published: June 2023

Three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is considered the gold standard surgical treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). The most common cause of patient regret after penile prosthesis surgery is penile shortening. We sought to query a national database on average prosthesis length and describe our techniques to maximize cylinder sizes. We performed a retrospective review of the Coloplast database of 3-piece penile prosthesis cases performed over the span of 1 year nationally and by a single high volume surgeon and compared average cylinder lengths. Our review did not investigate whether adjunct tunical lengthening or girth enhancing procedures were performed. Between July 1, 2021 and June 27, 2022, 145 three piece penile prosthesis surgeries were performed at our institution. All were performed via a scrotal incision. Nationally, 32.8% were performed infrapubic while 58.1% were performed scrotal. The most prevalent cylinder length in our series was 22cm, compared to the most prevalent nationally of 20cm. Our technique to maximize cylinder length involves circumferential mobilization of the corporal bodies and corporal tissue sparing. Corporal tissue sparing is carried out by employing 9” Metzenbaum scissors rather than sequential dilators for corporal tunneling. The benefit of this approach is the ability to create a dorsal compartment to the level of the triangular ligament of the glans, thereby extending the space to the level of the midglans. This maneuver minimizes placement of the prosthesis anteriorly at the level of the fossa navicularis and prevents floppy glans that would otherwise compromise maximum cylinder length. Three piece penile prosthesis cylinder size can be maximized by circumferential mobilization of the corporal bodies, corporal sparing maneuvers, and the utilization of long Metzenbaum scissors for precise corporal tunneling.
Experimental Investigation on Demountable Steel-Concrete Composite Reduced Web Section (RWS) Connections Under Cyclic Loads
Authors: Almutairi Fahad Falah , Tsavdaridis Konstantinos Daniel , Alonso-Rodriguez Andres , Hajirasouliha Iman
Published: June 2023

This paper presents an experimental study on demountable steel-concrete composite reduced web section (RWS) connections for use in seismic areas. Four composite connection specimens were subjected to sagging and hogging moments to investigate the performance of RWS connections under reversible actions. For such purpose, a single opening was made near the beam-column joint. Focus was made on the effects of perforation location and composite beam-slab action induced by bolted shear studs within the protected zone. Results indicate that employing RWS connections for seismic retrofit is a viable solution capable of achieving a performance similar to that observed for RWS connections in new buildings. Notably, a Vierendeel mechanism is generated, hence allowing for plasticity development in the beam, All RWS connections were capable of achieving an interstory drift larger than 4%, thereby complying with the performance targets set by ANSI/AISC 358 − 16, ANSI/AISC 341 − 16 and EC8. Moreover, deformation of the stubs was slight enough to allow for dissasemblage after the tests, indicating that the proposed solution could enable for reuse and retrofit after earthquakes.
Host associated probiotics improve growth performance, biochemical composition, tissue histomorphology, and enhance protection against pathogenic bacteria in Malaysian mahseer, Tor tambroides juveniles
Authors: Hossain Mohammod Kamruzzaman , Ishak Sairatul Dahlianis , Iehata Shumpei , Noordin NoorDiyana Mat , Abduh Muhammad Yazed , Kader Md. Abdul , Ullah Moahmmad Asmat , Emilia Sharifah Noor , Sung Yeong Yik , Abol-Munafi Ambok Bolong
Published: June 2023

The origin of the probiotics, the age and size of the fish, the length, dosage, and technique of application, as well as the culture environment, affect the efficacy of probiotics. Juveniles of Tor tambroides (initial weight 2.53 ± 0.02 g) were used in the feeding experiment to compare the effects of host associated probiotics (HAPs) and commercially prepared probiotics (CP) on growth performances, biochemical composition, tissue histomorphology, and protection against infection. A total 360 fish were fed for 70 days where control fish received basal feed only, two HAPs (T1: Aeromonas sp. KT27; T2: Enterococcus sp. strain KM07) and a commercial probiotic (T3: CP, Bacillus sp.) received experimental diets (1×108 CFUg− 1). Fish from all treatments were exposed to the pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus at the completion of the feeding trial by intraperitoneal injection of the lethal dose (LD50: 1×108 CFUml− 1). The results revealed that fish fed diets supplemented with HAPs exceeded control fish in all growth metrics and had higher post-challenge test survival (%). The proximate composition of the whole body did not change within treatments. However, both HAPs (T1 and T2) treatments improved the levels of total n-6, C18:3n-3, and C18:2n-6 in T. tambroides' whole body. Based on histological analysis, both HAPs had a good impact on gut shape reflected by increased villus height, width, and area as well as better hypertrophic muscle growth. The dietary application of HAPs, notably Enterococcus sp. strain KM07, showed overall better performances in T. tambroides juveniles and may be used as a potential probiotic in T. tambroides aquaculture.
Facile synthesis of 5-aminopyrazolo-quinolones
Authors: Elbastawesy Mohammed A. I. , Aly Ashraf A , El-Shaier Yaseen A.M.M. , Brown Alan B. , Abuo-Rahma Gamal El-Din A. , Samir Mohamed , Ramadan Mohamed
Published: June 2023

Catalyzed by triethylamine (Et3N), 4-hydrazino-quinolin-2-one and 2-(1-ethoxy-substituted-ene)malononitrile were refluxed together in ethanol to give 5-amino-3-subsituted-1-(subsitituted-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitriles. The structures of the products were elucidated using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectra along with elemental analyses. 2D NMR spectroscopy was also used to differentiate the assigned structures from other possible ring systems and regioisomers. A plausible mechanism for the formation of target compounds was discussed.
Effects of N application methods on cotton yield and fertilizer N recovery efficiency in salinity fields with drip irrigation under mulch film using 15N tracing technique
Authors: Luo Zhen , Tang Wei , Wang Xiaowen , Lu Hequan , Li Chenyang , Liang Jun , Kong Xiangqiang
Published: June 2023

Background
Drip irrigation under mulch film promotes a non-uniform salinity distribution in salt fields. To study the effect of different nitrogen (N) application methods on cotton plant growth, yield and fertilizer N recovery efficiency (FNRE) using drip irrigation under mulch film conditions, three N application methods were assigned: N applied under mulch film (low-salinity area; UM), N applied between mulch films (high-salinity area; BM), and half N applied under mulch film and half between mulch films (HUHB).
Results
Plant height, photosynthesis, Chl content, boll load, biomass, boll weight and boll density under UM were all significantly higher than those under the other two treatments. The N absorption of UM was higher than in the other two treatments, which might be attributed to the expression of GHNRT1.5 and GHNRT2.1. The net NO3− influx in the roots in UM increased significantly compared with that in BM. The yield and FNRE of UM were 3.9% and 9.1%, respectively, and were 26.52% and 90.36% higher than under HUHB and BM treatments.
Conclusions
UM not only improved cotton yield but also alleviated the pollution of N residue on drip irrigation under mulch film conditions in salt areas.
WITHDRAWN: Dung Beetle Optimization Algorithm with Multi-modal Deep Learning based Skin Cancer Classification on Dermoscopic Images
Authors: Ch Srilakshmi , Lydia Laxmi , N Ramakrishnaiah
Published: June 2023

Skin cancer (SC) is the most prevalent cancer globally. Clinical assessment of skin lesions is needed to assess the disease characteristics; but, it is varied in interpretation and limited by longer timelines. Dermoscopy refers to a non-invasive imaging method that permits dermatologists to examine skin lesions with improved visualization of surface and subsurface structures. Machine-learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) methods were established to support dermatologists and overcome the problem as accurate and earlier diagnoses of SC is critical to increasing survival rate of the patient. In recent years, SC classification on dermoscopy images using DL has received great deal of interest. DL algorithms, especially convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have proved promising outcomes in precisely classifying skin lesions and differentiating between benign and malignant cases. The study presents a new Dung Beetle Optimization Algorithm with Multi-modal Deep Learning based Skin Cancer Classification (DBOA-MMDLSCC) technique on dermoscopic images. The presented DBOA-MMDLSCC technique exploits the ensemble learning mechanism by the use of three DL models with metaheuristic based hyperparameter tuning. In the presented DBOA-MMDLSCC technique, U-Net++ model is utilized for skin lesion segmentation. For feature extraction, multi-modal DL model comprising three DL models namely Xception, Residual Network (ResNet), and SqueezeNet. Moreover, the hyperparameter tuning of the DL approaches takes place using the DBOA. Lastly, convolutional autoencoder (CAE) model is applied for detecting and classifying SC. A wide range of experiments were performed to exhibit the simulation results of the DBOA-MMDLSCC technique. The experimental values highlighted the improved performance of the DBOA-MMDLSCC technique in terms of different evaluation measures.
Comparison of Thromboembolic Complications After Carotid Artery Stenting with and without Using Protection Devices: A Meta-Analysis study Short title: Comparison of Thromboembolic Complications After Carotid Artery Stenting with and without Using Protection Devices
Authors: Sadr Maryam , Vakili Kimia , Hasani Fatemeh , Tavasol Arian , Zanjanbar Dorsa Bahrami , Madadi Reza , Keshavarzmotamed Atoosa , Anjomrooz Mehran , Rahmatian Aryoobarzan , Sayehmiri Fatemeh
Published: June 2023

Objective
This study has been designed to compare the rate of thromboembolic events during Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) with and without embolic protection devices (EPDs). So we systematically reviewed the literature to find and select studies that compared the rate of embolic events during CAS with and without embolic protection devices and conducted a meta-analysis to find which way is better.
Methods
Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were thoroughly searched. By using random-effects models, each estimation was executed. To assess the heterogeneity among the studies I2 index was used. Egger and Begg’s tests were applied to evaluate publication bias. Stata version 14.2 was used for the statistical analysis.
Results
For 25% of patients, EPD was used during CAS, and for 75%, did not. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and cigarette smoking was 77%, 37%, 40%, and 44%. 52% of included patients were symptomatic, and 48% of them were asymptomatic .The mortality rate reduced from 2% in the no_EPD subgroup to 1% among the EPD subgroup. The occurrence of all other complications was also reportedly higher in patients who did not receive EPD, including major stroke and MI, except for minor events, which were reported to be almost the same in both subgroups.
Conclusion
we found out that the use of EPD can help with reducing the occurrence of thromboembolic complications of CAS, including MI, major stroke, and death. Altogether, our results suggest that the benefits of using EPD during CAS outweigh its risks.
Analysis of Advanced Deep Learning Approaches for the Multiple Bone Fracture detection
Authors: Lydia Laxmi , Kumar Kollati Vijaya , Rao Gudikandhula Narasimha
Published: June 2023

An immediate requirement in modern medicine is for computer-aided detection and diagnosis of bone fractures. Radiologists can save time and work more efficiently as a result. In the past, numerous different image processing methods were utilized to spot bone breaks. In the field of medical image processing, deep learning models in the form of specialized convolutional neural networks are currently in widespread usage. Its scope is broadened to include bone fracture detection in X-Ray images. The severity of injuries can be estimated by extracting information such as the presence of fractures, their locations, and the distances in length, width, and depth between the broken bones in an automated method. We present methods for identifying bone fractures in diagnostic imaging. The major objective is to use multiple deep learning models to detect these cracks. Patients' elbow, hand, and foot X-rays are separated into their own categories in the dataset. The proposed system analyzes or diagnoses the output using frame difference and a data analytics approach. All models have their feature extraction handled by the proposed method. Because it double-checks feature extractions, it rarely fails to detect a fracture. The proposed system is worn on the hand's wrist. This software tells users the state of their fractures once they answer a few simple questions and upload an X-ray. The image is subsequently processed by the application's built-in models, with all results (whether or not a fracture was identified) shown in the user interface. Python scripts are incorporated into the application's C#-based Dotnet framework. Better sensitivity and specificity are achieved, with an overall accuracy of 89%. Correct diagnosis is crucial since wrong diagnoses can have devastating effects on patients.
Effects of Different Profile Configurations on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties and Particle Fractal Dimension
Authors: Wang Na , Liu Zhe , Bian Deng peng , Lu Nan
Published: June 2023

An experimental area of different profile configurations was established in Meixian County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. In the experiment, loamy loess was selected as cultivable layer and two types of soil thickness of 40cm (plot1, plot3, plot5) and 60cm (plot2, plot4, plot6) were designed, in which the transition layer of plot1 and plot2 were fine sand, the transition layer of plot3 and plot4 were loamy loess, and the transition layer of plot5 and plot6 were clay. Results showed that the soil particles were mainly composed of silt loam and silt. Soil particles were basically distributed in the range of 2 ~ 50µm. The fractal dimension D of soil volume in each treatment was in the range of 2.229 ~ 2.484, and there was a significant positive correlation between soil clay particle and soil silt particle content (P < 0.01). Fractal dimension D of soil volume in the experimental area was significantly positively correlated with soil organic matter, total nitrogen and silt particle content (P < 0.01), and significantly negatively correlated with soil gravel particle content (P < 0.05); Therefore, it can be concluded that the soil texture can be better improved when the covering type is loamy loess, the soil thickness is 40cm and the transition layer is fine sand.
Hydraulic and Water quality Analysis for Puzhal Water Treatment Plant, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Krishnan Sri Dhivya , Bhuvaneswari P. T.V. , Kumar P. T.V.Suresh
Published: June 2023

Access to clean water is becoming a more challenging problem for people due to urbanization. The contaminations caused through dumping of industrial waste in the existing Water Distribution System (WDS), impose challenges on water quality. Further, the degradation of the hydraulics involved in the WDS also adds to the contamination. Addressing above issues becomes essential, as it may leads to severe health hazard. Continuous monitoring of hydraulics and water quality can be the promising solution to alleviate these issues. In this research, to enable continuous monitoring, the WDS is modeled using EPANET 2.0 software. The case study considered in this research is Puzhal water treatment plant of Chennai. The hydraulic factors modeled are head, pressure, and demand while Chlorine (Cl) level is modeled for water quality. From the proposed work, it is inferred that the Cl level of the Puzhal WTP is maintained within the permissible limit and identified the quantity of water demand for this entire WDS.
Ethanol extract of Ziziphus nummularia ameliorates formaldehyde induced arthritis in rats by regulating oxidative stress biomarkers and hematological profile
Authors: GARG VANDANA , Malhotra Hitesh , Singh Govind
Published: June 2023

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder mainly affects bone and cartilage architecture. The continuous use of NSAIDs and DMARDs is associated with severe toxic effects. Therefore, the current study was designed to scrutinize herb-based therapy for the treatment of RA.
Aim: Evaluation of the anti-arthritic potential of the ethanol extract of Ziziphus nummularia (ETZN) in a formaldehyde-induced arthritis model in rats and elucidates the possible mechanism of action.
Material and Method: Anti-arthritic activity of ETZN was studied at three oral doses i.e. 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg. Selected doses were studied using various clinical parameters (viz. paw volume, inflammatory index, motility test, stair test, anti-nociceptive efficacy, walking track analysis and motor activity) from day1 to day10. On last day the animals were sacrificed for the evaluation of hematological parameters, oxidative stress biomarkers, histological and radiographic studies of the hind paw.
Results: Treatment with ETZN at varying doses markedly elicited a significant (p<0.0001) reduction in paw volume, inflammatory index, and nociceptive action and increases the latency of pain threshold. The anti-arthritic activity is mainly attributed to a reduction in oxidative stress biomarkers as well as restoration of hematological profile in treated animals. Lastly, the anti-arthritic potential was confirmed from histological and radiological analysis which revealed a marked reduction in inflammatory cells and bone destruction as compared to diseased animals.
Conclusion: The study revealed that ETZN exhibits significant anti-arthritic activity via modulation of oxidative stress biomarkers, restoration of hematological profile and improvement in bone architecture.
Jammer Selection for Energy Harvesting-aided Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access: Performance Analysis
Authors: Ho-Van Khuong
Published: June 2023

Energy harvesting-aided non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) meets critical requirements of modern wireless networks in terms of spectral efficiency, communication reliability, and energy efficiency. However, information security for it has not received greatly attentions from both industry and academia. This paper proposes jammer selection to meliorate its security performance. To promptly assess the efficacy of the proposed jammer selection, we propose explicit formulas of connection/secrecy throughput and outage probability for both far and near users accounting for non-linear feature of energy harvesters. These formulas are corroborated by Monte-Carlo simulations and quickly generate innumerable results to reveal a significant/slight influence of energy harvesting nonlinearity on communications reliability/information security. In addition, there exist limits on target data/secrecy rates to avoid complete connection outage (i.e. connection outage probability is one) and achieve complete security (i.e. secrecy outage probability is one). Additionally, the proposed (NOMA-and-proposed jammer selection) scheme significantly outperforms its counterparts (NOMA-and-random jammer selection and orthogonal multiple access-and-proposed jammer selection) in terms of both security and reliability. Nevertheless, there is a trade-off between reliability and security. Notably, the proposed scheme obtains optimum security/reliability performance with proper selection of time/power splitting coefficient.
RETRACTED: Vehicle Tracking System using Sensor Fusion with Signal Loss Compensation
Authors: Lopes Gabriel Barcellos Kretli , Bueno Leandro
Published: June 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Review of the Effect of Heterogeneity on Wireless Sensor Networks: A Topological Perspective
Authors: Banerjee Partha Sarathi , Mandal Satyendra Nath , De Debashis , Maiti Biswajit
Published: June 2023

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) are critical for IoT, smart cities, smart health, and other smart services. Network characteristics such as energy consumption, latency, dependability, and stability have a significant impact on WSN performance. However, the numerous capabilities of the nodes, as well as the adjustment of different properties, result in a heterogeneous network. A proper classification, assessment, and management of this heterogeneity are crucial for a long-term network operation. This article gives a full topological taxonomy of heterogeneity, as well as a detailed discussion on the effect of heterogeneity on many aspects of WSN. Comparative analysis of the effect of heterogeneity on different parameters of network performance establishes the advantage of heterogeneous WSN in modern networks. Different measurement methodologies for the estimation of heterogeneity are included in the paper. Relevance of properly managed heterogeneity in the state-of-the-art technologies are presented as the possible future applications.
Characterising the energy cascade using the zero-crossings of the longitudinal velocity fluctuations
Authors: Ferran Amélie , Aliseda Alberto , Obligado Martin
Published: June 2023

It is well known that the zero-crossings of the longitudinal velocity fluctuations can be used to estimate the Taylor length scale of turbulence via the Rice theorem. Furthermore, it has recently been shown that they can also be used to compute the turbulence integral length scale.
We show how these two findings can be combined to study single-point statistics in turbulent flows. This approach is advantageous, as it makes possible the characterization of turbulent flows in extremely challenging situations, i.e. statistically unsteady flows or conditions when adequate instrument calibration cannot be maintained.
Using experimental data for a wide range of Reλ from different flows (passive- and active-grid-generated turbulence and planar turbulent wakes), we show how energy cascade variables can be computed solely by using the zero-crossings of the longitudinal velocity fluctuations. Furthermore, using Vorono\"i tessellations, we study zero-crossing clustering properties. In particular, we discuss how its clusters and voids are related to the turbulence cascade.
Biocultural elements and multifunctionality of cassava flour production in agrarian reform settlements in the Extreme South of Bahia, Brazil
Authors: Marchetti Fábio Frattini , Silva Roberta Cristina , Silva Felipe Otávio Campelo , Santos João Dagoberto
Published: June 2023

Artisanal manufacture of cassava flour mobilizes a cultural and biological framework that has developed and been continuously improved over generations of traditional rural workers. Despite this evidence in Brazilian traditional communities, few studies focus on rural settlements of agrarian reform. This paper addresses a broad diagnosis of flour production in rural settlements in the Extreme South of Bahia, Brazil, carried out in 2019. Thirty rural settlements were visited in eleven municipalities, where 107 flour-houses were evaluated. The results present the socioeconomic profiles of local farmers, cassava varieties, types of flour, particularities of production and characteristics of commercialization. Finally, the multiple functions of artisanal production of cassava flour are highlighted, especially related to the social and economic maintenance of settled families, the promotion of food security and sovereignty within and around the settlements, strengthening of the social and cultural fabrics, and the conservation of agrobiodiversity in the rural landscape.
Metatranscriptomics of microbial biofilm succession on HDPE foil: uncovering plastic-degrading potential in soil communities
Authors: MacLean Joana , Bartholomäus Alexander , Blukis Roberts , Liebner Susanne , Wagner Dirk
Published: June 2023

Background Microbial communities in soil are a complex and sensitive system which secures soil health, nutrient cycling and the degradation of natural and xenobiotic substances. Even though plastic pollution is increasing worldwide, very little is known about microbial processes that take place once plastic debris gets incorporated into the soil matrix. In this study, we conducted the first metatranscriptome analysis of polyethylene (PE)-associated biofilm communities in a highly polluted landfill soil and compared their gene expressions to those of a forest soil community within a 53-day period.Results Our findings indicate that the microbial population present in soil contaminated with plastic debris carries a predisposition to both inhabit and degrade plastic surfaces. Surprisingly, the microbial community from an undisturbed forest soil contained a diverse array of plastic-associated genes (PETase, alkB etc.), indicating the presence of an enzymatic machinery capable of plastic degradation. Plastic-degrading taxa were upregulated in the early stages of biofilm and the PE-degrading enzymes alkB1/alkM and transporters such as FadL, livG, livF, livH and livM and fatty acid β-oxidation pathway were active during the maturation of the biofilm. We also found an increase in nitrogen fixation genes in the plastic soil community (but not in forest soil), indicating an essential metabolic adaptation of biofilm communities in the plastisphere.Conclusion With this study, we address the underlying patterns of gene expression during biofilm development of a PE-associated plastisphere in soil and address the pressing question whether or not natural microbial communities carry the potential to biodegrade petrochemical-based plastic in the (soil) environment.
On Geometric Properties of Topologically Charged Ellis-Bronnikov-type Wormhole Spacetime
Authors: Shaikh Absos Ali , Ahmed Faizuddin , Datta Biswa Ranjan , Sarkar Mousumi
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we have studied the geometric properties of topologically charged Ellis-Bronnikov-type wormhole (briefly, TCEBW) spacetime. The TCEBW spacetime is a static and spherically symmetric solution of the Einstein field equations with a non-zero cosmological constant. We obtained several important geometric properties viz. pseudosymmetry due to conformal curvature as well as conharmonic curvature, Ricci generalized pseudosymmetry and Ricci generalized projectively pseudosymmetry. Also, it is shown that the TCEBW spacetime is generalized Roter type, 2-quasi-Einstein, Einstein spacetime of level 3 and its conformal 2-forms are recurrent. As a special case, the geometric properties of Morris-Thorne wormhole spacetime are analyzed. Also, we have shown that the TCEBW spacetime admits an almost $\eta$-Ricci-Yamabe soliton and an almost $\eta$-Ricci soliton. Finally, a comparison between Morris-Thorne wormhole and TCEBW spacetime regarding their geometric structures is exhibited.
MSC: 53B20, 53B25, 53B30, 53B50, 53C15, 53C25, 53C35, 83C15
Decoding Quetiapine's Impact: Antibiotic Efflux, Cell Membrane and Cell Wall Synthesis Genes in the Mouse Fecal Resistome
Authors: Kyono Yasuhiro , Magboo Jonathan D. , Daley Elizabeth A. , Flowers Stephanie A.
Published: June 2023

Background: As the understanding of antimicrobial activity exerted by non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals continues to evolve, the implications for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in gut bacteria have garnered significant interest. Quetiapine, a commonly prescribed second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) drug, has been implicated in this context. Our prior research has shown that quetiapine contributes to AMR in vitro; however, the exact mechanism and impact of this interaction are unclear. In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of quetiapine on the gut resistome of C57BL/6NHsd adult male and female mice.
Methods: Mice were exposed to quetiapine via drinking water over a 12-week period, and the fecal resistome was assessed longitudinally and compared to a parallel control group that received regular drinking water. Given that AMR genes comprise a small fraction of a metagenome, we utilized a hybrid capture approach to survey longitudinal dynamics of AMR genes and gene variants. Further, we evaluated the minimal inhibitory concentrations of Escherichia coli exposed to quetiapine in vitro as well as isolates cultured from mouse stool to assess changes in antibiotic susceptibility.
Results: We found that quetiapine exposure increased the relative abundance of AMR gene families related to antibiotic efflux, the phosphoethanolamine transferases, and undecaprenyl pyrophosphate-related proteins in the mouse fecal resistome. Consistent with these findings, E. coli isolates, cultured from mice exposed to quetiapine, displayed a significant decrease in sensitivity to colistin when compared to E. colicultured from control mice naive to quetiapine.
Conclusion: This study provides the first evidence that quetiapine, and possibly other SGAs, could contribute to AMR development in complex microbial communities in vivo. These findings underline the importance of further research into the effects of psychiatric medication on the gut resistome to inform more effective clinical practice and antimicrobial stewardship.
Review of Donor Anatomy Prior to Living Donor Liver Transplantation Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Entezari Pouya , Malik Asad , Moazeni Yasaman , Katariya Nitin , Borhani Amir , Gabr Ahmed , Soliman Moataz , Caicedo Juan , Ladner Daniela , Salem Riad , Thornburg Bartley , Christopher Derrick , Borja-Cacho Daniel , Ganger Daniel , Nemcek Albert , Riaz Ahsun
Published: June 2023

Purpose
This study aimed to investigate vasculobiliary anatomical variations in living liver donors (LLDs) during pretransplant evaluation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The accuracy of MRI in estimating graft weight was also evaluated.
Methods
Pre-operative MR imaging data of 100 LLDs were retrospectively assessed, and variations in the biliary, arterial, and venous systems were evaluated. Surgical records were used to identify discrepancies between MRI biliary findings and intra-operative cholangiograms. The image quality was classified as poor, fair, or good. The MRI-estimated weight was compared with the actual explant weight measured during surgery.
Results
Ninety-seven right lobe hepatectomies and 3 left lobe hepatectomies were performed, with 19 patients exhibiting classic anatomy in all three components. Pre-transplant MRI detected biliary, arterial, and venous variations in 42, 40, and 32 donors, respectively. Intra-operative cholangiograms were found to be discrepant with pre-operative MRIs in 35% of the cases. Furthermore, only 29 donors had acceptable image quality in all anatomical components. The mean estimated graft volume was 1015 ± 253 grams, while mean actual graft weight was 828 ± 204 grams. There was a linear correlation between the MRI-estimated graft weight and the actual graft weight (r: 0.83).
Conclusion
The utilization of pre-transplantation MRI in the evaluation of LLDs can provide valuable insights into anatomical variations. However, to avoid discrepancies between imaging and operative findings, it is important to exercise caution during graft volumetry and image interpretation. Furthermore, MRCP volumetry is another important step in ensuring that proper graft size is achieved.
Determining the characteristics of dune sand used in the building of different sites for the desert environment.
Authors: Abdeldjalil Mhammed , Akacem Mustapha
Published: June 2023

In earlier research, it was found that the characteristics of all types of natural sands must be identified in order to know the extent to which they can be used in the desired field. This study is based on the identification of the physical and chemical characteristics of 24 dune sands located in southwest Timimoun and Adrar The majority of the dunes are classified as particles sands. Sand has been used as a building material since antiquity, especially in Saharan regions where dunes are present. According to sand equivalence tests, all sands are extremely clean, which is confirmed by the fineness modulus of the sand. The chemical properties of the different dune sands were analyzed in the laboratory. The chemical analysis showed that the dune sands of these regions are siliceous sands; the lowest dose of siliceous component is 84%, while the maximum concentration of limestone is 9.55%. The sulfate content does not exceed 1.15 meq/l, which confirms the classification of dune sands as inert material. The use of these sands as raw materials in industry is therefore closely controlled. Moreover, this encourages us to further study these sands and use them as granular construction materials.
DKC1 as a Novel and Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma correlating With Immune Infiltrates
Authors: Qi Li , Bao Wenzhao , Ren Zihan , Li Sijia , Zhou Xuwei , Li Wei
Published: June 2023

Objective This study aims to investigate the association between DKC1 expression and prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) Methods We obtained RNA-seq data for a cohort of patients with HNSCC from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases for the purpose of analysis. The expression levels of DKC1 were compared between HNSCC and paracancerous tissue to assess their differences. The Transwell invasion assay and flow cytometry were used to detect cellular invasion and apoptosis following the siRNA-mediated knockdown of DKC1 in HNSCC cell lines. Functional enrichment analysis was performed using the DAVID and KEGG databases to explore potential signaling pathways and associated biological functions. Gene set enrichment analysis of a single sample was performed using the ssGSEA algorithm to assess immune cell infiltration and predict sensitivity to immunotherapy. DKC1 methylation status was analyzed using the UALCAN and MethSurv databases. The tumor immune dysfunction and rejection (TIDE) framework was used to compare response rates to immunotherapy in low-versus high-risk patients based on their immune profiles and tumor characteristics. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests were used to compare the overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) of HNSCC patients with different levels of DKC1 expression. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to determine the independent prognostic value of DKC1. A nomogram was developed based on multivariate Cox regression analysis to predict the probability of OS at 1, 3, and 5 years after diagnosis, using age, M stage, Lymphovascular invasion, and DKC1 expression as predictors. Results Overexpression of DKC1 in HNSCC was meaningfully associated with T stage, pathologic grade, and survival time. DKC1 overexpression resulted in significantly decreased OS and DSS(disease-specific survival). The invasion and proliferative capacity of DKC1 knockdown cells were decreased by Transwell and flow cytometry. Single-factor Cox analysis confirmed DKC1 as an independent negative prognostic marker for OS. There is a close relationship between the hypomethylation status of DKC1 and a bad prognosis. The results of enrichment analysis reflected the NOD-like receptor/ interleukin-17 signaling pathway, drug resistance, leukocyte transepithelial migration, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction were enriched pathways. Overexpression of DKC1 was correlated with negative levels of CD8 + T cells, natural killer cells, effector memory T cells, and infiltration of macrophages. Using the TIDE framework, we found that patients with HNSCC in the high-risk group had considerably higher response rates to immunotherapy compared with those in the contrary group. Conclusion DKC1 could be a promising novel prognostic biomarker to predict HNSCC.
Development of Associational Fiber Tracts in Fetal Human Brain. Preliminary Results of a Cadaveric Laboratory Investigation
Authors: Carlo Davide Tiziano Di , Filice Maria Elena , Fava Arianna , Quilici Francesca , Fuochi Beatrice , Cecchi Paolo , Donatelli Graziella , Restani Laura , Nardini Vincenzo , Turillazzi Emanuela , Cosottini Mirco , Perrini Paolo
Published: June 2023

The advent of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in addition to cadaveric brain dissection allowed a comprehensive description of an adult human brain. Nonetheless, the knowledge of the development of the internal architecture of the brain is mostly incomplete. Our study aimed to provide a description of the anatomical variations of the major associational bundles, among fetal and early post-natal periods. Seventeen formalin-fixed fetal human brains were enrolled for sulci analysis, and thirteen specimens were dissected under the operating microscope, using Klinger’s technique. Although fronto-temporal connections could be observed in all stages of development, a distinction between the uncinate fascicle, and the inferior fronto-occipital fascicle was clear starting from the early preterm period (25-35 post conceptional week). Similarly, we were consistently able to isolate the periatrial white matter that forms the sagittal stratum (SS) in the adults, with no clear distinction among SS layers. Arcuate fascicle and superior longitudinal fascicle were isolated only at the late stage of development without a reliable description of their entire course. The preliminary results of our study demonstrated that, although white matter is mostly unmyelinated among fetal human brains, cadaveric dissection can be performed with consistent results. Furthermore, the stepwise development of the associational fiber tracts strengthens the hypothesis that anatomy and function run in parallel, and higher is the cognitive functions subserved by an anatomical structure, later the development of the fascicle. Further histological-anatomical-DTI investigations are required to appraise and explore this topic.
Effect of tightly focused linearly polarized Gaussian laser on even harmonics and energy under the action of longitudinal field
Authors: Wang Chang , Chen Wei , Liu Xinyue , Li Yijin , Tian Youwei
Published: June 2023

This study uses MATLAB’s fourth- and fifth-order Runge–Kutta algorithms to compute nonlinear Thomson scattering by applying Maxwell’s equation to highenergy electron collisions with ultrashort laser pulses. We consider in particular how longitudinal laser fields with various peak amplitudes a0 affect the electron trajectory, backscattering spectra, electron radiation energy, and electron radiation power. We first demonstrate that, with increasing a0, the electron motion gradually deviates from the +z direction and a phenomenon involving even harmonics emerges. Second, the results show that, in the presence of a longitudinal laser field, the electron radiation angle decreases when a0 < 10 but remains stable when a0 > 10, in contrast with the situation without the longitudinal field. Finally, we determine the variation in the peak energy radiated by the electron. This work clarifies how a tightly focused linearly polarized Gaussian laser pulse affects the even harmonics and radiation energy when combined with a longitudinal electric field, enabling more precise modulation of the emitted x rays.
Experimental Investigation of Flame Appearance and Temperature Distribution of a Double Elliptical Inverse Diffusion Jet Flame
Authors: Mahgoub Ahmed , Hussein Adel , Emara Kareem
Published: June 2023

The use of elliptical jets for combustion control is an attractive passive technique due to their ability to induce flow perturbation, fluid entrainment, and jet shearing. This study presents an experimental investigation of inverse diffusion jet flames emanating from a double elliptic burner with a central circular air stream. The inner and outer streams are fed with air, while the middle one is fed with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel. The impact of the inner-to-outer air ratio and outer elliptical tube angle on flame appearance and mean in-flame temperature was examined at a constant total air flow rate and fixed thermal input. Flame visual and thermal structures are analyzed through shadowgraph and temperature measurements in both major and minor planes of the inner elliptic fuel tube. The results reveal a dual-flame structure for all flames, with longer flames resembling normal diffusion flames as the outer air percentage increases. The outer elliptic tube angle has a minor effect on the flame length and centerline temperature, while increasing the angle enhances air/fuel mixing, as indicated by the decrease in luminosity due to the two elliptical jets' interaction.
Announcing Effect: Delaying Retirement and Household Consumption Structure
Authors: Xu Kun , Ma Guangbo
Published: June 2023

The announcement of the policy of gradually delaying retirement most likely has noteworthy social and economic implications. Although current literature has primarily focused on the macroeconomic effects of postponing retirement, insufficient attention has been devoted to the influence on micro-level household consumption. To bridge this gap, we utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS) database and employed the Differences-in-Differences (DID) method to analyze the consequences of announcing a gradual delay in retirement on household consumption structure. The findings suggest that the policy announcement substantially reduced the proportion of expenditures related to enjoyment and development in total household consumption, leading to an overall decline in consumption. Moreover, the effect varied significantly by gender and education level. Specifically, men with less education were more likely to reduce their consumption upon hearing the announcement. The practical implications of these empirical results are pertinent to the flexible implementation of the decision to delay retirement.
JEL: I15
Werner state tomography based on multiple noises and fiber attenuation
Authors: Wang Haigang , He Kan
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we establish a new quantum state tomography model that fits the real environment very well. In our model, the number of photons emitted by the photon source is a random number of Gaussian distribution. The emitted photons are attenuated by a fiber, resulting in a binomial distribution of photons arriving at the detector. In the process of measurement, we impose Poisson noise, which makes the number of photons measured each time assume Poisson distribution. The quantum states are reconstructed from photon counts obtained for symmetric informationally complete positive operator-valued measures, and consider the influence of noise on the measurement operators. We study the quantum tomography efficiency of any two-qubit Werner state in our model. We obtained the relationship between the tomographic efficiency and multiple variables of the model through numerical simulation.
PACS numbers: 03.67.Mn, 03.65.Ud, 03.67.-a
Incidence and survival of Kaposi Sarcoma patients: a retrospective analysis using the National Cancer Database 2004-2018
Authors: Desai Amar D. , Jacobson Judith S. , Neugut Alfred I. , Lipner Shari R.
Published: June 2023

Background
Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is a relatively uncommon skin and mucosal malignancy affecting immunocompromised and HIV/AIDS patients, with a poor prognosis. Due to its low incidence in the United States, national trends in epidemiology, treatment, and mortality within the last decade have not been characterized.
Objectives
We analyzed KS demographics, treatments, and mortality in the United States, 2004–2018.
Methods
Among KS cases diagnosed 2004–2018 in the National Cancer Database, we compared demographic and clinical characteristics of HIV + and HIV- patients, men and women, time periods. We used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to evaluate changes in mortality over time and between subgroups.
Results
Of 10,027 KS patients, the mean age was 47.7\(\pm\)17.9 years, and 9,063 (90.4%) were males. The number of Black men (p<0.001) and Medicaid recipients (p < 0.001) increased over the study period. Overall, 1- and 2-year survival increased by 6.4% and 8.3%, respectively, between 2004–2007 and 2016–2018 (p < 0.0001). Among HIV+ patients, 1- and 2-year survival were 14.5% and 13.7% lower, respectively, than among HIV- patients (p=0.0074). Limitations of this study include the retrospective nature; the sample lacked complete information about B symptoms, treatment efficacy, and KS subtypes.
Conclusions
KS incidence among Blacks and Medicaid-insured patients has increased. Overall KS survival has improved, despite poor outcomes for HIV + patients.
An Asymmetric Mixture Factorization Model for Cold-start Recommendation
Authors: Deng Chen , Peng Furong , Lu Xuan , Li Feijiang , Wang Sheng , Liang Christy
Published: June 2023

The task of providing recommendations for new users/items that do not have any historical ratings, i.e., the cold-start challenge, has been a subject of extensive research in recommendation systems. Most existing matrix factorization-based approaches tackle this challenge by establishing a relationship between latent profiles and attributes (side information), neglecting the impact of users' and items’ individual characteristics on profile inference. However, individuality is a crucial factor that can significantly influence user/item profiles independently of attributes. To address this issue, we propose constructing the profiles of users/items using an asymmetric mixture distribution of individuality and attribute. This enables the integration of partially observed attributes and unobservable individuality into the profile mixture for improving profile inference. Based on this profile mixture, we introduce the Asymmetric Mixture Factorization (AMF) model, which infers the user/item profiles from Gaussian distributions associated with both attributes and individuality to achieve superior cold-start recommendations. Additionally, we employ an efficient block coordinate descent algorithm and an expectation-maximization approach for optimizing. Empirical evaluations on two datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed model in handling two cold-start scenarios and achieving state-of-the-art performance.