bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation of recycled cellulose-polyvinyl alcohol reinforced co-blended fibers based on waste cotton
Authors: Wang Linlin , Zhao Hui , Meng Lili , Liu Menglei , Jia Lixia
Published: November 2024

In order to achieve sustainable development of resources and reduce environmental pollution, it is particularly important to accelerate the use of renewable resources. Cellulose is an abundant renewable resource with biocompatible, degradable and recyclable characteristics. In order to further improve the utilization of cellulose, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl)/dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was used to dissolve and recover cellulose from waste cotton, and regenerated cellulose (RCF) and regenerated cellulose-poly(vinyl alcohol) blended fibres (RCF/PVA) were prepared by wet spinning technology, and the pigments extracted from Pu-erh Tea were used for dyeing performance investigation of RCF/PVA. The dyeing performance of RCF/PVA was investigated. The experiments showed that, compared with RCF, the strength of RCF/PVA with 15 % PVA was improved, and the residual carbon at 700 ℃ of thermal decomposition was reduced from 21.4 % to 0.1 %. With the increase of polyvinyl alcohol content, RCF/PVA has better dyeing effect than pure cellulose regenerated fibre on the natural pigment extracted from Pu-erh tea, and the preparation of RCF/PVA provides a new way of researching new composite fibre materials.
Title: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease; Potential role for systemic inflammation
Authors: AbdelGhany Mohamed Fawzy , Khaleel Waleed GamalEldein , Ahmed Asmaa Omar , Ahmed Ahmad BaheyEldein , Bakkar Lamees Mohammed
Published: November 2024

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, parenchymal disease, now considered as fatal disease of the lungs, characterized by pulmonary and extrapulmonary comorbidities. So far, little is known regarding the cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This study aims to: investigate the prevalence and impact of cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with IPF and its correlation with different radiological and laboratory indices of disease severity.
Methods: This prospective case-control study was performed on 134 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients in the age group of 18 to 70 years. Diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was done based on diagnostic radiologic criteria addressed by ATS clinical practice guidelines. Patients were recruited from pulmonology department, Assiut university hospitals from October 2023 to October 2024. Cardiac comorbidities were assessed by ECG and echocardiography. All patients had CRP, KL6, total lipid profile including cholesterol level, Triglyceride level, HDL-cholesterol level, LDL-cholesterol level measured. Patients were divided into two groups: IPF patients with cardiovascular comorbidities, and IPF patients without cardiovascular comorbidities. Correlations were done between IPF patient’s criteria and presence of cardiovascular comorbidities.
Results: Female represented the majority of the studied group 65%. 60 out of 134 documented IPF patients had cardiovascular comorbidities. Patients with CVD comorbidities vs IPF patients without CVD comorbidities had higher radiological HRCT Total fibrosis score TFS. P value <0.001. As regards laboratory serum biomarkers, the group with comorbidities showed significantly higher CRP, KL6, cholesterol level, triglyceride level, HDL cholesterol level, LDL cholesterol level. P value <0.001. A cutoff value KL6 of ≥299; the areas under the ROC curves were 89.7% (95%CI: 0.832 – 0.963, P<0.001) with a sensitivity of 90.0%, a specificity of 94.6%, and accuracy of 92.5% were associated with the presence of cardiac comorbidities.
Conclusions:
Dyslipidemia and cardiac comorbidities were detected in a large group of patients with IPF. These findings were associated with increased severity of the disease. High serum levels of CRP and KL6 was a significant finding in this group of patients.
A Meta-Analysis on Mitral Surgery in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Anomalous Left Coronary Artery: When to Perform Repair?
Authors: Brancaccio Gianluca , Chinali Marcello , Dionisi Sara , Trezzi Matteo , Esposito Claudia , Iacobelli Roberta , Miraldi Fabio , Labriola Vincenzo , Alessia Ruffini , Francesco Bonavita , D’Inzeo Victoria , Perri Gianluigi , Galletti Lorenzo
Published: November 2024

Objectives
The present study is the first meta-analysis comparing long-term outcomes in patients undergoing correction for anomalous left coronary artery (ALCAPA) regarding concomitant mitral valve surgery.
Methods
A systematic literature review was conducted to identify all relevant studies with comparative data on mitral valve surgery performed during surgery for ALCAPA correction. Predefined primary endpoints included mortality and mitral valve (re)operation. Echocardiographic outcomes were assessed when available (including severity of mitral regurgitation).
Results
Fifty-three relevant retrospective studies with comparative data for ALCAPA patients with concomitant mitral valve surgery were identified from the existing literature. The study population included 3,851 patients, of whom 55% were girls. The mean age at surgery was six months [0–99 months]. The mean follow-up after surgery was 22.7 years [6.3–37.2]. Among patients with available echocardiographic data at the time of ALCAPA correction, 283 had no mitral regurgitation (13%), 642 had mild mitral regurgitation (30%), 756 had moderate mitral regurgitation (36%), and 437 had severe mitral regurgitation (21%). A subgroup of patients who underwent mitral valve surgery (yMVS; n = 753; 19.5% of the total population) was identified. A total of 228 patients died during follow-up (5.9%), with no differences among patients who underwent vs those who did not undergo mitral valve concomitant surgery at baseline (p = ns). Among the 1,536 patients with available follow-up echocardiographic data, 519 developed no mitral regurgitation (34%), 663 developed mild mitral regurgitation (43%), 268 developed moderate mitral regurgitation (17%), and 86 developed severe mitral regurgitation (6%). Overall, during follow-up, 91 patients underwent mitral valve surgery (first MVS for 20pts and re-intervention for 71pts, representing a 10% re-intervention rate). In regression analysis, we found no association between the mean age at first surgery and the need for reoperation (p = 0.458).
Conclusions
Mitral valve surgery is performed in about 20% of patients undergoing ALCAPA correction. Indications for MVS vary among centers, although the severity of MV regurgitation was the most common criterion (more than 50% of the yMVS group). Of yMVS patients, approximately 10% underwent a second MVS during follow-up, regardless of age at first surgery. Overall, long-term mortality in these patients is over 5%, with no evident impact related to concomitant MV surgery.
Knowledge and Attitudes About Human Papillomavirus Infection and Prevention Methods Among Medical Science Students in Novi Sad, Serbia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Denda Nikola , Maletin Nemanja , Rašković Aleksandar , Prodanović Dušan , Golušin Zoran , Vučković Biljana , Nemet Marko , Kusturica Milica Paut
Published: November 2024

Background
It is estimated that more than 80% of people are infected with human papiloma virus (HPV) at some point in their lives. Knowledge about HPV infection and methods of its prevention is extremely important for society as a whole. Medical students as future healthcare workers must be thoroughly informed about HPV infection in order to properly participate in the promotion of its prevention. The aim is examine the percentage of correct answers in relation to previous education about HPV infection and prevention methods, as well as levels of agreement with selected statements about HPV infection based on the desired direction in the future.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad (MFNS). The study covered all study programs and was conducted in the period from 1–30. in November 2023, using a specially created survey questionnaire for the purposes of this research.
Results
1760 surveys were collected, representing 67,2% of the total number of MFNS students. In the past year, only 26% of respondents attended some kind of education about HPV infection/vaccine. Statistical significance was observed in the difference between the responses of students who attended education in comparison to those who did not attend education in the past year (75,5% versus 63,3%, p < 0,001). Students who stated that they plan to get vaccinated in the following period answered the questions correctly in a higher percentage (87,5% nasuprot 80,1%, p = 0,01).
Conclusions
Students of the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, as future healthcare workers, demonstrated certain knowledge and demonstrated correct attitudes. Students who attended education about HPV infection and methods of prevention had more correct answers, as did students who plan to get vaccinated in the future. Students focused on gynecology and pediatrics had the highest percentage of correct answers.
Clinical and Psychiatric Profile of Patients Treated for Suicidal Behavior in a Reference Psychiatric Emergency Service
Authors: Kohl Érico Marques , Faria Fernanda Menezes , Castaldelli Fernando Ikeda , Filho Gerardo Maria Araújo
Published: November 2024

Purpose: The Dr. Adolfo de Bezerra de Menezes Hospital (ABMH) is an institute with expertise in mental illnesses and drug addict treatment, a reference in the region of São José do Rio Preto – São Paulo. Following the global trend of devoting greater attention to mental health, this study aims to outline an epidemiological profile of patients attended in the emergency department as well as the inpatients of the institution with suicidal behavior (suicidal ideation and attempts), between 2019 and 2021.
Methods: Data was collected from medical records regarding all psychiatric attendances in the Hospital during the period, including outpatient and inpatient admissions with subsequent follow-ups.
Results: During this period, 6,809 patients were assessed, of whom 2,891 (42.46%) were male and 3,918 (57.54%) were female. Bipolar disorder was the most prevalent psychiatric disorder (18.86%), followed by substance use (13.6%), alcohol use disorders (9.87%), and schizophrenia (9.66%). Regarding age, a higher rate of attendance was observed among individuals in their third and fourth decades of life, followed by a decline in the fifth decade and a subsequent increase in the subsequent decades of life.
Conclusion: It is crucial to understand the demand for mental health services to provide optimal care for patients, ensure the allocation of specific resources to meet these needs, and improve efficiency. By analyzing data on sociodemographic factors such as gender, age, and prevalent illnesses, it is possible to identify potential causes and develop strategies to prevent exacerbations and reduce hospital demand, especially in Brazil, where outpatient services are still insufficient.
Measuring Plant Cysteine Oxidase Interactions with Substrates Using Intrinsic Tryptophan Fluorescence
Authors: Gunawardana Dona M , Southern Daisy A , Flashman Emily
Published: November 2024

Plant Cysteine Oxidases (PCOs) are oxygen-sensing enyzmes that catalyse oxidation of cysteinyl residues at the N-termini of target proteins, triggering their degradation via the N-degron pathway. PCO oxygen-sensitivity means that in low oxygen (hypoxia), their activity reduces and target proteins are stabilised. PCO substrates include Group VII Ethylene Response Factors (ERFVIIs) involved in adaptive responses to the acute hypoxia experienced upon plant submergence, as well as Little Zipper 2 (ZPR2) and Vernalisation 2 (VRN2) which are involved in developmental processes in hypoxic niches. The PCOs are potential targets for improving submergence tolerance through enzyme engineering or chemical treatment. To achieve this, a detailed understanding of their biological function is required. Here, we report development of an assay that utilises intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence quenching to quantify substrate binding to PCO enzymes. Our assay revealed that, broadly, Arabidopsis PCO4 and PCO5 have stronger interactions with ERFVII substrates than ZPR2 and VRN2, suggesting ERFVIIs are primary targets of these enzymes. It also revealed a positive cooperative binding effect for interactions between AtPCOs4/5 and ERFVIIs and ZPR2. The assay is experimentally straightforward and can be used to further interogate PCO interactions with substrates.
Combination dual-tapered fiber with band-pass filter in generating multi-wavelength Er 3+ -doped fiber laser
Authors: Hao Yunqi , Liao Weitong , Miao Miao , Liu Nannan , Zhai Fengxiao , Yang Kun
Published: November 2024

we propose to add a bandpass filter into multi-wavelength Er3+-doped fiber laser to avoid the mode competition in the ring-cavity laser based on comb-like dual-tapered fiber. The bandwidth of bandpass filter is within 1543.5nm-1558.5nm, excluding the gain peak of Er3+-doped fiber around 1530nm. The gain of Er3+-doped fiber within the filter bandwidth is uniform. When realizing the multi-wavelength laser output, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- laser lines are obtained by adjusting the polarization controller, and the laser lines distribute at the interference wavelengths of dual-tapered fibers within the bandwidth of bandpass filter. Tunability of the multi-wavelength laser are demonstrated, including tunability range and wavelength spacing. Tunability ranges of 12.10nm for single-wavelength, 9.312nm for dual-wavelength, 4.3nm for three-wavelength are generated; wavelength spacing of 1/2/3/4/5 intervals for dual-wavelength, 5.2nm/7.6nm for three-wavelength, 5.26nm/2.64nm/5.0nm for four-wavelength are all generated. Stability of laser output in 1 hour are tested. The proposed gain-balancing BPOF scheme in multi-wavelength EDFL is simple and effective to suppress the mode competition. These results could be used to support the practical applications of multi-wavelength Er3+-doped fiber laser.
Nanoscale nonlocal thermal transport and thermal field emission in high-current resonant tunnel structures
Authors: Davidovich Michael V , Nefedov Igor S , Glukhova Olga E , Rubi J. Miguel
Published: November 2024

We present a model of thermal field emission in resonant tunneling nanostructures with multiple barriers and potential wells, based on an accurate determination of the quantum potential shape and a rigorous solution of the Schrödinger equation, while considering thermal balance. The model applies to vacuum and semiconductor resonant tunnel diode and triode structures with two and three electrodes and to the general case of two-way tunneling with electrode heating. The complete balance of heat release and transfer is accounted for, with heat transport considered ballistic. This approach can also be extended to the non-stationary case, incorporating the influence of space charge. The short flight time of electrons in such structures makes them promising for the fabrication of THz devices.
PACS numbers: 44.40.+a,41.20.Jb,42.25.Bs, 03.70.+k
Uncovering Immune Response Landscapes and Novel Biomarkers in Latent Endometrial Tuberculosis: Insights from RNA-Seq Transcriptome Profiling
Authors: Dai Bai , Liu Jing-ying , Li De-Bang , Wang Zhi-min , Chen Xiu-juan
Published: November 2024

Latent Endometrial Tuberculosis (LETB) is a significant yet under-recognized cause of female infertility, particularly in TB-prevalent regions. Current diagnostic methods for LETB lack specificity, complicating early detection. Through RNA-Seq transcriptome profiling, we aimed to uncover distinct immune response landscapes and identify novel inflammation-related diagnostic markers for LETB. Our study included clinical diagnostics, histological examinations, and transcriptomic analyses comparing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among control, LETB, and active TB groups. We identified seven candidate genes (IFI30, HCK, SPI1, IL1B, ITGB2, and FCGR2A) uniquely associated with LETB. Bioinformatic analyses revealed these genes' significant roles in immune regulation, including leukocyte activation, cytokine signaling, and myeloid leukocyte-mediated immunity. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) confirmed their involvement in key immune pathways such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and leukocyte transendothelial migration. Validation through qPCR and immunohistochemistry confirmed the differential expression of these biomarkers in LETB tissues. These findings provide new insights into LETB pathogenesis, suggesting potential biomarkers for enhanced early diagnosis and treatment, ultimately aiming to improve reproductive health outcomes for affected women.
Casual roles of gut microbiota, immune cells, and inflammatory cytokines in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study and mediation analysis
Authors: Fan Yannan , Chen Jinhua , Zhuang Yuanyuan , Chang Linlin , Wang Weiguo , Zhang Yunnan
Published: November 2024

The complex interaction between the gut microbiome and the host’s immune system is pivotal in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Despite this, the relationship between gut microbiota, inflammation, and ARDS has not been fully investigated. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) employing summary statistics related to gut microbiota, immune cells, circulating inflammatory cytokines, and outcomes of ARDS. Our primary analytical strategy incorporated five methodologies, predominantly utilizing the Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW) approach within the framework of MR. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q test, while horizontal pleiotropy was evaluated through MR-Egger regression. Additionally, sensitivity analyses and reverse MR were performed to ensure the robustness of the findings. Following adjustments for the false discovery rate (FDR), our findings indicated that, although the overall effects of exposures on ARDS were not statistically significant, there were causal associations identified for 12 gut microbiota taxa, 25 immune cells, and 6 circulating inflammatory cytokines with ARDS (p < 0.05). Mediation analysis revealed that cytokines Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (EIF4EBP1), caspase 8, IL-6, and IL-8 served as partial mediators in the influence exerted by gut microbiota. These findings confirm the potential associations between gut microbiota, immunophenotypes, and inflammatory cytokines with ARDS, shedding light on the mechanisms through which these factors may contribute to the condition and providing a foundation for future investigations into targeted prevention strategies.
Enhancing Early Diabetes Prediction: A Hybrid Optimization Framework Using Adaptive Heterogeneous Differential Evolution (AHDE)
Authors: Chen Lin , Niu Ben
Published: November 2024

Diabetes, as a global health concern, requires timely detection to mitigate risks and manage disease progression. Current research has made progress in predictive modeling.however, there is still a need for more comprehensive frameworks that effectively integrate feature selection and hyperparameter optimization.This study proposes a novel hybrid optimization framework that combines machine learning with metaheuristic algorithms, aiming to enhance the predictive performance for diabetes.The framework employs an Adaptive Heterogeneous Differential Evolution (AHDE) algorithm to efficiently search for optimal solutions while balancing model performance and feature subset size.Through experiments conducted on three publicly available diabetes datasets, we assess the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the machine learning models optimized via the AHDE algorithm outperform the comparative models across various evaluation metrics, particularly in terms of recall and ROC AUC. Specifically, recall rates for datasets 1, 2, and 3 were 0.9226, 0.9894, and 0.9989, respectively, with ROC AUC values of 0.9276, 0.9972, and 0.9945.These findings offer insights for improving early diabetes screening, highlighting the potential applications of the proposed framework in clinical decision support systems.
Unveiling the genetic architecture of barley embryo: QTL mapping, candidate genes identification and its relationship with kernel size and early vigour
Authors: Chen Xiaoxia , Su Zhouyang , Zheng Yunpu , Li Cong , Ma Jun , Ma Jian , Shi Fusun , Hu Haiyan , Liu Chunji , Zheng Zhi
Published: November 2024

Embryo, also known as germ, in cereal grains plays a crucial role in plant development. The embryo accounts for only a small portion of grain weight but it is rich in nutrients. Larger embryo translates to a more nutritious grain and larger store of energy reserves, which can benefit seed germination and seedling establishment. However, reports on quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting embryo size in barley is rare. To understand the genetic basis of embryo size in barley, a population consisting of 201 F9 recombination inbred lines (RILs) was assessed in four environments. Three regions affecting various characteristics of embryo size including embryo length (EL), embryo width (EW) and embryo area (EA) were consistently identified. They located on chromosomes 2H, 4H and 7H, respectively. Among them, the QTL on 7H was bit affected by kernel size. Phenotypic variances explained by this QTL for EL, EW and EA were 11.8%, 9.3% and 12.7%, respectively. Taken advantage of the available genomic assemblies of the two parental genotypes, candidate genes for this locus on 7H were identified. In addition, significant correlations between embryo size and early vigour and kernel traits were detected. To our knowledge, the present study is for the first time reporting QTL conferring embryo size by directly measuring the characteristics as quantitative trait in barley, which would broaden our understanding of the genetic basis of barley embryo size and offer valuable targets for future breeding programs.
The intermediary effect of work stress on the relationship between off-duty professional growth and reflective ability among mid- and senior-level clinical nurses.
Authors: Wu Junxian , Song Jingru , Zhang Mingfang , Li Lin , Shen Qin
Published: November 2024

Objective
This study seeks to investigate the reflective capacity of mid-to-senior nurses, exploring the influence of off-duty job crafting on reflective capacity through the lens of the Job Demands-Resources (JDR) model. Furthermore, it aims to analyze the mediating roles of challenge and hindrance work stress in this relationship, offering evidence-based insights for nursing managers to devise strategies that enhance reflective capacity
Methods
A convenience sampling technique was employed to recruit 534 mid-to-senior nurses from three tertiary hospitals in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. Data collection and analysis were conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Leisure Crafting Scale, the Challenge-Hindrance work Stress Scale, and the Clinical Nurse Reflective Ability Scale.
Results
The findings revealed that the off-duty job crafting score among clinical nurses was (23.82 ± 9.17), the challenge work stress score was (16.97 ± 6.49), the hindrance work stress score was (16.65 ± 5.44), and the reflective ability score was (56.26 ± 19.09). Reflective ability demonstrated a significant correlation with both leisure crafting and work stress. Challenge and hindrance work stress partially mediated the relationship between off-duty job crafting and reflective capacity, with challenge work stress accounting for 19.7% of the total mediating effect and hindrance work stress contributing 30.80%.
Conclusion
The study highlights that the reflective ability of mid-to-senior nurses in China is at a moderately low level. Strengthening off-duty job crafting skills, harnessing the positive aspects of challenge-related stress, and mitigating the negative impacts of hindrance stress can significantly enhance reflective capacity, thereby establishing a solid foundation for the ongoing improvement of nursing quality.
Improving High Anal Fistula Management: Insights from Transanal Opening of Intersphincteric Space (TROPIS) - A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhan Xue-Lei
Published: November 2024

Objective
This retrospective cohort study assessed the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of the transanal opening of the intersphincteric space (TROPIS) procedure for the treatment of complex high anal fistulas.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 131 patients who underwent TROPIS surgery at the First Hospital of Harbin from May 2023 to April 2024. A control group of 124 patients with high anal fistulas was treated with open drainage and seton placement by the same attending physician at the same hospital from January 2022 to April 2023. The study compared clinical outcomes, postoperative pain, wound healing, anal sphincter function, anorectal manometry, quality of life, postoperative complications, and recurrence rates between the two groups.
Results
The TROPIS group demonstrated a total effectiveness rate of 100.0%, significantly surpassing the control group's rate of 84.8% (P < 0.05). Postoperative pain, wound healing duration, and anal sphincter scores were markedly lower in the TROPIS group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Both groups experienced a significant reduction in Wexner incontinence scores postoperatively, with the TROPIS group showing a more pronounced improvement (P < 0.05). Anorectal pressures, encompassing both resting and maximum pressures, were significantly elevated in the TROPIS group relative to the control group within one month postoperatively (P < 0.05). Quality of life, as assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire, indicated a more substantial improvement in the TROPIS group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the rate of postoperative complications was notably lower in the TROPIS group than in the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
TROPIS has demonstrated superior clinical outcomes in the management of high anal fistulas, characterized by diminished postoperative pain, enhanced anal sphincter functionality, improved quality of life, and a reduction in postoperative complications. These results endorse the continued promotion and application of TROPIS as a viable treatment modality for high anal fistulas.
Optimizing the urea and molasses concentration to enhance the nutritive and feeding value of treated rice straw
Authors: Castillo Charity I. , Aquino Daniel L. , Llantada Phoebe Lyndia T. , Migo-Sumagang Maria Victoria , Managa Karl Reginald D. , Sandro Joseph M. , Hung Nguyen Van , Barrio Arnel N. Del
Published: November 2024

This study sought to optimize the urea and molasses concentrations and rice straw preparation to improve the nutritional value and quality of silage for ruminants. It consisted of four (4) parts and was conducted sequentially: 1) screening and characterization, 2) optimization using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), 3) numerical optimization, and 4) experimental validation. Three (3) factors were considered for the optimization protocol: 1) urea concentration ranging from 1% to 6%; 2) molasses concentration from 1% to 8%; and (3) rice straw preparations as un-chopped and chopped. The results indicated that varying molasses concentration from 1% to 8% did not significantly affect dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradability. Additionally, rice straw preparation showed no significant effect on all responses at a low urea concentration (1%). However, at a high urea concentration (6%), chopped rice straw resulted in significantly higher values for all responses than un-chopped rice straw. The optimized conditions were found to be 4.39% urea concentration for chopped and 3.61% for un-chopped rice straw. Using chopped rice straw at the optimized urea concentration improved DM, CP, and organic matter (OM) degradability compared to un-chopped rice straw. Thus, the utilization of optimized levels of urea combined with molasses ranging from 1% to 8% led to higher-quality rice straw silage.
Identification of a novel anoikis-related gene signature to predict prognosis and tumor microenvironment in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma Carcinoma
Authors: zhou xuan , Wei Bai , Wang Yan , Liu MingJie , Guo XiangRu , Duan YuTing
Published: November 2024

Background:
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant tumor of hepatobiliary epithelial cells. In recent years, its incidence has gradually increased. It has a very high fatality rate and low survival rate, and the existing predictive factors for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are unclear. The role of anoikis, a form of programmed cell death, in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is not fully understood. This study focuses on identifying and analyzing anoikis-related differentially expressed genes in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, aiming to enhance our understanding of potential treatment strategies and prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Methods:
In our study, we employed a clustering algorithm to classify samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) based on differentially expressed overlapping anoikis-related genes. Subsequently, we utilized Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify highly correlated genes and constructed a prognostic risk model based on univariate Cox proportional hazard regression. We validated the model's reliability using external datasets from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Finally, we used the CIBERSORT algorithm to investigate the correlation between risk scores and immune infiltration.
Results:
The results showed that the TCGA cohort could be divided into 2 subgroups, among which subgroup B had a lower survival probability. We identified three prognostic genes (EGF, BNIP3, TDGF1) associated with anorexia. The prognostic risk model effectively predicted overall survival and was validated in ICGC and GEO data sets. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between infiltrating immune cells and prognostic genes and risk scores.
Conclusion:
We identified subgroups and prognostic genes associated with ICCA dysregulation, which are important for understanding the treatment and prognosis of ICCA.
Effects of Daphnia magna on the concentration and size distribution of suspended particles
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyan , Tan Lichao , Zhang Mingzhu , Tang Fukai , Yun Jingjing , Wu Xiaorong , Ge Feng , Guo Peiyong
Published: November 2024

Directly or indirectly affecting the biogeochemical process of natural waters, suspended particles are an important component of aquatic ecosystems. The filter feeder Daphnia magna plays an impact on suspended particles, thus changing the habitat. However, habitat changes in the environment would be counterproductive to affect the growth and reproduction of Daphnia magna.This study aimed at determining the effects of Daphnia magna on the concentration and size distribution of suspended particles. Kaolinite, montmorillonite and natural particles were used in this experiment as three representative types of particles, and were called “KN”, “MN”, “NP” for short, respectively. As for NP, the undersize particles with diameters below 150 µm, 96 µm, and 75µm, named “<150µm” 、“<96µm” and “<75µm” samples, respectively, were used to study the effects of Daphnia magna on the concentration of suspended particles and discuss the selectivity through particle size. The results showed that Daphnia magna reduced the concentration of the particles by ingestion, especially in the more active period (the first three hours of the test time), which means that Daphnia magna shows positive significance in the reuse of wastewater. Although Daphnia magna is a kind of nonselective filter feeder, it is selective by particle size as for the same substance. Fine particles (particle size < 8µm) were easilier obtained by Daphnia magna, thus showed higher bioavailability. It was also concluded that the effects of Daphnia magna on suspended particles size distribution may be also related to the digestive process of particles, depending on the properties of suspended particles such as the composition or organic matter content and so on.
Targeting mitochondrial drug SkQ1 inhibits the progression of post-traumatic osteoarthritis by inhibiting mitochondrial oxidative stress
Authors: Zhi Zhenya , Wang pengcheng
Published: November 2024

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a subtype of osteoarthritis (OA). At present, there are no ideal drugs that can effectively prevent and treat PTOA.The current strateg for treating PTOA is to control symptoms and reduce pain. SkQ1 is novel mitochondria-targeted antioxidant which can eliminate excessive intracellular ROS and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we evaluate the therapeutic effect of SkQ1 on PTOA and the mechanisms involved. Our results showed that SkQ1 significantly alleviated articular cartilage degeneration of PTOA in acute and chronic phase of PTOA rat model through inhibiting the oxidative stress. SkQ1 not only decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), MDA and 8-OHdg, but also suppressed the decrease of mitonchondrial membrane potential in PTOA rat model. We further found that SkQ1 protected mitochondrial function by inhibiting the release of cytochrome C and the expression of mitochondrial-related apoptotic pathway factors such as Bax, Bak, cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-9, increasing the copy number of mitochondrial DNA. In conclusion, SkQ1 may maintain mitochondrial function and inhibit the progression of PTOA by reducing ROS levels, inhibiting oxidative damage and apoptosis. SkQ1 may be used as a potential treatment for PTOA in the future.
Research on High-Accuracy Identification of Maize Seed Varieties Based on a Lightweight Improved YOLOv8
Authors: Niu Siqi , Xu Xiaolin , Liang Ao , Yun Yuliang , Hao Fengqi , Bai Jinqiang , Sheng Wenyi , Ma Dexin
Published: November 2024

The variety purity of crop seeds is the main quality indicator of seeds, which affects the yield and quality of crops. To achieve fast identification of maize seed varieties, this study collected images of 10 types of maize seeds, totaling 3,249 seeds. This research proposed a lightweight and small-object detection model for maize seed variety identification based on an improved YOLOv8 model: E-YOLOv8. Firstly, the backbone was replaced with FasterNet, which reduced redundant computation and memory access, allowing more efficient extraction of spatial features. Secondly, the CARAFE was introduced, offered a larger receptive field and adaptive convolution kernels, which better aggregated contextual information, prevented feature loss, and improved the quality of upsampling and the accuracy of dense prediction tasks. Additionally, the Detect module was replaced with the improved Detect_EMA module, which efficiently retained information in each channel, reduced computational load, and more specifically optimized detection results. Lastly, the loss function was replaced with Inner_SIoU, which was more suitable for small-object detection tasks. Ablation experiments verified the performance of the model, and comparisons were made with YOLOv8, YOLOv6, and YOLOv10. The proposed E-YOLOv8 achieved a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 96.2%, a 4.4% improvement over YOLOv8, with enhancements in all other evaluation metrics. This study provided a theoretical foundation for the efficient detection of maize varieties and offered strong technical support for the intelligent and automated development of agriculture.
The Virtual and Physical Battery usage in a Photovoltaic System
Authors: Vanek Jiri , Pekarek Marek , Jandova Kristyna
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we compare different photovoltaic systems with electrochemical battery storage of electricity for a selected family house in the Czech Republic in the Opava area and the option with the power plant direct selling energy to the grid or with the use of a distributor service called virtual battery. The work also includes an economic analysis and a calculation of the return on investment, considering the available energy products from energy suppliers in the Czech Republic.
FDE-Net: Efficient Mobile Robot Navigation Based on Light-weight Network Depth and 3D Bounding Box Estimation
Authors: Tran Dinh-Manh-Cuong , Bui Nhu-Nghia , Nguyen Van-Truong , Tan Phan Xuan , Dang Thai-Viet
Published: November 2024

Precise and sturdy three-dimensional object detection (3DOD) presents a promising opportunity within the realm of mobile robot (MR) navigation. Monocular 3DOD techniques often involve extending existing 2D object detection (2DOD) frameworks to predict the 3D bounding box (3DBB) of objects captured in 2D RGB images. Nonetheless, these methods demand multiple images, making them less feasible for a variety of real-time scenarios. To ease these challenges, the rise of nimble convolutional neural networks (CNNs) capable of inferring depth from a sole image opens a fresh path for investigation. The current study introduces a nimble FDENet net-work designed to produce the cost-effective 3D Bounding Box Estimation (3D-BBE) from a single image. The novel framework comprises the PP-LCNet as the encoder and a fast convolution decode as the decoder. Moreover, this fusion integrates a Squeeze-Exploit (SE) module using the MKLDNN optimizer to boost convolutional efficiency and enhance model size streamlining with effective training. Meanwhile, the proposed multi-scale sub-pixel nimble decoder generates top-notch depth maps while upholding a nimble structure. Furthermore, the produced depth maps effectively offer a straightforward perspective with distance details of items within the surroundings. The depth insights are melded with 2DOD for precise evaluation of 3D Bounding Box (3DBB), facilitating scene comprehension and optimal route planning for mobile robots. Based on obtained 3DBB’s object center estimation, the optimal MR’s obstacle avoidance strategy is completely designed. Experimental outcomes showcase that our model attains cutting-edge performance levels across three datasets of NYU-V2, KITTI, and Cityscapes. Overall, this framework exhibits tremendous potential for adaptation into intelligent mechatronic systems, especially in crafting knowledge-driven systems for MR navigation.
Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in People Living with HIV and its multi-organ damage: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Tang Jia , Chen Ling , Pan Wei , Lu Lianfeng , Liu Xiaosheng , Zhang Leidan , Zheng Liyuan , Song Xiaojing , Guo Fuping , lv wei , Cao Wei , Hsieh Evelyn , Li Taisheng
Published: November 2024

Introduction: With the global scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and improved life expectancy, people living with HIV (PLWH) increasingly face non-infectious comorbidities, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the most prevalent. MetS is associated with unfavorable health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. However, data on the prevalence and risk factors of MetS among treatment-naïve PLWH in China are limited. The aim was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of MetS and to understand its association with multi-organ damage.
Methods: Data on sociodemographic, physical, and clinical characteristics were collected from a completed multicenter, prospective cohort study in China. MetS was diagnosed according to criteria proposed by the China Diabetes Society. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were applied to identify associated risk factors for MetS. The relationship with organ damage, including kidney, liver, heart, and bone health, were also been assessed.
Results: Among the 449 participants (median age 30 years; 92.9% male), 16.9% met the criteria for MetS. Patients met MetS criteria in our study presented with low HDL-C concentration (49.8%), hypertriglyceridemia (26.1%), hypertension (23.1%), hyperglycemia (15.4%), and abdominal obesity (8.0%). Risk factors significantly associated with MetS included older age (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.02-1.15) and alcohol consumption (OR 3.63; 95% CI 1.13-11.67). PLWH with MetS exhibited higher level of organ involvement, including reduced kidney function, elevated liver enzymes, and increased risks for cardiovascular events. Among them, 162 participants (36.0%) were classified as being at moderate or high risk using pooled cohort equations (PCEs). It is worth noting that in the MetS group, the dropped bone mineral density (BMD) in the spine decreased more significantly than that of the non-MetS group (P= 0.007).
Conclusion: The incidence of MetS in ART-naïve PLWH in China is relatively high. Older age and alcohol consumption are associated with higher risk of MetS. Multiple organ damage may occur accompanied with MetS. Early identification and intervention are critical in managing MetS in PLWH.
Validity of a Recent Ultrasonographic Staging System for Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Sadek Somayya M. , Fekry Abdallah , Elbromboly Wael , Abdelwahab Mai Mohamed , Saleh Shahenda A , Ahmad Reda A. , Mahdy Entesar Roshdy
Published: November 2024

Background: The placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a spectrum of placental attachments, with an incidence ranging from 1/533 to 1/731 deliveries and a maternal death rate reaching 7%. Moreover, repeated CS is considered the most significant risk factor.
Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted at the ultrasound unit and maternity hospital in the obstetrics and gynecology department,at Zagazig University from January 2020 to May 2023; fifty-seven patients were included. Every patient was subjected to a Cali ultrasonographic scoring system to predict placental invasion and to the FIGO clinical grading system during delivery. Furthermore, histopathological examination was performed for patients who underwent hysterectomy.
Results: PAS 3 can predict the presence of placenta percreta with an area under the curve of 0.625, a sensitivity of 75%, a specificity of 50%, a positive predictive value of 60%, a negative predictive value of 66.7%, and an overall accuracy of 62.5% (p=0.487).
Conclusion: After validation of the Cali et al. scoring system in our study, the prediction of placental invasion was lower than that reported by Cali et al. in their research. Moreover, the performance of the Cali et al.scoring system is not better than that of other scoring systems in the prediction of placental invasion in PAS patients.
MK-ACFormer:A transformer based on multiscale kernel channel attention convolutional neural network for mechanical fault diagnosis
Authors: Liu Qiang , Lai Hongxi , Dai Zhengwei , Chen Minghao , Chen Peirong , Huang Huiyuan , Fu Jiahui , Hou Mingxin , Xu Xiaoming , Wang Guangbin , Yan Jin
Published: November 2024

Recent research has demonstrated that various network architectures combined with Transformers exhibit outstanding performance, particularly in models integrating Transformers with CNNs, which have made significant strides in the field of fault diagnosis. However, existing models that combine Transformers and CNNs fail to effectively utilise multi-scale convolutions for feature extraction and suffer from channel weight information loss, which weakens the network's feature extraction capability. Therefore, this paper proposes an MK-ACFormer framework for mechanical fault diagnosis to address these issues. Firstly, a multi-scale convolutional attention module is designed to extract features with multiple local receptive fields from vibration signals and capture inter-channel correlations, thereby optimally distributing channel weights. Secondly, the ECA module is employed to fuse features extracted from different scale convolutions with those derived from the Transformer, adaptively adjusting feature channels to assign varying weights and reduce information redundancy. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method is more robust compared to recent Transformer-CNN integrated approaches and CNN-based improvements for fault diagnosis, further validating the model's effectiveness through performance analysis. Finally, transfer experiments on small sample data demonstrate the model's capability in employing transfer learning methods.
The PREVASC Study: Prospective REgistry of Valve disease in Asymptomatic Italian elderly SubjeCts
Authors: Carrabba Nazario , Amico Mattia Alexis , Busi Gherardo , Vannini Matteo , Bruscoli Filippo , Fortunato Salvatore , Arcari Luciano , Lorenzo Emilio Di , Luzi Giampaolo , Clemenza Francesco , Amico Francesco , Pes Giuseppe , Merlo Marco , Sinagra Gianfranco , Desideri Giovambattista , Vetta Francesco , Mugelli Alessandro , Marchionni Niccolo , Boccanelli Alessandro
Published: November 2024

Aims
Valvular heart disease (VHD) is the third most common cause of cardiovascular morbidity, and its incidence and impact on public health is expected to rise substantially. This study explores an unconventional perspective, focusing on elderly subjects living in rural areas, emphasizing the evolving landscape of little towns.
Methods
We conducted a multicenter, observational study, enrolling by voluntary participation subjects without a previous history of VHD, aged ≥ 65y, and living in 10 small villages in Italy. Subjects were divided into three age-groups (65-69y; 70-74y; ≥75y) and underwent a comprehensive evaluation including a Quality of Life questionnaire (QoL) and complete echocardiography assessment focusing on presence and grading of VHD.
Results
Among 1113 subjects, the prevalence and the severity of VHD increased with age (p > 0.0001). Notably, 94% of subject ≥ 75y had at least one valvular defect, with 22.5% exhibiting moderate or severe valvulopathy, with 4.8% and 7.5% prevalence of moderate or severe aortic valve stenosis and mitral regurgitation, respectively. Right-sided valvulopathies mirrored similar trends (71.9% of the elderly). The results of the QoL showed a good perceived health status (mean 77 ± 16).
Conclusions
This study's rural perspective challenges urban biases, exploring a less medicalized environment. The observed correlation between age and presence and severity of VHD underscores the need for a reassessment of the public health importance of VHD, especially among aging populations, to plan their most appropriate and convenient management in individuals who otherwise consider themselves healthy.
Nurses' perceptions of physical activity: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study
Authors: Li Zheying , Cheng Jing , Xiao Yaru , Zhou Ting , Huang Sufang
Published: November 2024

Objective: To study Chinese nurses’ overall perception of physical activity and explore potential strategies to promote their regular leisure-time physical activity levels.
Methods: Using descriptive qualitative research methods, semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 nurses from a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China, from September 2022 to May 2023. Content analysis was used to analyze the data and extract the themes.
Results: Five themes were identified: 1) lack of awareness of the recommended physical activity guidelines; 2)benefits of physical activity; 3) current status of physical activity; 4)influencing factors of regular leisure-time physical activity; and 5) strategies to promote regular leisure-time physical activity.
Conclusions: Health administrative departments and medical institutions should attach great importance to the popularization of physical activity knowledge and promotion of physical activity in nurses. By strengthening propaganda and education, and to provide scientific guidance and effective intervention, promote the nurses to participate in leisure physical activities regularly, to ensure their physical and mental health, improve medical service quality.