bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential of AI-Driven Chatbots in Urology: Revolutionizing Patient Care Through Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Talyshinskii Ali , Naik Nithesh , Hameed B. M. Zeeshan , Juliebø-Jones Patrick , Somani Bhaskar Kumar
Published: September 2023

Purpose of Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have emerged as a potential tool to transform urology by improving patient care and physician efficiency. With an emphasis on their potential advantages and drawbacks, this literature review offers a thorough assessment of the state of AI-driven chatbots in urology today.

Recent Findings

The capacity of AI-driven chatbots in urology to give patients individualized and timely medical advice is one of its key advantages. Chatbots can help patients prioritize their symptoms and give advice on the best course of treatment. By automating administrative duties and offering clinical decision support, chatbots can also help healthcare providers. Before chatbots are widely used in urology, there are a few issues that need to be resolved. The precision of chatbot diagnoses and recommendations might be impacted by technical constraints like system errors and flaws. Additionally, issues regarding the security and privacy of patient data must be resolved, and chatbots must adhere to all applicable laws. Important issues that must be addressed include accuracy and dependability because any mistakes or inaccuracies could seriously harm patients. The final obstacle is resistance from patients and healthcare professionals who are hesitant to use new technology or who value in-person encounters.

AI-driven chatbots have the potential to significantly improve urology care and efficiency. However, it is essential to thoroughly test and ensure the accuracy of chatbots, address privacy and security concerns, and design user-friendly chatbots that can integrate into existing workflows. By exploring various scenarios and examining the current literature, this review provides an analysis of the prospects and limitations of implementing chatbots in urology.
Novel calculation method to predict gas–water two-phase production for the fractured tight-gas horizontal well
Authors: Lv Min , Xue Bo , Guo Weipeng , Li Jing , Guan Bin
Published: September 2023

The prediction of production capacity in tight gas wells is greatly influenced by the characteristics of gas–water two-phase flow and the fracture network permeability parameters. However, traditional analytical models simplify the nonlinear problems of two-phase flow equations to a large extent, resulting in significant errors in dynamic analysis results. To address this issue, this study considers the characteristics of gas–water two-phase flow in the reservoir and fracture network, utilizes a trilinear flow model to characterize the effects of hydraulic fracturing, and takes into account the stress sensitivity of the reservoir and fractures. A predictive model for gas–water two-phase production in tight fractured horizontal wells is established. By combining the mass balance equation with the Newton–Raphson iteration method, the nonlinear parameters of the flow model are updated step by step using the average reservoir pressure. The accuracy of the model is validated through comparisons with results from commercial numerical simulation software and field case applications. The research results demonstrate that the established semi-analytical solution method efficiently handles the nonlinear two-phase flow problems, allowing for the rapid and accurate prediction of production capacity in tight gas wells. Water production significantly affects gas well productivity, and appropriate fracture network parameters are crucial for improving gas well productivity. The findings of this work could provide more clear understanding of the gas production performance from the fractured tight-gas horizontal well.
Multi-time Step Deterioration Prediction of Freeways Using Linear Regression and Machine Learning Approaches: A Case Study
Authors: Tran Huu , Robert Dilan , Gunarathna Prageeth , Setunge Sujeeva
Published: September 2023

Multi-time step deterioration prediction of road pavements can provide more options for effective maintenance and rehabilitation decision under limited resources as compared to single time step prediction. This paper presents the 1–4 time step ahead prediction of the pavement cracking, rutting and roughness using their past values together with climate and traffic data as model inputs. Three prediction models were adopted, including the simple multiple linear regression (MLR) model and two sophisticated machine learning models, namely, support vector regression (SVR) and genetic programming (GP) models. An industry dataset of spray seal freeways is used to demonstrate the application of the methodology developed in this study. After calibration with observed data, the three prediction models are tested with unseen datasets using three performance indicators, namely, mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and coefficient of determination (R squared). Among many results, all three models are unable to predict cracking with acceptable prediction accuracy. On the other hand, the rutting and roughness can be predicted with relatively good accuracy up to 4 time steps ahead. The sensitivity analysis shows that roughness and rutting prediction depends significantly on their previous or lagged values and not on remaining inputs such as annual average daily traffic (AADT) and rainfall. The methodology developed in this study is also applied to another dataset of asphalt freeways, which have similar model inputs. Similar findings are found with this dataset of asphalt freeways to that of spray seal freeways. The simple MLR model can produce similar prediction performance to the sophisticated SVR and GP models for rutting and roughness, suggesting the use of the MLR model as a benchmark for any development of prediction models for pavement deterioration.
Evolution of reproductive strategies: sex roles, sex ratios and phylogenies
Authors: Székely Tamás
Published: September 2023

Behavioural variations associated with breeding—termed reproductive strategies—are some of the striking behaviours that have occupied naturalists for 1000s of years. How an animal seeks, competes for and/or chooses a mate? Do they breed with a single partner, or do they change partners between breeding events? How and when do they look after their young? Behavioural biologists, ecologists and evolutionary biologists have investigated these questions using quantitative methods since 1970s. In Debrecen, with the support and mentoring of Prof Zoltán Varga, we are investigating the causes and implications of reproductive strategies since 1988. This article reviews some of the core ideas in reproductive strategies research and explains the influence of Prof Varga on the development of these ideas. My main thesis here is that both integrative thinking and adopting a multi-pronged research approach using an explicit phylogenetic framework—both of these have been spearheaded by Prof Varga throughout his lifetime—can reveal novel aspects of reproductive strategies. Importantly, some of these academic insights have direct implications for preserving species and their habitats in the wild, and thus benefit biodiversity conservation.
Investigating the potential effects of α-synuclein aggregation on susceptibility to chronic stress in a mouse Parkinson’s disease model
Authors: Alwani Anna , Maziarz Katarzyna , Burda Gabriela , Jankowska-Kiełtyka Monika , Roman Adam , Łyszczarz Gabriela , Er Safak , Barut Justyna , Barczyk-Woźnicka Olga , Pyza Elżbieta , Kreiner Grzegorz , Nalepa Irena , Chmielarz Piotr
Published: September 2023

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a motor disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, putatively due to the accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in Lewy bodies (LBs) in Substantia Nigra. PD is also associated with the formation of LBs in brain areas responsible for emotional and cognitive regulation such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, and concurrent depression prevalence in PD patients. The exact link between dopaminergic cell loss, α-syn aggregation, depression, and stress, a major depression risk factor, is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the interplay between sensitivity to chronic stress and α-syn aggregation.

Methods

Bilateral injections of α-syn preformed fibrils (PFFs) into the striatum of C57Bl/6 J mice were used to induce α-syn aggregation. Three months after injections, animals were exposed to chronic social defeat stress.

Results

α-syn aggregation did not affect stress susceptibility but independently caused increased locomotor activity in the open field test, reduced anxiety in the light–dark box test, and increased active time in the tail suspension test. Ex vivo analysis revealed modest dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra and reduced dopaminergic innervation in the dorsal striatum in PFFs injected groups. α-Syn aggregates were prominent in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and substantia nigra, with minimal α-syn aggregation in the raphe nuclei and locus coeruleus.

Conclusions

Progressive bilateral α-syn aggregation might lead to compensatory activity increase and alterations in emotionally regulated behavior, without affecting stress susceptibility. Understanding how α-syn aggregation and degeneration in specific brain structures contribute to depression and anxiety in PD patients requires further investigation.
Fokker-Planck equations for a trapped particle in a quantum-thermal Ohmic bath: general theory and applications to Josephson junctions
Authors: Furutani Koichiro , Salasnich Luca
Published: September 2023

We consider a particle trapped by a generic external potential and under the influence of a quantum-thermal Ohmic bath. Starting from the Langevin equation, we derive the corresponding Schwinger-Keldysh action. Then, within the path-integral formalism, we obtain both the semiclassical Fokker-Planck equation and the quantum Fokker-Planck equation for this out-of-equilibrium system. In the case of an external harmonic potential and in the underdamped regime, we find that our Fokker-Planck equations contain an effective temperature $$T_{\text {eff}}$$

T
eff

, which crucially depends on the interplay between quantum and thermal fluctuations in contrast to the classical Fokker-Planck equation. In the regime of high temperatures, one recovers the classical Fokker-Planck equation. As an application of our result, we also provide the stationary solution of the semiclassical Fokker-Planck equations for a superconducting Josephson circuit and for a Bose Josephson junction, which are experimentally accessible.
Asymptotics of Some Plancherel Averages Via Polynomiality Results
Authors: Schachinger Werner
Published: September 2023

Consider Young diagrams of n boxes distributed according to the Plancherel measure. So those diagrams could be the output of the RSK algorithm, when applied to random permutations of the set $$\{1,\ldots ,n\}$$

{
1
,
…
,
n
}

. Here we are interested in asymptotics, as $$n\rightarrow \infty $$

n
→
∞

, of expectations of certain functions of random Young diagrams, such as the number of bumping steps of the RSK algorithm that leads to that diagram, the side length of its Durfee square, or the logarithm of its probability. We can express these functions in terms of hook lengths or contents of the boxes of the diagram, which opens the door for application of known polynomiality results for Plancherel averages. We thus obtain representations of expectations as binomial convolutions, that can be further analyzed with the help of Rice’s integral or Poisson generating functions. Among our results is a very explicit expression for the constant appearing in the almost equipartition property of the Plancherel measure.
Oxycodon – eine erklärungsbedürftige Karriere
Authors: Sachtleben Stefan
Published: September 2023

Hintergrund

Oxycodon ist 1998 als orales Opioidanalgetikum in Deutschland erneut auf den Markt gekommen, nachdem es 1990 vom Markt genommen worden war. Heute ist es das meistverordnete orale WHO-Stufe-3-Opioid, obwohl sich seine analgetische Wirkung nicht von der anderer Opioidanalgetika unterscheidet. In Deutschland wurde es 2017 öfter als Ibuprofen ärztlich verordnet.

Fragestellung

Wie erklärt sich dieser Aufstieg?

Material und Methode

Orientierende Literaturrecherche (Scoping Review), Auswertung von Pharmastatistiken und Leitlinien, Diskussion von Empfehlungen

Ergebnis

Der Aufstieg von Oxycodon ist nicht in seinen pharmakologischen oder medizinischen Eigenschaften begründet. Die Ursache für die häufige Verordnung scheinen Marketingmaßnahmen eines Pharmaunternehmens zu sein. Es wurden in großem Umfang ärztliche Informationsquellen beeinflusst oder verändert.

Schlussfolgerung

Dies gelang, weil im ärztlichen Informationsverhalten die Qualität von Informationsquellen zu wenig beachtet wird.
Natural Floodplains Are Quickly Vanishing
Authors: Padmanaban Deepa
Published: September 2023

From 1992 to 2019, 600,000 square kilometers of natural floodplains were lost globally due to land conversion.
Lifetime exposure to brominated trihalomethanes in drinking water and swimming pool attendance are associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a Multicase-Control Study in Spain (MCC-Spain)
Authors: Donat-Vargas Carolina , Kogevinas Manolis , Benavente Yolanda , Costas Laura , Campo Elias , Castaño-Vinyals Gemma , Fernandez-Tardon Guillermo , Llorca Javier , Gómez-Acebo Inés , Aragonés Nuria , Pollan Marina , Casabonne Delphine , Villanueva Cristina M.
Published: September 2023

Background

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) etiology is poorly understood, and carcinogenic chemicals in drinking and recreational water are candidates.

Objective

To evaluate the association between drinking-water exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) and nitrate as well as lifetime swimming pool attendance and CLL.

Methods

During 2010–2013, hospital-based CLL cases and population-based controls were recruited in Spain, providing information on residential histories, type of water consumed and swimming pool attendance. Average THMs and nitrate levels in drinking water were linked to lifetime water consumption. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using mixed models.

Results

Final samples for residential tap water analyses and swimming pool attendance analyses were 144 cases/1230 controls and 157 cases/1240 controls, respectively. Mean (SD) values for average lifetime residential brominated THMs and chloroform in tap water (μg/L), and ingested nitrate (mg/day) were 48.1 (35.6), 18.5 (6.7) and 13.7 (9.6) respectively in controls; and 72.9 (40.7), 17.9 (5.4), and 14.1 (8.8) in CLL cases. For each 10 μg/L increase of brominated THMs and chloroform lifetime-average levels, the ORs (95% CI) were 1.22 (1.14, 1.31) and 0.54 (0.34, 0.87), respectively. For each 5 mg/day increase of ingested nitrate, the OR of CLL was 0.91 (0.80, 1.04). The OR of lifetime pool users (vs. non-users) was 2.38 (1.61, 3.52). Upon performing annual frequency of attending pools analysis through categorization, the second and third categories showed an ORs of 2.36 (1.49, 3.72) and 2.40 (1.51, 3.83), respectively, and P-trend of 0.001.

Impact statement

This study identifies an association of long-term exposure to THMs in drinking water, at concentrations below the regulatory thresholds and WHO guidelines, and swimming pool attendance, with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These unprecedented findings are highly relevant since CLL is an incurable cancer with still unknown etiology and because the widespread exposure to chlorination by-products that remain in drinking and recreational water worldwide. Despite the demonstrated carcinogenicity in animals of several chlorination by-products, little is known about their potential risks on human health. This study makes a significant contribution to the search for environmental factors involved in the etiology of CLL and to the evidence of the health impact of these high prevalent water contaminants.
Eltrombopag with or without Tacrolimus for relapsed/refractory acquired aplastic anaemia: a prospective randomized trial
Authors: Ji Jiang , Wan Ziqi , Ruan Jing , Yang Yuan , Hu Qinglin , Chen Zesong , Yang Chen , Chen Miao , Han Bing
Published: September 2023

This trial compared eltrombopag (EPAG)+tacrolimus and EPAG monotherapy in patients with refractory/relapsed acquired aplastic anaemia (AA). Patients with refractory/relapsed AA were randomly assigned to receive either EPAG+tacrolimus or EPAG monotherapy at a ratio of 2:1. Patient response, safety, clonal evolution and survival were compared. In total, 114 patients were included in the analysis, with 76 patients receiving EPAG+tacrolimus and 38 receiving EPAG only. With a median follow-up of 18 (6–24) months, the overall response rate (ORR) for patients treated with EPAG+tacrolimus and EPAG alone was 38.2% vs. 31.6% (P = 0.490) at the 3rd month, 61.8% vs. 39.5% (P = 0.024) at the 6th month, 64.5% vs. 47.1% (P = 0.097) at the 12th month, and 60.5% vs. 34.2% (P = 0.008) at the last follow-up. The rate of each adverse event, overall survival curves (P = 0.635) and clonal evolution rate (P = 1.000) were comparable between the groups. A post hoc subgroup analysis showed that EPAG+tacrolimus could have advantage over EPAG monotherapy in terms of the ORR at the 6th month (P = 0.030)/last follow-up (P = 0.013) and the cumulative relapse-free survival (RFS) curves (P = 0.048) in patients <60 years old.
Spatial transcriptomics delineates molecular features and cellular plasticity in lung adenocarcinoma progression
Authors: Wang Yan , Liu Bing , Min Qingjie , Yang Xin , Yan Shi , Ma Yuanyuan , Li Shaolei , Fan Jiawen , Wang Yaqi , Dong Bin , Teng Huajing , Lin Dongmei , Zhan Qimin , Wu Nan
Published: September 2023

Indolent (lepidic) and aggressive (micropapillary, solid, and poorly differentiated acinar) histologic subtypes often coexist within a tumor tissue of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), but the molecular features associated with different subtypes and their transitions remain elusive. Here, we combine spatial transcriptomics and multiplex immunohistochemistry to elucidate molecular characteristics and cellular plasticity of distinct histologic subtypes of LUAD. We delineate transcriptional reprogramming and dynamic cell signaling that determine subtype progression, especially hypoxia-induced regulatory network. Different histologic subtypes exhibit heterogeneity in dedifferentiation states. Additionally, our results show that macrophages are the most abundant cell type in LUAD, and identify different tumor-associated macrophage subpopulations that are unique to each histologic subtype, which might contribute to an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Our results provide a systematic landscape of molecular profiles that drive LUAD subtype progression, and demonstrate potentially novel therapeutic strategies and targets for invasive lung adenocarcinoma.
Concurrent oxygen reduction and water oxidation at high ionic strength for scalable electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Kim Changmin , Park Sung O , Kwak Sang Kyu , Xia Zhenhai , Kim Guntae , Dai Liming
Published: September 2023

Electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide via selective two-electron transfer oxygen reduction or water oxidation reactions offers a cleaner, cost-effective alternative to anthraquinone processes. However, it remains a challenge to achieve high Faradaic efficiencies at elevated current densities. Herein, we report that oxygen-deficient Pr1.0Sr1.0Fe0.75Zn0.25O4-δperovskite oxides rich of oxygen vacancies can favorably bind the reaction intermediates to facilitate selective and efficient two-electron transfer pathways. These oxides exhibited superior Faradic efficiencies (~99%) for oxygen reduction over a wide potential range (0.05 to 0.45 Vversusreversible hydrogen electrode) and current densities surpassing 50 mA cm−2under high ionic strengths. We further found that the oxides perform a high selectivity (~80%) for two-electron transfer water oxidation reaction at a low overpotential (0.39 V). Lastly, we devised a membrane-free electrolyser employing bifunctional electrocatalysts, achieving a record-high Faradaic efficiency of 163.0% at 2.10 V and 50 mA cm−2. This marks the first report of the concurrent oxygen reduction and water oxidation catalysed by efficient bifunctional oxides in a novel membrane-free electrolyser for scalable hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis.
The tumor microenvironment shows a hierarchy of cell-cell interactions dominated by fibroblasts
Authors: Mayer Shimrit , Milo Tomer , Isaacson Achinoam , Halperin Coral , Miyara Shoval , Stein Yaniv , Lior Chen , Pevsner-Fischer Meirav , Tzahor Eldad , Mayo Avi , Alon Uri , Scherz-Shouval Ruth
Published: September 2023

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is comprised of non-malignant cells that interact with each other and with cancer cells, critically impacting cancer biology. The TME is complex, and understanding it requires simplifying approaches. Here we provide an experimental-mathematical approach to decompose the TME into small circuits of interacting cell types. We find, using female breast cancer single-cell-RNA-sequencing data, a hierarchical network of interactions, with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) at the top secreting factors primarily to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). This network is composed of repeating circuit motifs. We isolate the strongest two-cell circuit motif by culturing fibroblasts and macrophages in-vitro, and analyze their dynamics and transcriptomes. This isolated circuit recapitulates the hierarchy of in-vivo interactions, and enables testing the effect of ligand-receptor interactions on cell dynamics and function, as we demonstrate by identifying a mediator of CAF-TAM interactions - RARRES2, and its receptor CMKLR1. Thus, the complexity of the TME may be simplified by identifying small circuits, facilitating the development of strategies to modulate the TME.
Experimental demonstration of multiparty quantum secret sharing and conference key agreement
Authors: Liu Shuaishuai , Lu Zhenguo , Wang Pu , Tian Yan , Wang Xuyang , Li Yongmin
Published: September 2023

Quantum secret sharing (QSS) and conference key agreement (CKA) provide efficient encryption approaches for realizing multi-party secure communication, which are essential components of quantum networks. In this work, a practical, scalable, verifiable (k, n) threshold continuous variable QSS protocol secure against eavesdroppers and dishonest players are proposed and demonstrated. The protocol does not require preparing the laser source by each player and phase locking of independent lasers. The parameter evaluation and key extraction can be accomplished by only the dealer and the corresponding player. By using the multiple sideband modulation, a single heterodyne detector can extract the information of multiple players. The practical security of the system is considered. The system is versatile, it can support the CKA protocol by only modifying the classic post-processing and requiring no changes to the underlying hardware architecture. By implementing the QSS and CKA protocols with five parties over 25 km (55 km) single-mode fibers, a key rate of 0.0061 (7.14 × 10−4) bits per pulse is observed. The results significantly reduces the system complexity and paves the way for the practical applications of QSS and CKA with efficient utilization of resources and telecom technologies.
Mechanistic investigation into the binding property of Yohimbe towards natural polymeric DNAs
Authors: Luikham Soching , Yanthan Senchumbeni , Bhattacharyya Jhimli
Published: September 2023

DNA interactions with multivalent ligand(s) have increasingly become the subject of substantial research. For several small molecules with therapeutic potential, nucleic acids serve as their primary molecular target. Such interaction has been shown to affect transcription or replication, ultimately leading to apoptotic cell death. As a result, researchers are becoming increasingly interested in understanding how small molecules interact with DNA making it possible to develop new, DNA-specific drugs. The bioactive indole alkaloid, Yohimbe (Yohimbine; Yh) has been broadly studied in pharmacological properties while its binding mode to DNA has not been explicated so far. This study adopted molecular modelling and multi-spectroscopic methods to investigate the interaction between Yohimbine and herring testes (HT DNA) in physiological conditions. Minor hypochromic and bathochromic shifts of fluorescence intensity were observed, suggesting the binding of Yh to HT DNA. The Scatchard plot analyses using the McGhee-von Hipple method revealed non-cooperative binding and affinities in the range of 105 M−1. The thermodynamic parameters suggested exothermic binding, which was favoured by negative enthalpy and positive entropy changes from temperature-dependent fluorescence experiments. Salt-dependent fluorescence suggested that the interaction between the ligand and DNA was governed by non-polyelectrolytic forces. The results of iodide quenching, urea denaturation assay, dye displacement, and in silico molecular docking, suggested groove binding of Yh to HT DNA. Thus, the groove binding mechanism of interaction was validated by both biophysical and computational techniques. The structural elucidation and energetic profiling of Yh's interaction with naturally occurring polymeric DNA can be useful to the development of DNA-targeted therapeutics.
Influence of sintering temperature on structural and optical properties of Cd0.5Cu0.5CrxFe2−xO4 ferrites
Authors: El shater R. E. , Awad A. W. , Abdel-Khalek E. K. , El-Bahnasawy H. H. , Meaz T. M. , Okba Ehab A.
Published: September 2023

Two ferrite series were synthesized. One series has nanosize samples that have been prepared by the co-precipitation method, and the second series has the corresponding bulk samples that have been sintered at 1000 °C for 6 h. X-ray diffraction has been used to estimate the cubic spinel structure of both series. The crystallite size, theoretical density, and porosity of the nanomaterials are larger than those of the bulk materials. HRTEM analysis demonstrated the aggregation of nanoscale samples, including an average particle size of 9–22.5 nm. However, bulk specimens have a limited surface area. The agglomeration of the nanoparticles was seen in TEM images, in which the mean particle size was within the limit of the crystallite size (R) result and ranged from 14 to 20 nm. The appearance of the spinel phase in the samples was validated through Raman spectroscopy. Different cation occupation ratios in either tetrahedral or octahedral sites have been identified to be associated with an observable systematic shift and asymmetric flattening in Raman spectra with a variation in Cr3+ concentration. The optical characterization was performed using the UV/Vis methodology, and the results reveal that the absorption cutoff frequency declines as the chromium content rises. It was also estimated that the optical bandgap averaged 3.6 eV for nanosamples and 4.6 eV for overall bulk materials. The highest photoluminescence emission was seen at wavelengths between λem = 415 and 460 nm. The photoluminescence emission peaks of both bulk and nanoscale materials were red-shifted. These results accurately reflect the corresponding energy gap values for almost the same ranges. Sintering leads to a rise in photoluminescence.
Pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation on coronary computed tomography angiography associates with male sex and Indigenous Australian status
Authors: Yuvaraj Jeremy , Lim Egynne , Vo Tony , Huynh David , Rocco Cheniqua , Nerlekar Nitesh , Cheng Kevin , Lin Andrew , Dey Damini , Nicholls Stephen J. , Kangaharan Nadarajah , Wong Dennis T.L.
Published: September 2023

To evaluate if Indigenous Australians have higher coronary inflammation demonstrated non-invasively using pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We retrospectively obtained a cohort 54 Indigenous patients age- and sex-matched to 54 non-Indigenous controls (age: 46.5 ± 13.1 years; male: n = 66) undergoing CCTA at the Royal Darwin Hospital and Monash Medical Centre. Patient groups were defined to investigate the interaction of ethnicity and sex: Indigenous + male, Indigenous + female, control + male, control + female. Semi-automated software was used to assess pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCAT-a) and volume (PCAT-v). Males had significantly higher PCAT-a (– 86.7 ± 7.8 HU vs. − 91.3 ± 7.1 HU, p = 0.003) than females. Indigenous patients had significantly higher PCAT-v (1.5 ± 0.5cm3 vs. 1.3 ± 0.4cm3, p = 0.032), but only numerically higher PCAT-a (p = 0.133) than controls. There was a significant difference in PCAT-a and PCAT-v across groups defined by Indigenous status and sex (p = 0.010 and p = 0.030, respectively). Among patients with matching CCTA contrast density, multivariable linear regression analysis showed an independent association between Indigenous status and PCAT-a. Indigenous men have increased PCAT-a in an age- and sex-matched cohort. Male sex is strongly associated with increased PCAT-a. Coronary inflammation may contribute to adverse cardiovascular outcomes in Indigenous Australians, but larger studies are required to validate these findings.
Maternal and paternal obesity differentially reprogram the ovarian mitochondrial biogenesis of F1 female rats
Authors: Ramadan Amina G. , Abdel-Rehim Wafaa M. , El-Tahan Rasha A. , Elblehi Samar S. , Kamel Maher A. , Shaker Sara A.
Published: September 2023

Obesity has harmful consequences on reproductive outcomes and the rapid increase in obesity is assumed to be influenced by epigenetics and trans-generation effects. Our study aimed to explore the effect of maternal and/or paternal obesity on the ovarian tissues of the first-generation female offspring in rats. The study was conducted on 40 adult Wistar albino rats (20 males and 20 females). Obesity was induced by feeding them an obesogenic diet for 3 months. The pregnancy was induced in the females by mating with males in four combinations: healthy mother with healthy father (control parents, CP), healthy mother with obese fathers (OF), obese mothers with healthy father (OM), and obese mother with obese father (obese parents, OP). After delivery, the female offspring at two months were sacrificed, and the blood and ovarian tissues were collected to assess the studied parameters. Our result showed differential impacts of maternal and paternal obesity on the ovarian health of the female offspring. The female offspring of obese OM or OP showed early signs of obesity. These metabolic abnormalities were associated with signs of ovarian lesions, impaired folliculogenesis, and decreased oocyte quality and also showed significant alterations in mitochondrial biogenesis, redox status, inflammation, and microRNAs expression (miR-149 and miR-494). In conclusion, altered ovarian expression of microRNAs and associated impaired mitochondrial biogenesis pathways may be the root causes for the observed intergeneration transmission of the obesogenic phenotype.
Effect of using deflector in the distributor head of a pneumatic seed drill on the oat seed sowing unevenness
Authors: Gierz Łukasz , Markowski Piotr , Choszcz Dariusz Jan , Wojcieszak Dawid
Published: September 2023

This paper presents an innovative solution for a distributor head equipped with a deflector (controlled plate)—intended to change the tilt angle (realignment) of the pneumatic seed drill distributor head cover. We compared two qualitative parameters of seed sowing, coefficient of variation and coefficient of lateral unevenness of seed sowing (δ). Values were obtained on the test stand with an innovative deflector built into the distributor head at three angles of inclination (0°, 5° and 10°). Statistical analyses revealed a significant effect of airflow velocity and deflector angle, which corrects the deviation from the vertical plane of the distributor head, on the uniformity of seed sowing. In addition, regression equations were determined to predict the quality of the seed sowing process. The developed and manufactured innovative distributor head with a deflector that tilts in two planes, designed to improve the distribution evenness of the air stream transporting seed to individual coulters in pneumatic seed drills, received a positive review. The use of a deflector with automatic control of its position angle, correcting the deviation of the distributor head from a vertical plane in pneumatic seed drills improves the uniformity of seeding. Therefore, it is reasonable to use this solution for new pneumatic seed drills and those in use on soils with different relief (undulating surface). Moreover, the solution fits in with modern agricultural manufacturing in accordance with the ideas of precision agriculture.
Rapid increase in the body mass index of very preterm infants is a risk factor for iron deficiency during infancy
Authors: Kim Hyun Ho , Lee Eun Jee , Kim Jin Kyu
Published: September 2023

Iron deficiency (ID) in very preterm infants born at 28–32 weeks of gestational age (GA) can lower mental and motor test scores. This study aimed to determine whether the rapid growth of very preterm infants might be associated with ID. Among 134 very preterm born between January 2014 and December 2020 at Jeonbuk National University Hospital and discharged home, 93 were included in this study. Rapid BMI increase (RBI) was defined as a z-score difference of > 1 standard deviation between birth and 8 months. ID occurred in 23 of 93 (24.7%) infants at 8 months of corrected age (CA). ID was more common in the RBI group (50%) than in the non-RBI group (18.7%). In the multivariate logistic regression corrected for GA, infants small for gestational age (SGA) (odds ratio [OR] 6.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34–30.21) and RBI by z-score (OR 4.26, 95% CI 1.28–14.65) were identified as independent risk factors for ID at 8 months of CA. Conclusively, both SGA and RBI in the early life of very preterm were risk factors for ID at 8 months of CA.
Eye-mounting goggles to bridge the gap between benchtop experiments and in vivo robotic eye surgery
Authors: Posselli Nicholas R. , Bernstein Paul S. , Abbott Jake J.
Published: September 2023

A variety of robot-assisted surgical systems have been proposed to improve the precision of eye surgery. Evaluation of these systems has typically relied on benchtop experiments with artificial or enucleated eyes. However, this does not properly account for the types of head motion that are common among patients undergoing eye surgery, which a clinical robotic system will encounter. In vivo experiments are clinically realistic, but they are risky and thus require the robotic system to be at a sufficiently mature state of development. In this paper, we describe a low-cost device that enables an artificial or enucleated eye to be mounted to standard swim goggles worn by a human volunteer to enable more realistic evaluation of eye-surgery robots after benchtop studies and prior to in vivo studies. The mounted eye can rotate about its center, with a rotational stiffness matching that of an anesthetized patient’s eye. We describe surgeon feedback and technical analyses to verify that various aspects of the design are sufficient for simulating a patient’s eye during surgery.
Real-time and accurate estimation of surgical hemoglobin loss using deep learning-based medical sponges image analysis
Authors: Li Kai , Cheng Zexin , Zeng Junjie , Shu Ying , He Xiaobo , Peng Hui , Zheng Yongbin
Published: September 2023

Real-time and accurate estimation of surgical hemoglobin (Hb) loss is essential for fluid resuscitation management and evaluation of surgical techniques. In this study, we aimed to explore a novel surgical Hb loss estimation method using deep learning-based medical sponges image analysis. Whole blood samples of pre-measured Hb concentration were collected, and normal saline was added to simulate varying levels of Hb concentration. These blood samples were distributed across blank medical sponges to generate blood-soaked sponges. Eight hundred fifty-one blood-soaked sponges representing a wide range of blood dilutions were randomly divided 7:3 into a training group (n = 595) and a testing group (n = 256). A deep learning model based on the YOLOv5 network was used as the target region extraction and detection, and the three models (Feature extraction technology, ResNet-50, and SE-ResNet50) were trained to predict surgical Hb loss. Mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), coefficient (R2) value, and the Bland–Altman analysis were calculated to evaluate the predictive performance in the testing group. The deep learning model based on SE-ResNet50 could predict surgical Hb loss with the best performance (R2 = 0.99, MAE = 11.09 mg, MAPE = 8.6%) compared with other predictive models, and Bland–Altman analysis also showed a bias of 1.343 mg with narrow limits of agreement (− 29.81 to 32.5 mg) between predictive and actual Hb loss. The interactive interface was also designed to display the real-time prediction of surgical Hb loss more intuitively. Thus, it is feasible for real-time estimation of surgical Hb loss using deep learning-based medical sponges image analysis, which was helpful for clinical decisions and technical evaluation.
Identification of protein biomarkers associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia in human amniotic fluid
Authors: Bhutada Sumit , Tran-Lundmark Karin , Kramer Benjamin , Conner Peter , Lowry Ashley M. , Blackstone Eugene , Frenckner Bjorn , Mesas-Burgos Carmen , Apte Suneel S.
Published: September 2023

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a severe birth defect frequently associated with pulmonary hypoplasia, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure. Since amniotic fluid comprises proteins of both fetal and maternal origin, its analysis could provide insights on mechanisms underlying CDH and provide biomarkers for early diagnosis, severity of pulmonary changes and treatment response. The study objective was to identify proteomic changes in amniotic fluid consistently associated with CDH. Amniotic fluid was obtained at term (37–39 weeks) from women with normal pregnancies (n = 5) or carrying fetuses with CDH (n = 5). After immuno-depletion of the highest abundance proteins, off-line fractionation and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry were performed and quantitative differences between the proteomes of the groups were determined. Of 1036 proteins identified, 218 were differentially abundant. Bioinformatics analysis showed significant changes in GP6 signaling, in the MSP–RON signaling in macrophages pathway and in networks associated with cardiovascular system development and function, connective tissue disorders and dermatological conditions. Differences in selected proteins, namely pulmonary surfactant protein B, osteopontin, kallikrein 5 and galectin-3 were validated by orthogonal testing using ELISA in larger cohorts and showed statistically significant differences aiding in the diagnosis and prediction of CDH. The findings provide potential tools for clinical management of CDH.
Recent natural selection conferred protection against schizophrenia by non-antagonistic pleiotropy
Authors: González-Peñas Javier , de Hoyos Lucía , Díaz-Caneja Covadonga M. , Andreu-Bernabeu Álvaro , Stella Carol , Gurriarán Xaquín , Fañanás Lourdes , Bobes Julio , González-Pinto Ana , Crespo-Facorro Benedicto , Martorell Lourdes , Vilella Elisabet , Muntané Gerard , Molto María Dolores , Gonzalez-Piqueras Jose Carlos , Parellada Mara , Arango Celso , Costas Javier
Published: September 2023

Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disorder associated with a reduced fertility and decreased life expectancy, yet common predisposing variation substantially contributes to the onset of the disorder, which poses an evolutionary paradox. Previous research has suggested balanced selection, a mechanism by which schizophrenia risk alleles could also provide advantages under certain environments, as a reliable explanation. However, recent studies have shown strong evidence against a positive selection of predisposing loci. Furthermore, evolutionary pressures on schizophrenia risk alleles could have changed throughout human history as new environments emerged. Here in this study, we used 1000 Genomes Project data to explore the relationship between schizophrenia predisposing loci and recent natural selection (RNS) signatures after the human diaspora out of Africa around 100,000 years ago on a genome-wide scale. We found evidence for significant enrichment of RNS markers in derived alleles arisen during human evolution conferring protection to schizophrenia. Moreover, both partitioned heritability and gene set enrichment analyses of mapped genes from schizophrenia predisposing loci subject to RNS revealed a lower involvement in brain and neuronal related functions compared to those not subject to RNS. Taken together, our results suggest non-antagonistic pleiotropy as a likely mechanism behind RNS that could explain the persistence of schizophrenia common predisposing variation in human populations due to its association to other non-psychiatric phenotypes.
Influence of early dose reduction of ticagrelor on clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention for complex lesions
Authors: Lee Yonggu , Shin Jeong-Hun , Seo Suk Min , Choi Ik Jun , Lee Jong-Young , Lee Jun-Won , Park Mahn-Won , Kang Tae Soo , Choi Woong Gil , Jeon Ki-Hyun , Lim Hong-Seok , Joo Hyung Joon , Rhee Sang Jae , Seo Jae-Bin , Park Myung Soo , Park Sang-Ho , Lim Young-Hyo
Published: September 2023

Ticagrelor-based dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) provides potent antiplatelet inhibition but may increase the bleeding risk in Asian populations. We investigated the influence of early ticagrelor dose reduction (120 mg) on clinical outcomes in Korean patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A multicenter prospective clinical cohort study was conducted with patients who received standard-dose ticagrelor-based DAPT (180 mg) after PCI for complex lesions. Major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE: a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and repeat revascularization), bleeding, and net adverse clinical events (NACE: a composite of MACE and bleeding) were assessed. Among the 772 patients on standard-dose ticagrelor-based DAPT, 115 (14.8%) switched to low-dose ticagrelor-based DAPT (120 mg) within 6 months. Common reasons for the regimen changes were switching as planned (38.8%), dyspnea (25.5%), and bleeding (23.6%). A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model (CPH) showed that the risks of MACE, bleeding, and NACE were not different between the low-dose and standard-dose groups throughout the entire follow-up period and the period beyond 6 months post-PCI. Time-varying multivariable CPH models of the ticagrelor dose reduction yielded similar results. A reduction of the ticagrelor dose within 6 months after PCI is feasible and safe even in patients with complex lesions harboring a high ischemic event risk.
Cefaclor causes vagus nerve-mediated depression-like symptoms with gut dysbiosis in mice
Authors: Joo Min-Kyung , Shin Yoon-Jung , Kim Dong-Hyun
Published: September 2023

Antibiotics are increasingly recognized as causing neuropsychiatric side effects including depression and anxiety. Alterations in central serotonin and 5-HT receptor expression are implicated in the pathogenesis of anxiety and depression, which are highly comorbid with gastrointestinal disorders. Nevertheless, it is still unclear how antibiotics can cause anxiety and depression. In this study, oral administration of cefaclor, a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic, induced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and colitis with gut microbiota alteration in mice. Cefaclor reduced serotonin levels and fluctuated 5-HT receptor mRNA expressions such as Htr1a, Htr1b, and Htr6 in the hippocampus. Vagotomy attenuated the cefaclor-induced anxiety- and depression-like symptoms, while the cefaclor-induced changes in gut bacteria alteration and colitis were not affected. Fluoxetine attenuated cefaclor-induced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Furthermore, fluoxetine decreased cefaclor-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcaceae. Taken together, our findings suggest that the use of antibiotics, particularly, cefaclor may cause gut dysbiosis-dependent anxiety and depression through the microbiota-gut-blood–brain and microbiota-gut-vagus nerve-brain pathway. Targeting antibiotics-resistant pathogenic bacteria may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of anxiety and depression.
New-designed 3D printed surgical guide promotes the accuracy of endodontic microsurgery: a study of 14 upper anterior teeth
Authors: Zhao Dan , Xie Weige , Li Tianguo , Wang Anqi , Wu Li , Kang Wen , Wang Lu , Guo Shiliang , Tang Xuna , Xie Sijing
Published: September 2023

We aimed to design a novel three-dimensional (3D) printed surgical guide and evaluate its accuracy in assisting endodontic microsurgeries. A new 3D printed surgical guide was designed by computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology and applied to 7 patients who underwent endodontic microsurgeries of upper anterior teeth from 2020.01 to 2020.12 as the experimental group. 7 patients who suffered from endodontic microsurgeries operated by the same surgeon without using the surgical guide from 2019.01 to 2019.12 were selected as the control group. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed more than 12 months after operation, and the accuracy of apical resection was compared between the two groups. The accuracy of the microsurgery focused on the length and angle of the root apical resection. In the study, CBCT data and oral digital scanning data were used to reconstruct 3D models of periapical lesions with soft and hard tissue information, based on which we designed the new 3D printed surgical guides. The guides were successfully applied to the apectomy in endodontic microsurgeries. The deviation of the apical resection length of the experimental group (0.467 ± 0.146 mm) was better than that of the control group (1.743 ± 0.122 mm) (P < 0.0001), and the deviation of the apical resection angle of the experimental group (9.711 ± 3.593°) was significantly less than that of the control group (22.400 ± 3.362°) (P < 0.0001). The 3D-printed surgical guide could effectively guide endodontic microsurgery and improve its accuracy by fixing both the position and the angle of apectomy. The new type of surgical guide could accurately localize the root apex and guide the apical resection.