bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving High Anal Fistula Management: Insights from Transanal Opening of Intersphincteric Space (TROPIS) - A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhan Xue-Lei 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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

Abstract

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.