bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effective Studies of bio-derived free radical polymerizable hydroxyl functional Macromonomer for replacement of Hydroxyl Ethyl Methacrylate (HEMA) in acrylic polyols and their Polyurethane-Urea Coatings
Authors: SHAIK ALLAUDDIN , Nehete Kiran Kumar , Shyamroy Subarna 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

The present work to study the impact of substituting the HEMA monomer in the synthesis of acrylic polyols with a bio-based free radical hydroxyl functional macromonomer derived from castor oil (CO). It also evaluates the coating properties of the resulting polyurethanes (PUs) in comparison to conventional acrylic polyols (AP-HEMA) derived from HEMA. To achieve this, castor oil was first reacted with maleic anhydride (MA) to produce the castor oil-derived free radical polymerizable hydroxyl functional macromonomer (COMA). Subsequently, castor oil-based acrylic hybrid polyols were synthesized using acrylate monomers, specifically methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA), along with varying weight percentages of COMA through a conventional radical copolymerization process. The successful replacement of HEMA with COMA in the acrylic polymerization was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, hydroxyl value analysis, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The acrylic hybrid polyols derived from castor oil exhibit reduced viscosity, lower glass transition temperature (Tg), and diminished molecular weight when compared to AP-HEMA. Both types of resins, namely the castor oil-based and AP-HEMA, underwent further reaction with Isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) at an OH: NCO ratio of 1:1.6, resulting in isocyanate-terminated polyurethane pre-polymers. The Tg of the castor oil-based acrylic hybrid polyurethane coating films was observed to be lower than that of petroleum-derived HEMA-based acrylic polyols, demonstrating enhanced performance in terms of contact angle, water resistance, flexibility, adhesion, and abrasion resistance. The overall findings suggest that the bio-derived free radical polymerizable hydroxyl functionality possesses a polymerization tendency within the conventional acrylic polymerization framework, indicating its potential as a substitute for the HEMA monomer in the synthesis of acrylic polyols, thereby yielding high solid content resins suitable for high-performance polyurethane coating applications.
Clinical Outcomes of Immunosuppressive Therapy in Patients with Seronegative Anti- PLA2R Antibodies and PLA2R-Related Membranous Nephropathy
Authors: Wu Di , Liu Wen , Su Zhihang , Li Kaiting , Xue Rui , Hu Haofei , Wan Qijun 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is an autoimmune disease characterized by anti-PLA2R antibodies, which are linked to disease activity, prognosis, and relapse. While guidelines recommend immunosuppressive treatment for high antibody levels, the impact on PLA2R-negative patients remains unclear.
Methods
This study included 133 patients with positive histological PLA2R antigen and baseline serum anti-PLA2R antibody data. ELISA measured serum anti-PLA2R antibody levels. Renal biopsy specimens were analyzed by light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. Statistical analyses included t-tests, non-parametric tests, and Cox proportional hazard models to assess predictors of clinical outcomes.
Results
Among the 133 patients, 84 (63.2%) were SAb+/GAg+, and 49 (36.8%) were SAb-/GAg+. The SAb+/GAg + group exhibited more severe clinical features compared to the SAb-/GAg + group. In the SAb-/GAg + group, 67.3% received conservative treatment, while 32.7% underwent immunotherapy. The complete remission (CR) rate was significantly higher in the SAb-/GAg + group (67.35% vs. 33.33%, P < 0.001), with higher CR rates at 12, 24, and 36 months. The SAb-/GAg + group also had a lower relapse rate (12.24% vs. 36.90%, P = 0.002). Immunotherapy improved overall remission rates (100.00% vs. 75.76%, P = 0.041) but was associated with higher relapse rates (31.25% vs. 3.03%, P = 0.011). Cox regression analysis showed immunotherapy significantly predicted urinary protein remission (HR 3.92, 95% CI 1.58–9.70, P = 0.003).
Conclusion
Early immunosuppressive therapy in PLA2R-related membranous nephropathy patients with severe baseline clinical manifestations can predict urine protein remission, even if they are serum anti-PLA2R antibody-negative. Close monitoring of antibody levels over 3–6 months is recommended for these patients, particularly those with persistent or worsening proteinuria. This approach helps identify candidates for timely immunosuppressive therapy rather than opting for a wait-and-see strategy.
Clinical trial number:
not applicable.
Unified Interest Point Detection and Description for Perspective and Fisheye Images
Authors: Xu Jian , Han Dewei , Li Kang , Li Junjie , Ma Zhaoyuan 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Keypoint detection and descriptor matching are essential in tasks like feature matching, object tracking, and 3D reconstruction. While CNN-based methods have advanced these areas, most focus on perspective projection cameras, with limited consideration of fisheye cameras, which introduce significant distortion. Conventional keypoint methods have failed on fisheye images, causing camera models to underperform in hybrid setups. This paper proposes a robust keypoint detection and description method under a hybrid camera model, addressing challenges in mixed camera systems. Given the lack of fisheye datasets, we employed viewpoint and projection transformations for data augmentation. Inspired by SuperPoint, we introduced a fisheye distortion model to generate training data. Using nearest neighbor (NN) matching, our method outperforms Su-perPoint on the Hpatches dataset and excels in hybrid image-matching tasks.
The mosquitocidal activity of isoxazoline derivatives afoxolaner, lotilaner and fluralaner are not affected by mosquito sugar or antibiotic treatment
Authors: Soré Harouna , Guelbeogo Wamdaogo Moussa , Zongo Soumanaba , Bolscher Judith M. , Ouedraogo Nicolas , Gansane Adama , Bousema Teun , Collins Katharine A. , Dechering Koen J. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual sprays have played a major role in significantly reducing the burden of malaria. However, the management of mosquitoes resistant to current insecticides continues to be challenging. A promising new strategy is drug-based vector control where drugs are administered to vector hosts rendering the host blood toxic to mosquitoes ¾ thereby reducing mosquito lifespan, fecundity and onward transmission of pathogens. Afoxolaner, fluralaner and lotilaner are isoxazoline derivatives widely used as systemic insecticides for ectoparasite control in companion animals. Here, the mosquitocidal activity of these compounds against Anopheles gambiae s.s, Anopheles coluzzii, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles funestus mosquitoes was evaluated. The effect of antibiotic treatment and different carbohydrates in artificial nectar meals on isoxazoline activity was also investigated. All isoxazolines tested showed rapid killing with little difference in susceptibility between different species and genera of mosquitoes. Fluralaner showed the most potent mosquitocidal effects with IC50 values ranging from 44 to 87 nM when mortality was assessed at 24h post-feeding. Addition of the antibiotic cocktail or variations in sugar diet did not affect isoxazoline potency. In conclusion, data indicate potent and rapid mosquitocidal effects of isoxazolines that are likely unaffected by mosquito sugar feeding behaviour and microbiome dynamics.
Zero-Shot LLM-based Visual Acuity Extraction: A Pilot Study
Authors: Satheakeerthy Shrirajh , Jesudason Daniel , Bahrami Bobak , Bacchi Stephen , Lee Yong Min , Casson Robert , Sun Michelle , Chan WengOnn 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Visual acuity (VA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements are crucial indicators of ocular health. However, the documentation of these vital parameters in clinical notes often lacks standardisation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using of large language models (LLMs) for automated extraction of VA and IOP data from unstructured ophthalmology clinic notes.
Method
Outpatient clinic notes from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Ophthalmology department were analysed using a 70 billion parameter LLaMA-3 model in a zero-shot learning approach. Nine data points per eye were extracted, including various VA measurements, IOP, and measurement methods. Results were compared to expert-verified ground truth data.
Results
Sixty-nine outpatient clinic notes were collected. Locally deployed LLM analysis of clinic notes was feasible. High accuracy was observed in extracting best corrected VA and IOP (above 90% for both eyes). Performance varied for other measurements, with lower accuracy for uncorrected VA (67–75%) and challenges in interpreting ambiguous documentation. The model struggled to identify assumed uncorrected VA cases, highlighting issues which may correlate with documentation clarity.
Conclusion
This study has demonstrated that it is feasible to deploy a LLM locally to extract VA data from free-text notes. However, the accuracy of extracted data was lacking in several domains. These performance issues highlight that further research is required to optimise the accuracy of the retrieved data.
Public Stigma against HIV-infected pregnant women and their newborns in maternal and pediatric medical care settings in Guangdong province
Authors: Gao Shuang , Guo Shuaijun , Lu Jianjun , Cai Min , Xu Huifang , Liu Fenghua , Hu Fang 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Public stigma towards people living with HIV (PLWH) in healthcare settings remain to be a key barrier to optimal health service. This study examined the individual, interpersonal, community and societal factors contributing to public stigma against HIV-infected pregnant women and their newborns by healthcare workers.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1592 healthcare facilities providing maternal and pediatric medical care in Guangdong Province. A total of 22899 healthcare workers providing service for pregnant women or newborns completed an online questionnaire in November 2021. Based on Corrigan’s stigma theory and the social-ecological model, data was collected on discrimination, prejudices, stereotypes as well as individual, interpersonal, community/societal factors. Structural equation model was used to examine influencing factors of healthcare workers’ discrimination.
Results
High levels of discrimination (6.8–67.5%), prejudices (24.9–77.3%) and stereotypes (14.4–78.0%) were reported among healthcare workers. The proposed structural equation model fitted the data well (χ2/df ratio = 51.797; RMSEA = 0.047; GFI = 0.919). The standardized coefficients of prejudices and stereotypes on discrimination were 0.31 (p < 0.05) and 0.23 (p < 0.05), respectively. However, prejudices (p = 0.069) were not directly associated with stereotypes. The standardized coefficients of HIV-related knowledge, experiencing secondary stigma related to caring for PLWH and health facility policies and procedures on discrimination were − 0.13 (p < 0.05), 0.02 (p < 0.05) and 0.17 (p < 0.05), respectively.
Conclusions
HIV-related discrimination, prejudices and stereotypes against HIV-infected pregnant women and their newborns among healthcare workers are prevalent. These findings suggest the need for health administrative departments to implement anti-discrimination interventions focused on modifying behaviors among healthcare workers. Emphasis should be placed on individual and interpersonal levels, including the provision of educational opportunities, appropriate training, and psychological support.
From Liver to Heart: Insights on Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease and Cardiovascular Outcomes, A Decade of Data from National Survey
Authors: Choday Silpa , Zahdeh Tamer , Paul Kang , Reynolds Justin , Wong Robert 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background: Alcohol associated liver disease (AALD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent significant health burdens worldwide. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the association between AALD and CVD outcomes including heart failure (HF) which was incompletely understood.
Methods: The current study utilizes data from the National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 - 2020; using a stratified, multistage probability cluster design. AALD in the NHANES was defined using clinical laboratory data and self-reported alcohol use, among which fibrosis-4 score of >2.67. CVD was defined as participants who self-reported heart failure, coronary artery disease or stroke. Data from NHANES were combined with death certificate data from the National Center of health Statistics from the National Death Index to ascertain mortality rates. All models were adjusted for potential confounding variables such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, income/poverty ratio, insurance, smoking, body mass index, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, and diabetes status. Analysis is conducted using weighted, logistic and cox linear regression.
Results: The initial sample included 23,206 participants aged 20 and older, with recorded cardiovascular status and AST/ALT levels. After excluding participants with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, and pregnant patients, the final unweighted sample size was 13,413. Participants reporting AALD had a higher percentage of college degrees (p<0.001) and were more likely to be daily smokers. Asians exhibited the highest rates of AALD compared to other demographics (p<0.001). Those with AALD also had higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as elevated fasting glucose levels (p<0.001). Comorbidities such as heart failure (HF), stroke, and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent. The mortality rate among AALD participants with CVD was 25%, compared to 3% among those without CVD (p<0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding variables, no statistically significant associations were found between AALD status and HF or CAD. However, a clinically significant increase in the odds of stroke was observed within the AALD group (p<0.001).
Conclusions: Our findings indicate Asians have the highest rates of AALD. There is an increased prevalence of AALD with HF, CAD and stroke, and a significant increase in mortality with stroke.
Spatiotemporal distribution and seismic interaction of very-low-frequency earthquakes in the northern Ryukyu Trench
Authors: Nakamura Mamoru , Kuo Ban-Yuan , Lin Pei-Ying Patty , Kodaira Shuichi , Ishihara Yasushi 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Slow earthquakes play a crucial role in understanding stress accumulation and release along plate interfaces in subduction zones. The northern Ryukyu Trench, where the Philippine Sea Plate subducts northwestward beneath the Eurasian Plate, experienced a major earthquake in 1911 and is currently regarded as a low-seismicity area (LSA). Understanding the seismic activity in this region, particularly the relationship between very-low-frequency earthquakes (VLFEs) and regular seismic events, is crucial for understanding subduction zone dynamics. We investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of VLFE activity in the northern Ryukyu Trench using broadband ocean-bottom seismometers deployed around Amami Island between September 2018 and June 2019. Our analysis, employing the envelope correlation method, revealed that VLFE activity is primarily concentrated northeast of Amami Island, an area characterized by low regular earthquake activity, with the distribution of VLFEs spatially segregated from that of regular earthquakes. Furthermore, we observed earthquake swarm activity at the edges of the LSA in the northern Ryukyu Trench following VLFE activity. In November 2018, intense VLFE activity northeast of Amami Island migrated northeastward, which was followed by a regular earthquake swarm at the edge of this LSA. Following VLFE activity in January 2019, additional seismic activity, including foreshocks, occurred at the edges of this LSA approximately one month later. The spatial segregation of VLFEs and regular earthquakes suggests that VLFE activity may be influenced by the migration of high-pressure fluids within the subducted slab. This migration appears to trigger related time-delayed seismic activity, similar to mechanisms observed in other subduction zones such as Hikurangi. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for understanding the coupling state of subduction zones and associated fluid dynamics, which is essential for evaluating seismic hazards in LSAs.
A novel role for Neurog2 in MYCN driven neuroendocrine plasticity of prostate cancer
Authors: Vizeacoumar Franco , Walke Prachi , Price Jared , Vizeacoumar Frederick , Joseph Nickson , Maranda Vincent , Chowdhury Bari , Patel Jay , Zhang Yue , Dong He , New Lara , Ganapathysamy Ashtalakshmi , Gong Li Hui , Elhasasna Hussain , Bhanumathy Kalpana , Wu Yuliang , Freywald Andrew , Krishnan Anand 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) presents a formidable clinical challenge owing to its aggressive progression and resistance to conventional therapies. A key driver of NEPC is the overexpression of MYCN, a well-established oncogene associated with neuroendocrine tumors. However, efforts to directly inhibit the N-Myc protein encoded by this gene have resulted in limited success, thereby hindering therapeutic advancements. To overcome this obstacle, we conducted unbiased genome-wide screening using isogenic prostate cancer cell lines to identify the synthetic vulnerabilities of MYCN. Among the identified candidates, NEUROG2 emerged as a significant candidate. Neurog2 is a proneural transcription factor (PTF) known for its role in developmental processes and trans-differentiation of adult cells. Our findings demonstrate that Neurog2 depletion does not affect non-malignant cells, but significantly suppresses the growth of MYCN-overexpressing cells and tumors in orthotopic NEPC models. Furthermore, our observations indicate that the Neurog2-mediated regulation of PTFs can facilitate NEPC development. Thus, targeting Neurog2 holds promise as an effective therapeutic strategy for MYCN-overexpressing NEPC.
Static and dynamic mechanical properties of 3D-printed clear resin with embedded orthodontic metal wire
Authors: Zhang Junjing , Zhang Yuqiang , Tsoi James Kit Hon , Yang Yanqi , Cho Kiho 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Current 3D printing materials limit the mechanical properties of directly 3D-printed clear dental aligners. This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical properties of direct 3D-printed clear resin embedded with orthodontic wire under different surface treatments to provide a new integration method for orthodontic appliances and treatment.
Methods
Samples were prepared with stainless-steel wire and direct 3D-printing clear resin. The different surface treatments were applied to the wires and divided into three groups: control (C), sandblasting (S), sandblasting and acid etching (SA), and then the surface characteristics were analyzed. Static and dynamic mechanical tests were performed to measure interfacial shear strength (IFSS), elastic modulus, tensile strength, and stress relaxation.
Results
The average roughness and surface morphology of stainless-steel wires exhibited significant differences (P < 0.001) when applying different surface treatments. Sandblasting and acid-etching significantly affected IFSS, improving the adhesion by a factor of 5 from 5.71 MPa to 28.84 MPa. The elastic modulus and tensile strength increased significantly in the 3D-printed resin embedded with the wire group compared to the 3D-printed pure resin group but did not change significantly between the different surface treatments of the wire. The sandblasting and acid-etching group produced higher residual stress than the other three groups in the 6 hours and cyclic stress relaxation.
Conclusion
This study presents the development of 3D-printed clear dental aligners with embedded metal wires for orthodontic treatment. Surface treatment of orthodontic metal wire through sandblasting and acid etching improves the bond between the wire and 3D printing clear resin, thereby improving the static and dynamic mechanical properties of directly 3D-printed clear resin appliances. The developed process and device can offer an integrated solution that enables advanced orthodontic treatments by providing stabilized orthodontic forces.
Robust Biometric Recognition via InformationBottleneck Multi-Modal Feature Fusion
Authors: Shen Yan , Yang Xiaoxu , Liu Xu , Wan Jiashan , Xia Na 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

In recent years, multimodal biometric technology has gained attention due to its enhanced security and accuracy. Compared to unimodal recognition, multimodal feature-based recognition significantly improves accuracy. However, the data differences between various biometric traits (such as face, fingerprint, finger vein, and iris) have introduced two main challenges:1) The presence of considerable redundancy within individual modality information, which weakens classification performance.2) Significant modality imbalance leads to an over-reliance on single modality features, causing other modality information to be overlooked, resulting in overfitting and potential degradation in system performance and security vulnerabilities in multimodal biometric authentication.To address these problems, we first draw inspiration from the information bottleneck principle and design a fusion-based information bottleneck method. This method aims to retain relevant information across multiple modalities while minimizing redundancy, thereby enhancing multimodal representation learning performance. Secondly, We employ feature distribution visualization to elucidate the causes of modality imbalance in the model and propose an adaptive strategy to dynamically discard features from different modalities to mitigate modality imbalance.Finally, we conducted experiments on multiple datasets, and our results demonstrate that our method achieves optimal performance on various datasets, including CASIA, Iris-Fingerprint, and NUPT-FPV, and effectively reduces modality imbalance.
Method optimization, validation and assessment of pesticide residues in table grapes marketed in Islamabad, Pakistan
Authors: Muhammad Rashid , Rafique Nazia , Taj Touqeer , Mehboob Farrakh 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Two different strategies QuEChERS AOAC 2007.01 and QuEChERS EU-15662 for the extraction of pesticide residues from grapes were compared. The QuEChERS EU-15662 method demonstrated optimal recoveries for 21 pesticides during the extraction step. For the clean-up process, florisil, PSA, and activated charcoal were compared using d-SPE. Among these sorbents, PSA exhibited the most favorable recoveries. The method validation results indicates recoveries for the majority of the studied pesticides fell within the acceptable range of 70–120%, with % RSD values consistently below 20%. The LOD for various pesticides ranged from 0.027 to 0.09 mg/kg, while the LOQ ranged from 0.085 to 0.21 mg/kg. Matrix effect was less than 20% for all the studied pesticides. The validated method was applied to analyze sixteen samples collected from the local fruit market. Four (25%) samples were found to be contaminated with imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and tebuconazole. Traces of thiacloprid, azoxystrobin, and hexaconazole were also detected in these four positive samples. However, in all samples, the identified residues were below the MRLs prescribed by the EU.