bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CCR2 receptor inhibition alleviated post-intraventricular hemorrhage hydrocephalus through the glymphatic pathway
Authors: Deng Huajiang , Wang Haoxiang , Zhong Kunhong , Gao Baocheng , Huang Keru , Li Yuanyou , Deng Ziang , Tong Aiping , Zhou Liangxue 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Hydrocephalus is a common neurosurgical condition with significant limitations in traditional treatment methods. The glymphatic system, an emerging concept, has an unclear role in hydrocephalus. This study focuses on exploring the glymphatic system and its regulatory mechanisms in post-intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) hydrocephalus, particularly the crucial role and mechanisms of the CCL2/CCR2 signaling pathway. The aim is to provide new targets and strategies for the treatment of hydrocephalus.
Methods
An IVH mouse model was used to induce hydrocephalus. CCR2 was knocked down through viral transfection techniques, and various experimental methods, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tracing, ultrastructural observation, MRI imaging, and immunofluorescence analysis, were employed to evaluate its effects on hydrocephalus.
Results
The study found that the distribution of fluid components in the brain changes after IVH, and harmful metabolites accumulate in the brain, leading to neurological dysfunction and hydrocephalus. Knocking down CCR2 restored the polarization of aquaporin 4 (AQP4), improved glymphatic system (GS) dysfunction, and significantly alleviated the progression of hydrocephalus in IVH mice. CSF flow tests and tracer experiments confirmed that inhibiting CCR2 could restore CSF flow and remove of harmful metabolites. Additionally, inhibiting CCR2 significantly improved motor and cognitive functions in IVH mice.
Conclusion
This study suggests that CCR2 plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of hydrocephalus after IVH. Knocking down CCR2 can reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress, restore AQP4 polarization, improve GS function, and thereby alleviate hydrocephalus and restore neurological function.
Transcranial resection of falcine meningiomas with the combination techniques of complete endoscope and intraoperative ultrasound
Authors: Xiao Jin , Zhao Tianchen , Cheng Xiang , Sheng Qiang , Li Chao , Li Yan , Zhang Yiquan , Wang Xianxiang , Cheng Hongwei , Ye Lei 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Transcranial neurosurgery with the assistance of endoscope and intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) has emerged as a promising strategy for real-time visualization and guidance during tumor resection. In this study we aimed to explore the application of these techniques in the resection of falcine meningiomas (FM) and to investigate the feasibility and safety. In this report, combination techniques of transcranial endoscope and IOUS were used for the surgical resection in 11 patients with FM. Preoperative neuroimaging tests, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) were utilized for the surgical planning. Real-time IOUS assisted the localization, visualization of tumor boundaries, assessment of adjacent structures, and guidance of the resection process. We found that tumors locating in the anterior, middle and posterior third of falx were found in 4, 5, and 2 patients, respectively. Tumors in unilateral falx were 8 cases, and in bilateral falx were 3 cases. Simpson grade I resection was carried out for all the patients. Benign tumor was present in 10 patients, and a patient was with WHO grade III for pathological finding. Postoperative complications occurred in two patients, a patient with temporary contralateral hemiplegia, and another patient with pulmonary infection. The average time of follow-up was 19.3 months. All patients had Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores > 90 scores. In summary, the combination of endoscope and IOUS was feasible and safe for FM patients, especially for those with deep seated FMs.
Development and validation of a clinical nomogram prediction model for surgical site infection following lumbar disc herniation surgery
Authors: Qiu Hai-yang , Zhang Yang , Liu Da ming , Sun Fei long , Lu Chang bo , Dai Jiao jiao , Yang Yi peng , Huang Xin yi , Lei Wei 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective: Surgical site infection (SSI) following lumbar disc herniation (LDH) surgery leads to prolonged hospital stays, increased costs and reoperations. Therefore, we aim to develop and validate a nomogram to predict the risk of SSI following LDH surgery, thereby helping spine surgeons design personalized prevention strategies and promote early recovery.
Methods: Data from 647 patients with SSI who underwent LDH surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University (AFMU) from 2020 to 2023 were collected. Ultimately, 241 patients with SSI were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were randomly divided into training and validation sets with a ratio of 7:3. LASSO regression, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression were utilized to identify target variables and establish the prediction model, which was subsequently validated.
Results: Six factors—Age, Body Mass Index (BMI), Postoperative Suction Drainage (PSD), Gelatin Sponge (GS), None-Preoperative Antibiotic (NPTA), and Thrombin Time (TT)—were selected to construct the nomogram model. In the training set, the area under the curve (AUC) for the nomogram was 0.818 (95% CI 0.779-0.857). In the validation set, the AUC was 0.782 (95% CI 0.717-0.846). Calibration curves for both sets showed satisfactory agreement between predicted and actual SSI probabilities. Decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram is clinically useful with a threshold range of 1%—90%. The Clinical Impact Curve (CIC) demonstrated an acceptable cost-benefit ratio.
Conclusions: The developed nomogram model effectively predicts the risk of SSI following LDH surgery, enabling spine surgeons to formulate more professional and rational clinical prevention strategies.
Assessment of severity in hospitalized community- acquired pneumonia by the use of validated scoring systems
Authors: Iftikhar Sandleen , Waagsbø Bjørn 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background Severity assessment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is essential for many purposes. Among these are the microbiological confirmation strategy and choice of empirical antimicrobial therapy. However, many severity assessment systems have been developed to aid clinicians to reach reliable predictions of severe outcomes.Methods We aimed to apply nine disease severity assessment scoring systems to a large 2016 to 2021 CAP cohort in order to achieve test sensitivity, specificity and predictive values. We used intra-hospital case fatality rate and the need for intensive care therapy as outcomes. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to display test performance.Results A total of 1.112 CAP episodes were included in the analysis, of which 91.4% were radiologically, and 43.7% were microbiologically confirmed. When intra-hospital case fatality was set as outcome, frequently used tests with few data entries typically underperformed as compared to infrequently used tests that require more comprehensive data entries. Comparable results were gained when intensive care admittance was set as outcome. The area under the receiving operating curve was 0.0955, 0.845 and 0.892 for the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), pneumonia severity index (PSI), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society definitions, respectively.Conclusion CAP severity assessment remains important. Simplified scoring systems underperformed as compared to more comprehensive and sophisticated ones.
Microgrid Applications on Rural Dairy Plants and Farms
Authors: Creeden Evan , Dehnavi Gholamreza 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

With microgrids becoming more prevalent across the world, so too are their applications to varying industries and power systems. To demonstrate another application of these power systems, this study presents the source optimization and feasibility process for the University of Wisconsin - Platteville’s future Dairy Plant. In this analysis, multiple renewable energy sources are considered along with energy from the local utility. A software optimization tool known as XENDEE was used to determine the optimal sizes and types of sources to meet three different optimization scenarios. These being cost only, emissions only, and a combination of both (CO2 and cost). For all three cases, reliability was also prioritized. To perform a reliable optimization, several factors are required for each renewable source. Such factors are discussed in this study. Moreover, to account for a more accurate monetary loss during a power outage, an improved baseline was created for use with the XENDEE platform. The process and nuances required for this baseline form another feature of this study. Using the improved baseline, varying scenarios were run and studied to help improve each of the three key scenarios. In the end, the scenarios were met, finalized and are presented here in this report.
Antibacterial and Biochemical Properties of Newly Isolated Lactic Acid Bacteria from Gastrointestinal Tract Microbiome of Armenian Honeybees
Authors: Bazukyan Inga , Sahakyan A. , Petrosyan A. , Semerjyan I. , Hakobyan L. , Nersisyan L. , Gasparyan L. , Trchounian K. , Dimov S. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

During the last decade the health of honeybee is endangered because of many different pathogens, that is why the isolation of new lactic acid bacteria from honeybees' gut microbiotas, revealing of their strong antibacterial activity will help to create some products for protection of bees’ health.
New Gram-positive mesophilic strains were isolated on selective media for lactic acid bacteria (LAB), followed by species identification by a polyphase approach, including biochemical and physiological characterization and molecular genetic identification based on the sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes. The newly isolated strains were tested for antibacterial activity against a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. In total, seventeen new stains possessing antibacterial activity were isolated. They belonged to Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus different species. The most promising results comprising the antibacterial activity, and therefore possessing the potential to be used as probiotics, were obtained for the isolates L. kimbladii M9, E. durans M4, S. salivarius M12, L. delbrueckii subs. lactis A4, L. delbrueckii subs. lactis A5, and L. delbrueckii subs. bulgaricus B7. Taken together it can be suggested that strains Enterocccus ratti M2, E. durans M4, L. delbrueckii subs. lactis A4 and L. delbrueckii subs. bulgaricus B7
Mentioned above strains can be applied for protection of honeybees’ health.
Assessing the Impact of Heavy Metal Contamination from E-Waste Recycling Activities at Agbogbloshie, Accra-Ghana
Authors: AFEMEKU CONFIDENCE MAWUFEMOR , sowah richard addo , AMEKO EDMUND , AZAGLO GODFRED SAVIOUR 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This study investigated the levels of heavy metal contamination in soil and ambient air at the Agbogbloshie e-waste recycling site in Accra, Ghana. Focusing on cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), the study assessed the concentration of these metals in particulate matter (PM10) and soil samples collected from different activity zones within the site. The findings reveal significantly elevated levels of heavy metals at the dismantling and burning sites compared to residential areas. For example, cadmium concentrations in ambient air at the dismantling site averaged 112.847 ng/m³, while soil cadmium levels at the burning site averaged 4.74 mg/kg, both exceeding WHO limits. Chromium levels in air at the dismantling site averaged 942.71 ng/m³, and soil chromium levels at the burning site averaged 139.45 mg/kg, surpassing permissible limits. Copper concentrations in soil at the dismantling site were extremely high, averaging 10178.55 mg/kg. Lead concentrations in ambient air at the burning site averaged 1751.74 ng/m³, and soil lead levels averaged 2455.98 mg/kg, far above safe limits. These results highlight the severe environmental and health risks posed by ewaste recycling activities, emphasizing the need for regulatory interventions and improved waste management practices.
Boys don't benefit, girls still suffer：The role of gender stereotypes of math and physics in academic self-efficacy among Chinese adolescents
Authors: Gao Shoubao , Du Longlong , Ming Yu , Zhang Tong , Tu Yitong , Wang Xiao , Zhao Mengya , Wang Feiyue , Tian Mei 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Under the background of the prevailing "gender equality" education, an increasing number of voices are noting the importance of gender equality and androgyny, and the impact gender stereotypes will have on students is unclear to most teachers. Therefore, this study used social cognitive theory, social identity theory, and the STEMO model to explore the effects of gender stereotypes in math and physics on academic self-efficacy among middle school students, as well as the moderating role of gender. 629 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 14.38; SDage = 0.67) were recruited from a local middle school. 48.24% of the sample are girls (n=203). Results: (1) Girls hold significantly fewer gender stereotypes and academic self-efficacy of physics and math than boys. (2) Gender stereotype of math and physics was negatively correlated with math and physics academic self-efficacy, respectively. (3) Gender played a moderation role in the relationship between gender stereotypes and academic self-efficacy in math and physics. For girls, gender stereotypes of math and physics negatively predict academic self-efficacy of math and physics. For boys, gender stereotypes had no significant effect on academic self-efficacy, no matter for math or physics.
Mechanical Properties and Durability of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) in Engineered Cementitious Composites LC3-ECC with steel fibers
Authors: Lins Ana Carolini Soato , Gandolphi Otavio , Silveira Guilherme , Silvestro Laura , Bosse Rúbia Mara , Ribeiro Rodrigo S. , Lima Geannina Terezinha , Gidrão Gustavo 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical properties and durability of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) in Engineered Cementitious Composites (LC3-ECC) reinforced with steel fibers, with contents varying from 0 to 2% by volume. The dynamic elastic modulus of the composites was determined using ultrasound and acoustic tests (Sonelastic), and a correlation between both tests was proposed. A 3-point bending test was conducted to determine the flexural strength, toughness, resilience, and ductility of the LC3-ECC. The compressive strength at 7 and 28 days was also evaluated. Finally, a durability test through chloride migration and a simplified carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions analysis was performed. Incorporating 2.0% fiber content resulted in increases of 40% in flexural strength, 1270% in toughness, 243% in resilience, and 166% in ductility. This demonstrates the ability of LC3-ECC to withstand strain under load without failure and to maintain residual stresses in the post-peak phase. The calculation of CO2 emissions indicated that incorporating fibers at percentages up to 2.0% increased the eco-efficiency to 7.89 MPa/kg CO2 compared to 6.78 MPa/kg CO2 for the composites without fibers in terms of flexural strength. Therefore, the study highlights that steel fibers balance between improving mechanical performance and minimizing environmental impact, particularly in the optimal 2% fiber mix that combines robust structural benefits with a manageable environmental footprint.
Bedrock uplift reduces Antarctic sea-level contribution over next centuries
Authors: Calcar Caroline van , Bernales Jorge , Berends Constantijn , Wal Wouter van der , de Wal Roderik van 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The contribution of the Antarctic ice sheet to global sea-level rise could be as high as eight meters around 2300 but remains deeply uncertain<1>. Retreat of the Antarctic ice sheet leads to uplift of the underlying bedrock, which in turn can exert a stabilising effect on the receding grounding line<20>. However, projections of ice mass loss either exclude bedrock adjustment, or ignore lateral variations in Earth structure<4,11-27>. Here, we couple an ice sheet model with a bedrock model that includes a radially and laterally varying Earth structure to account for feedbacks between ice loss and bedrock deformation. We show that the grounding line in West Antarctica takes 50 to 130 years longer to retreat when the heterogeneity of the solid Earth is included, leading to a reduction of 9-23% in the Antarctic sea-level contribution by the year 2500. In contrast to previous studies that show an effect of bedrock adjustment on the ice sheet evolution over millennia, our results reveal an impact on centennial time scales. the effect of the solid Earth feedback in ice sheet projections can be twice as large as the uncertainty due to the climate forcing. Our results emphasise that radially and laterally varying Earth structures should be considered when projecting the Antarctic contribution to sea-level rise on centennial time scales.
Electricity Consumption Prediction Based On Autoregressive Kalman Filtering
Authors: Yang Zuyuan , Xie Zitan , Huang Zhiwei 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Electricity consumption prediction is crucial for energy suppliers and industrial companies as it aids in optimizing energy planning and reducing energy consumption losses. Existing methods primarily focus on the time series relationships of individual nodes or components, overlooking the spatial structure of node groups, which leads to insufficient prediction accuracy. To overcome this limitation, we propose an autoregressive Kalman filtering (AKF) method for electricity consumption prediction. Our primary contribution lies in the innovative design of the Kalman filter observation equation in AKF, which finely adjusts the initial predictions of the autoregressive (AR) model based on the hierarchical structure of equipment. This approach comprehensively considers the interrelationships among equipment levels, significantly enhancing prediction accuracy. Specifically, we first utilize the autoregressive model to capture the autocorrelation of the sequence, forming the basis for constructing the state equation in the Kalman filter. In designing the observation equation, we simplify the model and reduce the complexity of parameter estimation by setting the sum of predicted electricity consumption values of sub-node components as the observed value for the total node components. To validate the effectiveness of our proposed method, experiments were conducted using real electricity consumption data from Foshan Ceramic Factory. The results demonstrate significant improvements in prediction accuracy compared to baseline methods such as BP, LSTM, GA-BP, PSO-SVM, and AR.
Impact of the Socio-political Crisis in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon on the Expanded Vaccination Program for Children From 0 to 23 Months
Authors: Tewantsa Judicael Marcelin , Bekolo Cavin Epie , Enyama Dominique , Mabou Gabriel Tchatchouang , Choukem Simeon Pierre 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Socio-political crises have long been recognized as major obstacles in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases in many parts of the world. However, in Cameroon, the impact of the ongoing socio-political crisis on the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the North West (NW) and South West (SW) regions has not been fully examined. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of this crisis on the performances of the EPI.
This was a secondary data analysis. The data were obtained from the standard EPI data collection tools, from all the health districts in the two regions. The Z-test statistic was used to estimate the differences between our coverage, including BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine), PENTA (pentavalent vaccine), and Measles-rubella (RR) coverage, according to the time periods for each region, i.e., between the years 2014 to 2016 (pre-conflict), and 2017 to 2019 (during the conflict).
In both regions, reported immunization coverage rates for key antigens, including BCG, PENTA-3 and RR1, showed a statistically significant decline except for BCG coverage in the NW region. There was a decline in vaccine coverage between the 3 years before the crisis and the first 3 years of the crisis of 7% (Z=3.40; P=0.003) in PENTA-3; 8% (Z=4.14; P<0.001) in RR1 with an increase in the overall drop-out rate of 3% (Z=3.87; P<0.001) in the NW region. In the SW, mean vaccination coverage had declined by 22% (Z=16.81; P<0.001) for BCG, 33% (Z=17.92; P<0.001) for PENTA 3, 36% (Z=12.99; P<0.001) for RR1 with an increase in the mean general dropout rate of 16% (Z=8.10; P<0.001) between the pre-crisis and early crisis years.
The results found suggest that the decline in immunization performance in the conflict zone of Cameroon may be due to disruption of health services and increased insecurity limiting access to immunization services. Significant increases in vaccination strategies can improve performance in these areas, although other factors not considered in our study may contribute to the decline in vaccination performance.
Human iPSCs-based modeling unveils chromatin remodeling induced by SETBP1 mutation as a potential initiating factor in GATA2 deficiency
Authors: Giorgetti Alessandra , Marin-Bejar Oskar , Pera Joan , Romero-Moya Damià , Torralba Eric , Distefano Maximiliano , Balaguer Clara Berenguer , Castaño Julio , De Giorgio Francesca , Qiu Zhichao , Iglesias Arnau , Pasquali Lorenzo , Liang Zhuobin , Català Albert , Wlodarski Marcin , Bigas Anna 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Patients with GATA2 deficiency are predisposed to developing myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which can progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This progression is often associated with the acquisition of additional cytogenetic and somatic alterations. Mutations in SETBP1 and ASXL1 genes are frequently observed in pediatric GATA2 patients, but their roles in disease progression remain poorly understood. Genome editing of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) enabled precise reconstruction of mutation combinations found in patients. Here we developed a human hiPSC-based model to study the impact of SETBP1 and ASXL1 mutations in context of GATA2 deficiency. We show that germline heterozygous GATA2 mutation alone showed no significant effect on myeloid development, while the addition of SETBP1 and ASXL1 mutations impaired myelopoiesis, resulting in monocytopenia. We identified a key role of the SETBP1 mutation in promoting chromatin remodeling near genes involved in myeloid neoplasms, which likely initiated the blockage of myeloid differentiation observed in vitro. Motif analysis of more accessible chromatin regions in the SETBP1 and SETBP1/ASXL1 mutant background highlighted an enrichment for MEIS1, PU.1, RUNX1, and HOXA9, implicating these factors in the disease progression. Our study establishes a novel humanized model system for studying GATA2 deficiency. We demonstrate that SETBP1 mutations act as a primary driver in hematopoietic impairment, providing insights that may inform future therapeutic strategies for patients progressing to MDS/AML