bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Dyslipidemia among Patients with Helicobacter Pylori Infection Attending Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda: A crossectional study
Authors: Kagoro François Bisingurege , Amandua Jacinto , Abonga Charles L. , Okurut Emmanuel , Nyenke Godefroy B. , Dana Witmer 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide while dyslipidemia is key modifiable risk factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease accounting for 4 million deaths annually worldwide. Few studies assessing the relationship between H. pylori and dyslipidemia show changes in serum levels of lipids. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with dyslipidemia among patients with H. pylori infection.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed between September to December 2022 at Fort Portal regional referral hospital, Uganda on 380 H. pylori infected patients. A validated questionnaire and 5-mL blood specimens were used to obtain data. Correlation analyses, chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression were used to detect correlations and associations, with adjusted odds ratios and p values considered significant at values ≤0.05.
Results: According to the individual lipid profile parameters in this study, decreased HDL-C (24.21%) was the most common dyslipidemia form, followed by elevated LDL-C (16.58%), elevated triglycerides (13.42%), and elevated total cholesterol (11.32%). The prevalence of dyslipidemia among patients with H. pylori infection was 41.58% at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital. In this study, religion and education level were independently associated with dyslipidemia, that is, Muslims had a 5-fold increased risk compared to Pentecostal believers aOR 4.97 (95% CI 1.57-15.73, p 0.006), while primary education level conferred a tripled risk compared to tertiary level education aOR 3.21 (95% CI 1.17-8.78, p= 0.023).
Conclusion: The high prevalence of dyslipidemia among H. pylori patients merits that country-wide awareness programs on dyslipidemia should be carried out, and that patients with H. pylori infection, overweight people, and hypertensive patients should have routine screening for dyslipidemia as they could potentially benefit from lipid-reducing regimens.
Seminal plasma exosome-derived miR-26-5p promotes embryo implantation and development by regulating decidual macrophage polarization via PTEN / PI3K / AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Yan , Chen Xiaolin , Li Jie , Chen Xin , Zhao Jing , Liu Qing , Li Xiaoling , Wang Xinyu , Xiao Zhuoni 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The immunomodulatory effects of seminal plasma(SP) on the maternal immune system play an important role in the implantation and development of the embryo. Decidual macrophages(dMΦs) are one of the major immune cells in the maternal-fetal immune microenvironment, and their M2-type polarization facilitates the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. However, the role of SP on the polarization of dMΦs is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role and mechanism of SP on the polarization of dMΦs by gene chip sequencing as well as in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results revealed that SP promoted dMΦs M2-type polarization. Gene chip sequencing revealed that miR-26-5p was highly expressed in seminal exosomes(SEs) which could act on PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and significantly promote MΦs M2 polarization. Moreover, SEs supplementation significantly reduced embryo resorption in spontaneously aborted mice. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the SEs derived miR-26-5p in SP promoted the M2 polarization of dMΦs by targeting PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which created an immune-tolerant environment conducive to embryo implantation and development. This study provided new ideas for clinical SP-assisted therapy to improve pregnancy outcomes.
Prevalence, Factors Associated, and Histological Pattern of Incidental Enlarged Mesenteric Lymph Nodes Among Patients Undergoing Laparotomy at Referral Hospitals in Central Tanzania: a Cross-sectional Study
Authors: RWEYEMAMU DEVOTHA , MWASHAMBWA MASUMBUKO Y. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background: There are different causes of incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes found during laparotomy, which most of the time influence the postoperative course. These causes are variable across the globe, but the node pattern in our locality and the factors associated with the incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes are not yet established. Due to the lack of an established protocol in our locality, there have been some mismanaged cases that led to several postoperative complications. Therefore this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, factors associated with, and histological pattern of incidental mesenteric lymphadenopathy.
Methodology: The 885 patients were conveniently recruited in the study. The incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were taken during surgery, processed and histologically analyzed as per pathological protocol. Obtained data were filled and analyzed by SPSS version 27. Binary logistic regression was used to examine clinical data, with a significance level of p < 0.05, to determine the factors linked to lymph node enlargement.
Results: It was seen that 58.08% of the study group, were between the ages of 21 and 40. Male accounted for 71.53% of the total, while 252 individuals were female, making up 28.47%, with M: F ratio being 2.5:1. Pastoral tribes accounted for 5.87% of the total population. A total of 87.40% of patients were operated due to peritonitis. The prevalence of incidental lymphadenopathy was 12.5%. Identified risk factors in this study were HIV [(43.64%), and (p<.0001)], [smoking (71.43%), and (p<.0001)], [nomadic pastoralism (28.85%) (p<.0001)]. Of the incidental lymphadenopathy (N=111), 23.42% had granulomatous Tuberculous lesions, and 9.01% of lymph nodes harbored malignancy. About 47% of patients had histologically confirmed reactive lymph nodes while 20.72% had an inflammatory pattern.
Conclusion and recommendation: The findings in this study indicated that pastoral tribes were prone to getting peritoneal Tuberculosis which predisposes them to getting incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, also, smoking, and immunocompromised patients were also factors associated with incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. Therefore, preoperative counseling and thorough investigations should be done in this patient group in case of incidental enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes during laparotomy to rule out life-threatening conditions and comorbidities that can be treated early to prevent longer hospital stays and dangerous outcomes for patients.
Cloning and assessment of cold resistance in the transcription factor PhIPT5 from Populus hopeiensis
Authors: Zhang Qi , Bi Tiantian , Wang Ning , Dai Jinling , Bai Yue 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background:
Populus hopeiensis, a significant afforestation species, faces substantial growth constraints due to cold stress. The IPT gene, a pivotal rate-limiting enzyme in cytokinin synthesis, plays a crucial role in controlling plant reactions to both biotic and abiotic pressures. In this study, we isolated the PhIPT5 gene from Populus hopeiensis and analyzed its biological characteristics and cold tolerance with the aim of providing guidance for the production of cold-resistant poplars.
Results:
The coding sequence (CDS) of the PhIPT5 gene spans 981 bp, encoding 333 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 37.07 kDa. The PhIPT5 protein has alkaline stability and hydrophilicity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Populus hopeiensis IPT5 is closely related to Populus alba. Subcellular localization studies revealed the chloroplastic localization of PhIPT5. We constructed an overexpression vector for PhIPT5 and transformed it into Populus hopeiensis, resulting in improved cold tolerance in transgenic seedlings. Analysis of cytokinin metabolites revealed significantly greater levels in leaves harboring the PhIPT5 gene than in those harboring the CK gene even after exposure to cold. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the PhIPT5 gene primarily regulates the isoamyl pyrophosphate cytokinin metabolism pathway, leading to the synthesis of tZ, iP, and DZ cytokinins.
Conclusion:
Our isolation of PhIPT5 from Populus hopeiensis demonstrated that its overexpression enhances resistance to cold stress in transgenic plants. This work provides a foundation for further elucidating the function of IPT genes and has significant implications for advancing research on enhancing cold tolerance in Populus hopeiensis.
Comparative of Different Interval Training Methods on Athletes' Oxygen Uptake: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Qiushi , Wang Junli 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
This systematic review aimed to 1) investigate the comparative efficacy of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), sprint interval training (SIT), and repetitive sprint training (RST) on athletes' oxygen uptake, 2) examine the effects of program protocols for each training method on enhancing oxygen uptake, 3) provide evidence-based insights to inform future research.
Methods
Data sources, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Medline, and Embase. Eligibility criteria, between-groups controlled experimental studies (2000–present) that investigated the effect of improving athletes' oxygen uptake levels by RST, HIIT, and SIT. Study selection and analysis, sensitivity, and indirectness in the network were assessed by two independent investigators. A frequentist network meta-analysis was performed to examine pre-post intervention differences in oxygen uptake between groups.
Results
32 studies (n=768) with 42 comparisons were included in the network. Compared with MICT, RST significantly increased the oxygen uptake (SMD: 0.87, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.33), whereas HIIT (SMD: 0.81, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.11), and SIT (SMD: 0.43, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.70) significantly elevated the oxygen uptake in athletes. Compared with CON, HIIT (SMD: 0.87, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.90), and RST (SMD: 0.71, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.01). Ranking on the basis of the P-score was consistent with that derived from the SUCRA: RST > HIIT > SIT > CON > MICT. In SIT, the total number of repetitions per session (β: -0.01, 95% CI -0.03 to -0.01), and interval duration (β: -0.01, 95% CI -0.0016 to -0.0002) showed a significant dose‒response relationship.
Conclusions
A 6-week running-based HIIT program with work‒recovery intervals of 2‒3 days per week improved athletes' oxygen uptake levels. With work‒recovery intervals of 30 seconds and 60‒90 seconds, respectively, 3 days/week, SIT with less volume may prove more efficacious.
Systematic review registration
PROSPERO CRD42023435021.
Assessing potential of Perennial Forages on Soil Carbon Sequestration Across Agroecological Zones with Varying Management Practices in Meru County
Authors: Chepkemoi Janeth , Gitau Angela , Bitange Naphis 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) due to continuous cultivation practices threatens soil productivity and compromises climate change mitigation efforts. This study investigates the effect of agro-ecological zones (AZ), management practices (MP), and specific forages on SOC and its related fractions: particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC). Conducted in Meru County, Eastern Kenya in 2021. Thirty-five predetermined perennial forage fields with Brachiaria (B), Panicum (Panicum maximum) (P), Napier grass (P.P. Schumach) (N), paired with maize (Zea mays) (M) growers, and with two management practices (FYM and inorganic fertilizer application) were selected per agro-ecological zone. A factorial plot design was employed, with zones as the main plots, the management practices as split plots, and the forages as split-split plots. Soil samples were collected from 1 m-by-1 m plots across 35 farms at depths of 0–50 cm, and analyzed for pH, bulk density, SOC content, POC, MAOC, and other micronutrients. Soil samples were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Bulk density ranged from 1.07 to 1.19 g cm^-3, with the highest values under inorganic fertilizers and the lowest under farmyard manure, showing significant differences between paired plots (p = 0.0011). Soil pH ranged from 5.13 to 5.36, and management practices significantly affected all micronutrients, with FYM combined with Panicum having the highest cation exchange capacity (19.45 cmol/kg) and manganese (96.30 ppm), and FYM combined with maize showing the highest available phosphorus (54.08 cmol/kg). Results showed no significant differences in mean values of POC and MAOC across zones, though the Lower Zone (LZ) had higher POC (6.63 g C kg^-1) and MAOC (7.24 g C kg^-1) compared to the Mid Zone (MZ) and Upper Zone (UZ). Different forages exhibited varying levels of MAOC, POC, and SOCs, with Brachiaria showing the highest SOC (15.69 g C kg^-1) and Panicum the lowest (14.84 g C kg^-1). Particulate organic carbon and MAOC content were significantly different across forages and maize (p < 0.05), with Brachiaria having higher MAOC (5.37 g C kg^-1) and POC (5.97 g C kg^-1). FYM combined with Brachiaria resulted in the highest POC (6.09 g C kg^-1) and MAOC (5.44 g C kg^-1). POC and MAOC concentrations varied significantly with soil depth, showing higher values in the top 10 cm. The Mid Zone recorded significantly higher SOC, POC, and MAOC than the UZ and LZ. This study concludes that agro-ecological zones and management practices substantially influence SOC sequestration, with FYM and Brachiaria being most effective in LZ.
A Multi-Scale Feature Fusion Hybrid Convolution Attention Model for Birdsong Recognition
Authors: Li Wei , Lv Danju , Yu Yueyun , Zhang Yan , Gu Lianglian , Wang Ziqian , Zhu Zhicheng 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Birdsong is a valuable indicator of rich biodiversity and ecological significance. Although feature extraction has demonstrated satisfactory performance in classification, single-scale feature extraction methods may not fully capture the complexity of birdsong, potentially leading to suboptimal classification outcomes. The integration of multi-scale feature extraction and fusion enables the model to better handle scale variations, thereby enhancing its adaptability across different scales. To address this issue, we propose a Multi-Scale Hybird Convolutional Attention Mechanism Model (MUSCA). This method combines depth wise separable convolution and traditional convolution for feature extraction and incorporates self-attention and spatial attention mechanisms to refine spatial and channel features, thereby improving the effectiveness of multi-scale feature extraction. To further enhance multi-scale feature fusion, we have developed a layer-by-layer aligned feature fusion method that establishes deeper correlations, thereby improving classification accuracy and robustness. In our study, we investigated the songs of 20 bird species, extracting wavelet spectrogram, log-Mel spectrogram and log-spectrogram features. The classification accuracies achieved by our proposed method were 93.79%, 96.97% and 95.44% for these respective features. The results indicate that the birdcall recognition method proposed in this paper outperforms recent and state-of-the-art methods.
Assessment of the Relationship Between Stream Velocity and Physicochemical Parameters of Surface Water: a Case Study of Opa Drainage Basin, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Ojo Michael Oluwaseun 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

This study determined the physicochemical properties of surface water in the Opa Drainage Basin, established statistical relationships between stream velocity and the physicochemical properties of the surface water, and evaluated the ecological impact of the observed relationships on water aesthetics, agricultural use, aquatic life and ecosystem health. These were carried out with a view to assess the impact of stream velocity on the physicochemical properties of surface water within the Opa Drainage Basin, Osun State, Nigeria. Twenty (20) surface water samples were collected for both wet and dry seasons using standard procedure. The concentration of the ions and heavy metals in the surface water samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer, while stream velocity, temperature, pH, conductivity and total dissolved solids were determined in situ. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to assess the relationship between stream velocities and each physicochemical parameter with scatter plot to visually confirm the trends in the correlation. For the wet season, positive correlations were observed with parameters such as pH, temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Mg2+, Cd, Co, Pb, HCO3- , SO42- , and PO42-; while for the dry season, positive correlations were observed with Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Temperature, DO, Mg2+, Cu, Mn2+, Pb, SO42-, and PO42-. For the wet season, negative correlations were found with turbidity, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Fe, Cu, Mn2+ and NO3-; while for the dry season, negative correlations were identified with turbidity, pH, BOD, Na+, K+, Ca, Fe, Cd, Cr, Zn, HCO3, Cl-, and NO3-. Ni, As and CO32- show no correlation with stream velocity. DO and turbidity levels in the water affects the water aesthetics, recreational value, crop health, survival of aquatic organisms and general aquatic habitat suitability. Conclusively, the study established that there is variation in the physicochemical parameters of the surface water of the Opa Drainage Basin, resulting from the variation in the stream velocity. These changes in physicochemical parameters impact the water aesthetics, agricultural use, aquatic life and the general ecosystem health within the Opa Drainage Basin.
Comparison of Covariance-Based Structural Equation Model and Partial Least Squares Equality Models
Authors: VARGÖR Duygu , ÖĞRETMEN Tuncay 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The aim of this research is to compare the differences between the objectives, distribution assumptions, sample sizes, parameters, fit indices, and measurement models of the covariance-based structural equation model (CB-SEM) and the partial and consistent partial least squares structural equation models (PLS-SEM and PLSc-SEM) to contribute to future studies. Data from Turkey's Information and Communication (ICT) scale of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) for the year 2018 was used. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was initially conducted on the data from a sample of 5963 individuals, followed by confirmatory factor Analysis (CFA) using CB-SEM, PLS-SEM, and PLSc-SEM. CFA was performed by obtaining normal and non-normal distributions from the same sample data. The structure validity and reliability, goodness-of-fit indices, item parameters, and latent variable parameters obtained using CB-SEM, PLS-SEM, and PLSc-SEM were compared. The CB-SEM model fit indices provide a better method for explaining how well a hypothetical model fits the experimental data. PLS-SEM and PLSc-SEM, on the other hand, have sufficient reliability and validity parameters for the weight of the items, while the confidence intervals, estimations, and variances of the items are insufficient. This study concludes that it is not appropriate to claim that PLS-SEM is a preferred method when the sample size is small, and the data distributions are non-normal. It is essential for the observed data to be consistent with the hypothesis and theory; otherwise, the analysis results may lead to errors and misconceptions.
Study on Strength Characteristics of Carbon-glass Hybrid Blades under Extreme Conditions
Authors: Jiang Xin , Sun Jiayi , Wen Shidong , Jiang Yiming , Wang Ziyu , Wang Guoyu 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

To study the strength characteristics of carbon-glass hybrid fiber reinforced composite wind turbine blades under extreme operating conditions, a 1.5 MW blade model was chosen as the object of investigation. The research involved selecting different carbon/glass hybrid ratios (2:6, 4:4, 6:2) as blade reinforcement materials. Both finite element simulation and experimental testing were combined to analyze the effects of service temperature and carbon-glass hybrid layer ratio on the static characteristics of composite wind turbine blade samples.Furthermore, the study simulated the impacts of extreme operating conditions on the strength characteristics of carbon-glass hybrid composite wind turbine blades at wind speeds of 12m/s, 22m/s, and 30m/s,respectively.Subsequently, an analysis was conducted to determine the effects of temperature and wind speed on the fatigue life of composite blades with a carbon-glass hybrid layer ratio of 6:2. The findings indicate that the elastic modulus and tensile strength decrease with increasing temperature, with the tensile strength of the 6:2 carbon-glass hybrid composite fiber reinforced wind turbine blade peaking at 45℃, 25℃, and − 35℃. Specifically, at these temperatures, the tensile strength was 44.7%, 41.5%, and 33.5% higher than that of glass fiber composites under equivalent working conditions.Notably, extreme operating conditions caused the fatigue life of carbon-glass hybrid composite wind turbine blades to deviate from the rated operating conditions by 92.6%,with the − 35℃ environment resulting in a deviation of 97.8% from the rated operating conditions.
Comparison of patient satisfaction and function outcomes between restricted kinematic alignment and mechanical alignment: An early follow-up study
Authors: Liu Shiluan , Cao Zhengyu , Lan Saijiao , Zhang Chongjing , Pan Lin , Luo Wenjin , Li Jian 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Mechanical alignment (MA) is the gold standard for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, MA will inevitably modify the patient's native knee anatomy. Another alignment option is kinematic alignment (KA), which aims to restore the original anatomy of the knee. In recent years, restricted kinematic alignment (rKA), which aims to restore native knee kinematics without reproducing the extreme knee phenotype, has been developed as an alternative to unrestricted KA. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and satisfaction scores between patients who underwent rKA and those who underwent MA during TKA.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 45 patients who were diagnosed with osteoarthritis and underwent MA-TKA and 45 patients who underwent rKA-TKA from January 2022 to January 2023. Demographic, perioperative, and radiological data were collected and compared. Unpaired two-sample t tests for continuous variables and χ2 tests for categorical variables were used to compare various measurements between two groups. The patient-reported outcome measures at baseline(T0) and at 3 (T3), 6 (T6), and 12 (T12) months after surgery were recorded and statistically analyzed.
Result
Forty-five robotic-assisted rKA-TKAs were performed, and 45 conventional MA-TKAs were performed. The changes in the hospital for special surgery score (HSS), visual analogue scale (VAS), forgotten joint score (FJS-12), knee society score (KSS), patient satisfaction, and complications from T0 to T12 for patients who underwent rKA were equal to those who underwent MA (86.58 vs. 86.22, P > 0.05 (KSS-Clinical, T12), 73.40 vs. 75.00, P > 0.05 (KSS-Function, T12), 86.11 vs. 85.28, P > 0.05 (HSS, T12), 0.87 vs. 0.82, P > 0.05 (VAS, T12), 83.29 vs. 83.38, P > 0.05 (FJS-12, T12), and 4.57 vs. 4.43, P > 0.05 (Satisfaction, T12)). The net change in the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) and medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) for the constitutional varus was greater (P < 0.05) than that for the constitutional valgus knee in the rKA group. Both groups have a good range of motion (ROM). No revision was performed in the two groups at the one-year follow-up.
Conclusion
rKA is safe for short-term TKA and is a valid alternative to MA.