bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intracranial Aneurysm Location: Key Factor in Ruptures with Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion
Authors: Liu Pengran , Wang Bangyue , Guo Jing , Dai Hui , Zhao Yan , Dong Wentao , Liu Shujie , Yang Xinyu , Zhang Xiaojun 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background and Purpose
Intracranial aneurysms combined with spontaneous internal carotid artery occlusion (ICAO) are a rare and serious vascular disorder. Currently, there is only limited information available on the clinical characteristics of these patients and the risk factors for aneurysm rupture. Our objective is to describe the clinical features of these patients and predict the risk factors for the rupture of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) combined with ICAO.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed cases of intracranial aneurysms with concurrent spontaneous ICAO from the Chinese Multicenter Aneurysm Database(CMAD). We collected population demographic characteristics and clinical data using a standardized case questionnaire from CMAD. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for rupture of UIA associated with combined ICAO.
Results
We identified 93 patients with intracranial aneurysms combined with ICAO, including 38 females and 55 males, with an average age of 60.7 ± 9.5years (ranging from 32 to 79 years old). Among those with ICAO, 52 had ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs) and 41 had UIAs. Specifically, there were 81 cases of unilateral ICAO, with 16 aneurysms located on the same side as the ICAO, 22 in the midline, and 43 on the opposite side of the ICAO; 12 cases were bilateral ICAO. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that risk factors associated with the rupture of UIAs with ICAO included bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion and aneurysms in the posterior circulation. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that posterior circulation aneurysms are an independent risk factor for the rupture of UIAs with ICAO.
Conclusion
We have described and analyzed the clinical characteristics and risk factors influencing the rupture of intracranial aneurysms in patients with ICAO. The study found that the location of the aneurysm is an important risk factor for the rupture of UIAs combined with ICAO.
Identification of stiff-knee gait in stroke survivors
Authors: Bacca Odair , Celestino Melissa Leandro , Barela José Angelo , Barela Ana Maria Forti 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background: Though stiff-knee gait is a common movement disorder in individuals with stroke, the criteria for identifying it in this population are not yet well established. This study investigated suitable criteria to identify stroke survivors with stiff-knee gait. Twenty-four stroke survivors (45.2±13.7 years old) and 24 individuals matched by age and sex (45.5±13.5 years old) with no known gait impairment participated in this study. They walked along a 10-m extension walkway at a self-selected comfortable speed. A computerized analysis system registered the trajectories of retroreflective markers placed on specific body landmarks, and different measurements were calculated regarding knee flexion during gait cycle, such as its peak during the swing period, total range of motion (RoM), equivalent to the difference between maximum and minimum knee excursion during gait cycle (“RoM cycle”), and RoM from toe-off to peak knee flexion (“RoM swing”).
Results: Overall, peak knee flexion during the swing period and knee RoM swing were the most remarkable measurements to identify stiff-knee gait in stroke survivors.
Conclusions:Based upon the found results, we suggest using at least two criteria to identify stiff-knee gait in individuals with stroke. The most suitable ones are peak knee flexion during the swing period <50° and the knee RoM from toe-off to peak knee flexion <12°. Finally, our results suggest that it is inappropriate to consider the non-paretic limb and total knee flexion RoM to classify stiff-knee gait in individuals with stroke.
Exploratory Analyses of Physical Activity and Glucose Control Across the Perinatal Period
Authors: France-Ratcliffe Madeleine , Low David A. , Cocks Matthew S. , Jones Helen , Gibbon Karl C. , Graves Lee E.F. , Sheen Kayleigh , Tempest Nicola , Hopkins Nicola D. , Sprung Victoria S. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Variability in glucose levels during pregnancy can adversely affect foetal development. A strong positive relationship between physical activity (PA) and glucose variability has been observed in pregnancy, which could inform strategies to improve gestational glycaemia. However, no study has previously measured objective PA and glucose variability disaggregated by pregnancy trimester, despite trimester-specific differences in glucose control being reported. Additionally, whether a relationship exists between PA and glucose control postpartum is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between PA and glucose control across the perinatal period, disaggregated by trimester and postpartum, using objective continuous assessment methods.
Methods
Forty-nine healthy, non-diabetic pregnant females, with no history of cardiovascular or respiratory disease, aged 28-46 years were recruited. Accelerometery was used to measure PA, alongside continuous glucose monitoring to assess glucose variability over a week, at trimesters 2 and 3 of pregnancy, and within 6 weeks postpartum. Variability of PA & blood glucose across the perinatal period was assessed using general linear models and the relationship between PA and glucose variability were assessed using hierarchal regressions.
Results
No significant change in glucose variability (coefficient of variation) was reported across the perinatal period (21.12 ± 4.32%, 21.42 ± 4.39%, 18.97 ± 4.11% in trimesters 2, 3, and postpartum respectively). Light-intensity PA increased across the perinatal period (152 ± 48, 161 ± 38, 201 ± 93 mins/day in trimesters 2, 3, and postpartum, respectively), with no change in moderate-to-vigorous or total physical activity levels, though PA levels were low at all timepoints compared to previous literature. No relationship between glucose variability and physical activity was identified across the perinatal period.
Conclusions
This observational study provides preliminary evidence that contrary to previous findings, there may be no relationship between PA and glucose variability in healthy pregnancies disaggregated by trimester, though higher levels of PA and/or structured exercise may be required to influence metabolic health.
Trial Registration: Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) number 263600.
Position of the Lateral Intercondylar Ridge and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Bony Insertion Area in Relation to the Wall and Roof of the Femoral Notch
Authors: Gulan Leo , Kovačević Miljeko , Žauhar Gordana , Jurdana Hari , Gulan Gordan 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Purpose
This study assesses the positioning of the lateral intercondylar ridge (LIR) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) femoral insertion area (FIA) in relation to the femoral notch roof and lateral notch wall and examines their correlation with posterior notch outlet width.
Method
45 dried femurs underwent 3D scanning and analysis. A cutting plane was established to divide the intercondylar roof from the condylar wall based on three points. LIR length and position on the roof and wall were measured, alongside distances to key landmarks. Total ACL-FIA was measured, as well as the area on the roof and wall of the intercondylar notch.
Results
A significant correlation was found between LIR positioning on the roof and notch width. LIR averaged 16.18 mm, with 30.86% on the roof, while ACL-FIA averaged 134.19 mm², with 31.55% on the roof. Posterior notch outlet width averaged 24.34 mm. The distance between the most proximal part of the LIR to the posterior intercondylar line averaged 4.87 mm and 12.46 mm to the most proximal, high deep point of the cartilage border of the lateral femoral condyle.
Conclusion
These findings offer valuable insights for femoral tunnel positioning during ACL reconstruction by quantifying LIR length and ACL-FIA surface on the intercondylar notch roof for the first time, revealing their extension onto the roof and their potential implications.
Fundamental limitations of kilohertz-frequency carriers in afferent fiber recruitment with transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation
Authors: Seáñez Ismael , Keesey Rodolfo , Hofstoetter Ursula , Hu Zhaoshun , Lombardi Lorenzo , Hawthorn Rachel , Bryson Noah , Rowald Andreas , Minassian Karen 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

The use of kilohertz-frequency (KHF) waveforms has rapidly gained momentum in transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) to restore motor function after paralysis. However, the mechanisms by which these fast-alternating currents depolarize efferent and afferent fibers remain unknown. Our study fills this research gap by providing a hypothesis- and evidence-based investigation using peripheral nerve stimulation, lumbar tSCS, and cervical tSCS in 25 unimpaired participants together with computational modeling. Peripheral nerve stimulation experiments and computational modeling showed that KHF waveforms negatively impact the processes required to elicit action potentials, thereby increasing response thresholds and biasing the recruitment towards efferent fibers. While these results translate to tSCS, we also demonstrate that lumbar tSCS results in the preferential recruitment of afferent fibers, while cervical tSCS favors recruitment of efferent fibers. Given the assumed importance of proprioceptive afferents in motor recovery, our work suggests that the use of KHF waveforms should be reconsidered to maximize neurorehabilitation outcomes, particularly for cervical tSCS. We posit that careful analysis of the mechanisms that mediate responses elicited by novel approaches in tSCS is crucial to understanding their potential to restore motor function after paralysis.
A SFQ-to-CMOS Interface Circuit Based on SiGe BiCMOS for Josephson-CMOS Hybrid System
Authors: Chen Zhichao , Zhang Xingyu , You Lixing , Li Lingyun 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Conventional interfaces for a Josephson-CMOS hybrid system typically rely on Josephson latching drivers (JLDs) or SQUID (Superconducting Quantum InterferenceDevice) stacks to convert weak signals, which are then connected to additional amplifiers providing outputs of 1.2 V or 1.8 V. JLDs output tens of millivolts but require AC bias and precise clock alignment. SQUID stacks reach frequencies of tens of GHz but output few millivolts voltages and occupy large area. To address these challenges, an interface based on SiGe BiCMOS(Silicon-Germanium Bipolar Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Fabricated using the 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS process, the interface converts 200 μV voltage signals to 1.2 V and consumes only 386 μW per channel at 4.2 K. In low-frequency measurement, the hybrid system supports 21-channel signals conversion without requiring additional CMOS amplifiers, simplifying cryogenic system design. Advantages include eliminating the need for AC bias and clock alignment, while drawbacks like limited speed are also discussed. This technology facilitates the practical application of multichannel superconducting computers and other applications that require efficient signal conversion, making it one of the most promising interface solutions for the hybrid system.
Digital Twin for Chemical Sciences (DTCS): A Blueprint for Digitizing Chemical Characterization
Authors: Qian Jin , Jana Asmita , Menon Siddarth , Bogdan Andrew , Hamlyn Rebecca , Mahl Johannes , Crumlin Ethan 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Directly visualizing chemical trajectories offers novel insights into catalysts, gas phase reactions, photo-induced dynamics, and quantum information processing. Identifying and tracking the exchange of matter to observe the creation and annihilation of chemical species is best achieved by closely coupling theory and experiment. We developed Digital Twin for Chemical Science (DTCS) v.01, a platform that mimics advanced characterization instruments, including those at Scientific User Facilities. DTCS v.01 addresses challenges in data acquisition, analysis, and model-driven interpretation via a physics-based, AI-accelerated approach. We validated this concept with ambient pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (APXPS) observations using a ubiquitous metal-water interfacial scenario, i.e., Ag/H2O, as a representative example. The inputs of DTCS v.01 are designed to mirror the experimental chemists' workflows, and the outputs can be directly compared to and are constantly updated from the experimental data. This integrated theoretical and experimental platform enhances user accessibility and facilitates the acquisition of standardized mechanistic insights.
From Freeze to Function: Optimised Cryopreservation and Mitochondrial Analysis Workflow for Skeletal Muscle Biopsies
Authors: Wahid Maheen , Mackenzie Graeme , Rooney Liam M. , Greig Justin C. , McConnell Gail , Combet Emilie , Gray Stuart , Murray James T. , Currie Susan , Gould Gwyn W. , Cunningham Margaret R. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Skeletal muscle biopsies are valuable in clinical and research settings, contributing to advancements in diagnosing, understanding, and treating muscle-related conditions. Traditional freezing methods often cause artefacts mistaken for disease, leading to incorrect diagnoses or misinterpretation of research findings. Proper handling of muscle biopsies is critical for accurate histopathological and mitochondrial analysis. It is essential to preserve the entire tissue, especially for small needle biopsies. While most research focuses on mitochondrial analysis in cells, there are few studies on whole tissue samples. This study aimed to provide an effective methodological workflow to improve cryopreservation techniques for human and rodent muscle biopsies and create a reliable method for mitochondrial analysis in muscle tissues.
Methods
Human muscle samples were preserved with different concentrations of formaldehyde after freezing with liquid nitrogen to study the effects of freeze-thaw cycles. We compared the edge and belly of muscle samples embedded in Optimal Cutting Temperature compound (OCT) to see how OCT affects ice crystal formation. Rat muscle biopsies were frozen using six different methods, using liquid nitrogen and precooled isopentane as freezing media. Each medium involved direct immersion, OCT dip before immersion, and placement in histocassettes before immersion. Effectiveness of these methods was evaluated using histological and immunohistochemical staining. Mitochondrial analysis in type I and II myofibres was attempted by employing the Trainable Weka Segmentation plugin using Fiji.
Results
Histologically stained human tissue sections showed that freeze-thaw and formaldehyde fixation led to freezing artefacts, disrupted endomysium, and widely spaced cells. Quantitative differences in ice crystal artefacts between edge and belly of rat whole muscle samples demonstrated effects of OCT in crystal formation. Histological and immunohistochemical staining of sections from rat muscle biopsies frozen in six different cryopreservation techniques revealed that only isopentane/histocassette combination preserved tissue integrity in both core and periphery of tissue sections. Moreover, an optimised Fiji workflow enabled accurate quantification and mapping of mitochondrial networks.
Discussion
The isopentane/histocassette combination is an effective cryopreservation method, ensuring artefact-free preservation of both core and periphery of tissue sections. Our workflow utilising Trainable Weka Segmentation plugin provides a reliable method for mitochondrial analysis in skeletal muscle tissues, facilitating future studies in muscle research.
Stable Nitric Oxide Doping in Monolayer WSe2 for High-Performance P-type Transistors
Authors: Chen Zhihong , Lan Hao-Yu , Lin Chih-Pin , Cai Jun , Sun Zheng , Wu Peng , Tan Yuanqiu , Hou Tuo-Hung , Appenzeller Joerg 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Thanks to their atomically thin body, two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are promising candidates for beyond-silicon electronic devices. However, excessive contact resistance and limited threshold voltage control due to ineffective or non-existent doping techniques hinder their technological readiness. Here, we unveil the doping mechanism of pure nitric oxide (NO) and demonstrate its effectiveness on wafer-scale grown monolayer tungsten diselenide (1L-WSe2) transistors. This novel doping approach, combined with a scaled high-κ dielectric, yields WSe2 transistors with exceptional performance metrics: a high on-state current of 300 µA/µm (at a drain-to-source voltage of -1 V and overdrive voltage of -0.8 V), low contact resistance of 875 Ω μm, peak transconductance of 400 µS/µm, and a near-ideal subthreshold swing of 70 mV/dec, while preserving large on/off ratios (> 109), minimal variability, and excellent stability after 24 days. Our findings establish NO doping as a powerful method for realizing high-performance p-type 2D transistors and advancing next-generation ultra-scaled electronic devices.
Extracting explicit, implicit and contradictory information from chats in a Persian NLU engine
Authors: Safari Pegah , Shamsfard Mehrnoush 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

In this research, we present a Natural Language Understanding (NLU) component of an open-domain chatbot designed to extract explicit and implicit personal information from user dialogues, such as name, age, gender, education, occupation, marital status, residence, etc. The NLU component comprises two main units: explicit IE and implicit IE. The explicit IE unit detects the main topic (intent) of the utterance and extracts explicitly stated information to fill the values of predefined slots. It utilizes a custom joint training model leveraging the pretrained language model of XLM-RoBERTa and incorporating the previous utterance as an input feature. Training on a dataset of 6,652 utterances, it yields an intent accuracy of 91.22%, slot-F1 of 88.07% and exact match of 83.40%. The implicit IE unit is built upon an ontology containing common-sense knowledge, alongside an LLM-based inference engine. It infers the remaining slots based on explicit information or complementary data in the utterance. Our NLU component can even detect semantic conflicts in the dialogue and assessing the full pipeline from this aspect shows 92% accuracy which is 21% higher than GPT-4o.
Hepato-Renal Protective Effects of Nigella sativa Oil in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Toxicity: Insights from Adult Wister Rat Models
Authors: Murtala Muhammad Jibril 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Nigella sativa, popularly known as black seed oil, is known to have diverse pharmacology which includes hepatoprotective and reno-protective effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective efficacy of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) against cyclophosphamide (CP) induced hepatorenal toxicity in adult female rats. Forty-two female Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control group received distilled water only, and three treatment groups receiving 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg of NSO with CP combination. This was given via an orogastric tube. Hematological and biochemical parameters, organ weights and histopathological changes were evaluated at the end of 21 days treatment period. Acute toxicity studies showed no mortality or adverse effects on neurological function due to NSO at a dose of 5000 mg/kg. Sub-acute toxicity studies indicated that there were significant increases (p < 0.05) in body and organ weights observed across all groups. Hematological analysis revealed that the NSO treated group had a dose-dependent increase in white blood cell count compared to control. Biochemical analysis indicated increased levels of liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP) and urea in the highest dosage group (p < 0.05), whereas glucose total cholesterol and triglycerides levels decreased significantly in a dose dependent manner. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney tissues confirmed the protective effects of NSO against CP-induced damage, showing reduced necrosis and inflammation. In conclusion, Nigella sativa oil exhibits significant protective effects against cyclophosphamide-induced hepato-renal toxicity in Wistar rats. The findings from this study suggested that NSO can mitigate the adverse effects of CP in a dose dependent manner, highlighting its potential therapeutic application in managing drug-induced toxicity. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying these protective effects and to explore the clinical relevance in human subjects.
Accelerating Inexact HyperGradient Descent for Bilevel Optimization
Authors: Li Junchi 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

We present a method for solving general nonconvex-strongly-convex bilevel optimization problems. Our method---the \emph{Restarted Accelerated HyperGradient Descent} (\texttt{RAHGD}) method---finds an $\epsilon$-first-order stationary point of the objective with $\widetilde{\mathcal{O}}(\kappa^{3.25}\epsilon^{-1.75})$ oracle complexity, where $\kappa$ is the condition number of the lower-level objective and $\epsilon$ is the desired accuracy. We also propose a perturbed variant of \texttt{RAHGD} for finding an $\big(\epsilon,\mathcal{O}(\kappa^{2.5}\sqrt{\epsilon}\,)\big)$-second-order stationary point within the same order of oracle complexity. Our results achieve the best-known theoretical guarantees for finding stationary points in bilevel optimization and also improve upon the existing upper complexity bound for finding second-order stationary points in nonconvex-strongly-concave minimax optimization problems, setting a new state-of-the-art benchmark. Empirical studies are conducted to validate the theoretical results in this paper.
Coronaviruses have Reached at Pre-Elimination Stage with nine amino acids spike deletions and forty-nine nucleotides 3’-UTR deletion
Authors: Chakraborty Asit Kumar 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Human 30kb coronaviruses entered through the ACE-2 receptors causing fibrosis of lungs and claimed six million deaths worldwide. Here, we investigated the mutations, deletions and insertions of the recent JN.1 omicron coronaviruses. The 49nt deletions in the 3’-UTR was found in 4997 JN.1 sequences although 26nt deletion was initiated previously in JN.1 as well as BA.5, BF.7, BQ.1 and XBB.1.5 omicron viruses. The 31S spike deletion was initiated lately apart from 24LPP, 69HV, 145Y, 211N and 483V deletions. The important 17MPLF spike insertion was found although few scientists claimed there was no such insertion. we first to compare 3-D structures of spike proteins with or without 17MPLF four amino acids insertion and nine amino acids deletions using SWISS MODELLING. The JN.1 viruses caused a more stable trimeric spike involving Thr342, Lys436, Lys440, His441, Ser442, Gly443, Tyr445, Lys479, Ser489, Tyr490, Arg493, Pro494, Thr495, and Gln501 amino acids to interact with ACE-2 receptors. The cytokine storm was reduced in patients with increased immune evasion due to L455S, F456L and R346T spike mutations in KP.2 variants. The JN.1 8th codon GGA = TGA termination codon mutation was initiated which was demonstrated previously in XBB.1.5 lineages. We also detected few small deletions in the ORF8 gene near termination codon with the formation of few amino acids extended ORF8 protein. We claimed that pre-death changes were initiated in JN.1 COVID-19 lineages and computer-simulation showed that Howard-spike with 17MPLF spike insertion appeared more stable than Oppentron-spike without 17MPLF insertion.