bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterizing poorly controlled type 2 diabetes using 1H-NMR metabolomics
Authors: Theron Isabella J. , Mason Shayne , van Reenen Mari , Stander Zinandré , Kleynhans Léanie , Ronacher Katharina , Loots Du Toit 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Introduction
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has surged to epidemic proportions and despite treatment administration/adherence, some individuals experience poorly controlled diabetes. While existing literature explores metabolic changes in type 2 diabetes, understanding metabolic derangement in poorly controlled cases remains limited.

Objective
This investigation aimed to characterize the urine metabolome of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes in a South African cohort.

Method
Using an untargeted proton nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics approach, urine samples from 15 poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients and 25 healthy controls were analyzed and statistically compared to identify differentiating metabolites.

Results
The poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients were characterized by elevated concentrations of various metabolites associated with changes to the macro-fuel pathways (including carbohydrate metabolism, ketogenesis, proteolysis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle), autophagy and/or apoptosis, an uncontrolled diet, and kidney and liver damage.

Conclusion
These results indicate that inhibited cellular glucose uptake in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes significantly affects energy-producing pathways, leading to apoptosis and/or autophagy, ultimately contributing to kidney and mild liver damage. The study also suggests poor dietary compliance as a cause of the patient’s uncontrolled glycemic state. Collectively these findings offer a first-time comprehensive overview of urine metabolic changes in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and its association with secondary diseases, offering potential insights for more targeted treatment strategies to prevent disease progression, treatment efficacy, and diet/treatment compliance.
Utilizing Generative AI for Instructional Design: Exploring Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
Authors: Choi Gi Woong , Kim Soo Hyeon , Lee Daeyeoul , Moon Jewoong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractRecently, generative AI has been at the center of disruptive innovation in various settings, including educational sectors. This article investigates ChatGPT, which is one of the most prominent generative AI in the market, to explore its usefulness and potential for instructional design. Four researchers used a set of prompts to generate a course map for an online course that is aimed to teach the topic of makerspace and conducted SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of using generative AI for instructional design. The findings suggest that there is promise in using ChatGPT as an efficient and effective tool for creating course maps, yet it still requires the domain knowledge and instructional design expertise to warrant quality and reliability of the tool.
Impact of rapid iodine contrast agent infusion on tracheal diameter and lung volume in CT pulmonary angiography measured with deep learning-based algorithm
Authors: Yasaka Koichiro , Abe Osamu 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Purpose
To compare computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography and unenhanced CT to determine the effect of rapid iodine contrast agent infusion on tracheal diameter and lung volume.

Material and methods
This retrospective study included 101 patients who underwent CT pulmonary angiography and unenhanced CT, for which the time interval between them was within 365 days. CT pulmonary angiography was scanned 20 s after starting the contrast agent injection at the end-inspiratory level. Commercial software, which was developed based on deep learning technique, was used to segment the lung, and its volume was automatically evaluated. The tracheal diameter at the thoracic inlet level was also measured. Then, the ratios for the CT pulmonary angiography to unenhanced CT of the tracheal diameter (TDPAU) and both lung volumes (BLVPAU) were calculated.

Results
Tracheal diameter and both lung volumes were significantly smaller in CT pulmonary angiography (17.2 ± 2.6 mm and 3668 ± 1068 ml, respectively) than those in unenhanced CT (17.7 ± 2.5 mm and 3887 ± 1086 ml, respectively) (p < 0.001 for both). A statistically significant correlation was found between TDPAU and BLVPAU with a correlation coefficient of 0.451 (95% confidence interval, 0.280–0.594) (p < 0.001). No factor showed a significant association with TDPAU. The type of contrast agent had a significant association for BLVPAU (p = 0.042).

Conclusions
Rapid infusion of iodine contrast agent reduced the tracheal diameter and both lung volumes in CT pulmonary angiography, which was scanned at end-inspiratory level, compared with those in unenhanced CT.
Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Ti–6Al–4Zr–4Nb Alloys Fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS)
Authors: Liang S. J. , Matsunaga S. , Toda Y. , Matsunaga T. , Yamabe-Mitarai Y. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe near-α Ti–6Al–4Zr–4Nb (wt pct) alloy is a recently developed alloy with potential for aerospace applications. This study evaluates the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti–6Al–4Zr–4Nb produced by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The SPS samples sintered in the α + β regions exhibited equiaxed α with a neighboring thin β phase. Above the β-transus temperature, the α/β lamellar structure formed, allowing control of the grain size (100 ~ 200 μm). The compressive strength and the creep property of the SPS samples were compared with the LBPDed and the forged samples. The compressive strength of the SPS sample was lower than that of the LPBFed sample but similar to the forged sample. The SPS samples exhibited longer creep rupture life (2220 hours) than LPBFed samples (1730 hours), but shorter than the forged sample (4109 hours). The creep deformation mechanism of the lamellar structure in the SPS sample was dislocation creep.
Probabilistic literacy and reasoning of prospective secondary school teachers when interpreting media news
Authors: Álvarez-Arroyo Rocío , Batanero Carmen , Gea María M. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEducating students to apply probability literacy and reasoning in out-of-school contexts requires the previous preparation of teachers, which should include the assessment of their mathematical and didactic knowledge. Consequently, we investigated three research questions concerning the probabilistic reasoning and literacy of 66 prospective secondary school teachers when solving probability questions related to a report taken from the media news, their ability to identify the fundamental stochastic ideas needed to solve the task, and their capacity to predict their students’ potential difficulties. The participants needed to compute the probability of a complementary event, several conditional probabilities, and perform critical reading of the information in the report. Despite the participants’ good mathematical knowledge, a high percentage showed reasoning biases, such as the fallacy of the transposed conditional, confusion between conditioning and causation, and few identified the information missing to solve a question. There was a poor capacity to determine the stochastic ideas needed to solve the questions, beyond probability, sample space, conditional probability, and sampling. The participants quoted a few potential errors of their students, mainly conceptual mistakes with scarce recognition of interpretation errors. These results reveal the need to reinforce teachers’ probabilistic literacy, reasoning, and related didactic knowledge.
Edaravone Alleviates Traumatic Brain Injury by Inhibition of Ferroptosis via FSP1 Pathway
Authors: Shi Haoyu , Song Libiao , Wu Yonghui , Shen Ruonan , Zhang Chenxu , Liao Xingzhi , Wang Qiuhong , Zhu Jie 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a highly severe form of trauma with complex series of reactions in brain tissue which ultimately results in neuronal damage. Previous studies proved that neuronal ferroptosis, which was induced by intracranial haemorrhage and other reasons, was one of the most primary causes of neuronal damage following TBI. However, the association between neuronal mechanical injury and ferroptosis in TBI and relevant treatments remain unclear. In the present study, we first demonstrated the occurrence of neuronal ferroptosis in the early stage of TBI and preliminarily elucidated that edaravone (EDA), a cerebroprotective agent that eliminates oxygen radicals, was able to inhibit ferroptosis induced by TBI. A cell scratching model was established in PC12 cells, and it was confirmed that mechanical injury induced ferroptosis in neurons at the early stage of TBI. Ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) plays a significant role in inhibiting ferroptosis, and we found that iFSP, a ferroptosis agonist which is capable to inhibit FSP1 pathway, attenuated the anti-ferroptosis effect of EDA. In conclusion, our results suggested that EDA inhibited neuronal ferroptosis induced by mechanical injury in the early phase of TBI by activating FSP1 pathway, which could provide evidence for future research on prevention and treatment of TBI.
Effect of high-risk pregnancy on prenatal stress level: a prospective case-control study
Authors: Türkmen Hülya , Akın Bihter , Erkal Aksoy Yasemin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe study aimed to determine the effects of high-risk pregnancy on prenatal stress levels. The study was conducted with a case-control design in Turkey in September-December 2019. The sample included pregnant women diagnosed with high-risk pregnancy and were at their 36th or later gestational weeks as the case group (n = 121) and healthy pregnant women as the control group (n = 245). The Antenatal Perceived Stress Inventory (APSI) and the Revised Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NUPDQ-17 Item Version) were used to assess the stress levels of the participants in the study. It was determined that high-risk pregnancy was associated with higher rates of prenatal stress (APSI: p < 0.001, effect size = 0.388; NUPDQ: p = 0.002, effect size = 0.272) compared to the control group. The results of the linear regression analysis showed that high-risk pregnancy affected APSI (R2 = 0.043, p < 0.001) and NUPDQ (R2 = 0.033, p = 0.009) scores, but education levels, number of pregnancies, and number of abortions did not affect APSI and NUPDQ scores. According to the results of this study, high-risk pregnant women are in a risk group for stress. It is of great importance for the course of a pregnancy that healthcare professionals assess the stress levels of pregnant women in the high-risk pregnancy category and provide psychological support to pregnant women who have high stress levels or are hospitalized.
Using horse teeth to shape stone tools: an experimental approach to characterise use-wear traces
Authors: Micó Cristian , Cuartero Felipe , Llamazares Javier , Sañudo Pablo , Zalbidea Luis , Rivals Florent , Blasco Ruth 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHorse tooth retouchers have been identified in several Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites. They have been typically characterised as ‘soft’ hammers and/or grouped into the category of ‘bone retouchers’ at a technical level. Bone and teeth have different chemical compositions; teeth are denser and heavier than bone, and consequently, their technological features should not be considered homologous. In this work, we experimentally tested the effectiveness of horse teeth as retouchers. To perform this study, we used 41 modern horse teeth to shape flakes of various raw materials by applying different techniques. The resulting use-wear traces were analysed using high-resolution methods and then characterised. The results allowed us to identify the effectiveness of hypsodont teeth in knapping a wide range of tools and to evaluate the influence of 1) the raw materials, 2) the retouching techniques and 3) the gestures of the different knappers on the morphology of the use-wear marks. This work sheds light on the purpose of using teeth as tools by both Neanderthal and early modern human populations as well as understanding how these human species used them. The study leads us to consider tooth retouchers as important elements of the chaîne opératoire in lithic manufacture. Our goal is to highlight the importance of these types of experimental studies to create analogies and infer past processes.
Zinc Oxide:Gold Nanoparticles (ZnO:Au NPs) Exhibited Antifungal Efficacy Against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus candidus
Authors: Achilonu Conrad Chibunna , Kumar Promod , Swart H. C. , Roos W. D. , Marais Gert Johannes 
Published: May 2024

AbstractFungal pathogens are a major health issue that threatens the era of antifungal drugs commonly used in the treatment of infections. An effective approach of biosynthetic nanoparticles can be used as antifungal agents owing to their intrinsic features such as their simplicity, non-toxic, and physicochemical properties. Therefore, this study was aimed to molecularly ascertain Aspergillus species known to cause aspergillosis and investigate the potency of zinc oxide:gold nanoparticles (ZnO:Au NPs) against the fungal pathogens. Two Aspergillus strains retrieved with potato dextrose agar (PDA) culture media from commercial food products in South Africa were molecularly identified using calmodulin (CaM) gene region. DNA sequence phylogeny of the gene showed that the strains were A. niger and A. candidus. ZnO:Au (1%) NPs were synthesised and characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Two distinct peak plasmon bands for ZnO and ZnO:Au NPs were 390 nm and 565 nm, respectively. FE-SEM images demonstrated the presence of Au on the surface of ZnO nanoparticles in the ZnO:Au nanocomposites. The ZnO:Au NPs antifungal activity of 10 µg/mL and 50 µg/mL concentrations were evaluated against the two Aspergillus spp. ZnO:Au NPs at 50 µg/mL exhibited a maximum antifungal activity against A. candidus and A. niger, with zones of inhibition (ZoI) of 31.2 ± 0.15 mm and 25.0 ± 0.06, respectively. When the ZoI was observed by SEM, major morphological damages on the conidia were observed for both strains, indicating that the antifungal activity may have been enhanced by the ZnO:Au NPs. Therefore, due to these outstanding properties, ZnO:Au NPs can be utilised as potential antifungal agents to inhibit the proliferation of fungal pathogens.
Preclinical efficacy of CBR-5884 against epithelial ovarian cancer cells by targeting the serine synthesis pathway
Authors: Gong Kunxiang , Huang Yinger , Zheng Yanqin , Zhu Yinfu , Hao Wenbo , Shi Kun 
Published: May 2024

AbstractReprogramming of the serine synthesis pathway (SSP) is intricately linked to the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). CBR-5884, a selective small-molecule inhibitor targeting phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), effectively impedes the de novo synthesis of serine within cancer cells. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of CBR-5884 on EOC cells and delineate its specific mechanism, thereby proposing a novel therapeutic approach for treating EOC. The suppression of serine biosynthesis after CBR-5884 treatment was evaluated using RNA sequencing and a serine assay kit, and the results showed that CBR-5884 effectively downregulated serine biosynthesis in EOC cells, particularly those expressing high levels of PHGDH. In vitro studies revealed that CBR-5884 demonstrated significant antitumor effects and suppressed migration and invasion of EOC cells through down-regulation of the integrin subunit beta 4 (ITGB4)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/epithelial–mesenchymal transition signal axis. Additionally, CBR-5884 mitigated the stemness of EOC cells and heightened their sensitivity to chemotherapy. Moreover, in vivo studies revealed that CBR-5884 significantly delayed tumor growth, with histological analysis indicating the safety profile of CBR-5884. Finally, the patient-derived organoid (PDO) models were utilized to explore the preclinical efficacy of CBR-5884 against EOC cells, and the results unveiled that CBR-5884 impeded proliferation and downregulated the expression of ITGB4 in EOC PDO models. Our findings supports the anticancer properties of CBR-5884 in EOC cells exhibiting high PHGDH expression, manifesting through the suppression of proliferation, migration, and invasion, while enhancing chemotherapy sensitivity, suggesting that CBR-5884 holds promise as an efficacious strategy for the treatment of EOC.
Digital biomarkers: 3PM approach revolutionizing chronic disease management — EPMA 2024 position
Authors: Smokovski Ivica , Steinle Nanette , Behnke Andrew , Bhaskar Sonu M. M. , Grech Godfrey , Richter Kneginja , Niklewski Günter , Birkenbihl Colin , Parini Paolo , Andrews Russell J. , Bauchner Howard , Golubnitschaja Olga 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNon-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) have become a major global health concern. They constitute the leading cause of disabilities, increased morbidity, mortality, and socio-economic disasters worldwide.Medical condition-specific digital biomarker (DB) panels have emerged as valuable tools to manage NCDs. DBs refer to the measurable and quantifiable physiological, behavioral, and environmental parameters collected for an individual through innovative digital health technologies, including wearables, smart devices, and medical sensors. By leveraging digital technologies, healthcare providers can gather real-time data and insights, enabling them to deliver more proactive and tailored interventions to individuals at risk and patients diagnosed with NCDs.Continuous monitoring of relevant health parameters through wearable devices or smartphone applications allows patients and clinicians to track the progression of NCDs in real time. With the introduction of digital biomarker monitoring (DBM), a new quality of primary and secondary healthcare is being offered with promising opportunities for health risk assessment and protection against health-to-disease transitions in vulnerable sub-populations. DBM enables healthcare providers to take the most cost-effective targeted preventive measures, to detect disease developments early, and to introduce personalized interventions. Consequently, they benefit the quality of life (QoL) of affected individuals, healthcare economy, and society at large.DBM is instrumental for the paradigm shift from reactive medical services to 3PM approach promoted by the European Association for Predictive, Preventive, and Personalized Medicine (EPMA) involving 3PM experts from 55 countries worldwide. This position manuscript consolidates multi-professional expertise in the area, demonstrating clinically relevant examples and providing the roadmap for implementing 3PM concepts facilitated through DBs.
Automated GIS-based decision tool for rehabilitation of a drinking water infrastructure in Tlemcen, Algeria
Authors: Berrezel Yacine Abdelbaset , Abdelbaki Chérifa , Rouissat Bouchrit , Boumaaza Tarik , Saber Mohamed , Goosen Matheus , Kumar Navneet 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWater resource management relies heavily on the utilization of decision-making systems to guide the strategic rehabilitation and renovation of infrastructure within water distribution networks (WDNs). This study aims to develop and apply a scripting tool in ArcGIS for decision-making in WDN. It combines a collection of decision support systems, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and multi-criteria analysis, for infrastructure renovation and rehabilitation. The research is divided into two main sections. The first focuses on creating and implementing the analytic hierarchy process tool in ArcGIS, while the second discusses its application in the study area, which is the drinking water distribution network of an urban area in Tlemcen, located in the Northwest of Algeria. The study’s results reveal that 25% of the network is in critical condition and require immediate rehabilitation. Sixty-two percentage of the network is classified as moderately urgent, indicating a pressing but less immediate need for intervention. Finally, the remaining 13% of the network requires attention over a longer timeframe for rehabilitation. The main criteria influencing pipe prioritization are material (26% of total weight), laying date (26% of total weight), and pressure (20% of total weight). This developed tool can be easily adapted and applied by engineers and water management officers. It serves as a guide for decision-makers and planners in urban water management in Tlemcen and can be replicated and applied to other areas worldwide.
Automatic arrival-time picking of P- and S-waves of micro-seismic events based on relative standard generative adversarial network and GHRA
Authors: Cai Jianxian , Duan Zhijun , Yan Fenfen , Zhang Yuzi , Mu Ruwang , Cai Huanyu , Ding Zhefan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractRapid, high-precision pickup of microseismic P- and S-waves is an important basis for microseismic monitoring and early warning. However, it is difficult to provide fast and highly accurate pickup of micro-seismic P- and S-waves arrival-time. To address this, the study proposes a lightweight and high-precision micro-seismic P- and S-waves arrival times picking model, lightweight adversarial U-shaped network (LAU-Net), based on the framework of the generative adversarial network, and successfully deployed in low-power devices. The pickup network constructs a lightweight feature extraction layer (GHRA) that focuses on extracting pertinent feature information, reducing model complexity and computation, and speeding up pickup. We propose a new adversarial learning strategy called application-aware loss function. By introducing the distribution difference between the predicted results and the artificial labels during the training process, we improve the training stability and further improve the pickup accuracy while ensuring the pickup speed. Finally, 8986 and 473 sets of micro-seismic events are used as training and testing sets to train and test the LAU-Net model, and compared with the STA/LTA algorithm, CNNDET+CGANet algorithm, and UNet++ algorithm, the speed of each pickup is faster than that of the other algorithms by 11.59ms, 15.19ms, and 7.79ms, respectively. The accuracy of the P-wave pickup is improved by 0.221, 0.01, and 0.029, respectively, and the S-wave pickup accuracy is improved by 0.233, 0.135, and 0.102, respectively. It is further applied in the actual project of the Shengli oilfield in Sichuan. The LAU-Net model can meet the needs of practical micro-seismic monitoring and early warning and provides a new way of thinking for accurate and fast on-time picking of micro-seismic P- and S-waves.
An Inhomogeneous Weibull–Hawkes Process to Model Underdispersed Acoustic Cues
Authors: Van Helsdingen Alec B. M. , Marques Tiago A. , Jones-Todd Charlotte M. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractA Hawkes point process describes self-exciting behaviour where event arrivals are triggered by historic events. These models are increasingly becoming a popular choice in analysing event-type data. Like all other inhomogeneous Poisson point processes, the waiting time between events in a Hawkes process is derived from an exponential distribution with mean one. However, as with many ecological and environmental data, this is an unrealistic assumption. We, therefore, extend and generalise the Hawkes process to account for potential under- or overdispersion in the waiting times between events by assuming the Weibull distribution as the foundation of the waiting times. We apply this model to the acoustic cue production times of sperm whales and show that our Weibull–Hawkes model better captures the inherent underdispersion in the interarrival times of echolocation clicks emitted by these whales.