bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sedentary Behaviour among Elderly Patients after Total Knee Arthroplasty and its Influencing Factors
Authors: Ni Xuan , Hu Qing , Shi Juan , Li Ai , Zeng Xing , Gu Yajing 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objective: To understand the status of sedentary behaviour in elderly patients after total knee arthroplasty and analyse its influencing factors so as to provide a reference for developing targeted interventions.
Methods: Conveniently selected elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (>6 months) in a tertiary hospital in Jiangsu Province were investigated using a general information questionnaire, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, patients’ self-reported sedentary behaviour information, the WOMAC Score, The Groningen Orthopaedic Social Support Scale, and Lee’s Fatigue.
Results: The median daily sedentary time was 5.5 hours (4.5 h, 6.625 h) in 166 elderly patients after total knee replacement, of whom 82 (49.40%) showed sedentary behaviour (≥6 h per day). Logistic regression analysis showed that being retired/unemployed (OR = 8.550, 95% CI:1.732–42.207, P = 0.0084), having a CCI score ≥3 (OR = 9.018, 95% CI:1.288–63.119, P < 0.0001), having high WOMAC scores (OR = 1.783, 95% CI. 1.419–2.238, P < 0.0001), having a high social support score (OR = 1.155, 95% CI:1.031–1.294, P = 0.0130), and having a fatigue score ≥5 (OR = 4.848, 95% CI:1.084–21.682, P = 0.0389) made patients more likely to be sedentary.
Conclusion: The sedentary time of elderly patients after total knee arthroplasty is long, and sedentary behaviour is common among them. Healthcare professionals should develop targeted sedentary behaviour interventions based on the influencing factors of sedentary behaviour in order to reduce the occurrence of sedentary behaviour in elderly patients after total knee arthroplasty.
Stage dependence of Elton’s biotic resistance hypothesis of biological invasion
Authors: Guo Wen-Yong , Guo Kun , Pyšek Petr , Chytry Milan , Divíšek Jan , Sychrová Martina , Lososová Zdeňka , Kleunen Mark van , Pierce Simon 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Elton’s biotic resistance hypothesis posits that species-rich communities are more resistant to invasion. Yet, there is evidence that species richness alone may not fully explain community resistance, as phylogenetic and functional richness, along with environmental factors and human-induced disturbances, also play pivotal roles. Additionally, it remains unknown how these factors collectively affect plant invasion as alien species progress along the introduction-naturalization-invasion continuum. For 12,056 local plant communities of Central Europe, we investigate how these factors affect the presence and richness of alien species at different stages along the invasion continuum. Our study reveals varying effects of these factors on the presence and richness of alien species at different invasion stages, highlighting the complexity of the invasion process. Specifically, we demonstrate although species richness and functional richness of resident communities had mostly negative effects on alien species presence and richness, the strength and sometimes also direction of these effects varied along the continuum. By uncovering the stage-dependent effects of these factors, our study not only offers a more nuanced understanding of Elton’s biotic resistance hypothesis but also suggests that other invasion hypotheses should be carefully revisited given their potential stage-dependent nature.
Detectability of Cytokine and Chemokine using ELISA, following Sample-inactivation using Triton X-100 or Heat
Authors: Labossiere Erica Hofer , Gonzalez-Diaz Sandra , Enns Stephanie , Lopez Paul , Yang Xuefen , Kidane Biniam , Vazquez-Grande Gloria , Siddik Abu Bakar , Kung Sam Kam-Pun , Sandstrom Paul , Ravandi Amir , Ball T. Blake , Su Ruey-Chyi 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Routine characterization of clinical samples for their immunological responses against infectious pathogens often involves assessing cytokine/chemokine profiles and/or production of pathogen-specific antibodies. To prevent transmission of infectious materials in laboratories, these clinical samples are often inactivated by detergents or heat before the molecular assays are performed. Antibody-based molecular assays, such as ELISA, are highly sensitive to conformational changes in analytes. How specific inactivation procedures impact on cytokine/chemokine detectability in the clinical samples is not fully elucidated. This study compared two commonly used inactivation methods (Triton X-100, heat-inactivation) and untreated native samples in the cytokine/chemokine assays.
Method
Plasma, endotracheal tube aspirate (ETTA), and nasopharyngeal (NP) samples underwent inactivation with 0.05% Triton X-100 or heat (60°C, 1 hour). Cytokines/chemokine levels were assessed using Meso-Scale-Multi-Spot assays. Data were analyzed against untreated samples using one-way and Tukey’s multiple comparisons tests. Additionally, the conformational instability of cytokines/chemokines, predicted by their amino acid sequence, was examined to determine its contribution to detectability in inactivated samples.
Results
Heat treatment significantly impacted cytokine/chemokine detection across sample types. IL-1α levels were substantially reduced in ETTA, NP, and plasma samples. In heat-inactivated plasma, IL-12p40, IL-15, IL-16, VEGF, IL-7, and TNF-β, among 36 cytokines, were reduced by 33-99% (p-values ≤0.02). Conversely, Triton X-100 minimally affected cytokine/chemokine detection in plasma and NP samples by 11-37% (p-values ≤0.04). Triton X-100 increased the detection of IL-15, IL-16, IL-1α, VEGF, and IL-7 levels in NP samples. Triton X-100-inactivated ETTA samples showed no significant impact on cytokine/chemokine detectability. Heat inactivation had more profound impacts on protein detectability. Structural analysis revealed heat-affected cytokines had more hydrophobic residues and higher instability indices, although protein features alone could not reliably predict susceptibility.
Conclusion
Our findings demonstrated the importance of empirical assessments of inactivation protocols in the measurements of cytokine/chemokine responses in clinical samples. Overall, Triton X-100 performed better than heat inactivation in preserving protein conformation for antibodies-based immunological studies.
Photodegradation, DFT and electrochemical studies of carbon nanohorns modified BiSbO 4 /BiSbS 3 heterostructure for an endocrine disrupting agent pentachlorophenol
Authors: Batool Maria , Zafar Muhammad Nadeem 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Development of a photocatalyst with good efficiency and recyclability is demanding heavily to degrade endocrine disrupting chemicals from wastewater. In this study, degradation of an endocrine disrupting agent (pentachlorophenol) is performed by using photocatalysts BiSbO4, BiSbS3 and carbon nanohorns (CNH) modified BiSbO4/BiSbS3 heterostructure nanocomposite (BiSbO4/BiSbS3/CNHs) under visible light. To get structural, morphological, textural insights, the photocatalysts are characterized by XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM, UV, PL, FTIR and BET techniques. Band gap plays a dynamic role in photocatalysts and band gap of photocatalysts is determined to be 3.20, 2.82 and 2.69 eV for BiSbS3, BiSbO4 and BiSbO4/BiSbS3/CNHs respectively. All the photocatalysts show high degradation at pH value of 6. The rate constant (Kapp) and R2 calculated form of pseudo first order reveals that the heterostructure BiSbO4/BiSbS3/CNHs is more efficient in degradation of pentachlorophenol as compared to BiSbO4 and BiSbS3. Among the three photocatalysts, BiSbS3 is observed to be comparatively less efficient because oxides are considered more pivotal in photocatalysis as compared to sulphides. The effect of scavengers shows that all charge carriers are effective, however oxide radicals play a key role during the process of photocatalysis. Photodegradation of pentachlorophenol in the presence of other phenolic pollutants indicates that BiSbO4/BiSbS3/CNHs can be utilized for degradation of other phenolic compounds. Further DFT studies are performed to know degradation behavior of pollutant as well as electrochemical measurements are also executed to illuminate the electrochemical behavior of all photocatalysts for supercapacitor applications.
Design and analysis of Approximate 4:2 Compressors for high performance multiplier
Authors: Bhandari Rishika 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The quest for high-speed computing with optimal power usage has spurred the rise of approximate computing, a methodology that sacrifices precision for improved power efficiency. This paper delves into the realm of approximate computing by exploring the power consumption aspects of both existing and novel architectures of approximate 4:2 compressors. Employing Intel Quartus Prime, the study seeks to elevate the performance metrics of multipliers. By scrutinizing the power consumption characteristics, the research aims to shed light on the efficacy of approximate computing in real-world scenarios. Through meticulous analysis, it intends to uncover the trade-offs between accuracy and energy consumption, elucidating the potential benefits and drawbacks of adopting approximate computing methodologies in practical applications. The investigation into 4:2 compressors serve as a microcosm for broader discussions surrounding approximate computing's role in contemporary computing paradigms. It endeavors to provide insights into how approximate computing techniques can be harnessed to bolster the efficiency and performance of computational systems, particularly in scenarios where stringent power constraints coexist with the demand for high computational throughput.
Physico-mechanical properties of aesthetic resin composites
Authors: Chen Fei , Wang Dongmei , Luo Hao , Yu Peng 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the physico-mechanical properties, including water sorption (WS) and solubility (SL), flexural strength (σf) and modulus of elasticity (Emod), as well as Vickers hardness (VHN) value of most currently available aesthetic resin composites by comparing them with conventional resin composite.
Materials and methods Universal-shde resin composite OMNICHROMA (OMNI; Tokuyama), Beautifil Unishade (BU; Shofu), Essentia (EN; GC), and A3 shade of aesthetic resin composites Harmonize (HM; Kerr), conventional resin composite Tetric N Cream (TNC; Ivoclar Vivadent) were evaluated in this study. Volume and weight were recorded every 24 h of water immersion of resin composites (n = 5) for the calculation of WS and SL. Bar shaped specimens were sectioned from each material (n = 5), Emod and σf were evaluated using a three-point bending test. Bottom and top of the specimens (n = 3) of VHN were obtained for three spots using Vickers micro-hardness tester. Afterwards, bottom-top hardness ratio was calculated. One-way ANOVA, Tukey’s test, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson’s correlation test, and Paired-samples t-test were computed (p < 0.05).
Results HM showed significant the highest WS and SL (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in σf regarding the materials (p > 0.05). BU showed significant the highest Emod (p < 0.05). HM recorded the highest VHN value (p < 0.05), and significantly the lowest bottom-top hardness ratio (p < 0.05).
Conclusions The aesthetic resin composites showed comparable physico-mechanical properties compared to conventional resin composite TNC.
Clinical relevance The physico-mechanical properties of resin composite material influence the long-term clinical performance of the restoration.
Colorectal Cancer and Common Psychiatric Disorders: A Two-sample Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Yao Yuan , Yang Mingze , Li Chen , Lu Sicheng , Zhang Guannan , Bu Qianqian , Zhao Shuoqi , Ma Shenghui , Cheng Haibo 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the causal relationships between colorectal cancer (CRC) and prevalent psychiatric disorders using a two-sample Mendelian randomization approach and to provide evidence supporting the gut-brain axis (GBA) hypothesis.
Methods: Utilizing publicly available GWAS datasets, we explored the connections between CRC and various psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. We applied three statistical analyses: inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger, and median weighting. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the reliability and validity of our results.
Results: The inverse variance weighting analysis revealed no significant associations between CRC incidence and depression (OR=0.995, 95% CI: 0.995-1.000, P=0.090), anxiety (OR=1.001, 95% CI: 1.000-1.001, P=0.099), or schizophrenia (OR=1.003, 95% CI: 0.960-1.047, P=0.899). Conversely, a significant inverse relationship was found with bipolar disorder (OR=0.937, 95% CI: 0.8919~0.9849, P=0.010).
Conclusion: Our study did not find causal connections between CRC and the psychiatric conditions of depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia. However, the inverse causal relationship between CRC and bipolar disorder highlights the role of the GBA, offering novel insights into the relationship between gastrointestinal cancer and mental health.
Investigation of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus in controlling mosquito larvae under field conditions in Zhejiang province, China
Authors: JIANG Guoqin , XU Yan , Gong Zhenyu , LI Tianqi , WU Yuyan , HE Xuejun 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Mosquito-borne infectious diseases (MBDs) have become a major public health threat in China, and mosquito control has been regarded as the most effective measures to prevent and control MBDs. According to our previous researches, loaches (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) was effective on swallowing Aedes albopictus larvae in laboratory experiments. Its effect on controlling mosquitoes in residential environment remains unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of locahes on controlling mosquito larvae under field conditions then to explore its potential for control mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases. 16 households were randomly chosen in Nanhui village Shaoxing city, Zhejiang province, China, in June 2021. Containers with the capacity above four liters in each household were randomly devided into test group and control group. Juvenile loaches were put into containers in test group with one loach per four liters water in each container. Observations were conducted every two weeks to inspect the amount of mosquito larvae in each container, when dead loaches would be replaced into alive ones. A total of 104 ponding containers were selected with 68 containers as test groups and 36 containers as control group. Eight observations from June to October were recorded. The standard decrease rate of mosquito larvae was 72.06% in test group, and significant difference in the number of larval mosquitoes was observed between control group and test group (GLMM, F = 9.525, P < 0.05). With excellent effect on controlling mosquitoes larvae, environment friendly, low cost and high acceptance among residents, loaches could be a potential method for biological control of mosquito larvae in residential environment.
Trends and disparities in Road Traffic Accidents-Related Mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2020
Authors: Cheema Muhammad Rafay Shahzad 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a significant public health concern globally, with notable impacts on mortality rates, healthcare utilization, and economic burdens. Despite advancements in safety technologies and preventive measures, understanding the evolving epidemiology and disparities of RTA-related deaths remains crucial. This study aims to provide updated insights into mortality trends and disparities related to RTAs in the United States.
Methods: Mortality data from 1999 to 2020 were extracted from the CDC WONDER database. Multiple Cause-of-Death Public Use records were analyzed to identify RTA-related fatalities. Data were stratified by demographics, geographic location, and temporal trends. Statistical analyses included computing crude mortality rates, Age-Standardized Mortality Rates (ASMRs), and Joinpoint Regression analysis to assess temporal trends.
Results: Between 1999 and 2020, there were 957,434 RTA-related fatalities in the United States. ASMRs declined from 1999 to 2010 but exhibited a reversal thereafter. Males consistently experienced higher ASMRs than females. Racial disparities were evident, with NH American Indian or Alaska Native populations showing the highest ASMRs. Geographical variations were observed, with southern states and nonmetropolitan areas reporting higher ASMRs. Stratification by age-groups revealed elevated mortality rates among older adults aged 65+ years and young adults aged 15-34 years.
Conclusions: Following a period of decline, RTA-related mortality in the US has risen since 2010, particularly among NH American Indian or Alaska Native populations, males, and residents of southern states and nonmetropolitan areas. Targeted interventions are crucial to address this resurgence and ensure safer transportation for all.
28 nm FD-SOI embedded phase change memory exhibiting near-zero drift at 12 K for cryogenic spiking neural networks (SNNs)
Authors: Palhares Joao Henrique Quintino , Garg Nikhil , Mouny Pierre-Antoine , Beilliard Yann , Sandrini Jury , Arnaud Franck , Anghel Lorena , Alibart Fabien , Drouin Dominique , Galy Philippe 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Seeking to circumvent the bottleneck of conventional computing systems, alternative methods of hardware implementation, whether based on brain-inspired architectures or cryogenic quantum computing systems, invariably suggest the integration of emerging non-volatile memories. However, the lack of maturity, reliability, and cryogenic-compatible memories poses a barrier to the development of such scalable alternative computing solutions. To bridge this gap and outperform traditional CMOS charge-based memories in terms of density and storage, 28 nm Fully Depleted Silicon on Insulator (FD-SOI) substrate-embedded GexSbyTez phase change memories (ePCMs) are characterized down to 12 K. The multi-level resistance programming and its drift over time are investigated. The ePCM can be programmed to achieve and encode 10 different resistance states, at 300 K, 77 K, and 12 K. Interestingly, the drift coefficient is considerably reduced at cryogenic temperatures. Cycle-to-cycle programming variability and resistance drift modelling are carefully used to forecast and evaluate the effect of resistance evolution over time on a fully connected feedforward spiking neural network (SNN) at different temperatures. System-level simulation of a Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology database (MNIST) classification task is performed. The SNN classification accuracy is sustained for up to two years at 77 K and 12 K while a 7–8% drop in accuracy is observed at 300 K. Such results open new horizons for the analogue/multilevel implementation of ePCMs for space and cryogenic applications.
Kidney injury in a murine hemorrhagic shock/resuscitation model is alleviated by sulforaphane’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action
Authors: Li You , Qin Kang , Liang Weiqiang , Yan Weining , Fragoulis Athanassios , Pufe Thomas , Buhl Eva Miriam , Zhao Qun , Greven Johannes 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Hemorrhagic shock/resuscitation (HS/R) can lead to acute kidney injury, mainly manifested as oxidative stress and inflammatory injury in the renal tubular epithelial cells, as well as abnormal autophagy and apoptosis. Sulforaphane (SFN), an agonist of the nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, is involved in multiple biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, autophagy, and apoptosis regulation. This study investigated the effect of SFN on acute kidney injury after HS/R in mice. Hemorrhagic shock was induced in mice by controlling the arterial blood pressure at a range of 35-45 mmHg for 90 min within arterial blood withdrawal. Fluid resuscitation was carried out by reintroducing withdrawn blood and 0.9% NaCl. We found that SFN suppressed the elevation of urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels in the blood induced by HS/R. SFN mitigated pathological alterations including swollen renal tubules and renal casts in kidney tissue of HS/R mice. Inflammation levels and oxidative stress were significantly downregulated in mouse kidney tissue after SFN administration. In addition, the kidney tissue of HS/R mice showed high levels of autophagosomes as observed by electron microscopy. However, SFN can further enhance the formation of autophagosomes in the HS/R+SFN group. SFN also increased autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 expression and suppressed P62 expression, while increasing the ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II and LC3-I (LC3-II/LC3-I). SFN also effectively decreased cleaved caspase-3 level and enhanced the ratio of anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2 and Bcl2-associated X protein (Bcl2/Bax). Collectively, SFN effectively inhibited inflammation and oxidative stress, enhanced autophagy, thereby reducing HS/R-induced kidney injury and apoptosis levels in mouse kidneys.
DINOray: A Tightly Integrated De-occlusion Model for the Detection of Prohibited Items
Authors: Sun Boyan , Wang Zhijian , Sun Yi Xiao , Zhou Xiang , Zhang Wenyu , Zhang Haigang 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

In today’s society, the increasing occurrence of terrorist actsand other criminal behaviors highlights the crucial necessity of securityscreening to safeguard areas from potential threats. However, most of theexisting mainstream target detection methods are designed for process-ing natural images, and do not take into account the special differencethat X-ray security images have perspective. The prohibited items withinthese security images exhibit size and shape variations under variousimaging angles, often rendering them uninformative to the models. Inaddition, the security images frequently display varying degrees of over-lapping and occlusion between targets and backgrounds, which makes theaccurate detection of prohibited items more difficult. To address thesechallenges in security screening tasks, this paper proposes a novel modelbased on DINO, which is referred to as DINOray. It integrates a Cross-Scale Tight Integration module and an Occlusion Removal module. Bymitigating noise and occlusion, DINOray extracts more salient informa-tion about prohibited items and tightly integrates it with the output ofthe encoder, which includes global features, in order to supplement lo-cal features. These enhanced features are then passed to the decoder toenhance the detection accuracy of the model. The experimental resultsshow that DINOray outperforms DINO by achieving 3.5% and 1.1% en-hancements in the detection accuracy of prohibited items on the PIDray and CLCXray open-source security screening datasets, respectively. Thisdemonstrates its superior performance in the security screening field.