bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Crafting qPCR Primers: NCBI Primer BLAST for Beginners
Authors: Chicana Betsabel 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

By following the outlined steps below, you can confidently design primers from scratch using NCBI Primer BLAST and ensure their specificity and reliability through thorough double-checking. This process empowers researchers to tailor primers to their specific experimental needs, ultimately enhancing the accuracy and success of PCR-based assays. There are multiple ways to craft primers, and I have found this protocol to be the most useful for my experimental needs. I was able to craft it after many trials and errors and hope this protocol can be of use for you in the future, enabling you to conduct efficient and reliable molecular biology experiments with confidence.
Real-time material extrusion volume control system for 3D food printers
Authors: Ichimori Izumi , Watanabe Yosuke , Fujiwara Koki , Ogawa Jun , Furukawa Hidemitsu 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

To achieve high-quality printing with a 3D printer, it is important to set optimal printing parameters. In our research, we have advanced the development of a 3D food printer capable of rendering a variety of food products. Notably, the rheological properties of food-based inks are influenced by the constituent ingredients, ambient conditions such as temperature and humidity, and the specific recipe utilized, which significantly affects the precision of the printed models with the 3D food printers more than with conventional FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printers. Given the necessity to modify printing parameters in real-time in response to fluctuations in temperature and material consistency, the process of food printing necessitates ongoing monitoring.An automatic control system is essential for accurate printing. We devised a monitoring system within the 3D food printer to calibrate extrusion volume accurately.Leveraging machine learning techniques with a dataset comprising food substances of diverse characteristics and colors, we have successfully automated the control of extrusion volumes within the 3D food printer. The time it takes to achieve good printing conditions is similar to users who are new to 3D food printing. Additionally, it automatically handles fluctuations in extrusion rate during printing, such as those caused by room temperature. This function will let 3D food printing user-friendly and lead more active development of 3D food printing products.
Intraoperative inhalation of indocyanine green for detection of air leak sites after lung resection: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Zhenfan , Jiang Ruiheng , Cui zhuoer , Chen Hongchengcheng , Zhao Songjing , Li Yun , Zhou Jian 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background Postoperative air leak is a common complication after pulmonary surgery. Intraoperative identification and repairing of all air leaks are essential to prevent this complication. However, the traditional saline submersion test would cause oversight of some air leak sites because of the limited field of view in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), especially in patients with pleural adhesions. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of indocyanine green inhalation for intraoperative detection of air leaks during VATS.
Methods This multi-center, two-arm, prospective, randomized controlled, parallel group trial is designed to compare intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) inhalation and saline submersion test in terms of identifying intraoperative air leak sites and reducing postoperative air leak. This trial will include 460 patients who will underwent VATS lung resection with a 1:1 randomization. The primary outcomes are the immediate postoperative air leak rate and the number and size of air leak sites during surgery. the secondary outcomes are time of detection, time of intraoperative repair, duration of chest tube, duration of postoperative air leak and the prolonged air leak rate.
Discussion The method for intraoperative detection of air leaks has remained unchanged for decades, which is constrained by the limited surgical field visibility in patients underwent VATS. Therefore, a novel technique without such limitation is meaningful for preventing oversight of the air leak sites. We hope the result of this study will provide valuable information on the clinical benefit of this novel approach for air leak detection. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) ChiCTR2400080627. Registered on 2 February 2024.
Trial registration:
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) ChiCTR2400080627 . Registered on 2 February 2024.
Comparing the effects of Swiss-ball training and virtual reality training on balance, mobility, and cortical activation in individuals with chronic stroke: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial
Authors: Noreen Alisha , Lu Jiani , Xu Xuan , Jiang Huihui , Hua Yuanyuan , Shi Xiaoyu , Tang Xin , Bai Zhongfei , Ao Lijuan , Yang Lei 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background: Balance and mobility deficits are major concerns in stroke rehabilitation. virtual reality (VR) training and Swiss-ball training are commonly used approaches to improve balance and mobility. However, no study has compared the efficacy of VR training and Swiss-ball training in improving balance and mobility function or investigated cortical activation and connectivity in individuals with stroke.
Methods: A prospective, single-blinded, parallel-armed, multi-center randomized controlled trial with 4 weeks of training will be conducted. Seventy-six participants aged 30–80 years with stroke will be recruited.Participants will be allocated to one of four groups: A) the VR + Swiss-ball training + conventional physical therapy group; B) the Swiss-ball training + conventional physical therapy group; C) the VR training + conventional physical therapy group; or D) the conventional physical therapy group. All participants will receive 50 min of training per day, 5 times per week, for a total of 4 weeks. The primary outcomes will be balance and mobility measures. Secondary outcomes will include the 10-minute walk test,dynamic gait index and cortical activation. Outcomes will be measured on three occasions: at baseline, after the training, and at the 4-week follow-up.
Discussion: This trial will provide evidence to determinewhether there are differences in clinical outcomes and cortical activation following two different types of exercise programs and/or their combination and to elucidate the recovery mechanisms of balance and mobility function in individuals with stroke.
Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry reference: www.chictr.org.cn (No. ChiCTR2400082135)
Assessing and Bridging the Gap in Vaccinology Education: Insights from Romanian Medical Universities
Authors: Neculau Andrea , Șovăilă Silvia , Dumitra Gindrovel , Pistol Adriana , Rogozea Liliana , Lăcătuș Anca 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background: Vaccinology education forms a cornerstone of effective public health strategies, particularly in the face of global challenges such as vaccine hesitancy. This study investigates the current state of vaccinology education within Romanian medical universities, compares it against European standards, and identifies potential gaps in the curriculum.
Methods: We created a survey that aimed to determine the prevalence of vaccinology concepts within current curricula and to perform a gap analysis against the desired competency levels recommended by the European Society of Vaccinology.
The survey was distributed to faculty heads and independently to students across 14 medical universities in Romania. The survey focused on nine key areas of vaccinology.
Results: Seven universities participated, three of which met the inclusion criteria based on response rates. The study revealed that while certain areas of vaccinology, such as the historical context of immunization and key aspects of immunology, were well covered, practical aspects of vaccine administration were less emphasized. The survey also revealed a disparity between faculty and student perceptions of the importance of a specialized vaccinology curriculum.
Conclusions: The findings underscore a significant convergence between the current curriculum and desired educational standards yet highlight the need for curricular revisions to address less-covered areas. We advocate for the integration of specialized vaccinology courses at advanced stages of medical education. Aligning educational content with the needs perceived by students and faculty can help optimize the curriculum to better prepare medical professionals for public health challenges.
Complete Genome Sequencing and Functional Prediction of Bacillus velezensis ANY11
Authors: Chen Yulei , Tang Jiaye , Xin Wenli , Xiao Ximeng , Mou Borui , Li Jialian , Lu Fujia , Fu Chun , Long Wencong , Liao Hong , Han Xuebing , Yang Liuyun , Ma Menggen , Yang Yaojun , Wang Hanyu 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Bacillus velezensis, a member of phylum firmicutes, is a gram-positive rod-shaped and endospore-forming bacterium inhabiting diverse environments. The preliminary analysis of the whole genome of Bacillus velezensis ANY11, isolated from bamboo fiber humus in the intestines of Cyrtotrachelus buqueti, revealed that the genome is approximately 3,949,880 bp in length and contains 4265 coding genes. Among these, 12815, 2473, 3193, and 171 genes were annotated in the GO, KEGG, COG, and CAZy databases, respectively. Additionally, the virulence, pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance of Bacillus velezensis ANY11 were analyzed using PHI, VFDB, and CARD databases. Based on the genomic sequencing and gene function analysis, Bacillus velezensisis believed to possesses certain disease resistance and the capability to hydrolyze lignocellulose, predicting its potential role in plant disease prevention and control as well as in the hydrolysis and reuse of lignocellulose lays The bioinformatics from this study may lay a foundation for the production of biofertilizers and biopesticides, as well as for the utilization of biomass in the production of clean energy ethanol.
Perception, Not Response: The Causes of Abnormal Audiovisual Conflict in Parkinson's disease patients
Authors: Zhou Heng , Bao Yiqing , Zou Nan , Fan Guohua , Sang Hanbin , Wang Erlei , Wang Aijun 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Audiovisual conflict control is an important cognitive function in humans. However, it was not clear whether and how abnormal audiovisual conflict control was reflected at periods of perception and response in the cognitive process in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. We recruited 27 PD patients and 22 healthy controls (HC) to complete audiovisual matching task to investigate the audiovisual conflict in PD patients at different processing periods and its relationship with cortical thickness. Behavioral results showed that abnormal audiovisual conflict at period of perception rather than response. The cortical thickness of left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) in PD patients was positively correlated with the sensory interference (visual interference > auditory interference) at period of perception. In addition, the results of support vector machines (SVM) showed revealed that models utilizing conflict at period of perception as a feature achieved higher predictive accuracy on the participant population, while those employing conflict at period of response as a feature did not. These finding suggested that perceptual conflict deficits in PD patients might be the causes of abnormal audiovisual conflict.
Investigating the Link Between Urban Expansion and Land Surface Temperature using GIS and Spectral Indices. The case of Peri urban South Chennai
Authors: R Narayani A , R Nagalakshmi 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Built up expansion in peri-urban areas can have significant environmental consequences. Monitoring these land changes helps assess the impact on ecosystems. It allows for early detection of negative trends and helps develop strategies to mitigate environmental degradation. The present study investigates the correlation between expansion in peri urban areas and temperature on the surface of the land. The objective of the study is to evaluate the relationship and degree of the link between land surface temperature and urban growth using the spectral indices NDVI and NDBI. Satellite imagery for 1991 and 2001 was used to compute the NDVI, NDBI, and LST maps in ArcGIS. A grid set of 463 points was selected using the fish net sampling technique in the area of interest and correlated. A positive relationship between NDBI and LST, a negative relationship between NDVI and LST, and a negative correlation between NDVI and NDBI are all indicated in the results of the assessment. The results indicate that the increased area of greenspaces shows less land surface temperature. An increase in barren/built-up areas shows increased land surface temperature. These relationships highlight the interplay between urban expansion, vegetation cover, and temperature on the land surface. As lands in the peri-urban areas are consumed for urbanization, areas with high built-up density and limited vegetation will likely exhibit higher land surface temperatures causing urban heat islands. In comparison, regions with more vegetation tend to experience colder temperatures. A deep insight into these correlations can help urban planners and policymakers make informed choices that limit the negative consequences of urbanisation on the environment and human well-being and support sustainable urban growth.
Physical and Chemical Properties of Basalt in Pahang
Authors: Othman Rokiah , Jaya Ramadhansyah Putra , Sulaiman Mohd Arif , Duraisamy Youventharan , Ridzuan Nur Hijjah 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock derived from lava and spread over different localities in Pahang. Kuantan basalts represent one of the largest bodies of basic extrusive in Peninsular Malaysia. Many studies of basalt rock focused on geochemistry and petrology and lacked comprehensive engineering investigations on Pantai Batu Hitam basalt rock. Thus, this study has investigated basalt rock's physical and chemical properties in Pantai Batu Hitam, Kuantan. The specimens were collected from different sites and prepared according to the International Society for Rock Mechanics Standard. Results exhibited that the basalt rocks in the studied location are classified as crystalline texture with a range of density (2.52–2.65), specific gravity (2.38–2.56), absorption values (0.92% − 0.97%), and rebound number of Schmidt hammer hardness test is average 44. The chemical composition of basalt rock specimens consists of SiO2 (42.20% − 44.56%), Al2O3 (12.36% − 16.54%), CaO (12.30% -13.10%), MgO (4.23% − 5.95%), K2O (4.14%- 4.95%) and Fe2O3 (3.23%- 3.95%) respectively. It indicates that the engineering properties of basalt in Pantai Batu Hitam, Kuantan is comparable with European countries. Therefore, this study supports using basalt rock from Kuantan for industrial applications such as basalt fiber, cast, and ceramic. The basalt fiber production can be expanded in Kuantan due to the availability of sources.
FTO m6A demethylase positively regulates circZCCHC14/miR-181a/GREM1 and BMP2 axis in peripheral blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PBMSCs) chondrogenic differentiation of Diannan small ear pigs
Authors: Zhao Daohong , Zhao Bo , Zhong Jia , Chen Hong , Zhang Jun , Wang Chaoran 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs that are involved in chondrogenic differentiation, and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) broadly exists in circRNAs.
Materials and methods
A joint injury model was constructed on Diannan small-ear (DSE) pigs. Transfections were constructed using Lipofectamine 2000. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation qPCR (MeRIP-qPCR), and western blotting analyses were performed. Alcian blue staining tested the chondrogenic differentiation ability. The potential m6A methylation modification enzymes and sites of circZCCHC14 were predicted in m6Avar and SRAMP databases. RNA pull-down and RIP assays were conducted to determine the interaction between circZCCHC14 and FTO.
Results
CircZCCHC14 expression and the m6A methylation level were increased in joint injury DSE pigs. m6A methylation and circZCCCHC14 expression levels were decreased during the process of cartilage differentiation. FTO was decreased, circZCCHC14 and m6A methylation level were increased under inflammatory conditions. FTO is one essential m6A demethylase enzyme of circZCCHC14. m6A demethylase enzyme FTO regulated the expression levels of circZCCHC14. m6A demethylase enzyme FTO positively regulated the expression of miR-181a. FTO m6A demethylase positively regulates chondrogenic differentiation through the circZCCHC14/miR-181a/GREM1 axis.
Conclusion
Our data showed the physiological significance of FTO m6A demethylase in regulating axis circZCCHC14/miR-181a/GREM1 and BMP2, providing a potentially effective therapeutic target for the treatment of joint injury or Osteoarthritis (OA).
Triterpenes and sterols from Ziziphus spina-christi, cytotoxicity evaluation in vitro and in silico
Authors: Adam Ibrahim Abdurrahman , Omoboyowa Damilola , Irshad Rimsha , Wang Yan 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Aim
This study aimed to discover active anti-cancer components from Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.
Methods
Multiple chromatography techniques were used to isolate pure compounds. The structures of isolates were determined by feasible spectroscopic techniques and comparing the data with reported ones. All obtained compounds were evaluated in vitro against four cell lines (three cancer cell lines MCF7, H460, and HeLa, and a normal cell line BJ). Besides, in silico pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness prediction of all compounds were performed. Moreover, all isolated compounds were performed for docking study by an essential receptor of breast cancer HER-2, to figure out the interactions.
Results
Seven compounds (1‒7) were obtained, including five triterpenoid derivatives, lupeol (1), betulinaldehyde (3), betulin (4), betulinic acid (5), and 2-O-E-p-coumaroyl alphitolic acid (6), along with two sterol derivatives, β-sitosterol (2) and β-sitosterol glycoside (7). Among them, 4 and 6 were isolated for the first time from Z. spina-christi. 1 and 5 were found to be active on cancer cell lines, but also cytotoxic for normal cell line BJ. 3 and 4 were reported for the first time to be active and non-cytotoxic. compound 7 was identified as a hit compound with a docking score of -8.420 kcal/mol and two H-bond interactions with ASP 863 residue of the binding site. Remarkably, all compounds met more than three of Lipinski’s rule of five (RO5). Notably, all compounds were within the normal range for QPPMDCK, QPlogBB, and QPPCaco, except 6 was observed to be above ‒5. Compound 7 was identified as a hit compound interacting with a key protein in breast cancer, HER-2. Validation of the docking procedure by MM/GBSA showed that 6 (‒53.435 kcal/mol)) has the highest free binding energy.
Conclusions
This study suggests compounds from Z. spina-christi could be potent HER-2 inhibitors and experimentally verified as lead compounds in search of HER-2 antagonists for breast cancer.
Efficacy of prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic administration in improving growth in children aged 0-59 months living in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Khouma Marietou , Diallo Mamadou , Sow Doudou , Djigal Aicha , Diop Ndeye Sokhna , Allen Stephen , Faye Babacar 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Poor growth is one of the major obstacles to human development, affecting millions of children under the age of 5 years, particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of administering pre-, pro- or synbiotics on the growth of children aged 0–59 months living in LMICs.
Methods
Google scholar, Pubmed, clinical trial.org and Science Direct databases were searched in April 2023 for randomised controlled trials of pre-, pro- or synbiotics that evaluated growth in under fives in LMICs. The primary outcome were weight and height gain. Secondary outcomes were head circumference, body mass index gain and Z score. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate mean differences for continuous outcomes. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria was used to assess certainty of the evidence.
Results
Eight trials involving 1375 children under 5 years of age were identified. Meta-analysis of 6 RCTs (n = 991 children) revealed a significant difference in favor of the experimental group (n = 579) compared the control group (n = 412) for weight gain: (MD = 0.33 kg, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.55); low-certainty evidence. Sub-group analysis revealed that, pre-, pro, or synbiotics may be more effective in malnourished that healthy children (p = 0.003). Meta-analysis of height gain for 4 RCTs (n = 845) found that there was no significant difference between the experimental group (n = 496) and the control group (n = 349) (MD = 0.31 cm; 95% CI -0.36 to 0.98); low-certainty evidence. In sub-group analysis, prebiotics had a greater impact on height gain than synbiotics (p = 0.03). In the only study reporting an increase in head circumference (n = 32 children), this was not improved by the administration of synbiotics. However, administration of synbiotics to undernourished children significantly improved BMI gain.
Conclusion
The evidence for the administration of pre-, pro- or synbiotics on the growth of children in LMICs is weak. Administration of pre-, pro- or synbiotics may improve weight gain and synbiotics may improve BMI, particularly in malnourished children. Further research is needed due to the small number of studies, short duration of administration and small sample size.
Research on gesture segmentation method based on FCN combined with CBAM-ResNet50
Authors: ZHAO Hongtu , LIANG Menghua , LI Hao 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

As a key step of gesture recognition, gesture segmentation can effectively reduce the impact of complex backgrounds on recognition results and improve the accuracy of gesture recognition. The gesture segmentation algorithm based on image processing is easily affected by the complex backgrounds in the image, resulting in poor gesture segmentation effect and low precision. To improve the effect of gesture segmentation under complex backgrounds, this paper proposes a gesture segmentation method based on FCN combined with the CBAM-ResNet50 network model. The trunk network of FCN is proposed as a new ResNet-50 framework. CBAM attention mechanism is introduced into the residual structure to enhance the extraction ability of multi-scale context information. And we achieve deep feature and shallow feature extraction and fusion by combining expansion convolution and enhancing the parameters of the convolutional layer, so as to improve the precision of gesture segmentation. In addition, the methods of data preprocessing and loading pre-training weights are used to enhance the model’s robustness and performance and expedite the training time. In the experiments, the NUS-II gesture data set with a complex background was used for testing. The average recognition rate of gesture pixels was 97.41% and gesture IoU was 94.54%. The experimental results show that the proposed method has a good effect on gesture segmentation for gesture images with complex backgrounds.