bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tear proteomics reveals expressed proteins and potential pathways associated with diabetic keratopathy
Authors: Lu Xiaohe , Chen Zixiang , Li Jiali , Li Yingli , Liang Lifang , Zhong Yanyan 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
Patients with diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic keratopathy (DK). The pathophysiological mechanisms of DK and associated biomarkers remain unclear. However, tear analysis provides crucial insights into DK. Thus, we conducted a quantitative proteomic analysis of tears from DK patients to identify differentially expressed proteins and potential pathways associated with DK.
Methods
This prospective case-controlled study included patients admitted to Zhujiang Hospital between October 2022 and February 2023. We examined 22 eyes with DK and 11 control eyes without DK. General characteristics and dry eye-related features were recorded, including those observed using ocular surface analysis, conjunctival impression cytology, and tear ferning tests. Tear fluid was collected using Schirmer strips after ensuring group similarity in confounders. Proteins were analysed through four-dimensional label-free mass spectrometry. Differential proteins were subjected to analyses of Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. A protein–protein interaction network map was constructed.
Results
Of the 2733 proteins identified, 313 (156 upregulated and 157 downregulated) differentially expressed proteins were screened. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that these differentially expressed proteins mainly participated in mRNA decay, nuclear transcription, and receptor-mediated endocytosis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that these differentially expressed proteins could be involved in pathways, such as arginine biosynthesis, extracellular matrix-receptor interactions, and lysosome-related processes.
Conclusions
Arginine biosynthesis and extracellular matrix-receptor interactions may be involved in DK pathogenesis. These findings may enhance the understanding of DK among ophthalmologists.
Evaluation of guided PDL regeneration with mesenchymal stem cell loaded amniotic membrane scaffold and PRF following delayed replantation of avulsed teeth in dogs
Authors: Mazhari Fatemeh , Afshari Jalil Tavakol , Khajehahmadi Saeedeh , Sedigh Hamideh Salari , Shafieian Reyhaneh , Shiezadeh Farid , Anbiaee Najmeh , Valizadeh Maryam 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background: Dental avulsion is one of the most common and challenging injuries in 7-to-9-year-old children. The research aimed to periodontal ligament (PDL) regeneration using the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) technique utilizing amniotic membrane scaffold, PDL stem cells (PDLSCs), and injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) following delayed replantation of immature avulsed teeth in dogs.
Methods: Thirty extracted immature dog teeth underwent a dry environment for 70 minutes (Except for negative control group:10 min) and then, were randomly divided into five groups: 1) Negative control, 2) Positive control, 3) i-PRF: replantation alongside i-PRF, 4) PDLSCs+i-PRF: replantation alongside i-PRF and the suspension of human PDLSCs (xenograft), 5) GTR: replantation alongside amniotic membrane as a barrier on which human PDLSCs were seeded and contained i-PRF. The teeth were assessed clinically and radiographically at one-month and two-month follow-ups. Two months after replantation, the apical and middle third of the teeth roots were examined histologically (qualitative evaluation) and histomorphometrically (quantitative evaluation: percentage of favorable and unfavorable healing). The results were analyzed using the statistical tests of Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney (significance at p<0.05).
Results: Clinical observations included infraocclusion of a tooth in the positive control group, mobility in the two teeth of the PDLSCs+i-PRF group, and general tooth discoloration. At two months, the positive control group had significantly more pathological resorption radiographically (P<0.05). Histologically, the GTR group had a significantly higher favorable healing rate compared to all except the negative control group (P<0.05). PDLSCs+i-PRF and i-PRF groups also had improved healing over the positive control group (P=0.004), but less than the GTR and negative control groups (both P = 0.04 compared to the GTR group, and P = 0.002 and P=004 compared to the positive control group, respectively). The latter two treatments did not differ statistically from each other (P=0.63). The positive control group demonstrated significantly more pathological resorption compared to other groups (P<0.05), while the negative control showed almost no pathological resorption.
Conclusions: For delayed replantation of avulsed immature teeth, GTR technique using amniotic membrane scaffold plus i-PRF/PDLSCs significantly increased PDL regeneration and decreased unfavorable healing.
Directional Spectrum Estimation of Moving Vehicles
Authors: de Carvalho Rodrigo Cesar Ameida , Torres Julio Cesar Boscher , Petraglia Mariane Rembold , Vorländer Michael 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Simulation of urban environments requires the knowledge of the vehicle directional noise emission characteristics, in order to be more accurate and confer more authenticity to the 3D audio. This paper presents a methodology to extract the directional sound energy pattern, emitted by a moving vehicle, using a simple microphone array. The method consists in recording the vehicle pass-by sound with a set of two horizontal sensors and, based on the spectrogram and on a modified direction of arrival algorithm, determine the energy spectrum according to the direction between the source and the receivers. The proposed method is initially investigated with simulated data, where the analysis signals are generated by simulating the passage of a sound source with a known directivity pattern. Using white noise as source signal, the proposed algorithm was able to recover the directional pattern with errors up to 1 dB. The method is then applied to real measurements, conducted in a controlled environment, where four vehicles passed through the sensors at different speeds. As there were no ground-truth for such evaluation, the spectral characteristics of the directional data were compared to similar data in the literature. The results pointed to a convergence between estimated and expected data, showing that the proposed method is capable of extracting horizontal directional information from passing vehicles, which can be applied to determine the general directional emission pattern of vehicle categories or models, for application in acoustic virtual environments.
Evaluation of dyslipidemia based on ATP ⅠⅠⅠ guideline in adults in southwest Iran: A population-based study
Authors: Cheraghian Bahman , Saki Nader , Sarvandian Sara , Hashemi Seyed Jalal , Hosseini Seyed Ahmad , Saki Sara , Rahimi Zahra 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Dyslipidemia is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We aim to investigate the occurrence of dyslipidemia and its associated risk factors in the southwest region of Iran. This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 9846 participants aged 35–70 years in southwest Iran. Information on socioeconomic factors, demographic characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory tests, anthropometric measurements, and lifestyle was collected. The criteria for dyslipidemia were based on the ATP III classification. Multiple logistic regression was used to control potential confounders. Results showed that the overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 43.5%, with abnormal levels of HDL, LDL, TC, and TG at 17.9%, 21.8%, 36.2%, and 44%, respectively. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that males (OR＝1.92, 95%CI: 1.74−2.14), individuals with abnormal waist circumference (OR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.67-2.12), those with low physical activity (OR=0.80, 95% CI: 0.76-0.97), smokers (OR＝1.17, 95%CI: 1.05−1.31), rich people (OR＝1.19, 95%CI: 1.04-1.36), and patients with hypertension (OR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.05-1.27) had higher odds of dyslipidemia. Our findings suggest that dyslipidemia is a complex condition that is influenced by various biological and lifestyle factors. Different prevention and treatment strategies may be needed for various population subgroups. Keywords: Dyslipidemia, ATP III guidelines, Adults, Population-based study.
Novel Meta-Diamide Derivatives Bearing Triazole: Design, Synthesis and Bioactivity
Authors: Yan Chengyi , Liu Jiyong , Xiang Juncheng , Zhang Lei , Wu Daoxin , Liu Minhua 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

In searching for novel insecticide lead, 20 new meta-diamide compounds containing triazole were designed and synthesized regarding Cyproflanilide as lead compound. All the compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HR MS. In preliminary bioassay, we found that one of the compounds: N-(cyclopropylmethyl)-N-(5-((2,6-dibromo-4-(perfluoropan-2-yl)phenyl)carbamoyl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenyl)-6-(trifluoromethyl) Nicotinamide (16a) showed 93% mortality rate to P. xylostella at 1 mg/L and 100% mortality rate to M. separata at 2 mg/L. It is obviously superior to the known compounds Ⅰa and Ⅰb, and it is equivalent to Cyproflanilide. It is providing important clues for subsequent structure-activity relationship studies. From this, we explored the structure-activity relationship of these compounds. Through comprehensive analysis of their structural characteristics and insecticidal activity data, we found that specific halogen groups and substituents in the compounds have a significant impact on insecticidal activity. This provides important guidance for subsequent structural optimization and activity enhancement.
DAMNet: Dynamic Mobile Architectures for Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Wan Nan 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) presents a significant challenge in healthcare, highlighting the necessity for early and precise diagnostic tools. Our model, DAMNet, processes multi-dimensional AD data effectively, utilizing only 7.4 million parameters to achieve diagnostic accuracies of 98.3% in validation and 99.9% in testing phases. Despite a 20% pruning rate, DAMNet maintains consistent performance with less than 0.2% loss in accuracy. The model also excels in handling 3D (Three-Dimensional) MRI data, achieving a 95.7% F1 score within 805 seconds during a rigorous three-fold validation over 200 epochs. Furthermore, we introduce a novel parallel intelligent framework for early AD detection that improves feature extraction and incorporates advanced data management and control. This framework sets a new benchmark in intelligent, precise medical diagnostics, adeptly managing both 2D (Two-Dimensional) and 3D imaging data.
Remote pulmonary pathology diagnosis using a handheld device for acquiring lung sounds at the mouth: A proof-of-concept study
Authors: Menachemi Doron M. , Brodsky Tom , Shimelis Kasa , Kartouma Muhammad Abu , Hochstadt Aviram 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Introduction.
Obtaining relevant information about respiratory conditions is a unique challenge in the rapidly growing field of telehealth. While auscultation using a stethoscope remains the first-line method in primary care, it is not a practical solution in a home setting, as it requires the presence of both a skilled caregiver and experienced interpreter online. We conducted a proof-of-concept study of a simple self-check thermometer-like device (OmnySense®), which acquires auscultatory data through a microphone in the head of the device.
Methods.
We assessed the agreement between subjective evaluations of lung sounds using the device and those using a digital stethoscope for the presence of crackles and/or wheezes. A total of 385 recordings from 13 patients admitted to the internal department were blindly, individually, and randomly assessed by three experienced physicians. The intra-modality agreement for crackles between evaluators was moderate for both the device and the stethoscope, with kappa statistics of 0.44 and 0.6 for the device and stethoscope, respectively, for the detection of wheezing and 0.46 and 0.4, respectively, for the crackles. The inter-modality agreement was moderate for wheezes, with a kappa of 0.53, and was substantial for crackles, with a kappa of 0.71. Comparing the ability of crackles to diagnose pulmonary findings by imaging showed comparable sensitivity and specificity for both modalities.
Conclusions.
Our findings suggest that the diagnostic performance of OmnySense’s self-operating device is similar to that of physician interpretation of digital stethoscope recordings; thus, OmnySense has the potential to become a useful tool in the remote assessment of respiratory conditions and pathologies.
Association between phytoestrogens and osteoarthritis based on NHANES database
Authors: Shengqi CHEN , Linqiang TIAN , Feng YIN 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive and destructive joint disease that occurs in middle-aged and elderly people and seriously affects their quality of life. Phytoestrogens are plant components with molecular structures and biological activities similar to those of animal estrogens, and they have a wide range of effects on hormone-related diseases. However, conclusions regarding the relationship between phytoestrogens and osteoarthritis are still lacking. Therefore, this study focused on the relationship between phytoestrogens and osteoarthritis based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Methods The present cross-sectional study obtained information on 6286 adults from the NHANES database. The association between urinary phytoestrogens and OA was explored using weighted multiple stratified linear regression, with multiple logistic regression models used for the primary analyses. Fully adjusted models included sex, age, race, education, marriage, poverty-to-income ratio, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, exam period, and five other phytoestrogens. Smooth curve-fitting models were used to analyze nonlinear relationships.
Result After correcting for all confounding variables, urinary Daidzein concentration was negatively associated with OA in men (Tertile 2 OR: 0.57, 95% CI 0.34-0.98). Meanwhile, urinary Daidzein concentration was negatively associated with OA in older adults (≥60 years) (ratio OR: 0.63, 95% CI 0.40-0.98).
Conclusion Urinary Daidzein concentration was negatively correlated with OA in men and in the elderly (≥60 years). In addition, a smooth curve between phytoestrogens and 0A was plotted.
Synthesis of Some Novel Piperazine Side Chain Modified 4- Aminoquinoline Mannich Bases and Evaluation for Their in Vitro Antimalarial Activity
Authors: Singh Bhupendra , Chetia Dipak 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Twelve new compounds (Piperazine side chains modified 4-Aminoquinoline Mannich Bases) were synthesized and characterized utilizing a variety of analytical and spectroscopic techniques. All the synthesized compounds were screened for in vitro antimalarial activity aganist 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. In vitro antimalarial screening revealed that the all synthesized compounds exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 3.9 to 31.25 μg/ml. One compound 9l (MIC=3.9 μg/ml or1.953±0.10μM) was found most potent against chloroquine sensitive 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum which is comparable to standard drug chloroquine (MIC=0.4 μg/ml or 0.106±0.01 μM).
Understanding the Effectiveness and Design of Parent-Oriented Mobile Health Interventions: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis
Authors: Kilfoy Alicia , Zaffino Isabella , McAtee Enoch , Panesar Prabdeep , Cleverley Kristin , Pham Quynh , Chu Charlene , Jibb Lindsay 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background: Parents of children with a health condition experience high levels of distress which can have long-term impact on the child and parent. Dyadic interventions have the potential to decrease this distress, however several barriers to access including time constraints have been reported. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions can address several of these barriers.
Goal: The goal of this systematic review was to review and synthesize the literature examining the effects of parent-oriented mHealth interventions and their content and design.
Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Cochrane Central databases from January 2013 to 2023. Included studies were randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of parent-oriented mHealth interventions on child and parent health. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to assess for bias in studies. Trial details and design and content features of interventions were extracted. Outcomes were organized using the Van Houtven’s Framework for Informal Caregiver Interventions. Results are presented narratively.
Results: Fifty papers pertaining to 49 unique studies met our inclusion criteria. More than half of the studies scored high-risk for bias. Interventions targeted a wide range of pediatric conditions. Intervention type included texting (n=17) and investigator-developed mobile applications (n=16). Interventions significantly improved parent psychological health and child health outcomes. Key intervention features and design included the use/application of codesign and a theory-driven intervention.
Conclusion: Parent-oriented mHealth interventions identified in this review significantly improved both parent and child health outcomes. Therefore, these interventions have the potential to support parents outside of a clinical setting.
Does constitutional protection of the environment matter for environmental quality?
Authors: Ondobo Charly Tsala , Ndoya hermann , Okere Donald 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

This paper extends the literature on the role of institutions on environmental quality, by assessing the impact of constitutional environmental protection (CEP) on environmental quality. Using a panel dataset covering 119 countries over the period 1990 to 2020, and after employing Entropy Balancing Methodology (EBM), we find that, adoption of CEP significantly increases environmental quality. We demonstrate that this finding is extremely robust to different alternative estimation methods such as propensity score matching (PSM), the Inverse Probability Treatment Weighting (IPTW), the Augmented Inverse Probability Treatment Weighting (AIPTW) and the dynamic panel analysis. Moreover, we show that the effect of constitutional environmental protection varies systematically depending on the region, types of legal origin and the level of pollution. Finally, we provide evidence that state experience in CEP, improves consideration of environmental concerns and consequently increases environmental quality.
Neuropeptide Y causes sex dependent changes in microbiota-intestinal-brain communication in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Gonçalves Joana , Martins Beatriz , Martins João , Castelo-Branco Miguel 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

The microbiome-gut-brain axis plays a role in anxiety and social development and is of growing interest in neuropsychiatic conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study investigated the behavioral phenotype and the molecular profile of neuropeptide Y (NPY), an anxiolytic peptide, in microbiome-gut-brain communication of Nf1+/− mice, a well-established animal model of ASD. Sex differences, up to date poorly investigated in animal models, were specifically addressed. Our data revealed that females Nf1+/− exhibited more prominent anxious-like behavior. In addition, molecular analyses indicated sex-related differences in expression of NPY and NPY receptors’ transcripts in transgenic animals, with a more prominent effect in females. In addition, the analysis of microbiota revealed sex-specific changes in the Lactobacillus content which correlated with NPY and Y2 receptor changes in transgenic females. Remarkably, the Y2 receptor exhibited sex-dependent expression in both gut and brain of Nf1+/− mice, suggesting its potential as a molecular biomarker for ASD symptoms, namely social anxiety and gastrointestinal issues. For the first time, our findings suggest NPY-mediated regulation of gut-brain communication to be altered in autism and hold potential for the development of new interventions addressing sex-specific aspects of ASD.
Tungsten Carbide Core 7.62x51mm Armor Piercing Projectiles: Designing, penetration simulation and Testing
Authors: Fayed A , Abdelsalam Ossama Ramy 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

The ballistic performance and penetration capabilities of armour piercing (AP) projectiles have attracted considerable interest, especially with the development of personal body armour. This paper presents the steps for converting conventional 7.62x51 mm AP projectiles into advanced ones provided with tungsten carbide cores. Designing, finite element modeling and testing procedures have been studied to enhance the penetration capability of developed projectiles. The internal ballistic parameters were calculated for these projectiles to ensure barrel safety. PRODAS ballistic software is used to predict the stability of developed projectiles during flight. The penetration ability in armour steel with a hardness of 450–500 HB for all the designed projectiles as well as the traditional NATO AP projectile is evaluated both numerically using ANSYS software and experimentally by fining. In conclusion, the penetration capability of the best configuration of the developed projectiles is almost twice that of the NATO AP projectile.
Spatial analysis of surface water quality using multivariate statistical techniques and water quality index: Case study of Binh Duong Province, the largest industrial hub in Southern Vietnam
Authors: Pham Hoai Ngoc , Nguyen Tuong Dinh , Phan Huyen Thanh , Nguyen Yen My , Tran Yen Hoang , Pham Quoc Bao , Pham Luu Thanh , Ngo Quang Xuan , Le Trang Thi , Nguyen An Ngoc , Tran Thai Thanh 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Ensuring high‒quality water supply is essential for both domestic and manufacturing activities, particularly in Binh Duong Province (BDP), situated at the heart of Vietnam's southern key economic region, known for its dense population and numerous industrial parks. In this study, multivariate statistical analysis techniques, including Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (CA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), were employed to assess spatial variations in surface water quality (SWQ) along the Sai Gon and Dong Nai Rivers, which are the two primary water bodies in BDP. CA classified the 25 sampling sites into three groups (DN, SGDN1, SGDN2) and three outlying groups (RSG8, RSG10, and RDN7). Groups RDN7 and DN were deemed to have good surface water quality, while RSG8 exhibited moderate SWQ. Conversely, RSG10 and SGDN1 were classified as having bad and moderate surface water quality, respectively. The Kruskal‒Wallis test revealed significant spatial differences in all water quality parameters among the six clusters (p < 0.05). PCA identified two principal components (PCs) explaining 65.3% of the total variance, highlighting NO3−, NO2−, NH4+, PO43−, COD, BOD5, and coliform as major pollution sources in the area. The findings underscore the impact of untreated domestic and industrial sewage on water quality in the Sai Gon and Dong Nai Rivers. This study contributes valuable insights into water quality assessment using multivariate statistical methods and informs the formulation of effective public policies by local governments.