bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The ancient people of Balinese: a study of health status based on paleopathology remains
Authors: Rahmawati Neni Trilusiana , Prayudi Ashwin , Suriyanto Rusyad Adi , Hastuti Janatin , Aritona Fidelis , Hidayah Ati Rati 
Published: June 2024

Humans have been constantly exposed to the environment in their daily activities, which may result in some pathological changes. Paleopathology research is rare, particularly on ancient humans who lived in Bali, Indonesia. This research is intended to gain more insight into the history of diseases and the community in the past to assist future health researchers. This study was conducted to understand variation in disease among the ancient populations in Bali, Indonesia. The study examines skeletons from the Gilimanuk, Semawang, and Pacung Sembiran sites in Bali, Indonesia, collected from 1964 to 2008. A total of 336 individuals were identified, including 63 adult males, 75 adult females, and 56 adults whose sex could not be determined. In addition, 142 children were included in the analysis. The examination of the individuals revealed the presence of various dental pathological changes, such as caries and enamel hypoplasia, as well as periodontitis. Furthermore, several bone-related diseases and abnormalities were identified, such as osteophytes, fractures, porotic hyperostosis, and spina bifida occulta. Available evidence suggests a similarity in the types of pathological changes among the ancient populations of Gilimanuk, Semawang, and Pacung Sembiran. While a comprehensive explanation of the paleopathological variations observed in these populations necessitates further investigation, the present findings hold considerable value for medical experts and anthropologists seeking to better understand patterns of disease distribution among ancient Indonesian populations. This study was funded by the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of Indonesia for the fiscal year 2023.
A Bi-level Programming Model for Optimal EV Charging Scheduling and Operation in Residential Communities
Authors: Zhu Gang , Gan Yan , Dai Zexing , Sun Hao 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

t: This study addresses the challenge of disorderly large-scale electric vehicle (EV) charging 1 and its impact on distribution networks by focusing on residential communities as key EV gathering 2 places. We propose a dynamic pricing environment and develop a bi-level programming model 3 capturing the relationship between retailers and EV owners (EVOs). By transforming the bi-level 4 programming into a mixed-integer linear programming problem using the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker 5 conditions and the duality theorem, we obtain an optimal pricing strategy that benefits both parties. 6 We conduct a sensitivity analysis to examine the impact of various factors on the pricing strategy, 7 offering insights for retailers’ scheduling and operational decisions. The efficacy of the proposed 8 algorithm is demonstrated through a case study, highlighting its potential to guide decisions for both 9 retailers and EVOs in residential community EV charging. This work contributes to managing the 10 increasing prevalence of electric vehicles and their impact on power distribution networks, fostering 11 sustainable and efficient energy management strategies in residential communities.
Contrasting effects of fire and rodent competition on western harvester ant activity and disk formation
Authors: Pienaar Ryan , Bishop Tara B. B. , Clair Samuel B. St 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Consumers exert top-down controls on dryland ecosystem function, but recent increased fire activity may alter consumer communities and their interactions in post-fire environments. Native consumers, including ants and rodents, likely have critical roles in defining post-fire plant community assembly and resilience to biological invasions. This study aimed to understand how western harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex occidentalis) that form mounds and large vegetation-free disks in the Great Basin Desert respond to fire and rodent community abundance. We tested this by installing treatment plots that excluded or allowed rodents and were burned or unburned in a full factorial design. We measured ant disk and mound size and density, along with a direct measure of ant activity in each experimental plot. Fire increased ant mound density by 126% compared to unburned plots. Rodent presence decreased ant activity by 39%, mound density by 59%, mound diameter by 13%, and mound height by 166%. We also show an interaction where the adverse effects of rodents on ants were greater in burned than in unburned plots. These results suggest that more frequent fires are likely to benefit ants, and fluctuations in rodent populations are likely to affect ant activity and disks and alter their responses to fire.
Optimization of process variables viz., temperature and time for vacuum concentration of dragon fruit juice, it’s effect on TSS, water activity, total phenol content and antioxidant activity
Authors: X. Rosemary M. , J. Suresh G. , R. Venugopalan , R. Vasudeva K. , K. Sadananda G. , G. Karunakaran , K. Swamy G. S. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

This study represents the pioneer investigation into the vacuum concentration process applied to dragon fruit juice, as per the available literature. It investigates the influence of temperature and processing time on the vacuum concentration of dragon fruit juice in rotary evaporator. Through systematic experimentation and statistical analysis by Response surface methodology (RSM), using Central composite design (CCD). Key parameters such as total soluble solids (TSS), water activity, total betalain content, and antioxidant activity were evaluated. Results indicate significant effects of temperature and time on these parameters, with optimal conditions identified for maximizing TSS, betalain content, and antioxidant activity while minimizing water activity. Statistical modelling confirms the reliability of the findings, offering practical insights for optimizing the vacuum concentration process of dragon fruit juice to enhance its quality and handling efficiency.
The Impact of Vancomycin Resistance on Adverse Outcomes of Enterococci Bacteremia: A Meta- analysis of well-controlled studies
Authors: Azzam Ahmed , Khaled Heba 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objective
Previous meta-analyses have demonstrated that vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) bacteremia is associated with increased mortality compared to vancomycin-sensitive Enterococcus (VSE) bacteremia. However, these studies relied on unadjusted data, which could potentially lead to an overestimation of the mortality risk. Therefore, we performed this systematic review with meta-analysis to investigate the impact of vancomycin resistance on adverse outcomes in enterococci blood stream infection (BSI) based on studies that were conducted after 2000 (when effective VRE therapies became available) and adjusted for age, underlying medical conditions, and time to appropriate antibiotics.
Results
Out of 2559 articles reviewed, four eligible articles were included in this study. Overall, vancomycin resistance was not significantly associated with increased mortality in Enterococci BSI (pooled adjusted hazard ratio for 30-day mortality, 0.927 (95% CI, 0.51 to 1.686), P = 0.8, I2% = 13.7, number of studies = 3). The remaining study reported that vancomycin resistance was not associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.21 (95% CI, 0.53 to 2.79), P = 0.653). These findings suggest that vancomycin resistance is not a significant independent predictor of mortality in Enterococci BSI when adjusted for age, underlying medical conditions, and time to appropriate antibiotics.
Efficacy H2O, SNP, Si and KNO3 priming for improving emergence, seedling growth and biochemical traits of two wheat Varieties under Salt Stress
Authors: Hammami Marwa , Ahmed Hela Ben 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Salt stress has a significant impact on agricultural output, affecting seed germination and seedling growth. The uncontrolled production of oxidative species (ROS) induces a range of biochemical, physiological, and metabolic changes, resulting in reduced crop yields. Under such conditions, seed priming may be a feasible and practicable approach for achieving rapid, uniform emergence, vigorous seedlings, and higher crop yields. The present study was therefore executed to explore efficacious effects of various seed priming agents. The present work compares the effect of priming on two wheat varieties under normal and salt conditions at germination and vegetative stage. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the effects of hydropriming (H2O), Nitroprusside (SNP), Silicon (Si) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) priming in improving emergence, seedling growth, biochemical attributes of two wheat varieties under salt and no salt conditions. Seed emergence, seedling growth and biochemical attributes were thereafter evaluated. The results found that rice seedlings responded differently to different priming treatments. However, all primed rice seedlings had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved emergence percentage, seedling growth, seedling vigor, seedling fresh and dry biomass and shorter emergence time compared with controls. Likewise, soluble sugar and total chlorophyll contents of wheat seedlings were increased by seed priming compared with control. H2O showed less effect in increasing emergence, seedling growth and biochemical attributes of wheat. Thus, this study established that seed priming with SNP (NO donor), Si and KNO3 were more effective in improving emergence, seedling growth, biochemical attributes of wheat. Thus, priming of wheat with this chemical is recommended for fast emergence, seedling growth and drought resistance in salt ecosystems.
Assessing the carcinogenic and non‑carcinogenic health risks of heavy metals in the drinking water of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kasaragod
Authors: D DEEPTHI , S HARSHITHA , SHETTY SHILPA S , SONKUSARE SHIPRA , NAIK PRASHANTH B , BH AARTI SRIPATHI , PRAKASH BHARATHI , SHETTY NAVEEN CHANDRA , MADHYASTHA RADHA , SHINJI KATSURAGI , KURODA YOSHIKI , SAWADA HIROTAKE , YUYA YANAGI , WATANABE NOZOMI , NAKAJIMA YUICHI , MADHYASTHA HARISHKUMAR , N SUCHETHA KUMARI 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Heavy metal water pollution is a major worldwide issue among different types of water pollution. This research evaluates heavy metals' concentration in groundwater and its associated health risks. A total of 78 water samples were collected from different areas of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kasaragod, and analyzed for the status of heavy metals and their impact on health. The results show that the heavy metal levels are within the permissible range. The chronic daily intake (CDI) < 1, and Hazard Index (HI) < 1. Incremental cancer risk (ILCR) is evaluated and its values are less than 10− 6, which shows that there is no cancer risk observed in the analyzed samples indicating that water samples are safe to drink. Increased industrialization increases the risks of cancer. Because the danger of cancer increases with greater industrialization, we must so frequently control and monitor pollutants. As a result, we must combat pollution and conduct routine monitoring.
Efficacy of ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A in shoulder pain: a meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials
Authors: Zhuang Shiying , Zhang Xiaoli , Lin Cheng , Wang Zhizhuo 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
Shoulder pain is a very common symptom. A number of studies have demonstrated that botulinum toxin type A is effective in relieving shoulder pain. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize scientific evidence and quantify the combined effects of ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A on shoulder pain.
Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), China National Knowledge Information Database (CNKI), Wanfang database, and VIP database (VIP) using the keywords "ultrasound", "Botulinum toxin type A", and "shoulder pain". Two reviewers independently reviewed the studies, extracted data from eligible studies, and assessed the risk of bias. A random-effects model was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment (UEFMA), Range of Motion (ROM), Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Funnel plots and sensitivity analyses were also employed to evaluate the six outcome indicators above.
Results
Out of retrieved 854 records, ten studies (involving 533 patients) were finally included. Pooled analysis showed that ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A was associated with moderate improvements in shoulder pain (SMD = -0.96; 95% CI -1.37 to -0.55; P < 0.001), UEFMA score (SMD = 1.43; 95% CI 0.49 to 2.37; P = 0.003), ROM of shoulder flexion (SMD = 1.28; 95% CI 0.63 to 1.93; P < 0.001) and external rotation (SMD = 1.66; 95%CI, 0.83 to 2.48; P < 0.001). Mild improvements were observed in ROM of shoulder abduction (SMD = 0.8; 95%CI 0.18 to 1.43; P = 0.01) and MBI score (SMD = 1.33; 95% CI 0.22 to 2.43; P = 0.02).
Conclusions
Ultrasound-guided BoNT-A injections are beneficial for reducing pain and enhancing the upper limb function, shoulder ROM and quality of life. More high-quality studies with large sample sizes are needed to assess long-term efficacy, strengthening the evidence that ultrasound-guided BoNT-A facilitates the reduction of shoulder pain.
Synchronizing Controlled Logistics Terminals between Simulated and Visualized Production Lines Using An ASTAK Method
Authors: Wang Zixiao , DONG Yue , wang shenggguo wang shenggguo , Zhang Xinxiang 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

In a fully automated factory, the Visualized Production Line serves as a crucial tool for management personnel to understand production progress and monitor the manufacturing process. The synchronization between the visualized line and the actual production line significantly impacts the efficiency of production supervision. Taking Controlled Logistics Terminals as an example, this article proposes the AS-TA-KS Method, which encompasses three steps: Animation Simplification, Timing Alignment, and Keyframe Synchronization. This method aims to achieve precise synchronization between the Simulated Production Line and the Visualized Production Line, while ensuring that the process data of the simulated line is not directly accessed. The experiment demonstrates that the method can maintain the time difference between simulated and visualized production line below an average of 0.08 seconds, with a synchronization rate of 99.97%. Our method advances the state-of-the-art method by an average of 5.22%. This case provides support for the real-time and reliability of modern intelligent manufacturing.
Surgical site infection rate in spine surgery, incidence and risk factors: a ten- year retrospective cohort review in a developing neurosurgical centre
Authors: Alfin Dumura Jeneral , Shilong Danaan Joseph , Bot Gyang Markus , Salun Wilfred Dengunu 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background/Objective:
Surgical site infection (SSI) is the third most common complication in spinal surgery and often results in poor clinical outcomes, prolonged hospital stays and additional costs. This study evaluated the SSI rate and identified risk factors for spine surgeries performed over a 10-year period.
Methodology
: This was a retrospective cohort review of all patients who underwent spine surgery between January 2014 and December 2023. Patient hospital records were retrieved, and relevant biodata data and clinical information were obtained and entered into SPSS version 25. The surgical site infection rate was determined, and multivariate inferential analysis to assess risk factors for SSI was performed using the chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test, with the level of significance set at a p value < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval.
Results
A total of 206 patients were studied. The incidence of SSI was 11.7% (24), and most of these infections were superficial incisional SSIs (19, 79.2%). The indication for surgery revealed that 19.4% of the patients with spondylotic disease and 50% of patients with bacterial spondylitis developed SSI (p = 0.042). Similarly, infection rates were significantly greater in the lumbar (14, 22.2%) and thoracic-lumbar (4, 12.9%) spine surgeries (p = 0.009). This was also found to be predictive of SSI (P = 0.001, odds ratio [OR]: 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38, 3.47). The median length of hospital stay was 36.5 days for patients with SSIs compared to those without SSIs (23 days) (p = 0.008).
Conclusion
This study revealed a relatively high surgical site infection rate in our practice, with more superficial than deep/organ space organ space infections. These infections were significantly more common in patients with spondylotic disease and lumbar spine surgeries, and patients with these infections had prolonged hospital stays.
Multi-AGV Path Planning Using Deep Reinforcement Learning with Internal Curiosity
Authors: Yin Huilin , Su Shengkai , Lin Yinjia , Festl Karin , Yan Jun , Watzenig Daniel 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) is promising for multi-agent path planning problems in which sparse external environmental rewards may cause the agent group to make overly conservative decisions and explore the environment inefficiently. In general, the reward shaping mechanism is used to mitigate the above problems with the additional reward function setting. However, it requires specific domain knowledge, which limits the general applicability, and the added reward functions are not necessarily applicable to all environments. This paper aims to improve the path planning efficiency of single agents and groups of agents with the Internal Curiosity Module (ICM) mechanism to boost the generalization abilities of the agents in different environments. To this end, we incorporate the internal curiosity mechanism into the soft actor-critic model for enhancing exploration strategies, adapting to environmental changes, and improving learning effectiveness. Then, we propose a multi-agent path planning method in which the curiosity mechanism is integrated with the Multi-Agent POsthumous Credit Assignment (MA-POCA) algorithm. The neural networks can automatically calculate the additional intrinsic rewards based on observed information about the environment and the actions taken by the group of agents. Based on our experiments, we make qualitative and quantitative analyses of the performance of the proposed methods and the baseline DRL methods. The experimental results show that our proposed methods can decline the number of learning episodes and the training time of path planning, so the proposed algorithms can accelerate the exploration of single agents or agent groups in the sparse reward environment.
The CCL2-CCR4 Axis Promotes Regulatory T Cell Trafficking to Canine Glioma Tissues
Authors: Panek WK. , Toedebusch RG. , Mclaughlin BE. , Dickinson PJ , Dyke JE. , Woolard KD. , Berens ME. , Lesniak  , Sturges BK. , Vernau KM. , Li C. , Miska JM. , Toedebusch CM. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Purpose
Spontaneously occurring glioma in pet dogs is increasingly recognized as a valuable translational model for human glioblastoma. Canine high grade glioma and human glioblastomas share many molecular similarities, including accumulation of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) that inhibit anti-tumor immune responses. Identifying in dog mechanisms responsible for Treg recruitment may afford targeting the cellular population driving immunosuppression, the results providing a rationale for translational clinical studies in human patients. Our group has previously identified C-C motif chemokine 2 (CCL2) as a glioma-derived T-reg chemoattractant acting on chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) in a murine orthotopic model of glioma. Recently, we demonstrated a robust increase of CCL2 in the brain tissue of canine patients bearing high-grade glioma.
Methods
We performed a series of in vitro experiments using canine Tregs and patient-derived canine glioma cell lines (GSC 1110, GSC 0514, J3T-Bg, G06A) to interrogate the CCL2-CCR4 signaling axis in the canine.
Results
We established a flow cytometry gating strategy for identification and isolation of FOXP3+ Tregs in dogs. The canine CD4 + CD25high T-cell population was highly enriched in FOXP3 and CCR4 expression, indicating they are bona fide Tregs. Canine Treg migration was enhanced by CCL2 or by glioma cell line-derived supernatant. Blockade of the CCL2-CCR4 axis significantly reduced migration of canine Tregs. CCL2 mRNA was expressed in all glioma cell lines and expression increased when exposed to Tregs but not to CD4 + helper T-cells.
Conclusion
Our study validates CCL2-CCR4 as a bi-directional Treg-glioma immunosuppressive and tumor-promoting axis in canine high-grade glioma.
CMTM6 overexpresses in ovarian cancer and associated with tumor cell progression and stabilization of PD-L1 protein
Authors: Qian Jing , Zhang Xia , Tong Jinyi , Xu Song 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal female genital cancer worldwide. Most patients exhibit resistance to immunotherapy. CMTM6 has been implicated in various tumorigenic processes and immune regulation. This study aims to investigate the role of CMTM6 in OC progression and its function in immunity. We utilized the GEPIA and GTBA databases to analyze the relationships among OC, CMTM6, and PD-L1. The role of CMTM6 in OC was further examined through immunohistochemical analysis of patient tumor tissues and extensive cancer cell experiments using the SKOV3 cell line. Finally, we explored the impact of CMTM6 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and PD-L1 expression. Analysis of the GEPIA database revealed significantly higher expression of CMTM6 in OC tissues, although it was not correlated with patient survival time. The GTBA database showed a consistent expression trend between CMTM6 and PD-L1 (CD274). Inhibition of CMTM6 mRNA in SKOV3 cells led to a reduction in their proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities. Additionally, CMTM6 promoted EMT in SKOV3 cells and maintained PD-L1 protein expression. This study found elevated CMTM6 expression in OC tissues. CMTM6 enhances the proliferation, migration, and EMT capabilities of cancer cells and may serve as a regulator to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy.